“Beyond Grade A‽”
Tolaen’s expression warped with horror!
All newly born Beyond Grade As would have their records taken by the advanced civilizations, so he knew of all their abilities and weaknesses. However, Hila was not on the list, and thus, it totally disrupted his momentum!
Hila had just stepped into the Beyond Grade A realm and had only just displayed her skill for the first time in front of people, so no one had any information on her.
But today would be the day the Goddess of Death was truly born!
Nero’s figure jerked, and a look of happiness crossed his face.
“Sister Hila has broken into the Beyond Grade A realm!”
While they had not seen each other for years, Nero had always remembered how Hila had shown him grace by giving him the Death Spirit Mark[1]. Seeing that Hila had finally taken that last step, he felt happy for her and could not wait to share the news among the Black Star Army officers.
“She’s the Hila that you guys always mention?” Mia asked with a look of excitement while tugging on Nero’s sleeves.
Mia had joined the army after Hila left, but she always heard her name coming out from all the important officers, including Nero. In her mind, Hila appeared to be a mysterious character.
This was the so-called ‘No longer in the martial world, yet the martial world would ring of one’s tales forever’. Today, Mia finally got what she wished for, to see Hila in person. She was indeed as everyone described her.
Looking at the strong aura being released by her body, Mia was instantly won over. It was exactly in line with her imagination of how a strong female warrior should be.
In Han Xiao’s past life, Mia had been a follower of Hila’s, and now, meeting for the first time, it was just the same as before. She totally worshipped Hila.
Feeling Hila’s aura, a sense of relief surfaced in Han Xiao’s heart.
Finally, the Goddess of Death that I’m familiar with is back!
She indeed didn’t let me down!
Austin also froze for a moment before a genuine smile appeared on his face. He looked as though he was about to watch a good movie.
“The sixth Beyond Grade A of the Shattered Star Ring? Damn, this is going to be lively…”
While everyone was reeling in shock, Tolaen’s expression slowly changed to an ugly look.
The situation was somewhat beyond his expectations. He had thought that his opponent would be Ames, but suddenly, a new Beyond Grade A had popped out.
While Ames was a veteran Beyond Grade A and would be stronger, the material compiled about her had clearly explained her strengths and weaknesses. This was very important, and now that his opponent had been changed to an unknown Beyond Grade A, it was harder for him to deal with it.
He had seen Hila’s files before, but that was twenty years ago, and she had even undergone an evolution. It was unknown what new abilities she had developed.
“You…”
“Don’t waste my time. Fight or not?” Hila’s eyes were shining with an ominous red light, her aura suppressing everything around her.
She ignored everyone else around her and was only focused on her target. She had always been decisive in her matters and never liked to waste time spouting bullsh*t.
“Alright!” Tolaen’s personality meant that he would not think too much and quickly agreed.
Both were Beyond Grade As, so whether he won or not, it would still be a battle record for him.
At this moment, Han Xiao, who was standing by the side, indifferently spoke.
“If you want to fight, move further away from Planet Aquamarine. If even a single blade of grass on the planet gets destroyed because of your battle… you can forget about leaving today, Tolaen.”
“Humph, I wouldn’t dare.” Tolaen coldly snorted.
He knew not to lay hands on Han Xiao’s mother planet. If not, even if the other party shredded him to pieces, the Arcane Church would not make a sound.
…
Both sides reached a consensus, and everyone pulled away to a location further from Planet Aquamarine for their battlefield.
There was only Hila and Tolaen on the battlefield. Both faced each other, their auras rising rapidly.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on the two, holding their breath and watching the battle.
At the next moment, both of them moved!
Tolaen’s body swelled, and muscles bulged out as bone spurs emerged from his skin. A pair of curled devil horns grew on his head, and two pairs of bat wings spread out from behind. His back vertebrate also lengthened and divided into three jagged tails.
His entire being turned into a red creature resembling a demon. His muscles were bulging and knotted, covered with bone spurs. His skin was covered in mysterious lines, and it lent him a cruel visage.
“He’s a Pugilist?”
Seeing this, Ames raised her brow.
“Nope, a Mage.”
From a side sounded a voice. Han Xiao’s avatar had flown over, and he was reading out Tolaen’s information.
“He possesses a demon’s lineage, and this bloodline got elevated during this sublimation to Beyond Grade A. Just now, he utilized the True Liberation unique to the Demon Race. That red body is his true form and also the origin behind his nickname ‘Red Devil’. He’s a mage that leans toward transfiguration and melee battles, as his racial talents have brought him extraordinary resistance and extreme regeneration, a relatively rarer breed. His combat style should be a bit similar to Milizaus of the dynasty.”
“I see.” Ames nodded before turning and lightly smiling as she teased, “Long time no see. Are you still doing well?”
“Very.” Han Xiao nodded and joked, “Did you miss me?”
“Why would I?” Ames laughed before turning back to look at the battlefield.
On the battlefield, Tolaen completed his transformation before charging forward aggressively, heading straight for Hila. At the same time, a cluster of dark blue mana poured out of him, turning into spells that buffed his body. He continued to grow, and at the same time, a colorful magic circuit appeared on his skin, raising his attributes.
He did not know what new abilities Hila had obtained, but her core power would not change. Based on the data twenty years ago, Hila was a mid-range combatant, with an Esper Ability that controlled a certain type of energy, so he chose to engage her in close combat.
The Demon Race’s True Liberation brought him strong resistance and regeneration, and various magic shields on his skin supported his flesh and muscles. If needed, he could even use it to support a long range spell artillery.
Ames’ power was focused around control and restraint, and she did not have high lethality. In his opinion, his combat style would restrain Ames, so his chances of winning would not have been low. Only because of this did Tolaen have the confidence to challenge Ames.
Seeing her opponent rush forward aggressively, Hila did not retreat, instead choosing to advance, wrapping her dark red death energy around her entire body and shooting forward like a comet.
Boom!
The sound of an impact echoed in everybody’s heads as they slammed into each other. A dark red shockwave exploded at their point of contact!
Just comparing strength, Tolaen, who was blessed with an amplification spell, had the absolute advantage, directly flinging Hila away.
However, instead of taking the chance to follow up, Tolaen suddenly froze, as though finding something strange.
Hila did not stop, stabilizing her body and shooting out rays of death energy from her finger to overwhelm Tolaen.
“Shield!” Tolaen woke up from his reverie, and his gestures rapidly changed as he covered himself in a mana shield shaped like a tortoise’s shell.
The countless death energy arrows hit the shield, collapsing every layer!
Bang bang bang!
Every shot that struck the shield would bring with it a mental shock, which was pressuring to every spectator on the scene. The mental shock did not require a medium and would sound in the minds of everybody near the source.
Hila’s death energy was equipped with multiple damage types and contained both physical and mental attributes. At her level, there was even true damage, so it was difficult to defend against.
Tolaen did not take the attacks passively, however. He continued to advance toward Hila while blocking. While Hila was good at mid-range attacks, she did not adopt any hit-and-run tactics but faced him in a frontal battle.
The figures of the two continuously collided with each other, flying out again and again, leaving behind hundreds of afterimages that were hard to tell apart.
Hila was always someone who gave her all in every battle, so the intensity of the battle gradually progressed beyond the scope of a spar.
Han Xiao was paying attention to the battle, but Nero suddenly flew toward him with Mia tagging along and asked with a voice full of concern, “Godfather, Sister Hila doesn’t look too good right now, does she?”
“You’re thinking too much,” Han Xiao said before chuckling.
“Isn’t it so? Sister Hila gets sent flying each time. Her melee battle abilities are below her opponent’s, but she does not engage in hit-and-run. Isn’t that a bit…”
Han Xiao smiled as he shook his head. “Carefully observe Tolaen’s body. He’s not doing as well as you think.”
Hearing this, Nero squinted. The speed of a Beyond Grade A was too fast to see clearly, and it took a while for him to notice the abnormal state of Tolaen.
Dark red death energy was coiled all over his body, full of corrosiveness, just like gangrene. It was constantly eroding his mana but could not be removed.
Han Xiao patted Nero’s shoulder as he explained, “The time at which they entered the Beyond Grade A realm only differs by a few years. To a Beyond Grade A, such a short amount of time is negligible in terms of their improvements, so their actual combat ability should be in the same tier… Don’t look at me. I’m an exception. And within this tier, Hila’s Esper Ability has an absolute advantage.”
He was not even the least bit concerned about Hila. Among those spectating, only he knew… just how perversely strong the Beyond Grade A Hila was!
Controlling death itself, this was an Esper Ability that was part of the Super High Risk Esper Abilities!
He knew full well that after arriving at the Beyond Grade A realm, Hila’s Esper Ability would undergo a qualitative change.
The intelligence regarding Hila’s abilities in his past life was overflowing, and it was all teased out using players who threw their lives away.
Firstly, upon reaching the Beyond Grade A realm, Hila had obtained an exclusive passive ability. Every time her death energy struck her target, a stack of a special status, [Death’s Erosion], would be added to them.
[Death’s Erosion] had a total of fifteen stacks, and the first stack would reduce all enemy recovery skills by twenty percent and defense by fifteen percent.
Reaching the fifth stack would result in a forty percent decrease in their recovery ability, a twenty-five percent decrease in their defense, and the random elimination of a buff every ten seconds.
The tenth stack would result in a sixty percent decrease in their recovery ability, a thirty-five percent decrease in their defense, a ten percent decrease to all attributes, the random elimination of buffs, and the collapse of their cells, reducing their HP by 0.8% every twenty seconds.
At the fifteenth stack, an eighty percent decrease in their recovery ability, a forty-five percent decrease in their defense, a twenty percent decrease to all attributes, the elimination of all buffs, and a loss of one percent of their HP every twelve seconds.
And when all fifteen stacks were placed, Hila could release a special skill without any prerequisites—she could completely detonate all [Death’s Erosion] stacks on the enemy and immediately make a death judgment!
The conditions for death judgment were harsh, and generally, they could not be applied to targets that exceeded their level. However, even if the judgment failed, it would still have an effect where it would directly shave off twenty to thirty percent of the enemy’s total HP and reduce their max HP by eight to twelve HP.
After detonation, Hila could immediately apply a new round of [Death’s Erosion] after a short cooldown, which was extremely scary.
If the enemy wished to stop the stacking of [Death’s Erosion] marks, then they had to disperse the death energy settled in their body. If they did not have similar skills, then they had to rely on their own resistance.
The duration of [Death’s Erosion] depended on the resistance of the target. The higher the number of stacks, the longer the retention time would be. The first layer usually lasted for only three seconds, but at the third layer, it would last for eight seconds. Furthermore, forcefully resisting would only allow the layers to drop down one by one instead of them completely disappearing, making it extremely hard to completely get rid of.
In addition to this core skill, Hila’s death ability had also obtained the passive property of ‘Vampiric’, which could turn ten to twenty percent of the damage she dealt to a vital target into her own HP. Group battles against her would be tough, as the more enemies she had, the faster she would regain her HP.
In addition, every time her death energy hit a target, there would be three seconds of aftereffects, which would hit her enemies with fifty to seventy percent of her base damage.
Lastly, after Hila was promoted, she had also developed a special ability that was useless against the players yet lethal threat to any others.
That was to use her death ability to deprive the cell vitality of a living person, reducing their upper limit of cell divisions, causing them to lose their life force!
Because of this ability, the vast majority of Beyond Grade As in the universe treated her like a viper, not willing to fight with her.
If you hit me, I’ll lose one second of my life, literally. Who would dare spar with you‽
However, other than Han Xiao, no one in the universe knew of this point.
Even Tolaen, who was sparring against Hila, was clueless.
Boom boom boom!
The fighting was getting more intense, and the surging mana waves and death energy collided again and again, exploding against each other in a burst of energy.
Tolaen might initially just have wanted to spar, but against the strong attacks of Hila, he could no longer keep his aces hidden and continued to raise his strength. Now, the situation was no longer under his control, almost shifting to a life and death battle.
If an onlooker did not know that both of them had met for the first time, they would probably think that the two had some deep hatred, where one could not live if the other was alive.
Crazy woman!
Tolaen was furious, to the point that his attacks got wilder and fiercer.
Even though his magic shield could ward off most attacks, his body would still be occasionally hit. As the [Death’s Erosion] stacks grew, he began to discover something weird.
Not only were his recovery abilities restrained, but the effect of the amplification spell applied to him seemed to be getting weaker, and his body seemed to be unable to bear the magic energy used for transformation.
Moreover, since he had stacked up more than ten stacks, he discovered that his cells were continuously being destroyed, his injuries rapidly increasing. He could barely maintain his current state with his suppressed regeneration.
Her Esper Ability is too strong! Tolaen’s heart sank.
While he had also dealt Hila some injuries, they seemed to recover in the blink of an eye, and it was him that seemed to be getting worse because of the death energy raging in his body!
This newly emerged Beyond Grade A had such a high combat capability!
In that case…
Tolaen’s eyes grew cold, and mana condensed in his hands. This was followed by a mass of blood pouring out of his fingertips, and they mixed, turning into a strange purple blood flame.
By the side, Austin suddenly narrowed his eyes. As a master mage, he recognized the spell.
The Demon Race’s unique advanced forbidden technique—Polluted Blood!
“Not good.” Austin felt his heart clench.
This was a forbidden technique, and it transformed the blood of demons through a special method to become polluted and full of inferior genes. This would pollute the blood and genes of the other party, causing irreversible damage to them. Its power was not strong, but it was very damaging, a unique method of the Demon Race.
He knew that Tolaen’s usage of this technique would not help his battle situation, but it would contaminate Hila’s genes instead. His intention was insidious.
Hila also sensed the danger with her instincts, immediately retreating, but Tolaen raised the purple flame and pursued her. The distance between the two continued to shorten.
“Don’t blame me…”
Tolaen had on a vicious expression.
Because Hila was a Black Star Army officer, he had been worried of provoking Han Xiao and did not intend to do so in the first place. But now that he was truly angered, he did not care about being lenient, and he was determined to use more damaging tactics. As a former wanted criminal who had slaughtered surface civilizations for pleasure, he had no moral standard to begin with.
Seeing that she could not get rid of Tolaen, Hila squinted before shooting out a highly concentrated blast of death energy that pierced through his magic shield, hitting his chest squarely.
At this moment, Tolaen’s body suddenly expelled a large amount of mana, and his cells eroded by the death energy could no longer bear the amplification effect. Thus, all his buffs disappeared!
“Wha—”
Tolaen’s expression changed.
But before he could react, Hila raised a hand, pointing toward him from far away, and squeezed her fingers together abruptly.
[Reaper of Souls]!
The full fifteen stacks of Death’s Erosion immediately detonated!
Tolaen’s heart tightened, and a life-threatening instinct sounded in his mind. He felt that the death energy in his body had been agitated, and like a bomb ignited by a fuse, it exploded within his body!
The next moment, intense pain penetrated his body and soul!
Boom!
Under the gazes of everyone present, before his attack could reach Hila, his body burst apart into a mist of blood!
A fog of purplish-black blood spewed out from every single pore of his body as he seemed to simultaneously explode into fireworks. The forbidden technique was directly cancelled.
Shua!
The next instant, Tolaen flew out from the blood fog before quickly retreating. His expression was one of horror, and he was dripping blood everywhere, looking extremely tragic.
In that instant, he had felt the shadow of death.
Ever since he entered the Beyond Grade A realm, Tolaen had never felt his life being threatened so strongly. However, this attack seemed to have awakened his memories, allowing him to feel the taste of fear again.
Just that one attack had evaporated almost twenty percent of his HP. A Beyond Grade A’s total HP was usually around two to three million, so this was a heavy blow. There were even negative status effects, as the explosion of death energy almost made his cells completely collapse. This terrified Tolaen to no end.
Hila’s Esper Ability was far beyond his wildest imagination!
At this moment, Tolaen looked at Hila from afar, full of trepidation in his eyes.
[Death’s Erosion] had resulted in him obtaining heavy injuries, but with the detonation, the stacks of Death’s Erosion had also been cleared, so Tolaen’s regeneration went back to normal. The injuries covering his body gradually healed, and his HP increased.
However, his max HP had dropped by about ten percent, and it was an irreversible decrease.
Hila would not sit back and let her opponent recover, so she borrowed the chance while Tolaen was in a confused state to stun him, stopping his retreat, before launching a storm like barrage, her death energy sweeping across the sky.
Tolaen could not understand how Hila’s Esper Ability worked, so he could only play a cat-and-mouse game, retreating whenever Hila approached. He did not dare advance aggressively like before, opting to only throw spells from a distance while brushing up on his shields, not willing to be hit by the death energy once again.
The situation instantly reversed, the pursuer becoming the pursued. Tolaen ran away while Hila chased after his butt.
The power of this move also gave Austin a nasty shock.
“Such a fierce newcomer? Eh… what can I say…”
He had worried that Hila would be tainted by the Polluted Blood, but he did not expect the tides to turn in just a moment.
“If it was me…”
Austin could not help but substitute himself in the battle and found that he would probably not have gotten off easily. Although he had various spells to remove any negative statuses, the erosion of the death energy was endless, and no matter how many times it was purified, the energy would still be attached to his body. The only solution was to not get hit by her Death’s Erosion.
In this case, while some Beyond Grade As would not lose to Hila, they would fear the repercussions of their actions, and this would affect their performance.
Tolaen was currently in this state. After being frightened by Hila’s burst attack, he became extra careful, choosing to be more defensive.
If he forced a close combat, he would expose his body, so it was better to kite her. However, his range would not outstrip hers; thus, there was no way to win at all, placing him in a difficult situation.
Tolaen secretly cried. This time, he had really kicked a metal plate!
Hila, however, did not care about her opponent’s psychological tricks. Since Tolaen was defending, she took the chance to attack and use Tolaen as a human target.
Boom boom boom!
Magic shields continuously shattered, like layers being peeled off an onion. It looked as though Hila was single-handedly thrashing Tolaen.
But it seemed that despite his ragged state, this Beyond Grade A mage Tolaen was not just for show. Supported by his massive mana reserves, magic shields continued to appear, barely blocking Hila’s frenzied attack.
This has become a war of attrition. Whoever’s strength is greater will win! Although I’m in a passive state, it’s not as if I have no chance of winning. I’ll see if her energy is higher or mine!
Tolaen felt his spirits being boosted.
The True Liberation of the Demon Race allowed one’s cells to generate more energy, and with both of them being new Beyond Grade As, he believed that his species had the advantage and could hold out for a longer period.
Hila’s brows furrowed as she also realized this point.
“Hmm… the expenditure in battle is not on my side.”
With her death energy being so powerful, the expenditure was naturally huge as well. Hila did not have many energy regaining skills, and her main recovery method was to recover her energy through killing. Because it was a spar, there were no soldiers to turn into her nourishment.
She had not entered Beyond Grade A long ago, so she did not have the time to learn many Energy Training Techniques. Thus, her energy limit was her restraining factor.
With a thought, Hila changed her tactics, and the death energy gathered in her palm, turning into a vortex-like shape. She exhibited a new skill.
[Abyss of the Dead!]
A weird spiritual wave suddenly spread out, and all the people around saw stars as their vision swam.
Their surroundings disappeared, replaced with only themselves, trapped within darkness with only a small beam of light at the top, as though they had fallen into a deep well.
“Argh!”
From below, countless screams pierced the ear. When one looked down, all they would see was translucent gray faces, containing all sorts of creatures and possessing all shapes and sizes, packed together.
Every face was contorted in pain and horror, screaming in different tones. The sea of faces was endless like the ocean, and this lent a strange type of horror to the scene. This would give most people a shock to their mental states, maybe even causing insanity.
These faces were all from the soul fragments of people killed by Hila. Their essence was integrated into her powers to help her grow, and the residue of the soul fragments would be deposited, forming this Abyss of the Dead.
At this moment, the faces suddenly stopped screaming, their eyes staring straight ahead. They all repeated a single sentence in uniform, forming a grand sound wave, much like an ethereal everlasting echo.
“Merge with us… be one with us…”
The next instant, countless hands stretched out from the sea of faces like tentacles. They were connected to each other like links in a chain, and they continued to extend and thicken, clinging to everyone’s legs as they grabbed them and pulled them down.
“Let me go!”
“Help!”
“Don’t grab that place!”
A sense of falling could be felt, and many screamed as they struggled.
The next moment, the scene in front of their eyes shattered like glass.
Many of the people who had covered their eyes hurriedly opened their fingers, observing the surroundings through the gaps between their fingers. They discovered that they were back to where they had been originally, as though everything that had just happened was an illusion.
Everyone broke out in cold sweat.
However, these spectators were all only affected by the aftereffects, and Tolaen was the true target. It was unknown what horror he saw, but his entire figure was frozen stiff, and he had halted all actions, just as though his Sanity[1] was completely depleted.
Upon getting a closer look, everyone was shocked to discover that there was actually an ethereal shadow coming out of Tolaen. This was his spiritual body, and he was being pulled out and struggling madly in midair.
If the onlookers could see his status bar currently, they would discover that he was being spammed by [Chaos], [Fear], and [Stunned] statuses.
The death energy naturally came with a spiritual attribute, and Hila had obtained a unique attacking method for the spirit. The [Abyss of the Dead] skill was a mind control technique that could pull out the soul of a target. Both sides would wage a war of mental states, causing the other party to temporarily lose control of their body.
As such, his magic shields were not replenished, and the countless death energy rays directly bombarded Tolaen’s body, smashing his body into a bloody mess.
“Stop!” Tolaen’s spiritual body was still struggling to get rid of the [Abyss of the Dead], and seeing this scenario, he could not help but feel his heart breaking.
That was his own body!
Being unable to control it, he could only watch his opponent ill-treat it. Seeing that he was about to turn into meat paste, he got anxious.
Hila, however, turned a deaf ear, as though she had made up her mind to make some Tolaen meat sauce this very moment.
Seeing this, Tolaen felt his heart chill. He immediately screamed, “Stop! Stop! I surrender!”
He only wanted a good battle record and was not willing to risk his life to this extent!
Hila narrowed her eyes before twirling her body. A burst of death energy burst out, directly knock Tolaen away and cancelling the effect of [Abyss of the Dead].
Tolaen’s spirit got rid of the restrictions and returned to his body.
The next moment, he was completely wracked with pain, and his spirit was even weaker, obviously having received heavy injuries.
“With such injuries, it might take me several years to recover…”
Tolaen’s expression was ashen, and he immediately retreated while glancing warily at Hila, as though afraid she would pursue him.
Seeing this, Hila took in the death energy back into her body before glancing at Tolaen and transmitting her thoughts in an icy tone.
“Scram.”
Hearing this, Tolaen was furious, but he was afraid of Hila and dared not attack.
“Hila, right? I’ll remember you!”
He gritted his teeth and flew back to the Arcane Church’s fleet.
To say that he was not frustrated would be a blatant lie. Tolaen actually wanted to earn some accolades for himself and use Ames as his stepping stone, but he had ended up as someone else’s stepping stone, giving them a glowing battle record.
This trip was nothing but a pure waste, and his mental state even got injured, which would take a long time to recover.
Since he had already lost, and in front of Black Star at that, he did not dare say anything. If Black Star actually took his arrogant words seriously, then he would definitely not be able to live.
“You’re not stopping him?” Ames threw Han Xiao a glance.
“He already lost. Let’s not make things difficult for him.” Han Xiao shrugged.
Tolaen was a strange combination of reckless arrogance and cautiousness. Since he did not make things difficult for Han Xiao, his serious injuries from Hila were enough. Just the reduced life span would give Tolaen endless regret in accepting her challenge.
Since the other party was on the receiving end of bad luck, Han Xiao was in a good mood and could not be bothered to pick a fight.
Glancing at Hila, who was slowly flying back, Han Xiao laughed as he spoke to Ames.
“The news of today’s battle will soon spread out, and other forces will soon know that there’s another new Beyond Grade A in the universe.”
“It’s finally time for you to experience a headache.” Ames smiled.
“What headache?”
“Hehe, remember how you wanted to create an independent group right after you reached the Beyond Grade A realm? Do you think that Hila will stay by your side?” Ames’ mouth curled up. “Do you think that a Beyond Grade A will willingly follow under you?”
“50/50.” Han Xiao did not deny it. “Even if she chooses to be independent, our relationship will still exist, and we’re still allies. The worst scenario is still good news.”
At that moment, a portal appeared beside them, and Austin flew out with a smile.
“Congratulations, Black Star. Your officer has risen to Beyond Grade A, and there are now six of us in the Shattered Star Ring. I think Psyker is going to shut himself in this time.”
“Hasn’t he already shut himself in for a long time?” Ames laughed.
As they chatted, Hila slowly landed on the dock and walked over. Austin’s eyes lit up, and he went up to introduce himself and converse. He loved meeting new people.
Hila and Austin could be said to be acquainted, but due to the difference in power levels, they only had an impression of each other. Now, they were finally communicating on equal footing.
She responded with a few cursory words, still maintaining her cold attitude, but Austin did not mind, and after laying his foundation of friendship, he bade farewell to everyone.
Han Xiao gazed at the closing portal and could not help thinking to himself, The movie watcher is finally gone…
At this moment, Hila turned her head over to see Han Xiao’s avatar. Pausing for a moment, she commented, “I’ll come to you for a talk when I return.”
“I’ll wait for you in the headquarters.” Han Xiao nodded.
He knew that Hila wanted to discuss her future. For an old friend like her, it was unsuitable to talk about such a matter with his avatar.
Hila nodded and turned to leave. She felt that there was nothing worth discussing with the avatar; a hunk of metal could not compare to the hunk in real life.
At the same time, Bennett received the report that the enemy had been repelled by Hila and heaved a sigh of relief.
Reading the report, the ease on his face turned into gratitude.
Hila has also become a Beyond Grade A?
That means there are two Beyond Grade As that appeared on Planet Aquamarine….
What are the odds?
This is the fortune of Planet Aquamarine!
Bennett could not help but sigh. Thinking of the old enemy he had spent half his life fighting against, he felt complex.
While you certainly did many wrongs, to have someone like you responsible for nurturing two good seeds for our planet, your merit is incalculable…
[1] For those of you who want to know more about Sanity, check out the game ‘Don’t Starve Together’. #notsponsored
Because of the Flickering World, countless organizations were gathering in the Shattered Star Ring. This star field was currently the liveliest place in the universe, attracting the attention of every corner of the known universe.
Tolaen’s battle was not kept secret, and the intelligence of this battle spread rapidly along the all-encompassing quantum network channel. In just a few hours, the entire Shattered Star Ring exploded in commotion!
The birth of every Beyond Grade A was a big event in the universe. After Black Star, the Shattered Star Ring had finally ushered in its sixth Beyond Grade A!
The news came too abruptly, and none of the organizations were prepared. Everyone started to urgently collect information about Hila’s past in order to understand the new Beyond Grade A.
Before this, due to the long period she spent in cultivation, she had few records in the universe and did not receive much attention. Her most representative identity was that of the Captain of Black Star Guards, and even then, she had disappeared from her post for twenty years. Now, she had quietly stepped into the Beyond Grade A realm and returned, showcasing her strength to the entire universe and leaving a convincing record!
Tolaen, who joined the Arcane Church a few years prior, was no weakling. He had taken the initiative to earn fame but ended up as a stepping stone for the other party’s rise.
To beat another Beyond Grade A newcomer meant that her immediate combat capabilities were considerable for her level, and while her promotion speed did not match up to Han Xiao’s, it was still much higher compared to the average time taken to promote to the Beyond Grade A realm. This meant that she had high potential, and her achievements would not stop there.
The location of Shattered Star Ring had always been remote, and it was the bottom level in terms of Beyond Grade A standard in the major star fields. This situation had improved somewhat with the birth of Black Star, and the promotion of Hila to Beyond Grade A had improved its status once more.
However, compared to the birth of a newcomer Beyond Grade A, the major organizations were more concerned about her identity.
Her identity and statuses were both unordinary!
Intelligence reports stated that not only was she a member of the Black Star Army, she was also the disciple of Ames. She was related to two big shots and was even born on Planet Aquamarine, the same place as Black Star!
Upon seeing her birthplace, everyone was stunned.
Planet Aquamarine…
Decades ago, this was still a backwater surface civilization, and it suddenly gave rise to two Beyond Grade A supers just like that!
What sort of mysteries did this planet contain, to be able to produce so many outstanding people!
This is no dogsh*t luck!
Even if they were to count all those in history, these two would probably be the only pair of Beyond Grade As that belonged to the same hometown!
Her unique status and identity were the reason all the organizations were shocked. Everyone’s primary concern was how this birth of a new Beyond Grade A would affect the current situation.
Given that Hila’s identity as an officer of the Black Star Army, the other organizations were all aware that the Black Star Army would undergo a new round of personnel shuffling and might even split, with Hila choosing to go independent. What would Black Star do?
With this mentality, everyone was watching where this situation would lead.
…
On Planet Heber…
“What, that Hila has stepped into the Beyond Grade A realm‽”
The Chief Vanguard Official Fosters jerked his head back as he dumbly looked at Jorde, who was reporting the news.
“That’s right. It was just yesterday when she defeated Tolaen of the Arcane Church. The news source has confirmed this.”
Jorde smiled bitterly.
It happened too quickly, so when the news was delivered to him, Jorde got a shock as well, leaving him speechless for quite a while.
“How could this be?” Fosters muttered to himself irresolutely, his expression a mask of incredulity.
Several decades ago, the two of them had represented their respective factions in a duel but were called to a stop before they could determine a winner. He had always treated Hila as his opponent but did not expect that the person he had once again identified as an opponent would throw him far behind.
The first was Black Star, and then it was Hila. Fosters could no longer hold in his depression and began to wonder… Could it be that the Black Star Army had a secret method to raise Beyond Grade As‽
The threshold for him to step into the Beyond Grade A realm was still far away, yet his opponents had all already crossed it. This sort of feeling was not good at all, and Fosters only felt a sense of powerlessness.
At the same time, with the Tyrant’s palace hall, Heber was discussing the same topic with Sorokin’s consciousness.
“An important officer of the Black Star Army has risen to the Beyond Grade A realm, and the greatest possibility is that they will now have an additional ally. This will cause Black Star’s power and influence in the Shattered Star Ring to expand once more, which is not good for us.” Sorokin had a resigned expression. He had not planned for such an unexpected scenario at all.
“Another person related to Black Star.”
Heber was a little unhappy, feeling sour in his heart.
How was it that Black Star had such good luck to be able to recruit such good talents?
I’m obviously also a Beyond Grade A, but why don’t I have any powerful officers under me?
“I don’t have enough intelligence on my hands on how to restrict Hila. I need to spend some time looking for her weaknesses. I’ll send my men to work on this.” Sorokin spread his hands out. “Let’s wait and see.”
“Suit yourself,” Heber nonchalantly replied.
…
Among the Star Pupil Holy Race…
“Another one‽”
After seeing the news, Psyker gritted his teeth, his seven eyeballs looking as though they were about to explode from anger.
After the incident at Planet Lighthouse, the standing of his race within the Shattered Star Ring had not been good, but now came along another Beyond Grade A ally of Black Star!
Black Star served the dynasty, so he stood on opposing sides to him. While Heber was not a friend of Black Star, his position remained the same for this matter. In addition, the other three Beyond Grade As were more or less related to Black Star. No local Beyond Grade As were on his side, and the number of enemies had increased from four to five.
F*ck your mom!
How can anyone continue to stay in this broken place‽
Psyker’s mentality was on the verge of collapse.
…
While the outside world was in chaos, Hila left Floating Dragon alone, heading toward the headquarters of the Black Star Army.
This time, Ames did not accompany her. She was forcibly stopped by Jenny to stay on Floating Dragon Island and complete her administrative duties.
Planet Aquamarine was quite close to the army headquarters, so she did not require much time to arrive there. Han Xiao, who had returned from the Flickering World not too long ago, was already waiting for her.
The moment she entered, Hila felt a difference in atmosphere.
Everyone in the Black Star Army knew that she had hit the Beyond Grade A realm, and everyone focused on her along the way, staring in awe and curiosity.
Her eyes did not deviate however, first going over to find Aurora. She walked straight into the officer’s resting room, where many of the older officers awaited her.
“Congratulations on reaching the Beyond Grade A realm.”
The moment she stepped in, everyone smiled as they congratulated her.
“Thanks.” Hila nodded. While she was cold by nature, she was not someone impersonal.
The atmosphere in the room was harmonious, and at this moment, a deep voice suddenly boomed, suppressing all the other voices.
“Captain, you’re finally back! I really missed you!”
Hadavy stepped out from the crowd, immediately stepping forward toward Hila with a sycophantic expression.
“You… missed me?” Hila looked suspicious. She did not remember her relationship with Hadavy being so good.
“Not just me. In the past twenty years, everyone in the Black Star Guards has missed you. Without your leadership, we were lost! It’s been a tough journey for you, and you’re probably tired, so why don’t you sit down for a while? Don’t tire yourself out.” Hadavy appeared extremely passionate, and one could imagine a dog wagging its tail at the place where he stood.
Everyone was stunned by his performance.
I swear this isn’t what you used to say…
This abrupt change in expression was even better than that of the face-swap operas!
Feidin raised his brows and spoke in a joking tone. “Is that so? Why do I remember that you seemed to have said that you wanted to challenge Hila to resign from her position the moment she returned so that you could take her position as Captain? In fact, your chance is here!”
“Nonsense! I never said such words!” Hadavy put on a righteous expression. “Hila, don’t listen to such rumors. They’re trying to create a rift between us. Whenever I mentioned you during this period, when wasn’t it to praise you? Don’t listen to those people who are envious of our relationship!”
He got a big shock when he found out that Hila had risen to the Beyond Grade A realm, and he immediately wished he could take back all the words he had spoken in the past few years.
The other party is already a Beyond Grade A. Snatch her position? Do you think I’m insane‽
What? You say I’m a coward?
Bullsh*t!
How could this be called being a coward! This is called tactical retreat!
Everyone was stunned. To lie like that without even blinking, his skin was indeed the thickest!
“Is that so? How come I don’t seem to believe any of that?” Hila snorted.
As they were chatting, Aurora walked into the room and called out in joy, “Sis, you’re back!”
Hila turned to look at Aurora, and her eyes immediately softened. She walked up to Aurora, sizing up her sister, before releasing a barrage of questions.
“How have you been? Have you been eating well, sleeping well…”
While she knew that Han Xiao would definitely take good care of her, after the Germinal Organization was destroyed, she had not separated from Aurora. She could not help over imagining things every day, fussing over Aurora.
The sisters talked for a while before Hila reluctantly separated with Aurora for the time being. She knew that Han Xiao was still waiting in his office for her.
Upon reaching the Army Commander’s office, Hila pushed the door open and saw Han Xiao seated behind his desk and smiling at her.
“You’re here.” Han Xiao nodded. “Congratulations.”
“I’ve fulfilled my promise, not returning until I’ve reached the Beyond Grade A realm.” Hila nodded, sitting opposite Han Xiao.
“I knew you’d achieve that. I never doubted you.” Han Xiao sized up Hila, discovering that she had become more perfect as a whole.
“And I know that you would definitely believe in me.”
They smiled at each other.
“I would be glad to listen to you talk about your experience, but we can put that off first. Now let’s talk about formal matters.” Han Xiao pointed toward the table as he stared at Hila. He slowly said, “Now that you’re a Beyond Grade A, tell me, what are your future plans? Do you wish to become independent?”
“If I choose to be independent, will you support me?” Hila turned the question back.
“We’re friends, so I will not force you to work for me. If you choose to be independent, I’ll support you to the best I can, helping you to develop your own Beyond Grade A organization.” Han Xiao knocked on the table as he smiled.
Hearing this, Hila did not immediately reply, but a hesitant look crossed her face.
The room descended into silence.
As time passed, Hila pondered in silence. Han Xiao waited with a smile on his face; he was in no hurry.
After quite some time, Hila slowly breathed out.
“I choose to be independent.”
Han Xiao’s brows rose. “Alright, then I shall have Sylvia…”
Before he finished, Hila cut him off and added, “But not now.”
Han Xiao’s face twitched. Seeing the teasing look in her eyes, he felt funny and speechless.
Kiddo, you dare tease me?
If you enjoy not finishing your sentences, why not go write a book?
Hila sighed before speaking from the bottom of her heart.
“In the past, I lacked a sense of security. I always wanted to keep up with you, so my only goal was to become stronger and stronger till I had enough power to protect myself. Now that I’m finally a Beyond Grade A and can protect myself in most situations, I haven’t really thought about what I should do next. So, I might as well stay in the army for now. If I change my mind in the future, I’ll think about it by then.”
Hila had already thought about this matter on the way back. What should she do after she had the power of a Beyond Grade A? She had no idea.
In the past, in order to become stronger, most of her time was spent in battle; she never stopped to appreciate the beauty of the universe. At least for now, Hila did not want to form her own organization.
Furthermore, thinking back on the path she had taken to get there, Han Xiao had given her way too much help. Without his referral, there was no way Ames would have taken her as her student. God only knew when would she have been able to become a Beyond Grade A.
After owing Han Xiao so much for so long, feeling like what she did in return was almost trivial, she absolutely did not want to split off as soon as she became a Beyond Grade A. Her personality would not allow her to always owe Han Xiao so many favors.
Back then, Black Star did indeed form his own organization as soon as he became a Beyond Grade A, but he had already made huge contributions to Floating Dragon, so he was in a good position to do so. Hila felt like her contribution to the army was far from what Han Xiao contributed to Floating Dragon in the past, so she could not shamelessly do the same as Han Xiao.
Most importantly, Hila knew how to kill and how to fight, but not how to form and operate an organization, nor did she want to waste her energy on such things. She had really inherited Ames’ ‘talent’ in this respect. She would rather use these times to strengthen her power. She was not interested in forming an organization right now.
From the way she looked at it, with her strength and her close relationship with Han Xiao, her position in the Black Star Army would basically be above all but one. If she wanted a force of her own, staying in the already enormous Black Star Army was better than spending time building a new organization. Furthermore, the Black Star Army was now at the top of the organizations in the Shattered Star Ring, so it was not suitable for her to create a new Beyond Grade A organization since she would not be able to obtain too many resources.
After hearing Hila’s explanation, Han Xiao laughed and said, “Okay, then stay in the Black Star Army for now. My promise will always be effective. If you want to split off and become independent one day, I will still help you.”
“Hmm.” Hila nodded.
“You’re already a Beyond Grade A, so it’s no longer suitable for you to be one of my Black Star Guards. Let’s see, I shall officially make you the Vice Army Commander of the Black Star Army. Your position will only be below mine and no one else, including Lagi. You will be involved in the most important decisions made in the army, and you will manage some of the daily functionalities such as mining of resources, arming the divisions, and so on. You will be given the power to command part of the army’s fleet, as well as have the position of the Commander of the Black Star Guards. However, you will not be part of my personal guards.”
With just a few sentences, Han Xiao promoted Hila and gave her a lot of power within the Black Star Army.
After all, her value was now different. Even if Hila did not need it, he had to give it to her. One reason for this was to show that Hila was very important to him and to emphasize the relationship between her and the army. Another was to prove to the outside world that he followed the rules of this industry.
Han Xiao was very content about keeping Hila.
He had thought of multiple scenarios, and Hila choosing to stay was the best outcome.
This was the first Beyond Grade A Officer in the army. Having one or two Beyond Grade As in one organization were two completely different concepts.
In the past, the army only had me to hold the ceiling. With Hila, she will be able to take care of many things for me, and it’s also beneficial to increasing the influence of the army…
“Vice Army Commander? Whatever.” Hila did not care about positions much. Suddenly, she pressed onto the edge of the table, leaned slightly forward, and said with a passionate look in her eyes, “We’ll talk about these things next time. I have a request. Let’s have a fight.”
“Sure,” Han Xiao agreed. “But not today. You have only just returned to the headquarters. Let’s get to that after you rest. Spend some time with your sister. I’ll need to take care of some matters too. In a few days, I will beat… ahem, fight with you.”
“Okay.”
Hila nodded and suppressed her heart that was filled with anticipation for the time being. Ever since she became a Beyond Grade A, she had been eager to discover how large the difference between the two of them was.
After chatting for a while longer, Hila left the room and went to see Aurora—the two of them had endless things to talk about after not seeing each other for quite many years.
Watching Hila leave, Han Xiao smiled. This time, the communicator suddenly rang.
He looked at it, and it was from Urranrell.
For the dynasty to contact me now, it’s probably about Hila… Han Xiao pondered for a moment before picking up the call.
“Your Excellency, what made you call me with your extremely busy schedule?” Han Xiao smiled as Urranrell appeared on the screen.
“I heard one of your Officers became a Beyond Grade A. Congratulations.” Urranrell nodded.
“Haha, her name is Hila. She’s not just my Officer but also an old friend. Her and I…” Han Xiao raised his brows and said, “Oh, almost forgot, you guys definitely have her information.”
“Hmm, have you spoken with Hila?”
“Coincidentally, I was just done speaking with her.”
“And how did it go? What’s her plan?”
“She doesn’t want to form an organization because she thinks it’s too troublesome, so she’s decided to stay here and assist me.”
“I see…” Urranrell paused, stayed silent for a moment, before slowly saying, “I have something to ask of you.”
“Go on.”
“If possible, I hope you can convince Hila to join the dynasty.”
As expected… Han Xiao smiled and did not speak.
His relationship with Hila made the dynasty feel that they had a very high chance to obtain a new Beyond Grade A ally, so they looked for him directly to make the first move.
Seeing that Han Xiao did not reply, Urranrell then asked, “What do you think?”
“No problem, I will try to convince her, but I can’t promise I’ll succeed,” Han Xiao replied.
“I understand.” Urranrell nodded. She would not force it.
This time, Han Xiao changed the topic and said, “By the way, since you contacted me, I have something to report to you. You asked me to maintain the order of the Shattered Star Ring, and I have an idea that can be used during such times. However, it’s quite an impactful one, so I need the dynasty’s support.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Due to the Flickering World, the Beyond Grade As of the various Star Fields will gather in the Shattered Star Ring, which will make up to at least ninety percent of all the Beyond Grade As in the entire universe,” Han Xiao slowly said. “Since that’s the case, I might as well take the lead and invite these people to gather in one place, hosting an enormous party for the Beyond Grade As of the entire universe and having a chat with everyone. This way, I can come to an agreement with all of them at once to not cause problems in the Shattered Star Ring.”
Hearing Han Xiao’s idea, Urranrell started thinking.
This would basically be equivalent to inviting all the Beyond Grade As in the entire universe, which would indeed be way too impactful. These people were all symbolic individuals of their various Star Fields. If this succeeded, it would be more than enough to cause a sensation throughout the universe.
It might even be written in history as a memorable major event.
As for what Black Star would gain from it, it was rather clear. First, it would save him time and energy to resolve the matter of Star Field stability at once, be it with negotiation or showcase of power.
Furthermore, if he could really gather all the Beyond Grade As together, as the host, Black Star’s influence would increase tremendously. It would be proof that all these Beyond Grade As were willing to give him face.
“How confident are you in being able to gather all of them?” Urranrell asked.
“About fifty percent.”
“Really?” Urranrell somewhat doubted him. “Most Beyond Grade As are smart; they know very well that answering your invitation means they’re indirectly helping you make an even bigger name for yourself. The dynasty’s Beyond Grade As are no problem, but can you ensure that the federation and the church are willing to give you face?”
“I can’t promise, but…” Han Xiao chuckled. “I think my face should be somewhat useful. As for those I’m not able to invite, I’m going to need the dynasty’s help.”
“Alright, it’s worth a try. I’ll have some people assist you.” Urranrell thought about it and approved of this plan, expressing that she would provide assistance.
“Then I shall thank the dynasty in advance.” Han Xiao smiled. He then suddenly said, “Other than that, I have something else to say.”
“Go on.”
“About the Evolution Cube, I’ve already thought about it.” Han Xiao shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t plan to use the Evolution Cube to exchange for something else for the time being. The truth is, I’ve read through the list the dynasty gave me many times, but sadly, there’s no Universal Treasure in the list I’m really interested in. I’m very appreciative of the fact that the dynasty is very sincere in this matter, but I’ve made up my mind.”
Urranrell stayed silent for a few seconds before slowly saying, “No problem, we won’t force you. If you changed your mind, contact me anytime.”
The two of them then chatted for a while more before ending the call.
Han Xiao played with the communicator, thought back about the conversation, and nodded.
After thorough consideration, he had decided to decline the dynasty’s proposal and keep the Evolution Cube.
The dynasty wanted ownership of the Evolution Cube to completely control the business of the Evolutionary Totems, which just so happened to be exactly what he wanted to control as well. This was a conflict of interests. Even if the dynasty would not be happy about it, he had to keep this crucial business in his hands.
Instead of relying on others, he preferred to rely on himself. His good relationship with the dynasty was not because of sentiment but because he was useful to the dynasty, and that was the foundation of the army.
Declining the proposal might make the dynasty unsatisfied, but there was absolutely no chance it would destroy their relationship—the dynasty still needed him.
The act of first mentioning the plan to gather all Beyond Grade As before his decision about the Evolution Cube was also a small test to see the change in attitude of the dynasty.
In order to control something, he had to have enough strength to match up to it. Indeed, the dynasty was undoubtedly a giant, but the current Black Star Army also had enough power to keep this profit in its hands, even more so with Hila’s return.
The root cause of the pressure from the federation and the church was the dynasty forbidding the sale of the totems to outsiders. However, if that was no longer the case, the answer to whether the federation and the church would want the dynasty or the dynasty’s allies to control the cube was extremely clear. They would rather have the dynasty’s ally to have the profit made from the totems than have their direct competitor control the business.
Although, on paper, both these cases would still mean that the dynasty was the one benefitting from it, the ownership of the profit was completely different.
“The dynasty will definitely make some moves privately. Let’s see what they’re going to do.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
…
The next day, an announcement was made in the Black Star Army.
“The sixth Beyond Grade A of the Shattered Star Ring who defeated Tolaen, Hila, will become the Black Star Army’s Vice Army Commander.”
Not splitting off and forming her own organization but continuing to stay in the Black Star Army!
Countless organizations were paying close attention to the matter. As soon as the news was out, the entire Star Field was shocked!
Everyone knew that since the Black Star Army had double Beyond Grade As, their influence would surge drastically.
Although Black Star could easily thrash multiple ordinary Beyond Grade As alone, to the galactic residents all around the entire universe, it was a world of difference.
Many organizations with ulterior motives were looking forward to Hila splitting off, but things went the complete opposite direction from what they hoped. They could not help but feel disappointed.
You’re a Beyond Grade A, yet you are satisfied with being below Black Star and working for him?
Can you have some backbone‽
Why not learn from your seniors and form your own organization!
Damn it, there must be a way to split them up!
On the other hand, to the partners and members of the Black Star Army, this was undoubtedly good news.
Knowing that Hila was staying, the entire army was thrilled!
With one more Beyond Grade A behind their backs, the army members were so much more confident that even the way they walked became prouder.
The influence showed very quickly—the army’s appeal to high standard talents became much higher.
Seeing that Han Xiao seemed to really have cultivated a Beyond Grade A, many Supers could no longer sit tight and only watch. Among which, the most affected ones were the neutral Beyond Grade A seeds, as the chance of becoming Beyond Grade As was lethally attractive to them.
…
Somewhere in the Shattered Star Ring, in an Arcane Church fleet…
The conference room of the main fleet was filled with projections of the Arcane Church’s allies. Tolaen was the only one present and sitting in the middle.
“… You’re saying that Hila’s Esper Ability has extraordinary damage to living things, and when it exploded, you were heavily injured in one hit?”
“That’s right. It was really painful. Also, she could even damage my mind. I’ll have to rest for at least a few years.” Tolaen clenched his teeth.
Tolaen was furious about losing to Hila. Not only did he lose, he even suffered damage that he could not easily recover from. It was mainly the damage caused to his mind, which needed to be dealt with slowly. Before he recovered, his control of spells would be reduced, and he would not be able to fight at his peak power.
After resting for a few days, he had contacted the others today and reported Hila’s ability.
Kasuyi slowly shook his head. “The Black Star Army has obtained a new Beyond Grade A with extraordinary potential. His organization has become stronger again.”
Many people were frowning because of this.
Among the three Universal Civilizations, the Arcane Church was the one that did not want the Black Star Army to become stronger the most. After all, they had suffered a huge loss during the Planet Lighthouse battle, and many people there held grudges against the Black Star Army.
At this time, Sun Hunter suddenly looked at his communicator. “Hmm? Black Star sent me a message.”
“What did he say?” Kasuyi turned and looked over.
“Er, he’s sent an invitation to us, asking us to go to his place as guests,” Sun Hunter said with a strange tone.
“Us?”
“Yes, he’s inviting… all the Beyond Grade As of the Arcane Church.”
Other than Kasuyi, the expression on everyone’s face changed, filled with shock and confusion.
Inviting all the Beyond Grade As of the Arcane Church?
What is Black Star doing? Is he itching to get beaten up‽
If it were others, they would think that this was basically suicide. But since it was Black Star, the people there believed that he could really just be itching to get beaten up.
Kasuyi shook his head. “I can somewhat guess what method Black Star is going to use. His reason is to maintain the stability of the Shattered Star Ring, and if we don’t go, he’ll target us afterward…”
“And we’re scared of him?” someone said furiously.
“We’re not, but the Black Star Army has an enormous force in the Flickering World, so the church won’t want to mess with him. Furthermore, the church has to think of Psyker. He lives in the Shattered Star Ring and has nowhere to run. If Black Star wants to find someone to settle the issue, he’s going to get it,” Kasuyi said calmly.
Sun Hunter squinted. “But if we all respond to his summon, it will increase his reputation and influence drastically, and he’s not even hiding the fact that this is his goal. There’s no way the upper echelons don’t know about this. Furthermore, will the Beyond Grade As of the other organizations be willing to be used by Black Star?”
“The dynasty is definitely giving their full support to this, and the federation might agree to it too,” Kasuyi said.
“The Federation of Light might agree?” Tolaen doubted.
Kasuyi looked at him. “The Shattered Star Ring is, after all, the Federation’s territory.”
…
At the same time, the Federation of Light has received Han Xiao’ invitation and immediately gathered their various allies to discuss it.
“Black Star wants to host a large Beyond Grade A meeting. His intentions are clear. Do we have to help him build his reputation?”
With his two arms crossed and two other arms placed on the table, Sierron said with a cold and disdainful expression, “Although he’s a peak Beyond Grade A, isn’t he overestimating himself too much? What, he thinks that everyone else has to give him face?”
He was a crucial ally of the Federation of Light, a member of the elderly celebrity group who held a very high position in the circle of Beyond Grade As. His position was equivalent to the dynasty’s Milizaus or the church’s Sun Hunter.
Another Beyond Grade A turned to look at Bader, the President of the Federation, and asked, “What are your thoughts on this?”
“Maintaining the stability of the Shattered Star Ring isn’t a bad thing to us,” Bader said slowly. “Even without the dynasty leading this, I wasn’t planning to cause trouble. The development of the Flickering World is about to start, so there’s no need to cause unnecessary conflict.”
“So, since we never wanted to cause trouble, there’s no need to respond to Black Star, right?” someone asked.
“I’m still considering it,” the Chief Elder said. “From the way things are looking now, there’s indeed no need to give Black Star face and help to increase his influence. This contradicts our strategy to pressure the dynasty for the past few decades.”
“I think that we can help Black Star a little.” This time, someone actually spoke for Han Xiao. “From what I see, the pressure we’ve applied all these years has been quite effective. In addition to some special reasons, the dynasty opening up the purchasing right is just a matter of time…”
Everyone turned to look at this person with different expressions on their faces.
This person’s name was Hades, a relatively new Beyond Grade A. He had joined the Federation rather recently and never had any notable achievements, so his position was plain. No one expected him to suddenly express his opinion. It seemed like he had a source of intelligence unknown to others.
“You said that there are special reasons that are going to cause the dynasty to open up the purchasing rights of the totems? What inside information do you know?” Bader questioned.
“Just some trivial pieces of intelligence.” It was clear that this was a perfunctory response, and Hades did not want to say anything.
Seeing this, Bader was a little unsatisfied. Knowing that continuing to ask would not result in anything, he asked, “Then, why are you saying we should help Black Star?”
“Simple,” Hades said. “The Evolution Cube is the core of the Evolutionary Totem business. If the dynasty opens the totem purchasing rights one day, our demand will be met. In that case, if the dynasty is the side who own the cube, not only will we not have any chances, but the dynasty will also receive the most of the profit made by it. Comparatively, it’s better to continue letting Black Star keep the cube.
“Therefore, we can help Black Star to increase his position and reputation, preventing him from breaking under pressure and giving the dynasty the Evolution Cube.”
“Sounds logical, but since the totem purchasing rights are not open yet, whatever you’re saying won’t make a difference. Helping Black Star now is going against our strategy to pressure the dynasty and will only cause more trouble for us. If you can prove that the dynasty will definitely open the purchasing rights for the totems, tell us the inside information you have. Only then will your proposal be meaningful.” The Chief Elder’s thoughts were very clear.
“I have reliable sources. The information is definitely trustworthy.” Hades shook his head and still did not plan to explain.
This time, Manison, who had been watching from the side and not saying anything, turned his head and calmly said, “Do what you guys want, but I’ll accept Black Star’s invitation.”
The others were shocked. They all looked at him, many confused.
“Don’t you have conflicts with Black Star that are yet to be resolved? Isn’t your relationship with him not good?” Sierron asked.
“That has nothing to do with you.” Manison casually waved. “I think that this is a festival, and I want to make it happen. Usually, the Beyond Grade As are all staying in their own territories. Since this rare opportunity has come up for us to gather in one Star Field, we should all meet.”
Everyone sized Manison’s expression up but could not see through his thoughts. They were all confused and did not understand what Manison’s intentions were.
Logically, Manison and Black Star were competitors, so Manison should want to suppress him as much as possible. Why would he help him? No one knew what he was thinking about.
Looking around at the others, Manison shook his head in his mind.
He was not worried about this matter increasing Han Xiao’s influence, as an increase in regular reputation would not impact their position in the Machinery Faith. The believers only cared about mechanical abilities and the result of battles between mechanics, nothing else. Therefore, he did not care if Black Star became more famous.
However, this was also not because Manison wanted to help Han Xiao. His main goal was to indirectly increase the position of all the Beyond Grade As in the universe through this event.
Beyond Grade As were already at the top of the universe, but he felt that it was not enough. In the eyes of the advanced civilizations, their value was more focused on strategic intimidation and killing each other. It had been like this for many years, and Manison wanted to improve this situation.
If all these Beyond Grade As were gathered because of this opportunity, once the advanced civilizations thought about how much power they had if they came together, the advanced civilizations would be more fearful to them. Thus, they would be more important to the advanced civilizations. This would cause some implicit impacts, but overall, there were both pros and cons. Nonetheless, there were more pros than cons to Manison—he had already looked beyond what he had now and planned to bring more benefits to the standard that the Beyond Grade As represented.
In other words, Manison was consciously increasing the ceiling of the entire industry. Of course, it was mainly for his own benefits.
He also did not mind that Han Xiao was the one leading this festival. Although they were competitors, they also had similarities with both being Mechanics. With Black Star gaining more fame, more people would be attracted to becoming Mechanics, which would be beneficial for the Machinery Faith. This way, as the man at the top of the Mechanics, Manison would also benefit from it.
Of course, if he was the one leading it, he would benefit even more. However, Manison was not a petty man. Since Black Star was the one who suggested it first, he did not bother taking that away. Furthermore, Black Star had the excuse of maintaining the order for the Star Field, while he was in no position to gather all these people.
…
Compared to the church and the federation, the Beyond Grade As of the Crimson Dynasty reacted much more positively.
Milizaus tutted. “Black Star’s ways of obtaining profit are really superb.”
Everyone shook their head and chuckled.
All these Beyond Grade As gathering in the Shattered Star Ring was initially a bad thing that would impact the stability of the Star Field, yet Black Star saw an opportunity and turned it into a good thing.
Everyone knew Han Xiao’s goal in doing this. Not only was it to increase his reputation and influence, but it was also to confirm his position as the head of the Beyond Grade As in the Shattered Star Ring.
Also, it just so happened that the Black Star Army recently revealed a new Beyond Grade A, so Black Star could ride this wave to further solidify the position of the Black Star Army.
Another clearer and more direct influence of this would be that the Bloodshed Land’s competitiveness would be reduced. The Limitless Financial Group would also be heavily affected and would no longer be able to cause any trouble to the Black Star Army in the short term.
“Black Star’s methods really are creative. He must be having fun.” Kant smiled. He had turned into an adorable little black pig the size of a palm. He was sitting right up with his two back legs split like a man sitting with legs closed. His two short front legs were barely crossed.
“The dynasty is publicly expressing their support. I wonder what Heber thinks about this.” Beyoni chuckled.
“It’s not that the dynasty doesn’t care about him; he just isn’t strong enough,” Clotti calmly said.
…
In the Bloodshed Land, Heber and Sorokin’s doppelganger sat opposite each other.
“With the Black Star Army obtaining a new Beyond Grade A, Black Star made his move as expected. He wants to completely solidify his position in the Shattered Star Ring. Sigh, this is an open and direct move. I can’t do anything about it. If he succeeds, more than half of the results we achieved all these years will be lost.”
Sorokin shook his head with resignation.
He knew that Black Star was not one to easily let go of opportunities. As he expected, Black Star used the heat brought by the new Beyond Grade A in his army to make a move. Due to how sudden this was, he did not even have enough time to complete the investigation on Hila, so of course, he could not counter this.
Furthermore, Black Star had invited all the Beyond Grade As this time, so the result was not something he could interfere with. The only thing he could do was watch.
Heber did not reply immediately. He stared down at the invitation envelope in silence.
“Your Excellency Heber, are you planning to reject Black Star’s invitation? I don’t recommend it.”
Heber looked at him before slowly saying, “Reason.”
“The dynasty’s stance is very clear. They’re supporting Black Star. If you refuse, you’d be going against the dynasty, and that’s not a good choice.” Sorokin shook his head. “If everyone else in the dynasty goes and you don’t, you’ll stand out way too much. By then, it won’t matter if you go; not going will be even more embarrassing.”
“I don’t need you to teach me.” Heber snorted. “What about you? Are you going?”
“Of course.” Sorokin smiled. “After all, Black Star and I are just business competitors. We have no hatred for each other. Furthermore, I’m in no place to insult him.”
He did not like to stand out; following the crowd was more beneficial to hiding himself.
Your skin is so damn thick… Heber could not help but complain in his mind.
“Sigh, it’s a shame. If only you and I were the ones to lead this festival.” Sorokin sighed. “Maybe us Beyond Grade As know the reasoning behind this and won’t think it’s a big deal, but to the outside world, it’s like we all basically responded to Black Star’s call. If the Black Star Army was listed, just this one event will make his market capital rocket.”
As for now, me joining this festival should increase the Limitless Financial Group’s market capital a little too, Sorokin thought.
Not caring about Sorokin, Heber looked at the invitation envelope again. He was not willing to watch Black Star solidify his position as the head of the Star Field.
Sadly, after the lesson he learned last time, he knew that he was no match for Han Xiao, so there was nothing he could do.
…
Among the Star Pupil Holy Race…
“He even invited me‽”
Psyker was shocked and confused.
Honestly, he did not want to accept Han Xiao’s invitation at all.
But the problem was, he did not dare reject.
Black Star was too strong now. Psyker’s race was right in the Shattered Star Ring. If he made Black Star lose face, what if he found a reason and charged right over there‽
Even though the hatred between the two of them was immense, Psyker had lived on with the shame and grown low profile without doing anything. He did not dare to mess with Han Xiao.
For a Beyond Grade A, this is way too shameful!
Move! I have to move house!
Psyker roared in his heart. This was the second time he had experienced a break down this month.
…
Han Xiao sending out invitations was not announced to the public, but rumors of it still surfaced.
Usually, things happening between these Beyond Grade As hardly ever got leaked. However, the various media outlets of the Shattered Star Ring somehow got the news from somewhere and sent people to the Black Star Army to ask around, wanting to follow up on the story and make it into a huge deal.
The clearest indication of that was the new scenery at the Black Star Army headquarters—a group of extremely persistent reporters who were chasing after army members to ask questions.
Han Xiao did not stop it. It was clear that the dynasty had secretly leaked this. Since they were hosting a festival, building it up was unavoidable. Only then would the impact of it be maximized.
He initially wanted to do it himself, but the dynasty did it for him and saved him some trouble.
There were still some days till the day of the meeting, and most of the Beyond Grade As had yet to arrive. Han Xiao told Sylvia to prepare for this while he paid attention to the responses of the Beyond Grade As from all organizations.
Originally, he prepared some methods to convince some Beyond Grade As. However, unexpectedly, it went smoother than he thought. Most people agreed, and it seemed like he did not have to use those methods at all.
“It turns out that without me knowing, my face is already this valuable…”
Han Xiao was pleased.
After so many decades in the universe, my face has ascended to a new realm!
Since things were going so well, he had nothing to worry about. Other than the benefits everyone knew he would get from hosting this festival, he had another goal that no one knew about.
Legendary Point!
The sources of Legendary Points were extremely complex, and one was doing all kinds of major things. Han Xiao estimated that this would most likely give him a Universe Legendary Point, and even Political Asset was possible.
Furthermore, he could use this opportunity to find out all about these Beyond Grade As and memorize the Attributes Interface of everyone!
As he thought about the plan, his room door suddenly opened. Hila walked in and immediately cut to the chase.
“It has already been five days. I’ve rested enough. Let’s do it.”
It had been five days since Hila returned. She had been looking forward to the spar, and she had gone to his room again.
“Alright, let’s have a fight but not in the headquarters. Let’s head into space.”
Han Xiao then stood up. He had agreed to this before, and he had no reason to decline today.
As a new Beyond Grade A and the new Vice Army Commander, Hila had been receiving a lot of attention recently. The more famous she was, the more it would benefit the army. Therefore, Han Xiao was not going to damage her reputation.
Hence, the spar between the two of them was completely private, and Han Xiao did not need to improve his reputation by beating Hila anyway.
The two of them quietly left the Black Star Army headquarters and found a desolate planet. Han Xiao then used some anti-detection devices to draw out a battlefield.
“Here will do.”
The two of them landed on the lead gray surface. Han Xiao raised his hand and opened the secondary dimensional army box. Groups of mechanical soldiers swarmed out and machines spread like a tide.
With him there, he could use all his troops, which was an enormous amount. Even though he did not summon his whole army, it still quickly filled up the ground and the sky.
Psionic Prime and some of the Apostle Weapons who had returned from the Flickering World stood in a row at the front of the army.
Han Xiao then summoned a Lord’s Avatar and shifted his consciousness within before sending his original body away from the battlefield.
Sparring was one thing, but he had no plan to cut his lifespan. Going there himself was to express his seriousness, and changing into an avatar was being cautious.
Hila squinted, not saying anything as she approved with silence.
Although she hoped that Black Star could use all of his strength to fight her, she knew that there was something strange about her ability, and she did not want to cause any unknown damage to Han Xiao. Furthermore, Black Star’s avatar was difficult enough to deal with, as well as those Apostle Weapons on the side.
After stepping into the Beyond Grade A realm, despite the fact that Hila was very confident, she knew that the chance of her beating Han Xiao was extremely low. She mainly wanted to see how vast the difference between her and Han Xiao was.
Hila took a deep breath. Her eyes suddenly glowed like rubies as masses of blood-red death energy flew out from her body and up into the sky continuously, painting the sky scarlet. The red energy continued to expand and seethe violently like a roaring sea, matching the size and impact of the mechanical army.
“Are you ready? I’m coming.”
Hila entered combat mode, and her expression became calm and indifferent.
Han Xiao closed the secondary dimensional army box, stretched the neck of his avatar and released his Mechanical Force to enhance the entire army. He then looked down at the ground he was stepping on and shook his head with resignation. “Another planet gone to waste.”
As soon as his sentence ended, Hila pushed both her hands forward and attacked without saying a word!
Boom!
The death energy condensed in the air slammed down violently like the sky falling, including all the machinery at the front in its attack range!
The exterior armor of all the mechanical soldiers reflected the bloody red tide. Psionic Prime looked up, slightly raised the Psionic Prime Spear, and tapped the ground softly.
Pa!
With him as the center, a light blue psionic barrier expanded out extremely quickly and instantly shrouded the mechanical army.
The tsunami-like death energy slammed onto the psionic barrier, creating a wave of earth trembling impact!
With a blinding flash, an energy wave mixed in both red and blood swept out!
Rumble!
The earth split open, ashes shot up like fountains, rifts were created, tectonic plates slammed into each other, and mountains appeared out of nowhere. The terrain within hundreds of miles changed extremely quickly!
Hila’s expression changed—she did not expect Psionic Prime to be able to fight her head on.
She thought that Han Xiao would be using strategies, tactics, and the quantity of the army to win, but she never expected Han Xiao’s Apostle Weapons to have already become this strong.
Hila’s eyes concentrated as she flew up the sky. She then pressed her hands down. The power of the death energy that was eroding and impacting the psionic barrier increased once again. Large cracks immediately appeared on the psionic barrier that was only barely holding on in the first place.
Suddenly, with a deafening blast, the barrier shattered into pieces of light!
After all, Hila was nothing like Kohler or Beyoni; the Apostle Weapons were still not strong enough for her.
The mechanical army suddenly split up and activated their own psionic shields, preparing to defend the impact of the death energy while raising their barrels to counterattack.
Countless energy cannons focus fired on Hila. The scorching light seemed to have slashed open space, leaving only light trails behind. Not many Beyond Grade As would be willing to take on such a powerful bombardment head on, and Hila was no exception.
Her body moved extremely quickly in midair to dodge the attacks as seemingly infinite death energy flew out from her body, forming layers of protective shields that shrouded her. Attacks from energy cannons landed on her shield occasionally, blasting open cracks after cracks.
Her death energy could be used to attack and defend—there were hardly any Beyond Grade As who had no methods to create shields.
Using the power of the [Power of the Dead] to fight a mechanical army actually placed her at a disadvantage, as most mechanical soldiers were objects and Hila’s ‘life steal’ attribute could not be triggered, which cut off one of her crucial methods to regenerate health.
Furthermore, the psychological damage of the death energy had no use on the mechanical army, which meant that she lost another advantage.
Her Esper Ability could only live to its fullest potential when facing opponents with life.
Defense was not Hila’s strong suit. After being enhanced so many times, the power of the mechanical army’s attack was already completely different from the past. As soon as the army was fully utilized in the battle, Hila felt an immense sense of pressure. Han Xiao’s attacks kept penetrating her shield and landing on her body. Her health bar lowered continuously, and her injuries started to build up.
However, Hila’s regeneration ability was strong. Although it could not be compared with Aurora, it was still quite impressive. When her level was extremely low, she already had the [High Speed Regeneration] talent, which used the Power of the Dead to nourish her flesh. In terms of stats, it increased her usual regeneration speed by five hundred percent and her regeneration speed by one to two thousand percent when using energy.
Upon entering the Beyond Grade A realm, she had received even more regeneration type abilities. Even though her ‘life steal’ attribute could not be used, her regeneration speed was still extremely fast. She was one of those who looked very paper but was actually very tanky—in this respect, she was quite similar to Han Xiao.
For the time being, she could still stand the focus fire of the mechanical army.
“Not bad. Looks like she won’t lose very quickly.” Han Xiao smiled with satisfaction while continuing to farm his distance travelled.
As soon as the battle started, he had made his avatar activate [Charge—Endless Potential] and started to keep moving around to farm the distance moved.
As the ability would only activate on his next melee ranged attack and the distance travelled would be reset to zero once he stopped moving, he could still use his army to attack while easily farming his distance travelled all the time.
As his level was above Hila’s, the combat information on the interface showed all of Hila’s attributes, which Han Xiao browsed through while keeping himself at a distance from the battle between his army and Hila.
After looking for a while, even Han Xiao was jealous of how amazing these attributes were.
Compared to a ‘fake genius’ like him who kept obtaining talents from here and there, Hila was truly one with extraordinary talent. She had a ton of talents, and most of them were exclusive personal abilities.
After becoming stronger in the future and her basic attributes got higher, the effects of these talents would become even more overpowered. Now, however, she was far from the peak she reached in Han Xiao’s previous life. Even if she finally became a Beyond Grade A, she was still no match for Han Xiao.
As Han Xiao expected, Hila’s Beyond Grade A Talents were [Supreme Power], which largely increased her Esper Ability strength, and [Cell Reaction Furnace], which largely increased her energy value.
Although Han Xiao had to go easy on Hila to protect her confidence, he did not want to go too easy on her and did not want to drag this out.
Despite the focus fire of the army being powerful, Hila was not threatened by it for the time being. What really gave her danger was the group of Apostle Weapons led by Psionic Prime.
Each and every one of the Apostle Weapons was very strong individually; they were much stronger than when Han Xiao fought Ames. They were ganging up on Hila and forced her to make a lot of mistakes.
Boom!
Numerous waves of death energy beams were shattered half-way. Scarlet Flame, whose body was an artillery cannon, fired nonstop, shooting out countless dark energy beams and stopping more than half of Hila’s ranged attacks directed at the Apostle Weapons.
Heaven-Suppressing Banner charged forward, swapping his weapons continuously and slashing open the occasional death energy beams that got to him, none of which were able to stop him for even a second. His body was equipped with countless high technology melee weapons. He was a weapon master, and he also took the position of the head drill sergeant of the combat tactics in the machinery civilization.
As he successfully entered melee range, he immediately rolled and jumped up, swapping smoothly between all kinds of weapons and using a set of combos like a Mechanical Pugilist. His mechanical body was extremely mobile and swift; his attacks looked so appealing to the eye that it was as if he was dancing.
Hila had no choice but to concentrate death energy on her own body and turn her body into a weapon to deal with the pressure from Heaven-Suppressing Banner. Sadly, her melee combat ability was no match for a weapon master who was proficient with countless weapon styles. It was not long before she could no longer match up to the skills of Heaven-Suppressing Banner and was only getting beat up.
Clank!
Hila’s hand blocked the alloy vibrating war axe, leaving a shallow red mark. She suddenly raised her leg high and kicked the axe down. She shot a highly condensed beam of death energy from her hand and blasted Heaven-Suppressing Banner far away.
Before she could take a break, the space before her rippled, and Mad Sky Hunter appeared using teleport. He opened his mouth full of metal sharp teeth and pounced at Hila’s neck.
“Go away!”
Hila reacted quickly. She lowered her head and raised her hand before turning around and elbowing behind herself.
As the tip of her elbow landed on Mad Sky Hunter’s chin, death energy exploded, creating an impact wave and blew this mechanical beast away.
At that moment, a purple shadow arrived from above, covered in a special twisted force field and dragging a lightning-like energy trail. It slammed into Hila and pushed her toward the ground.
This was a muscular purple mechanical soldier filled with nano-biological muscles, covered in lightning-like energy. It was indeed Purple Sky Spirit in overclocking mode.
Hila spun like a gyroscope. She tried to stabilize her body while spraying death energy to force the Apostle Weapons back, hoping to catch her breath.
However, at this time, a little dot penetrated the red curtain and glowed before Hila’s eyes.
Swoosh!
Hila hastily turned her head. This dot slashed past her cheek, leaving a shallow bloody mark.
This dot came from the tip of a spear, and the one holding the spear was Psionic Prime.
Among the Apostle Weapons, Psionic Prime was the strongest, and Hila did not have an easy time dealing with him. Furthermore, with the other Apostle Weapons also taking part in the battle, she became more and more passive.
The two sides fought intensely for a very long time. The surface of the planet had a completely new look, like an egg with a cracked shell. Lava flew within rifts, and countless plates clashed toward each other, causing violent earthquakes.
“Hu… hu…”
Blood dripped from the sky. Hila was covered in blood and looked exhausted. Her specially made battle suit had holes everywhere, showing large portions of white. Melee weapons were plugged on her shoulder, abdomen, and leg. The intensity of the battle could be seen just from the state she was in.
“How unflinching.” Han Xiao tutted internally.
Hila was used to going all out when fighting. Even if it was just a spar with Han Xiao, she still fought with her life.
Han Xiao had gone a little easy and told his mechanical troops to hold back, so as to give Hila a chance to go all out. She would only be satisfied if he still beat her in an overwhelming manner in this kind of situation.
This time, Hila pulled out the weapons stuck in her body. The open wounds slowly closed up and recovered. She looked around at the group of Apostle Weapons and suddenly took a deep breath before snapping her finger.
After such a long fight, all the Apostle Weapons including Psionic Prime had fifteen layers of [Death’s Erosion], and they all exploded simultaneously!
Boom!
Red light exploded from the Apostle Weapons, and they were all heavily injured.
Detonating the energy had nothing to do with life force, since at its core, [Death’s Erosion] was about the highly erosive death energy. Therefore, unlike her ‘life steal’ attribute, this ability was effective on any target, including machines.
The death of mechanical lives meant that their tinder was extinguished, which the erosion of death energy could definitely do. However, Hila did not lose her senses during the battle, so she would not kill Han Xiao’s important combatants. Hence, she did not trigger the possible death effect, only the basic effect, which wiped out a ton of health from these Apostle Weapons.
Being heavily injured, Psionic Prime and the various Apostle Weapons showed flaws. Hila took the opportunity and immediately escaped, heading directly toward the Lord’s Avatar like a red meteor, blowing away all the mechanical soldiers in her path.
“This is the last attack, I see.”
Han Xiao could see the combat information. He knew that Hila’s health was close to zero.
Knowing that Hila could weaken regeneration, Han Xiao did not let his avatar take any of the attacks and heavily injured Hila with just his Apostle Weapons and the mechanical army. Now, however, he controlled his avatar to turn around and charge right toward Hila.
Above the demolished earth, a black and a red meteor crashed into each other!
Han Xiao did not hold back at all. [Charge—Endless Potential]’s power fused entirely into his fist and slammed onto Hila’s chest.
Bang!
It was as if the sky cracked open!
A powerful impact wave exploded and blew away all the dust around.
An enormous hole appeared on Hila’s chest, penetrating right through. Her organs were shattered into pieces, and all the blood had splashed out together with pieces of her flash.
Hila’s eyes lost focus. She fell straight down and landed on the ground, creating a huge crater.
“Target no longer has any signs of life.” Psionic Prime looked over and was a little shocked. “Lord, y-you killed her? Wasn’t it just a spar‽”
Han Xiao glanced at him and deactivated Lord’s Descent. His original body slowly landed beside Hila.
“D-did we go overboard?” The various Apostle Weapons quickly followed and exchanged looks. They all looked down with guilt like kids who had done something wrong.
Han Xiao did not say anything. At this time, waves of gray energy suddenly gathered from all directions and fused into Hila’s ‘corpse’. Her eyes immediately regained life, but the dark red glow became gray.
The next moment, her broken body recovered at a visible speed. Flash grew out, organs reappeared, and wounds healed.
Her pale face slowly became red. Hila sat up and gasped for air. The glow in her eyes suddenly disappeared, and she started coughing severely.
“Cough cough cough…”
Han Xiao had expected this. With a smile on his face, he patted softly on her back. “Does it hurt? Take deep breaths, slowly.”
Hila had the [Ignore Sudden Death] talent, which he had witnessed long ago and was also clearly shown on the interface. He knew that Hila would not completely die after dying once, and she would be fine no matter how heavily injured she was. That was why he decided not to hold back and used [Charge—Endless Potential] to beat her into the state of close death.
He knew all about Hila’s personality, and beating her up with full force would actually make her satisfied. She had quite the potential of having the masochism trait.
After resting for a while, Hila finally stopped coughing and had a speechless look on her face.
“You really didn’t hold back at all. I was even killed.”
Han Xiao raised his brows and shrugged. “Isn’t this what you wanted. Don’t you like it?”
Hila snorted and did not object.
Having almost been beaten to death once, Hila was not unhappy at all. Since she had gone all out, this kind of battle was exactly what she wanted. She was very satisfied with the fact that Han Xiao did not hold back.
Furthermore, through this spar, Hila had a clearer understanding of Han Xiao’s strength among Beyond Grade As, and she was secretly impressed.
She did not expect to still be completely overwhelmed even after becoming a Beyond Grade A. The difference was still so huge.
Hila did not become disappointed or despondent because of this. Instead, it motivated her.
Hoping to catch up to someone like him… it isn’t that easy to succeed. No matter, it’s only fun when it’s challenging. Hila encouraged herself in her mind.
She had always respected the strong, and she could not help but admire Han Xiao even more.
“I’ve lost, but it was an amazing fight. It was worth it.” Hila smiled from the bottom of her heart. She did not have many hobbies; fighting was one of the few.
“Tsk, what a fighting maniac.” Han Xiao shook his head and laughed. He rubbed her head and said, “Can you still walk?”
“Don’t touch my head. Let’s go back.”
Hila tilted her head and avoided Han Xiao’s hand. Then she tried to stand up. However, having just recovered from close death, she was not in a good state, and her stamina was completely drained. Seeing this, Han Xiao wrapped his arm around Hila’s shoulder and helped her up.
Hila glanced at him and did not reject it, letting him help her into the spaceship. She even actively nudged into Han Xiao’s arms a little.
…
After this fight, the two of them became even closer.
In the past, although they were close, they were on completely different levels. Now that both of them were in the same realm, they had much more common language. The relationship between the two of them quickly improved, and the awkwardness and distance from not seeing each other for twenty years disappeared immediately.
Hila enjoyed this a lot.
In the past, I could only look at your back. Now… I can say that I’m standing beside you, right?
Information about the private spar did not leak, so it did not stir up any storm.
One phenomenon that attracted the most attention in the Shattered Star Ring was that more and more Beyond Grade As were arriving without any signs of trying to hide themselves, leading their fleets and heading toward the Black Star Army’s headquarters.
The local galactic residents of the Shattered Star Ring all focused their attention on these Beyond Grade As and the Black Star Army. They could all smell a gigantic piece of breaking news coming.
As more and more bosses from various places arrived in the Shattered Star Ring, this Star Field became increasingly boisterous. Each and every Beyond Grade A attracted attention from countless galactic residents and organizations. They could be considered a type of idol.
Other than the things they had done, one of the other important sources of their fame was Wayne Cards. Every one of them had their own set of cards, and there were way too many people who played Wayne Cards in the universe, so they knew these bosses all too well.
On this day, spaceships circled around far away from the Black Star Army headquarters. Most of them were media reporters who had heard about the event, and about ninety percent of all the media reporters in the Shattered Star Ring were there.
The reporters had camped there for many days, witnessing the fleets of Beyond Grade As enter the Black Star Army’s headquarters one after another.
“How many are already here?”
“Twenty-seven! And there are more Beyond Grade As on their way.”
“So many Beyond Grade As gathering, something big is definitely going to happen!”
“Are they planning a coup d’état‽”
They were tempted by curiosity and wished they could rush into the Black Star Army headquarters to uncover the truth.
As soon as the first Beyond Grade A, Ames, arrived, these reporters were all chased out and not allowed to enter the Black Star Army headquarters. They had no choice but to linger outside and watch.
Without their curiosity satisfied, these reporters seemed to have become raging monkeys—they could not sit tight even for a second.
Although the dynasty had leaked some information, it was only ambiguous so that the sense of mystery would still remain. The reason that these Beyond Grade As had gathered in the Black Star Army was not explained so that the outside world would speculate and discuss the topic more.
It was clear that creating this kind of suspense was extremely effective. The Shattered Star Ring had already received a lot of attention from the outside world due to the Flickering World in the first place, and this became the hot topic immediately.
Everyone was filled with doubt.
About eighty percent of all the Beyond Grade As in the entire universe had suddenly gathered, why?
The circle of the Beyond Grade As was too distant for ordinary people. Without any source of inside information, there were too many questions that remained unanswered.
Among which, Black Star was mentioned the most. The interest the entire universe had in Han Xiao increased once again.
Why are all these bosses choosing the Black Star Army as the location to gather?
Why can Black Star summon all of them?
In the past years, Han Xiao had kept a low profile and did not attract much attention. Only recently did he suddenly do something this sensational. Many people wrongly assumed that Black Star had done something secretly over the years that caused his reputation to suddenly skyrocket.
It was not long ago that the Black Star Army acquired a second Beyond Grade A, and now, they were gathering about eighty percent of all the Beyond Grade As in the universe. They were definitely planning to do something big!
Almost everyone thought the same.
At this time, two more fleets arrived with hyperdrive from afar, one in front and one at the back. The exterior armor on the ships had symbols of the Mechanic Emperor and the Void Overlord. It was Manison and Kasuyi’s fleets.
“Quickly, record it!”
“Even Manison and Kasuyi came. Black Star’s face is so valuable!”
The two fleets passed by these media ships and headed toward the Black Star Army’s headquarters. The various reporters quickly recorded this process.
Since they could not enter, the only thing these reporters could do was record the Beyond Grade As who came and waited outside for the news to be announced.
…
The two fleets flew into the army’s dock. Manison and Kasuyi’s avatars disembarked from their spaceships. The two of them had known each other for a very long time, so they quickly started chatting.
“You’re here too. Looks like the church is also going to give Black Star face this time.” Manison smiled.
“Aren’t people from the federation here too?”
Kasuyi’s tone was calm. His voice sounded ethereal, as if it came from the void.
“The federation is one thing, and me coming is another. My goal here is different,” Manison said with an indifferent tone.
“Drawing the line so clearly, you really aren’t afraid of the federation being unhappy about it.” Kasuyi shook his head. “Then, what’s your goal?”
“Do you remember the last time this many Beyond Grade As gathered?”
“I forgot.”
“I’m thinking the three civilizations have forgotten too, so I’m helping them remember.” Manison’s tone was casual.
Kasuyi paused, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “This might not be a good thing for us. The more seriously we’re taken, the more we’re feared. If things go wrong, it might be another Tragedy of the Pinnacles.”
“The good and the bad have always coexisted. Although us Beyond Grade As belong to different organizations, we’re all in the same Grade, and we’ve always been separated. Now that we’ve gathered, we’ve attracted the attention of the entire universe. I’m sure that the other Beyond Grade As can see how much power we have together. If we can make use of this power, we can demand and obtain more things,” Manison said slowly.
“You’re still the same, saying the same old things.” Kasuyi’s tone did not express any of his emotions. “The Ancient Ones, the Mechanical Race, the Limitless Financial Group… you have plenty of resources. Sadly… when at your level, you alone aren’t enough anymore. You have no choice but to make use of everyone… So, tell me, what ‘Ones’ are you going to form this time?”
“Just benefitting from each other. I’m not the only one benefitting from it; all the Beyond Grade As stand to gain something. Isn’t that good?” Manison smiled.
“No matter what, you know me. Unless you have a way to help me complete the final God’s Trait Transformation, don’t come to me for something like this.” Kasuyi waved.
Manison did not mind and changed the topic. “Then let’s not talk about this. The void specialties you gave me the last time are quite good. Can you give me more? Come on.”
“Sure, give the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter back first.”
“Are you dreaming?”
While the two of them poked at each other, the dozen or so Beyond Grade As who were waiting at the dock came over. They were mostly Beyond Grade As of the federation and the church.
These people had arrived earlier, but as not everyone had arrived, they were waiting in the army’s headquarters and had already stayed there for some days. Since their ‘bosses’ had arrived, they went out to meet up.
There was only one exception—Sorokin, who stood outside the crow alone with a big smile on his face.
“Why did you come to us?” Manison glanced at him.
“Although this is Black Star’s territory, the two of you are important shareholders in the financial group, so meeting you guys is what I should do.” Sorokin’s tone was sincere.
From the way this sounded to the others, his tone totally sounded like he was trying to bootlick, which suited their impression of Sorokin perfectly.
At this time, Han Xiao walked over and attracted the attention of everyone. He said with a smile, “Welcome to the Black Star Army. Follow me, the rooms are ready.”
“Black Star.” The Beyond Grade As turned around and greeted him, all with complex looks in their eyes.
Some of them had only heard about Black Star and had never met him personally, but after staying in the Black Star Army for the past days, they knew Han Xiao.
Most of the Beyond Grade As there did not actually want to go, and they only went reluctantly because of the order from the upper echelons of the federation and the church.
However, even though they were unwilling, since they were in someone else’s territory, they did not dare act too arrogantly, or they would insult Han Xiao completely. Clearly, enraging a peak Beyond Grade A who was very capable at fighting was highly irrational.
Manison nodded at Han Xiao. “We meet again. if I remember correctly, this should be the second time I’ve come to your territory.”
“Third.” Han Xiao raised his brows. “You forgot the fight.”
“Alright.” Manison shook his head and chuckled. He did not mind.
Ever since that fight, Han Xiao had not made any moves for the next decade or so. Manison had already confirmed that Han Xiao had admitted loss and would not challenge his position again. Therefore, he had no problems with him.
He had already beaten a ton of Mechanics over the years. As long as the opponent admitted their loss, he would not continue to trouble them. He had to maintain his reputation as the main God of the Machinery Faith.
“This is the Void Overlord, Kasuyi. If I remember correctly, this should be the first time the two of you have met.” Manison turned his head and introduced Kasuyi.
“It’s indeed the first time, but I’ve heard a lot about you.” Han Xiao smiled and extended his hand. “I’m honored to meet you, Your Excellency Kasuyi.”
Kasuyi shook Han Xiao’s hand and said, “I’ve been hearing the name Black Star a lot. You’re a legend, too. Meeting you is also my honor. I heard you also have the blood of the Void Race. I think we’ll have a lot of common topics to talk about.”
After praising each other, Han Xiao guided everyone to their own room. After the federation and the church’s people settled down, Sorokin was the only one left.
“Your Excellency Black Star, it really shocked me how big your face is. So many important people are here.” Sorokin seemed like he was praising Han Xiao sincerely, but it sounded pretentious in Han Xiao’s ears.
Han Xiao curled his lips. “I thought you wouldn’t come.”
“Impossible! I have business in the Shattered Star Ring too, and you’re the top of this Star Field, so how can I not give you face? I know you have some misunderstandings about me since we have some competition in terms of businesses, but I personally have nothing but respect for you.” Sorokin smiled brightly. “We might even have the chance to work together in the future.”
Han Xiao knew that this guy’s shamelessness could match up to his own, so he was used to it. He tutted and asked, “Didn’t Heber come with you?”
“He said he’s going to come on the last day. Hehe, despite being the nearest to you, he’s trying to object like a kid.” Sorokin sold Heber out immediately.
“Humph, got it.”
Han Xiao waved and left the fake-smiling Sorokin.
Other than those allies who came because of the order from the three Universal Civilizations, everyone else had their own intentions. For example, Sorokin was probably there because he wanted to blend into the crowd, as well as to network with these Beyond Grade As. That old man Manison seemed to have other goals, too…
The Beyond Grade As who were staying at the Black Star Army could be classified into three types—the dynasty’s allies and those who were on his side, like Ames and Austin; the allies of the other two universal civilizations who came because they were ordered to do so; and the Beyond Grade As from the other factions as well as neutral Beyond Grade As, most of them whom had come to socialize.
However, the goals of these people would not impact this event too much, so Han Xiao did not mind.
To Han Xiao, the main focus of this Beyond Grade A gathering was the waiting stage before the official meeting. These Beyond Grade As would be waiting for more than ten days in their rooms, which would create a platform to communicate and socialize. Usually, due to factors such as distance and their respective factions, there were no occasions as public as this to gather so many of them together.
This way, everyone could socialize together, and it would be very convenient for him to find out more about the Beyond Grade As he would be meeting for the first time. Not only him, everyone’s circle would expand by quite a large extent, which would be beneficial to enhancing the relationship inside the entire Beyond Grade A circle.
Han Xiao did not just want to increase his reputation and maintain order within the Star Field; he also wanted the other Beyond Grade As to communicate and socialize. He was providing an opportunity for these people to build a good relationship with each other.
Although Beyond Grade As might have conflicts and grudges against each other, they would have no choice but to become comrades and fight alongside each other when the war of the World Tree erupted. He wanted to do something good in advance.
Furthermore, if the Beyond Grade As maintained the state of disunity, it would also lead to some very dire consequences.
“There were both natural and man-made reasons that led to the Calamity of the Supers, I hope this meeting will cause some changes…”
…
“Your Excellency President, there are already close to thirty Beyond Grade As who are now living in the Black Star Army’s headquarters. The estimate of the final count is around seventy to eighty.”
On the Federation of Light’s mother planet, Bader listened to the Chief Elder’s report with a frown on his face.
Considering the various factors, he decided to let the federation’s allies attend the meeting. However, he suddenly realized that the power of so many Beyond Grade As gathered in one place was too horrifying. Even though they were just meeting each other, it was still enough to shock the entire universe and stir up storms. The impact of this had exceeded his expectations.
“There are too many Beyond Grade As…”
“That’s right. In a few days’ time, the Black Star Army’s headquarters might be the most dangerous place in the entire universe.” The Chief Elder’s expression did not look good either.
“You misunderstand.” Bader looked up at him. “What I meant was… there are too many Beyond Grade As in the universe.”
The Chief Elder’s expression changed drastically.
Bader stood up, approached the window, and looked out. “The lifespan of a Beyond Grade A is very long. Without any accidents, they would live up to a thousand years, and there are also those Eternal Lives with seemingly endless life spans.
“Even though the chance of a Beyond Grade A appearing is extremely low, compare how long it takes for their life span to run out to how long it takes for a new one to appear—the number of Beyond Grade As in the universe will only keep growing. A hundred… two hundred… One day, sooner or later, there’ll be thousands of them!
“By that time, individual great power… will be uncontrollable!”
The Chief Elder’s expression became extremely serious. “You’re saying… to carry out a new cleansing? Like the Tragedy of the Pinnacles?
Bader shook his head. “The Tragedy of the Pinnacles was just an accident, but it hinted to us how to deal with the problem of Beyond Grade As. Although the number of the Beyond Grade As right now is still controllable, if we don’t plan ahead, the day when the peak of individual power overflows will come sooner or later… Therefore, cleansing the Beyond Grade As is a must. However, I don’t plan to do this during my term.”
The Chief Elder nodded. “Hmm, the Flickering World is very important to the entire universe right now. It isn’t the time for a cleansing.”
If there were too many individuals with extraordinary power that surpassed even logic itself, order would no longer be stable. In his eyes, cleansing the Beyond Grade As had nothing to do with hatred; it was only to maintain the stability of the universe. However, this would definitely cause unrest in the short term. Therefore, it was a hot potato to any leader of the universal civilizations—no one wanted to do such dirty work during their term.
To him, this was like keeping the ecological balance of the universe. This was not eliminating Beyond Grade As but controlling the total number of Beyond Grade As, keeping the ratio of individual power to collective power at a safe standard.
In peaceful times without exterior enemies, the consequences of this ratio being unbalanced would be unpredictable.
This was not his sudden idea. In fact, many years ago, the three Universal Civilizations had developed similar plans privately. However, the Beyond Grade As had never gone out of control, so they had never executed this plan. This was a silent agreement between the three rulers of the universe.
“I wonder if Black Star hosted this meeting because of this too…” Bader thought of Manison’s attitude, paused, and said with a deep voice, “Manison probably guessed the inevitability of the cleanse, so he wanted to gather all the Beyond Grade As to show us their strength. Or is he trying to improve the position of the Beyond Grade As? Tsk… these two crafty guys.”
He had to admit that he did now fear the Beyond Grade As more, but there was no way to start the cleanse now, so the only thing to do was to turn this fear into showing that the Beyond Grade As were more important.
“Black Star, Mechanic Emperor… do you really want to gather the power of the Beyond Grade As?” Bader’s eyes had a deep and unforeseeable look.
As more and more Beyond Grade As arrived at the Black Star Army’s headquarters, Han Xiao’s territory became increasingly rowdy. Within a few days, there were already about eighty Beyond Grade As and their fleets gathered there.
The Purple Crystal Civilization, which managed this Star Cluster, became nervous and secretly deployed some forces to set up defenses.
It was not just the Purple Crystal Civilization. All the Star Cluster civilizations of the Shattered Star Ring, as well as the three Universal Civilizations’ garrisons in this Star Field, started to secretly deploy troops to prepare for what might happen.
This many peak individuals of the universe would easily be able to turn an entire Star Field upside down, and they were all individuals with independent minds who carried the risk of not being controllable. These civilizations did not dare remain unprepared.
As for the Godoran Civilization, which directly ruled the Star Zone that the Black Star Army was in, all of their fleets had gathered around the Star Zone housing the Black Star Army’s headquarters as if they were facing a lethal enemy.
The things going on in the outside world did not affect the mood of the many Beyond Grade As. With Heber arriving last, the meeting began as scheduled.
The meeting location was a palace in the headquarters. The ceiling with a hundred meters tall, and dozens of floating thrones formed a circle five meters above the ground.
As the gate opened, the Beyond Grade As swarmed in. The tallest was the Beast Ancestor Gorutan, and the shortest was the finger-sized Sun Hunter. There were all kinds of appearances.
They all picked a location to sit one after another. The allies of the three Universal Civilizations all sat around each other in their own corner, with the Beyond Grade As of the other factions in between them.
After they sat down, they noticed three empty seats that were next to each other. Seeing that Han Xiao had yet to arrive, they casually started chatting while sizing each other up.
While waiting, many Beyond Grade As had moved around. In the past, some of them had only heard about some of the others but had never met. Using this opportunity brought by Han Xiao, these people had finally met each other and made some new friends.
Those who were visited most were the peak Beyond Grade As who had the highest positions and the strongest organizations in the circle. That included Manison, Kasuyi, Kant, and Gorutan. Clotti and a few of the other Beyond Grade As who did not come to the Shattered Star Ring, of course, did not participate in this meeting.
At this point in time, those who were sized up the most were the new members of the circle, those who only became Beyond Grade As in the past decade or so, such as the federation’s Hades, the dynasty’s Silver Shadow, and the church’s Tolaen.
After a while, three people walked in. Everyone stopped chatting and looked over at the gate—it was indeed Han Xiao, Hila, and Ames.
Han Xiao walked forward with wide strides, came before the mechanical throne, and sat down, facing all of the Beyond Grade A.
At the same time, Ames and Hila sat in the empty seats on his left and right.
Many looked at Hila with curiosity—there were a lot of people who were interested in this new Beyond Grade A of the Black Star Army.
Finally, the gate slowly closed.
With a smile on his face, Han Xiao looked around and slowly spoke, “Everyone is here. Pardon me for the wait. I appreciate all of you being willing to take part in this meeting…”
While saying the standard things, he observed everyone.
As he spoke, some sat tight and upright with a serious expression, some had indifferent and careless looks, some smiled to express friendliness, and some lay back in their chairs. He could see some of their attitudes.
Of the Beyond Grade As present, more than forty, including himself, were allies of the three Universal Civilizations. Most of the rest were on their own, and some were allies of the Super Star Cluster civilizations.
Many also had multiple identities. For example, quite a few Ancient Ones were there. There were also a few shareholders of the Limitless Financial Group. The Protector of the Galactic Black Market ‘Beast Ancestor’, ‘Secret Master’, and so on were here too. These were all very important people whom Han Xiao had to pay more attention to.
These people had very complicated relationships with each other. Some had good relationships with each other; some held grudges against each other; some were brothers on the surface but actually plotted against each other behind each other’s backs; some looked distant but were actually close secretly.
Han Xiao had moved around during the past few days too. He had managed to talk to everyone and successfully collected the combat information on everyone present. There were only a few whose levels were higher than his whose abilities he could not fully see. Still, he had the abilities of everyone else. He had obtained quite the amount of valuable intelligence.
These people, however, had no idea that Han Xiao knew even the color of their underpants.
“No matter why you are all here, I appreciate your arrival…” Finally, Han Xiao had finished the cliche opening and entered into the main topic. “I suppose everyone has already spoken with each other, so I will save myself the saliva of making introductions.”
The people all looked at Han Xiao, waiting for his next sentence.
Han Xiao softly patted the handle of his throne and said, “The reason I hosted this meeting is mainly to discuss the matter about the Shattered Star Ring with everyone…”
Before he could finish, a very intrusive voice sounded.
“Humph, can you represent the entire Shattered Star Ring?”
The look in everyone’s eyes changed slightly as they looked over at the source of the voice. The person who spoke was the Federation of Light’s Sierron, as well as a member of the Ancient Ones. He had a mocking expression on his face.
Without any change in his expression, Han Xiao smiled. “There are so many civilizations and organizations in the Shattered Star Ring. Of course, I can’t represent the stand of the entire Star Field alone.”
“Then, what right do you have to talk about this issue?” Sierron demanded. “Don’t forget, the Federation of Light is the actual ruler of the Shattered Star Ring. We’re the only ones who can speak for this Star Field, not you.”
The other allies of the Federation did not stop Sierron. They came to give face to Han Xiao, but as competitors, they were not going to make this too easy for him. Causing trouble was unavoidable. Even if they were not going to stop him, they did not want him to achieve his goal too easily.
“I cannot agree with that,” Han Xiao said slowly. “I’m a local of the Shattered Star Ring, and I’m stationed here on behalf of the dynasty. Also, I’m the strongest Beyond Grade A of this Star Field. Although I can’t represent the stand of this entire Star Field, I’m sure I have the right to speak for it personally. Furthermore, I’m not announcing some kind of order. I’m just here to discuss certain matters with all of you today.”
“The strongest Beyond Grade A of the Shattered Star Ring? Are you sure?” Sierron sneered.
Han Xiao raised his brow and slowly opened his arms. “Are you questioning my combat history?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t deny that you’ve defeated Heber, Psyker, and Ames. As for Hila… she’s new, so she probably is no match for you.”
Heber’s expression was not looking too great. He did not like the fact that his defeat was mentioned by an outsider in front of so many Beyond Grade As.
Psyker coldly glanced at Sierron before glaring at Han Xiao. He was not happy about it either.
Ames, however, did not mind, and Hila’s expression was like a rock, as if she did not hear anything.
“Then, what’s the issue?” Han Xiao asked.
“Simple, there’s still one person who you’ve not defeated, the Magus, Austin!” Sierron shook his head. “He’s just too low profile, but it’s not certain he’s no match for you. Without defeating him, you can’t solidify your position as the strongest of this Star Field.”
Austin was stunned. Why mention me out of nowhere?
Then, he understood it immediately. Sierron wanted to put him on the spot, which might be an act to stir up disagreement. Although Sierron probably knew that he had quite a good relationship with Black Star, there was no harm in trying. After all, as long as the relationship between the two of them was tainted even a little, Sierron would benefit from it.
“I admit Black Star’s the strongest in this Star Field. I’m no match for him.” Austin curled his lips. This was the only thing he could say. It was not like he could spar with Han Xiao right there.
Hearing this, Han Xiao nodded at Austin before asking Sierron, “Do you have any other objections?”
“Nothing else.” Sierron saw that Manison had given him a look, so he closed his eyes and did not say any more.
Han Xiao looked around. Seeing that no one else had a problem, he said with a deep voice, “Alright then, since everyone agrees that I have the right to speak for the Shattered Star Ring, let’s get back to business… As the opening of the Flickering World is near, I can understand why all of you have come to the Shattered Star Ring to wait. However, I believe that everyone here knows that this many Beyond Grade As gathering in one Star Field will create a lot of unstable factors. As the peak of the Shattered Star Ring Supers, I have something to say. Please do listen.
“I grew in the Shattered Star Ring, so of course, it’s my responsibility to maintain the stability of this Star Field. I welcome all of you to the Shattered Star Ring as guests, but I have but one small request… I hope that while you’re all here, you won’t destroy the order of the Shattered Star Ring. If all of you are willing to give me face for this, I’ll be very appreciative.”
This time, Han Xiao’s tone changed into a much deeper and more serious one.
“However… if anyone ignores my request, I shall see it as a personal challenge to me, and I will absolutely not let it off easily. Remember, there’s still a long time till the date of the opening of the Flickering World. I hope to not have any conflict with anyone.”
The atmosphere suddenly became tense. The people had different looks on their faces—indifference, approval, seriousness, and many others.
Although Han Xiao said it in a very nice way, the main purpose of this sentence was to serve as a threat and a warning, and its meaning was very straightforward.
I don’t care where you’re from—this is my territory. If you mess with me, you’re not going to get away with it easily.
If you want to cause trouble in the Shattered Star Ring, you’d better weigh the consequences of messing with me!
Everyone there was a boss of an area, and there were quite a few who could speak for their Star Fields too, so many felt that these words were rather sharp.
However, with the position and strength Black Star had now, he already had the right to say something like this, so no one felt it was out of place.
This time, Austin smiled and said, “I’m a local Beyond Grade A of the Shattered Star Ring too. I also don’t want the Star Field to become chaotic. I agree completely with what Black Star said.”
“Humph, me too,” Heber said reluctantly.
Ames and Hila also expressed their agreement. Seeing this, Psyker had no choice but to do the same.
This time, all of the local Beyond Grade As of the Shattered Star Ring had supported Han Xiao, expressing their intent to maintain the stability of the Star Field together. In a way, they had indirectly approved of Han Xiao’s position as the leader.
Han Xiao paused for a few seconds, saw the reactions of everyone present, and suddenly smiled. “Of course, if you’re willing to give me face on this matter, I’m willing to have a partnership with you guys in the development of the Flickering World. Currently, the Black Star Army has the most territory in the Flickering World. I believe I can provide quite a lot of help.”
Many people’s eyes sparkled.
Everyone knew that the Black Star Army had a huge force in the Flickering World, and the Flickering World was their goal. If they could receive Han Xiao’s help, they would naturally have an easier time over there. Before they arrived, they thought that Han Xiao was just going to intimidate them. Never did they expect Black Star to be willing to provide opportunities for partnerships. This came as quite a surprise.
“We will remember what you said,” Manison said calmly. “The federation doesn’t want to see people causing trouble here.”
Seeing that Manison had expressed his stance, various Beyond Grade As spoke as well.
“Since both Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor say so, then nobody will cause trouble in the Shattered Star Ring.”
“Peacefully wait for the opening of the Flickering World. There’ll be plenty of time in the future.”
“Whoever dares cause trouble here shall be all of our enemies.”
“Black Star, I shall give you face for this. Remember your promise.”
Han Xiao smiled. “I’m glad we could come to an agreement.”
At this time, Manison suddenly changed the topic. “Black Star took the lead in hosting this meeting for the sake of the Star Field’s stability. It’s a respectable act. However, you did not just gather all of us here for something this trivial, did you?”
Han Xiao’s eye sparkled for a split second. He turned to Manison and said, “If you have anything to say, please do.”
“Okay, then I shall get to the point.”
Everyone looked at Manison with curiosity, not knowing what he meant.
Manison pondered for a moment before speaking. “The advanced civilizations make use of us, and we make use of the advanced civilizations. Everyone here works for various factions. We kill and fight with each other, which is very normal. However, I think that we should not be limited to the differences between factions. That’s the game made by these advanced civilizations. Sometimes, we should jump out of their game and make plans for ourselves.”
Everyone’s expression changed slightly, and the room became silent.
This had always been a sensitive topic. No one expected Manison to talk about this at a meeting about regional stability, not caring about those present who were direct members of the advanced civilizations.
From the moment they stepped into the territory of Beyond Grade A, everyone was in the same Grade. Even though they belonged to different factions, this could not be changed.
Manison looked around and continued. “You guys know that the advanced civilizations both need us and fear us. They don’t want us to have too many private relationships. An opportunity like today is very rare. As all of you have seen, we’re only having a meeting, yet it stirred a storm in the universe. There are definitely countless fleets aiming their cannons in our direction, and you all know I’m not exaggerating.”
“You don’t need to emphasize the situation we’re in,” Kant said with a frown. “I don’t think this is the time to discuss this topic. It’s too early.
“Preparing early is better than not preparing at all,” Manison said coldly.
“So, why did you mention this? Do you want all of us to form an alliance?” Gorutan said.
“Just a reminder, us forming an alliance will be the same as starting a coup d’état,” Kasuyi said. There was one thing he did not say, which was that pillars of the three Universal Civilizations such as him were basically safe, so he did not want to concern himself at all.
Everyone spoke one after another, expressing their opinions and discussing the matter intensely. There were hardly any opportunities to discuss something like this usually, so this event hosted by Han Xiao became a platform to exchange opinions.
“Don’t worry. It’s not time yet. What I want is just a silent agreement…” Manison then looked at Han Xiao and said with a curious tone, “You’re the host of this meeting. You’ve just been listening for quite a while and did not stop us, so what are your thoughts on this?”
Everyone turned to look at Han Xiao. Han Xiao’s position was quite high in the circle, so his opinion was relatively important.
Han Xiao shrugged, shook his head, and said, “I have no other suggestions. I just feel there are too few Beyond Grade As…”
“That’s right, too few.” Manison sighed.
Han Xiao glanced at him.
I’m pretty sure the ‘too few’ we speak of means different things.
Hila turned and looked at Han Xiao, wanting to say something, but in the end, she did not.
She did not expect these Beyond Grade As to gather and discuss such a major topic.
This meeting gradually headed in a magical direction. To Hila and the other new Beyond Grade As, the topic these Beyond Grade A bosses were talking about was way too vast. They could only listen and had no right to speak at all.
Will there be trouble discussing topics like this in our own territory? Hila was worried.
Noticing Hila’s expression, Han Xiao gave her a look to not be worried at all.
Ames noticed that the two of them were giving each other looks, so she knocked on Han Xiao to make him look over and quietly said, “You actually had the same goal in mind when hosting this meeting, didn’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have let Manison use your territory to say something this big.”
“Everything is within my calculations.” Han Xiao raised his brow.
After the people discussed for a while, someone finally made an important remark.
“Although we can’t form an alliance, our circle indeed needs a closer relationship,” Kant said with a deep voice. “The communication between us needs to be more frequent.”
“The Flickering World will be a suitable reason for that,” a neutral peak Beyond Grade A slowly said. “In the past, due to the limitations of factions and areas, the interactions between us were limited. Now, however, all our organizations will enter the Flickering World. This Star Field will become the platform for our communication so that the limit we had before is surpassed to a certain extent. Therefore, we need a bridge, a messenger.”
Hearing what this person said, everyone subconsciously turned to look at Han Xiao.
In the known universe, Beyond Grade A organizations were not allowed to expand as much as they wanted to. They were restricted by the advanced civilizations and all kinds of rules. However, in the future, everyone would be able to enter the Flickering World, which had a very deep meaning. Even though the Beyond Grade A civilizations would only be building divisions there, they would have much easier access to one another to a certain extent. This would aid in the communication between all the Beyond Grade As and the unite of this circle, presenting an opportunity for everyone’s strength to be completely united.
This needed a bridge to act as the center of the transmission of information and resources for the Beyond Grade As in the Flickering World, putting everyone together like glue.
The one who could do this had to have a strong foundation in the Flickering World, and the Black Star Army was the largest force in the Flickering World other than the dynasty…
The best candidate to build the bridge was none other than Black Star!
When more than seventy Beyond Grade As stared at one person, even though they had no hostility, the pressure was still quite terrifying. Han Xiao took a deep breath and smiled.
“If you guys need it, I’m happy to do this.”
In fact, this was one of Han Xiao’s goals to begin with. Although the process was a little different, he still obtained what he wanted.
Part of the reason Han Xiao had been making the Black Star Army build such a strong foundation in the Flickering World was indeed to obtain this position.
Since he was an individual with peak strength, he had to face this problem. Although the butterfly effect he triggered changed the storyline, regardless of whether the World Tree War happened before or after the Calamity of the Supers, he had to make preparations for himself in advance.
If he could be the belt of the Calamity of the Supers, he would have more power.
As pinnacles of individual power, unless one was the ruler, there was no such thing as absolute loyalty to a collective power. Ever since the start, the relationship between these two sides had always been making use of each other. The Great Mechanic Han had never even thought of giving his all to an organization. Even kids knew that eggs should not be all placed in one basket. He had to prepare to ensure his own safety.
Interests between different levels of society could never be truly unified. Unless one was willing to be used like a chess piece, these complicated questions would never be simplified.
The relationship between friends and foes changed regularly; the interests shared within a level of society were the most reliable agreement.
“Your Excellency Black Star, you really are a responsible man.”
Everyone nodded at Han Xiao and smiled.
“I want to achieve a kind of silent agreement between us all.” Manison looked around and said seriously, “When that day really comes, as long as someone sends a signal, I hope everyone can respond to it.”
“That’s reasonable,” Kasuyi said calmly.
Everyone nodded and achieved an agreement.
They would not be forming an alliance. In usual times, they would still fight for their own factions. However, when the time came, they were willing to step up.
…
They then chatted about many things for a whole two days and two nights. Only then did the meeting officially end. The various Beyond Grade As took their leave and departed from the Black Star Army.
Manison walked with Kasuyi together toward the dock and chatted softly.
“The content of this meeting will definitely spread to the three Universal Civilizations, yet you didn’t hide it at all. Aren’t you afraid of enraging the Federation of Light?” Kasuyi asked.
Manison smiled. “Even without this meeting, fear will still exist, so I might as well give them some pressure to add on to our chips… With Black Star, the federation can’t lose me, and vice versa. The difference between factions limits us, but it also restrains them.”
“Everything is possible.” Kasuyi shook his head. “When a tool starts to have other thoughts, no matter how useful it is, it might still be abandoned anytime.”
“We’re no tools.” Manison’s tone was calm. “Remember this, we represent the peak power an individual can achieve. Every single one of us is a treasure of this universe. Not only are we entities of violence, we’re also precious special gene data banks. We represent the infinite possibilities of evolution itself, and we are never to be controlled or toyed with. If they want to abandon us, there will always be a price to pay.”
“I got it. This is why you’re in such a hurry, to protect yourself.” Kasuyi glanced at him. “Have you finally realized that your forces are too strong?”
Manison did not reply. He paused before sighing. “Sadly… EsGod is no more. Although he isn’t the same as us, he was still somewhat useful. If he doesn’t stand against the three Universal Civilizations, God knows how much help he is to us.”
Kasuyi’s tone was strange. “You know his life span was already not long, don’t you?”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Hehe, nothing. It’s just… he definitely knows about his life span more than anymore.” Kasuyi smiled.
…
After the meeting ended, days passed one after another. The outside world gradually noticed a very strange phenomenon. All the Beyond Grade As who attended the meeting were keeping a shockingly low profile and did not have any conflict with each other.
Initially, with so many Beyond Grade As gathered, instability seemed inevitable. Everyone expected this to affect the order of the Star Field and thought that there would be some Beyond Grade As fighting once in a while. However, they controlled themselves and made sure the Shattered Star Ring remained orderly.
The entire universe was shocked, triggering a wave of speculation.
The reason behind this definitely lay in the meeting that Black Star hosted.
What did Black Star say to make this many Beyond Grade As so disciplined‽
The rumors kept spreading. Finally, Han Xiao arranged to have someone leak some inside information. Black Star gathered all the Beyond Grade As, representing the Shattered Star Ring, and asked all of them not to cause trouble in order to maintain the order of the Star Field.
As soon as the information was out, the entire Shattered Star Ring was amazed!
The countless local galactic residents felt touched!
Look, how responsible is Black Star? In order to maintain order, he took the risk of gathering this many Beyond Grade As in his very own territory. He’s basically the agent of peace with great love in his heart!
A Beyond Grade A who’s willing to speak for us, what a responsible man!
Furthermore, Black Star’s action was clearly extremely effective. All the Beyond Grade As were somehow convinced and did not cause trouble, which clearly proved that Black Star’s influence was extremely strong.
To have someone like this in our Star Field, it’s a blessing for us!
With this, Han Xiao’s reputation in the Shattered Star Ring rocketed in a short period of time.
Having done something like this, the countless galactic residents did not mind having Black Star speak for the entire Shattered Star Ring at all.
The power and position as the leader of the Star Field was now finally approved by even the galactic residents.
To the Black Star Army, this meeting was like a promotion event which increased their fame.
This meeting itself was also a noteworthy event more than enough to be written into the history books.
On the internet, more and more people felt that this was a signature event before the opening of the Flickering World, and they gave it a nickname… [Meeting of the Gods]
…
_____________________
You have received 2 Universe Legendary Points.
Universe Legendary Point: Representative of the Shattered Star Ring—You have been recognized by this Star Field. In the future, you have the right to represent the Shattered Star Ring!
Universe Legendary Point: Initiator of the Meeting of the Gods—After many years, the many Beyond Grade As have gathered once again. As the initiator of this event, you’ve been written into the history books!
_____________________
“Meeting of the Gods? How about just calling it ‘Martial Arts Tournament’?”
In the headquarters of the Black Star Army, Han Xiao could not help but snidely comment on that name after looking at the notification on the interface.
Other than the name, he was quite satisfied with everything else. Two Legendary Points was quite a good reward.
The mission given by the Crimson Dynasty to maintain the order of the Star Field was also completed, giving him a few billion Experience, as well as a decent amount of the Crimson Dynasty Contribution Points.
Now that Hila had become a Beyond Grade A, he had reasons to purchase Ultimate Knowledges of the Esper class from the dynasty, so he had new ways to spend the Contribution Points. The more Hila owed him, the easier he could keep Hila in the army.
After the dynasty’s mission was completed, Urranrell personally made a call to compliment him but refused to speak about the other matter… Nonetheless, no one intended to hide it.
Of course, the three Universal Civilizations knew about this. Since she did not say anything, Han Xiao understood the dynasty’s stance on this. They knew that questioning their allies would do nothing, so they had an understanding with each other.
“There won’t be any problems over here in the Shattered Star Ring now…” Han Xiao played around with a palm sized pet robot. “Now I’ll just have to wait for the dynasty to blow the horn of the new era.”
…
With so many Beyond Grade As already making a stand, the other organizations did not cause trouble either. Everyone waited patiently and peacefully for the Flickering World to open.
What Han Xiao did was make the Star Field stable. Everyone focused on making preparations as days passed.
After a few months, the day finally came.
On this day, the dynasty officially announced the opening of the Flickering World. The Inter-Star Field Stargates leading to the Flickering World were all activated!
At the same time, a notification about the start of the new version popped up on Han Xiao’s interface as well—the players had finally come online!
The time when the dynasty would announce the opening of the Flickering World got closer every second.
Seconds felt like years. Finally, the dynasty’s announcement sounded from the area communication channel and on every single spaceship present.
“It’s time. On behalf of the Crimson Dynasty, to the entire universe… the Flickering World is now officially open!”
The next moment, all the stargates were activated. The vortexes at the centers of these stargates started spinning, forming blue wormholes.
All the spaceships moved, forming a queue that seemed to extend infinitely, entering the various stargates one after another. It was marvelous.
Not far from these civilian stargates were VIP military stargates for the dynasty’s allies.
Black Star’s ride was in the queue. The various officers stood in the command room, looking at the person standing before them.
With his back turned away, Han Xiao looked through the porthole at the seemingly endless sea of ships not far away and softly asked, “Did you guys hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“The sound of the new era breaking through its shell.”
Han Xiao chuckled softly.
In his eyes, the interface was hovering before him, notifications were popping up one after another.
_____________________
Version 4.0 Activated!
Fetching data… Fetching data complete!
Player forum opened.
Welcome to Galaxy Version 4.0—[Flickering World]!
_____________________
This day has finally come… Han Xiao took a deep breath.
This was an important turning point version. In Version 4.0, the players would officially enter the stage of the fight within Galaxy. They would interfere with history and achieve notorious names such as Cancer of the Universe and The Fourth Calamity.
The strength the players controlled would truly cross a limit, allowing them to enter a standard where they would have a completely different influence on the universe. With the Level150 level limit of the version, the players would have a consistent strength of Grade B+!
Once the tinder of anarchism was ignited, it would engulf the entire universe.
At this time, Sylvia seemed to have received some kind of report. She took out her communicator and looked at it. Her pupils then constricted, and she said with a deep voice, “Army Commander, those immortals of the army have appeared again.”
Han Xiao finally turned around, looked at everyone, and nodded slightly.
“Bring all of them over.”
…
At the same time in the Black Star Army headquarters…
Before the version update, many players logged off in the Black Star Army headquarters. Once they logged in again, with countless flashes of white light, the empty hall suddenly became crowded, boisterous, and noisy like a wet market.
“Galaxy, I’m back!”
“I’ve already bought ten cans of Blue Bull, brothers!”
“Did the new version repair the bug that causes us to not be able to go naked?”
“There they are! I knew it! Those ‘No-Pants-Supporters’ never left!”
“By the way, are there any new functions added? Since this is already so close to reality, why not add a function to reproduce? Creating offspring is the soul of a social system!”
“If we could really reproduce, this would be the most god tier game ever created.”
Countless players cheered in excitement. Meanwhile, at the edge of the crowd, a group of professional players logged in one after another. The members of the four biggest clubs of China were basically all there, as well as Frenzied Sword, Maple Moon, Bun-Hit-Dog, and so on.
“Yo, the maximum level of the new version has increased to Level150.” King Admiral looked at the interface and smiled.
“The difference in the cost of leveling up is way too huge.” Second Prince could not help but twitch.
“The Black Star Army’s faction interface is still here. The army did not shut down.” Frenzied Sword checked the faction interface instantly.
“How could the Black Star Army shut down so easily?” Maple Moon softly murmured.
The players in the other Star Fields would have to worry about the faction they were disappearing after the version update, meaning all the Contribution Points they had farmed before that would go to waste. This was why stable factions were the most popular.
The players in the Black Star Army, however, had no such worries. After three versions, they already had complete faith in their faction leader, Han Xiao.
At the end of the previous version, the army’s position was already stabilized. The Arcane Church lost, EsGod was defeated, and they obtained a super business called Evolutionary Totems. Even the players knew that the army would not shut down easily.
At the start of the new version, the most important thing was finding out what happened during the version update as well as what the situation in the universe was now. This had already become the players’ habit.
Many players took out their communicators to look at the calendar and were met with shock.
“Wait, it’s Galaxy Calendar Year 729 now‽”
“It was year 709 when we logged off, right?”
“This means that the duration of this version update is twenty years‽”
“I thought the Version 3.0 update duration was long enough, but Version 4.0 doubled it!”
Frenzied Sword exchanged looks with Maple Moon. A tint of excitement flashed across both of their eyes.
Twenty years!
That’s not a short time.
How much will the Black Star Army have grown?
While exciting thoughts flashed across their minds, the notification sound from communicators suddenly appeared one almost simultaneously in the hall. Every player received a new message sent by the internal program of the army.
They quickly opened it. Virtual screens expanded before them, all showing Han Xiao’s face and playing the same recording.
In the recording, Han Xiao sat up straight, only showing half of his body as he spoke with a very formal tone.
“Comrades, I’m Black Star. In the past twenty years, we have obtained countless achievements, especially in the Flickering World. The army now has ten Star Systems as its territory, thanks to the effort of each and every member that helped to achieve the glory we have achieved today.
“Now, the Flickering World will be entering its fourth exploration phase and will be officially opened to the public. People from the entire universe will swarm into this Star Field. This is a new era; we need to grab the opportunity and charge forward… I hereby send a recruitment order to all army members. The army needs you… The Flickering World needs you!”
The short recording ended here. The pupils of the players gradually enlarged as they received a huge chunk of information from this message.
It’s now the fourth exploration phase? I seem to remember the first phase not having ended when we logged off!
The army has ten Star Systems as its territory in the Flickering World? What’s going on with that‽
What did the army do in the past twenty years‽
Everyone was extremely intrigued.
What they did not know was that this recording was a ‘cutscene’ Han Xiao had specially made for the players to help them understand the situation quickly.
This time, Hao Tian suddenly realized one thing. “Wait, if it’s now the fourth exploration phase for the Flickering World, is our main storyline mission still there?”
The various professional players realized this too. Their original main storyline mission was still in the stage of the first exploration phase. Due to the version update directly skipping twenty years, would their missions be canceled?
If it was gone, it would be quite a loss.
They hastily opened the interface before relief flooded through them. The main storyline mission of the [Flickering World] was still there. The mission requirements had just changed into developing the Black Star Army’s territory as well as exploring the few Star Clusters of the fourth exploration phase.
“Although it’s changed, it’s still exploration.”
Many players shook their heads but were not excited, a little disappointed even.
They were curious about the information given through the recording, but they were not very interested in the Flickering World’s mission. This was because the army players had already tried this mission in the previous version. Although the goal had changed, the way to do the mission looked the same to them.
Pioneering new Star Fields was fresh indeed, but it lacked opportunities for battles. In the previous version, many players were tired of doing the Flickering World mission and preferred to do hiring missions in the Shattered Star Ring.
This was actually quite common, as the Flickering World main storyline the players experienced in Version 3.0 was actually just half of what it was supposed to be. The dynasty was the only organization pioneering, so of course, it lacked battles.
At this time, they were suddenly stunned upon realizing one thing.
Did Black Star say… the Flickering World is now open to the public?
So, the organizations from the other Star Fields are entering?
Then… what about the players of the other Star Fields?
Frenzied Sword immediately went online to do some research and confirmed the legitimacy of this information very soon. Not only that, the organizations of the various Star Fields were also recruiting Supers on a large scale to go to the Flickering World.
The biggest impact this had on the players was that the inter Star Field channels were now completely open!
Compared to the last version, the players had a method to cross between Star Fields!
The people quickly logged into the forums.
As expected, all of the forum boards were frenzied by this information!
Frenzied Sword understood immediately. With his eyes sparkling brightly, he yelled, “This is… a world server!”
All the players in the various Star Fields would finally be able to come to the same stage, gathering in the Flickering World!
What did this mean?
National wars!
The speculation that Galaxy Times had made about crossing between Star Fields became real!
All the players in the hall were astonished and thrilled!
“Holy, it’s the world server!”
“Hahaha, I knew this day would come!”
“Finally, national wars! I can’t wait!”
The next moment, they realized something else. The Flickering World would be the world server of this version, but as the members of the army, they had already entered in the previous version in advance.
How much of an advantage would that be‽
The players were overjoyed!
“Oh my god, we have already marked our territory in Flickering World in the last version. We’re one entire version ahead!”
“I’m crying! I felt that the exploration was too boring and went back to the Shattered Star Ring to do hiring missions!”
“With such a big advantage, we’ll have a blast this version!”
The players who had gone to the Shattered Star Ring from the Constellation Corridor in the previous version all felt relieved. Had they not followed the Black Star Army back then, how could they have gained such privileges‽
On the other side, the players of the other Star Fields were in an uproar.
In Version 1.0, Black Star led some players in the universe in advance. Okay, we’ll put up with it.
In Version 2.0, the Black Star Army became the guiding faction, making the Shattered Star Ring players ahead of everyone else again. Alright, we’ll put up with it too.
In Version 3.0, the Black Star Army had a Beyond Grade A, leading to it being connected to a Universal Civilization before everyone else. Well, we will put up with it. Sooner or later, our day will come.
But now, in Version 4.0, the Black Star Army is god damn one step ahead again‽
Are you guys dogs‽
Why are you always the ones enjoying the most benefits?
What happened to the law? What happened to the rules‽
Do you fu*king… still need more members?
Only then did they realize that Black Star had already built a foundation for them in the previous version, and they saw what an advantage they had gained from this faction!
The various army players could only praise how amazing the game experience was.
With such a reliable faction, the players of the other Star Fields and countries could only be jealous.
This was the only one in the entire universe!
Now, the army players’ interest for the Flickering World was never higher.
Initially, many felt that the exploration game style was too boring. Now, however, as the Flickering World became the world server for the players, it would become the most chaotic and exciting Star Field in the entire universe. There would be countless and never-ending conflicts. This was the full experience of the [Flickering World] main storyline!
Having this thought, Frenzied Sword and the others quickly went to research about what the Black Star Army had done in the past years, wanting to know what advantages their faction had exactly in the Flickering World.
As soon as he opened the Black Star Army’s records, Frenzied Sword’s eyes opened extremely wide.
He had made a lot of speculations, and he was mentally prepared too. However, the first thing he saw was completely different from what he imagined, and it stupefied him completely.
“What the hell? Old Black became a god‽”
The records clearly stated the major events that the Black Star Army had been through during the twenty-year update. Frenzied Sword filtered it to be between the years 709 and 729, arranged from the earliest to the latest.
And this highlighted record was the first thing he saw.
‘Galaxy Calendar Year 710, Black Star became a Mechanical Deity!’
This term blew Frenzied Sword’s fragile mind. There was only one thought in his head.
Black Star has become a God!
This name was very intimidating, but Frenzied Sword calmed down and did some research. Only then did he understand that ‘Mechanical Deity’ had a different meaning to what he expected. It was the nickname of Divine Throne Mechanics, which meant that Black Star had become a peak Beyond Grade A.
“That startled me. I thought Old Black was going to ascend above.”
Slightly relieved, Frenzied Sword continued to browse through, noticing another few major events in the same year.
Firstly, when the first exploration phase ended, the army received seven Star Systems as its territory and became the biggest armed organization in the Flickering World. Secondly, the Germinal Financial Group was formed, starting its fight with the Limitless Financial Group in the various commercial industries. Thirdly, the plan of building Super Academies was executed; the Black Star Army had already built tens of thousands of Super Academies in the Shattered Star Ring, raising countless Supers, some of which were chosen to become members of the army.
In the same period, after Black Star became a Mechanical Deity, he had fought the Tyrant once again, beating him with just an avatar. This confirmed his position as the strongest individual in the Shattered Star Ring. Not long after, the Mechanic Emperor invaded, and conflict erupted, which was ended by the dynasty interfering to force the Mechanic Emperor away.
Frenzied Sword could almost feel how intense things were back then from just the words.
After that, the army entered into a low-profile development period. Black Star no longer featured in the top news as often and quietly remained in the Flickering World. Then, in the year 716, the war with the Kunde Race erupted. This was the first sub-Star Cluster native civilization that was eliminated.
However, the records of this period of history were very sparse and vague. There was only a rough conclusion, and nothing could be found online. The only valuable clue that Frenzied Sword had was that the Black Star Army was now responsible for the transformation task of the Kunde Race, which had been going on for thirteen years.
After the Kunde Race war, the army remained low profile during the second and the third phases as well. Everything had been peaceful and calm until only recently, when the army revealed its second Beyond Grade A, someone they were familiar with.
“Hila has become a Beyond Grade A‽” Seeing the name, Frenzied Sword’s eyes widened in shock.
No players born on Planet Aquamarine were unfamiliar with Hila. Be it when she was the villain ‘Crimson Snake’ in the Germinal Organization or when she fought on their side during the Mutation Disaster of Version 2.0, these impressions were all deeply rooted in each and every player of Planet Aquamarine… mainly because Hila’s astonishing beaty made the deepest impression.
All the old players knew that Black Star and Hila went way back, from Planet Aquamarine to the universe. She was an old friend who appeared very long ago.
Frenzied Sword had worked hard for four versions in the army, so the army was his home faction. Now that his own faction had another person to rely on, no words could describe how pleasantly surprised Frenzied Sword was.
Suppressing his excitement, Frenzied Sword turned to the last bit of the records—the ‘Meeting of the Gods’ that Black Star had hosted just recently, where he summoned more than seventy Beyond Grade As to gather in one place.
Seeing the shocking influence Black Star had, even his heart skipped a beat. After twenty years, how had Black Star’s position in the universe already achieved this standard‽
“My god…”
Before Frenzied Sword could pull himself out of the shock, loud laughter exploded from beside him, startling him.
“Hahaha! Nice!”
Bun-Hit-Dog guffawed into the sky with his hands on his hips. His mouth was opened so wide that it almost looked like it was going to crack. His smile was like the smile of an evil hound.
Frenzied Sword covered his ears. “What are you laughing about?”
“Look at this. During the twenty years of the version update, look at how much has happened to the Black Star Army. This is all material for videos. This is a treasure!”
Bun-Hit-Dog was exhilarated. With so much material, he would not have to worry about having nothing to make videos about for quite some time.
He planned to include all the things the army achieved during the update, to help the army players know about the army’s history. Just thinking about it made him certain it would be popular, and he was sure he would probably go viral again!
With that in mind, Bun-Hit-Dog took a look around and realized that many people were looking at their communicators and browsing through the history of the army. He could not help but open the forums. He used his talent as the number one reporter and uploaded the army records. At the same time, he gave the post an attractive title—’Shock! The Army’s Glorious Twenty Years!’
At the start of a new version, countless players were exchanging information on the forums with excitement. As soon as this post was uploaded, it attracted a lot of attention in the Shattered Star Ring panel.
Army Commander’s Big PP: “Old Black is fierce as always!”
Fulliron Alchemist: “Old Black has been like this ever since the first version. He’s undoubtedly a legend at starting from zero. Is there anyone in the entire universe more amazing than him?”
Stupid Cat: “The ID of the brother above…”
Magnet Link: “I didn’t expect Hila to become a Beyond Grade A too. By the way, do you guys remember Black Star’s origin? He started as a traitor of the Germinal Organization, and Hila was a member of the Germinal Organization too… Tsk, what an organization.”
Mysterious Man: “Germinal doesn’t die; it only hides!”
While Frenzied Sword was deeply drawn to the stupid comments, he was suddenly dragged by Maple Moon toward the dock.
“Stop reading, let’s quickly go to the Flickering World, as soon as possible.”
With someone taking the lead, the players of the entire Black Star Army headquarters started moving and swarmed toward the dock.
…
The forums, which had been quiet for quite some time, suddenly became extremely boisterous. After the army players scattered around various places understood what was going on in this version, they immediately headed to the nearest army base and boarded a fleet toward the Flickering World. No one wanted to miss out on the world server.
As members of the Black Star Army, since they had such a huge advantage, they were not going to waste it. Every second counted.
In the eyes of the foreign professional clubs, the exclusive faction advantage the Chinese players in the Shattered Star Ring had was just about the worst news they could receive. The guilds of the various countries hastily started private meetings to discuss the matter.
“Things are not looking good. The main storyline of this version is way too good for the Chinese players. The world server is right beside the Shattered Star Ring, and they’ve already been there. When our guilds enter the world server, it will be very difficult for us to compete with these top Chinese guilds such as Dynasty and Long Sky. We will certainly be at a disadvantage in Guild Wars, which will very likely affect the growth of our professional players.”
“In the previous season, three teams out of the top four teams were from China. We can’t keep letting them have such dominance over us no matter what this season.”
“It’s going to be tough. The Black Star Army is basically going to be the locals in the world server, and it’s backing the Chinese players up. Are we going to join the Black Star Army?”
“It’s very difficult for the professional players and the guild top players to join other factions on a completely different side, or all the effort spent in the previous versions will go to waste.”
“That’s right. Even if we do change factions, we can’t compete with what the Chinese players have built up in the Black Star Army over several versions.”
“Let’s observe how things go for now, see how the Chinese guilds respond to this. If it’s not ideal… we might have to unite the clubs from the other countries.”
Although this was just the first day of the start of the new version, the situation had already made the clubs from various countries agitated.
After all, the faction advantage for the Chinese players was way too huge. While the Americans, Frenches, Koreans, and Japanese were feeling indignant, they all had thoughts of forming an alliance.
…
“So, all the players have moved…”
Han Xiao smiled after hearing Phillip’s report.
With the opening of the Flickering World, the traffic of this Star Field would explode. There would be demanded businesses everywhere, bringing opportunities. It would be like the age of digging for gold. The advantages the Black Star Army had been building for so long would now finally show their effects.
To him, this was not the stage of exploration but the stage of harvest!
With the territory he had, it basically meant he could just sit and watch while others brought him profit.
Countless organizations would be competing there, so the players would have plenty of mission resources and countless ways to gain Experience, as well as no shortage of opportunities to fight.
However, it’s not that easy to harvest Experience at the start of the new version, Han Xiao thought.
The players’ current main goal was continuing to level up, so most of the Experience they earned would be spent on levels. It was not time to harvest yet.
In order to quickly level up, Han Xiao had to wait for the players for a period of time.
However, Han Xiao was in no hurry. Quite a number of new items had been added to the army’s store. No matter how petty the players were, he could make the players open their wallets. The efficiency of getting Experience from this still far exceeded him doing missions himself.
His level, which had remained stagnant for so long, could now finally increase rapidly!
Players from various nations swarming into the world server was an opportunity to enlarge his farm. For the Black Star Army to attract outside players now, Han Xiao no longer had to do much. The advantages he had obtained over the versions and his positive name were the core appeals.
The bigger the advantage the army players had in the Flickering World, the more attractive the Black Star Army would be. However, due to exactly this reason, Han Xiao could guess that some foreign clubs might get together to fight the Chinese players. Therefore, helping the army players was a must.
In his previous life during Version 4.0, the clubs from the various nations kept forming alliances and betraying each other in all kinds of ways that made things almost look like they were in the ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ era.
His plan was to use the army’s territory as a base to provide resources while helping the army players become stronger in Version 4.0. At the same time, he would use the players’ power to create trouble, attacking the enemies while protecting their own forces, attracting more players, and satisfying his need to level up.
“Modo Civilization, Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy…” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
It would still take the players of the various Star Fields some time to arrive at the Flickering World. Other than the players, these two matters were what he needed to deal with the most.
The Kunde Race’s mission required him to take revenge against the Modo Civilization. Back then, the dynasty told him to only fully execute the plan when the Flickering World was completely open. Now, the Modo Civilization’s troops had also entered the Flickering World. On his turf, Han Xiao had a hundred ways to make life hell for the Modo Civilization.
The mission reward was the [Proof of Leadership] talent, which was extremely useful for the leader of a huge organization like him. Han Xiao had waited more than ten years, and he could finally make a move.
The moment when the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy appeared would also soon arrive, and there would probably be quite a number of organizations who would fight for it. Han Xiao had already sent troops off toward the location marked in EsGod’s heritage.
He had also researched its owner in his previous life. If he remembered correctly, it should be an ordinary person called Evans. He already had the location of Evans, who was also in the Flickering World and under his surveillance.
If there was no one under his command that could control the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, he would find the owner from his previous life, who would definitely be able to control it.
While pondering, Han Xiao told Phillip, “Search for the current location of the Modo Civilization’s fleet… I shall send them a huge ‘gift’ to begin.”
The Flickering World’s Dawn Star Cluster was an area completely controlled by the army. It was also the first station after entering the Flickering World. As the fleets of countless organizations swarmed in, this Star Cluster became countless times more boisterous, gradually turning this place into part of the galactic society.
There was profit to be found everywhere in the Flickering World at this time; all of the Star Clusters had demands that were not met. The outside organizations mainly had to choose where to set foot.
The transit stations at the entrances of the Star Field contained huge profits. Many organizations and galactic residents scattered and headed right toward the transit stations as soon as they entered the Star Field, while more organizations went other ways to the further Star Clusters to look for opportunities.
Among which, the Modo Civilization was one of the organizations that headed to the further Star Clusters. Their goal was to develop the territories of the third and the fourth phase.
The reasoning was simple—the further the Star Clusters were, the less they had been developed, which meant that not only would there be more holes to fill in the various industries, but the dynasty’s control would also not be as strong compared to the earlier Star Clusters. And this was extremely important to Super Star Cluster civilizations.
The Super Star Cluster civilizations knew very well that the dynasty would definitely not let them develop comfortably. Therefore, almost all the Super Star Cluster civilizations gave up on the first and second phase territories.
Even an ordinary person could see that the few Star Clusters that were about to be explored in the fourth phase would become crucial stages of competition for the external organizations.
Inside the main ship’s command room, a tall man stood before the command post, looking up at the star map. His face gave off a cold and tough vibe, and his expression was solemn.
He was Roddick, Senior General of the Modo Civilization, currently the commander of the ‘Expedition Fleet’.
‘Expedition Fleet’ was the name of this fleet, a new fleet the Modo Civilization had built just for the Flickering World. They had gathered a large number of elites, among whom Roddick stood above all and took on the responsibility of commanding this crucial fleet. Clearly, the upper echelons of the Modo Civilization had high hopes for him.
A member of the Modo Race who was wearing a government official uniform asked, “Commander, how long till we cross the first and second phase areas?”
This man was a senior officer of the Modo Civilization. His name was Lagos as translated into the universal language. He was given the position of the inspector of the Expedition Fleet, responsible for monitoring Roddick.
Lagos did not have much power in his hands, so he could not interfere with Roddick under normal circumstances. His main job was to report the situation to the upper echelons, as well as contact the temporary stronghold the Modo Civilization had built in the Shattered Star Ring. He also managed the resources and manpower.
Hearing the inspector’s question, Roddick stared at the Star Cluster and replied without turning his head. “The time spent in the first and second phases was the longest. The Crimson Dynasty and their allies had already built full sets of long distance portals long ago. Travelling was very convenient, so it should only take about seventeen days to arrive at the third phase territory. Most of the time will be spent on the area between the stargates.”
Then, Roddick squinted and added, “Actually, the quickest route is through Garu. The Black Star Army’s territory is connected in one line by the stargates, so the transportation there is even easier. But, as you know, the risk of that is too high, so we have no choice but to take a detour.”
“Well, I can only say that’s karma,” Lagos said with resignation.
The Modo Civilization knew very well that they had already insulted the dynasty because of what happened with the Kunde Race, so they knew clearly that the dynasty would target them in the Flickering World.
The best route toward the further Star Clusters was through the Black Star Army’s territory, but Roddick did not dare go close to the Garu Star Cluster, so they could only take another route that was not as popular and convenient.
Lagos shook his head and said, “The dynasty might send people to attack us. Stay vigilant.”
“I know. The military equipped us with such a strong defensive force because of exactly that. There are plenty of armed fleets and high Grade Supers. The Expedition Fleet’s size is sufficient to even participate in a galactic war.”
“Hmm, you’re right… But the dynasty will definitely not send their official army to attack us in the Flickering World. Even if someone does come for us, it’ll definitely be the dynasty’s ally,” Lagos said.
Roddick frowned. “Usual enemies are not a problem, but a Beyond Grade A would be very difficult to deal with.”
“Don’t have to worry about that. The upper echelons have already made private agreements with some Beyond Grade As to provide us with help.” Lagos smiled with confidence.
“Who are they?”
Roddick, however, was not surprised. Super Star Cluster civilizations making short-term deals with Beyond Grade As was nothing new. This was also a form of business for some Beyond Grade As.
Given how important the Flickering World was, it was impossible for the Super Star Cluster civilization to not make any preparations. They all brought out tons of resources to hire top-tier combatants, which led to some Beyond Grade As earning quite the fortune. Many of them also accepted jobs from multiple civilizations at the same time.
“Those Galactic Black Market people with Beast Ancestor and Secret Master in the lead, as well as some neutral Beyond Grade As… Oh, some of the Beyond Grade As of the federation and the church have also made deals with us privately… Hehe, they were probably given orders by their leaders to use us to attract the dynasty’s attention.” Lagos could not help but sneer.
The federation and the church’s intentions were as clear as day, but the Super Star Cluster civilizations did not mind being used, as they would benefit from it temporarily as well.
“Even though we have allies, that’ll only help us when we pass through the first and second phase territories. I’m worried the dynasty might attack before that,” Roddick said with a deep voice. “After all, most of the organizations are taking the Black Star Army’s route. There aren’t many allies who are taking a detour like us.”
“One of the hired Beyond Grade As is coming behind us just to protect us. The upper echelons convinced him to make a detour.”
“Who?”
“The Blackhole Edge’s neutral Beyond Grade A, Garoze, nicknamed Leader of Colossuses.”
“That Summoner? I’ve heard about him.”
Roddick operated the star map for a while, marking the location of Garoze’s fleet, which was not far behind the Expedition Fleet.
This made him feel less worried.
“This way, we won’t have to worry about someone attacking us,” Roddick said coldly. “With our armed forces, as long as the dynasty dares to send someone here, they’ll see that they might not be the stronger side.”
At this time, a communication request came. It was from one of the Three Kings of the Modo Civilization.
The two of them immediately straightened their backs and put on serious expressions. They then accepted the communication request, and people appeared on the virtual screen.
The two of them saluted. “Your Excellencies.”
“What’s the situation now?” one of the Three Kings asked.
As leaders of the civilization, asking about the situation this soon after the Expedition Fleet entered the Flickering World seemed too impatient, but the Flickering World was way too significant to the Super Star Cluster civilizations. This was an opportunity to completely overthrow the situation they were stuck in; no amount of attention seemed too much.
Furthermore, they had angered the dynasty not too long ago. Now that their forces entered the dynasty’s territory, the Three Kings were even more on edge.
“We’re still on the way,” Roddick answered formally.
“Have you encountered any problems?”
“Everything is normal.”
“Hmm, no matter what happens, focus on protecting the logistics team,” the leader of the Modo Race said.
The armed fleet existed to protect the logistics team, which carried all kinds of necessary resources and devices to develop a Star Field. The armed spaceships could be depleted, but it would be extremely problematic if something happened to these important resources. Although they would still be able to resupply from their temporary stronghold in the Shattered Star Ring, it would tremendously slow down the speed of the development.
All the forces in the Flickering World were competitors. Every second wasted meant profit lost, which would then affect the Modo Civilization’s strategy.
Roddick nodded before speaking with a serious tone. “Your Excellencies Three Kings, don’t worry, I won’t let our enemies…”
Boom!
Before his sentence even ended, the entire main ship trembled. The crew in the command room fell to the ground!
Roddick staggered, too. He grabbed the table to regain his balance.
“What’s going on‽” He was shocked and furious.
“Commander, many unknown ships are approaching at a high speed and have attacked us.”
The radar showed that fleets appeared from every direction, surrounded them, and fired at them.
Furthermore, the alarm also mentioned that the opponent had deployed a large number of Space Stabilization Anchors in the area. This meant that they had charged right into a trap, and their hyperdrive was completely stopped, which was what caused the trembling. Even the stabilizing device inside the spaceship could not fully resolve the shock from suddenly stopping at such a high speed.
“We’re still some distance away from the next stargate. Is this an ambush?” Lagos was stunned.
They were just discussing the fact that there might be enemies, and speaking of the devil…
“What’s the enemy’s identity?” Roddick questioned.
“I—I don’t know. The spaceships they’re using are general models. There are no symbols on these ships, so we don’t know which organization these belong to,” the observer said with a nervous tone.
The communication from the Three Kings had not ended yet. They all saw this and frowned.
The leader of the Modo Civilization said with a deep voice and a grave expression, “Roddick, I’ll leave this to you. You must defeat the enemy.”
“Understood.” Roddick had a decisive look on his face. He immediately started to command the fleet and gave out orders one after another.
The Expedition Fleet responded quickly. It shrank its formation to protect the logistics team while firing back. Neither fleet was huge. In fact, the Modo Civilization’s fleet was a little larger.
Roddick showcased his excellent commanding talent, and the Modo Civilization firmly stood their ground.
Although they were ambushed, Roddick did not choose to break away but remained in place.
His confidence came from both the fact that his armed fleet was stronger and the Beyond Grade A Garoze who was not far behind. As long as Garoze arrived at the battlefield, he would be able to fight back using the strength of a Beyond Grade A.
Roddick’s style was tough and unbending; he was one to always take revenge. He was furious about being interrupted out of nowhere while speaking with the Three Kings. Compared to escaping, he would rather defeat the enemies.
“I’ll let Garoze join the battle immediately.” Lagos hastily took out his communicator to call for backup.
“Okay, do it quickly.” Roddick sneered. “No matter who they are, they’re not leaving easily.”
…
At the same time, Garoze’s fleet, which was not far away, noticed the situation as well.
“Someone really attacked them? I thought they were paranoid.”
Inside the command room, Garoze murmured to himself.
This was not his first time accepting a job from a Super Star Cluster civilization. As a neutral Beyond Grade A with no background, this was a key source of income for him. He had also accepted jobs from seven other organizations to protect their fleets.
Everyone knew that due to the competition in the Flickering World, this place would very soon become a heaven for mercenaries. Even many Beyond Grade As had joined in.
“Your Excellency Garoze, what do we do? Should we go over and help?” his assistant asked.
Garoze nodded. He was hired, so he had to do his duty.
However, just as he was about to make the order, the sound of a communicator ringing suddenly appeared in the room.
Beep beep beep!
Garoze looked down and was surprised.
It was his private communicator!
Who would call at this time?
As he took out the communicator to take a look, Garoze’s pupils constricted.
The caller was shockingly Black Star!
The two of them did not have much interaction in the past, they had only met during the Meeting Of The Gods and exchanged their private numbers.
I wonder why he is calling me…
Suppressing the doubts in his mind, Garoze walked to the side, picked up the communication, and asked carefully, “Your Excellency Black Star, what is it?”
“I have one thing I need your help with.” Han Xiao’s voice came out of the communicator.
“Please do tell.”
“I need you to do nothing.”
“Do nothing? What do you mea…”
Initially, Garoze did not understand, but then, it suddenly occurred to him.
“The fleet that attacked the Modo Civilization, it’s…”
Han Xiao interrupted him and asked calmly, “Can you do that?”
Garoze was extremely troubled. With the Black Star Army’s interference, this matter was no longer simple. The Modo Civilization would most likely be devastated, and from the depths of his heart, he did not want to take part in this.
However, he was right beside the battlefield. If he did not take action, his reputation would definitely be tainted.
Garoze looked a little troubled. “Your Excellency Black Star, I’ve already accepted the job from the Modo Civilization. If I don’t do anything…”
With an expressionless face, Han Xiao coldly said, “If you don’t want trouble, back away. This is not something you can interfere with.”
Then, he hung up without waiting for Garoze’s reply.
In my territory, you listen to me! Han Xiao did not even bother with bullsh*ting with the Modo Civilization. I’m going to beat you up, that’s all!
What, you’re not happy? Sure, don’t come to the Flickering World then!
The army was now the biggest organization in the Flickering World after operating there for so long. If he did not act like a menace, who had the right to‽
Garoze’s face became stiff as he was secretly shocked. In his mind, Black Star was a very friendly person who made friends everywhere he went. He did not expect Black Star’s tone to be this firm.
Looks like this is more serious than I thought. If I interfere, it probably won’t turn out well for me.
Also, if I ignore Black Star’s threat, won’t I follow the steps of that seven-eyed dude?
Garoze trembled uncontrollably.
The assistant came over and said, “Your Excellency, Lagos is already hurrying us. Are you going to give the order?”
Garoze hesitated for a few seconds before suddenly waving his hand. “Don’t help, just watch from here.”
The assistant was stunned, but seeing how firm Garoze was, he could only tell the fleet to standby at the edge of the battlefield.
“Sigh. This is a big loss.” Garoze smiled bitterly in his mind.
He was just an ordinary Beyond Grade A. There was no way he could mess with someone like Black Star. Be it in terms of his strength or organization, he was far inferior.
It was shameful to be forced away by just a few words. Garoze had his pride too, and he did not want to be a coward.
But, facing Black Star, how could he not back down?
After having been a Beyond Grade A for so many years and still not having improved much, Garoze knew long ago that he could not mess with the peak Beyond Grade As. He was just a neutral Beyond Grade A without any background. If Black Star wanted to kill him, there would be nothing holding him back at all!
Furthermore, during the Meeting of the Gods not long ago, Black Star had taken on the task of maintaining communication between all the Beyond Grade As. He had to give Han Xiao face even just because of this.
…
As time passed, the Expedition Fleet and the ambush fleet fought intensely.
In the main ship’s command room, after Roddick gave a few orders and finally had a little bit of time, he immediately turned around and yelled at Lagos.
“What’s going on with Garoze? Why isn’t he here yet‽”
Lagos was covered in sweat. “They just stopped there. I’ve already hurried them many times, but they refuse to join the battle no matter what. I—I don’t know why either!”
Seeing their reinforcements back away right before them, he was stupefied and utterly confused.
“Outsiders are not reliable at all!” Roddick was furious. He slammed the table and said, “We’re not going to wait for him! All units, listen. Change the strategy and charge toward the enemy’s formation!”
However, before the order was sent out, a sudden change occurred!
Unrest suddenly erupted in the logistics fleet that was protected behind multiple layers of armed fleets.
The logistics spaceships suddenly pushed away the armed spaceships in all directions, instantly causing chaos on their side!
“What’s happening‽”
Roddick’s expression changed drastically.
“R-report. The operating artificial intelligences of these logistics spaceships were infiltrated and have gone out of control. We’ve lost contact with the crew!”
Like he had just awoken from a dream, Roddick clenched his teeth filled with rage and squeezed out the words from between his teeth.
“God damn it, it’s a Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic!”
The logistics fleet was made up of mainly transport ships, cargo ships, and industrial ships, which were all rather large. Although they were also equipped with weapons and shields, their mobility and firepower could not match up to the combat spaceships with the same technology level. Therefore, they hid in the center of the formation, protected by the armed fleet.
At this point of time, some of the logistics spaceships were virtually hacked, bashing at the guard ships, instantly tearing up the Expedition Fleet’s formation. And these ships’ weapons were put to use, too, firing continuously at the back of the guard ships.
As the exterior part of the armed fleet did not put much energy into their rear shields, they were immediately damaged. Many divisions burst into panic.
“Control these spaceships, hold on! Other spaceships, strengthen the artificial intelligence firewall immediately, and increase the system self-check frequency!” Roddick did not have time to think about anything else. He quickly commanded the fleet to deal with this sudden situation.
Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanics had always been weapons of mass destruction in galactic wars that no fleet would want to face.
The most direct solution would be to turn off the artificial intelligence on all of the spaceships, but in that case, the chain of command would collapse, which would be no different from suicide.
Currently, controlling the spaceships and their communication with the quantum network was the best method. Although other methods such as magic or biological systems existed, they had more shortcomings.
For example, magic could be used to modify spaceships into an organism, but the cost of doing so would be many times more expensive, and the efficiency in controlling such spaceships was much lower than the quantum network technology, not to mention their vastly inferior communication distance and efficiency. Also, they would not be as secure as the firewall of the quantum network and would just be as fragile when facing Mages or Psychics.
All the civilizations in the universe had methods to prevent Virtual Intrusion, but whether it would work or not depended on how strong the opponent was.
Facing Han Xiao, who was now a peak Beyond Grade A, the artificial intelligence defense measures of the Modo Civilization clearly could not last; it could only stall for time until the other spaceships were hacked but not truly prevent Han Xiao from intruding. No matter how much they struggled, their lines of defense would still be penetrated one after another.
As for the spaceships that Han Xiao had already gained control of, taking them back was an almost impossible mission.
In the battlefield, the Expedition Fleet was being attacked from both sides. They had no choice but to send a part of their fleet to turn around and contain the panic caused by the haywire spaceships. The situation became very chaotic, and the Modo Civilization fleet was slowly losing their grip.
Some of the out of control spaceships penetrated the formation and were obtained by the attacker. The rest launched suicidal attacks not just on the guard ships around but also on the other logistic spaceships that had yet to lose control.
To prevent more damage, Roddick had no choice but to order the destruction of some logistic spaceships. Watching those logistic ships with key resources turn into fireworks in the cosmic space, his face was almost twisted.
There were people everywhere in the Flickering World. Although this route was unpopular, there were still people who passed by. The impact created by this battlefield spread out and very quickly attracted the attention of quite many fleets that passed by.
Most did not want to get dragged into this mess and hastily left.
But there were also some organizations that cautiously moved closer to watch from afar. Seeing the symbol of the Modo Civilization on the fleet, they chattered in the public communication channel.
“The Modo Civilization’s fleet has been attacked?”
“Who did this? Who dares mess with a Super Star Cluster civilization and still seems to have the upper hand?”
“We’ve just entered the Flickering World, but this attacker already has such a large fleet, so it can basically be confirmed that the attacker is from the dynasty.”
“The attacker hid their organization symbol, so we don’t know who it is.”
“Tsk, the very reason they hid their identity is to make sure not to leave any evidence. Watch what you say, and don’t get into trouble.”
Although these organizations that were passing by were gossiping, none of them would interfere—no one wanted to get into trouble.
As the intense battle carried on, Roddick made his fleet keep moving while fighting. The battlefield kept moving closer to the location of the next stargate station.
There were dynasty fleets stationed at the stargate station. Although Roddick knew that the attacker definitely had something to do with the dynasty, the dynasty could not attack the Modo Civilization publicly, or the negative impact would be too big. Not only would that affect the dynasty’s promise to open the Flickering World freely, it would also be a stain on their politics.
Growing up in a Super Star Cluster civilization, he knew all too well about what the three Universal Civilizations were like. In his eyes, not only were the three Universal Civilizations bullies, they also wanted to maintain a good image so that their position as rulers would be approved.
With such a large crowd watching, Roddick knew that the stargate station’s dynasty fleet had to reinforce him. Therefore, as long as he could move close enough to the stargate station, he would be able to force the attacker to retreat.
After the battle lasted a while longer, the attacker finally stopped the attacks and backed out of the battlefield. The fleet then entered hyperdrive one after another, turning into streams of light and disappearing.
“They’ve run away.” Seeing this, only then did Lagos’ uptight body relax. He said with hesitation, “Shall we chase them?”
“We can’t. This isn’t our territory.”
Although Roddick was furious, he did not lose his senses. He clenched his teeth and said, “Clean up the battlefield, and calculate the losses.”
The losses were very quickly calculated. The aide-de-camp walked to his side, not daring to look into Roddick’s eyes, and cautiously reported.
“Sir, we have lost eight percent of the armed guard ships. Twenty-nine percent of the armed guard ships suffered various extents of damage. They’re currently being repaired. The logistics fleet has lost thirty-seven percent of its spaceships, fifteen percent of which were captured by the enemy, mainly transport ships…”
Roddick almost fainted.
The logistics fleet had lost more than one third of its spaceships all at once. This ambush had caused seriously heavy losses!
“Unbelievable!” The Three Kings’ expressions were as furious as could be. The communication did not hang up throughout, and they had witnessed the entire process of the Expedition Fleet being heavily damaged.
The three of them had high hopes for the Expedition Fleet and Roddick, yet they had suffered such a huge loss so soon after entering the Flickering World. The Three Kings’ disappointment and anger at Roddick was clearly expressed in their tones and expressions.
“Sorry, this is a dereliction of duty on my part.” Roddick hastily turned around, clenched his teeth, and accepted this as his fault.
As the commander, there was no way Roddick could get away from being blamed for this. It was not like he could blame the enemies for setting up a trap there. No matter what justifiable reasons he had, a huge loss was a huge loss, and not being able to protect the logistic fleet was a fact. If he still tried to reason, it would very easily give the Three Kings an impression of him ‘making excuses’. Therefore, no matter how justified this loss was, he could only put up with it and accept the loss.
“We let you lead the Expedition Fleet because we trusted your abilities, but your performance is making us doubt if this was the right decision,” one of the Three Kings growled.
Roddick did not dare talk back to his leaders at all; he could only stand there, take the scolding, and promise that he would definitely keep in mind in the future.
After giving Roddick a scolding, the Three Kings of Modo then told him to quickly settle the following issues before ending the call.
Roddick finally stood up. He was about to explode with rage.
He knew that he had left a bad impression on his bosses because of this. If he could not make up for it, his future would undoubtedly be filled with darkness.
The room was filled with a cold atmosphere. Everyone present looked at Roddick while shivering. Roddick was supposed to give the next order to the fleet, but no one dared get on his nerves now.
Lagos coughed, having no choice, and said, “The dynasty only has so many Beyond Grade A Mechanics. Although the enemy used Virtual Intrusion, he did not appear. According to the enemy’s Virtual Intrusion speed, I’m guessing it’s most likely Black Star.”
“You don’t have to guess. It’s him!” Roddick’s tone was cold and filled with rage.
“Sadly, we don’t have any evidence. He…”
“So what if we do have evidence‽” Roddick interrupted him and ground his teeth.
Even though they knew that the attackers were almost definitely the Black Star Army, it was no use. The Flickering World was their territory. With the forces he had here, messing with the Black Star Army would basically be suicide.
Earlier, Roddick had tried to board the enemy ships and capture the opponent’s crew as evidence, but the attackers kept their distance and did not allow him to do so. To him, even if there was evidence, it would not affect the Black Star Army much if at all. In the Flickering World, the Black Star Army could do almost whatever they wanted!
Although the Modo Civilization was a Super Star Cluster civilization, their base was in the Primeval Star River, which was far from the Shattered Star Ring and the Flickering World. No matter how strong their forces were, there would be nothing they could do to the Black Star Army. Furthermore, they were not universal civilizations, which had a ton of Beyond Grade A allies, so there was nothing they could do to Black Star personally.
So, they knew who the attacker was, but there was nothing they could do. They had no choice but to watch themselves get targeted.
Roddick took a few deep breaths, suddenly turned around, and glared at Lagos. “Contact Garoze. I want to question him personally about why he didn’t join the battle!”
He had no choice but to vent his anger on someone. Nonetheless, Garoze was indeed partially responsible for not joining the fight despite being so close. Roddick had no idea what the hell was wrong with Garoze. His rage was reasonable.
Lagos then contacted Garoze again. The call quickly got picked up, and Garoze appeared on the screen.
“Give me a reason!” Roddick yelled furiously.
Garoze frowned and coldly said, “Watch your tone.”
When facing Black Star who he could not mess with, his attitude was full of respect. However, when facing Roddick, he immediately found the pride of a Beyond Grade A.
There was just one word to describe him—pragmatic.
“Why did you watch on the side?”
“I’ll cancel the job with your boss.” Garoze did not explain himself and immediately hung up the communication.
When he accepted the hire, he thought that the mission would just be to deal with the competition with other outside organizations. Never did he expect to have to deal with Black Star. Hence, this job became unprofitable, so he did not want to do it anymore. Even if he would incur some losses due to breaching the contract, it would be better than getting involved in the conflict between the Modo Civilization and the Black Star Army.
Since he was about to cancel the job, of course, he was not going to expose Black Star. It would be idiotic to offend both sides. Since he had chosen to be on one side, he was going to stand by it.
Furthermore, he did not want to admit that he was afraid of Black Star, so he did not want to tell any outsider the reason.
However, this arrogant and superior attitude made Roddick’s blood pressure, which had just decreased a little, skyrocket again!
Oh, so you think that my position is not even high enough for you to give me an explanation‽
“*ssholes!”
Roddick was trembling with rage, and his fists were clenched tightly.
“We have lost a lot of devices and resources, so we can only turn to the supplies in the stronghold in the Shattered Star Ring, which will definitely slow us down. This will have way too big an effect on our plan,” Lagos said with a frown.
All the organizations were competing. By being behind others from the start, how much potential profit would they lose? Lagos did not dare think too much about it.
It could be said that the Modo Civilization’s plan in the Flickering World was completely shattered by this attack!
At this time, the dynasty’s patrolling fleet that was responsible for maintaining order finally came. They sent a communication request, and a dynasty officer appeared on the screen.
“We have detected energy reactions of a battle. What happened here?”
Roddick took a deep breath and explained what had happened with a long face.
The dynasty officer nodded. “We understand the situation and will immediately send out men to track the attackers. We will notify you as soon as we find anything.”
Then, the dynasty’s patrol fleet turned around and scattered in the attacker’s direction.
It looked like they were sincere, but Roddick and Lagos both knew that this would certainly not lead to anything at all.
…
At the same time, some of the attackers stopped in a certain area and entered stealth mode. They then gathered the seized logistics spaceships together and started moving the resources in them.
The captured Modo Civilization crew members were all chased into a spaceship with its communication signals cut off, and all their devices were confiscated. These captives looked around at the armored warriors with panic.
This time, an armored warrior stepped forward, took off his helmet, and exposed his childish face. It was Nero.
Seeing him, the crowd immediately made a fuss. Some of them had seen Nero’s data before, so they instantly knew that the attackers were from the Black Star Army.
Nero looked around and tried his best to make a serious expression, which only made his childish face more adorable.
“Now, there are two paths ahead of you. First, death. Second, give up your freedom in exchange for your life and work for us forever.”
The crowd went silent. At this time, a voice sounded.
“Are you not afraid of us betraying you?”
Nero squinted. “Who’s talking?”
A short man walked out and softly said, “I’m the vice logistics manager of this fleet, also the leader of the engineering technical team. I’m a high-level engineer.”
Nero’s eyes sparkled.
It seems like we captured one of their high-level technical officers.
“You don’t have to worry about that. You won’t have any chance to come in contact with the outside world. You’ll forever become the shadows of the army,” Nero said slowly. “Those who are not willing, we won’t force you. The hatch is right there; jump into the cosmic space yourself. Make your choice now.”
“Looks like we don’t have a choice,” the vice logistics manager said with resignation.
The people exchanged glances. Without much hesitation, all of them chose the second option.
Very soon, Nero picked out the technical personnel. They were all useful people who would be secretly working for the army to make use of their remaining value.
As for the other crew members, following Han Xiao’s orders, they would be sent to the Kunde Race’s planet. Whether they became slaves or were torn into pieces by the Kunde Race, it made no difference. One way or another, they were tools for the Kunde Race to vent their anger.
Since these people had taken part in the Modo Civilization’s expedition, they were mostly soldiers. Maybe they did not know about the Kunde Race incident, but they were definitely not innocent. Whatever their civilization owed, they would be the ones paying for it. Being soft hearted did not exist in the process of revenge.
…
Han Xiao, who was heading toward Black Star Palace, received Phillip’s brief report. He nodded with satisfaction.
“Now it will be even more difficult for the Modo Civilization to develop in the Flickering World.”
Han Xiao had ordered a fleet to hide their identity and attack the Modo Civilization’s expedition team. As long as they did not leave any conclusive evidence, even if the Modo Civilization knew that he was behind this, he would not be affected.
He did not plan to wipe out Roddick’s fleet—he could not completely annihilate the Modo Civilization’s hope.
He would only be able to carry out long-term revenge if the Modo Civilization continued to put resources into the Flickering World. If they really decided to give up on the Flickering World, he would have to go to their territory in the Primeval Star River to deal with the Modo Civilization, which would be way too troublesome.
Cutting meat with blunt knives was the most torturous…
According to his memories of his previous life, the competition between external organizations would only become more and more intense. There would be many more incidents where people hid their identities to attack other organizations.
Today, this is me firing the first shot in the Flickering World…
A flash of light sparkled in Han Xiao’s eyes.
So, just you wait. This is only the beginning. There’s plenty more to come.
Beep beep!
While Han Xiao had these not so righteous thoughts in his mind, his communicator suddenly rang. It was a call from Tarrokov.
As he picked it up, Brother Tar’s old face appeared on the screen full of smiles. Without any formal greeting, he immediately started praising Han Xiao.
“Black Star, amazingly done. I love it when you’re this decisive.”
The external organizations were not sure who was really behind the organization that attacked the Modo Civilization. The dynasty, however, of course knew it was the Black Star Army.
“So, you don’t love me otherwise?” Han Xiao looked calm but chuckled in his mind. “Don’t forget to keep your promise and give me the resources we agreed on.”
Taking revenge on the Modo Civilization was also the dynasty’s request. The dynasty planned to make an example out of them.
Since the dynasty doing things themselves was not suitable, they borrowed Han Xiao’s forces. Of course, they were not going to let the Black Star Army work for free and had signed a contract long ago. The Black Star Army would be responsible for educating the Modo Civilization with violence, and the Crimson Dynasty would compensate them with resources.
To the dynasty, they were hiring allies to strike enemies. To Han Xiao, he was taking the dynasty’s money to do his own missions while also earning some favors, which really was pretty nice.
“Don’t worry, we’ve never not kept our promise.” Tarrokov smiled before asking, “What do you plan to do with those captives of the Modo Civilization?”
“I’ll keep some of them in the army as secret manpower, and the rest will be thrown to the Kunde Race.”
Old Tar nodded and reminded Han Xiao, “No matter what, make sure to take away all of their means of contacting the outside world.”
“The chances of them breaking through the measures I put in place to block their communication is infinitely close to zero. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“You’re right. You’re a Virtual Mechanic after all. I’m overthinking it.” Old Tar chuckled. “Actually, that was pretty much the only reason I called, just to remind you… Anyway, please go harder on the Modo Civilization. I shall hang up now.”
He then ended the communication. Han Xiao tutted in his head.
To disturb him for something this trivial, it was most likely a form of hinting, saying that the dynasty knew the movements of the Black Star Army. This was basically to tell him not to mess with anyone other than the Modo Civilization. The Meeting of the Gods might also have been a factor that affected this.
“Tsk, making me read between the lines again.”
Han Xiao put the communicator away and placed this matter at the back of his mind.
All the players were heading toward the Flickering World. The Shattered Star Ring was the closest Star Field, so it would not take long for the army players to arrive at the Flickering World.
As the version had just started, the players would need some time to get used to it before things got on track.
In his previous life, the players fought their own factions. Other than some famous national war incidents, the usual reasons behind fights were mission conflicts and resources. In an environment like this, the solo players’ lives became tougher and tougher. Gathering in groups became a trend, and more and more players started to create guilds.
According to the official statistics, the number of player guilds increased exponentially during Version 4.0. The more time passed, the more guilds there were. There was one famous event that caused the number of guilds to increase explosively in a short term. With a few large American professional guilds in the lead such as the Devil club, they formed a formal organization that became recognized by the outside world. They then obtained an extremely rare opportunity that other players had been trying to obtain for a very long time, which led to them being officially recognized.
After that, guilds became even more important to the players. They started to gather in large groups, and guilds started to form alliances and official organizations recognized by the outside world. They then formed partnerships with other organizations in the universe through business and diplomatic means using their organization.
With that, the benefits of guilds were extremely clear, as they would be able to obtain plenty more resources compared to ordinary players.
This function had existed in the previous few versions too, but it only showed its true potential in Version 4.0, leading to a turning point in the players’ careers. The main reason was the increase in the players’ strength in Version 4.0. Their influence throughout the universe was on a completely different level, which was why the organizations they built were taken seriously.
“Now, because the faction benefits that I’m giving to the army players are too useful, the players of the other Star Fields might work together to suppress the army players’ advantages. When everyone gets used to the new version, the army players are bound to suffer some losses. After all, there are too many who are against us.”
Since the army players had the advantage, he did not mind pushing it further so that the army players would always be in the lead.
Initially, all the players would have to take some time to get used to the version before entering the stage of forming guilds and organizations on a large scale, so Han Xiao wanted to let the army players enter that stage in advance.
This needed some adjustments in the system that would encourage this behavior.
Han Xiao thought about it for a while before summoning Phillip. He thought of a new system that would only be targeted at the players, which meant the Immortals.
_____________________
Those who are promoted to high positions through making contributions, or farming Contribution Points, and have reached Grade B or above will be allowed to create a new type of combat team. The team shall consist of two or more members with no upper limit of number of members. The division name can be chosen freely. After forming such a team, they can report it in the army. Every month, according to the missions completed and total Contribution Points obtained by all the members, they will receive special Team Merit Points.
Team Merit Points can be used to purchase large amounts of resources, including equipment, knowledges, and abilities. They will also have a crucial use—to purchase the positions to manage the various businesses of the army on behalf of the army, as well as to bid for certain special projects, or exchange for the mining right of some resource rich planets.
Not only that, but with enough merit points, they can choose to become a subsidiary organization under the Black Star Army and be considered semi-independent. For those teams, the merit points can be used to request the army’s reinforcements, use the army’s name to execute legal strategic actions, or submit a request to have both sides work together for a certain matter. They will basically be semi-independent organizations that are partners of the Black Star Army.
_____________________
“This should be about it…”
Han Xiao then looked through the main structure of the new system a few times and nodded.
This system would ‘legalize’ the players’ guilds.
Originally, guilds only existed between the players and were not recognized by the galactic society. For example, the NPC had no idea the Temple of Gods Guild existed, nor did they know who the members were. This system would make the players’ guilds be recognized in the army’s systems, so they would become official organizations with proper documentation.
This way, the players’ guilds would become organizations that actually existed in the universe.
The use of the Team Merit Points would encourage the army players to create guilds without needing to get used to the version. There would no doubt be many who tried this out, especially those official guilds of large clubs.
During Version 4.0 in his previous life, there were always players who left NPC factions to create their own. With this new system, however, it would at the very least tremendously reduce the players’ need to do so.
The price, of course, was that with the independence granted to the player guilds, the army would suffer a certain amount of unrest. Nevertheless, at times like this, giving the players more freedom was the path that had to be taken.
With more strength, the way to treat them had to be improved too. Han Xiao was no evil boss; he gave the players enough benefits even though he would also gain every benefit he could from them.
Version 4.0 was the turning point for the players. From here onward, the players would truly be difficult to control. They would start to spread the seed of anarchism everywhere. There was no way he could control the players as much as he did in the previous versions.
He planned to change that long ago, to give the players opportunities to grow their guilds and provide more resources to them. Only then would he be able to make the players continue to work for him willingly despite their growing strength.
At the same time, this system would also attract foreign players.
It was killing two birds with one stone.
“Master, hum… Are you sure about implementing this new system?”
Phillip, who was like a little fairy, sat on Han Xiao’s collarbone with his big eyes sparkling and looking up at Han Xiao’s cheek. His two tiny legs waved left and right in midair.
“Announce the preview first.” Han Xiao planned to officially implement this system only after all the players arrived at the Flickering World.
Before that, he wanted to let the players have time to prepare and gather their friends.
“Okay, hum…”
Han Xiao paused, suddenly thought of something, and said, “Some time ago, I studied Risda’s logic structure and had some new ideas. I’ll give you some updates in a few days’ time to increase your speed.”
Hearing this, Phillip’s eyes sparkled, and he flew up to Han Xiao’s face, hugging onto Han Xiao’s nose and staring into his eyes.
“Phillips loves my master the most, hum!”
“Stop acting cute.” Han Xiao raised his brow and flicked Phillip away from his nose.
…
The news about the Modo Civilization’s significant loss spread in the Flickering World. Many organizations talked about this privately. The other Super Star Cluster civilizations heard about this too.
Many Super Star Cluster civilizations had a meeting immediately.
“The dynasty is most likely the one who attacked Modo. We didn’t expect the two of them to start fighting this soon.”
“Could this be the first step of the dynasty’s plan to target us Super Star Cluster civilizations?”
“Doesn’t look like it. It seems to be a private matter between the dynasty and Modo.”
“Hmm, after we pass the areas of the first and second phase, we should help Modo when we can. We can’t let the dynasty beat them up too badly.”
As they knew the three Universal Civilizations would not let them comfortably develop in the Flickering World, most of the Super Star Cluster civilization had already formed secret alliances to fight against the three Universal Civilizations’ hostility together.
As Modo was attacked, according to their alliance terms, the other Super Star Cluster civilizations all decided to provide help when suitable.
Although this did not seem to have anything to do with them, the Super Star Cluster alliance did not want to give the dynasty the chance to break them one by one. Although the Modo Civilization was their competitor, fighting against the three Universal Civilizations’ pressure was the top task in the eyes of the Super Star Cluster alliance. Therefore, they did not mind helping their competitor. Only then would they be able to break through the three Universal Civilizations’ control of the new Star Field.
…
With assistance from the army and the dynasty, no witness discovered the attackers. After some days, the Black Star fleet that had attacked the Modo Civilization finally rendezvoused and returned to the Garu Star Cluster through a secret route. The selected captives were then sent to the Kunde Race’s planet in the Odoran Star System.
With help from the Black Star Army, every colonial planet now had plenty of cities. They were not short of resources.
The Kunde Race had been peacefully resting for more than a decade. Although they had yet to recover from the wounds of the war, many chose to enjoy the peace and new life.
In the past, the communication from all these colonial planets toward the outside world was blocked. The residents of the planets could only log into their planet server network. Therefore, they had absolutely no idea what was happening in the outside world. It was like they were stranded on an island in the universe.
The army and the dynasty had control of all the media channels and did not allow the existence of civilian media corporations. The Kunde Race members could only accept the cultural transformation from the dynasty in the form of literature, music, and entertainment. The various entertainment sources would slowly change their ways of thinking.
Living so peacefully and not having any chance to resist, they could do absolutely nothing even if they were furious. Many people could only accept their fate with resignation.
Today, however, the official channel that had been playing cultural transformation shows every day suddenly announced a piece of news that made countless Kunde Race members thrilled.
His Excellency Black Star kept his promise back then to avenge the Kunde Race, and he had now captured the captives of some of the people behind their tragedy. These people would be sent to the Kunde Race colonial planets very soon.
This piece of news immediately caused a sensation!
The Kunde Race of this generation could not resist, but they did not forget their hatred. Compared to the dynasty, they hated the people who used the Kunde Race back then even more.
As the date approached, countless members of the Kunde Race arrived early at the designated dock and looked up at the sky, waiting for the arrival of these captives.
Whoosh!
More and more spaceships penetrated the atmosphere and quickly landed on the dock.
As the hatches opened one after another, batches of Black Star Army warriors escorted the unarmed captives out.
The captives that were sent there were all filtered, so no strong soldiers were present. They all wore the same prison uniform, and all their possessions were confiscated. They carried no threat at all.
The Kunde Race around them were innumerable. As the many captives saw so many ferocious looking creatures surrounding them, they became uncontrollably nervous, and their bodies started to stiffen.
“What planet is this? Why were we sent here?”
“What are these creatures? Beasts?”
“They’re wearing clothes. They’re intelligent.”
“Why are they all staring at us? It’s a little horrifying.”
Using the Kunde Race was a secret only the upper echelons knew, of course, these normal soldiers had no idea. Many did not even recognize this species at all. They were lost and had no idea why these intelligent beings were staring at them.
At this time, a stone suddenly flew out from the crowd and landed on a captive’s head.
Pa!
This captive grunted and quickly covered his head.
Before his other friends could respond, countless objects flew out from the crowd and were thrown at all these captives.
Whining and wailing sounded immediately. The captives were bleeding everywhere. The Black Star Army warriors watched coldly from the side. After they had been attacked for quite some time, they finally activated their shields to block all the flying objects. The floor was quickly covered in random objects.
Although no lives were lost, the captives were still frightened.
“Why are they hitting us‽”
“Why did the Black Star Army send us here?”
They were making a fuss. As they looked around with terror, they finally understood the look in the members of the Kunde Race’s eyes around them—they were filled with hatred and rage.
At this time, an army warrior snorted and coldly said, “They’re the Kunde Race, a native civilization of the Flickering World. During the second exploration phase, the Modo Civilization secretly used the Kunde Race and provoked them to fight the dynasty, causing the Kunde Race to be eliminated. All of you are their enemy. Stay here and pay for your sins.”
After hearing this, the captives went silent with their eyes widened.
Sending us to the territory of the people who hate us… You’re using us for them to vent their anger!
We were promised to live, but this is worse than dying!
W-we’re done for!
The captives were filled with negative emotions. They did not dare look up as they were pushed forward onto the land transports toward the prisons.
The land transport slowly departed from the dock. From start to end, the Kunde Race around had always been staring at the captives.
The crowd did not dissipate. After some time, someone finally spoke.
“Black Star promised to bring us justice back then. It’s actually true…”
“Black Star has been keeping his promise.”
“I misunderstood him. Turns out he’s someone so noble.”
Many Kunde Race felt the same way.
In the past decade or so, the Black Star Army had managed the planet and provided them with countless resources. Together with the promotion in the media, the Kunde Race was already quite familiar with the army.
In terms of emotions, the Kunde Race did not have much hatred for the Black Star Army, but not many of them believed Han Xiao’s promise back then.
After all, the Kunde Race was just a group of ‘prisoners’ who could not fight back; why should Black Star waste his energy to bring them justice? After more than ten years, they thought that he had already forgotten this.
However, Han Xiao had proved to them that he was not joking with results.
In the eyes of the Kunde Race, Black Star immediately became the only hope to bring justice for their race.
While shocked and surprised, a sense of appreciation grew in the hearts of the Kunde Race, together with more hope.
Black Star, what a good man!
Another was that Han Xiao’s edge of knowing the star map well was taking effect. Within the territories he had chosen, there were a ton of transport hubs and strategic points, which had been the most prosperous locations in his previous life. Now, they had the same importance as in his previous life. These financial groups who invested in the Black Star Army were also starting to get their returns. Han Xiao promised to give some of the businesses in his territory to these investors to manage; now, there were countless financial groups operating in the army’s territory, quickly filling up the businesses.
More than half of the outside organizations chose to take the Black Star Army’s route. Han Xiao, of course, would not provide free services. A huge number of spaceships were entering the Garu Star Cluster every single day, and the profit from that was exploding.
Countless streams of light escaped from the entrance stargate, turning into blurry silver rainbows that lingered in space.
This time, spaceships with the Black Star symbol flew out from the stargate one after another, following the crowd and slowly moving forward.
“So, this is the entrance of the Black Star Army’s territory.”
There were plenty of army players on every one of these ships. They were all squeezing in front of the porthole and looking outside with curiosity.
When Planet Black Gate entered their sights, compared to the deserted image the players had of it, the Planet Black Gate now could not be more boisterous. Countless spaceships landed on and took off from it, so the traffic flow was very dense. The surface of the planet was filled with buildings. The countless lights shrouded the planet like a curtain made of jewels.
On its side, a silver stream of light extended in the cosmic space all the way to the end of their sights. This was made up of the flame trail of the countless spaceships entering the border. These spaceships passed through in hyperdrive like meteors, and as it was too frequent, these trails did not dissipate for a very long time. It was like someone used a silver pen to draw a line that could not be erased along the entire stargate route. It had almost become the guide for the route.
“Planet Black Gate, belongs to the Black Star Army, a large border entrance transit station landmark of the Garu Star Cluster.” Maple Moon read the data shown on the communicator.
“It’s so boisterous. It’s completely the opposite of how it was last version,” Frenzied Sword commented.
He could only feel how dreamy the change was after arriving at the army’s territory.
Frenzied Sword was the earliest player to follow Black Star. He experienced every single step of Black Star’s rise. It was hard for him to imagine how his own faction really grew to this point and have such vast territories.
Just the size of the territories was equivalent to ten Star System civilizations, which could even match up with some Star Cluster civilizations. It was stunning.
In his eyes, Black Star became even more dependable.
While he was still deep in thought, Maple Moon said, “The Flickering World is the world server, we’ve arrived earlier than the players of the other Star Fields, so this time advantage is very crucial. Do you have any plans?”
“Don’t worry, the guild will be going to the army to register as a subsidiary organization. We will then follow the guild to do things. We should be going to the fourth exploration phase’s area to grab the opportunities before others,” Frenzied Sword said.
“I didn’t expect the army to announce such a revolutionary system. This is almost as if he’s letting the guilds split from the army. This will completely change the way we play the game… Of course, it’s a good thing for us, but from Black Star’s perspective, I have no idea what he’s thinking. Why is he willing to give up power?” Maple Moon mumbled. Even though it had already been a few days, she was still surprised.
“This means my speculation in the past was correct, of course. As the Grade of us players increases, the influence we have on the universe will increase too. Seems like this version will be the turning point of that.” Frenzied Sword had a smug look on his face.
Originally, many players were lost about how to make full use of their advantages in the Flickering World. However, the new system Han Xiao announced not long ago immediately showed all the army players a clear path.
The Team Merit Point system was almost specially made to aid in the growth of guilds. Almost every known Chinese guild decided to register as an official organization in the army. At the same time, this had also created a trend of creating guilds. Just during the time they travelled there, countless army players had already called up their friends to create guilds. Han Xiao’s plan was proven to be very effective.
The fleet flew for some days before arriving at the Black Star Palace. This was the first time the players had seen this new main base built during the version update. Its magnificence amazed many players.
This group of players who arrived first came to the most outside base and gathered in a hall. Phillip had summoned them here to have them be inspected.
After just a short wait, two people walked in. The players all looked over and were excited to see who they were.
It was the Army Commander, Han Xiao, and the second Beyond Grade A of the army, Hila.
“Wow, Hila has become even more beautiful.”
“The face! The body! The aura! Please let me die here!”
“Save the nonsense, it’s no use.”
“Ah, how I miss the feeling of being killed by Hila. Maybe this is what love is.”
“No, this is being a pervert.”
“Woman? Boring, strong men like Black Star can make you hard to breathe.”
A big group of players rushed toward them with their desire to farm favorability written all over their faces. Hila was surrounded by even more people than Han Xiao.
Han Xiao complained about sexism in his mind. Before Hila started to slaughter everyone out of impatience, he repelled everyone away, saying with a deep voice, “Silence. I have serious matters to announce.”
The players gradually quieted down and looked at Han Xiao with curiosity in their eyes.
Han Xiao cleared his throat and slowly said, “Currently, the Flickering World is open to the outside world. With the outside forces entering, the exploration of the new Star Field has entered a new stage. The peace that once existed is no more. In the future, countless conflicts will erupt surrounding the resources in the new Star Field. And we, the Black Star Army, have to adapt to this change.
“I believe everyone already knows that the army announced a new system recently. This is the first step of the change. You’re all from my home planet and my comrades who grew alongside the army. The term ‘Immortals’ has a very important meaning to the army. You’ve all made a lot of contributions. Therefore, I’ve decided to give you more independence, and I hope you can make full use of your talents to achieve great things.”
As soon as his sentence ended, shock appeared on many players as they exchanged looks. They were very surprised.
This seemed to be the first time Black Star had called them Immortals.
Before this, although they were working for the Black Star Army, they did not feel like they were very important. Although the outside world called them Immortals, their Army Commander did not seem to have said anything about this in any public occasions and had always been treating them like the normal members.
In Version 1.0, the Germinal Organization had studied the players, and similar situations still existed. All the players knew the fact that they were immortal might pique the NPCs’ interest, but to most people, this was just a way to improve the sense of realism. They did not pay too much attention to it.
Now, however, having suddenly heard what Black Star said, the players present all had a strange feeling as if something they had ignored for a very long time had resurfaced again—the fact that they were really special. In their eyes, Han Xiao’s image became more alive.
Other than this strange feeling, the players were also glad to hear their faction leader Black Star personally saying they were important to the army. Many people were very motivated and felt a subtle sense of achievement and belonging.
Han Xiao looked around and saw the expression on everyone’s faces. He suddenly smiled and said, “You don’t have to be shocked. Although both Hila and I are Beyond Grade As now, you’re all my people from the same mother planet. In this cold universe, we’re on the same side. Therefore, you don’t have to be too cautious in front of me. I have high hopes for you. Remember, the Black Star Army will always have your back.”
Everyone was thrilled to hear this.
From the same mother planet… that’s right, how could we forget that? We and Black Star have this bond!
Seeing Han Xiao’s attitude, everyone felt that Han Xiao had become more friendly.
Inside the crowd, Maple Moon quietly poked Frenzied Sword’s waist and softly said, “Why do I feel like Black Star seems to have changed?”
“Changed? Haha, you’re wrong. He’s not changed at all!” Frenzied Sword was filled with excitement. “This is the Han Xiao in my mind, not that cold and beyond-reach important Black Star!”
His voice was so loud that many professional players around looked over.
“He’s right. How long has it been since Black Star has had close contact with us?” Second Prince murmured.
“With Black Star becoming stronger and stronger, it has been very difficult for the others to come in touch with him. To think that he’s still as friendly and down to earth as he was in Version 1.0. Looks like he really sees us as one of his own.” Sleepy Winter smiled.
Many people were discussing this quietly, while Bun-Hit-Dog focused on recording this moment with joy on his face.
Han Xiao very discreetly glanced at him shortly and nodded in his mind.
In the previous versions, with the rapid increase in his position, the opportunities for the players to come in contact with him had constantly decreased. After two versions, his image had already become cold and beyond reach.
However, in Version 4.0, as the players would become much more useful, Han Xiao decided to be more down to earth and close the distance between him and the players. This would strengthen the players’ emotional attachment to him, which was a key factor in influencing the players other than profit.
After all, he was a player himself in his previous life. How could he not know what the players liked?
Seeing the players were filled with joy, Han Xiao coughed and spoke again, finally getting to the point.
“The competition in the Flickering World has become very intense. I will be deploying some fleets toward the fourth exploration phase’s area to compete with the external forces. You can choose to participate. As long as any member of a registered subsidiary organization participates, the organization will receive more Team Merit Points depending on the number of members participating and will be allowed to build strongholds on the planets in the army’s territory. At the same time, they will all enjoy a thirty-percent discount in the military supplies store for all items.”
As soon as he stopped speaking, a faction mission popped up on the interfaces of the players. Many players’ eyes instantly brightened.
Not only would there be a massive scale faction main storyline mission but also thirty percent off in the faction store. They would even be allowed to build official guild strongholds in the army’s territory…
Black Star really is the same old Black Star—a walking bag of profit!
Seeing that everyone was excited, Han Xiao called an end to the meeting. The players scattered almost immediately and headed right to the military supplies store to shop. They still had the money they saved from the last version, most players had a lot to spend, their purchasing power was ample.
The thirty percent off was a promotion method to encourage the players to spend. Although the players were focusing on leveling up, with such a big discount, they would definitely be influenced. This was to harvest the players’ experience.
Han Xiao had stockpiled Mission Completion Cards for twenty years. He was now Level 307, so he would be able to go through his Promotion as long as he reached Level 320.
The few Star Clusters in the fourth exploration phase would be where the competition would be the most intense, as well as the main stage of the conflict in the World Server between the players. This move also served to encourage the players to secure their advantages before going to the fourth exploration phase area, helping the army players keep their lead so as to avoid them being bullied by the foreign players working together.
Allowing these guilds that had registered as official organizations to build guild strongholds was also a profit bundle.
With their homes in my territory, the cost of them leaving my faction will be even higher.
All ploys and tricks, I’m such a bad man…
Han Xiao shook his head and chuckled.
He led Hila out of the hall, and the two of them walked in the army while chatting. This time, Hila suddenly said, “Black Star, I plan to go to the fourth exploration phase area too, to take part in the army’s exploration in the front line.”
“Are your hands getting itchy?” Han Xiao glanced at her.
“Hmm. I’m not you. You can remote control your avatar while being at home. I want to fight with more Beyond Grade As, and now is a good opportunity.” Hila nodded.
After reaching Beyond Grade A, her motivation did not disappear at all. Knowing that the difference between herself and Han Xiao was still vast, she wanted to become stronger.
Shattered Star Ring was not suitable for sparring. Now that they had reached the Flickering World, it was a good opportunity to improve herself.
“Alright, you shall take the position as the commander of the fleet. Just a reminder, dozens of Beyond Grade As will be fighting in the fourth phase areas. For a very long time in the future, that will probably be the most dangerous place in the entire universe. If you meet anyone you can’t deal with, tell me. My avatar will be following the fleet at all times,” Han Xiao said.
All these Beyond Grade As were not there to sightsee; they were all there to fight for the profits in the new Star Field. Without Han Xiao’s restraint in the Flickering World, these people would have fought all the time. Not just Hila, Han Xiao planned to let his avatar be stationed there for a long term as well.
After splitting up with Hila, Han Xiao walked to his room and opened the player forums, browsing the movements of the players in the various Star Fields and enjoying the nonsense of the idiotic comments and posts.
While he browsed the posts and relaxed, a new post was suddenly pinned.
Han Xiao looked at it and his eyes sparkled. It was the first episode of Galaxy Times since the new version!
“After more than half a month, it’s finally here, huh?”
Han Xiao clicked into the post, and as soon as he opened the video, the two new hosts appeared on the screen, still one male and one female.
“Players and friends, good evening, I’m Ah Wei,” the male host said.
“I’m Flower,” the female host said.
“This is the Galaxy Times, dedicated to sharing first-hand gaming news. Your gaming career is our top priority.”
After the usual opening, the two hosts started the show with the usual awkward conversation.
“It has been more than half a month since the start of the new version. The players of the various nations are all trying to adapt to it. Compared to Version 3.0, 4.0 comes with a lot of changes. Just a preview, the content we have today is very rich. We’re going to tell everyone about the way to play this new version.”
“Speaking of the new version, that reminds me of something. I have a friend…”
Before he finished, Flower interrupted him and said, “I got it. That friend is you. Please carry on with your performance.”
“… That friend of mine had a ghost-related incident happen to him recently.”
“Where did it happen?”
Ah Wei replied, “On this one day, when my friend returned from working overtime, it was already late night. His family was sound asleep. He washed up then went straight to bed hugging his wife to sleep. Then, at midnight, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door, and he…”
Flower suddenly interrupted again and said with a strange expression, “Wait… what does this have to do with the new version again?”
“Ahem, I was just looking for an excuse to start the topic. Don’t mind these details.”
“… Go on.” Flower rolled her eyes.
“I… My friend and his wife were the only ones in that house, so he thought a thief had broken in. He quickly got out of the bed to turn on the light, only to realize that there was no one else, and the gate was properly closed. So, he went back to sleep. However, when he woke up the next day and went to work, he realized that the gate was open slightly, but nothing was missing from his house. He thought that he had only dreamed about the previous night, so he woke up his wife to ask her if she had heard anything last night, to which she replied no. Don’t you think that’s scary? It’s definitely a ghost.”
“Eat more greens and vegetables in the future; it improves mental stability,” Flower replied.
“So, what would you do if you really encountered a ghost?”
“I’d beat it to death, of course. Do you think my materialism aura is fake?”
After this interaction, the two hosts successfully pulled the players’ excited mood back to regular standards, all turning from thrilled to poker faces.
As Han Xiao listened through the awkward conversation stage, the two hosts finally entered the main theme.
“Back to business. It has been more than a half month since the start of Version 4.0 [Flickering World], and the uniqueness of this version is already showing… that’s right, it’s the world server!” Ah Wei said.
“Yes, after three versions, the players from all nations can now finally gather in one place and interest in the same Star Field,” Flower continued. “This is a major play style revolution. We can see that this version will be exceptionally boisterous. There’s the possibility of national wars happening, so it will be a giant battleground for the players from all nations.”
“Speaking of what might happen, I recall the speculation we made in the last episode of Version 3.0. Back then, we speculated that Version 3.0 would fully open the function of cross Star Field traveling. Now, our speculation has proven to be half correct, only that we did not guess the opening of the world server.”
“Due to the appearance of the world server, the Shattered Star Ring players now have two natural advantages. One is their geographical location, as these two Star Fields are next to each other, which means the Shattered Star Ring players can arrive in the world server earlier than the players from the other Star Fields. Another is that the Shattered Star Ring players have exclusive faction advantages.”
“That’s right. Among the factions that the players are able to join, The Black Star Army is the only one that made contact with the Flickering World in the previous version. The players followed the army to participate in the first exploration phase of the Flickering World and built their foundations.”
“Not only that, the Black Star Army has already become the strongest force in the Flickering World in this new version, apart from the dynasty. I can still remember the Black Star Army being the guiding faction for the Shattered Star Ring players in Version 2.0. Now that they have grown to become such an enormous organization, they will provide tremendous help to the Shattered Star Ring players in the Flickering World, giving them exclusive advantages.”
“Nonetheless, I feel that there are two sides to everything. The Shattered Star Ring players who have such clear advantages might become the joint target of the players from all the other Star Fields.”
“As for the play style of the world server, there have been many posts analyzing it across various boards. According to our conclusion, the competition in Version 4.0 might revolve around guilds. The players without guilds will have more freedom and more choices, but the efficiency in obtaining resources will not be comparable to guilds.”
“The source of this is the system the Black Star Army recently announced…” Ah Wei suddenly paused, hesitated, and said, “Speaking of which, how many times have we made version speculations based on the Black Star Army’s actions?”
As soon as this was said, the players who were watching the show started a rampage. Countless comments flew across the screen.
“Too true. Everything starts with the Black Star Army. Without the army, the Galaxy Times wouldn’t even know how to do their shows.”
“Ah Wei: Making speculations is easy, just see what the Black Star Army is doing.”
“Trash show. Completely reliant on the army :)”
“Black Star: That’s right, I’m the most handsome man in the Shattered Star Ring.”
As the viewers started to joke around again, Han Xiao smiled.
This compliment feels quite good. The benefits I’ve provided all along to guide the versions didn’t go to waste.
Flower coughed and said, “Alright, back to the main topic. The Black Star Army is indeed an important factor when it comes to predicting version development. The core mechanism of the new system they announced some time ago turns guilds into official organizations in the universe and allows the players to become somewhat independent.”
“The independent playstyle has always been unpopular in the previous versions, mainly because the conditions had yet to mature. However, in Version 4.0, with the increased maximum level, the influence the players can have as independent organizations has increased. This playstyle might become very important.”
“The Black Star Army has led this playstyle, and according to what they have done in the past, this will very likely become the mainstream play style of Version 4.0, encouraging more people to create guilds.”
“However! Attention to all players! Becoming independent through normal processes will require you to leave your original faction. As of this moment, the Black Star Army is the only faction that has a system of semi-independence. This means that only the army players can be independent while still getting to keep their identities as members of the Black Star Army! This is another unique and exclusive advantage!”
“We still don’t know if this is one of the specialties of the Black Star Army. If the factions that the players in the other Star Fields are in don’t have this system, I feel that many foreign players will join the Black Star Army… Therefore, here comes the problem. If they become players in the same faction, will national wars still happen?”
Quite accurate analytics, Han Xiao thought.
This was a good thing for him. It would help to promote how superior his system was so that the players would better understand how amazing the army was, increasing the appeal of the faction.
The show went on to analyze the possibilities of the world server in detail, as well as what was happening to the players in the various Star Fields. Han Xiao watched from start to end, mainly to see the movements of the players of the other Star Fields.
Unlike the Shattered Star Ring, the players in the other Star Fields did not have a unified faction. They belonged to many different factions and were on their way to the Flickering World with their factions. There were also many solo players who quit their factions, mainly Americans and Europeans. After all, the love for freedom was in their blood and bones.
The exterior factions that had players were worth paying attention to, but they were mostly small organizations.
Small organizations were nothing to worry about. The Flickering World had way too many powerful organizations. The methods of joining them in Version 4.0 would increase drastically. The players would not be able to resist the temptation to join bigger organizations.
Furthermore, some might even sell out their old boss in exchange for Contribution Points from the new boss.
Han Xiao could recall many examples where players deliberately used small organizations’ names to mess with enormous organizations. They would then betray the small organization while bringing the small organization an undefeatable powerful enemy, which led to their doom. Afterward, the players would then join the new hostile faction with a higher position and salary, and this was the definition of completely shameless anarchism.
To many players, virtue was complete horse sh*t. Small organizations were unattractive and weak, so players would not miss them or be attached at all. A large faction like his, however, would mostly be treasured by normal players, and they would not cause such trouble.
Other than medium and small organizations, there were also foreign players who worked for powerful organizations such as the Limitless Financial Group, Galactic Black Market, Extinguish Army, and some Star Cluster or even Super Star Cluster civilizations. Depending on the location, they had differing numbers of ‘Immortals’ from different nations working for them.
“Especially that piece of sh*t Sorokin. He recruited quite a number of players and even tested the army players in the past. He might poach my people in the Flickering World.” Han Xiao curled his lips.
The Limitless Financial Group was mainly recruiting in the Sea of Star Spirits, which mostly included Japanese and Korean players. The Extinguish Army was a key faction for the Americans. The players under these organizations should be the highest in numbers other than the Black Star Army.
Speaking of the Extinguish Army, Han Xiao was reminded of Beyoni. Beyoni was the leader of the Pyre Demon Tribe, while the Extinguish Army consisted mainly of the Ice Demon Race, so the two of them were considered enemies. Beyoni controlled the Land of the Fire Core, while the Extinguish Army controlled the Land of the Ice Core. Even their race treasures were similar.
While thinking about that, Han Xiao suddenly felt something and opened up his attribute interface. His Experience gauge was increasing at an astonishing speed.
“Hehe, my promotion is working.”
…
The top tier professional clubs such as Dynasty, Temple of God, Long Sky, and so on had all registered as official organizations in the Black Star Army. Their organization names remained unchanged and could be used as their guild name.
Having been ordered to do so by Han Xiao, Phillip quickly processed the procedures of guilds becoming official one after another. The organizational structure of the army players changed drastically as they officially became recognized subsidiary guild organizations and had documents in the army.
After the registration, these guilds immediately told some of their members to take part in the main storyline exploration mission so that they could receive the many discounts Han Xiao had mentioned. To these large guilds, they could also use these discounts to attract many players who did not have a guild yet to join them. It was a win-win.
Through the hard work of the logistics department in the past twenty years, the various models of equipment in the army were all the latest, while the items the players had were all abandoned models from twenty years ago. They needed to upgrade. Plus, with the thirty-percent discount, their desire to spend was at the peak. A shopping spree started in the military supplies store very soon.
To the Great Mechanic Han, the Enaus earned from the players now was just small profits. What was important was Experience. He had added Experience price to more items in the faction store and introduced a new system. The players could choose one of two purchasing methods—Enaus or Experience. If they had no money in their pockets, they could use Experience to buy things.
In the eyes of other army members, this would look a little strange, as if equipment were given out for free. However, Han Xiao did not have to be as careful about the way he treated the players as he was before, given how strong he had become. All he had to do was say that the Immortals had privileges, and no one would ask any more questions.
The result of that was the explosive increase in the efficiency of harvesting Experience. Experience was a special type of currency only belonging to the players. Currently, only the Black Star Army had the service of using Experience to buy things; the other factions would not be able to do it even if they wanted to.
Millions of army players arrived at Black Star Palace over several days, while the players from the other Star Fields were still on their way. According to the schedule of these players, the players that would reach the world server the second-fastest should be the Southeast Asian players in Blackhole Edge, mainly Thais, Vietnamese, Indonesians, and Singaporeans. However, that was still many days away. The Chinese players had more than enough time to exploit their advantages.
As deployed by the Black Star Army, many players were split into mostly two directions. One group followed the fleet led by Hila toward the area of the fourth exploration phase, ready to interfere with the competition between the outside forces. The remaining players were mainly guild members who made use of the benefit Han Xiao promised and went to build guild strongholds in various locations of the army’s territory. At the same time, they used Team Merit Points to purchase resource points and the operation rights for various businesses, starting to build stronger foundations for their guilds.
With Han Xiao’s control behind the curtain, all the army players had moved. This was developing according to the path he had pointed out. The mainstream play style proven by what happened in his previous life was expanding his lead in the world server step by step.
At the same time, the fleet led by Hila arrived at the area of the fourth exploration phase together with other organizations.
The exploration area for the fourth exploration phase was four Star Clusters. They were considered as the center of the Flickering World in terms of geographical location.
Opening the new Star Field to the outside world was the dynasty’s way of splitting the cost of construction. The third phase areas were basically properly split and highly controlled, so they were considered areas with high security. These four Star Clusters, however, were areas for all the forces to compete freely. The dynasty did not restrict the outside organizations from fighting for territory, so they were low security areas.
The external organizations would choose one or more Star Clusters to explore while at the same time fighting for their territories. At the initial stage of the exploration, these organizations focused on occupying their territories first before slowly exploring the further unknown areas.
It had not been long since the countless outside organizations had arrived there, so the exploration area was still limited to the edges of the four Star Clusters. However, the situation was already looking complex and chaotic. If there was a star map that marked the territories the various organizations now occupied in detail, that would be the most complicated star map in the entire universe.
Most organizations had already foreseen the intensity of the competition and formed various alliances here and there. Roughly speaking, the main factions that were active in the free competition zones could be classified into the following categories.
The first category comprised the ‘local snakes’, consisting of the dynasty and its allies. They all had some territory at the edge of these four Star Clusters, so their position was quite above the others. After all, most of the outside organizations did not want to fight with them, and the organizations belonging to the dynasty did not put too much effort into exploring as well, so they did not participate in the intense competition.
The second groups had alliances of different civilizations, among which, the Super Star Cluster alliance stood at the top. The rest were the Star Cluster civilization alliances of various Star Fields. They had been expanding ruthlessly and occupied plenty of areas that were close to each other. These alliances were strong contenders in this free competition zone.
The third category covered the financial groups, who mostly had mercenaries under their command, mainly focused on making money. The territories they occupied were quite scattered. The fourth group included the external Beyond Grade A organizations, which were also very strong contenders, but there were not many of them.
The last was the civil organizations from all over the universe. This group had the most complex composition and the most scattered territories with the most conflicts that often changed ownership in the previous life.
As for the federation and the church, they were both keeping a low profile in their corners and did not seem to intend to expand. They were only letting their allies take part in the competition freely.
The three Universal Civilizations had the silent agreement of giving the stage to let the other organizations fight and compete.
Currently, although there were occasional conflicts in the free competition zones of the four Star Cluster, there had yet to be any large scale armed conflicts. The exploration had only just started, so there were still plenty of unknown areas. Everyone was exploring further from the edges of the Star Cluster; the organization structure was far from saturation.
Currently, these organizations mainly feared the dynasty’s stand on this, but the fight would start sooner or later. With the Black Star Army firing the first shot in the Flickering World, this process would be sped up tremendously.
In one of the free competition zones of the fourth phase within the Emerald Star Cluster, the enormous Black Star Army exploration fleet rode out of the dynasty’s military stargate and arrived at the border of the Star Cluster.
Inside the command room, Hila stood before the operation console with a poker face, carefully looking at the holographic star map before her.
She had changed her clothes and was wearing a combat suit made of nanomaterials that Han Xiao had specially made for her. It was a black uniform with two rows of buttons. Its style was the luxurious version of the army officers’ military uniform, skintight, showing her beautiful curves. The army’s symbol was on her collar, and there was also a wide high-collar cape behind here in the color of black and gold with magnificent patterns. The inside of the cape was red. This set of clothes suited her unique vibe and elevated her aura.
The combat suit’s model was ‘Crimson Snake—First Gen’, Beyond Grade A equipment. It consisted of tons of top-notch technology. Its usual mode was like a piece of normal clothing, but when in combat mode, it would showcase its powerful performance as a Beyond Grade A mechanical suit.
This combat suit was not built at the last minute. In fact, Han Xiao had made this equipment long before Hila returned. When Hila received this gift, although she did not say much on the surface, she had been wearing it since. She clearly liked it a lot.
“Deputy Army Commander, where are we going now?” the female aide-de-camp beside her asked.
Hila pressed on the holographic star map and zoomed in on one area. This was a planet at the edge of the Emerald Star Cluster called Planet Phiri. Its location was a little rural, so no one had occupied it yet.
“Here, to build a bridgehead,” said Hila.
She was now the commander of the exploration fleet. Han Xiao had given her a lot of freedom in terms of making decisions, only limiting the army’s exploration target to be the Emerald Star Cluster. The details would all be controlled by Hila.
The reason Han Xiao had chosen the Emerald Star Cluster was that this was also the main exploration target of the Modo Civilization, as well as a relatively prosperous area in his previous life. He remembered that there were also some hidden factors in the region. There was the wreckage of an old civilization that was discovered in this Star Cluster, and it was quite an advanced civilization with plenty of technical information. It caused conflicts between countless organizations in the previous life, but he did not know the exact location of it.
Most importantly, the Emerald Star Cluster was one of the locations where the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy might appear in.
According to EsGod’s heritage, there were many coordinates the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy might appear at, and Han Xiao could not judge which one was real. Since EsGod did not die in his previous life, this information was not leaked, and he had secretly secured the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy without attracting the attention of the outside world. Even the players did not know much about it.
Nonetheless, Han Xiao had always been secretly monitoring Evans’ whereabouts. This man who was the owner of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy in his previous life found a job after he was freed from prison and became an ordinary member of a financial group’s exploration fleet, responsible for cleaning and repairing spaceships. The fleet he was in had come to the Emerald Star Cluster.
Therefore, Han Xiao was quite sure that the Emerald Star Cluster was where the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy would appear. After all, after the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was defeated by EsGod, it had definitely found an owner nearby, so the area where Evans was in had the highest possibility.
Of course, Hila did not know about any of that yet. She casually issued orders and commanded the fleet to head to Planet Phiri.
Meanwhile, some player guilds did not follow the main fleet but spread out on their own.
These guilds that had completed their registration had the authority to move on their own. In order to obtain their own stronghold, they did not want to move together with the main fleet. This was approved by Han Xiao silently. Furthermore, he even prepared quite a number of missions just for the players in the army interface, which had rich rewards. This was to encourage the guilds to move on their own and expand their lead.
…
Somewhere in the Emerald Star Cluster, Beast Ancestor Gorutan’s fleet was stationed on one planet, building a bridgehead.
Although Gorutan was the protector of the Galactic Black Market behind the curtains, he also had his own organization. If there was anything special about this organization, it would be that most of its members were his offspring.
Gorutan stood at the peak of a mountain, looking down at the ground that was slowly being covered in metal. Above him was the dark galaxy, and northern lights flew in the sky.
His muscular and fearsome body was completely nude. The lion-like fur all over his body swayed with the corrosive wind, and dots of light surrounded his body, each of which was made of highly condensed Pugilist flames.
As a peak Beyond Grade A Pugilist, his training method had ascended from purely training his body. He had to use every inch of his body to feel the way the universe operated; it was very mysterious. Gorutan had stopped taking baths in Fixed Stars like Heber long ago.
This time, numerous meteors flew over from the sky and landed behind Gorutan. They were all Calamity Grade officers, and there were more than forty of them.
Everyone lowered their head and spoke with respect at the same time.
“Father!”
These officers were the Beast Ancestor’s offspring, and they all had different appearances as if they were different species.
Gorutan really lived up to the ‘ancestor’ in his nickname. In fact, he had a more down to earth nickname among the civilians—Seed Spreader of the Galaxy.
After he evolved to become a Beyond Grade A species, he had obtained a very powerful reproductive capacity. His genes had extraordinary adaptability. He could have offspring with most species, and his way of expanding his race was brutal and simple. He captured females of different races for mating to give birth to all kinds of hybrid species.
If there were any outstanding mutants in his offspring, he would then turn that offspring into his mating machine to breed even stronger offspring. This way of doing things contradicted the ethics of some races, so Gorutan was disliked by quite many civilizations who felt he was like a savage beast. However, many races did not care about it. After all, the ethics of every race were different.
Gorutan turned around, not minding the fact that he was fully nude in front of his offspring, and said with a deep voice, “What is it?”
An offspring stepped forward. This offspring had the appearance of a spider-like insect but had a human-like face. His six pedipalp-like arms held a communicator at the same time to express his respect to Gorutan. “Father, Sorokin is looking for you.”
Gorutan took the communicator, and Sorokin’s hologram appeared before him.
“What’s this about?”
Sorokin smiled calmly. “Remember my plan for the Black Star Army? It’s time. When the Limitless Financial Group firms its ground, we will start to target the Black Star Army’s businesses in his territory. Before that, we need to restrain the army’s exploration.”
“And you need my help?”
“That’s right. Right now, the Black Star Army’s exploration is heading to Planet Phiri, which is not far from you. I hope you can occupy Planet Phiri in advance. Their leader is Hila. Test her depth. Best to force the Black Star Army to retreat and delay their exploration progress while damaging their reputation.”
“Why not do it yourself?”
“My original body isn’t in the Emerald Star Cluster. Plus, I can’t beat Hila.” Sorokin smiled.
“Humph, we made a deal with you because I don’t want to deal with the Black Star Army personally, but now you’re asking me, the employer, to help. Why is that so?” Gorutan snorted. As a peak Beyond Grade A, he was not afraid of offending Black Star. He just did not want to work for free.
“My abilities are limited; I only have some strengths in terms of operating a business,” Sorokin slowly said. “If you don’t help me, I won’t be able to restrict the Black Star Army’s exploration. By then, don’t blame me for not giving Black Star enough pressure… Also, I can leak this information to you; the federation and the church have plans to get rid of Hila.”
“Oh? Are they not afraid of enraging the dynasty and starting another Tragedy of the Pinnacles?”
“Well, the fact is, Hila belongs to the Black Star Army; she did not agree to join the dynasty. So, killing her will only enrage Black Star. Hila becoming a Beyond Grade A is an unforeseen issue, but it has also shown us a new way to damage the Black Star Army.”
Gorutan squinted. “Have you forgotten what Black Star said during the Meeting of the Gods? There are too few Beyond Grade As. Anyone dying won’t be beneficial to us.”
“Haha, is that really the case?” Sorokin smiled. “The Mechanic Emperor is extremely ambitious. He hopes to gather all of the Beyond Grade As to obtain more things, but when you think of it, aren’t we being used by him? My thoughts happen to be the complete opposite of his. If there are fewer Beyond Grade As, those who are left will be safer. They’ll be more important to the advanced civilizations.”
Gorutan frowned. “Are you betraying the shared battlefront of the Beyond Grade As?”
“There has never been such a thing as betrayal. What have the others got to do with us? Is the situation the Beyond Grade As are in now not good enough?” Sorokin did not care at all. “When we plot to obtain things that don’t belong to us, this kind of ambition will only lead to our demise.”
“Don’t ever say something like that to me. I’ll take it as if I didn’t hear what you just said.” Gorutan waved his hand impatiently. “For the sake of our relationship, I’ll help you this time. I’ll visit Planet Phiri, but double my dividends for the next quarter, or there’s no deal.”
“Okay.” Sorokin smiled.
Gorutan ended the call and looked back at his many offspring. “Prepare the spaceships and follow me.”
This time, one offspring could not help but ask, “Father, for us to mess with the Black Star Army in the Flickering World, is it really worth…”
“You think Sorokin is the first person to have asked me to do this?” Gorutan snorted. “Hehe, in the Flickering World now, there are all too many organizations that want to deal with the Black Star Army…”
…
In the middle of their travels, the Black Star Army exploration fleet suddenly received a piece of information.
The female aide-de-camp hastily rushed into the room. “Your Excellency Deputy Army Commander, there’s a situation.”
Hila who was meditating opened his eyes, frowned, and said, “What is it?”
“Planet Phiri was occupied by someone before us. It’s Beast Ancestor Gorutan’s fleet. S-should we take use another planet as our stronghold?”
“Gorutan?” A tint of coldness flashed past Hila’s eyes. “We did not hide our whereabouts, so the outside world knows our target, yet he deliberately snatched Planet Phiri. This is a provocation to the army! If we take a detour, it will damage the reputation the Army Commander has put a lot of effort in to build.”
“But Gorutan is a peak Beyond Grade A. Y-you…” The aide-de-camp did not dare continue.
“Your Army Commander is also a peak Beyond Grade A. There’s no reason to back away!” Hila stood up and said with a deep voice, “Advance at full speed!”
So what if it’s a peak Beyond Grade A? It’s not like I haven’t been beaten by a peak Beyond Grade A before!
She was not someone like Garoze, who had already reached his peak. She was not afraid of challenging someone strong.
She believed that only fighting with strong people could stimulate her own potential.
…
At the same time, Han Xiao, who was counting his Experience with a grin every day in the Black Star Palace, received Phillip’s message too and was slightly surprised.
“Gorutan? When did I offend him?”
Han Xiao scratched his head and was a little speechless.
Although he did not know the reason behind this, he was not a nobody anymore. There was no reason to back away.
Well, since you’ve decided to cut short your life span, it has nothing to do with me.
Streams of light flashed across the universe, stopping not far from the planet. It showed itself as the exploration fleet of the Black Star Army.
“Deputy Army Commander, we’re here.”
On the bridge, Hila gazed at Planet Phiri through the porthole and saw Gorutan’s fleet docked in orbit, facing them directly.
“Open the wide-area communications and contact them.” Hila decided to be show manners before they acted.
The signaler sent out the message, and after a while, the communication call popped up on the screen.
After connecting, a bestial humanoid’s picture appeared on the screen. It was a Calamity Grade Officer.
“I’m Gorragon’s, the son of the Beast Ancestor. I pay respects to Your Excellency Hila.”
“What is the meaning of this?” Hila frowned.
“Lord Father hopes to invite you for a meeting in Planet Phiri, and he’s waiting for you on the surface right now.”
“Discuss what?”
“I do not know of Lord Father’s thoughts. The issue here is, do you dare to come?” Gorragon aggressively replied.
“Alright, then clear the path for my fleet to land. We can talk after.”
“Apologies, but Father has mentioned that he will only allow you to proceed. The rest of the fleet must remain.”
“Then ask him to scram,” Hila immediately replied in a decisive manner. “All battleships, heed my order. Advance forward, and annihilate any that dare to block us.”
At this moment, the communicator’s screen flickered, and Gorutan’s figure appeared.
Facing someone of the same level, appearing completely nude would be too impolite, and thus, he had put on a simple, sleeveless tunic, standing with his arms crossed and an impassive expression.
“Not bad. It seems like the Black Star Army has a tough Deputy Army Commander.”
Seeing this, Hila immediately raised her fist, stopping all orders. She narrowed her eyes. “Gorutan, I’m very curious. The Black Star Army and you have no conflicts, so why are you provoking us?”
“Do you want to know why? If you meet up with me, I’ll tell you,” Gorutan replied. “Depending on whether you have the courage, I’ll be waiting on the surface of the planet with the answer.”
As he spoke, Gorutan’s fleet took the initiative to shift away from Planet Phiri, putting the planet in between both fleets. Right now, Gorutan was left alone on Planet Phiri.
Hila thought for a moment before turning to address the vice fleet commander. “Activate a full scale detection of Planet Phiri and its surroundings to check if there are hidden vital signs or energy sources.”
The commander nodded and sent down the order. He came back moments later with a report. “The surroundings are clear, and there’s only a life signal on the planet representing Gorutan. How about it? Should we fire?”
Before his superior could give any orders, this vice commander was already thinking of ambushing and getting rid of Gorutan.
“Since he has shown such sincerity, I want to hear what he has to say. Wait on standby and keep the weapon system on alert mode. The moment the enemy’s fleet shows any abnormal reactions, just fire straight at them.”
Even if her fleet attacked, it would not deal much damage to Gorutan. Since he dared do such a thing, he was definitely prepared for all consequences, so Hila could only meet with him since she could not guess his intentions.
Maybe Gorutan wanted to set the battlefield to attack her, but she was not anxious. This was what she wanted; even if she could not beat a Pinnacle Beyond Grade A Super, she still had the confidence to block their attacks for a period of time.
Hila sat in a small spaceship and rapidly descended the atmospheric layer of Planet Phiri, stopping at a high altitude.
Shua!
The hatch opened, and Hila stepped out onto the air, looking down on the surface of the planet.
Within the rugged barren plains, Gorutan sat on a boulder, with his elbows placed on his knees. He looked up at Hila as he slowly spoke.
“As an Esper, the fact that you dared come so close to a Pinnacle level Pugilist shows that you have courage.”
The sound that came out from his mouth seemed to cause the air in their surroundings to oscillate, spreading out far like the echoes of thunder.
Hila did not land, choosing to remain floating in the midair as she replied, “Get straight to the point. What did you want to meet me for?”
Gorutan stared at Hila before explaining, “I don’t know how people will look at this, but in my eyes, you have the most potential among this batch of new Beyond Grade As.”
“So?” Hila raised a brow.
“Someone with your talent will rise to a higher realm in the future. There’s no need for you to remain as someone’s subordinate. Moving out as an independent entity would suit you better.” Gorutan drily spoke.
Hila’s eyes flashed dangerously, and she coldly snapped, “Who are you representing in trying to drive a wedge between Black Star and me? The three Universal Civilizations?”
“I’m only representing myself and the Galactic black market’s Management Committee. You can just take my words as a sincere suggestion.”
“Don’t you think that you’re meddling too much?” Hila snorted.
“I can see that you’re someone who is extremely stubborn and does not like to heed the commands of others. There will be a day when you’ll eventually choose to be independent.” Gorutan had a look of interest in his eyes. “When that day comes, I’m willing to give you an invitation to become one of the members of the Galactic black market.”
Not only was he sowing discord, he was also trying to poach her.
However, Hila showed an expression of indifference. “My communicator is on. Black Star can totally hear your words.”
“So what if he hears them?” Gorutan did not mind it. “You have the freedom of choice; you’re not his slave.”
“I’m not interested in your invite.” Hila remained unmoved. “Are you done? If so, you can take your troops away, and we’ll take it as though this provocation did not happen.”
“I don’t think this is provocation. Planet Phiri does not belong to your Black Star Army. It’s a free competition zone, not your territory. No one stipulated that others could not occupy the planet that you guys are interested in.” Gorutan shook his head.
“You long had the intention to occupy this planet, but you chose to wait for us to make our choice before you took it for your own. If this is not provocation, then what is?” Hila said.
“Don’t be too overbearing, little kid.” Gorutan grinned. “It’s first come, first served, so it’s you who needs to leave. Go find another planet. This is my stronghold now.”
The moment he spoke, the atmosphere became tense as both people faced each other.
He had been entrusted with this by others, no matter what Hila’s reaction was, but he would not have given way either. His goal was to force Hila’s hand so that he could test out her skills.
In his view, this mission was very simple. He just had to fight with Hila, allowing the Black Star Army to suffer some losses. Then he could decide if he wanted to withdraw or not.
While this type of conflict and provocation would draw Black Star’s ire, it would not be to the point of wanting the other party dead. He was certain that just as he did not wish to make an enemy out of Black Star, Black Star did not wish to make an enemy out of him. Both sides were not so easily provoked.
Hila’s expression turned frosty. Gorutan was right. The Black Star Army was being unreasonable. However, if they retreated, the other party would not only not praise them for being reasonable, but they would treat them as weaklings.
If all problems could be solved through reasoning, there would be no need for disputes and wars.
Since neither side wanted to retreat, the only solution left was to use force.
Looking at Gorutan’s expression, which bore no good intentions, Hila fell silent for a few seconds before she suddenly moved!
Boom!
A tremendous death energy storm swept through, turning into a tornado as it blasted downward!
“Pretty scary.” Gorutan twisted his neck a little before stepping down hard.
Bang!
The earth cracked, and he stomped upward, leaving a huge ring-shaped crater on the ground, scattering dust everywhere.
He seemed to have turned into a comet, slamming into the torrential rain of death energy. The dark-brown Pugilist flame wrapped around his body, revealing a wild, arrogant temperament.
Bang!
Before Hila could react, the fist wreathed in pugilist flames landed squarely on her stomach.
The shield surrounding the battlesuit was shattered, and there were even cracks on her outer armor. Hila was slammed outward like a bullet, her speed breaking the sound barrier.
“Insane strength, insane speed…” Hila’s expression slightly changed.
The shock absorption properties of the battlesuit could not withstand such a strong impact, and Hila could only feel that her internal organs seemed to have been flattened by this blow. The pain was overwhelming, and she only managed to stabilize her body in midair after much difficulty.
Both Gorutan and Black Star were at the pinnacle of Beyond Grade A, but the feeling she got from crossing blows with Gorutan was completely different from Han Xiao.
Han Xiao had displayed a complete suppression, where he was without weaknesses, controlling the battle from start to finish as though he could just adapt to anything. However, Gorutan’s battle style was complete savagery, just like the invincible rampage of a beast.
Hila’s impression of Beyond Grade A Pugilists mainly came from Heber, but fighting pinnacle level Beyond Grade A Pugilists was a totally different ball game, and they could not be seen as being on the same level.
Be it speed, strength, or energy intensity, there was a qualitative change. Objectively speaking, one Gorutan was enough to pummel three or four Hebers to death!
Only upon reaching the SS tier would someone be considered at the pinnacle of Beyond Grade A, and this battle strength was nothing to be joked about.
After his hit, Gorutan did not pursue her but rather remained floating, his head lowered as he observed the death energy eroding his body.
Because of his tanky body, the majority of the attacks were blocked purely by his body’s strength. The damage done to the body was small, and only a few layers of Death’s Erosion had stacked.
“A corrosive energy related to vitality… It seems like the rumors were true. You used such a method to gravely injure Tolaen. The more you accumulate, the stronger the power.”
Gorutan glanced at Hila before covering himself with a jet of energy. It shattered the Death’s Erosion stacks, directly dispelling them. As Pugilists relied on their bodies, they naturally had many skills to dispel negative statuses.
“This is going to be tricky…” Hila gritted her teeth, but her eyes lit up.
She found that Gorutan’s combat capability was overwhelming, but this did not make her back down, instead increasing her fighting will.
The next moment, Hila took the initiative to start another round of attacks, and the death energy surged like a wave, attacking while wrapped around her.
The tsunami-like crimson wave surged over, and Gorutan launched himself into it. In an instant, an invisible shock wave was generated and exploded in midair, enveloping the incoming death energy.
Boom!
The vibrations echoed around the entire space. Gorutan’s lunge was actually a skill, which caused the particles in the space in front to oscillate at high frequencies, collapsing the layers of incoming death energy.
“It seems like your strength is unworthy of your attitude.”
Gorutan’s expression remained indifferent, and his figure disappeared suddenly as he started to move at full speed.
Whoosh!
The difference in their speed was too great. Before Hila could react, he had already arrived beside her, and his leg containing great power whipped and slammed hard on her back.
Boom!
Her entire body arched like a bow from the impact, shooting up like a cannonball all the way out of the planet’s atmosphere.
“Cough cough… I cannot fight him in melee battles.” Hila felt as though dozens of bones were broken just from that kick, and she immediately changed her strategy.
When faced against Tolaen, she could still rely on her vampiric abilities to hold on, but comparing him with a pinnacle level Beyond Grade A, her attributes differed too much, to the point that she could not even see his figure!
In melee battles, a pinnacle level Beyond Grade A Pugilist was nigh invincible, and forcibly going head on with them was just asking for death.
“In a one-to-one battle, I have no way to retaliate. I need to complicate this battlefield.”
As Hila thought about the possible battle tactics, the built-in communicator rang, and Han Xiao’s voice came from it, with a tone that seemed as though he was smiling.
“How is it? Have you felt the power difference? Do you need help?”
“No need.” Hila shook her head. If she always relied on Black Star for help, how could she grow?
“But you’re not his opponent. If you can’t do it, just let me take over.”
Han Xiao raised a brow. He had known long ago that Hila would not be able to cope against Gorutan.
During the Meeting of the Gods, he had collected the attribute information of Gorutan, and there were a great deal of question marks. Even he himself might not be able to beat Gorutan head on, so Hila would have it worse. If a pinnacle Beyond Grade A could be dealt with so easily, there would be no need to use them as deterrents.
But he knew that even if Gorutan could not be beaten, Hila would not be the one at a disadvantage, so he did not interfere to allow Hila to gain more experience.
“Humph, wait till I’m almost beaten to death before you help.”
Hila stabilized her body and turned around. While using her death energy to attack and contain Gorutan, she tried to increase the distance between them.
This was not even considered a struggle, merely a unilateral beating. If not for Gorutan deliberately slowing down the offensive to force out Hila’s abilities, she would probably have already been beaten up. The high speed and strength he possessed was enough to break through most methods.
But truth be told, Gorutan did not have it easy either. After suffering from the repeated attacks of death energy, he felt a slight fear toward it.
“What a strange ability. If I couldn’t forcibly crush it with my strength, her abilities would put me in a lot of danger…”
Just as he knocked Hila back with yet another punch, he discovered that Hila had tweaked the direction of her knockback, flying toward his troops.
“She actually took the initiative to fly toward my troops? Isn’t she afraid of being besieged?”
Gorutan stopped in shock, but this time, Hila suddenly made a different gesture, and a sudden surge of mental energy burst out.
The world before his eyes warped and turned into an inky black space.
Lowering his head, all he saw were the grudges of countless creatures.
[Abyss of the Dead!]
While Pugilists would also temper their minds, their Psychological Resistance was not high to begin with, so Gorutan easily fell into the mental attack, freezing on the spot.
Taking this chance, Hila accumulated her death energy and ran straight through the shield established by the Gorutan fleet, rushing right into the fleet formation.
“What is she trying to do?” Gorragon, who had previously spoken with Hila, stood in the command room of one of the spaceships, looking confused.
Before he could take any action, Hila raised both her hands, and the death energy exploded, enveloping the entire fleet.
“What‽”
Gorragon got a shock, immediately commanding the fleet to retreat and avoid it.
However, his command had yet to be sent out when the dark red energy encompassed his entire sight.
Gorragon’s eyes widened.
Bang bang bang!
In a flash, countless battleships were chewed up by the death energy like biscuits, and countless children of Gorutan were reaped.
With the [Vampiric] effect, she obtained enough vitality to recover her HP.
Just that short exchange previously made Hila clear that she was far from being Gorutan’s opponent if they fought head on. With her own HP, she could not sustain the battle for a long time, so the only way was to enhance her endurance by turning it into a group fight, absorbing more vitality for herself.
Her combat capability in a large group fight was much higher than in single target battles!
Hila ran rampant within the fleet, killing wantonly, and her status quickly picked up even as countless screams were drowned in the explosion.
At this time, Gorutan finally got rid of the mental attack from [Abyss of the Dead]. The moment he returned to his senses, he was greeted with the image of Hila slaughtering his descendants, His expression warped in fury.
In his view, Hila was killing his descendants to vent her anger!
“You dare‽”
1018 Confrontation
Uncountable troops on Gorutan’s side were killed by the mixture of physical and mental damage. The death energy sapped their vitality, supplementing Hila’s HP instead, and their soul fragments were absorbed by her to enhance her powers.
After receiving this attack, the fleet was in chaos for a short moment, but they quickly retaliated and fired a volley at Hila. However, most of their attacks were evaded or blocked by her death energy shield, and only a small portion caused damage.
In front of Hila’s highly efficient vampirism ability, those injuries were healed in the blink of an eye.
Gorutan’s eyes seemed like it was about to spit fire, his anger reaching extreme heights. He suddenly raised his speed, almost instantaneously breaking through the death energy barrier surrounding Hila. This time, he did not show mercy, raining blows on Hila’s body, pummeling her.
Boom boom boom!
Bursts of compressed air blasted out from his fists, shattering Hila’s internal organs and bones. The angered pinnacle Beyond Grade A pugilist’s fists exuded great killing intent, as though he wished to beat her up into a ball of flesh.
However, Hila had received stolen plenty of vitality from the people she had just killed, so her HP constantly dipped and soared, barely supporting her through the intense attack.
Hila continued to dodge the blows as much as she could, and she even opted to retaliate at times, trading injury for injury.
“You’re seeking death!”
Gorutan’s fury knew no bounds, and as he pummeled Hila, he gazed with killing intent over at the Black Star Army’s fleet.
Since Hila had dared to kill his subordinates, he could do the same to ‘pay respect’ to the Black Star Army.
But his eyes soon narrowed, as he saw that within the Black Star Army’s fleet, a mechanical troop flew out from within one of the spaceships, standing at the very forefront. The lead mechanical soldier gave off frightening energy fluctuations. It was likely that Black Star had chosen to descend as an avatar.
Han Xiao’s mechanical army remained in position, without any intention to save Hila, but Gorutan knew that if he were to attack the fleet, then it would become a two against one scenario.
There’s only one of me, and I can’t even summon an avatar. If I attack Black Star’s fleet, I’ll have to face off against him. Hila will then be able to freely slaughter my subordinates.
As this thought flashed through his head, Gorutan could only dismiss the thought of attacking the Black Star fleet, becoming even angrier in the process.
He was a dignified Pinnacle Beyond Grade A, so why did it seem like he was being forced to train the enemy?
Black Star, do you think that I really won’t kill your subordinate‽
Good! Since you are not going to act, I’ll beat your Deputy Army Commander to death!
From the time Hila began to slaughter his men, the degree of conflict had escalated, and Gorutan no longer held the mentality to test out her skills but rather had the intention to kill…
I shouldn’t provoke Black Star? So what! We’re both Beyond Grade A pinnacles. Does Black Star think that I’m afraid of him? This daddy here also has a temper!
Gorutan immediately stepped up his offensive, bombarding his opponent in front of him.
Such a mad attack would mean that he was more prone to vulnerability. Hila was bleeding all over, but she ignored the pain and kept calm, staring at the increasingly intense death energy on Gorutan’s body. Her eyes flickered with an unknown light.
At this time, Gorutan’s fist swirled with a violent aura, and after utilizing his skills, the power surged. Space seemed to warp around his fist.
Swoosh!
The fist passed through Hila’s chest, as though piercing through it, separating the red ocean of death energy surrounding her.
But Gorutan’s eyes narrowed. He did feel as if he had hit something concrete.
Hila’s body dissolved into a mass of death energy, and disengaging from Gorutan’s arm, the ocean of death energy took on the shape of a humanoid, reshaping into Hila’s body.
[Advancing in the Dead Sea]!
Hila could turn her body into an energy life form and perform teleportation in any area filled with death energy with just a short cooldown. This was one of her few displacement skills.
Gorutan frowned. After beating his opponent for such a long time, he had assumed that she had no ability to teleport and dodge.
Just as he was about to pursue her, Gorutan felt his fist sinking. In that instant, Hila had commanded the death energy to wrap around his fist, releasing a huge attractive force that was forcing his arm to sink in the ocean of death energy.
At the same time, the [Death’s Erosion] stacks on his body soared from ten to fifteen stacks!
[Extradition of the Dead]!
Hila’s method of superimposing the [Death’s Erosion] stacks was not just based through general attacks. She had the ability to stack multiple Death’s Erosion instantly onto a target, and this skill was one of them.
She had initially been hiding her skills, all for this sudden blitzkrieg. She covered all fifteen stacks on Gorutan in one swoop before detonating them using [Reaper of Souls].
She had only attacked Gorutan’s fleet to activate her vampiric effect, creating a battlefield that was conducive to herself to improve her endurance, as well as to attract hatred.
In her point of view, only by using a decoy and provoking Gorutan’s anger would he reveal flaws for her to obtain the opportunity to attack. As long as he stepped up his offensive, the energy spent toward defense would weaken.
Hila’s eyes were calm, and the moment the skill came into effect, she did not give Gorutan time to react, seamlessly connecting it with [Reaper of Souls], detonating all fifteen stacks.
Boom!
Gorutan exploded with a dazzling red light!
Hila took the opportunity to back away, distancing herself.
However, a dark brown pugilist flame wave burst out from within the explosion right after, evaporating all the death energy along its way as it slammed directly into Hila. It pushed her all the way toward Planet Phiri.
The brown ray of light penetrated Planet Phiri like a toothpick going through an orange.
The next second, the light fully pierced through both ends of the planet and began to expand rapidly, revealing the red glow of the planet core.
Buzz!
Everyone’s eyes were greeted with an expanse of white, forcing them to subconsciously close their eyes. If the battleship porthole did not have the function to automatically adjust spectrum and brightness, this level of light would have been enough to burn the eyes of the majority present.
“Warning! Warning! High energy reaction detected! Reaction output level: Planet Annihilation!”
A harsh alarm sounded on every ship, and when everyone reopened their eyes, the huge planet had disappeared as though it had never existed.
All that remained were some bits of dust floating in its place. The entire planet had been collapsed and annihilated, and Hila was nowhere to be seen.
This moment, the death energy from Reaper of Souls collapsed, revealing Gorutan’s body, which was covered in corrosive wounds and slowly healing.
Because his level was too high, the judgment of death was unsuccessful, but he had still lost twenty percent of his HP from that one blow!
Ever since he had stepped into the pinnacle level of the Beyond Grade A realm, Gorutan had rarely suffered such a serious injury. He had expected it to be a simple matter to deal with this newly born Beyond Grade A; he did not expect to suffer from such a loss.
In this fury, Gorutan had activated one of his aces, his self-created pugilist technique [Beast Ancestor Style—Light of Annihilation]. This was not just a pure Pugilist skill but also contained the laws of the universe that ran through his body.
On the surface, it seemed to just be a pugilist flame beam, but it actually stirred up the space around it, creating a terrible radiation energy to amplify its damage. Hitting the planetary core would cause a chain reaction to occur, resulting in planetary obliteration.
Hila’s HP was not full to begin with, and with this blow, it was likely that she would have been instantaneously killed.
Gorutan’s murderous eyes turned toward Black Star in the distance, the aura around him rising exponentially.
Having killed the Deputy Army Commander in front of him, Gorutan did not think that Black Star would remain unmoved, so he began to prepare to face this formidable foe.
However, much to his surprise, Han Xiao and his mechanical troops did not rush over as expected but rather turned to watch the smoldering wreckage of the planet.
Just as he was feeling puzzled, specks of gray shone around the wreckage of Planet Phiri and gathered to form a whirlwind. Hila’s spiritual body was within that whirlwind, and this also attracted Gorutan’s gaze.
The next moment, Hila’s body reformed within the whirlwind, and the death energy draped around her like a cloak, only revealing a face that was deathly pale.
One of the mechanical soldiers threw out an Army Emblem, which Hila activated, turning it into countless nanoparticles that formed a Crimson Snake battlesuit around her body. Immediately afterward, the life potion of Aurora that was built within the suit was injected into her, and Hila’s sluggish state after defying death quickly vanished, her HP recovering to more than half.
“Not dead‽” Gorutan’s eyes narrowed, his expression sinking.
If he had not intended to kill Hila, that would have been all good, but since he had already revealed his killing move, this only made Gorutan feel even more humiliated.
But Black Star had already intervened, so continuing his attack was out of the question. Gorutan frowned, choosing to rearrange the formation of his fleet instead. In his view, since Hila did not die, Black Star definitely had to give him an explanation.
On the other side, Hila flew back to Han Xiao’s avatar, and Han Xiao glanced at her with a slight smile on his face, “How is it? Do you want to continue being beaten up?”
Hila shook her head. “I can’t beat him, but I managed to give him something to remember.”
She felt that this battle was quite rewarding, allowing her to accumulate more experience and lessons on dealing with other Beyond Grade As. At the same time, she had harvested a lot of the opponent’s troops, and her ability strength was slightly enhanced.
In particular, there were several Calamity Grades who had died by her hand, so the bonus provided was quite impressive, better than the beasts she had slaughtered during her training.
As she spoke, Hila suddenly paused and said with some uncertainty, “This time… did I cause trouble for you?”
In order to reverse her disadvantage, she had attacked the other party’s fleet. This sort of combat method made it too easy to incite hatred, so Gorutan would probably have a deeper hatred against her.
Of course, Hila had no intention of apologizing to Gorutan at all. The moment she entered a fighting state, the enemy’s life was nothing but a mere blood bag in her eyes. She would only apologize to Han Xiao.
My character seems to make enemies easily. Perhaps staying in the Black Star Army is the wrong decision…
Hila could not help but think that way, pursing up her lips.
She was still the same Goddess of Death who treated life like weeds. This could be a characteristic brought by abilities. The only thing that was better was that she would not kill ordinary people indiscriminately, and her cruelty was only aimed toward the enemy.
Han Xiao knew that Hila was not good with words. She spoke her mind frankly, and expecting her to stay her hand was impossible.
Han Xiao shook his head, answering with an unquestionable tone. “We’ll talk more when we return. Just go and rest. I’ll deal with the rest.”
Hearing this, Hila opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, but in the end, she nodded quietly and boarded the spaceship.
Han Xiao controlled his avatar to move slowly toward Gorutan’s troops.
Upon reaching the center of the two fleets, the troops threw out a multitude of compressed orbs, which transformed into a small floating sanctuary of around a thousand square meters. The door of the base opened wide, and Han Xiao made an inviting gesture toward Gorutan.
The latter narrowed his eyes but flew into the base. The sanctuary was full of fresh air, and in the middle was a long conference table, with a high seat at both ends.
Han Xiao sat on one of the seats, nodding toward Gorutan.
“Please sit.”
Gorutan plonked down on one of the chairs and grumbled, “Black Star, your Deputy Army Commander is really brave. I haven’t seen such a Beyond Grade A who seeks death so readily. Does she think that she can do as she pleases with you as a backer?”
“Haha, what sort of words are those? She has always been bold, and it’s nothing to do with me.” Han Xiao shook his head.
“I don’t want to continue talking nonsense with you.” Gorutan waved his hand. “I’m giving you face by not wanting her life. But she killed my descendants, and this debt must be settled. Let’s discuss how to solve this.”
“I think it’s simple.” Han Xiao controlled the avatar to stroke its metallic chin. “You take your troops to leave this place, and I won’t pursue the matter any further. How about that?”
“What did you say‽ Say that again!” Gorutan glared furiously, his pugilist flame raging around him.
“Don’t get too agitated.” Han Xiao waved his hands to placate Gorutan. “I don’t think Hila promised to challenge you, so who is to blame for this? And I think you probably discovered it, but she attacked your fleet not to vent her anger but rather to show her abilities and create a favorable battlefield for herself. After all, she’s not your match, so of course she needed to utilize her surroundings. From my perspective, it seems like it was your entire fleet facing off against her. Isn’t that more unfair?”
“I’ve not come into contact with you much before, but it seems like your reputation really precedes you. You’re every bit as shameless as the rumors say.” Gorutan coldly laughed.
“Is that so?” Han Xiao clicked his tongue. “A pinnacle Beyond Grade A bullying a newly born Beyond Grade A, is that very glamorous? I have no grudges nor hatred with you, yet you choose to provoke and bully my Deputy Army Commander. Of course, she is not your opponent, but you actually didn’t even allow her to create a favorable environment for herself. If that’s not bullying the weak, what is?”
Gorutan’s words were stuck in his throat, and he finally growled in a deep voice, “No matter what, many of those killed were my descendants, and some were even Calamity Grades that I’d painstakingly raised. She attacked my fleet first, so this matter was incited by her. I won’t let this go!”
Han Xiao laughed in response. “Wasn’t this entire thing started by you? Why is it now our problem? Furthermore, you actively provoked me first, and now you’re saying that my subordinates have gone too hard on you. I feel that you’re more shameless than me.”
Bang!
Gorutan slammed the table heavily as he stood up, the fury apparent in his expression.
“Black Star, watch your attitude!”
“Alright, let’s say that you make sense. Then, what do you want us to do?”
“Of course, I want compensation!” Gorutan coldly replied. “I won’t force you to repay a life with a life, but I want you to compensate me and make Hila apologize to me.”
“Oh, sounds reasonable.” Han Xiao smiled. “But I refuse.”
“Black Star!” Gorutan smashed the table between them into smithereens, bellowing, “You wish to make me an enemy‽”
At this moment, Han Xiao’s pleasant tone turned cold. “You think you’re the only one who’s angry? You bullied my old friend and even wanted to poach her. I haven’t settled this with you! And also… what sort of mistaken notion makes you think that I cannot afford to make you an enemy‽”
The Lord’s Avatar slowly rose up, floating until it came before Gorutan. The two of them stared straight at each other, and their gazes looked as though it could wipe out planets with it alone.
Han Xiao slowly spoke.
“It’s far from your turn to manage my people!”
As he spoke, he raised a hand, poking at Gorutan’s chest as his voice grew steely.
“You people come and test my patience and limits every day. You think that I’m without a temper? This daddy here has killed your people! You want to play with me? I’ll play to the end with you. Can you even afford that‽”
1019 Shortened Lifespan, Dark Clouds
The anger in Gorutan’s eyes almost condensed into reality, and his energy fluctuations continuously rose, exuding huge pressure on their surroundings. The surrounding metal walls gradually cracked as they vibrated from the high frequency.
“Want to attack?”
Han Xiao’s eyes crackled with electricity, his whole body flickering with blue-gold electrical serpents, producing harsh popping sounds.
This stalemate continued for another ten seconds or so before Gorutan suddenly collected his energy outburst, and the pressure in the room drastically lessened.
The rage on his face quickly faded, and he coldly said, “Black Star, you really gave me quite the surprise. You’re really unyielding.”
Han Xiao crossed his arms and replied in a level tone, “We can speak more of whether I’m unyielding in the future. Right now, what do you intend to do?”
Gorutan remained expressionless, only wagging a finger toward the avatar.
“I’ll remember the matters today. We still have scores to settle.”
He turned and strode away, leaving the sanctuary and flying toward his own fleet.
“You’re really good at spitting vicious words. I really thought that you would take action just now.” Han Xiao shook his head. He walked to the door, watching as Gorutan led his fleet and vanished from sight.
This minor conflict had ended with Gorutan’s retreat, so Han Xiao withdrew his machinery, controlling the Lord’s Avatar to return to the main flagship. Hila had been waiting for him the whole time.
The moment he entered the command room, Hila came up.
“What sort of conditions did you promise him, or did you force him to retreat?”
Han Xiao shook his head. “It was nothing like that. He left on his own.”
“Gorutan had eaten such a loss. Could he even swallow his anger?” Hila was suspicious.
“At least on the surface, he has not taken a loss. He has annihilated the planet we chose and delayed our exploration speed. We have no choice but to change our target and find another planet, and you have killed some of his subordinates in return, so we should be considered even.”
“Will he take this lying down?” Hila frowned.
“Of course not. We’ve already formed a grudge with him, and he will not leave things be.”
Hila slowly spat out a breath, whispering, “I increased the conflict between us and got a new enemy for the army. I…”
“Don’t blame yourself. You did what was necessary.”
Han Xiao interrupted her as he waved his hands in dismissal. “Gorutan’s challenge was a kind of test. Just like how the winds howl around the highest peaks, the number of people who wish to test us are numerous. Behind Gorutan might exist even more organizations and forces. If we are not tough and vicious to them, every organization will think that we’re easy to provoke. Furthermore, the strength between both of you is too vastly different, and he challenged you to bully you. Thus, there’s no need to feel bad since you got beaten up by him, or else the prestige of the army would have fallen.”
Hila stared at Han Xiao, her eyes shining with a weird light as she tilted her head.
“So, you don’t care if I make more enemies?”
“The part I like about you is your ferocity,” Han Xiao casually replied. “So what if Gorutan was just testing you out? Are you going to obediently accompany him to put on a show, then let him leave after patting his butt? Remember this, he actively sought us out to make enemies of us; it was not you who sought him out. If one is not vicious, they cannot stand firmly in their territory. I brought you over to the competition area not to let you be a softie but to crush through all that blocks your route.”
Right now, the status of the Black Star Army was different from before. It possessed the largest territory in the Flickering World, and it naturally had more responsibilities such as bringing benefits and prestige to the dynasty since it was holding the fort there.
“Really?”
“Of course.” Han Xiao smiled, patting her shoulder.
You’re an important fighter of mine, and the main thing that is needed is to have deterrence. If I don’t defend you, should I speak for the enemy instead? Wouldn’t that be ironic?
Originally, Han Xiao only wished to borrow Hila’s Esper Ability to let Gorutan suffer some losses, provoking Gorutan was out of his plan. However, while things had gotten to this point, he had no fear. Since the other party had chosen to provoke him first, getting beaten to this point was his just desserts.
Hearing Han Xiao reassure her, Hila’s expression relaxed a little. She paused before asking, “So, what did you say to him just now?”
“I just…”
Han Xiao simply narrated the prior events.
Hearing this, Hila could not help but smirk, and she wondered, “You were so unyielding, but he actually did not start fighting with you, huh?”
“I’m still a pinnacle Beyond Grade A after all.” Han Xiao laughed. “Furthermore, it’s because of you that he did not make a move.”
“Me?”
“We have two Beyond Grade As here, so a battle wouldn’t be in his favor. Furthermore, Gorutan is not in his peak state; making a move would bring him more disadvantages than advantages.”
If it was just a normal Beyond Grade A, Gorutan might not have cared, but Hila had used [Reaper of Souls] to inflict heavy damage, which provided a strong deterrent effect. This resulted in Gorutan’s HP not being at maximum capacity. If he faced off against Black Star as well, the risk for him was a bit too high.
Han Xiao hypothesized that this should be the reason for Gorutan’s withdrawal. While Pugilists had heads of steel, they also knew how to judge the situation. In the face of an obviously unfavorable situation, it was better to retreat.
He also did not wish to force Gorutan, as a pinnacle Beyond Grade A Pugilist had a lot of burst power. He was there as an avatar, not his true form. Furthermore, with his reputation as a tank, Gorutan would definitely choose to attack Hila first, and with her [Death Immunity] skill still on cooldown, it would be more dangerous.
Both sides had their own reservations.
After a pause, Han Xiao said, “Gorutan will come at us again, so it’s important to pay attention. There’s a high chance he will target you.”
“Maybe we can take the initiative and launch an attack.” Hila’s thinking was forever that extreme.
“Launch an attack? Depends on the situation.”
Han Xiao shook his head. It was not that the idea was not possible, but he needed more assurance.
Now that the players had returned in Version 4.0, he could finally continue his rapid upgrades, and his stagnated level could finally increase once again.
Based on his current strength, it would not be so easy to deal with Gorutan. He hoped to complete one or maybe even two more advancements before resolving this matter.
Other than his plan to make Gorutan an enemy, Han Xiao had been lying low for over twenty years, letting the outside world think that he was also facing a bottleneck. But the moment he exchanges blows with another pinnacle Beyond Grade A, he would have to reveal his current strength, and that old jerk Manison would be sure to come out once more.
It is safer to first complete my advancement at level 320. This is the most important thing currently, Han Xiao thought to himself.
If he foresaw things properly, the worst-case scenario in this matter might result in a dangerous chain reaction.
He needed to be stronger to deal with it!
When the conversation ended, the Lord’s Avatar fell dormant once more, and Hila returned to her position.
Since Planet Phiri had already been reduced to dust, they had to look for a new planet to build a stronghold.
…
On the other side, Gorutan’s fleet was returning to their planet that served as their stronghold.
Gorutan reclined in the tall throne, holding a huge cup that fit his figure and continuously poured a special spirit down his throat.
Several of his female descendants were around him, some holding medical tools to treat his wounds, whilst others held scissors to help him trim the hair near his wounds. The rest were in charge of massaging him.
“Lord Father, is it comfortable?”
“Use more strength.”
Gorutan wiped his mouth, throwing the empty cup to the side. He looked down at the Calamity Grades standing below the dais and coldly said, “Is the casualty report out?”
“It’s already out. Please have a look.” One of the Calamity Grades walked up, passing him a communication terminal.
Opening the virtual screen, he glanced at the figures and snorted. “She actually dared to kill five of my Calamity Grades. I’ll kill that Hila sooner or later! Then there’s that Black Star b*stard. To dare be so unyielding! If not for my minor injury, I would’ve torn his avatar apart!”
Seeing Gorutan in a rage, everyone wisely kept silent.
“Don’t think that it’s because I’m afraid of Black Star. He does not have the ability to force me to make concessions. I blasted Planet Phiri apart and slowed down their progress. I have accomplished what Sorokin requested.” Gorutan coldly snorted.
He had chosen to stay away from Han Xiao’s sharp edge because of his current condition, as well as the fact that there was no need to fight Black Star alone. His original goal was just to slow them down and test out the other party’s skills.
Thus, if he wanted a better way to level the playing field, he would have to follow Sorokin’s recommendation and approach the federation and church to get rid of Hila, since they already intended to do so. He would not need to move.
Gorutan then changed the topic. “Since a batch have died, raise another batch of hybrid descendants on our home planet and bring them here.”
“Are you personally going to spread your seeds?”
Gorutan waved his hand. “Just use those from the storage.”
In his main camp, there were females responsible for bearing descendants at all times. After all, their efficiency of mating and multiplying offspring was too low, so a large amount of Beyond Grade A DNA from Gorutan was stored in a freezer to be used for reproduction. It had extremely strong vitality and adaptability, and using artificial insemination would allow them to produce offspring on a larger scale, supplemented by hormones such as oxytocin to help accelerate childbirth.
After many years of experimenting, he had accumulated a variety of hybrid combinations that would allow them to produce excellent offspring. Through mixing with different species, he could produce offspring with various racial talents, so females were hoarded in his camp to be used as a medium for offspring.
As for the origins of these females… as a Beyond Grade A who sat high above, he naturally would not waste time falling in love with so many females. Some came willingly, others less so… None of the people who ran the Galactic Black Market were clean people anyways.
At this moment, Gorutan coughed twice.
“Lord Father, your injuries…” one of the officers muttered in a worried tone.
“Hila’s Esper Ability has a strong lethality and high-explosiveness to wound even me.” Gorutan frowned. “During the battle just now, I did not feel it, but my body is a little weird.”
As he spoke, Gorutan closed his eyes, diving into the cellular level to observe his body’s situation. Among the Super systems, the Pugilists had the greatest degree of control over their bodies.
Everyone turned silent for a while before Gorutan suddenly snapped his eyes open, abruptly standing up. The female descendants around him were all thrown back.
“Dammit, her Esper Ability can weaken the vitality of cells!”
Gorutan’s expression distorted. He almost turned mad with fury.
Even when that batch of elites had died under Hila’s hands, he had not been so mad!
The vitality of a cell was related to the number of cell divisions it could make, and this sort of property was extremely secretive, to the point that Beyond Grade As normally could not sense it. It was only now that he discovered that his lifespan had been cut!
Not merely just his lifespan, but fertility was also closely related to the vitality of his cells. With the reduction in vitality for his DNA, there would be a decline in the quality of his progeny!
Boom!
In his rage, the pugilist flames erupted, strong pressure forcing all his descendants to sprawl on the ground and tremble.
“Such a devilish damaging Esper ability…” The veins of Gorutan’s forehead throbbed as his hatred for Hila practically overflowed.
He did not expect that this operation would actually result in his life span being reduced.
An absolute loss!
Gorutan’s chest heaved up and down violently, and his breaths came out in gasps as he entertained the thought of rushing back to kill her.
“L-Lord Father…”
At this time, his descendants started to plead with him. Seeing the situation, Gorutan could only reluctantly reduce his anger, and the raging Pugilist aura slowly calmed down.
“All of you, scram!”
Everyone rushed to get out of the room as fast as possible. They were aware that they should not be around their father when he was angry.
Only Gorutan remained in the room. He sat on his throne for a while before picking up the communicator and calling Sorokin.
After three rings, the call connected, and Sorokin showed himself on the screen, smiling as he spoke.
“Your Excellency Beast Ancestor, how’s the situation?”
Gorutan coldly glared at him for a while before finally saying, “The matter has been settled. I blasted Planet Phiri apart and have also tested Hila out. However, I lost quite a few of my descendants in the process, and I also almost got angered to death by Black Star.”
“That’s great. Your Excellency is indeed reliable. I’ll compensate you for any losses. So, what is the result of your test?”
“Hila’s Esper Ability is extremely dangerous, possessing frightening explosive power…”
Gorutan relayed his discoveries in battle, pausing at the last part before continuing in a deep voice.
“Her Esper Ability also has a terrifying property. As long as it hits a life form, it will be able to reduce the cell vitality and the life span of the target. I suffered a huge loss for this discovery!”
Sorokin paused, his smile vanishing immediately. His expression also turned grave.
“Are you serious?”
“I shouldn’t have told you this and allowed the federation and church to activate their people. After they discover that they have shortened their life spans, they’ll blame you for the information lapse.” Gorutan coldly snorted.
“… I understand.” Sorokin narrowed his eyes.
“I hope that you will truthfully tell the people in the federation and the church what I’ve said. Don’t play any tricks. Or else, even if I’m a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group, I’ll still beat you up!” Gorutan’s eyes were cold.
“Relax. I have integrity.” Sorokin solemnly nodded before cutting the call.
Gorutan threw the communicator to the side, his expression cold and his eyes gleaming with an unknown light.
By allowing the federation and the church to know that Hila’s Esper Ability had the power to reduce one’s life span, two things could happen.
One, because of fear, they would give up on targeting her.
Two, because of fear, they would not allow her to continue living.
Based on what he knew of the federation and the church, the latter had a ninety-nine percent chance of occurring.
If Hila had such strength, the universal civilizations would not allow her to grow.
In the past, Hila had belonged to the Chaotic Evil Faction, and there was no clear distinction in their powers. Furthermore, most people were reluctant to provoke such a crazy woman and dying in vain.
But the situation was different. Hila was a member of the Black Star Army. She was a stinger that belonged to someone and would only point her deadly stinger toward her enemies.
As a result, the organizations and powers opposing Black Star Army would feel an immense threat.
In terms of targeting the pinnacle combatants, Hila was like a formidable chronic poison, causing a dark cloud to form over everyone’s head. No one was willing to have their life span reduced!
Nobody was willing to have this dangerous character oppose them, let alone see her continue to grow.
Such Super High Risk Esper Abilities, whose very existence was a sin, should be killed as soon as possible!
Gorutan was certain that, as long as the news spread, most Beyond Grade As would not want to see this ability grow!
This would also help solidify the federation and the church’s intentions to kill!
Under his manipulation, Gorutan’s testing of Hila quickly spread to the federation and the church, immediately attracting the attention of the upper echelons, who convened their allies for an urgent meeting.
The main base of the Arcane Church was located in another Star Cluster within the free competition zone. At this time, the projections of the majority of Beyond Grade As affiliated with the church were gathered, and there were also several important bishops and officials present.
After circulating the intelligence on Hila, everyone had a noticeable change in their expression as they read it.
Tolaen jumped up, his face pale. “Hila’s Esper Ability can reduce the lifespan of Beyond Grade As‽”
He was not a Pugilist, so he did not have the ability to look into the microscopic changes in his cellular activity. Before this meeting, he did not know what had happened to him!
Not only did he lose in a fight with Hila, he even lost God knew how many years from his life. This was such a huge loss for him!
Tolaen felt intense regret. How could he have been so unlucky as to meet such an opponent?
Even fighting would reduce his lifespan, so who would want to do that? Even the craziest person would think twice! If he had known, he would not have agreed to the duel. No, if he had known, he would not even have sought Dragon Emperor Ames out!
I’m going into closed door cultivation…
Everyone shot him a pitiful glance, which lasted for about three seconds, then they no longer bothered with him, instead beginning their discussion.
“I didn’t expect this new Beyond Grade A to have such a strange Esper Ability. This resembles the Power of Death on the list of Super High Risk Esper Abilities.” Sun Hunter was sat at the table. “I remember this being the ability of one of the Primordial Ones, but now it has resurfaced once more.”
“That’s right. I also remember the file. What was their name again…”
Kasuyi cut in. “Nerkese, the Controller of Death. She had an elder sister who was dubbed Mother of All Things, and she could spread her life force to any living organism.”
“Right, right, it’s those two! They were pretty famous among the Primordial Ones, being born from different civilizations. While they had no blood ties with each other, they happened to meet by fate within the vast and endless universe. Their Esper Abilities, which were completely in line with each other, allowed them to become sisters even without a blood tie… Ah! What an artistic legend, totally revealing the atmosphere of the exploration era, perfect,” one of the Beyond Grade As exclaimed emotionally.
His name was Lawrence, and he had a subclass of an artist. He was always dressed flamboyantly, full of ‘impact’ to one’s eyes.
“Eh? They weren’t blood sisters?” One of them scratched his head.
“That’s not true. After so many years, the legends have long been distorted. Those that are kept in our base are the truth,” one of the senior officials commented. “Your Excellencies, can we return to the topic of Hila now?”
‘Child of Light’ Sagman nodded. “The Power of Death is a Super High Risk Esper Ability that can easily reap lives. If we sit and watch Hila mature, once she loses control like Thousand Shadows one day, that will be the disaster for the entire universe.”
“This is secondary. The greatest problem is… she’s under the Black Star Army, which is our enemy.” ‘Sea Spirit’ Dylan gritted his teeth.
“Such an ability is dangerous. If not handled well, when Hila matures, we’ll have to worry about such things when we deal with the Black Star Army,” ‘World Gate’ Taylor added.
They were all participants of the Planet Lighthouse battle and had suffered a loss to Han Xiao. They had the strongest hostility toward the Black Star Army and always wanted to give him a slap back.
Psyker thought for a while before nodding. “That’s right. To us Beyond Grade As, a decrease in lifespan is too scary.”
Sun Hunter threw him a sideward glance. “I don’t think you need to worry about this problem.”
“Eh?” Psyker jerked back. “What do you mean?”
“Based on the strength that Hila showed when fighting against Gorutan, if you were pitted against her, you would probably be beaten to death immediately. Thus, a reduction in your lifespan should not matter to you.”
“…”
Psyker thoroughly felt the evil of this world in this very moment and turned his head to follow Tolaen, going into closed door cultivation.
“Stop fooling around,” Kasuyi blandly said. He turned toward the officials. “How do the upper echelons of the church view this matter?”
The few officials exchanged a glance before one of them solemnly said, “They hope for you to persuade Hila to join us, to become our ally. If it doesn’t work, eliminate her.”
Everyone’s eyes flashed. They thoroughly understood why the Arcane Church would think this way.
In addition to the threat she posed, her very presence in another faction would also affect the recruitment of Beyond Grade As, as newly born Beyond Grade As would choose to join the faction that she was in so as not to face her.
While Hila belonged to the Black Star Army, she had yet to officially join any advanced civilizations, so the Arcane Church naturally hoped to obtain her allegiance and grasp this lethal weapon. This was something Gorutan did not think about. Only when it was impossible for them to obtain her would they choose to destroy her.
The Beyond Grade As even thought another layer deeper.
If Hila’s skill only affected Beyond Grade As due to their long lifespans, would that mean that the Arcane Church planned to use her to act as a deterrent for all the Beyond Grade As present?
If this was in ordinary times, no one would have this thought, but everyone present had coincidentally attended Han Xiao’s Meeting of the Gods and had been instilled with the same ideology by Manison, the idea that all Beyond Grade As were standing on the same front line. Thus, everyone could not help but think deeper.
The entire place fell silent as many of them struggled with their internal thoughts.
Kasuyi’s expression remained unchanged, however. He glanced around before saying, “I feel that we can put the plan of pulling Hila over into action immediately, but as for elimination, we must think twice. While we’re all in the Flickering World, and gathering is convenient, our every movement is more likely to be watched. Killing Hila will also provoke Black Star, so it’s better to wait and see what the Federation of Light does. After all, they received the same intelligence as us.”
“I understand.” One of the officials nodded. “We have yet to be repaid for the loss of Ninjia, so we do not wish to work with the Federation for now. It’s indeed better to wait and see. However, when we decide to move, I hope everyone will readily participate.”
“No problem!” Other than Psyker, the rest of the participants of the Planet Lighthouse battle expressed their fervent attitudes.
Kasuyi did not speak, his eyes flickering with an unknown light.
…
On the other side, the Federation of Light had also convened a meeting, but the topic was vastly different from that of the Arcane Church.
“Hila’s ability is indeed dangerous, no doubt, but dealing with her will incite the wrath of the Black Star Army, and that is not worth it,” Hades replied.
One of the elders frowned. “But in the long run, Hila is obviously more threatening. Incurring the wrath of the Black Star Army is worth it.”
“Are you sure?” Hades shot back. “Have you forgotten about the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter?”
Once these words were spoken, everyone in the Federation of Light jumped before falling into deep thought.
“The Ten Thousand Deity Scepter possesses a similar level of threat. In fact, it even has a higher priority level than Hila. This might be an opportunity for us to reach a deal with Black Star to unlock the Spacetime Amber seal for us. It will be profitable for both parties,” Hades said bluntly.
At this moment, Manison dryly added, “That’s right. I feel that we need to consider Black Star’s attitude. The Ten Thousand Deity Scepter is more important for now.”
Everyone turned to look at him, some with surprised expressions, while others seemed to know his underlying meaning.
Many of the Beyond Grade As knew that Manison had expressed his intention based on the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter, but in actual fact, a great part was due to the impact of the Meeting of the Gods.
Manison was the main proposer of all the Beyond Grade As sharing the same battlefront, and he also valued Han Xiao’s influence within the Flickering World. He hoped that Han Xiao could build an interaction platform based around this shared battlefront, so he was unwilling to antagonize him.
Speaking of which, if not for Han Xiao organizing the Meeting of the Gods and having spoken about the shared circumstances of the Beyond Grade A, the Beyond Grade As would probably not have had many reservations about dealing with Hila. Could this have been within his plans as well‽
After considering the matter, the Chief Elder replied after a pause, “Indeed, if we’re able to undo the seal on the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter, then the problem of Hila can temporarily be placed aside, but our chances of success are close to nil.”
He paused and slowly added, “The Arcane Church will definitely take action, trying to poach or eliminate her, and we can warn Black Star of this, but this isn’t great leverage. Behind Black Star is the dynasty, and they do not require our help in terms of combat strength. Furthermore, being an ally of the dynasty, he will definitely have his worries that if the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter is unsealed, we can use it against him. Under all these circumstances, there is no way he will agree to deal with us.”
Hearing this, everyone nodded. From the perspective of Black Star, he would not possibly agree to this. The main point was that the federation’s leverage was not enough to move him.
In fact, the federation had always wanted a good relationship with Han Xiao, so as to be able to unlock the seal on the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter, something they currently could only see but not touch.
However, the Evolutionary Totem was a strategic asset related to the future of their civilization, and it was countless times more important than the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. Thus, the federation could only temporarily suspend the matter of the scepter at that time, targeting the Crimson Dynasty and the Black Star Army.
However, Hila’s problem now allowed the federation to see another chance at obtaining a deal with Black Star.
“We need more leverage.” Hades’ eyes flashed. “For example… Hila herself.”
Everyone felt their hearts stir.
“You mean, we should capture Hila alive and use her to deal with Black Star, exchanging her for undoing the seal of the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter.” The Chief Elder sighed before beginning to feel as though this was a headache inducing matter.
This plan would not require any killing, no incurring of Black Star’s wrath, and it would even allow them to unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. The plan also seemed easy enough, a good idea.
If this plan succeeded, the federation would earn the most, being able to utilize the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter, giving the green hat to the Arcane Church.
Though, it was not their problem whether the Arcane Church profited or lost.
It’s better to die without friends than to die poor!
To understand this concept, just look at Hades who suggested this idea.
Tsk, what a lowlife.
The Chief Elder coughed. “Since Hila’s skills specifically deal with living life forms, the best class to take her down would be a Mechanic. Mechanic Emperor, would you…”
“I have no interest in bullying a new Beyond Grade A,” Manison said.
As a Mechanic surrounded by plenty of armor, he was naturally unafraid of Hila’s ability to deplete his life span, but he was not willing to bully a newcomer. This old man could not wait for more newcomers to appear, so why would he go and suppress them?
“Alright then, someone else go.” The Chief Elder could only shake his head in resignation. They did not have the ability to force Manison.
One of the Beyond Grade As helplessly said, “To have so many people targeting a single person, the last person to have this treatment was probably EsGod.”
“She can only blame her life for this.”
…
The free competition zone was currently chaotic, and the movement of the local tyrants such as the Black Star Army were all closely monitored. Very quickly, news of the spat between Gorutan and the Black Star Army spread.
Planet Phiri, which was chosen by the Black Star Army, had been destroyed, and they could only choose a new stronghold, but Gorutan did not get off lightly either. He had lost quite a few subordinates, so they counted it as a tie.
Hila and Gorutan’s battle was considered a normal result by all means. She would never have been the opponent of a pinnacle Beyond Grade A, but Gorutan suffering an injury was not something any newcomer could cause, so many organizations secretly raised the value of Hila’s combat power in their files, thinking that she could very well be the strongest person among the recent newcomers.
As for Hila’s ability, the intelligence was only circulated among the three universal civilizations and a few advanced civilizations. The rest of the world remained blissfully ignorant, unaware of the violent undercurrents.
After the fight between the Black Star Army and Gorutan, the rest of the foreign organizations that had conflicts no longer curbed themselves, all beginning to fight over the scarce resources.
This battle resulted in a rapid increase in armed conflicts, and the law and order crumbled like an avalanche. However, there were still many empty areas, and there was much room for exploration in this fourth exploration phase. Thus, the conflict was kept at a manageable state, far from the intensity in Han Xiao’s previous life.
As for the guilds that had broken away from the army, they had also begun to exert their independence, joining in the competition as formal organizations!
…
Somewhere within the Emerald Star Cluster, a small fleet was slowly inching forward, its outer armor engraved with various emblems of organizations, with some of them being emblems of the guilds. After completing their registration through the army, they would be able to customize their own organization name and logo, and the guilds would naturally use their own emblems.
This fleet included the guilds from the well-known first tier clubs such as Long Sky, Rivervale and Thunder Storm, acting together.
In the version currently, the efficiency of making money for the players was much higher, and if they gritted their teeth to save money, buying an ordinary spaceship was not a problem. The first-tier guilds had even more funds, so even with the suicidal price of 130% of the market rate that Han Xiao gave, many of the players still managed to purchase small spaceships.
At this moment, the core members of the various guilds were gathered on the battleship of Long Sky for a meeting. Many of the Pro League players were present.
“We’re not far from Planet Harker. Our estimated time of arrival is in half an hour. Let’s go through our plans,” the President of Sky Territory, the official guild of the Long Sky Club, Jade Green Sky said.
Twinkle Fried Rice recalled the memorandum and recited, “Planet Harker should have sufficient resources and is currently occupied by seven small organizations. There are three financial groups, two private armed forces, and two Star System level civilization gathering teams present. They are unable to drive each other out, so they can only try to snatch as much as they can. Our objective is to strike a deal with the financial group and establish a resource base on this planet, laying the foundation for construction.”
“The most important thing now is how to negotiate with them,” Sleepy Winter said.
“Leave that to me,” Maple Moon replied. “I know what to say.”
Everyone nodded, giving her a few words of encouragement.
With Han Xiao’s secret hints and guidance, the players in the army were the first to understand that the focus of this version was to build up the reputation of their own organizations and interact with the NPC organizations.
After experiencing a few versions, the players were already aware that the actions of the NPCs were no different from real people. Every word and action would trigger a different reaction and response, and the freedom of this open world was off the charts. Thus, they had to use proper words on the negotiation table, and the higher one’s charm value, the easier it would be to negotiate.
In the guilds, there would definitely be someone who was good at negotiating. As someone who loved games for the plot, Maple Moon was keen to interact with the NPCs.
The new style of the army had given them the status of a semi-independent unit, and coupled with such freedom, these guilds had begun to exert their initiative, proactively analyzing intelligence and looking for opportunities.
While it was safe to follow a large organization, their movements would be restricted, so players had the mentality that they would rather be leading a small group than be nobodies in a large force.
This was exactly the situation that Han Xiao wanted to see. He had released many incentives in the form of missions to encourage independent movement, trying to spread the army players to penetrate more sites. This would allow for an expansion of advantages and the tapping of new interests in different territories rather than sticking by him.
These guilds acted in concert with each other to increase their strength. Instead of following the majority, they chose to head to Planet Harker to compete against the smaller forces, precisely to maximize their own advantages.
At present, most of the players in the guilds were at Grade B, which could be regarded as the backbone of a fighting force. As a subsidiary organization under the Black Star Army, just their name had plenty of influence on the smaller organizations. Borrowing their backer’s prestige, they could increase their leverage during negotiations.
After a while, the fleet began to decelerate, and Planet Harker drew closer. There was a scattered defense fleet suspended in outer space, belonging to various organizations.
Seeing the players’ fleet, the defense force of Planet Harker activated a defensive position, initiating a communication application.
Frenzied Sword patted Maple Moon’s shoulder and whispered, “They’re all yours.”
Maple Moon spat out a breath of air, blowing a raspberry as a form of warming up, eager to try it out.
“Relax, watch how I fool with them!”
1021 The Rise of the Players
“This is the armed forces convoy of the New Moon Financial Group. I’m Commander Feldman. Who are you?”
Hearing this, Maple Moon felt her heart leap with joy.
The guilds had investigated the current status of Planet Harker in advance, and seven organizations occupied the planet and were competing with each other, guarding the planet in different directions. They did not want more people to further divide their resources. If one encountered the armed forces or Star System civilizations, then the difficulty of negotiation would increase.
Having met a financial group off the bat, things would become a lot simpler.
Of course, with the current capabilities of the players, it was impossible for them to investigate such situations alone. All their intelligence was derived from the Black Star Army, allowing them to query for real-time intelligence in the Flickering World. This was an excellent resource provided to the players.
Maple Moon calmed herself and said, “This is an armed force consisting of Sky Territory, Thunder Storm, Rivervale…”
Feldman felt confused.
He had never heard of all these organizations before, nor did he recognize the emblems the players used.
He had no idea where this little ragtag group came from…
Feldman shook his head, speaking in a deep tone. “Planet Harker currently does not welcome any external influences. Please leave immediately before we take drastic measures.”
“You’re mistaken. Our objective is not to set up camp on Planet Harker. You can treat us as mercenaries.” Maple Moon took out the prepared speech. “Didn’t you post a recruitment notice on the Flickering World Regional Channel? We plan to work with your financial group as a hired armed force.”
Feldman felt surprised.
Right now, what the Flickering World had in spades was open positions. Practically all the organizations were desperately trying to recruit armed forces, and those high levelled organizations were the most attractive. Small financial groups like them almost had no chance to recruit anyone in the free competition zone, so he did not expect someone to answer their call.
However, why did they not contact the financial group in advance, instead just turning up? They could not be an unsavory group, right?
Feldman thought about it, shaking his head.
He estimated that the combat strength of this group would not be too good as well, so he did not hold much hope. However, every little bit of strength mattered now.
After a pause, he casually said, “Alright, first tell me about your battle situation, then we’ll consider if you’re worth hiring.”
Maple Moon was so excited. She had to clench her fists together. Acting composed, she replied, “Alright, our joint armed forces have a total of 7,000 Supers, of which 5,800 are Grade B…”
“Hold up, what‽”
For a moment, Feldman thought that he had hearing problems.
7,000 Supers was not a lot by any means, but to actually have 5,800 Grade Bs…
Even the whole of Planet Harker did not possess so many Grade Bs!
From the perspective of Han Xiao, Grade B was only good for cannon fodder, but in the eyes of many of the galactic organizations, a Grade B Super was the core force, enough to even serve as the main combat members.
Back when Han Xiao was still roaming as a mercenary, Grade Bs were already considered experts, great figures in the eyes of the masses.
Even the mercenary groups such as the Purple Gold Army and Sky Ring, before being brought under Han Xiao’s wing, never had more than a few hundred Grade Bs. If not for the two Calamity Grades holding the fort, their battle strength was negligible!
Are they trying to lie to me‽ Feldman’s expression was full of disbelief.
Because guilds such as Rivervale and Long Sky had large numbers of peripheral members, gathering thousands of people was an easy task. The majority of players had also advanced to Grade B when Version 4.0 opened, and those who had not yet reached that grade were newcomers or small-time players.
Maple Moon pretended to ignore him, continuing to speak. “At the same time, we’re a subsidiary organization under the Black Star Army. We were once the Immortals troops under Black Star…”
“Hold up some more! You said that you guys are under the Black Star Army, and the Immortal troops at that‽”
Feldman began to tremble, his mouth agape.
Was this not a group of ragtag mercenaries? Why did they have such huge origins, belonging to Black Star‽
His first response was to think that he had been scammed!
In his eyes, Black Star could be considered a galactic giant, unattainable by mortals. The New Moon Financial Group that he worked for could not even be compared to a fart from Black Star himself, but the Immortal troop from the Black Star Army was their famed trump card, so why would they even run over to accept their employment?
Feldman immediately accessed the public channel of the Black Star Army to check on the information of these organizations. What he saw gave him a huge scare!
Sky Territory, Thunder Storm, Rivervale, and the other organizations mentioned were really semi-independent affiliated organizations of the army. Their members were all made up of Immortals, and they had been registered not too long ago!
On Maple Moon’s side, the other professional players such as Frenzied Sword were observing Feldman’s expression of shock as though he was a frog in a well, and they screamed out internally with pride, feeling greatly satisfied innately.
Just mentioning the name of Black Star made the other party fall into a state of shock.
It’s good to have a backer!
Because of the unparalleled realism within the game, the players could deeply immerse and interest themselves. Seeing the reactions of the NPCs often gave them a sense of accomplishment.
Thus, everyone wished to borrow the prestige of the Black Star Army to improve their own influence. In a general employment relationship, the mercenaries would not have the chance to divide the resources within the planet, but with the name of Black Star, the conditions could be re-negotiated.
The choice to not monopolize the planet, instead cooperating with other organizations, was due to their lack of funds. Mining equipment required money and manpower. If one found an NPC organization to cooperate with, such costs could be avoided. While the players had high personal strength, the NPC organizations still had the advantage in numbers. Thus, it brought out the players’ sincerity in wanting to cooperate.
Seeing that the other party was not responding, Maple Moon could not help but cough loudly. She urged, “How is it? Do you think we’re good enough? If you do not require our services, we can leave.”
Feldman snapped out of his daze as though he was woken up from a dream and anxiously shouted, “No, no, to employ you is our honor. Please follow my instructions to descend. I’ll inform my superiors immediately!”
The moment he spoke, notifications appeared on the interfaces of all the players present, and when they glanced over at them, they gave a small cheer.
“It’s here. The mission has activated!”
“Damn, beautiful work!”
“Haha, I just knew it. This is the way to play the game!”
What appeared on their interface was not an employment mission but a faction mission labelled [Seizing Planet Harker]. The notification indicated that they could choose a faction and aid them in obtaining dominance over the planet. This was a sort of triggered storyline mission.
Very quickly, the player’s fleet followed Feldman to land on a certain base on the surface of Planet Harker. When the players disembarked from their spaceships, they saw a group of officers wearing the uniforms of the New Moon Financial Group waiting, looking excited and nervous.
As the players stepped forward, the people from New Moon Financial Group came up to welcome them. The leader walked up to Maple Moon, stretching out his hand, appearing warm and full of enthusiasm.
“Hello, I’m the Head Supervisor responsible for New Moon Financial Group at Planet Harker. My name is Smedix. On behalf of Planet Harker, welcome.”
“Your name… is quite unique.”
Maple Moon’s mouth twitched as she held back her smile, shaking hands with him.
Smedix did not understand what she meant, but he did not take it to heart either, warmly continuing. “You came at a good time. We’re in dire need of mercenaries now, but I have a small question before that… Your application, is it the Black Star Army’s intention, or is it your own?”
“Both.” Maple Moon’s answer was ambiguous. This question was not within what she expected, but it seemed to be more beneficial toward their side.
“Then let’s talk about the employment cooperation. Do you have any conditions?” Smedix asked.
Maple Moon exchanged a glance with the rest, and nodding, she spoke up. “We hope that this will not be a simple employment. In addition to remuneration, we would like to cooperate in the development of Planet Harker.”
“Cooperative development?” Smedix’s heart jumped as he thought of many things.
If the Black Star Army wished to occupy Planet Harker, with this group as the vanguard, there was no way the New Moon Financial Group could even compete against them.
Right now, Planet Harker could hold seven organizations mainly because everyone there was small in scale. If faced with a bigger organization, there would be no need to fight. All they needed was to tidy up their items, obediently cleaning up the planet to hand it over.
But Smedix thought that cooperation might not be a bad thing, if he was able to hold onto Black Star’s thigh… er… leg hair.
Currently, the strongest entities on Planet Harker were the two Star System civilizations, but because this planet was only their resource collection point, the other organizations could still hold on. If the entire force of the Star System civilization came over, the financial groups would most likely have to move. However, with the protection of this group of Immortals, this was equivalent to borrowing the protective talisman that was the Black Star Army.
With the competition growing more intense, there might even be other organizations that would come over to Planet Harker. A strong backer would prove beneficial to them in the long run.
Thinking such, Smedix made the decision, gravely nodding. “No problem, we will formulate the specific terms here before passing it for your review. Is that ok?”
“Okay.” Maple Moon nodded in return. She was only in charge of the negotiations and did not understand anything about contract law. For that area, their club would have specific talents in such areas. Their club president also had some knowledge on contract law, and in the worst-case scenario, they could search for a template on the quantum network or spend some money for Phillip to check it.
This was the advantage of being in the army. As long as they had money, they could obtain any service. Being rich was certainly the strongest ability one could have.
…
The New Moon Financial Group vacated an area to serve as the stronghold for the guilds. The next day, both sides arrived at a consensus and signed a formal cooperation agreement.
After signing the contract, the players immediately triggered the corresponding employment missions. Currently, the bulk of their mission lists were related to Planet Harker. Some were triggered by themselves, and others through the New Moon Financial Group. There were also some milestone-related missions released by Han Xiao to incentivize the players, such as ‘Find a planet to build a resource collection point’, which encouraged players to expand their reach like dandelions.
The same matter provided them with so many different types of missions, and if they could complete all of them, the players would obtain a huge reward with half the effort.
After the contract was finalized, Maple Moon and the others approached Smedix to offer their suggestions.
“Since we’re partners, but you have not publicized our origins, the other organizations do not yet know of our identity and strength. This is our advantage, so I hope we can take action immediately to carry out a raid, snatching the resource base.”
Smedix thought about it and nodded. “You’re right. Where are you looking at?”
Maple Moon opened the virtual screen showing Planet Harker and selected a few places. All of them were the resource bases of the other organizations on Planet Harker.
“Y-you guys want to attack so many at once‽” Smedix stuttered.
“Relax, we’re confident.” Hao Tian smirked.
During an interstellar battle, a fleet was important, but the resource bases were on the surface, so Supers were the main focus. Since the entire number of Grade Bs on Planet Harker did not even match up to their numbers, there should not be a problem with battles on multiple fronts.
“… Then we’ll follow your plan. My troops will do their best to cooperate.” Smedix secretly decided to hold tightly onto this leg hair that he had been offered.
…
The Ursa Civilization was a Star System civilization that lived on the blackhole edge. It had also participated in the competition within the Flickering World, with one of their collection teams being part of the seven on Planet Harker. They were the most powerful and had established several resource bases on the planet.
At the edge of a canyon sat a base with various hovering equipment rising and descending into the canyon to mine resources. A large number of Ursa soldiers were within the base, patrolling around, and artillery and traps were arranged in the periphery, providing a strong fortified defense.
Somewhere in the base, two people in officer uniforms walked slowly as they inspected the base.
“I heard that a small fleet arrived on Planet Harker yesterday, and it was the New Moon Financial Group that received them,” one of them, a bulky figure, said. He was the Head Supervisor of this base, a mid tier officer of Ursa, named Hundejab.
The other was the captain of the Super unit that was stationed at the base. He was a Grade B Super and was specially recruited to the Flickering World. He pursed his lips and casually remarked, “It should be reinforcements from the New Moon Financial Group. The defense captured their fleet markings, and there are no files on those organizations in the Mercenary Alliance. It’s likely that they are some small shrimps.”
Because the players’ guilds were affiliated to the army, Han Xiao did not register them with the Mercenary Alliance. His intention of obscuring it was to turn the army into a platform of a similar nature to the Mercenary Alliance. Thus, their files could only be found on the army’s website, and no one knew of the players’ guilds. The Ursa team did not discover their origins, instead thinking that they were small-time mercenaries.
“Since the New Moon Financial Group has reinforcements, there will definitely be movements,” Hundejab coldly said.
“You’re saying that their target is us?”
“Impossible,” Hundejab flatly replied. “The New Moon Financial Group does not have the guts.”
“Are you that sure?”
Hundejab had a calm expression. “Of course! This is the strongest defensive base here. Not only does it have a lot of defensive measures, but there are also more than seventy Grade B Supers stationed here. If the New Moon Financial Group is smart, they will not attack here even if they had the courage to…”
Boom!
Before he finished speaking, an explosion rocked the base, and the duo staggered.
“What’s happening!” Hundejab was shocked, immediately boarding a hovering vehicle to observe the situation.
He only saw a large number of anti-gravity vehicles marked with the New Moon Financial Group emblem approaching them at rapid speed. The vehicles were equipped with shields and electromagnetic kinetic weapons, allowing them to ignore the mines placed in the outer area and exchange fire with the base defenders.
The alarm within the base suddenly rang out. “Enemy attack! All personnel, man your posts!”
Hundejab was furious. “The New Moon Financial Group actually dared attack me‽”
He had just made a prediction, and the next second, the enemies had arrived! His expression was ugly, and by the side, the Super saw his commander’s expression and did not provoke him further, simply saying, “I’ll bring the Supers to meet the enemy.”
“Good!” Hundejab gravely nodded.
The Captain of the Supers left, leaving only Hundejab on the scene. He coldly gazed at the approaching enemy forces and regained his confident image.
“Since you dare to target me, I’ll give you a painful lesson!”
Very quickly, the New Moon Financial Group arrived outside the base, and the ground forces of the base also took the initiative to advance and attack with their Supers to halt the advance.
As both sides exchanged fire, they grew closer at a rapid speed. When they were about to collide, an abrupt change occurred!
The ground vehicles leading the New Moon Financial Group suddenly opened their doors, and figures jumped out one after another. There were about a hundred of them, and as they rolled on the ground with the inertia, their bodies suddenly swelled into disproportionate sizes. Their speed increased sharply, and they pierced into the ground forces of the base.
Boom!
These biochemical aberrations withstood the artillery fire with their thick skin and flesh, and their huge arms seemed to possess endless power, sweeping through all the vehicles in their path.
The ‘Black Star Army Badge: Evolution’ that was derived from the Ovitan Badge was also marked with a thirty-percent discount, allowing the guilds to purchase a large number of them and distribute them to the players.
A hundred of these players entered the [Evolution Limit: Aberration] state and instantly tore the ground troops of the base into pieces!
Hundejab’s expression sank, and he passed down a command. “Let the Supers attack and deal with these monsters!”
On the frontline, the Captain of the Supers led thousands of men onto the battlefield, most of them Grade C and Ds. At the front of the unit were the dozens of Grade Bs as the vanguard.
On the other side, the New Moon Financial Group also launched a charge with their thousands of players.
A medium-scale Super battle was about to break out, and seeing the inferior number of players, Hundejab smiled.
“Their supers only number a quarter of ours. They’re finished!”
Just as he spoke, both sides clashed. But the result was completely contrary to his expectations. His eyes almost popped out in disbelief!
The thousands of players broke out with Grade B combat strength and instantly took the upper hand, killing their enemies freely!
Seeing this scene, Hundejab’s expression changed into one of despair!
“How could there be so many Grade B Supers‽”
1022 Demons
While the Ursa Civilization had four to five times the number of Supers in their base, in front of the suicidal players, they were just sacrifices, exploding into fireworks of dazzling light and heat as the aberrations imploded, finally merging into a whole, a pile of ashes.
The extreme evolution and self-imploding tactics were the two trump cards of the players. In their eyes, their life was just for that second of brightness and illumination, transforming themselves into matches and burning to warm others. This act was so ‘noble’ that it would literally make people cry.
The large number of Grade Bs in this battle provided the players with an overwhelming advantage, and with the help of the New Moon Financial Group, there was no suspense left in this battle. The resource base was quickly captured by the players, and Hundejab and the officers in the base were captured alive.
At this moment, the base was filled with explosions, and the ground and the structures had scorch marks. Some of the New Moon Financial Group and the guilds were clearing the battlefield, counting their loot. At the center of the base, Hundejab and the group of captives squatted there, holding their heads with both their hands as they were surrounded by a group of players.
“How is it? Should we get rid of all these people?” The Vice-Captain of Rivervale, Evil Sword, turned his head to look at Frenzied Sword.
“Hmm…” Frenzied Sword sighed. “Let me think about it.”
The joint forces of these guilds attacked a separate resource base, and this particular raid was led by Frenzied Sword of Rivervale.
When they were fighting, they obviously did not care about the people, but now that they had defeated the enemy, it was time for the professional players to farm experience. This was one of the missions of the guild to provide resources for the professional players.
Maple Moon glanced at Hundejab and the others, blinking. “Should I first ask them for their names and see if it triggers a mission?”
Hearing this, the rest had agreed to her plan.
Maple Moon approached the group of captives, asking, “Who here is the commander?”
The group started to stir, but the majority seemed as though they were unwilling to betray their superior. However, Hundejab gritted his teeth and said, “I’m in charge of this base. The name’s Hundejab. You are the forces employed by the New Moon Financial Group, right? What are your origins‽”
His shock had still not subsided. There were thousands of Grade B supers! Where did they appear from‽ They disintegrated the line of defense that he felt was so solid, so how could they be an unknown organization in the mercenary world!
Maple Moon smiled secretly but pretended to be nonchalant as she replied, “We’re the Rivervale Guild, previously part of the Immortal troop from the Black Star Army. We’re currently an affiliated armed force to the army.
Ka!
This news struck like a thunderbolt on a sunny day. Hundejab and the rest were stunned, their expressions filled with disbelief. He did not even expect to hear the name of ‘Black Star’ from these people.
The New Moon Financial Group actually got acquainted with the Black Star Army‽
Hundejab had an expression of shock, and his mental state was in a disarray. He initially still had some anger in his heart, but it all dissipated in a flash, only leaving behind feelings of panic.
His first thought was to think it unreal, but when he thought back to the anomalous situation on the battlefield, he had a sudden realization.
No wonder it seemed that some of them had died but reappeared. He did not understand it at the start, but he figured out that if they were originally the famous Immortal troops of the Black Star Army, then their origins were not falsified!
“Y-you guys…”
Facing the influence of Black Star, Hundejab could not remain stubborn, and the confidence he harbored from being part of a Star System Civilization was completely crushed.
If even he was so befuddled, then the other captives were worse, trembling all over in fear.
Maple Moon thought for a while and felt that she had to voluntarily trigger the mission. Thus, she asked, “Is there anything you want us to do for you?”
Hearing this, everyone froze in shock and despair.
We’re finished. They’re now asking us for our last wishes!
Feeling the atmosphere fill up in fear, Hundejab gritted his teeth and turned back to shout, “None of you should be begging them for mercy! Dying on the battlefield is our honor!”
Even while he was battling, he had psychologically prepared to sacrifice himself. At this point, his intention resurfaced.
Maple Moon scratched her head and honestly said, “Why don’t you all just start begging me? Maybe I’ll let you all go.”
“Dream on! Even if I’m faced with death, I will not let you fool with us!”
“Uh… are you really not going to struggle? It might actually work.”
“Devil! Demon! You’re all delusional!”
And thus, a scenario began that left the New Moon Financial Group’s members in utter shock. They witnessed the captives begging to be put to death at all costs, while the capturers were the ones persuading them to beg for mercy.
However, at this time, the New Moon Financial Group saw quite a few expressions of conflicting emotions on the captives’ faces. Immediately, their bodies shivered as they guessed what the Immortals were aiming at.
The Immortals were actually trying to divide the enemy… what a scary bunch!
Because not everyone was as stubborn as Hundejab, there were a few that stood up, and under the angered glare of Hundejab, they began to plead for mercy.
Looking at her interface, Maple Moon saw the mission [XX’s Plead] appear. The conditions were that they would obtain a small amount of experience if they allowed them to go free. She turned to look at Frenzied Sword. “Should we do this mission or not?”
“While the experience is low, it’s still something. Just do it.” Frenzied Sword nodded.
Hearing that, Maple Moon let those that pleaded move to the side, which prompted even more captives to begin begging for mercy, seeing that there was a precedent.
Some of them triggered the missions, but some of them could not. Thus, the players appeared to be choosing vegetables at a market, selecting the captives to put aside.
“The rest of them don’t have any missions available; do it.”
Without any hesitation, the players turned into executioners, killing those stubborn people such as Hundejab and the elites. Although most of them were weak, they had bonuses because of their identities. The experience obtained through killing them was reasonable, and this would even increase their final rating for the Planet Harker mission.
By the side, the spectating New Moon Financial Group members avoided looking at the players. “This is too cruel…”
If it were them, they would not dare provoke the Ursa Civilization and would probably have released all of them. However, the Black Star Army was actually so cruel, killing them without batting an eye.
Indeed, all those from the Black Star Army were dangerous characters!
Seeing this scene, those captives who had begged for mercy got nervous. Frenzied Sword allowed them to leave as and when they wished, and only then did they scramble out of the base.
The professional players then turned to their interfaces.
The moment this group of captives had run out of the base, the mission of pleading for mercy had been marked as completed.
“The mission requirements were so relaxed? Oh, then again, it’s just a small mission.” Frenzied Sword scratched his head suspiciously. Turning to look at the rest of the players, they nodded.
Barely three minutes later, the released captives were all gathered once again in the square, their faces full of disbelief.
You released us, then captured us again. What is the meaning of this‽
“Let’s try again.” Maple Moon coughed awkwardly. “Is there anyone who wants to plead for mercy?”
Her tone was sincere, but in the ears of the rest around her, it sounded full of ridicule and sarcasm.
Turns out, you were just fooling with us!
Can you not‽
You can kill me but not humiliate me. If we had known, we would have followed Hundejab and the rest to choose death on the spot!
The majority chose to remain silent, but a small portion broke through their limits and begged once again for the second time. However, this time, there was no sign of any missions appearing on the players’ interface.
“Seems like it’s a one-off mission.” Evil Sword shook his head, appearing a little regretful.
“I expected that. If this was repeatable, there’d be something wrong.” Maple Moon rolled her eyes.
Frenzied Sword also sighed before drawing his blood-stained sword. “Since that’s the case, there’s no other choice.”
Thirty seconds later, the group once again got their hands on another bunch of experience.
The professional players wiped their hands clean, joining the ranks of players cleaning up the battlefield.
They left behind the group of New Moon Financial Group members, who had witnessed the entire frightening process of ‘fooling the captives before killing them’. All of them had chills in their hearts, and their bodies were frozen in shock.
To give someone hope then break it so ruthlessly, sinking them into absolute despair, those Immortals were just too vicious!
Many of them involuntarily shivered, and looking at each other, they came to a similar conclusion.
They absolutely could not provoke this group of madmen. They were demons!
…
The several groups each attacked a base, all of which ended in victory. Such a record alarmed the other six organizations on Planet Harker, leading to them hurriedly inquiring about the origin of the reinforcements invited by the New Moon Financial Group.
Since the attack had succeeded, there was no need to keep it a secret. The background of the players was soon revealed, and after verifying it, the other organizations were all frightened.
Black Star Army? F*ck your mom, this is someone we cannot afford to provoke!
Not only was their background frightening, the combat strength of this group of Immortals was even more terrifying. With over five thousand Grade Bs, there was nowhere on Planet Harker they could not go to!
The greater one’s name, the longer the shadow cast. Once this news got out, coupled with their battle records, three of the organizations immediately retreated. They felt that this was a hopeless scenario, and thus, they gave up on Planet Harker, recalling all their resource bases.
The remaining three were the two Star System Civilizations as well as another financial group. They were not willing to give up Planet Harker, so they only responded by reducing the bases and shrinking the area of their troops, taking a defensive stance.
However, the players did not take any action to advance and attack immediately. Instead, with the help of the New Moon Financial Group, they occupied the resource bases that they had attacked, resuming the collection of resources.
In one of the largest bases, the core players of the bigger guilds such as Long Sky, Rivervale, and Thunder Storm were standing in front of a warehouse door. Watching the batches of resources being sent in by the transport vehicles, the eyes of the players all turned into the symbol of Enaus.
“This is an endless stream of gold!” Jade Green Sky exclaimed with an expression of joy. “Our guild has obtained another huge but stable income channel, and our financial situation has finally improved.”
“It seems that this method of gameplay is indeed correct.” Hao Tian calmly nodded, silently calculating the amount of equipment this sum could be exchanged for.
Everyone was in a good mood, and the majority of the players looked forward to earning more money.
There was no way about it. While the army sold things at a low price, the follow-up consumption was high. Weapons needed to be strengthened, ammunition resupplied, mechanical suits repaired, the Evolution badges recharged, and so on. That all cost Enaus!
Their purses were all sucked dry by the sleazy Black Star Army. The players did not lack much, but they sure as f*ck lacked money!
Since the guilds had chosen to establish their base camps in the army’s area, these core players naturally chose to head to the free competition zone to establish a bridgehead, complete missions, and earn more money. Right now, they were getting closer to the right track.
In the eyes of many of the players, their bright future seemed to be waving to them.
…
The guilds established a stronghold on Planet Harker, and the guilds of the other players also found their own opportunities, spreading their leaves and blooming within the Emerald Star Cluster.
After Planet Phiri was destroyed, Hila had found another planet to serve as a stronghold, and she was also participating in the trend of free competition. Right now, most people were actively opening up their maps to occupy mines, and Gorutan also did not have time to find Hila to create trouble.
The player guilds that were affiliated with the army slowly spread within the Emerald Star Cluster. Now that the actions of the Black Star Army were monitored, this movement was discovered by many other organizations.
Many of the organizations were quite curious about the situation in which the Immortals troops had turned into semi-independent affiliated organizations. They did not know what Black Star was planning, so they decided to just silently watch.
As the Chinese players gradually established their strongholds in the free competition zone, the first batch of foreign players finally arrived in the Flickering World after a long journey. The first batch were the Southeast Asian players, who were based near the Blackhole Edge.
In the Dawn Star Cluster, one spaceship after another sailed out of the stargate, stepping into the territory of the Flickering World.
The major organizations had long been freely exploring the Flickering World, and those that had just arrived were only tourists, small obscure organizations, and reinforcements.
This fleet consisted mostly of reinforcements from the Blackhole Edge. Its composition was complicated, with armies from Star Cluster and Star System Civilizations, armed forces, financial groups, and even players present.
In the entire universe, the Shattered Star Ring appeared to be an exception in having a player-formed faction. They were all from the Black Star Army. As for the others, their makeup was extremely scattered.
Within the Blackhole Edge, the most powerful player to join in this trip was inside a neutral organization named Nineteen Towers Psionics Association. The organization could be understood as a regional organization of mages and psychics, and one would obtain contribution points within the organization through the provision of magic services. The contribution points would then be exchanged for resources and knowledge, just like a platform for professional exchanges.
In the spaceship, the professional players of the Blackhole Edge gathered together. They were composed of players from different clubs across several countries.
In the International League, the players from Southeast Asia did not have much of a presence, as their results for each season placed them at the bottom. The only impression the audience had of them was that they were not very good in tactical operations. They tended to be reckless, and their fighting style was fierce.
The teams in Southeast Asia that were more popular were the Red Bay Club with Old Yue, the Titan Club with Old Qin, as well as the Archipelago Club in Indonesia. These three were the regulars participating in the International League.
At this moment, the common topic was related to the Pro League.
“There has been no news about the Pro League yet, but the opening of the World Server is likely to cause a change in the competition format, and the mode of qualifying through sub-areas might be cancelled,” Venomous Snake, the Captain of the Red Bay Battle Team said.
“If there is no longer a division-based system, it will be difficult for us to qualify.” The Captain of the Archipelago Team, Gravel Castle shook his head as he replied with a tragic expression.
The reason they appeared every year was purely based on the division system. In the Blackhole Edge, the weak fought the weak, so without this system, they would not make it into the International League.
“Thus, those of us who come from the same Star Field must now unite and seize the opportunity given to us through the World Server, developing ourselves well,” Venomous Snake said.
“This is difficult. The advantage of the Chinese players in the World Server is too huge. We cannot compete against them alone. We can only see if the clubs of the other countries are willing to ally with us.”
“Unfortunately, we’ve already invested too much in our current faction, so we cannot jump ships. Even if we enter the Black Star Army now, we will not be able to win against the local Chinese players. We have to come up with a plan to give us an advantage.”
At this time, Venomous Snake narrowed his eyes and muttered, “While we cannot jump ship, we still can utilize the benefits offered by the Black Star Army. The best method would be to allow some guild members to join the Black Star Army and increase their contributions within. They could then purchase a large amount of resources at discounted rates. At the same time, we can get them to monitor the movement of the players in the army, which will be beneficial for us.”
“Espionage?” Everyone present shared a look. “This is indeed a good idea, but will this cause us to be targeted by the Black Star Army?”
“What does the business of us players have to do with them?” Venomous Snake was nonchalant. “What we should take notice of is the Chinese players. We need to be careful of them stealing the supplies that we purchase.”
“Good, then we shall do it that way!”
Everyone confirmed the battle strategy and buried their heads to discuss the details.
…
The Lesykes Army was a large private mercenary group active around the Blackhole Edge. However, it had an official secret backer—it was the secret military force of the Ursa Civilization. This organization was named after the leader, and right now, the Captain Lesykes had just brought his reinforcements to enter the Flickering World.
In the command room, Lesykes shouted in an excited tone.
“Increase speed. Rush over to the free competition zone as soon as possible.”
The Ursa Civilization had many secret mercenary groups under them, so the civilization rarely gave him any missions. Normally, he was only disguised as a normal mercenary, so he attached great importance to this opportunity to acquire some merits.
Initially, he only sent in the advance troops, and he remained in the base camp to monitor the operations of the mercenary group. However, when the Flickering World was officially opened, the players, who had disappeared from the Blackhole Edge for twenty years, came back online.
In every Star Field, the traits of the players were different, so the impressions they left on the local organizations were also different. Due to the scattered population of the players within the Blackhole Edge, their exposure was far from comparable to the players in the Black Star Army. Thus, their threat level was also lower.
However, there were also a large number of local organizations that had noticed the special existence of the players, thinking that they might be the same species as the Black Star Army’s Immortal troops. But the problem was that because the players were too scattered, the local organizations were unable to figure out their actual population. Before the players showed their ability to resurrect, they would behave like any other person, making it difficult to distinguish them.
Lesykes was one of the few to notice that the players had reappeared, and he was extremely impressed with these guys who did not seem to fear death. Therefore, he made a personal decision to recruit them en masse.
As it happened, many of the players in the Blackhole Edge were also looking to enter the Flickering World. They hit it off, and he was able to recruit over ten thousand of the players to transport over to the Blackhole Edge as a support force. This would allow him to claim extra credit.
Not long ago, he had received some good news; the Ursa Civilization had fallen into trouble on the front line. One of their collection units was overturned by the Immortals of the Black Star Army, and they desperately required reinforcements. Lesykes felt that he had suddenly become the person who supplied coal during a snowstorm, and he could not help being overjoyed.
This batch of reinforcements is just in time to help the civilization fight against the Black Star Army. Not only that, in the fight with other organizations, they can also use these Immortals to take the advantage. I’ve made a big contribution this time! Lesykes thought to himself secretly.
…
At the same time, among his fleet, a group of players from the Blackhole Edge stood in front of the porthole, whispering among themselves while enjoying the view of the Flickering World.
“We’re almost here. Hurry to the free competition zone. I’m almost dying of anxiety!”
“Look at what missions this mercenary group can do in the Flickering World.”
“Stupid, why would you even still follow this mercenary group? There are so many strong organizations in the Flickering World. What’s the point of remaining with this tiny organization?”
“Makes sense. When we arrive in the free competition zone, we can kick this mercenary group aside.”
Now that the many top-tier organizations were beginning to gather in the Flickering World, why would the players stick with the smaller groups? Only by switching to a stronger advanced faction could they then meet their increasing needs, especially their need for Class Knowledge.
Lesykes, who was full of hope, did not realize that he was being treated as a tool by the players.
The consequences of betraying a strong organization were serious, but for such a small organization like Lesykes’, the players did not give a hoot.
The top choice for the average player in the Blackhole Edge would be the three Universal Civilizations or any Beyond Grade A or advanced civilization in the Blackhole Edge, followed by the Black Star Army.
Players in other Star Fields naturally had no sense of belonging to the Black Star Army. Only the benefits and development prospects would move them. In this respect, the Black Star Army was just like a firefly in the night, extremely evident.
Throughout the many versions, the various benefits players of the army received had long been eye-catching for all the other countries. Now that they could finally cross Star Fields, the reputation and appeal of the army from several versions had accumulated to achieve the effect of allowing a large number of ordinary players to be inclined toward Han Xiao.
Among them, the ones that wanted to join the Black Star Army the most were the Mechanic players from the Blackhole Edge!
Due to the difference in planets in Version 1.0, the composition of Supers in each Star Field was also very vast. The most common Class in the Blackhole Edge was the Mage class, followed by Psychics. The overall focus there was more toward the arcane, and the mechanic department only accounted for about twelve percent of the total players in the Blackhole Edge.
In comparison, the Black Star Army was simply like a paradise for Mechanics, and with Han Xiao as the top mentor of the Mechanic Class, there was no need to worry about the lack of Class Knowledge.
In the eyes of these people, one sentence could summarize the meaning of Black Star to the mechanic players.
If the Heavens did not give birth to me, Black Star, then the Mechanics would essentially be fumbling in the dark!
As for the Mechanic Emperor… while it was rumored that he was extremely strong, the players were not too familiar with him. They instead gravitated toward Han Xiao. After all, the Chinese players had forged the route for them, so they knew that Han Xiao was a reliable person.
The group chatted around, and at the edge of this crowd, a player with the ID of Muay Thai as Warning appeared to be alone, looking out the window.
This hidden mission told me that the Lesykes mercenary group is actually an affiliated organization belonging to the Ursa Civilization. I heard from my friend that their Long Sky happened to grab some resources from the civilization and had a conflict, so our group is probably here to serve as reinforcements…
The friend he mentioned was actually a peripheral member of the Long Sky Guild. They had once gotten into a spate on the forums, but they had suddenly realized that the other party also made sense, so they apologized to each other and finally became friends.
With this in mind, a bold idea surfaced in the mind of Muay Thai as Warning, and the soul of the whistleblower started to burn brightly.
If one wishes to jump ship, then they definitely have to present a gift!
…
At the same time, somewhere in the Emerald Star Cluster, a small financial group’s exploration fleet docked at a temporary transit station that was constructed by an advanced civilization for a rest. The crew went for some leisure time, only leaving the logistics personnel behind to clean and repair the equipment.
Buzz!
Within the maintenance channel inside the spaceship, two ground crew members wearing protective gear were holding onto maintenance tools, working in front of a complex piece of machinery. Sparks constantly splashed around.
It took a while before they completed their job. Evans took off his hood and wiped his sweat.
He then opened the logistics task list on his wrist, glancing at it, before opening the communication channel to report to his superior.
“Ground Handling Group No. 005 has completed the task. The issue with engine group component T1018 has been eliminated. We will now proceed to sector C0080 for cleaning.”
“Received, continue your work. You still have three more tasks to complete.”
“Understood.”
After finishing his report, he left the communication channel before patting his companion’s shoulder. “Let’s go to the next area.”
His companion, however, waved his hands in frustration. “We just finished our task. What’s the hurry? Let’s rest for a while.”
Evans tried to persuade him. “We’re pressed for time today, so we should try to get them done before work ends. It’s best not to take a break during working hours, or else we will not be able to finish.”
“Then we’ll just postpone it till tomorrow. It’s not just a one-day stop here.” The companion sat down in dissatisfaction. “If you want, you can go on ahead. I’ll rest here.”
Evans frowned but shook his head and no longer tried to persuade him. He could not control anyone; he just needed to do a good job himself.
He went along the maintenance tunnel by himself, and the figure of his companion soon disappeared, leaving him alone.
The lighting in the maintenance tunnel was dim, with only one light source situated at a large distance away. After walking for a while, Evans suddenly found a red light flashing in front of him. He stopped walking.
“The lights have gone out? Did I see it wrongly?”
Evans found it a little weird. He observed the environment detector, but there was no change. He initially thought it was his eyes playing tricks and walked forward a few more steps.
Buzz!
At this moment, a burst of red lit up his vision. The light source appeared on his side, less than a meter away!
Evans quickly reacted in shock, jumping to the side and tumbling on the ground, holding the welding torch in his hands as he stood up to face the light source.
What greeted him was a bizarre scene of an unknown red light zipping around in the air, constantly moving and leaving a trail of red light behind it. There was a lot of beauty to this scene.
“What is this thing?” Evans showed a wary expression as he secretly took out his communicator, wanting to report this anomaly.
However, the next moment, his eyes blurred as the red light dashed over at an inhumane speed, piercing through his body.
Evans hurriedly looked down but found himself unscathed. Instead, he felt full of energy. His fatigue from working was swept away, and his physical strength was restored.
At this moment, the red light paused before frantically hovering around him.
Evans seemed to have felt an emotion of happiness from this bundle of light, causing him to freeze in shock.
Before he could recover, the light seemed to stop suddenly, and as if pulled by some invisible presence, it suddenly disappeared, leaving Evans standing there with a blank expression.
After a long pause, Evans slapped himself hard.
“Ouch it hurts, I’m not dreaming… It seems like I’ve finally gone crazy.”
As the fleet passed by the Black Star Army’s territory, the aspiring Lesykes was quickly dealt a harsh blow.
When he arrived at Planet Black Gate, the Immortals that he had painstakingly recruited from the Blackhole Edge suddenly broke out in a massive rebellion!
Not only did these players leave the faction, they even took over the spaceships carrying them!
Players in any area were accustomed to maximizing their benefits. Since they had already decided to leave, they would take advantage of the other party. Plus, it would be troublesome to travel without a spaceship. Many players seized control of the spaceships carrying them, leaving the designated fleet route and turning toward the Black Star Army.
Even those few players who were not planning to jump ship immediately were also forced to join in. After all, they were on the same ship, and if they fought and blew up the spaceship, there was no good end for either side.
With so many players in each spaceship, it was impossible to determine the ownership. Most people would only follow the spaceship to the transit station, where they would then scatter and act independently. This was the disadvantage of a lack of a huge faction to rally everyone.
Due to the large number of players rebelling, the total size of Lesykes’ army shrank by half, and the loss of the spaceships and supplies within were significant to Lesykes, making him feel as though he was bleeding out.
“Crazy, those guys are crazy! They have no morals at all!”
Within the command room, Lesykes was jumping around in anger.
This sudden incident was completely out of his expectations. He was immersed in his dream of achieving his meritorious service and did not expect this group of players to suddenly stab him in the back.
When they were still in the Blackhole Edge, these Immortals were still pretty law abiding, so why was it that they went all crazy the moment they arrived at the Flickering World?
He found it difficult to understand, and subconsciously, he felt as though this whole thing was a conspiracy, that some organizations had secretly meddled with them. He did not even consider their personal motivations.
After all, Lesykes did not understand the players. In his view, some foul play had to be going on, otherwise there would be no reason for all these players to riot together.
The stolen spaceships quickly dispersed and disappeared off their radar. Thus, Lesykes gave up on the symbolic chase. The strength of the Immortals also gave him some reservations, and with the spaceships having a similar speed, it would be hard to catch up to them. With this area being the territory of the Black Star Army, he dared not draw too much attention.
“*ssholes!”
Lesykes was hurt and angry, and he left a black mark on the files of this group of rebellious players, reducing their credit rating on their resumes.
After completing this matter, he managed to quell his anger somewhat. Upon seeing that half of the Immortals had stayed, he felt a little thankful.
“At least half of them are here. Even if I get less credit, there’s still some merit. I didn’t make the trip for nothing.”
Lesykes, however, no longer dared relax around the players, commanding, “Separate the rest of the Immortals and increase the defenses of each spaceship…”
After this experience, he had his guard up against the players.
However, even with his vigilance, another round of betrayals took place once again when he arrived at the free competition zone. The majority of Lesykes’ armed force consisted of the players. Thus, no matter how guarded the rest of the crew were, they were useless in the face of overwhelming numbers. The players had remained up till now just to obtain a free ride to the free competition zone.
The players that he brought from the Blackhole Edge had almost completely gone, and Lesykes almost went mad with anger.
Well done, this daddy here personally ran all the way to escort you guys to the Flickering World, thinking of achieving some merit, but ended up gaining nothing. It’s like fetching water using a rattan basket[1]!
The bad news poured in one after another. Lesykes quickly discovered from his intelligence that even with the black marks he left on the players’ resumes, there were still top-tier factions that took in these Immortals, the most prestigious being the Black Star Army.
Lesykes found this whole thing a little hard to accept, as though he had been bullied, and his heart was full of grievances!
Dammit, why!
This life is too hard!
What he did not know was that, in a tiny batch of players left behind, there existed people like Muay Thai as Warning, serving as spies and tracking the movements of the fleet, constantly reporting back to the army.
In terms of the attractive force of the factions, the gap between him and the Black Star Army was too large. Even if he could temporarily obtain the players’ bodies, he could never obtain their hearts.
…
There was naturally more than one organization that suffered from this massive wave of dissention. After entering the Flickering World, these Blackhole Edge organizations mostly experienced the phenomenon of a large number of players leaving, and the Black Star Army was the main place to go for these players.
The attractiveness of his faction had accumulated and matured over several versions, resulting in this surge in players wanting to join the army. There was no need for Han Xiao to do anything; the manual leek collection job had evolved into a fully automated process.
Within Black Star Palace, Han Xiao glanced at the Experience gauge of his attributes panel, his eyes gleaming.
“This wave of experience has shot up real quick.”
His plan to expand the leek plantation had finally begun to take effect, with this first batch of ‘foreign leeks’ pulling themselves out from the roots to transplant themselves in his plantation.
The players from foreign countries all had their own choices, and only a portion of them would choose to join the army, but even this number was also considerable. Based on his estimation, around 17 – 24% of the total population of players from the Blackhole Edge would join his army, which amounted to millions. Most of them would be ordinary players.
“This is only the first batch. When the players from the other Star Fields come, the size of the army will swell to double or triple of what it is today.” Han Xiao was secretly pleased.
There were many newcomers from the newly recruited Southeast Asian players, and they had a high demand for Class Knowledge. It was this new wave of consumption that made Han Xiao’s efficiency in harvesting experience soar.
Every time a new batch of newcomers arrived, it was followed by a huge wave of experience.
“I estimate that the Southeast Asian clubs will also infiltrate the army.”
Han Xiao secretly smiled. He did not intend to stop them.
He could sell more equipment and supplies, so why not? He could gain quite a bit of income from there, and re-equipping the different countries to allow them to fight against each other was akin to him being a weapons dealer, capitalizing on this business opportunity.
Furthermore, if they wished to enjoy the discount, they would need to have the corresponding rank, which meant that they had to contribute to the army. This could not be achieved in a short amount of time.
“Judging by this speed, I only need a few more waves of players to obtain enough experience to rise straight to level 320.” Han Xiao was secretly excited. This was much quicker than his expectations.
As for the large number of players jumping ship from the Blackhole Edge, he had long expected this. The continuous decline in the players’ credibility was one of the important factors in establishing their title as the Cancer of the Universe. They never had a good reputation, and this also included the fear and vigilance the outside world felt toward them.
One of the important signs for players to enter the stage of the universe was for the World Server to be launched. Their sense of existence had now greatly increased, which would attract the attention of many organizations, regarding them as a whole entity.
In his previous life, as the players spread chaos, leading to a decline in their overall reputation, it got to the point where some small organizations did not even dare recruit players. The consequence was that the players instead gathered toward the top organizations, switching factions to continue upgrading themselves.
These were all things that Han Xiao had witnessed, and he understood that there was no way he could force the players to remain obedient merely through means of faction welfare. As the players got stronger, they would have more thoughts, and they would become harder to control.
The players would only have attachments toward characters that they were familiar with, and for their own personal development and national war advantages, they would need to plunder for benefits and resources, starting wars.
With the growth of their strength, chaos was inevitable. Thus, Han Xiao had always been committed to developing his own organization. One of those objectives was to deal with this situation.
He also understood that, since the army was now an important target for the players to jump ship to, this situation would soon be discovered by the organizations that were monitoring him, and they would eventually form some speculations of their own.
For the time being, this had little impact on him. Firstly, his position was high enough, as was his strength. Secondly, there were also many players joining the other organizations, so the situation was not too exaggerated as of now. The various organizations would at most feel surprise. However, as more foreign players joined, the special features of the army would become more noticeable, and then the trouble would begin.
As Han Xiao shook his head to clear his thoughts, he inadvertently thought of something else.
“I didn’t expect Evans to already come into contact with the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy…”
Not long ago, Phillip, who had been constantly monitoring Evans, had sent back a report, and Han Xiao was able to see the process and confirm for himself that the cluster of red light was likely related to the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. However, this appeared much earlier than the time stated by EsGod’s inheritance.
He hypothesized that this was likely just one of the sub-bodies that separated from the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, returning to the universe ahead of time. It could be sent earlier as well as a coordinate marker. Whichever was the case, it was soon dragged back to the Secondary Dimension by the main body, and the Primal Esper Ability Entity had yet to descend.
This also solved one of Han Xiao’s doubts. There was no wonder that the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy finally chose Evans as a host, as it turned out that he had come into contact with it well in advance.
The moment the red light passes through a person, a mismatch would cause the person to explode and die. Not only was Evans unscathed, he even got rejuvenated. Thus, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy could confirm that he had the qualification to become a host. He was prepared as backup.
“The date of the birth of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy is getting closer as well. Judging from my current rate of acquiring experience, I should be able to achieve the Promotion to level 320 before it is born.”
[1] Rattan baskets are usually woven with strips of wood, meaning there are a lot of gaps for water to flow out from.
1025 Milkmaid's Promotion—Life Replenishmen
A large number of Southeast Asian players had jumped ship to join the army, and some of them could not wait to enjoy the benefits of being part of the Black Star Army, buying supplies in bulk and accepting the Main Storyline mission of [Flickering World] from the army. The other group were more casual players, and after joining the army, they arrived together at Black Star Palace with the idea of recognizing the future Players’ Main City of their faction.
Among them, most of the players were Mechanics. They came to the Black Star Palace with the mentality of performing a pilgrimage.
Because most of the Chinese players were out on missions, with the addition of this new batch of players, the originally silent palace turned lively once more.
“This is the base of the Black Star Army in the Flickering World? It’s quite spectacular.”
“The space is huge, and the facilities are abundant. Really good stuff.”
“Will I be able to meet Black Star?”
The group of players from the Blackhole Edge chattered on, excitedly looking around Black Star Palace, their eyes sparkling.
They had roamed about the universe in the last three versions, but the factions they served could not even be compared to the Black Star Army. Just based on the size, they were not on the same level. Even the mother planets of some Star Cluster level civilizations were not as well built as Black Star Palace. For many of these players, it was their first time setting eyes on such a magnificent location.
“There are a lot of high-levelled NPCs here, a whole bunch of characters with the ‘Fatally Dangerous’ note.”
“If we cause trouble here, we’ll definitely be killed, right?”
The majority of the players suppressed their arrogance, not daring to mess around in Black Star’s territory.
They were not afraid of the smaller organizations such as the Lesykes Mercenary Group and could behave fearlessly. But in the face of a behemoth like the Black Star Army, they did not dare cause trouble as these organizations had the ability to restrain them.
Among the group were also spies sent in by the Southeast Asian clubs. Because the Black Star Army did not show any bias toward the players, they had smoothly mixed in.
Disregarding the countless screaming players around them, these spies with their own special missions opened the dazzling array of faction stores and mission lists, looking through them.
Having successfully joined, as long as they worked hard to contribute and increase their ranks within the army, they could enjoy more benefits and do more purchasing for their guilds.
Their plan was a success!
At this moment, Hadavy, Feidin, and the rest of the Black Star Guards hurried over, attracting the attention of this group of players.
“Hey, look over there, the famous Black Star Guards!”
“The senior figures of the Black Star Army! I have all their decks, and now I can finally meet them in the flesh.”
“Feidin! I love you!”
In the distance, Feidin heard the screams, and he came to a stop. Glancing over, he saw the motley group of Immortals and could only helplessly wave back.
Feidin had a high reputation among the players, and this reputation was not just limited to the Shattered Star Ring.
Since these Blackhole Edge players wanted to join the army, they had done their research beforehand. Furthermore, due to the promotion via Wayne Cards, Feidin was a popular idol in the Black Star Army.
“Why is it that you’re so popular? Even those newcomers like you so much.” Hadavy was a little salty.
“You will find the answer when you look into the mirror,” one of the Black Star Guards murmured.
“…” Hadavy could not come up with a response.
Looking at Hadavy’s struggling expression, Feidin could not take it and could only ruefully smile as he patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry too much. You’re not that ugly.”
“… I can’t cheer myself up with this.”
The entourage of Black Star Guards did not stop to chat with the new players. They quickened their footsteps, disappearing from the players’ sights.
At the same time, the eyes of those spies hiding in the crowd flashed.
Some of them not only shouldered the mission of purchasing supplies for their guild, they also had another mission, which was to infiltrate the army and monitor their movements.
While the Southeast Asian clubs did not change factions, the Flickering World contained a multitude of opportunities for them to reach out to top tier organizations. They had also secretly contacted some organizations, of which the most commonly contacted one was the Limitless Financial Group.
Sorokin had a strong interest in the player community. He tried to test out the players from the Black Star Army in the past but had suffered a loss instead. Right now, given that the players from the other Star Fields were grouping in the Flickering World, it was an opportunity for him, and he had arranged some people to contact the Blackhole Edge players.
While he did not have an interface, after a long period of research, Sorokin had also figured out some rules regarding the players. Thus, he specifically looked for those players who did not immediately switch over to join the army to issue employment tasks. The contents were to request for the players to provide information on the movements of the Black Star Army. In particular, he wanted to know Black Star’s own movements, and the rewards were generous. While he did not know of the underlying principle, the fact of the matter was, as long as he offered enough money, the players would turn into the best spies.
Using gold to pave the way resulted in many of the Southeast Asian clubs accepting Sorokin’s mission, which was equivalent to him having a pair of eyes inside the army.
Sorokin’s focus on Han Xiao’s movements was intentional. Not long ago, Gorutan had gotten into a conflict with Hila. The federation and the church each had their own thoughts about Hila. As their collaborator, Sorokin had to monitor Han Xiao’s movements, providing intelligence for both parties to plan their operations.
Many of the spies glanced at each other, softly exchanging words.
“The Black Star Guards are all present, which means Black Star should also be inside.”
“Without seeing him directly, can this still be considered as completing the mission?”
“Should be. The Black Star Guards’ responsibility is to protect, so wherever they are, there is a high chance that Black Star will also be there.”
…
On the other side, Hadavy and the rest of the Black Star Guards arrived at the core of the palace. They orderly proceeded toward an advanced training room, where a mechanical host bearing Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar took guard at the door. Aurora sat in the middle of the room, spewing out life energy that spread out in a white-gold halo around her. This halo followed her breathing as it fluctuated.
“Army Commander.” The group greeted the avatar at the door before turning to look at Aurora.
Hadavy breathed in deeply, feeling his spirits rejuvenate, and exclaimed, “What an intense life energy fluctuation. Her quality seems to have sublimated once again?”
Feidin nodded. “Black Star, is this Aurora’s advancement?”
Han Xiao’s avatar nodded. “Her accumulated life energy has finally broken through the critical point and brought her a qualitative change in her life level.”
Before Version 4.0, Aurora had been close to the threshold of the Calamity Grade. With the extra half year of accumulation, she had finally hit the required amount and broken through.
Watched by the group, Aurora closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly as the light emitted by the life energy became brighter, gradually filling the entire room.
After a long time, the light was slowly reabsorbed into Aurora, and her body displayed some obvious changes. Her platinum blonde hair swayed slightly even without any breeze present, and every strand seemed to be filled with endless vitality.
Her skin had become smoother and more supple without flaws. The milky white skin revealed a sacred aura, as though she was some exquisite artwork.
Aurora opened her eyes, slowly breathing out. Her breath, filled with the energy of life, seemed to change even the air of the room itself, giving the hard, cold steel of the room a feeling as though one had stepped into the wilderness of nature.
Her advancement was vastly different from most Calamity Grades’. There was no destructive movement; all she required was sufficient life energy, without any bottlenecks along the way.
Standing up, Aurora’s eyes revealed some happiness, and she walked up to Han Xiao’s avatar before excitedly chattering. “Uncle, I’ve reached the Calamity Grade. Are there any changes?”
Han Xiao sized Aurora up. Her originally petite and cute looks had transformed into something taller, with a better figure. Her facial features had also changed to be more refined, and the holiness seeping out from within her made others involuntarily feel warm toward her. This was a completely different style compared to the cold, glamorous blade that was Hila.
“You’ve become prettier,” Han Xiao joked. “Other Grade As are called Calamity Grades, but for you, no matter how I see it, there’s nothing Calamitous about you. Excellent, I’m proud of you.”
Aurora blinked a few times, her heart blooming with joy from the praise. However, as though she recalled something, she suddenly pouted. “Humph, so many flowery words, but you still ran over to my sister and did not personally witness me step into the Calamity Grade.”
Han Xiao was helpless about it. He had left Black Star Palace a few days ago, quietly going over to the Emerald Star Cluster to meet Hila.
He was clear that with a sudden influx of players, there would be many more eyes. Thus, it was inevitable that there would be spies monitoring his movements. He had left the Black Star Guards there as a simple misdirection while he went off to the Emerald Star Cluster. He had two reasons for going there; one was to compete for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy in the near future, and the other was to reduce the risk Hila would face. While his Lord’s Avatar could display some strength, it was nowhere near the abilities he displayed with his true body.
However, this caused him to miss the promotion of Aurora.
Han Xiao dryly coughed before exchanging a glance with Feidin.
With Feidin’s ’emotional intelligence’, even if he could not read anything from the eyes of the machine, he understood what Han Xiao was trying to say. He immediately changed the topic as he asked, “After reaching the Calamity Grade, how much have your abilities changed?”
Hearing that, Aurora rolled her eyes toward Han Xiao before turning to Feidin. She carefully looked within her body before raising her hand to emit a ball of life energy. The intensity was a lot stronger compared to when she was at Grade B.
“My life energy accumulation has increased many times from when I was a Grade B, and my healing powers have further increased. Right now, the same amount of life energy should be three or four times more potent than in the past.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao felt a little regret that he was not present, or else he could have tried to find out how much Aurora’s ‘milk’ had improved.
Hadavy could not wait, however. “Let me try it out.”
Aurora shot him a side-eye but emitted a beam of life energy that sank into his body.
The next moment, Hadavy’s eyes opened wide, and he experienced such great comfort that he moaned uncontrollably.
“Uhhh…”
Han Xiao shivered, almost activating the mute mode out of reflex.
D*mn you, what’s with that moan‽
When I first knew you, you were a stubborn battle maniac, so why is it you’ve fallen to such a depraved state‽
Was your brain beaten to mush by me the past few years‽
Distressing indeed!
“What are you moaning for?” Everyone felt the same chill run up their spine.
Hadavy hastily covered his mouth and only recovered after quite a few seconds. He exclaimed in joy, “So good! I felt as though I relaxed a lot, like a weight had been taken off me somehow!”
Seeing his exaggerated expression, everyone half believed and half doubted him. However, all their doubts vanished once they experienced it for themselves. They stared at Aurora with their mouths agape, as though they were looking at some priceless heirloom.
Aurora turned shy at the stares, whispering, “After I advanced, my abilities seemed to have more functions, such as being able to stimulate the potential of the target and improve their status while accelerating recovery.”
“This is indeed true.” Feidin nodded. “I feel that my spirit is now more sensitive, and my energy is more lively. Not only that, but her life energy seems to have some soothing ability to placate one’s emotions.”
Han Xiao was quite surprised, but because his true body was not present, he could only go around and tap on his guards to get their combat information.
In addition to treatment, there were also selective gains for targets of her life energy. The additional ability gave a twenty-percent increase toward the upper limit of one’s HP, Energy, and Stamina. There was an overall twelve-percent increase in resistance, a seven to eleven percent range increase for all attributes, and a ten to fifteen percent increase in ability strength. This bonus range should gradually increase as she continued to develop her abilities.
Not only was she a milkmaid, she was also a super strong support character!
At the same time, her life energy was able to appease the mental state, expelling any violent tendencies and calming the target down. It would even eliminate any hostility that the target held toward her and produce a desire to protect her. While her power was extremely lacking in attack power, she had a special protection ability.
In addition, the shelf life of her life energy could now be extended by tens of times. The blood connection between Hila and Aurora also increased, resembling that of quantum connection where they could feel each other’s vital signs regardless of distance.
Aurora also had a vague feeling that if she further developed her ability gene chain, she would be able to share her life energy with Hila regardless of the distance. At present, she needed to familiarize herself with the changes in the Calamity Grade.
“Worthy of an S ranked Esper Ability. The higher the state of life, the more features it unlocks.” Han Xiao was happy for her.
In the past, Aurora turned into jam too early, so no one knew what would happen if she advanced. Right now, she was giving him a lot of surprises.
At this moment, Han Xiao suddenly had a hypothesis and immediately dragged Feidin and Aurora to the biological laboratory, using them for an experiment.
He got Aurora to repeatedly wash Feidin with life energy, and he withdrew some of Feidin’s cells each time, comparing the difference in the cells’ basic activity.
Before long, the results of the experiment returned. Comparing the data between each baptism of life energy, Han Xiao could not help but sigh.
“I should have thought of this a long time ago. The abilities of the two sisters are diametrically opposed, so if Hila can rob the life of people, Aurora… can increase one’s lifespan!”
The experimental data clearly showed that the later samples all showed some form of weak increase in basic cell activity.
In other words, the more ‘milk’ one got from Aurora, the longer their life span!
At Grade B, this feature had yet to awaken, and right now, she was only a Calamity Grade. Thus, the effect of life extension was weak, far less than Hila’s ability to reap life.
But if she continued to grow, then would she not become an enhanced version of Tripiṭaka’s flesh[1]‽
It seemed like he had just gotten his hands on another support treasure…
[1] In the mythology ‘Journey to the West’ featuring Sun Wukong, demons always tried to obtain his flesh as it would give them immortality.
Chapter 1026 Leek Field Expansion
The screen disappeared as Han Xiao waved his hand before he turned to Aurora and Feidin behind him, speaking in a solemn tone.
“This matter is only known to the two of you at the moment. Don’t tell anybody else for now, or else there will be trouble. Do you understand?”
“… You’re saying that there’ll be people like the Germinal Organization’s Leader?”
Aurora pursed her lips. The painful memories of her past flashed through her head, and a trace of fear flitted across her face. This, however, was quickly replaced by determination.
She was different from the self in the past. She had Han Xiao and her sister by her side, and she believed that she would not repeat her past mistakes.
“Yes, if word gets out, this will arouse the interest of many of the hegemons of the universe. You’ll be dragged into the storm.” Han Xiao nodded.
If Hila’s ability to reap one’s longevity made others fear her, then Aurora’s ability would drive all Beyond Grade As crazy. She had the ability to control the entire universe. Most Beyond Grade As wished to extend their life span. Even those species with naturally long life spans were no exception. For example, if EsGod was still roaming around, he would not have spared no quarter to seize Aurora’s power. This priority would have been even higher than the Evolutionary Totem.
Not only the Beyond Grade As, even the advanced civilizations would be tempted. With Aurora entering the Calamity Grade, she had a high efficiency in the generation of life energy. Most likely, they would not treat her like the Germinal Organization had treated her, but they would put her under house arrest, with her only job being to produce more life potions.
In this way, he would also stand at the cusp of the storm, facing the covetous gazes of many Beyond Grade As. Thus, he had to have strength that far outstripped his current self in order to suppress the greed in the hearts of others. Aurora’s ability was a double-edged sword, so Han Xiao did not intend to disclose Aurora’s information before he reached a higher level.
Feidin nodded and agreed. “Relax, I’ve always regarded Aurora as my sister, and I will not leak the news.”
Han Xiao left them with some more instructions before sending the two off. He remained in the room alone, sighing to himself.
After Aurora entered the Calamity Grade, her connection to Hila had improved, becoming akin to a symbiotic relationship.
Now that Aurora had just advanced, she still needed time to familiarize with her abilities. When she awakened her new ability to treat Hila remotely, it would be very scary to face Hila.
In his previous life, because Hila lost Aurora early, without the other end of the symbiosis, she could only rampage in the cold universe alone. Right now, while Hila had not yet embarked on an endless killing spree and her growth rate was slower than in her past life, with this milkmaid Aurora that ignored distance, Hila’s combat power would far exceed that of her past life.
“I’m afraid Hila will catch up to me in terms of tank-ability…” Han Xiao was helpless. Hila had unlimited uses of the Aurora Character Summon Card.
The Super High Risk Esper Abilities were all overpowered, and the two sisters could even form perfect coordination and soul resonance, which was terrifying. Only mental and spatial abilities could possibly restrain the sharing of life between the two.
Thinking about it, Han Xiao opened the communicator, sending a message to Ames, telling her about the news of Aurora entering the Calamity Grade.
…
In the outer space above Planet Aquamarine, Floating Dragon Island remained. Ames did not participate in the competition in the Flickering World, choosing to stay in the Shattered Star Ring. She wished for Floating Dragon to develop in a low-key manner, not chasing after fame and fortune. Such was the nature of a salted fish, stiff and unmoving.
While she did not participate in the lively trend, Ames was still updated about the Flickering World. Han Xiao knew that Ames enjoyed having fun, so he shared first-hand information with her every day, telling her what was happening in the Flickering World daily to satisfy her curiosity. Since then, regularly checking Han Xiao’s news had become a daily necessity for Ames.
In her bedroom within the palace, Ames leaned against the headboard of her bed, condensing a small sphere using her force field to nudge at the giant white bear lying on the floor beside her, as though teasing a cat with a stick. It was obviously a fierce creature, yet in front of her, it appeared extremely obedient, rolling livelily around the floor.
When Ames moved into Planet Aquamarine, Aurora had placed all the pets she raised on the planet in Floating Dragon, asking her teacher to help care for them as her pastime.
There was another person in the room. Jenny stood to the side, reporting on the business situation of Floating Dragon. Even if Ames was not paying attention, she continued to seriously read the details out.
“… the recent polls show that thirty-nine percent of the Floating Dragon soldiers are dissatisfied with the status quo. Compared with the previous survey, the proportion has now increased by seven percent. Many of the subordinates came here after hearing the reputation of the Beyond Grade A, hoping that they would achieve some fame under your name and advance their careers, but with the lack of battle opportunities, their hearts have moved. This is especially so given that we have not participated in the Flickering World exploration. We have thus lost quite a few warriors…”
Ames seemed to let the words flow in and out of her ears, as she continued to use her force field to nudge the bear.
Jenny dryly coughed before continuing. “Ignoring the trend of the times is not wise. We should change our decision and set foot in the Flickering World…”
Ames suddenly raised her head to glance at her, slightly smiling as she said, “I thought you didn’t like writing reports? This is your twenty-second time asking me to send troops into the Flickering World. Why are you so active now?”
“… Didn’t you mention wanting to develop?” Jenny stroked her receding hairline. Toward this fickle shopkeeper, she was full of resignation toward her behavior.
While she detested work, she was unwilling to let go of the development Floating Dragon had been going through these few years. She could not allow herself to see Floating Dragon go to waste just because of her laziness.
“As my subordinates, they should adapt to me, not me to them.” Ames seemed not to mind it, only sighing. “If only Black Star was still under me, I wouldn’t need to worry about such things.”
“…” Jenny’s expression became pained. My heart, it hurts!
Ames ignored Jenny’s expression, waving her hand as she spoke. “In any case, there’s no need to persuade me further. I will not go to the Flickering World. I have no interest in that area.”
Before Jenny could squeeze in another word, Ames’ communicator rang. The moment she took it out, her eyes lit up.
“Black Star has sent me another message. Jenny, please wait outside.”
Seeing this, Jenny could only force her words back down and walk out of the room, feeling sour in her heart.
I have not even finished talking about the official matters, but because of the daily news that Black Star sends, you do not even want to hear the important business reports anymore…
I’m obviously the first in line here…
Without caring about Jenny, Ames read the news that Han Xiao sent over in detail. Other than the news shared and the warm greetings, there was also a piece that refreshed her spirits.
“Aurora has finally reached the Calamity Grade. My students are really great.” Ames was in a good mood.
At the end of the letter, Han Xiao also sent her an invitation to visit Black Star Palace and meet up with Aurora.
“To go over to the Flickering World…”
Ames hesitated.
If it was sent over by Black Star, she could not possibly reject…
What good timing.
Thinking thusly, Ames called Jenny back in.
“Prepare the spaceship. I’m going over to the Flickering World.”
“You’ve thought it through? I’ll assemble the team immediately!” Jenny exclaimed in joy.
“What team? I’m going solo.” Ames waved the communicator. “Black Star invited me over to play.”
Jenny’s smile vanished in a flash.
Sigh, I’ve wasted half a day of saliva, but you immediately respond when Black Star asks you to go.
So, this is the feeling of someone who has been swayed by the other party…
At this moment, there was a song that could perfectly depict Jenny’s feelings.
In this world, who is still not living a life that’s akin to purgatory[1]…
…
In the Flickering World’s free competition zone, more than a dozen general purpose spaceships were slowly cruising through the universe, carrying the guild members from several well-known Southeast Asian clubs such as Red Bay, Titan, and Archipelago.
“Everyone, our next move is critical and is related to whether we can quickly gain a foothold in the Flickering World.”
In the meeting room, the Red Bay Captain, Venomous Snake, rapped on the table as he spoke in a serious tone.
“Snake is right,” a Red Bay veteran, Forest Python, echoed. He used to be the captain of Red Bay and actively gave up his position when he was older, opting to train the newcomers instead. Venomous Snake had taken over as the new captain from the previous season.
“The current advantage of the Chinese players is huge, so we have to huddle together. Before the players from the other countries arrive, we must not provoke them first and develop in a low-key manner,” Titan’s Captain, Bangkok Buddha, analyzed. “However, the approach of the Chinese players is full of foresight. Maybe we can imitate their gameplay and communicate with the NPC forces in the same manner.”
The Chinese clubs had an unparalleled advantage in the free competition zone, having already obtained a lot of help from the NPC organizations. This group of Southeast Asian guilds that were new to scene were naturally afraid to touch them. They first had to stand firm and develop themselves.
Due to the intervention from the army, the Chinese guilds had learned about the high-efficiency gameplay of Version 4.0 in advance, and the guilds of the various countries would naturally discover this point when conducting research. Thus, the Southeast Asian guilds wanted to copy their gameplay methods.
“But it’s not as easy as it seems.” Some of the people hesitated. “The Chinese players are able to succeed simply because they’re affiliated with the army, but our faction has no such system, no independent qualifications, and no way for us to become a regular organization.”
The guilds in the bigger clubs had not jumped ships at all and still belonged to factions from the Blackhole Edge.
The other factions did not have multiple regiments like the army, and for them, becoming a regular organization and turning independent right now was impossible.
Moreover, they were not free but rather recruited and bound by their factions. Before going to the faction base, they only had a limited time to move freely, which was incomparable to the time that the army players had.
“The Main Storyline Missions for our factions have been announced, and the free time we have in the free competition zone is limited. Let’s quickly look for opportunities,” Venomous Snake concluded.
Everyone discussed various countermeasures and decided to adopt the method of casting out their nets wide.
Very quickly, they hit countless nails. Because they were not an independent organization, they could only borrow the name of their faction and act as a special team. The vast majority of the organizations that they contacted directly rejected them. They were also foreign organizations, and not local tyrants such as the Black Star Army, so all of them were competing against each other. There was no need to invite wolves into their camp.
As for the remaining organizations, they were willing to listen to their requests based on the strength that they showed. While the scale of the Southeast Asian guilds was not as large as the Chinese guilds, it was still possible to form a group of more than ten thousand by uniting together.
But for Red Bay, Archipelago, and the other Southeast Asian clubs, they were not independent organizations, so they could only propose cooperation agreements. Only this way could they then develop a stronghold.
After hearing their requests, even those organizations that were interested immediately hung up on them.
Venomous Snake and the rest felt surprised. This was turning out far from expected. The Chinese players had achieved great success through this method, so why was it that they had such a difficult time communicating with the NPC organizations?
After researching, they figured out the crux of this matter. The organizations rejected them as they were unqualified as partners.
The players belonging to guilds such as Red Bay and Archipelago were mostly from Star Cluster level civilizations, which did not carry much weight in the Flickering World.
The reason behind the success of the Chinese players was because they belonged to the Black Star Army. Many organizations were willing to cooperate with them in order to embrace the thigh of the Black Star Army, which was their backer, to stabilize their strongholds and deter other organizations.
But the Star Cluster Civilizations, which were also foreign forces, did not possess such a privilege.
These people were helpless. Their faction was unwilling to lend them strength, and they also could not replicate the practice of the army players. It was no wonder they snagged only so many nails in their strategy.
The deeper they understood what the Black Star Army was capable of, the more they envied the Chinese players.
After exerting a Herculean effort, the Southeast Asian guilds finally managed to find a few small breakthrough points, completely incomparable to the scale of what the players in the Black Star Army were getting. After which, they had to respond to the call of their factions and follow them to work, temporarily unable to move freely.
Even Red Bay, Archipelago, and the other first tier guilds in Southeast Asia found it difficult to start, let alone the other Blackhole Edge players who did not join the Black Star Army. Without the capital to imitate the gameplay of the army players, they could only brute force their way through as they had done in the previous versions before Version 4.0.
As more and more players arrived, the situation quickly got complicated, and the World Server gradually took shape.
At the same time, Han Xiao had already arrived and hidden himself within the Emerald Star Cluster.
Han Xiao had carried out many plans for the army, and his leek field had successfully grown and expanded. It was time to mercilessly reap the harvest.
As more ‘fresh leeks’ moved their bases to the Black Star Army, his efficiency in gaining experience in the short term multiplied.
When the Black Star Army expanded to nearly eight million members, the amount of experience he needed to upgrade to level 320 was finally accumulated!
[1] It’s like the Chinese version of What Are Words by Chris Medina—””
This was the place where the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy revealed in EsGod’s inheritance would be born. Most of the organizations had not explored to this point. He travelled in the high-end spaceship that he had built, so he did not need to stop like the other forces and could penetrate deeper.
The time for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy to appear was not far off. He went earlier to camp and do a stake out.
Because of Evans, only Han Xiao could be sure that the coordinates given were correct. The other forces that obtained information on the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy also had to try their luck in the several coordinates shown in the data, which could potentially reduce his competitors.
Han Xiao chose to come out with his true body for insurance. If the competitor was not strong, his avatar could do the job, and there was no need to reveal his position.
However, right now, Han Xiao was preparing to find a place to stay as his experience had finally reached the requirement to level up to level 320. His Promotion was still the priority.
During this period, he had been rushing along the journey. With the Black Star Army’s foundation, he did not need to worry about it. He just had to wait for the foreign players to arrive in the Flickering World, and they would naturally join the Black Star Army.
Right now, the population of players in the army had reached about eight million, which was far from the limit. Once the remaining players in the other Star Fields came over to the World Server, the size of the army should break through the ten million mark. It would serve as a replenishment of newcomers, and he would even have a big wave of experience flowing in.
“Once all the players gather in the World Server, the players in the army should measure up to 11.5 million. This should be the biggest player faction at the moment. The number should only be second to the three Universal Civilizations in my past life.”
Not all the players had arrived in the Flickering World, but they had already attracted the attention of the various major organizations, and the situation was moving toward the familiar early stage of Version 4.0 in his previous life.
Because of his own existence, the millions of players that should have been scattered around were instead situated within the Black Star Army, which would cause some deviation in the timeline. However, Han Xiao was mentally prepared for this, and the stage of making a lot of money through the players was about to pass. The major organizations would soon come to value the abilities of the players as much as he did.
“Let’s not think about this for now. Anyway, my situation is quite good. The advantage is on my side, and I’m firmly seated on my benefits.” Han Xiao pushed aside the thought, slowed down the spaceship, and parked in the middle of the universe.
He then exited the cabin and flew using his physical body away from the spaceship. He commanded the Apostle Weapons to guard his surroundings before opening the instrument that would isolate energy fluctuations, hiding the anomalies that would occur during his advancement.
Opening the interface, he looked at the astronomical experience numbers. Han Xiao could no longer wait.
“I’ve finally saved enough to advance and complete my promotion. It’s been so long since I experienced this sort of rapid levelling up.”
Even as he murmured to himself, he did not hesitate, immediately pumping all the experience into upgrading. His total level, which had remained stagnant for a long time, suddenly rocketed!
_____________________
[Divine Throne Mechanic] leveled up to Level8.
+450 Energy, +5 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +15 Endurance, +20 Intelligence.
You have received 15 Free Attribute Points and 1 Potential Point.
…
[Divine Throne Mechanic] leveled up to Level20.
+450 Energy, +5 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +15 Endurance, +20 Intelligence.
You have received 15 Free Attribute Points and 1 Potential Point.
You have reached Level320, triggering the Promotion Mission for Level320!
_____________________
Han Xiao had accumulated a lot of Mission Completion Cards over the decades, and the moment he saw that the mission was a troublesome one, he immediately pulled out his mission completion card.
_____________________
Level320 Promotion Mission completed!
Promotion succeeded!
+90 Endurance Bonus! 1 Endurance = 570 Health = 580 Stamina.
The Level 320 special blueprints for the Tyracles Mechanical Legacy have been unlocked!
Your Energy Level has reached Level21. Energy has passed 78,000.
You have gained the talent [God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery] (0/?)
You have gained the talent [God’s Trait Transformation—Void] (0/?)
You have obtained 2 God’s Trait Transformation points.
You have received a [The First Sanctum] Ability Fragment.
The effects of all your Virtual Technology skills have been increased by 50%.
_____________________
Han Xiao’s body jolted once, and every cell in his body seemed to have become a black hole, ravenously swallowing the cosmic dark matter around it, using it to improve itself.
The upper limit of the [Divine Throne Mechanic] was Level60, and he could only perform his Class Advancement at level 360. His next racial species sublimation would be at level 340.
In Han Xiao’s mind, level 320 should have been a normal promotion, but the notification that appeared gave his spirit a boost.
“God’s Trait Transformation?” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
He was not completely unfamiliar with this term. In the later versions of his past life, this term constantly appeared within the Beyond Grade A circles, which was then overheard by the players. Although there was little intelligence on it, based on the hypotheses that were written on the forums, this should be an important factor to upgrade one’s life level above the Beyond Grade A realm.
Furthermore, his own Machinery Deity had the term ‘Deity’ within, and if one had to talk about a Godhood, then it might have something to do with the Machinery Faith and the [Key of Adeptus Mechanicus]… However, he had not experienced anything to do with divinity whatsoever at this moment.
Why is it that as one’s life level increases, it becomes more and more ideological? This is making me, a mechanic that only believes in materialism very awkward…
“In any case, it seems like the threshold of Level21 Energy Rank and 78,000 Onas of Energy are needed to trigger the God’s Trait Transformation?” Han Xiao murmured to himself whilst enduring the pain that came with the advancement.
The calculation method for energy rank was quite complicated, not just a simple addition and subtraction. The larger the value, the larger the gap between every one point. For example, the energy levels of 100 to 200 and 9,900 to 10,000 were both similarly separated by a hundred points, but the difference in their actual energy values was huge. The higher one’s energy was, the harder it was to increase.
When he had broken through the level 300 watershed to become a Mechanical Deity, his total energy was around 71,000.
In the next decade, he had constantly practiced new Energy Training Techniques, raising the upper limit of his energy, and he had also spent a lot of experience and potential points to improve his skills and knowledge. At the same time, he had also extracted abilities from Heber, Manison, Silver Shadow, and many others, gaining powerful talents and skills. With the [Perfect Mechanical Sense] from Nero, along with his various bonuses, his total energy finally broke through 78,000.
“The two God’s Trait Transformations are split into Machinery and Void respectively… Oh, this corresponds to one’s class and race. So, are these the two possible evolutionary routes, or do I need to add them both at once?”
Han Xiao glanced at the interface, where he saw a small ‘+’ sign beside each of the God’s Trait Transformation talents, and the effect was labelled with a ‘?’.
“It seems like I will only know the effect when I add points. Since the system gave me two God’s Trait Transformation points when I was promoted, let’s try one in each… The suffix of the skills should represent the final form of this talent, which should occur when the talent is maxed out. But the total number of points is labelled as a ‘?’, so how many points should I add?”
Han Xiao tried adding a point to the [God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery] talent, and the effect of it was displayed.
_____________________
God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery (1/?)
Stage One: +1,000 Machinery Affinity, +20% Ability power. Base effects of all Mechanic class abilities are slightly enhanced.
_____________________
Han Xiao glanced at his skill list. With the slight enhancement to his class abilities, it meant that every skill had undergone a slight improvement for every level. The effect of strengthening all his Mechanic-related skills was not high, but it provided a comprehensive improvement.
“The bonus is acceptable, but I don’t find it too powerful. Maybe it’s because it’s only at the first stage? I guess, the more points I add, the more powerful the effects unlocked.” Han Xiao raised his eyebrows.
He hesitated but finally decided against adding another point to it. He added it to the [God’s Trait Transformation—Void] talent instead.
_____________________
God’s Trait Transformation—Void (1/?)
Stage One: Exclusive Racial Talents are enhanced, and all Racial Talents of the Void Race Evolution route will be strengthened. You have been awarded 1,750 Attribute Points.
_____________________
The total affinity bonus from [Mechanical Genius] increased from x1.25 to x1.28, and Machinery Creation Performance increased from forty percent to forty-four percent. The racial talents of his other Void abilities also showed some increase, with the cooldown times of most of them being reduced.
Han Xiao nodded. “This one is not bad.”
With his God’s Trait Transformation points spent, he did not know how to obtain more. Were they only given when he promoted, or was there another way to obtain them?
If this was only given during advancement, that would mean that the sooner one reached the 78,000 benchmark the better. After all, if one’s level was low, advancing would definitely be more convenient, and one could obtain more points this way. In this manner… could that also refer to potential?
Han Xiao decided not to think further, opting to look at the other notifications.
What was this [The First Sanctum] fragment? He had not heard of this in his past life.
The introduction was also labelled with question marks. Han Xiao could not understand what this was, but from the name of [The First Sanctum], it seemed as though it had nothing to do with the Mechanic class. Furthermore, he only had a fragment, so he could not utilize it and could only stare at it.
“I keep having the feeling that this should be a key factor for something… I should find an opportunity to ask the dynasty if there’s any information in this area. Most likely, I’ll have to exchange contribution points for it, just like the time when I obtained the information on the Machinery Faith.”
After removing everything unrelated, Han Xiao then turned toward the [Tyracles Mechanical Legacy]. There would be new blueprints unlocked at level 320 and 360.
He glanced through it quickly, and his pupils suddenly narrowed to a point. A hint of surprise leaked out.
F*ck me, I’ve hit the jackpot!
1028 The King and the Emperor's Cape
Not one but two!
The Gold Grade represented equipment that was on the level of a Universal Treasure!
Han Xiao had a joyful surprise.
He originally thought that he would only get the opportunity to unlock the Universal Treasure blueprints when he reached level 360, but it unexpectedly came out in level 320. The Gold blueprints of this race might be higher than he initially imagined.
He hurriedly opened the item introduction, and the two blueprints’ information appeared in his eyes.
_____________________
[Blueprint: King]: This blueprint records the highest crystallization of wisdom from the Saint Tyracles Race for Superpower soldiers—The ‘King’. Made exclusively for Beyond Grade A Mechanics, the blueprint’s cost is high, with a set of armor comparable to the price of a large fleet, and it is extremely difficult to produce. Since its birth, the total number of finished products created by the Saint Tyracles Race numbered no more than ten. Only a Mechanic with enough strength will be able to control this mechanical suit.
[Blueprint: Emperor’s Cape]: After the Saint Tyracles Race witnessed the imposingness of the Mechanical Deity, they began to zealously research, producing this extraordinary mechanical creation. This is a piece of equipment that can only be utilized by a Mechanical Deity.
_____________________
Han Xiao carefully looked through the blueprints, as well as the effects of the two pieces of equipment.
The Saint Tyracles Race had advanced extremely far in the Mechanic class. The [King] mechanical suit displayed it, reaching the level that could be considered a Universal Treasure, which blended many of the advanced skills of the Saint Tyracles.
This Mechanical suit was armor designed for a Beyond Grade A Mechanic, and the reference parameters of the blueprint showed that just the basic performance of the King outstripped his current mechanical suit by at least thirty percent! His own mechanical suit was high-end Orange equipment, considered one of the best within its grade quality!
In addition to conventional combat weapons, the King also had unique features that made it extremely suitable for Mechanics.
As a dedicated equipment for Mechanics, the King provided an extra bonus toward mechanics, which provided users with an additional x1.075 coefficient to their total Machinery Affinity, only slightly less compared to the increase from the Divine Mechanical Throne. Furthermore, it increased the range of effect for the Mechanical Force bonus by thirty-five percent while reducing the energy consumption. This would strengthen normal mechanics to provide their army with a longer period of blessing.
Moreover, the King was equipped with a special energy converter that could absorb Mechanical Force and enter an enhanced state. There were multiple modes, such as improving the performance of the Mechanical suit, strengthening melee capabilities, and providing instant acceleration and defense, so as to get rid of any ambushes that the Mechanic most feared.
While this man-made combat equipment was at the level of a Universal Treasure, it did not belong to the scope of a Space Wonder, so the quality of its stats were more reflected in its performance. It would not be equipped with an unsolvable power like the Spacetime Amber. It was closer to the Universal Treasure level equipment made by the Divine Craftsman Thorne.
However… the King belonged to another type of equipment.
It was the core function of the King that made Han Xiao truly satisfied!
When the Federation of Light manufactured their Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, they had borrowed the knowledge of the Saint Tyracles Race, and the core function of the King was related to this.
The reason why the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device was the strategic weapon of the Federation of Light was because it had the capability of unlimited transmissions. Not only was the distance long, it was also immune to interference from all spatial related devices, which was the most important thing. The King had a similar immunity as well.
‘The King’ possessed a unique accessory called the Throne, and both sides would resonate with each other. No matter where the King was, the user could instantly return to the location of the Throne together with the suit. This transmission ignored all external interference, and it would still take effect even when trapped within wormholes or space stabilization anchors.
The introduction for this function was simply a statement—’The King cannot be restrained.’
It was not just restricted to that. When the King returned to the Throne, the follow up effect of this function could be activated in the next three minutes. This allowed the user to blink back to the original position of the King. To be able to shuttle back and forth between two points… simply put, this was horizontal warping.
“There is the shadow of the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening ability within. So long as I’m wearing the King, I will not need to be afraid of sudden ambushes like EsGod. I can immediately choose to warp back to my Throne, leaving the danger zone.” Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed.
In view of his true body’s physical susceptibility toward ambushes… this toy was akin to a divine artifact for him!
While it was a fixed position warp and not as effective as the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, it still had an irreplaceable role. For the mechanic with a weak body, this was a magical escape technique. As the saying went, where there was life there was hope, and this was very apt for the mechanic.
Han Xiao looked at the manufacturing requirements, thinking to himself, The cost is high, but it is still in an acceptable range for me. Some of the core materials will be hard to get, but that was during the exploration era. Right now, we’re in the Galaxy Calendar. As long as you have enough money, you can get your hands on any materials you want.
Han Xiao was not worried about the cost nor the rarity of the materials.
As the top Beyond Grade A in the Shattered Star Ring, the strongest in the Flickering World, and the ‘Sugar Daddy’ of hundreds of financial groups, finances were not an issue.
His main concern was the difficulty of manufacturing. It was no easy task to build Gold Grade equipment. It did not mean that he was guaranteed to produce Gold Equipment as long as he followed the blueprints.
There was a high probability that the finished product would not reach the quality of Gold Grade Equipment. There would be all sorts of reasons that led to the finished product not reaching the ideal state as stated on the blueprint.
“I’m now at level 320 and am considered a pinnacle Beyond Grade A Mechanic. The basic manufacturing abilities will definitely meet the mark, and coupled with the talents provided by the my Divine Throne Mechanic class, the success rate should not be too low.”
During a prior class advancement, he had received a talent named [Spirit Instrument], which improved his success rate of manufacturing from gold blueprints. He finally had a chance to put it to use.
As for the other unlocked blueprint, the [Emperor’s Cape] was special equipment that was to be used by the Mechanical Deity. In short, the King was the mechanical suit for the Mechanic, while the Emperor’s Cape was used when the Mechanical Deity descended.
In appearance, it looked like an oversized war cloak. It was able to reduce the consumption of energy needed for the Divine Throne Mechanic to maintain the Mechanical Deity, indirectly extending the combat time.
Not everyone could be as perverted as Han Xiao. Most ordinary mechanics did not have as many energy conversion abilities, so the Emperor’s Cape served to allow the Mechanic to use the Mechanical Deity for longer periods of time.
Other than reducing consumption, it would also provide additional protection and stabilize the interior of the Mechanical Deity. Because it was made up of countless machines, the stronger the bonds between each machine, the higher the mechanical defensiveness of the Mechanical Deity.
In his battle against Heber, that little Ty-Ty had rushed into the hand of his Mechanical Deity, trying to wreck it from the inside. Although he had failed, he had managed to temporarily destroy the right arm of the Mechanical Deity. If not for the fact that Han Xiao’s energy recovery speed was frighteningly high, just the consumption needed to reform the arm would have required the Mechanic to give up a kidney.
If he had the Emperor’s Cape, the internals of his Mechanical Deity would become extremely durable, such that it would still last a length of time even when invaded by a pinnacle Beyond Grade A pugilist.
In addition to its protective ability, the Emperor’s Cape also brought about movement speed bonuses. Because of its huge size, the speed of the Mechanical Deity was greatly affected, so the Emperor’s Cape could improve the agility and attack speed of the Mechanical Deity.
“These two are both Gold equipment that are tailor-made for Mechanics. Indeed, the famed Mechanic haven, this Saint Tyracles race.”
Han Xiao was drooling at the sight of the two. After rejecting the dynasty’s proposal to give up the Evolution Cube, he had thought that there would be no more chances for him to obtain Universal Treasure combat equipment in the short term. The effect of these two blueprints gave him a surprise, as they could immediately improve his combat capability, which was what he was currently lacking.
“I’ve got to find a way to quickly manufacture them. Right now, there are many Beyond Grade As flocking to the Flickering World, and the major organizations also roughly understand my current strength. If something happens, it will be a crisis for me…”
Han Xiao calmed himself down as he gazed at his attributes panel.
_____________________
Total Level: 320
Main Class: Mechanic
Race: Black Star Race
Attributes: 8,016 Strength, 7,945 Dexterity, 11,714 Endurance, 20,933 Intelligence, 6,430 Mystery, 1,368 Charisma, 1 Luck
Free Attribute Points: 2050
Potential Points: 28
Health: 13,984,273
Stamina: 11,806,980
Energy: 182,075 (Level21)
Level21 Energy Level bonus stat: +3,206 Strength, +3,928 Dexterity, +4,870 Endurance, +6,505 Intelligence, +3,123 Mystery, +1,381,520 Stamina Limit, +4,282% Machinery Affinity
Energy Rank: 82,600
Grade: SS
Grade S Bonuses: +150 Endurance, +45% All Resistances, +40% to Highest Attribute, +25% Other Attributes, 750 Free Attribute Points, and 50 Potential Points
Remark: Standing at the peak allows you to see more of the scenery. However, this is not the end goal in the route of evolution. You must pierce through the fog to slowly touch upon the secrets to an even higher realm of life.
_____________________
Compared to when he was at level 300, the attribute growth was obvious, but this mainly came from the bonus given by his Level21 Energy Level and was due to Han Xiao’s accumulation during the version update.
As his energy level continuously increased, he would also gain ever-increasing strength. This was an important part behind the power of the Supers.
The Endurance bonus for his promotion this time was ‘+90’, which was twenty points more than his previous promotion. Because it was more difficult to upgrade in the later stage, the enhancement to one’s attributes brought about by each advancement would also increase, and the increase in Energy Rank would also cause one’s S-level rank bonus to upgrade even higher. There was a close connection between all the attributes, causing Han Xiao to be comprehensively strengthened.
Just an ordinary promotion already gave him such a sharp increase in stats, causing Han Xiao to be extremely satisfied.
“As for the more than 2,000 Free Attribute Points…”
Han Xiao thought about it but left them untouched for the time being. His Intelligence and Endurance were all quite high, so he decided to provide himself with some flexibility depending on the situation.
As for his potential points, they would be used to upgrade his Class knowledge, with the Ultimate Knowledge having priority.
At present, there were only three of his Ultimate Knowledges that were maxed out, namely [Virtual Creator], [Eternal Power Source], and [Relativity Theory]. The other three belonged to the other branches of the Mechanic class, and there was a three-times penalty imposed. Levelling them from Level1 to Level5 would require a total of 288 potential points.
Han Xiao had gained quite a few potential points since the update of the version. He had raised the three Ultimate Knowledges a little each, and the twenty-eight free potential points he had on the interface right now were just right to max out his [Mechanical Life Tinder] skill.
However, Han Xiao did not do so after some thought. He turned and added a level to [Ultimate Mechanical Engineering], raising it to Level3.
This class knowledge was related to one’s manufacturing and production, and Han Xiao wanted to increase the success rate of the Emperor’s Cape and the King, so he first prioritized this knowledge.
“A plan cannot always keep up with the changes. I wanted to go there and camp, but now I need to work while I wait.” Han Xiao shook his head.
Now that he was alone and unable to use the workshop in his base, he could only use the army workshop in his secondary dimension, and he even had to go out of his way to obtain the raw materials.
He counted the days, and he probably could not even create it before the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was born. The time needed to manufacture a Universal Treasure-level equipment was quite hefty. That was especially so for the Emperor’s Cape, which was physically huge.
“Right now, I’ve reached level 320, and my battle strength has experienced yet another leap, drawing closer to the Mechanic Emperor and Void Overlord. I can gauge their strength even better now…” Han Xiao sighed.
Seeing the gap in strength narrowing bit by bit, his mood was definitely good.
However, after this promotion, his upgrade costs once again skyrocketed. Because the effects of each promotion in the later stages were extraordinary, the upgrade fee naturally corresponded to this.
“I’m afraid it will take a long time to accumulate enough experience to upgrade to level 340. Also, I have to find an opportunity to ask about the God’s Trait Transformation as well as The First Sanctum.”
…
In Tarunamir Palace, the top leader of the hawk faction, Bekorodi, sat in a conference room with his eyes closed for a rest. After a while, a remote projection appeared. It was Gaud.
“You’re here.” Bekorodi opened his eyes.
“I hope you called me over to inform me about some good news.” Gaud’s expression was calm.
“It’s indeed good news,” Bekorodi said in a deep voice. “The request you submitted has been approved, and the dynasty’s top management has decided to give the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy to you… provided that your Esper ability is truly as what you’ve said and that you can control the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.”
The dynasty had bet on Black Star, thinking that he would be an important National Pillar in the future, but the dynasty did not mind having another person as strong as him. After all, someone with Gaud’s Esper Ability was too rare, so the dynasty was willing to spend the resources to cultivate this high potential Esper. Furthermore, this person still belonged to the dynasty, and he was not an ally who did not have to listen to all their orders.
“I’m very clear what my ability can and cannot do, so as long as the dynasty is willing to put their trust in me, I will not disappoint them.” Gaud thinly smiled.
“As long as you can prove yourself, the dynasty will not be stingy with the resources to cultivate you, just like Black Star.” The moment Bekorodi mentioned Han Xiao, his tone got a little deeper.
Black Star rejecting his one to three exchange had left Bekorodi extremely dissatisfied.
However, Gaud only replied with a smile that was not a real smile, skirting past this topic. He instead asked, “Now that the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy is about to be born, what does the dynasty intend to do?”
Bekorodi nodded. “The dynasty has already sent troops to the various locations shown by the intelligence, and we have spotted abnormal movements from many of the organizations, which confirms that they likely also got their hands on EsGod’s legacy. They will be our competitors in obtaining the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy…”
“What sort of organizations are they?”
“The number is small, but their composition is complex. There are all kinds of organizations, but the church and the federation’s side do not seem to have moved, so we cannot know if they are aware of this matter…”
“It sounds like there are many uncertainties. Can we ensure that the dynasty will get the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy?”
“The current situation is unclear. The Oracle of the dynasty has tried to scry for information, and it feels like the Emerald Star Cluster is the most likely place in which the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy will appear. It just so happens that the Flickering World is our territory, so the dynasty has decided to engage a few Beyond Grade A allies for help.” Bekorodi narrowed his eyes as he spoke.
“Black Star?”
“He’s not on the list.” Bekorodi shook his head.
The Black Star Army had the greatest amount of influence in the Flickering World, so it stood to reason that Black Star should be the most reliable. However, the dynasty did not request help from him, and Bekorodi did not disclose the reason.
Gaud smiled to himself as he realized the implications.
Tsk, it seemed like the problem with the Evolution Cube caused quite a rift between Black Star and the dynasty…
His eyes flickered, and Gaud calmly said, “Since that’s the case, I have a suggestion. We should tell Black Star to turn away so as to prevent side issues from arising.”
“I don’t have the authority to command Black Star.” Bekorodi waved his hands. “In addition, the latest news states that his Black Star Guards are all within his palace, and even Ames has gone over to visit him from Shattered Star Ring. Thus, it is likely that his true body is still within his base. He probably knows his limits and will not interfere in this matter…”
Bekorodi paused for a moment before his expression sank. “However, even if Black Star decides to interfere, the dynasty can still strike a deal with him. With his current situation, the chances of him rejecting us again are miniscule. He should know what to do in order to mend his relationship with us.”
“That’s good. I hope that there will not be any accidents during the operation.” Gaud narrowed his eyes.
The dynasty did not wish to see a special talent like him encounter any unnecessary risks before growing up, so he could not join the operation.
What Gaud needed to do was obediently stay put and wait for the dynasty to hand him the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
Getting the dynasty to work for me is so convenient… Gaud secretly smiled and shook his head.
“They want me to snatch that famous Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy on the dynasty’s behalf?”
In a certain dynasty’s ally stronghold in the Flickering World’s free competition zone, Ravenlaude was surprised to receive this message from the upper echelons of the dynasty.
As a member of the senior celebrity group, Ravenlaude was quite highly regarded among the Beyond Grade A allies of the dynasty. His position was far above people like Kohler or Beyoni. Although he did not exactly have a good relationship with Black Star, the two of them held no grudges against each other.
Of course, Ravenlaude had no idea that the Spacetime Amber was supposed to belong to him but was taken away by Han Xiao in advance, or he would have joined the ‘dynasty anti-Black Star alliance’, which had Heber as its one and only member.
It was common for the dynasty to ask him for help. What Ravenlaude was surprised about was the information about the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy appearing. This was the first time he had heard of this.
“The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy…” Ravenlaude’s eyes sparkled.
To be honest, he was quite tempted.
Primal Esper Abilities in the Super High Risk Esper Ability List such as this one were extremely rare. If he could make it his, it would be more than enough to raise a powerful subordinate, or he could use sealing type spells to seal the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy onto special magic puppets to use its powers, which might make the puppet as strong as a Universal Treasure.
However, these greedy thoughts only existed for a few seconds in Ravenlaude’s mind before he completely extinguished them.
His organization was right in the Constellation Corridor, which was heavily affected by the dynasty. There was no need to go against the dynasty’s will for just a Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
The dynasty told him about this information to let him help, but if he was tempted by it, it would definitely upset the dynasty. To him, there was more to lose than gain.
“But a Universal Treasure…”
Ravenlaude still found it tough to let go. It was not really because he did not even have the courage to let go of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, but after seeing Han Xiao’s Spacetime Amber, he had felt a sense of emptiness in his heart, like he had missed something very important. Universal Treasures had become almost an impulse for him.
It was like a kid seeing the other kids with fun toys and also wanting one.
One word, jealous!
“Since the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy is as valuable as a Universal Treasure, it’s the right time to negotiate terms with the dynasty.”
Ravenlaude then gave his request to the dynasty—if they wanted his help, the dynasty had to grant him a Universal Treasure from their inventory.
Not long after his request, the dynasty’s reply came, expressing their approval of Ravenlaude’s request but with additional terms.
If the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy appeared in other areas, Ravenlaude would only receive some resources as a reward for his trouble.
But if the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy appeared in the Emerald Star Cluster and Ravenlaude obtained it, he would be allowed to pick one Universal Treasure from the dynasty’s inventory.
A list was also attached with the reply with the Universal Treasures the dynasty allowed Ravenlaude to claim. Most of them were combat equipment; it was the same list given to Han Xiao in exchange for the Evolution Cube.
Ravenlaude browsed through carefully and nodded with satisfaction.
Han Xiao had no interest in these things, but they were very valuable to Ravenlaude. After all, Han Xiao already had the Evolution Cube and the Spacetime Amber, so ordinary Universal Treasures could not meet his standards.
With the reward promised, Ravenlaude became motivated about this mission. After carefully looking at the list of competitors that the dynasty had provided, he smiled with confidence.
How hard would it be to snatch something from a bunch of weaklings?
…
In an unexplored area of the Emerald Star Cluster, a fleet was moving in hyperdrive. Its exterior armor had no symbols.
Inside the main ship, a tall man wearing a purple rope stood before the command console, giving off a cold aura and silently looking at the star map. The red dots on it marked the coordinates where the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy might appear.
Beside him, a fishman-like creature who was restrained by magical ropes said with a shivering and nervous tone, “Your Excellency Secret Master, I swear this piece of intelligence is real. It’s really EsGod’s heritage, not fake news I made up!”
“It had better be, or you know the consequences,” a cold and indifferent voice replied. The man turned around and glanced at him. All of the skin he was showing was covered in magnificent and complicated magical runes flickering with dim light, like he was a tattoo addicted.
Just like ‘Beast Ancestor’ Gorutan, this man was also a protector of the Galactic Black Market. He was the famous Secret Master renowned in the magic society. He was an authority in Rune Studies, Alchemy Studies, and Secret Studies, especially in Secret Studies. The reason he had this nickname was because there was a rumor going around that he had mastered a type of spell that could control someone’s ‘luck’, also that he was a master in fortune telling and foresight.
All the tattoos on his body were Forbidden Spell grade rune enchantments that provided powerful enhancements to his body. The organization that Secret Master was in specialized in extremely advanced rune technology, which could be seen from looking at his subordinates. All of them were wearing exquisite rune armor, and the skin they were showing was also covered in complex magical patterns.
Secret Master turned to the star map, and the cold look in his eyes rippled ever so slightly.
“The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy…”
Not long ago, he had suddenly foreseen that a huge event would happen in the Emerald Star Cluster that might be beneficial to him, so he had used his power in the black market and investigated it. With his outstanding luck, he discovered a small organization that had fought for EsGod’s heritage previously. They happened to have the coordinates of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. After they were captured and interrogated, Secret Master developed an interest for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
He was someone who did not mind using all kinds of external agents to increase his strength, and all these runes over his body were proof of that. At the same time, he had plenty of high-quality magic items; his desire to collect rare items was almost at an OCD level. Therefore, he naturally wanted this extremely rare Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy as well.
Due to the distance, he had sent officers to the other coordinates while he headed personally to the Emerald Star Cluster as it had the highest possibility.
“I wonder what organizations will be part of this…”
This question appeared in his mind but was very soon forgotten. He had a lot of confidence.
No matter what organization comes, I’ll just have to beat them up. How many of them will be able to stand up to a Beyond Grade A like me?
…
The stronghold of the Modo Civilization was situated in another area of the Emerald Star Cluster.
An elite team formed by Calamity Grade Supers gathered at a secret dock, and the commander of the Modo Civilization’s Expedition Fleet Roddick and the inspector Lagos stood before them, examining the team.
“I’ll leave the mission of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy to you guys.” Roddick nodded at everyone solemnly.
Some advanced civilizations had also received information from EsGod’s heritage, among which the Modo Civilization was one of those who knew about the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. The Modo Civilization had no reason to let go of something this valuable.
The other locations were given to others to take care of, while the Expedition Fleet led by Roddick was responsible for the coordinates in the Emerald Star Cluster.
Ever since the Expedition Fleet was last attacked by the ‘mysterious force’, pressured by the upper echelons, Roddick had become much more vigilant. He was very careful in resupplying the resources.
However, it did not turn out to be very useful. The reinforcements redeployed from the Shattered Star Ring were often attacked by ‘unknown forces’ on the way, which cost them a lot of time.
Luckily, after they arrived in the free competition zone, the Super Star Cluster allies had helped them slightly, which made the situation better for the Modo Civilization. Therefore, Roddick’s team were not attacked again in the Emerald Star Cluster.
Hence, he had the time to gather an elite team, ready to complete the mission given by the upper echelons—capture the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
Super Star Cluster civilizations had vast territories and rich resources, as well as plenty of high level combatants. They had thousands of Calamity Grades, far more than those Star System civilizations that only had a few dozens.
The Modo Civilization had high hopes for the Expedition Fleet, so they had deployed around a hundred Calamity Grades. This elite team that would be heading to capture the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy included forty percent of the Expedition Fleet’s Calamity Grade officers, which was about forty to fifty of them. This was a powerful armed force.
For this operation, the Modo Civilization did not notify the other allies of the Super Star Cluster alliance. After all, there was only one Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy; it could not be shared.
Maybe the other civilizations had this intelligence too, but the Modo Civilization clearly was not going to tell others about it.
Watching the fleet enter stealth mode and leave, Lagos came to Roddick and asked in a worried tone, “Isn’t it too risky to send this many people? If something happens, we’ll lose a large number of elites. Calamity Grades are difficult to raise…”
“I’ve told them to be careful. If any Beyond Grade As participate, they’ll act cautiously. If not, they can crush any and all competing organizations,” Roddick said with a deep voice.
“But now that we’ve sent them out, the defenses of our stronghold will be weak. Aren’t you worried that Blac… the mysterious force will attack us again?” Lagos asked.
Roddick snorted and said in a firm tone, “Humph, the strongholds of the Super Star Cluster alliance look over each other’s shoulders. We even hired some Beyond Grade As, who are all more reliable than Garoze. So what if Black Star’s forces are strong? He won’t dare come and touch us.”
They did not have to advance anymore. Back then, they had no help, so there was nothing they could do when they were attacked. Now, however, all their teammates had gathered, and the lines of defenses were stronger than ever. If Black Star caused trouble, he would have to face the entire Super Star Cluster alliance. He did not think Black Star would dare do that.
…
After the Flickering World opened, Psyker did not give up on the opportunity and also followed the Arcane Church in to develop his forces and built a stronghold in the free competition zone.
As the three Universal Civilizations were coexisting there, Psyker did not get targeted, so his days were quite peaceful. Looking at the exploration fleet doing better work every day, he was rather content.
“I shall see how things go first. If I can stabilize my territory in the Flickering World, I can migrate a portion of my people here and have them live here as a branch of the race.”
At the top of the base, Psyker looked up at the sky and thought about his migration plan.
At this time, an officer hastily walked over.
“Leader, the base’s radar has discovered two fleets closing in. They seem to be in combat. One side only has three battleships left, and they cannot hang on much longer. According to the direction they’re heading, their battle will very soon reach our stronghold. What should we do?”
Psyker used his seven eyes to look at the radar images and ordered, “Chase them away. Tell them to not fight around my territory.”
As the order was given, the subordinates quickly executed it. However, after some time, this officer ran back hastily again.
“Leader, they have already been chased away, but that group of people we saved aren’t willing to leave. One of them is a Calamity Grade Super. He thinks that you saved them, so he wants to join us with his team.”
“Join us?” Psyker was a little stunned. He felt a complicated emotion in his heart.
He suddenly remembered that ever since he was targeted by Black Star, it had been a very long time since anyone came to join his forces. He had almost forgotten what it was like to be a Beyond Grade A.
This long-lost feeling… was so comforting.
“Invite him here. I want to see him.” Psyker was glad, and his attitude became much friendlier. Psyker decided to see him personally to show him that he took him seriously.
After some time, this Calamity Grade was brought before Psyker. He had many wounds on his body, and it was clear he had just come from a tough battle.
“Your Excellency Star Pupil.” This person’s face was filled with appreciation. He ignored the pain in his body and bowed with admiration. “You saved my life. I’m willing to join your forces and work for you.”
“Hmm, it’s a small matter.” Psyker looked calmed on the surface, but he actually liked this a lot. The respectful attitude from this person made him remember what it was like to be a Beyond Grade A again.
“To repay you, I would like to give you a gift. It’s a piece of valuable intelligence.”
“What intelligence?” Psyker asked.
“A clue about that legendary Super High Risk Esper Ability, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy!”
Psyker paused for a second, and interest flashed through his seven eyes at the same time.
…
In Black Star Palace…
“What, he invited me over, but he went out‽”
Ames narrowed her eyes. The temperature in the room seemed to decrease by a hundred degrees in an instant. A powerful force field roared like tides. The floor and the walls made of high strength alloys vibrated nonstop while making squeaking noises, and cracks appeared very quickly.
Aurora’s legs were going soft. She lowered her head with a sense of guilt.
My teacher is… so scary when she’s angry.
She could feel Ames’ anger just from this powerful force field.
She had accepted the invitation with excitement, travelled all that way, only to discover that Han Xiao was not even there. Anyone would be angry because of that…
No, it was even worse. Han Xiao was not home, yet he had called her over. It was almost like a deliberate prank.
Even someone as carefree as Ames felt that she had been toyed with.
“Teacher, why not stay here for some time? Uncle will come back,” Aurora said cautiously.
Ames glanced at her and rebutted subconsciously, “You think I’m that free?”
Then, both of them fell silent.
Aurora wanted to say something but did not.
Don’t you know exactly whether you’re very free or not?
The two of them looked into each other’s eyes, and the atmosphere gradually turned awkward.
After looking at each other for a few moments, Ames suddenly retracted the roaring force field. Without changing her expression, she purposely used a tone that sounded like she did not care and said, “I’ll stay for some time then. I’m mainly here for you anyway. Whether Black Star is here or not, I don’t care. In fact, it bothers me to see his face. It’s best that he’s not here.
Aurora remained silent. Sure, I believe you.
Han Xiao looked at Aurora’s bloated cheeks on the communicator and said with a smile, “I see, Ames has already arrived. Tell her to stay at my place for some time… Oh? You’ve already dealt with her? Great job, I’ll give you a red flower when I’m back.”
After settling Ames down, Aurora had notified Han Xiao at the first instance to explain the situation, which was mostly her blaming him. He purposely stood her teacher up and left her to deal with it. What a horrible man.
“You’d best speak with her, or Her Excellency Dragon Emperor will definitely get angrier.”
“I have my plans. Settle her down properly and use your cuteness to make her less angry. I’ll explain everything to her when I get back.”
Han Xiao chatted for a while and ended the call. He then shook his head and smiled.
He had deliberately invited Ames to Black Star Palace to make others believe that his main body was in his base. Also, it would increase the defenses of his base while he was away, but it was mainly to protect Aurora and the others.
After all, the Secret Studies was a path to many abilities. Many were paying attention to Hila, and there would definitely be people who had used foresight abilities on her. Someone might discover Aurora’s strengthened life link with Hila. Being more cautious about others attacking his base could never be wrong.
After handling this matter, Han Xiao opened up the data that the dynasty had sent him a few days ago and continued reading.
After his Promotion, he had asked the dynasty about [God’s Trait Transformation] and [The First Sanctum]. He had received some confidential information regarding that.
According to the data, after entering the peak of the Beyond Grade A realm, one had to dig deeper into the Super system and the nature of one’s own genes. When one evolved to this stage, a new extra evolution path would appear, which was named [God’s Trait Transformation].
Every transformation was a special evolution that granted new powers, as if one had surpassed a certain limit of evolution and had gained new ‘superpowers’. Most peak Beyond Grade As felt that this was an important factor of entering that unknown higher power. However, the God’s Trait Transformation seemed to have no end. No one had ever been known for completing all of the God’s Trait Transformations. It was still a mystery.
The dynasty was not surprised about Han Xiao asking about God’s Trait Transformation. It was not strange for Black Star to come in touch with this territory given his current position. Plus, Han Xiao had just hosted the Meeting of the Gods not long ago, so he had most likely heard this name from the other peak Beyond Grade As and approached them to research it.
This data cost some Faction Contribution Points, and it not only included the introduction but also the dynasty’s research on it, as well as the experience and understanding of the peak Beyond Grade As of the past. Thanks to this, Han Xiao had a deeper understanding of God’s Trait Transformation.
However, he did not find any other way to obtain God’s Trait Transformation Points in this data. It seemed that he could only obtain them through Promotion.
Nonetheless, the data was still useful. After arranging the information, Han Xiao found a pattern—every Promotion seemed to have brought a different number of God’s Trait Transformation Points. It seemed to be reliant on multiple factors.
Although the others did not have an interface and could not quantify their attributes, Han Xiao still used the data to do calculations and speculate. According to that, the following could be the factors that affected the God’s Trait Transformation Points gained through every Promotion: Highest attribute > 20,000, second highest attribute >15,000, >85,000 Energy Rank, maximum level Knowledge, and having a soul connection with a Universal Treasure.
Once one of the above requirements was met, the God’s Trait Transformation Points gained through every Promotion would increase by one. He had received two points at once because he satisfied two of these requirements.
If I want more points, I’ll have to prioritize these requirements before Promotion.
He had obtained two God’s Trait Transformation Points through the first Promotion, which was neither the best nor the worst, just mediocre.
This meant that at the peak of the Beyond Grade A realm, keeping one’s level low would be the mainstream play style, and going through Promotions after more requirements were met would be the most beneficial.
If I’m guessing correctly, the Promotion mission in the future might require my God’s Trait Transformation to be at a certain level, Han Xiao speculated and instantly understood the difficulty of it.
If normal peak Beyond Grade As did not prioritize these requirements, they would not obtain enough God’s Trait Transformation Points through Promotions and would not reach the required transformation level for the next Promotion. Their path to greater power would be completely blocked off, and they would never be able to continue evolving!
Their strength would never increase!
No wonder. This is way too difficult. No mistakes are allowed. Maybe this is one of the main reasons all the peak Beyond Grade As can’t step into the higher realm.
As long as one step went wrong, they would fall into an inescapable abyss. Terrifying…
However, after he thought about it, he gave up on planning not to level up for the sake of God’s Trait Transformation Points.
With the existence of Mission Completion Cards, he could ignore all kinds of difficult Promotion Requirements.
Not enough points obtained through one Promotion?
Just go through Promotions more often!
Leveling up quickly was his biggest advantage. Although God’s Trait Transformation was great, it was far from being as beneficial as the increase in strength he would obtain from Promotions.
Han Xiao’s thoughts were clear.
It doesn’t matter whether my God’s Trait Transformation levels are high or not, as long as I’m stronger than everyone!
With the God’s Trait Transformation information successfully obtained, the information about The First Sanctum shocked Han Xiao.
Even the dynasty did not know what it was!
I only knew that I got the Ability Fragment of [The First Sanctum] after Promotion because of the interface, but no other peak Beyond Grade As has that, so no one has discovered it, huh?
Han Xiao was stunned. As even the three Universal Civilizations did not have any related information, this might be a major new discovery.
What does Sanctum mean? It sounds like a place… If there’s a first, is there a second or a third sanctum?
If only [Bold Explorer] could be used on this. Han Xiao sighed. This ability could only be used on unknown items and locations, not on the Ability Fragments in his interface.
Han Xiao put the communicator away and looked out the porthole. It was not the dark cosmic space but a bright sea of light.
This was a certain location in the center area of the Emerald Star Cluster, which had a large mass of bright, cloud-shaped nebulas mixed with both gas and dust. The gas released light due to the radiation of the Fixed Stars, while the nebulas reflected and refracted the light from relatively close Fixed Stars. The color of this entire area had a theme of mainly green and red. It looked beautiful and dreamlike.
In the universe, most areas were pitch black, so this beautiful scenery was considered rare.
The location where the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy will appear is in this mass of nebulas. I can start preparing now.
Han Xiao found a place and hid with the stealth mode of his spaceship activated, planning to only act at the right moment.
…
As the date of its appearance closed in, more and more fleets arrived at this nebula. They were all there for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
Most of these organizations were ordinary organizations. Some planned to obtain it at all costs; some just wanted to try their luck. They guarded themselves against each other like they were deep behind enemy lines. However, when they saw the fleets of two Universal Civilizations arrive, their hearts sank.
Ravenlaude came with the dynasty’s fleet, and although Psyker had only brought his own fleet, he had the church as his backer. The organizations present believed that he had been instructed to head there by the church.
With the interference of two Universal Civilizations, the chance of obtaining the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy became negligible, but no one wanted to back away in the final moment.
After all, they had traveled so far. Even if they might not get it, they had to try at the very least.
The Modo Civilization and some fleets from advanced civilizations, however, did not give up yet. Only two Beyond Grade As seemed to have interfered. If the two of them restrained each other, they felt like they would still have a chance.
“You guys improvise on the spot when to act later.”
Inside the communication channel, Roddick reminded the elite force formed by many Calamity Grades.
On the other side, in the eyes of Ravenlaude and Psyker, all the other competitors were weaklings. They only saw each other as their biggest competitors.
Inside the main ship of the dynasty’s fleet, Ravenlaude looked at Psyker’s fleet from afar and narrowed his eyes.
“Psyker did not bring the church’s fleet along, which means he did not report this to the church and wants to take it himself. Hehe, he’s braver than me.”
He had thought that this would be a piece of cake, but with another Beyond Grade A interfering, it became quite a bit more difficult.
However, Ravenlaude was not really nervous. His expression was rather relaxed.
Ravenlaude was confident in dealing with this seven-eyed freak. It would not be difficult for him to deal with Psyker.
For the sake of the Universal Treasure promised by the dynasty, Ravenlaude had to get the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
According to the current situation, he felt that he already had victory in his hands.
Comparatively, Psyker, who was in the opposing fleet, felt this would be rather difficult.
“Ravenlaude is here, too…”
Psyker’s expression was not looking good.
The Calamity Grade who had provided the intelligence about the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy as a sign of loyalty said, “Your Excellency Star Pupil, the situation doesn’t look very good for us…”
Psyker pulled out a smile and said, “Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter if we can’t obtain it. I will still remember your contribution in providing me with this information.”
He did not care about his own strength. His race’s power was more important in comparison. He had always been looking for ways to create more talents in his race. He did not come to fight for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy for himself to use but to find a suitable owner in his people and create a new strong individual for his race.
“I believe in you.”
This Calamity Grade’s face was filled with trust, but he was secretly plotting.
He did not really join under Psyker’s command because of appreciation, nor was it because he had planned to. It was more like a coincidence.
With the information about the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy in his hands, he was not blinded by desire. He knew very well that he would never have a chance to get the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy with his own power, so he might as well use this information to find a backer and use their power to take part in this fight.
However, he did not completely give up either. If the person he joined obtained the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and the opportunity presented itself, he would steal it. If there was no chance, he would just slowly work his way up, using the contribution he obtained by providing this information as a head start. This way, he would be able to fully utilize the value of this piece of intelligence, much better than being a gambler and putting all his chips on trying to get the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
Originally, his target candidate was not Psyker, but he met him coincidentally. After thinking about it, he realized that Psyker’s forces were not weak, and Psyker was a Beyond Grade A, despite not being in the top tier, which actually increased the chance of him successfully stealing it if things went well. Therefore, he had changed his target and used Psyker as his backer.
Ravenlaude and Psyker both had their own goals, but they had yet to notice that in the remaining organizations, there was still another Beyond Grade A in a fleet without any organization symbols. It was Secret Master.
Both the dynasty and the church’s people came…
Secret Master’s eyes flickered.
He was stronger than both of them.
Since he was hidden, he decided to keep it that way. When the two of them had fought and wounded each other badly, he would then appear to grab the prize.
This plan is feasible, and the chances are high!
Secret Master stacked more stealth spells on himself and restrained the energy ripples around him, hiding himself to even a greater extent. He smiled coldly.
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy must be mine!
…
Ravenlaude and Psyker’s fleet were opposite each other. The rest of the organizations were not chased away, so without saying anything to each other, they all started to deploy inactive space stabilizing traps.
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was a Primal Esper Ability Entity with independent thought. It had the ability to cross between secondary dimensions. The traps would prevent it from escaping once it discovered this ambush.
After this was completed, the various organizations waited in this area peacefully for the time being.
The date was near to begin with. After a few days, the day marked by the intelligence arrived.
The various organizations all focused their attention and stared at the area of the coordinates closely.
Other than a few individuals, most people there were not sure if the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy would even appear. They were waiting with anticipation and nervousness.
Buzz!
Before all those spectators, a ball of bright red energy suddenly overflowed from the void. Its size expanded extremely quickly and formed a red, fog-shaped cloud with a unique energy wave.
Seeing this, everyone there became thrilled!
“This is the right location. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy has finally appeared!”
1032 The Oriole
This was an enormous cluster of bright red energy in the form of fog, like a boiling cloud. Gray lights flickered within like lightning. The energy at its center was the densest, and the further away from the center, the less dense the energy was. At its edge, red energy swayed and danced like silk. When looking closer, this energy seemed to be formed by countless tiny particles.
A large number of tiny red light clusters danced around the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. These were the sub-bodies the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy produced, something like its offspring or underlings. What Evans had once met was one of these.
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was a Primal Esper Ability Entity. It had its independent consciousness. Most of its consciousness and energy had been hibernating, only leaving a small portion of its instincts to maintain daily activities. It gave up thinking to let itself wander the universe randomly.
This large cluster of bright red reflected in the pupils of the crew of every organization through the porthole, lighting up the surprise and excitement in their eyes.
“It appeared! Move, quickly!”
This time, all the organizations present activated the spacetime stabilization traps they had set earlier.
Buzz!
All the devices around were activated, as well as all kinds of magical runes and items.
The erupting spacetime energy expanded from different points like ripples, quickly flattening the ‘folds’ in this area. The spacetime became extremely stable. Be it hyperdrive or wormhole, they could no longer be used!
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was very sensitive to the changes of the space. It instantly sensed the drastic change in the environment around it. Its hibernating consciousness awakened with shock. The enormous energy cloud suddenly retracted. It shrank, and its density increased at an extremely high rate, attempting to turn into a black hole to break the stable spacetime of this area and tear open a crack in space.
The space in the area was like a piece of paper, and the traps were like forces that stretched outward to make the paper straight and tight. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy making itself extremely dense was an attempt to poke this piece of paper, concentrating its energy in one point to create a fold in space. These two forces were fighting each other. Under normal circumstances, this ‘piece of paper’ would have been penetrated immediately, but it would not be as easy in this highly stable space.
Seeing this, a voice appeared in the public area channel.
“Quickly contain the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. The spacetime coefficient is falling from the peak. If it keeps resisting, it will escape our trap sooner or later!”
The next moment, the closest small fleet immediately charged toward the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, which had already turned into an extremely bright cluster of light. The exterior armor of these spaceships slid open, showing a special mechanical device that released an astonishing absorption force toward the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy started to vibrate slightly. Waves of energy were pulled away from the cluster of light and sucked into the devices, like streams of light.
These organizations that had gone to fight for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy had made thorough preparations. This was a device used to contain and restrain energy life forms. Even though the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy could condense itself, its energy would still be sucked out. It would be like a tug of war.
However, this time, without any warning, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy shot out a flurry of dense light beams, which bombarded this fleet.
The next second, their shields were penetrated, and their ships exploded into fireworks immediately. This fleet was annihilated by one round of attacks!
With the explosion of its energy, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s psychic attribute was activated. Waves of impactful Psychic Currents appeared and expanded outward. The people who surrounded the Psychic Current all felt headaches, like they were affected by infrasound, as if they were heavily drunk.
Inside the dynasty’s fleet, Ravenlaude saw this, and his lips curled up.
“Hehe, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy isn’t something you can get without risks.”
Primal Esper Ability Entities were extremely ancient. They were clusters of energy without owners. Therefore, they used their own methods to use their powers, such as shooting their energy out in beams continuously.
At this time, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy turned around and fled at an extremely high speed like a meteor. The fleets around immediately chased after, trying to block its path.
“Let me!”
Ravenlaude’s eyes sparkled. He left his ship and chased after it with magic at high speed, simultaneously casting spells.
Runes and spells surrounded his body, shining with magical lights. Dense magic energy dragged down the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and increased its speed drastically. At the same time, arcane impact waves were sent flying into the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, turning into magical runes controlled by Ravenlaude to mix foreign energy into the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, reducing its control over its own body.
The effect was clear. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy could no longer maintain its condensed form, and the cluster of light exploded quickly, expanding back into an energy cloud cluster. Its hitbox multiplied countless times over.
Beyond Grade A Mages often travelled in secondary dimensions. Ravenlaude’s experience in dealing with energy entities was way too rich, so it was no difficult task. The energy beam the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy shot out with all its might was easily blocked by him with magical shields.
As the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was gradually falling into Ravenlaude’s hands, a powerful wave of psychic energy suddenly approached him from behind.
Ravenlaude narrowed his eyes, diverted his attention to use defensive spells, and blocked the psychic attack. Not far away, the silhouette quickly surpassed him and charged right toward the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. In its hands was a highly advanced enhanced version of the portable energy entity container.
“Humph, Psyker.”
Without any more words, Ravenlaude launched attacks toward Psyker as well. The two of them fought while chasing after the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, dragging each other down.
The organizations around saw this and wanted to use it as an opportunity. However, any spaceship that even came close to the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was shattered by the ‘fallout’ of the battle between Beyond Grade As.
Ravenlaude had the upper hand and suppressed Psyker’s attacks. However, despite the battle being rather intense, neither of them went all out. They did not forget about saving some energy to contain the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
With two Beyond Grade As present, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy would not be able to cause any trouble. Sealing runes were punched onto its body one after another. Its resistance grew weaker and weaker, gradually showing signs that it was about to be completely contained.
At the same time, the Modo Civilization’s team was also wandering around the edge of the battlefield. The dozens of Calamity Grades in the ship stared closely at the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and softly discussed possible tactics.
“Guys, the two of them are holding each other down. Should we act now?”
“The odds of success are too low. We will only be able to guard their attacks for a very short moment even with all of us working together. There won’t be enough time for us to retreat. We will certainly have to sacrifice many lives. It’s not worth it, is it?”
They exchanged looks and shook their heads in their minds.
Their boss had told them to improvise, but there was no opportunity at all. Although these Calamity Grades were usually quite proud, they had absolutely no confidence in facing Beyond Grade As. Even though they were truly loyal to the Modo Civilization, no one wanted to waste their life for nothing.
Roddick stayed silent in the communication channel for a while before saying, “If there’s not a chance, forget it. Don’t interfere.”
Hearing this, the dozens of Calamity Grade relaxed their uptight bodies with relief.
Roddick was a little bit disappointed but was not too persistent about it. His original goal by sending so many Calamity Grades was to have the absolute upper hand in terms of power if there were no Beyond Grade As.
However, with the interference of Beyond Grade As, the mission had basically failed. Since there was no chance, the best choice was to retreat. There was no need to let the Calamity Grade elites of the civilization die in vain.
“This is just a side mission, no need to force it. The upper echelons will understand in cases like this. If I sacrifice many elites because of this, the upper echelons will even blame me for it.”
Having this thought, Roddick loudly said, “Guys, retreat!”
“Roger!” Everyone responded with joy.
However, the next moment, a drastic change occurred!
The Modo Civilization’s fleet suddenly turned around and charged right toward the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. Not only that, they suddenly fired all their weapons at Ravenlaude and Psyker!
Everyone present was completely stunned.
Even the battle between Ravenlaude and Psyker stopped as they had to block this sudden attack. Both of them looked a little confused.
T-they dared fire at us?
Who are these brave soldiers‽
Inside the command center at the base, Roddick’s expression changed drastically. He yelled with rage, “What the hell are you doing? Are you out of your mind‽”
“We have lost control of our spaceships!” The many Calamity Grades were stupefied.
Roddick suddenly thought of something, and his face turned pale.
This familiar feeling…
It’s Virtual Intrusion‽
*sshole!
With wrath and shock, Roddick was just about to yell at everyone to flee.
However, before he could, the remote communication link was cut off. The screen turned black, reflecting his furiously twisted expression.
“Black Star!”
Bang!
Roddick roared and smashed the communicator into pieces. The room was filled with his rage and helplessness.
The interference of a third party attracted enough attention. Both Ravenlaude and Psyker stopped fighting each other for a moment. Magic tides and psychic storms slammed directly into the Modo Civilization’s fleet, swiftly eliminating the small fleet.
The dozens of Calamity Grades were panicking. They immediately fled their spaceships and scattered. However, Ravenlaude and Psyker did not enjoy letting people who suddenly attacked them go, so they chased after them.
The Calamity Grade elites, whom the Modo Civilization had spent tons of efforts to raise, lasted barely a moment before they fell one after another.
These people had no chance in fighting back; they could only run with their lives.
After more than eighty percent of Calamity Grades were eliminated. Only then did Ravenlaude and Psyker stop and return to fighting each other.
This intimidated the other organizations present. They all moved further away with their fleets and did not dare fight against the two of them for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
The dynasty’s fleet was not just watching. It was battling the Star Pupil Holy Race’s fleet. In terms of both spaceship technology and size, the dynasty was superior. The Star Pupil Holy Race’s fleet was slowly getting beaten.
“Still want to fight me?” Ravenlaude raised his brows and sent a voice message through a spell. “We can fight for days and nights, but your fleet will be wiped out. I’ve heard your people are very important to you. So, is the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy worth you sacrificing that many lives?”
Psyker sent out a tsunami-like wave of psychic energy to shatter the flying arcane bomb, clenched his teeth, and said, “Do you think you can make me give up with just a few words? Your dynasty’s fleet will suffer quite a lot of losses too!”
“That’s right, but those are the dynasty’s soldiers. I don’t care about their casualties,” Ravenlaude said. “You won’t be able to win against me, so don’t make unnecessary sacrifices. As soon as I contain the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and let my people disarm the space stabilization trap, I can leave this battlefield via a teleportation gate in an instant. Will you be able to chase me as a Psychic?”
Psyker looked to be conflicted. Then, he stopped fighting and turned around to help his fleet force the dynasty’s fleet away.
Seeing this, Ravenlaude knew that Psyker had given up on competing and smiled with satisfaction. Without anyone standing in the way, he focused on casting sealing spells, sending countless arcane lights into the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
Very soon, a magical shield shrouded the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and quickly shrank. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was then sealed into the crystal magic ball in Ravenlaude’s hands.
“It’s done!”
Ravenlaude’s eyes sparkled. He could almost see the Universal Treasure that the dynasty had promised waving at him.
Before he had time to feel the joy, the moment the sealing was complete, a mind spell that had been prepared for a very long time suddenly crashed into him and slammed into his mental barrier. With his mind shaken, Ravenlaude entered the state of being stunned for a short moment.
At the same time, a figure flew out from an ordinary fleet and approached at a very high speed, casting spells on the way. Magic arrays formed around Ravenlaude one after another, but countless blue magic tentacles appeared from these arrays and tightly tied Ravenlaude’s body.
This was not just simply tying him up. The official name of this spell was [Descent of Atomte—Devil’s Tentacles]. It was a top tier spell that had a short silence effect on Mages, as well as the ability to restrain their soul. Once tied up, the target would enter an even longer period of immobility, unable to control their body.
“There’s another Beyond Grade A‽” Psyker, who was not far away, sensed the energy wave that had suddenly erupted and turned around in shock.
Ravenlaude finally regained consciousness. Absolutely shocked, he hastily tried to escape the restraints.
However, this silhouette had already come right beside him, taken away the magic ball sealing the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, and pressed his palm onto Ravenlaude’s chest.
Powerful and rich magic energy gushed out and turned into a violet beam of light, immediately blowing Ravenlaude far away.
This attack did not cause much damage. Ravenlaude flew a short distance back and quickly regained his balance. He looked up with shock. Seeing this person covered in tattoos, his expression stiffened for a second.
“It’s you, Secret Master!”
Given how small the Beyond Grade A circle was, famous Beyond Grade As all knew each other. Secret Master’s position in the circle was a little higher than his.
Secret Master’s expression was cold. He did not care about Ravenlaude, who was conflicted with rage and fear. He sized up the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy in his hands, nodded, and said with the same indifferent face, “Thanks for helping me to contain the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. I let you safekeep it for me for a few seconds. Now, it’s returned to its original owner.”
Ravenlaude was so furious he laughed. “I thought Black Star is the most shameless among Beyond Grade As. I didn’t expect you to be not much worse. What return to its original owner? Since when were you the owner of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy?”
“I’m here, so it’s mine,” Secret Master said coldly.
Angered, Ravenlaude said, “Cut the cr*p. You think you can just leave?”
With the opportunity to gain a Universal Treasure right before his eyes, even if Secret Master was stronger, Ravenlaude would not give up easily.
Secret Master glanced at him and said with a poker face, “I can leave whenever I want.”
The moment his sentence ended, a huge crack suddenly appeared on the space stabilization traps in the area, and some of the devices even exploded. While they were setting up the traps, Secret Master had secretly planted invisible, remote-controlled explosion runes so that he could use a teleportation spell after he succeeded.
The spacetime coefficient and the effect of the traps plummeted, no longer able to stop Beyond Grade A space magic. Ravenlaude’s expression changed drastically as he immediately understood what Secret Master’s plan was. He quickly started to channel spells to restrict Secret Master’s teleportation.
However, Secret Master was even quicker. He had prepared the fundamentals of the teleportation gate well in advance, so it activated instantly. A blue vortex appeared right beside him.
Seeing Ravenlaude fast approaching, Secret Master was completely calm.
“Till next time, Ra… hmm‽”
Suddenly, he felt his hand become heavier. The sealing container of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy in his hands disappeared, replaced by a mechanical arm that was connected to a human-shaped machine with flickering blue-gold eyes, which had appeared beside him out of nowhere.
“You…” Shock finally appeared on Secret Master’s face.
This machine tilted its head and suddenly vibrated. A strange Void Energy expanded instantly and shrouded a large area, including even Ravenlaude.
The next second, Secret Master and Ravenlaude realized that the space in this area had become thick and dense. Their movements were forcefully slowed.
Void Prison!
With a flash of insight, Ravenlaude immediately recalled the owner of this ability. “Black Star‽”
Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar turned to look at him and smiled. “Yo, you recognized me?”
“You’ve come at the right time!” Ravenlaude was overjoyed. He thought that Han Xiao was secret backup sent by the dynasty.
Han Xiao saw through what he was thinking immediately and shook his head. “I’m not here for the dynasty.”
Ravenlaude’s smile stiffened.
He immediately understood. Unlike him, Black Star was not fighting for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy for the dynasty but had uncovered this information himself and wanted to obtain it.
This way, although Black Star was also a dynasty ally, he was his competitor in this matter.
Having realized that, Ravenlaude’s heart sank a little.
At the same time, Secret Master narrowed his eyes. Having all his effort go to waste made him embarrassed and enraged. He coldly said, “Black Star, you took my Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy?”
Han Xiao turned to look at him and smiled.
“To borrow your words… thank you for safekeeping it for me for a few seconds.”
He had been there for a long time. His Lord’s Avatar and mechanical army had hidden nearby, watching the whole thing while messing with the Modo Civilization.
Only when Secret Master broke the space stabilization trap and was about to leave did the Lord’s Avatar finally find the right opportunity to strike. It immediately used [Void Swap] to exchange itself with the sealed container holding the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. Thus, the container was in the hands of his mechanical army.
However, this way, the energy ripple would cause the mechanical army to be exposed as well. To avoid the two of them from chasing after the mechanical army, he had used his Lord’s Avatar to activate Void Prison immediately to restrain Secret Master and Ravenlaude, while the mechanical army could leave with the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
Once they returned to the safe area, it would be a complete success.
As the mantis stalked the cicada, it was unaware of the oriole behind it. Secret Master thought that he was the oriole, but he did not know that Han Xiao had hidden even deeper than him.
“The only problem is…”
Han Xiao turned to look at Psyker, who was far away. This guy was not in the range of the Void Prison, so he could chase if he wanted to.
Noticing Han Xiao’s stare, Psyker’s expression looked as if he had just fallen into a pile of feces.
This time, the voice of a Star Pupil Holy Race officer sounded in the communication network.
“Leader, we have detected a mechanical army that has suddenly appeared. It is escorting the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and fleeing at high speed. Shall we chase after it?”
“No, retreat!”
Having seen Han Xiao, Psyker backed away without hesitation.
He did not want to have a direct conflict with Black Star at this time.
Most importantly, even if Black Star’s mechanical army had no Lord’s Avatar in it, he felt that he still might not be able to win.
Han Xiao could not help but scratch his head and laugh in his mind.
He’s this smart‽
He then looked at Secret Master, who had a troubled look and was full of hostility, and stretched his neck.
“I shall take the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy with a smile. If you’re not happy about that… how about I give your bones a good stretch?”
1033 Secret Master, I Have Never Seen Someone This Unlucky
Very soon, the exposed mechanical army separated some of its units to escort the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and disappeared from sight.
His mood slipped from the top of the mountain to the bottom.
He wanted to chase after it, but Black Star’s Lord’s Avatar stood in his way and gave off a vibe that made him subconsciously uptight. He knew that as soon as he did anything, he would inevitably face a storm of attacks.
Secret Master’s eyes refocused on Han Xiao, who was before him, carefully sizing him up. He then said with a somewhat interested but mostly unsatisfied tone, “Black Star, this should be the second time we’ve met, right?”
“Including the Meeting of the Gods, it is indeed the second time.” Han Xiao nodded.
“Humph, then we’re… quite… fated!” Secret Master said word by word.
He was irritated and angry about the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy getting stolen, but everyone was there to fight for it, so it all depended on their strength. It belonged to anyone who could obtain it; he could accuse Han Xiao of nothing.
He really wanted the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. Although it had been taken away by Black Star, there was no need to make too much of a fuss. They were both famous people in the universe. If he could not get the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, so be it. If he made it a bigger deal than it was, it would not look good for anyone, nor was it necessary.
However, there was no way he would just retreat like that; he had to fight back in some way. Secret Master did not want to watch Han Xiao easily get away; it would look like he was afraid of Han Xiao. He had shame, unlike that seven eyes beside him who was already used to it.
He secretly tried a teleportation spell and realized that it was restricted by the Void Prison.
When this area is no longer locked, there’s still a chance to catch up to the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy through teleportation and snatch it back, Secret Master thought as he adjusted his mood, putting his focus on the current situation and suppressing his anger. His expression returned to being cold, and he started chatting.
“By the way, I’ve always been curious about you. Although we did not have much contact in the past, I’ve always had a strong impression of you.”
“Strong in what way?” Han Xiao did not mind wasting time. It was what he wanted too.
“Your deeds are spread all across the universe. In my eyes, you’re a careerist with a grand plan, as well as an opportunist. Luck is a very big reason you were able to build what you’ve built today. It helped you choose the right opportunities and brought you the chance to develop this quickly. You’re a lucky man.”
Hearing his words, Han Xiao could not help but glance at Secret Master a few more times.
This is the first time anyone has ever said I’m lucky. You’ve probably got the wrong person…
Nonetheless, he could understand why Secret Master had this kind of impression of him. To the outside world, his rise was extremely quick and fierce, as well as smooth. There were so many opportunities that seemed to have just fallen onto his laps, which all looked like it was because of his luck.
However, these opportunities were created by him instead of this ‘luck’, all because he was familiar with the direction the world would take and had information about the future that no one else had.
But no one would ever know that.
“I guess you can say that I’m lucky,” Han Xiao agreed as a joke.
“Hehe, but from today onward, your luck ends.” Magic runes appeared in the depths of Secret Master’s pupils. “You should’ve heard my nickname. I can control someone’s luck.”
Seeing his confidence, Han Xiao felt strange but continued to cooperate with his performance.
“Are you trying to reduce my luck permanently?”
Secret Master snorted. “You took what’s mine; you’ll have to pay for it.”
Actually, he was not very willing to mess with Han Xiao. After all, after the Meeting of the Gods, Han Xiao’s position was rather special within the Beyond Grade A circle. As a neutral Beyond Grade A, it was best not to mess with him if there was no need.
However, he could not put up with this, even just for the sake of saving his own face. Therefore, he decided to use his best trick to slightly punish Han Xiao.
So, it still came to speaking with fists… Han Xiao had expected this. He did not think that Secret Master would let this go easily.
The next moment, blinding magical blue light shone from Secret Master’s body.
“They all say you’re good at fighting. Let me see how strong you are personally.”
The magic energy in his body gushed out like a roaring tide, erupting in an instant.
Boom!
Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar was washed away by the exploding magical energy and was pushed back some distance.
Secret Master took the opportunity to back away, trying to increase the distance between Han Xiao and himself. However, after the enhancement of God’s Trait Transformation, the effect of Void Prison was stronger and slowed down the people in it even more. This ability could not differentiate friend or foe, but Han Xiao, who had Void Race talents, could move freely within.
He realized very soon that he was not able to get away from Han Xiao no matter how much he backed off, so he decided to just not move at all. He started to cast spells continuously like a spell cannon.
In order to snatch the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, the Lord’s Avatar had used Void Swap to swap places with the sealing container, which led to it being isolated and only being able to fight with Secret Master alone. The mechanical army was on the way.
Bang!
Beams of blue magical energy dragged along lightning trails and rocketed toward Han Xiao continuously, shattering into sparks on the Lord’s Avatar’s shield.
Without the mechanical army, Han Xiao clearly had a firepower problem. Therefore, he decided to charge forward against the sea of spells and close the distance while Secret Master could not back away.
After this Promotion, his Strength and Dexterity attributes could be considered high even among Beyond Grade As. When facing a Mage with his Lord’s Avatar, close-range combat instead became the better option for him.
While one side stood in place, the other approached extremely quickly. The distance between them shortened in no time.
In Han Xiao’s eyes, Secret Master’s huge face was getting closer.
“Eat my rocket headbutt!”
Activating critical strike abilities, Han Xiao smashed his head directly forward.
Clank!
His metal forehead landed right on Secret Master’s head through his magic shield.
Secret Master felt a buzzing in his head immediately, like someone was ringing a bell in his head. He hastily regained focus. The rune enchantments on his body suddenly all lit up, and hundreds of hands appeared beside him, creating afterimages of punches everywhere.
As a Mage, it was only logical to have some close-range combat abilities.
Having been suppressed in close-range combat, Secret Master was secretly shocked. Such powerful blows.
He had sparred with quite a number of Pugilists before, and he realized that Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar’s close combat strength was even stronger than some Beyond Grade A Pugilists. The storm-like attacks were very difficult for him to hold on. He was stunned by Han Xiao’s strength.
Black Star feels stronger than rumors say…
This thought only flashed for an instant before disappearing. Secret Master focused on the matter at hand and diverted his attention to do two things at once. He dealt with Han Xiao’s fierce close-range attacks while controlling his magic energy to build up to his best Secret Studies spell that was aimed at one’s luck.
Luck was originally formless and almost superficial, but at this moment, in Secret Master’s vision, blurry fog suddenly appeared around every life form. Some fog clouds were thick, and some were thin.
This was Secret Master’s unique spell. It combined the study of the soul, mind, foresight, fortune telling, and many more magic fields. He was successfully able to quantify the target’s luck. The thickness of the fog represented the luck of a being.
The luckier one was, the thicker the fog would be. Those protagonist-type charters who had Luck Glows usually had the thickest fog.
“Let me see how strong your luck is!”
Secret Master had made up his mind to reduce Han Xiao’s luck.
When he looked closely, he was completely stupefied.
Usually, Beyond Grade As were very lucky people. For them to reach this territory at the top of the universe, there was at least a minimum to how unlucky they could be. Black Star’s luck should have been exceptionally strong; he should have been covered in thick fog.
However, the real situation was the complete opposite. The fog around Black Star was so thin that it was almost non-existent!
Secret Master had observed countless people before, but this was the first time he had ever seen someone this unlucky! He could hardly believe his own eyes!
It doesn’t make sense! How can a Beyond Grade A’s luck be this weak‽
How can someone this unlucky become a Beyond Grade A‽
Secret Master was completely stunned.
Initially, he wanted to damage Black Star’s luck, but now that he looked at it…
Can this guy’s luck even be decreased‽
Secret Master’s many unique spells revolved around indirectly dealing large amounts of spiritual damage through decreasing the target’s luck, but facing Han Xiao… he realized that his trump card seemed useless.
For an instant, he lost concentration and immediately showed flaws mid-combat. Han Xiao did not care about his internal thoughts at all and seized the opportunity.
Bang bang bang!
Lightning-fast punches landed on Secret Master’s body quickly, sending in waves of impact.
Being badly beaten up, many defensive runes on Secret Master’s body shattered. Feeling the pain, Secret Master did not dare let himself get distracted again. He took a defensive stance and held on under Han Xiao’s attacks.
While the two of them fought intensely, Ravenlaude, who was also included in the range of the Void Prison, felt conflicted.
Normally, Ravenlaude would help the dynasty’s ally, but now, Black Star was also a competitor who was fighting for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
“I can only complete the mission and gain a Universal Treasure if I take the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy back from Han Xiao’s hands.”
After some thought, Ravenlaude made his decision and started to cast spells to cancel out the effects of the Void Prison.
“Hmm?” Sensing the disturbance, Han Xiao turned around and gave Ravenlaude a death stare.
“Don’t look at me. I’m just executing the dynasty’s mission.”
Ravenlaude noticed Han Xiao’s stare and nervously replied. Then, he silently tried to break away from the Void Prison together with Secret Master.
The next second, the Void Prison was broken. The space around returned to normal. While the two of them fought, Ravenlaude opened a teleportation gate immediately and disappeared, heading toward the mechanical army, which was escorting the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy away.
Seeing this, Secret Master wanted to do the same. However, the Lord’s Avatar prevented him from doing so.
The rest of Han Xiao’s machinery had now arrived. They activated space stabilizing devices and magic disruption devices that covered this area, stopping the use of teleportation spells once again, causing Secret Master to be unable to chase after the Prime Chaos Mysterious Energy.
“Sh*t!” Secret Master’s face sank even further. This situation basically meant that he was already eliminated from this competition.
Furthermore, Secret Master could see that Black Star actually had a way to stop Ravenlaude too. Only, he purposely let Ravenlaude go but kept him there.
He’s targeting me specifically‽
That’s too much!
Seeing Secret Master’s expression, Han Xiao chuckled. “You noticed I’ve let Ravenlaude on purpose? I’m not targeting you but him.”
He had purposely let Ravenlaude go and given him a chance to chase after his mechanical army because he wanted to make Ravenlaude a target to showcase his fists.
Due to the unhappiness last time, Han Xiao wanted to showcase more of his strength to the dynasty, but he did not want the outside world to know he had grown once again, in case the Mechanic Emperor sought him out again. Therefore, he wanted to shift the battlefield and not have witnesses.
A dynasty ally was the best target for that.
Compared to beating up enemies, beating up teammates seems better when creating a reputation? After all, after getting beaten up, his teammate still had to hide the information of the battle.
Although the Lord’s Avatar stayed to hold Secret Master back, all the Apostle Weapons were in the escort team.
With all that and the mechanical army, it would be strong enough even without him present.
Diverting forces and fighting in multiple battles at the same time was the Beyond Grade A Mechanic fighting method.
1034 Duel
At this point, these organizations knew full well that the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy would have nothing more to do with them.
They were somewhat disappointed but not surprised. A few days back, when they realized that the dynasty and church had interfered in this, they knew that their chances were negligible.
However, being able to confirm that the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy had appeared in the Emerald Star Cluster, as well as having the opportunity to watch a battle between many Beyond Grade As, most of them felt it was worth the trip.
Although the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was taken away by Black Star, they did not disperse immediately but took out their snacks to watch the wrestling between Black Star and Secret Master.
Only a few organizations who had yet to give up wanted to chase after the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, but they were stopped by the mechanical army. Looking at the dense psionic barrels, these people could only remain there with resignation.
While the Lord’s Avatar led the mechanical army to fight Secret Master, the dynasty’s fleet responded as well and immediately reported Black Star’s interference in this battle. This got to the man in charge of this operation, an upper echelon of the dynasty’s hawk faction, Bekorodi.
“Black Star is there too? And he got it‽”
Far away in the remote command center inside the dynasty’s territory, Bekorodi’s eyes opened so wide that they almost popped out. He was shocked and enraged.
“His Excellency Ravenlaude is already chasing after it. He will probably have a direct conflict with Black Star. What should we do?” the fleet’s commander asked cautiously.
Hearing this, Bekorodi frowned heavily. He was filled with hesitation.
He felt that this matter was very difficult to deal with. Black Star was an important ally to the dynasty. Usually, the two sides should avoid conflict as much as possible.
However, before this, the dynasty did not know that Black Star would interfere with this, which made Bekorodi rather worried.
With the dynasty’s control of the Flickering World, somehow, they did not notice that Black Star had sent a team out to that place. This showed that the Black Star Army had secretly built quite a number of things in the Flickering World by making use of the dynasty’s support.
Bekorodi felt that in situations like this, Black Star should be the one to take a step back first. However, Black Star clearly saw that the dynasty was involved, yet he still took part in the battle. To Bekorodi, this was Black Star not giving the dynasty’s face, which made a hawk faction upper echelon like him rather unhappy.
Undoubtedly, he felt that the situation was all Black Star’s fault, so he was in a dilemma.
Should he continue the operation while taking the risk of offending Black Star or back off and give up the plan?
“Sir, should we contact the Ruler?”
While pondering, his subordinate’s voice pulled Bekorodi out of his train of thought. He paused then said with a deep voice, “Don’t notify the Ruler yet. Contact Black Star first. I’ll talk to him.”
He knew that Urranrell liked Black Star, so he did not want to notify her. He could only control the mission if he dealt with it himself.
The command center called up Black Star’s number. It rang three times before it was picked up. Han Xiao’s face appeared on the screen with a meaningful smile.
“Not bad, not bad, you contacted me earlier than I expected.”
Bekorodi’s eyes twitched. He suppressed his anger, forced out a smile, and said, “Black Star, remember me? I’m Bekorodi.”
“Hello, we meet again. Have you eaten?”
“Just had dinner.”
“You look quite well. Have you been sleeping well recently? You’re not young anymore, so don’t work so hard. Rest more.”
“I’m used to working hard, just can’t seem to be too free. After so many years, I’ve gotten used to working every day long ago, but I have indeed been getting rather good sleep recently. I…”
Halfway through speaking, Bekorodi suddenly stopped.
He only just noticed that without knowing, he had followed Han Xiao’s lead and actually subconsciously started chattering, almost forgetting what he wanted to say in this call.
Plus, we’re not even close! Black Star, are you trying to play for time?
Bekorodi coughed heavily, trying to cover up the awkwardness. He then quickly gained back control and questioned, “You know why I’ve called you, don’t you? It’s a surprise you’ve had your eyes on the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy too. This information came from EsGod’s heritage. You should have notified the dynasty or at least reported your actions. If you’d done that, the accidents today would have been totally avoided. Why didn’t you?”
Han Xiao’s expression looked strange, as if he was saying, What kind of question is that?
“Doesn’t not notifying you guys mean that I want it for myself? Plus, I don’t seem to recall that I’m obligated to give all the intelligence I have to the dynasty or report my personal activities. We’re allies, not employer and employee.”
Bekorodi made a serious expression and said, “Anyway, there’s no need for discussion on this matter. Listen to me. The dynasty doesn’t want the outside world to see us fight with our allies. This needs a solution.”
“It’s simple then—give up. Give the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy to me, and it’s done.” Han Xiao smiled.
“Impossible,” Bekorodi said subconsciously, but he then realized that his tone was not very appropriate, so he calmed down. “The dynasty needs the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy too. We won’t let it go so easily.”
“What do you need the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy for?” Han Xiao was curious.
Bekorodi shut up immediately.
It was not like he could tell Black Star the truth and say that it was to replicate the Evolution Cube’s abilities.
They wanted the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy to make Gaud grow quicker and step into the Beyond Grade A territory sooner. The goal of that was to analyze the Evolution Cube. Gaud would only be able to analyze the Evolution Energy with his Esper Ability if he was Beyond Grade A.
After quite some time, Bekorodi finally forced the words “It’s confidential…” out of his mouth.
“Never mind then.” Han Xiao shook his head. “Anyway, I won’t just back off like this. It’s true that we’re allies, but I can’t possibly give everything to you once you just tell me to do so. Even those Ultimate Knowledges required me to make contributions to gain access to them. You can’t just ask me to give selflessly, can you?”
Bekorodi nodded. “Okay, then let’s make a deal. We’re willing to exchange for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. What do you want? Intelligence? Knowledge? Resources? A Universal Treasure? I’m guessing you want the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy probably because you want to turn it into a Universal Treasure, so you might as well exchange it with us. You can choose from the list we gave you last time. I can approve this deal personally.”
The dynasty had to give Ravenlaude a Universal Treasure to hire him to start with, so since the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was now in Black Star’s hands, Bekorodi just made the same deal with Black Star.
The deal with Ravenlaude, of course, would no longer be valid. He would at most receive some resources as compensation…
Ravenlaude, who was still chasing the mechanical army, did not yet know that his employer had already given up hope on him and that the Universal Treasure he had been thinking of was basically out of his reach.
Han Xiao raised his brows. “And what if you go back on your word?”
“If you agree, I’ll make Ravenlaude retreat first, and you can keep the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy for the time being. Then, you will make a public announcement to eliminate the rumors caused by this conflict. Following that, you can exchange it for a Universal Treasure with us. Therefore, you don’t have to worry that we won’t keep up our side of the deal.”
Bekorodi did not plan to play any tricks at all. He at least had this much pride as a superior in the dynasty.
However, Han Xiao did not plan to agree immediately…
If my teammate runs away, who do I beat up?
“We’ll talk about this next time. I have yet to decide if I want to give you guys or not. I need to think about it. Therefore, for now, let’s just compete fairly… Since you don’t want the outside world to know, we’ll fight in a place where there’s no one else.” Han Xiao’s tone was calm, and he did not completely reject the deal.
Bekorodi’s face stiffened. He was very annoyed.
He did not want to waste any more time and gave a simple “okay”. He then ended the call. He told his subordinate to notify Ravenlaude that he had to obtain the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
In his mind, Han Xiao’s original body was still in Black Star Palace, and only a Lord’s Avatar and a group of mechanical troops were there. Secret Master was restraining the Lord’s Avatar, so Ravenlaude should still have a chance.
…
Inside the bright nebula, Ravenlaude chased after the fleeing mechanical army, getting further away from the battlefield that the Lord’s Avatar was in and out of everyone’s sight.
Without the restrictions of the space stabilization devices, Ravenlaude’s teleportation spells were quicker. No matter how fast the mechanical troops were running, he could catch up in an instant. He had only slowly followed behind all this time because he wanted to get further away from the Lord’s Avatar so that it would not be able to interfere with his battle.
After all, whether the Lord’s Avatar was present or not would make a bit of difference. He did not want to face the Lord’s Avatar’s attacks with his body like Secret Master. After all…
I’m a proper Mage! I’m like paper!
Remote artillery style is our forte. Melee combat? How can you call yourself a Mage‽
That Secret Master, who drew all over his body, had quite strong melee combat power, but Ravenlaude was an old fashioned Mage who had mastered pure arcane arts. To make him fight in melee range would be the same as Mechanics rushing into Pugilists’ arms… Hmm, except for Black Star.
This is far enough.
Ravenlaude focused his mind and used another teleportation spell. He appeared right before the mechanical troops. With a wave of his hand, a top-tier magic staff appeared and hovered above his head. The gem at the top of the staff shone with a bright magical light.
The next moment, thick magical books appeared one after another around Ravenlaude, circling him slowly like a ring of stars and giving off powerful magical energy.
As the magical books opened and the pages turned extremely quickly, a thick and enormous purple magic light appeared and expanded instantly, turning into a spherical, dark-purple energy barrier that shrouded all the mechanical troops before him. The sphere was extremely large.
Looking from inside, the inside wall of this sphere was dark purple covered in circulating streams of bright blue and flaming white magical streams of light, like arcane comets. It looked like a purple curtain decorated with blue and white patterns.
“Wall of Tragal—Dark Purple Arena. This is a new forbidden spell created by my spell research team.”
After casting this spell, Ravenlaude smiled with confidence as if the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was already in his hands.
The Mechanical Force lightning on the mechanical troops suddenly became much weaker. They fired at the wall, but the psionic cannon attacks disappeared when landing on the inside of this sphere like they were absorbed. Some mechanical soldiers flew to the edges, but the moment they touched the inside wall, a bright arcane explosion repelled the mechanical soldiers away.
Ravenlaude was certain that the mechanical troops could not escape. In a situation like this, the villain soul lying deep inside his body started to boil. He started to perform the signature move of a villain—explain!
“This is a forbidden-level sealing spell. It can absorb the energy attacks inside it and transfer it to its outside. At the same time, it prevents any material from passing through its wall. Your mechanical troops won’t be able to escape. Furthermore, this spell can also reduce the efficiency of energy transmission. Haven’t you noticed? The Mechanical Force you applied on them has become weaker.”
He was having a good time talking, but the mechanical troops ignored him and continued to physically attack the inside wall, getting repelled away time after time.
Seeing this, Ravenlaude shook his head and smiled. He slowly said, “Stop wasting your time, Black Star. I know you can hear my voice. Let’s discuss this.”
After a few seconds, the mechanical troops gave up trying, turned to look at him, and opened the area communication channel. Han Xiao’s voice appeared.
“Discuss what?”
“Black Star, I respect your strength, but your Lord’s Avatar isn’t here. If you fight me, you’ll only waste these troops. So, why not just give me the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy? I’ll remember this favor I owe you and give you enough compensation. You know, we’re allies; we don’t have to solve the problem with violence.”
Ravenlaude smiled faintly and felt that he was giving Black Star a lot of face.
However, only inexperienced youngsters would give up their own profit because of a few kind words. Although Han Xiao was considered basically a baby in terms of age among the Beyond Grade As, his experience in life was far from being this immature. He was completely unaffected and immediately ordered the mechanical troops to fire.
Tu tu tu tu!
The mechanical troops surrounded Ravenlaude and fired at him immediately. However, Ravenlaude was prepared. Multiple layers of arcane shields protected him while he moved at a high speed to dodge attacks. Offensive spells were thrown out from his hands continuously, bombarding the mechanical troops.
The size of this sphere was extremely large, giving Ravenlaude enough space to kite. In addition, his mobility provided by teleportation could keep the battle at medium range, so it would be a battle of cannon fires and spells.
“The goal isn’t to destroy the mechanical army. It’s best to leave after getting the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.”
While shooting spells at the mechanical army, Ravenlaude noted the location of the mechanical soldier that was escorting the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
Suddenly, the formation of the mechanical army showed a flaw. There was a gap in the protection of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy for an instant, and he noticed it immediately.
“Chance!”
Ravenlaude cast a spell that he had already prepared long ago. An invisible shockwave shot out and divided the mechanical army. He cast another teleportation spell, which was also prepared beforehand, immediately appearing beside the mechanical soldier escorting the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. A purple hand formed of arcane energy grabbed toward the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy contained right before his eyes.
At this moment, a dark blue tint of light suddenly appeared at the edge of his sights. The sharp feeling it gave off made his hair stand on end.
In an instant, Ravenlaude hastily retracted his abdomen to dodge the light. A white spear covered in a gold pattern and surrounded by dark blue energy easily tore open all his shields, slipping right past his vital spot under his abdomen. He was suddenly covered in cold sweat.
That was close, almost lost my offspring.
Psionic Prime, who had been lying in wait among the army for a long time, twisted his spear, shooting out an energy wave and directly slapping Ravenlaude away!
The Psionic Prime Spear was his ‘Life Weapon’, which appeared when he became an Apostle Weapon. It had a silver-orange Grade, and it would become stronger together with the Apostle Weapon.
At this point, the Psionic Prime Spear had many new characteristics. When used by Psionic Prime himself, these characteristics would be enhanced. It was a terrifying close- to mid-range weapon in his hands that could easily penetrate most shields. Ravenlaude’s magic shield was like paper in front of the Psionic Prime Spear.
Psionic Prime shook his spear and chased right after Ravenlaude, not letting go of the opportunity that he had gained by suddenly attacking. As he caught up in no time, he immediately used a smooth Mechanical Pugilist combo on him, not giving Ravenlaude any time to catch his breath.
Not long after, Ravenlaude once again felt a strong sense of danger behind him. A few more hidden Apostle Weapons charged toward him at close range. They were all good at close combat, such as Mad Sky Hunter, Purple Sky Spirit, and Heaven-Suppressing Banner. They forced Ravenlaude to not have the time to use teleport to increase the distance between them.
Other than Apostle Weapons that had usual sizes such as Giant King Kong, all the other Apostle Weapons were there and had been hiding among the mechanical troops. Now, they finally all struck. Psionic Prime led some of them to fight at close range while Silver Flash led the other ones to attack from a distance. They cooperated perfectly.
With the success of the surprise attack, Ravenlaude was stuck being passive.
With Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force enhancement, every single one of these Apostle Weapons had Beyond Grade A strength. Now that Han Xiao had gone through another Promotion, his machinery-related abilities were strengthened again, so the strength of his Apostle Weapons had increased as well. Even just one could fight with a normal Beyond Grade A for a long time… and it went without saying whom this referred to.
‘Dueling’ more than a dozen of Apostle Weapons with this kind of strength at the same time… Ravenlaude could hardly hold on.
There were no tricks to get out of this. It was a complete difference in raw strength. The situation quickly turned one sided.
I can’t even beat a medium-sized mechanical army without a Lord’s Avatar? Has his strength already grown to this level‽
Ravenlaude clenched his teeth and endured the fierce attacks from these more than ten Apostle Weapons. The magic energy in his body flew out like a broken dam. His heart was filled with disbelief and helplessness that sank deep into his bones.
Feeling the state he was in now, Ravenlaude could fully confirm one thing—Black Star had become stronger again!
At this time, he suddenly recalled his experience against the Mechanic Emperor many years ago…
This was how it felt!
So strong that even a Beyond Grade A like him was afraid!
1035 Beat Up My Teammate
Ravenlaude was one of the Ancient Ones. Although, due to his limited potential, he had already reached the top of his strength and would not be able to become a peak Beyond Grade A, in his long life, he had learned countless spells. The Arcane Institute under his command was an organization used to study and invent new spells for him. In this fight, he had showcased his extremely broad knowledge in the study of magic.
As an Ancient One as well, ‘Dragon King’ Milizaus’ style had very clear differences. Milizaus focused on the powerful dragon magic spells, fighting with raw strength in a straight forward style, while Ravenlaude had endless spells to swiftly deal with all kinds of situations.
Every Beyond Grade A had their specialty. Facing such a disadvantageous situation, although Ravenlaude was suppressed by the Apostle Weapons, he gradually used his ever-changing spell combos to give himself some breathing space, which was followed up by a combo he had prepared for a very long time.
With a flash of the gem on his staff, silk-like rings made of runes appeared around him. Purple arcane energy started spinning and quickly expanded into a tornado. The violent energy blew the nearby Apostle Weapons away, creating a short opportunity to cast more spells. Ravenlaude was in the storm eye. With the change of his hand sign, the arcane storm swiftly condensed into thousands of magic arrows hovering around him. The highly concentrated arcane energy almost looked solid as if they had turned into transparent purple crystals.
“Secret Ability—Arcane Nova Arrow Rain!”
The purple crystal-like arrows shot out in all directions into the mechanical army, causing clusters of bright purple arcane energy explosions.
Boom boom boom boom!
Impact wave rippled and expanded, blowing away tons of mechanical soldiers. At the same time, the vibration of magic particles caused many mechanical soldiers to become immobilized. This ability had both damage and control effects in a large range.
Ravenlaude did not stop there. He waved his hand, a magic book suddenly appeared and flipped open. All of its shining pages danced and turned into a circular turning light belt, creating a white secondary dimension entrance that expanded rapidly behind him. The entrance was expanding to several thousand meters wide.
Ohm!
An enormous quadrangle tower tip that looked like it was made of crystal extended out from the tunnel, slowly showing its full appearance. It was clearly a magnificent magic building.
High Grade Arcane Spell—Mage Pagoda Summoning!
“He’s summoning his Mage Pagoda. Stop him!” Psionic Prime’s eyes flickered. He stopped himself from being blown away and charged forward once again.
The Mage Pagoda was the core equipment of high-level Mages. A Mage with and without the Mage Pagoda would be on two completely different levels. A Mage would only reach full strength when fighting alongside the Mage Pagoda.
For example, Austin’s Palace of Hidden Spells was a gold Grade Mage Pagoda, which not only gave him extremely powerful enhancements but also exceptional mobility.
The cost of Mage Pagodas that could be stored in a secondary dimension and summoned anytime was extremely expensive. Usually, when a Mage summoned their Mage Pagoda, it meant that they had decided to stand their ground and fight on that spot. This was because most Mage Pagodas did not have as strong teleportation powers as the Palace of Hidden Spells.
A Mage Pagoda was a trump card. Since it had been summoned, it meant that Ravenlaude was no longer holding back. He was going all out.
“Black Star, you’re indeed stronger than me… but it won’t be that easy to defeat me!”
Ravenlaude bit his lip. His pride as a Beyond Grade A was harmed, and his will to fight was flaming.
The mechanical army immediately activated the space stabilization device. However, inside the Dark Purple Arena, the thick magic energy weakened its effects. Ravenlaude was also doing all he could to keep the summoning portal stable.
The Mage Pagoda extended out bit by bit. Silver Flash and the mechanical army shifted the target of the long-range attacks to the Mage Pagoda. Large defensive runes appeared on the Mage Pagoda to protect it, like a translucent purple light energy shield. It stopped the bombardment and vibrated nonstop as explosions and sparks erupted on its surface.
Ravenlaude used his magic energy at maximum capacity. Dark purple light glowed from his body. In the process of summoning the Mage Pagoda, his mobility would be reduced tremendously. The thick layers of arcane shields protected his casting from being interrupted.
Suddenly, the space behind him rippled. Mad Sky Hunter, who had a short distance teleportation ability, teleported right inside the shields. With his sharp blades and teeth, he pounced right at Ravenlaude.
In the blink of an eye, Ravenlaude hastily turned his body, and Mad Sky Hunter slid past.
The arcane energy slapped Mad Sky Hunter away. He then looked down. His ribs and the side of his leg were slashed right open with deep wounds. He could see his flesh moving inside, trying to close the wounds.
Before he could do anything else, Psionic Prime appeared. His spear stabbed forward as fast as a meteor, leaving only afterimages behind.
The Psionic Prime Spear’s ability to penetrate shields was a major counter to him. The summoning was near its end. In order to block this attack, he had to cast spells and stop the summoning. Ravenlaude clenched his teeth and decided to just not dodge it. He had to summon the Mage Pagoda even at the price of being injured.
Whoosh!
As usual, the shield was penetrated with ease, and the spear stabbed right into Ravenlaude’s chest.
The taste of blood gushed up his throat. Ravenlaude ignored it and completed the last part of the summoning spell.
“Descend!”
Boom!
The entire Mage Pagoda was finally summoned. It released an extremely powerful magic energy impact wave that stirred up a tornado, blowing all the mechanical soldiers away onto the inside wall of the Dark Purple Arena, including the Apostle Weapons, damaging them twice.
This was a tall crystal tower. Its base was an enormous disc. Overall, it looked like an enlarged chess piece. Colorful magic streams flowed within the crystal, and countless runes and magic arrays formed a slowly spinning sphere shaped barrier that shrouded the Mage Pagoda.
Ravenlaude coughed a few times, casually created a light green healing magical sphere, and stuffed it into the penetrating wound made by Psionic Prime to stop the bleeding. Then, he flew into the Mage Pagoda, connecting his own magic energy with the energy core of the Mage Pagoda. Only then were they fully linked.
The next second, rows of black holes appeared at the bottom of the Mage Pagoda. Tons of magic puppets and colossi swarmed out. Right after, teleportation tunnels appeared all around, and countless monsters were summoned, charging toward the mechanical army.
Psionic Prime swung and spun the spear in his hands, shooting out waves of light, easily slashing the colossi and monsters in his way in half, creating empty areas in the pile of enemies.
At this time, Ravenlaude’s voice sounded in the entire arena like thunder.
“Since you desire battle, enjoy it to the end. Come, Black Star!”
“A Beyond Grade A Mage at full performance… I can’t disappoint the lord’s trust!”
Electric sparkles flashed in Psionic Prime’s eyes. Unafraid, he led the mechanical army and charged forward.
The army of two slides collided!
…
Long after the dynasty’s fleet arrived at the scene, what they saw was a wreckage.
Shattered gems, flesh, and machinery floated in this area. There were also countless radiation reactions in the cosmic space created by high energy explosions. A heavily damaged Mage Pagoda floated, covered in burnt holes and cracks. The magic light around it dimmed completely. It had clearly experienced an extremely tough battle.
The dynasty fleet did not see signs of the mechanical army, so they sent people into the Mage Pagoda and found Ravenlaude, who was leaning against the wall. His clothes were tattered, and he was in a mess. His body was covered in wounds, and there were piles of dried golden blood marks on the floor. A magic staff that was broken into two lay beside his feet; the cut was as smooth as a mirror.
“You guys… ahem… finally came.”
Ravenlaude’s voice was weak. He stood up with the help of the wall. A few dynasty soldiers quickly approached to help.
“What happened? How have you ended up like this‽” Bekorodi, who was remotely commanding the troops, was shocked.
The opponent was just Black Star’s mechanical army. Even if Ravenlaude failed, as a Beyond Grade A, how did he end up this badly beaten‽
Bekorodi thought of a possibility and asked, “Was Black Star’s original body here?”
Ravenlaude shook his head, gasped for air, and said, “No, he wasn’t.”
“Oh… so you should have annihilated the mechanical army and obtained the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, right?” Bekorodi asked. No wonder there were no signs of the mechanical army. He felt that this was the most likely outcome.
Ravenlaude shook his head again with a complicated expression. “No, I was defeated.”
Bekorodi’s expression stiffened. “So, you’re saying, you, a Beyond Grade A, came personally and even used your Mage Pagoda, but you were defeated by one of Black Star’s mechanical armies that didn’t even have a Lord’s Avatar?”
Bro, what is this?
Aren’t you too weak‽
Seeing Bekorodi’s expression, Ravenlaude knew full well that he despised him. He felt embarrassed and said with a deep voice, “You know nothing about Black Star’s strength!”
Then, he repeated the process of the battle in detail and made an accurate analysis on Han Xiao’s current level of strength.
“I once fought Mechanic Emperor, and the impression he gave me is still vivid. Black Star has definitely touched the level of God’s Trait Transformation, which is why his Apostle Weapons and mechanical army have the power to defeat me!”
Unknowingly, while listening to the report, Bekorodi’s expression had become extremely serious.
After a long silence, he finally slowly spoke.
“Black Star’s strength hasn’t grown for about twenty years. I used to think he needed more time to get through that barrier. I didn’t expect him to have grown again this soon.”
During the version update, Han Xiao did not level up much, so it looked like he had run into a wall, which made the outside world relieved. They thought that he had finally reached his limit for the time being.
Bekorodi had thought the same. But now, seeing how beaten Ravenlaude was, he knew that Black Star had found the path forward again. Twenty years was not a short time, but compared to the growth of Beyond Grade As, this was way too quick!
With a deep exhale, Bekorodi said in a solemn tone, “Report what happened to Her Excellency and only put this intelligence in confidential documents. Do not leak it.”
At this moment, he made the right choice. Hiding the fact that Black Star had become stronger was not because he wanted to but because he knew that the Ruler Urranrell would definitely give that order.
Although Bekorodi did not like Black Star, he knew that hiding the strength of the dynasty’s allies was beneficial for the dynasty. Even though his precious Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy had been snatched away, he still had to suck it up and clean up after Black Star.
“Retreat.” With resignation, Bekorodi ended the operation.
“Our deal…” Ravenlaude spoke and hinted at the mess with his eyes. His meaning was clear. I gave my all. At least compensate me for it.
“The dynasty will compensate you for the repair fees of your Mage Pagoda and your colossi. As for the Universal Treasure… sorry, you did not complete the mission, so I can’t give it to you. Those are the rules,” Bekorodi said with a poker face.
He did not want to speak of this matter anymore and ended the communication.
Ravenlaude clenched his teeth with anger.
Not only was his Mage Pagoda broken, but his colossuses were also all destroyed, and he was beaten up. Plus, the Universal Treasure that he had been looking forward to was gone as well. It was a complete loss!
Ravenlaude rubbed his face.
I took this heavy beating for nothing!
Black Star, you *sshole. We’re allies, but you really didn’t hold back!
Remember this, I’ll get you back for this one day!
The Tyrant was bullied by Black Star before. I’ll go find him!
He was only angry because he was beaten up by Han Xiao. As for losing the Universal Treasure, he did not blame Han Xiao for it. Without Black Star, Secret Master would most likely have gotten it. He was still sensible in this respect…
But I’m still so angry!
…
Back at the initial battlefield, the Lord’s Avatar and the mechanical army were still fighting intensely with Secret Master.
At this time, the Lord’s Avatar suddenly paused. The army stopped firing and backed away.
“Hmm?” Secret Master frowned. He held the magic axe in his hands and did not throw it out. “Why did you stop?”
Han Xiao waved his hand. “I’ve got it. There’s no need to fight anymore. But if you still are not satisfied, I can continue accompanying you.”
Secret Master went silent.
He had already been stalled for way too long. He had lost track of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy long ago, so there would be no way to chase after it. He initially wanted to teach Han Xiao a lesson with his secret luck spell, but this guy turned out to be the unluckiest person he had ever seen. His luck could not have been any worse. According to any fortune telling, he should have died young. Therefore, technically, he should have died long ago, but he became someone this powerful and strong.
To be honest, Secret Master actually felt a little respect for Han Xiao. To be able to come this far with such a tragic fate, he had to give him his respect.
Since anything related to luck was useless to Black Star, Secret Master could only put up with it. After all, even if he tore the Lord’s Avatar apart, it would not cause too much damage to Black Star… not to mention the fact that he could not even tear it apart.
“You’ve won today.” Secret Master gave Han Xiao a meaningful look. He then sent a voice message with mind energy to Han Xiao alone. “Since you’re unlucky to a pitiful level, I’ll give you a heads up. Gorutan might be plotting something against you.”
Han Xiao was stunned for a moment. “You’re warning me? Are you this kind-hearted?”
“Humph.” Secret Master did not reply. He turned around and returned to his spaceship, departing with his fleet.
Watching Secret Master leave, Han Xiao thought those words.
Han Xiao remembered that both Secret Master and Gorutan were protectors of the Galactic Black Market, so they should be in the same faction. He had destroyed Secret Master’s plan to get the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, yet he had warned him and sold Gorutan out.
“Looks like there are internal conflicts between the protectors of the Galactic Black Market too. Could it be that the fewer the protectors, the more profit each one gets?” Han Xiao pondered.
As the battle between the two of them ended, the rubbernecking organizations also scattered.
To most organizations, although they did not gain anything, they had taken part in a major event, so it was worth it. With first-hand information, they would have plenty of chances to brag about it in the future.
The Modo Civilization, however, became the biggest loser of this incident.
They did not even touch the tip of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, and more than eighty percent of their Calamity Grade elites had died for it.
“What a tragedy…”
Han Xiao expressed his sympathy.
As the fight for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy came to an end and all the irrelevant people left, he could finally take a look at this treasure.
1036 Buy One Get One Free?
Psionic Prime led the others and slowly landed on the ground. There was a small black dot hovering one meter above ground. It was a Divine Mechanical Throne.
Han Xiao’s original body sat right on it with his eyes closed, focused on controlling the Lord’s Avatar and the remote troops. Blue-gold lightning sparked around his body and disappeared when more than a meter away from him, entering into the Quantum Infinite Distance Transmission Channel to enhance his troops afar.
The army stepped onto the ground, and Han Xiao opened his eyes at the same time.
“Welcome back.”
“Lord, we have not failed you.”
Psionic Prime walked at the front. He stamped the spear onto the ground, took out the magical container that sealed the Psionic Prime Spear, and offered it up with both hands.
Han Xiao looked over. Inside the translucent crystal ball was the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy that was sealed, shrunk countless times. It was like red fog that kept changing its shape.
“Well done.”
Han Xiao grabbed the magic ball and toyed with it a bit. He then looked at the troops before him.
This army had battled Ravenlaude and his peak strength. Their victory did not come easy. Tons of normal troops had been destroyed. Almost every mechanical soldier had wounds on their body, and the exterior armor of many of them had cracked open, showing their insides that were flickering with electric sparks.
Among the ten or so Apostle Weapons, four were paralyzed by Ravenlaude and brought before Han Xiao by the others, lying on the ground and unable to move. Han Xiao had to repair them himself for them to recover.
Apostle Weapons had the ability to repair themselves, but there was a limit. Once the damage they suffered exceeded a certain extent, or their tinder energy lowered beyond the warning line, they would enter a paralyzed or hibernation state. These four Apostle Weapons were all melee combat soldiers. Although they did not die at Ravenlaude’s hands, they had taken tons of damage.
“You’ve done a good job.” Han Xiao nodded. He raised his palm. Four silvery-white nanoparticles flew out and fused into these four Apostle Weapons. Their bodies shivered, and their exterior damage started to slowly recover.
“Leave them like this for the time being. I’ll have to give them a full repair inside the secondary dimension factory for them to fully recover.” Han Xiao then stared at Psionic Prime and smiled. “So, have you anything learned?”
Psionic Prime nodded. “Our neurons and memory storage collected all the combat data. The database for fighting with Beyond Grade As has new examples and is more comprehensive. The next time we fight with Ravenlaude or another Beyond Grade A Mage, we’ll be able to design more targeted strategies to decrease damage incurred and increase efficiency.”
Apostle Weapons were all mechanical lives with growth potential. Their learning ability was very powerful. The fighting process with all kinds of strong opponents would become part of the Apostle Weapons’ combat experience that would make them stronger, or even acquire special combat techniques.
“Very good. This is the first time you guys have defeated a Beyond Grade A at his fullest without the help of a Lord’s Avatar. I’m very satisfied with the results.”
Han Xiao gave them a few compliments. Then, he let the machinery set up space stabilization traps and shattered the magic ball with his hand.
Ravenlaude had only just sealed the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy when it was snatched away by Secret Master, so there was no time to set any magic arrays or whatnot. Brute force was all it took to break the container. Nonetheless, only Beyond Grade As would be able to break something like this so easily; Calamity Grades would not be able to.
Ka-cha!
The crystal magic ball exploded and turned to dust.
Boom!
The moment the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy came out from the ball, it instantly expanded and wanted to escape to the secondary dimension. However, the mechanical army had set up the trap, so it could not escape.
This time, Han Xiao raised his hand, opened his palm, and performed a pull gesture at the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
Whoosh!
A powerful absorption force erupted from his hand. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy flew to Han Xiao and entered his body. The red energy cloud was soon completely absorbed.
“Hiss!”
Han Xiao inhaled deeply, and red light shot out from his eyes.
According to the research the Universal Civilizations had on Primal Esper Ability Entities, only Espers and ordinary people could become owners. However, Han Xiao planned to test out how true this information was with his own body. After all, his first choice would, of course, be himself using it. He had to try to see if he was suitable.
He was not worried about failing. The damage caused by not being a compatible owner could kill Calamity Grades, but it would at the very most only cause a little bit of damage to Beyond Grade As. Plus, he humbly felt that his regeneration ability was not too bad, so he was not afraid at all.
Cells were the residence of Primal Esper Ability Entities. As soon as the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy entered his body, it automatically fused into each and every one of his cells. Intense agony exploded in Han Xiao’s body!
Han Xiao could clearly feel that due to the difference in Energy Attributes, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and his own energy conflicted and produced a feeling that was similar to rejection. The more Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy his cells absorbed, the more intense the pain became.
However, compared to the pain he went through during Promotions, this was child’s play. Han Xiao frowned slightly, opened the status bar in the interface, and looked at it.
_____________________
Your body has been invaded by a Primal Esper Ability Entity. Due to repelling Energy Attributes, you’re receiving 30,000 – 50,000 erosive damage every second.
You have entered the [Cell Suppression (Energy Conflict Type)] state. Due to energy erosion, the cells that provide you energy are suppressed. -30% Health, energy, and stamina recovery efficiency.
You have entered the [Slightly Weakened] state. The energy erosion has made your body weak. -15% all attributes. -15% maximum health and energy.
You need to use extra energy to suppress the Primal Esper Ability Entity. Your maximum energy has been reduced by 40% temporarily.
_____________________
“Huh, that’s a ton of debuffs.” Han Xiao’s mouth twitched.
His original plan was that even if he turned out to be unsuitable, he could try to forcefully endure the load brought by the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy with his regeneration ability, so he would be able to use the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. However, when he saw all these debuffs, he knew that this would not work.
“Looks like I won’t be able to become the owner.”
Han Xiao shook his head. The energy in his body vibrated and immediately pushed out the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, which made him feel refreshed instantly. All the debuffs from earlier disappeared.
Before the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy could do anything, Han Xiao took out a containing device for energy entities that had the appearance of a seventy-centimeter-long pipe. Its middle was yellow nano glass. Without saying a word, he contained the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy once again.
Seeing the mini Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy inside bashing left and right but not able to pass through the specially-made energy restraining field, Han Xiao shook the pipe and made the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy roll over a few times. He chuckled.
“Although I can’t become the owner, with my technology, it won’t be hard to make use of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. Mages can seal it in a special colossus and turn it into a fighting puppet, so I can build a special mechanical body to become the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s host too. I shall artificially create a mechanical owner. However, it’ll take a lot of testing to find a way to build the host…”
Han Xiao thought about how to deal with the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
However, at that moment, a weak psychic wave escaped from within the container that was filled with a sense of resignation. A sexless voice suddenly appeared in Han Xiao’s mind.
“Hi, Mr. Beyond Grade A, can we have a chat?”
Hmm? The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy is talking? Right, this guy is an independent life form that has a conscience.
Han Xiao raised his brows, looked at the contained in his hand with interest, released his psychic barrier, and formed a psychic communication link with the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
“You’re the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy?”
“This is just what you people call me. My real name is Mossenil Kad Piroye ‘Red Spirit’ Dito…”
After dozens of words, the name still had yet to finish. Han Xiao could not take it anymore and interrupted its self-introduction. “Stop, it’s too troublesome. I’ll just call you Ah K.”
“Ah… Ah K…”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s tone was stiff. It probably had never heard such a nice nickname before.
“Don’t mind the details. What did you want to talk to me about?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“What do you plan to do with me?”
Han Xiao thought about it and told the truth. “I plan to build a host that can contain you, to make you fight for me. If that doesn’t work, maybe I’ll find a new owner for you.”
“As expected.” The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, however, was not angry about it. “I’ve seen many Beyond Grade As. When I fused with you earlier, I found that you’re one of the few stronger ones even among Beyond Grade As. I’m powerless to resist, so I’ll let you do whatever to my body. Be gentle, ok? I don’t like it rough.”
Why did the way you said that sound kind of weird?
Han Xiao coughed and said with curiosity, “You’re going to become my puppet, so aren’t you angry?”
“My life is longer than you can imagine. I’ve experienced everything there is to experience. It’s not like you’re the first one to want to control me. You’re just another passerby in my life.” The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s tone was casual and carefree.
“… Didn’t expect you to be so open minded.”
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched, and he did not know how to describe this.
“If you’d lived as long as I, you’d know the feeling of loneliness. It’s the most horrifying feeling in the entire universe. Therefore, I hibernate most of the time. In fact, the experiences I have fighting alongside my owners are the more exciting and colorful memories.”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was very honest. As an ancient Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy that spent most of its time sleeping, he had no need to hide his real thoughts.
Han Xiao suddenly thought of what had happened to Evans not long ago and asked, “So, you actually are eager to find an owner?”
“During my hibernation, I let my sub-bodies find compatible candidates everywhere, and when the day comes that I’m interested in it, I’ll find an owner to start a new adventure.
Han Xiao’s cheeks twitched.
What’s going on with the world? Even Esper Abilities look for spare tires‽
Ptooey! Bad Esper Ability!
However, this explained what had happened to Evans—it was a story of a side chick becoming the main chick.
There are way too many things wrong with this…
“You’re so cooperative now, so why did you try to escape just now?”
“I like to be on the controlling side… but I can still enjoy being on the passive side,” the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy replied.
Han Xiao rolled his eyes. So, basically, it’s because you have no choice but to cooperate because…
He initially thought that the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy would resist and fight to its death, but to his surprise, the truth was so refreshing and novel.
However, it made sense when he thought about it. For an energy entity that had lived this long, few things probably mattered. It definitely resisted when it was caught the first time, but once one let that bottom line be crossed, one would start to fall into an endless abyss.
Han Xiao somewhat understood why the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was like this—it was ancient indeed, but without enough strength, how ancient it was did not matter.
As someone once said, ‘If you cannot fight it, enjoy it.’
As time passed on, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy slowly developed this personality of not caring about anything.
This time, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy actively started a new conversation and asked, “It’s been so long since I awakened. What’s the situation in the universe now? What major events have happened in the past years? Who are you? Tell me, tell me.”
“Since you’re so cooperative, I’ll tell you…” Han Xiao shook his head. Through the psychic link, he quickly transmitted tons of data to the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy sensed the data joyfully. “Looks like while I was asleep, quite a number of big things have happened in the universe. I recall that when I fell asleep, the Beyond Grade As were not the ones existing now, and there were not this many of them.”
“So, how long did you sleep for?” Han Xiao asked.
“Hundreds of years? A thousand years? Sigh, why would I remember that? Time is meaningless to me.”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy sighed and said in a fond, reminiscent tone, “Before the birth of Beyond Grade As, us Primal Esper Ability Entities still existed. Not to toot my own horn, but think about it. In the era when individual powers had yet to reach the Beyond Grade A realm, we represented peak strength. Countless people yearned for our power… Our era only ended when Beyond Grade As appeared.”
Primal Esper Ability Entities were extremely ancient. They definitely had a glorious history in the distant past. They might even have been the ‘protagonists’ of some era.
This seemed to be a group of people with quite a lot of stories to tell.
Han Xiao suddenly thought of something. “Then, do you know where the other Primal Esper Ability Entities are?”
“So much time has passed. I lost track of where they went long ago…” This time, Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy paused. He then suddenly changed his tone, which became motivated and energetic. “However, I might know where one guy is. If you’re interested, I can help you capture him.”
“… Why are you suddenly so excited?” Han Xiao responded doubtfully. Could it be that you like to beat up your teammates too?
“Truthfully, that guy is my arch enemy. I’ve never liked him. We fought every day long ago, and countless owners died. If you’re interested, I’m very willing to help,” the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy said with anticipation.
Han Xiao was a little surprised to hear this.
Not only did he capture the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, but he now got a surprise gift? Buy one get one free?
Damn, I didn’t even bring Feidin here!
Could it be that when Secret Master pitied me earlier, he secretly increased my luck?
Hmm, or maybe this is a scam.
Han Xiao caressed his chin and asked, “What’s its name?”
“Its name is Na… Oh, according to what you guys call it, it should be the Holy Light Particle.”
Holy Light Particle?
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
This was a familiar name too. In his previous life, it served the same host as the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. It was Evans’ second Esper Ability.
As a crucial character in the EsGod storyline, Evans had quite a number of protagonist type opportunities. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy wanted him to help it take back the part of its body that EsGod had taken away, so it helped Evans become stronger at all costs. It probably had told him about the Holy Light Particle like it did Han Xiao.
Evans, however, had a very unique body, which shockingly happened to be compatible with the Holy Light Particle too. The two Primal Esper Ability Entities somehow achieved an agreement, let go of their past beef, and decided to share their owner. At that time, Evans was the first ever owner of multiple Primal Esper Ability Entities in the history of the universe.
Speaking of which, the man was quite talented. Even though he could no longer be an owner, recruiting him into the army would increase the army’s luck.
“No problem, no number of Primal Esper Ability Entities is too many. Where’s the Holy Light Particle?” Han Xiao was interested.
“As far as I know, it stays in a secondary dimension over very long periods of time. It’s a world made of materialized light; everything is made of colorful light. Solid light looks like bright gems, and liquid light looks like thick and dense milk…”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy described the dimension with as much detail as possible, clearly showing his strong hostility to his arch enemy.
At the same time, a notification popped up on Han Xiao’s interface.
_____________________
You have triggered the mission [The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s Arch Enemy]!
Mission Introduction: You have captured the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. It is a very casual guy. If you’re willing to help it handle a small problem, it is willing to fight by your side.
Mission Requirements: Defeat another Primal Esper Ability Entity, Holy Light Particle.
Reward: 2.4 billion Experience, 2 Character Summon Cards, activates special Milestone Mission—[Primal Esper Ability Collector].
1037 Gaud's Headache
Han Xiao glanced at it with interest.
Primal Esper Ability Entities were strong, but they were not much to him now.
Using a certain comic that he had read in his previous life as reference, Primal Esper Ability Entities were like tailed beasts, praised by the writer as something almost unbeatable at the start, but to those characters in the later stages of the comic…
What? Can this thing even kill anyone?
Similarly, the owner was like the Jinchuriki. If the Primal Esper Ability Entity met a powerful owner, it would have strong powers.
Looking at the mission reward, Han Xiao started planning.
In terms of this mission’s difficulty, it would require many Calamity Grades to form a team, so it’s considered a team mission for the later versions. Two Character Summon Cards, so probably the Character Summon Cards of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and Holy Light Particle.
To players, they basically cannot become the owners of Primal Esper Ability Entities, so Character Summon Cards are useful to them. To someone like me who can tame them, however, Character Summon Cards are just the cherry on top… But this Milestone Mission seems quite interesting…
Han Xiao had seen other special milestones in his previous life, which were usually all hidden missions. However, this was the first time he had seen this [Primal Esper Ability Collector] milestone. No one had ever triggered it in his previous life.
“Sounds exotic, but its effects are unknown. Maybe it’s more suitable for Espers.”
Han Xiao caressed his chin, thought about it for just a few seconds, and then put it aside.
No matter what this milestone was about, he was going to get the Holy Light Particle one way or another. He mainly wanted another Primal Esper Ability Entity, so the mission was just the icing on the cake. He would see about this special milestone when the time came; speculating would not lead to anything.
“I’ll agree to this then. Let’s make the Holy Light Particle come and accompany you.”
“So, when do we depart?”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy could not wait. It looked like it wanted to take revenge on its arch enemy, but according to what had happened in Han Xiao’s previous life, Han Xiao kept feeling like it was looking forward to seeing its old friend.
Hehe, Esper Abilities.
Han Xiao thought about it, shook his head, and said, “Not now, I have something to do. When the time comes, I’ll go find it.”
He still had some things to do. His priority was to build the King and Emperor’s Cape, the two pieces of gold equipment. Also, he had to invent and build a special host for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, the artificial mechanical owner.
This way, he would have a special mechanical guard that possessed a Super High Risk Esper Ability. Its Grade would be difficult to judge, as it would depend on the performance of the host. If he could turn it into a mechanical life, with the effect of the Esper Ability, it would have exceptional specifications.
Of course, there were precedents of this in the Mechanic class. The Beyond Grade As whom the Mechanic Emperor had captured were used as materials to make special mechanical puppets. Apostle Weapons were high-level soldiers provided by the class itself, but Mechanics could invent and create their own high-level soldiers.
On the other hand, the intelligence that Secret Master had given him made Han Xiao more certain that Hila was in a risky position. Therefore, his original body had to stay hidden in the Emerald Star Cluster and would only move when the opportunity came.
At the same time, players all over the universe were swarming toward the Flickering World. The World Server was forming very quickly. According to Han Xiao’s knowledge about the players, although he was having a great time harvesting leeks, due to how much the army players stood out, they might become the target of the players from the other factions. He had to stay there and see the direction of things. Due to the existence of the Black Star Army, the players in the Flickering World would, of course, take different actions compared to his previous life. Hence, he had to improvise and adapt.
Compared to the importance of these things, capturing the Holy Light Particle would have to be postpones. Not to mention the fact that he had to travel to a secondary dimension to carry out this mission, as well as find out which secondary dimension the Holy Light Particle was in.
“Alright, I’ll wait.”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy did not mind; it was not in a hurry. It understood that Black Star was its master, not an owner or tool like those before.
The only thing it was sad about was that it might be sealed in a lifeless mechanical body and not be able to communicate with anyone, which would be a lot less fun than playing with its owner.
“Sigh, I only found a perfect compatible owner not long ago. Sadly, I won’t be able to enter him.”
Han Xiao cut off the psionic link, put the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy into his pocket, and stood up. He stowed the Divine Mechanical Throne away, summoned his ride, and headed back with Psionic Prime and the others.
…
As dust settled around the ownership of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, all the participants who retreated did not keep it a secret. They quickly posted the recording of the event, which became the top news in just a few hours.
“The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy Appeared, Fell into Black Star’s Hands!”
The changes in the Flickering World affected the entire universe. The news about the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy appearing in the free competition zone and falling into Black Star’s hands quickly spread across the various Star Fields.
The galactic residents did not know much about Primal Esper Ability Entities, but the Super High Risk Esper Ability List was famous. Furthermore, the news mentioned the two popular terms ‘Flickering World’ and ‘Black Star’. There was even the recording of the battle venue. Hence, this news becoming a hot topic at countless dinner tables was not uncommon.
A few hours after this news, the production company of Wayne Cards made an announcement, expressing that they would be making the new Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy card and potentially adding it to the Black Star Army’s faction card set. Furthermore, they would be considering introducing the ‘Primal Esper Ability Entity’ set card. The way they rode the hype train was astonishing.
The players who liked to surf the internet saw this news too. While shocked, they learned the new concept of ‘Primal Esper Ability Entities’.
However, the popularity of this news mainly revolved around the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. Black Star had done way too many astonishing things. Compared to the major events in the past, this was not that big a deal. The countless galactic residents and players were used to it.
We knew how incredible Black Star is long ago. This is just a basic occurrence, so sit down.
…
At a certain military base of the dynasty, in a very crowded and noisy bar that was filled with loud laughter and cheers, the atmosphere was joyous. All the guests there were soldiers and officers wearing the dynasty’s uniform.
This military base mainly functioned as a training ground. Many dynasty soldiers accepted training there. As it was a half-closed base, it had internal entertainment venues, mainly bars. In the current era, the civilizations would not be too strict with the Super soldiers. They had quite good privileges and benefits. Even when training in an isolated base, they could still enjoy life to a certain extent.
Many Super key training camps were training there too, which consisted of those who were on the list of people the dynasty wanted to focus on training. Gaud was one of them.
A group of key training students were sitting at the bar. They were all Calamity Grades. They drank joyfully and chattered with each other.
Gaud was among them. He held his glass with a calm smile on his face, occasionally saying a few words, looking like he was quite sociable. It was a friendly atmosphere.
He got the most attention among all the training students. The Esper Ability he possessed had an extremely bright future. Hence, he had always been famous in the training camp.
Someone shook his head and said with a smile, “Among us, the one who has the highest chance of breaking through the Beyond Grade A limit is you, Gaud. It’s so hard to compete. Maybe we will all become your subordinates in the future. We’ll need you to take care of us then.”
“By the way, if you become a Beyond Grade A, what position do you plan to take on? You probably won’t make it as the Ruler’s guard, and the dynasty most likely won’t send you out, so you’ll probably be the commander of a certain army,” someone else said.
“It’s whatever for me.” Gaud smiled. His identity would be a direct Beyond Grade A of the dynasty, so his development direction would be different from the allies. He could be a part of the dynasty’s core authority like Clotti.
Someone laughed and jokingly said, “According to past conventions, we’ll likely join your team… Sigh, we might as well cheer for our future boss. You’re not going anywhere today before you get drunk.”
Gaud smiled and accepted the passion of his comrades.
While the atmosphere was exciting, Gaud suddenly caught a glimpse of the news that was playing on the virtual screen on the bar’s war. His face quickly stiffened, and his smile disappeared.
His abnormal response surprised his comrades. They looked over following his sight and saw that the screen was playing the news about the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy being snatched away by Black Star.
“Yo, Black Star did something again.”
“Incredible, no wonder he’s the next pillar the dynasty has chosen.”
“A few years ago, when I accepted the changes of the Evolution Cube, I met him up close and almost could not stop myself from wanting to ask him for an autograph.”
“Luckily, he’s the dynasty’s ally instead of the federation or the church. It’s a blessing for the dynasty.”
The others could not help but start chatting about this topic. Everyone there admired the strong. Many of them were fans of the various Beyond Grade A dynasty allies, and a number of them were Black Star’s fans.
At this time, Gaud put down his glass, stood up with a poker face, and coldly said, “I have something to attend to. I’m heading off.”
Without waiting for the others to respond, he passed through the crowd and left the bar, leaving his many comrades confused and exchanging looks.
What’s going on? What happened?
Gaud left the bar, quickly returned to his room, took out his communicator, and contacted Bekorodi.
After it rang for quite a while, the other side finally picked up. Gaud instantly questioned, “You told me to wait for the good news—is this the good news you spoke of?”
Bekorodi stayed silent for a few seconds before finally slowly replying. “Black Star’s interference was unexpected. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy is indeed in his hands now.”
“So, what do you plan to do?” Gaud was expressionless.
“I’ll try to save this, see if we can exchange something for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.”
Gaud stayed silent and did not ask what was going to happen if that did not work.
The dynasty was willing to give the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy to him for him to make full use of his Esper Ability and help him become a Beyond Grade A sooner. Then, he would be able to analyze the principles of the Evolution Energy. Without the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, the dynasty would still wait for him to slowly grow.
However, to Gaud, this meant that he had lost a powerful source of strength. Without the various special abilities of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, the specialized plan he had made for himself would be severely messed up, and he would not reach his strongest form.
This meant that his future maximum strength was directly reduced!
“Black Star won’t be able to use the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy himself. As long as we take out enough chips, he’ll be willing to exchange it. It’s not impossible. I…”
Bekorodi was still analyzing the situation when Gaud spoke and interrupted him.
“Let’s keep to that then. Notify me when there’s any progress.”
Then, Gaud hung up the call and frowned slightly.
He was in an extremely bad mood and did not bother wasting his time with Bekorodi. He knew that the chance of regaining the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was thin.
The dynasty would not overpay for a Primal Esper Ability Entity that was not completely necessary, and Black Star was a piece of sh*t who would never make a losing deal. From what he knew about these two sides, the odds of making the deal were infinitely close to zero.
Gaud shook his head and crossed out the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy in his mind.
With the power he had now, he had absolutely no way to interfere with the fight for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. The only way was to borrow the dynasty’s forces, and the dynasty had failed. Hence, he had no other options, and there was nothing he could do about it.
He had yet to fulfil his potential, while Black Star’s forces became stronger and stronger. Since the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was gone, he could only let it be. It was far from time to mess with Black Star.
“I thought that with the dynasty taking part, this would be in the bag, but you ruined it. Now, I have to adjust my growth plan… Tsk, Black Star, oh Black Star, you really give me a lot of trouble.”
Gaud was in a very bad mood.
…
Outside the remote communication room of the Modo Civilization’s Emerald Star Cluster stronghold, two soldiers who were stationed there were whispering.
“How long has it been since the commander and the inspector went in?”
“Probably almost an hour.”
“Looks like the Three Kings have summoned them. I wonder when they will come out…”
“Hey, the gate’s opening. Stand properly.”
The gate of the room slid open, the two guards quickly stood straight, stopped talking, and looked straight forward, acting diligent. However, their eyes uncontrollably shifted to glance at Commander Roddick and Inspector Lagos.
Roddick’s face looked like he was on the verge of exploding, while Lagos looked borderline depressed.
As the sacrifice of tens of Calamity Grade elites was completely meaningless, they had earned a thunderous scolding from the Three Kings of Modo, as well as their direct bosses. Their image among the upper echelons fell to rock-bottom.
Although he was just executing the mission given by the people above and the death of tens of Calamity Grades was not his fault, he could do nothing but take the blame. He was so furious that he had almost exploded.
Lagos had no way of comforting him. He asked hesitantly, “Our high-level combatants have suffered heavy losses. Like the Three Kings said earlier, that cannot occur. What do you plan to do?”
“It’s all because of Black Star!” Roddick clenched his fists tightly and said with rage, “If we continue to be this passive, Black Star will ruthlessly bite off our forces. Without solving this problem once and for all, similar things will keep happening.”
If we could stop Black Star, we would have… Lagos smiled bitterly with resignation and asked, “So, what idea do you have?”
“If we could kill Black Star…” Roddick was murmuring. He then turned around and immediately saw Lagos’s unamused expression, so he swallowed what he was going to say next. He thought about it and said, “By ourselves, there’s no way we can fight Black Star, so we can only borrow external forces. If we cause the Black Star Army a lot of trouble and make them have no time to deal with us, maybe we can mitigate the current situation.”
“For example?”
Roddick opened his mouth and felt helpless.
If something like this was so easy to think of, how could they have ended up in this situation? If they did not make some gigantic contributions, their promotion would probably never come.
In a certain area inside the Emerald Star Cluster, the exploration fleet of a small financial group was flying. Organizations like this were not strong enough to occupy resource rich planets; they could only gain profit through normal exploration or getting hired. This was very common in the current Flickering World.
This fleet mainly consisted of exploration ships and transportation ships. As a fleet used for expeditions, other than the necessary crews on every ship, there were also extra people who lived in a travel ship that was specially used to transport people. This ship mainly had life facilities inside. The number of people it could hold far exceeded functional spaceships such as exploration ships. Most staff who did not have crew duties stayed there usually.
This long-term travel ship was like a portable space station. It was bigger than even the industrial transportation ships in the team. It took care of manpower logistics, food supplies, and entertainment facilities. With how intense the competition was in the Flickering World, without daily benefits, it would be very tough to hire anyone. As a commercial financial group, their crew could not be considered truly loyal, so the treatment they got was one of the important factors that attracted more employees.
The hall of the space station was a multifunctional entertainment social venue. There were entertainment facilities and all kinds of stores, where the crew could spend money. The hall was on the bottommost floor, and above it were bridges made of transparent materials. The people in the hall could see the people above them walking by when looking up. Overall, it looked like a crowded and prosperous business square.
In one area of the hall was the staff canteen, which was boisterous and noisy. Staff from all positions could be seen there.
At the edge of the canteen, Evans sat at a table by himself, slowly eating his meal. His eyes were hardly open, staring down at the table and daydreaming.
He was still wearing the yellow protective suit but with the helmet open now. He looked ordinary and common like every typical ground crew member. In fact, ninety-nine percent of the people who took this job were ordinary people. They were the staff at the lowest level of the financial group.
At the tables around him, other ground crew workers filled the seats, chattering while eating, sometimes bursting into laughter. Occasionally, some people’s eyes darted past Evans, but they did not stop and ignored him completely.
Evans was used to this. Ground crew members were mostly normal people. Their work efficiency was not high, and many of them liked to slack off. Comparatively, he was hardworking and never lazed around, often completing his tasks beyond the minimum requirements. Therefore, he was always publicly praised by the team’s manager and even received some bonuses.
Due to his attitude, some of his colleagues started to urge others to isolate him, maybe because they were jealous, or maybe because they did not like an ex-convict who had just left prison. Gradually, more and more people stopped interacting with him.
Being boycotted, Evans did not mind it at all. He had never liked socializing with colleagues to begin with. After spending many years in prison, he had learned not to care about what others thought.
“Hmm? Evans, you’re sitting alone?” A voice that he recognized appeared beside him. Evans looked up, and a familiar person stood beside him holding the meal plate. It was the manager of the ground crew team he was in.
There were many teams in the ground crew department. This team manager was just a base-level officer who did not have much power. He was Evans’ direct boss who liked him.
“Since there’s no one sitting beside you, do you mind if I join your table?” the team leader said with a smile.
“Not at all.” Evans signed for the team manager to please sit down.
The team manager sat opposite him and chatted with Evans while eating. The ground crew members could no longer ignore Evans’ table, so they turned to greet their boss.
“Manager, you don’t have to help me for this,” Evans softly said with resignation. “I really don’t care about being disliked by others.”
“That won’t do. What happens if you delay your work because of a bad mood? The quota of our team might have to rely on you to be completed.” The team manager shrugged.
Evans smiled bitterly. This manager was a normal person, and a kind one at that. Because of his high work efficiency, the manager took extra care of him and was very friendly.
After gulping down the meal, Evans bade farewell to the manager, who was still eating, before standing up with the empty plate in his hands. He then went to the recycling window of the canteen and threw the plate in.
At this time, a few people in mechanical suits walked into the canteen. They were all bottom level mercenaries, and their faces did not look normal. There was a slight redness from excitement. They were walking in Evans’ direction and attracted his attention.
“Supers… looks like they’ve consumed some kind of stimulation drug and are high.”
Evans gave a few more looks to these people, and as he was just about to pass them by and leave the canteen, he suddenly heard the voice of a mercenary increase amid their conversation. One of them seemed very emotional.
“You don’t believe I’ve invented a new way to use my Esper Ability‽ I’ll show you then!”
Right after he said that, this excited mercenary clenched his hand. The air around him gathered and formed an invisible wind sphere. It then smashed right into the ground below him. The sphere of wind exploded and turned into tiny blades of wind that scattered and spread everywhere.
The financial group had a rule that the powers of Supers were not allowed to be used in public areas. If discovered, punishments ranged from paying a fine to being fired. However, these Grade D mercenaries who had just used mind stimulation drugs were in a state of overexcitement and had completely lost their senses. They totally forgot about this rule.
The people around panicked. The floor was filled with traces of slash marks, and the staff around backed away hastily.
As the power of this sphere of wind was limited, the others were not really injured. Evans, however, was the closest to it. He was blown away by the wind pressure, and his protective suit was cut open in many places.
A tint of bright red appeared in everyone’s eyes.
“Someone’s wounded!”
Many people immediately moved to rubberneck. The staff of the ground crew squeezed in too, but when they saw that Evans was the one who was wounded, their footsteps stopped as they hesitated over whether they should help him up or not. While they were hesitating, the team manager already quickly walked up and helped Evans up before looking at his wound.
“Where are you wounded? Let me see.”
“Just a small wound, I’m okay. Tsss…”
Evans tightened his face, but the twitch at the edge of his eyes showed that the wounds were quite painful. The wind blades had slashed open more than ten wounds on his body, all of which were bleeding. Very soon, the protective suit was dyed red.
A few patrol guards heard the fuss and ran over.
“What’s going on ‽”
The team manager pointed at these mercenaries with anger and said, “They violated the rules and used an Esper Ability in a public area, causing a crew to be wounded.
The guard frowned and looked at the scene, noticed that Evans was injured, and then looked at the few mercenaries. He asked with a deep voice, “Is that true?”
After this accident, these few people were more awake. The mercenary who had thrown the sphere of wind coughed and said, “I did it unintentionally. It’s just an accident. I’ll go to ask for the punishment later.”
“Hmm, luckily, only one person was hurt. You’ll be fined at most, not a big deal.” The guard comforted the mercenary a bit. He then turned to Evans, glanced at the ground crew uniform on his body, and said casually, “You’re Evans, right? It’s just flesh wounds. Get them treated at the medical room, and you’ll be fine. You won’t die.”
“That’s it?” The team manager was unsatisfied. “Not even an apology?”
The mercenary who had caused the incident glanced at Evans and said in a very perfunctory tone filled with arrogance, “This is my fault, sorry.”
No sincerity could be felt at all.
“What kind of attitude is that?” The team manager was resentful.
This time, the guard interrupted him. “That’s enough. He has already apologized, and his salary will be deducted later too. Don’t keep dwelling on it.”
Although the guard looked like he was doing what should be done, his attitude clearly showed the different treatment he gave to the two sides. He was a Super too. Seeing that this mercenary had only accidentally wounded a normal ground worker, he did not think it was a big deal. To him, although this mercenary had made a mistake, as long as he was willing to take the punishment, it would be best to give him some comfort. This was more important than a normal person.
This mercenary looked like this was completely normal. Seeing that Evans would not die, he did not bother looking at him anymore and turned around to casually chat with his friends.
This was witnessed by the people around. Many normal people had complicated expressions on their faces.
Most Supers did not care about how affected ordinary people, and the ordinary people knew that very well. Even though the other party apologized and accepted the punishment, he still did not care at all. Seeing this, most present felt a flame burning in their chest.
Supers having privileges was a rule silently accepted in the entire universe, and there was nothing they could do about that.
This time, Evans pulled the team manager a little and stood up by pressing on his knees. Blood dripped onto the floor, splashing around everywhere. He endured the pain and said, “It’s okay. It’s just not my day. Bring me to the medical room.”
The team manager gave the other side a glare and gave up on arguing. He then assisted Evans and walked out of the crowd.
“It’s all settled. Nothing more to see here.” The guard waved the crowd away.
However, at this instant, a sudden change occurred!
Bang!
The spaceship suddenly trembled as if it had stopped in an instant. Even the internal shock absorption system could not eliminate the enormous inertial force. Everyone present staggered and fell onto the ground in panic.
“What’s going on?”
“Looks like the spaceship was forced to stop!”
“Did we meet galactic pirates‽”
While everyone was getting up anxiously and was about to rush out of the canteen to take refuge, the speaker inside the spaceship suddenly sounded and echoed through the entire fleet. Everyone could hear it.
“This is the Black Star Army. Your spaceship has been forced to come to a stop by us. There’s no need to panic. Our goal is only to find one person. His name is Evans. He works in your ground crew…”
As soon as the sentence ended, all eyes focused on Evans.
Swoosh!
In an instant, the area around Evans became empty. Everyone hid with shock.
The Black Star Army is looking for this guy by name‽
How did he get into trouble with the Black Star Army? And why are they putting in so much effort to find him? Does he have a secret identity‽
This time, Evans’ most ordinary appearance suddenly became mysterious in the eyes of everyone around him.
“Black Star Army?” Evans was stunned too.
Isn’t that an advanced organization I’m far from being able to encounter? Why are they looking for me? They probably have the wrong guy.
He turned to look at the team manager, but the team manager had let go of his hand long ago and hid to the side with fear on his face.
Evans was just about to say something when he suddenly realized that these guards and mercenaries had walked toward him and surrounded him.
“What are you doing?”
“Preventing you from escaping. Since the Black Star Army wants to see you, you shall wait here,” a guard said coldly.
Evans clenched his teeth. He breathed rapidly a few times, and only after a while did his fists open again. He then said with resignation, “Don’t worry, I won’t run. I want to find out what this is about too.”
The people waited there for a while. Suddenly, footsteps appeared outside, and a group of people walked in. The upper echelons who were usually arrogant and mighty were now all walking beside this group of Black Star Army warriors with their heads low. The warrior leader leading the group gave off a powerful energy wave. He was a Grade B, and he was considered a very powerful person to these bottom level workers.
The scene was so silent that no one dared breath heavily.
The group of them walked to Evans. The fleet’s commander pointed over and said, “He’s the person you’re looking for.”
“Hmm.” This Black Star Army’s Grade B warrior sized Evans up with a poker face. “You’re Evans?”
Evans took a deep breath. “That is indeed my name, but I have no past interaction with the Black Star Army. I think you might have found the wrong person.”
Hearing this, this Grade B team leader took out a resume and showed it to Evans. “Is this your resume?”
Looking at it closely, Evans nodded with shock. His face was filled with doubt and confusion.
The Black Star Army really is looking for me?
The Grade B team leader nodded. “That’s correct then. You’re the one we’re looking for. Follow me.”
“Wait a moment, I would like to know, why did you guys come for me?” Evans asked.
Everyone perked up their ears to listen to the reply.
They also wanted to know the answer to this question.
The Grade B team leader suddenly smiled, reached out his hand, and said passionately, “You’re a talent His Excellency Black Star asked to recruit by name. Brother, welcome to the Black Star Army.”
The entire venue became silent for an instant.
Boom!
Then, like a bomb, roaring voices exploded!
“What!”
The team manager shivered with his eyes wide open. The earlier guard and the mercenary were completely frozen with shock.
Everyone present was stupefied. Some even thought that they were hearing things. Countless looks of disbelief focused on Evans.
Did we hear that right?
That famous Beyond Grade A Black Star is recruiting a normal person by name‽
Could he be so talented that even a Beyond Grade A is tempted to recruit him‽
He’s definitely been hiding his talents, which is why we did not notice it all this time.
You really can’t judge a book by its cover!
Admiration appeared in everyone’s eyes.
That was especially so for the colleagues who isolated Evans. They were filled with regret and hastily looked down covered in sweat, worried about being noticed by Evans.
“Recruit… me?”
Evans was stupefied.
At this instant, he fell into a deep state of self-doubt.
What’s so incredible about me that even a Beyond Grade A is interested in me?
Could it be that it’s really like what I fantasized about when I was young?
That my body has sealed the power of the evil Universe Overlord, the Master of Destruction, Black Devil‽
…
At the same time, inside a mysterious base in a distant Ancient Star Desert, a few silhouettes were discussing the news about the appearance of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy inside the private conference room.
“Another Primal Esper Ability Entity has appeared.”
“It’s the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. We have to find a way to get it.”
“It has fallen into Black Star’s hands. Black Star is a Beyond Grade A who rose in the past few decades. His growth speed is astonishing. He won’t be easy to deal with.”
“Black Star can live for a very long time, but we don’t have so much time to wait. The Primal Esper Ability Entities are the keys to open the Third Sanctum. They must be obtained… Let’s make use of the products we’ve invented in recent years. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy is an important material for fusion. We must get it.”
“Sadly, EsGod’s body is in the Crimson Dynasty’s hands. Otherwise, his Esper Ability would be the best tool.”
“Speaking of which, things on Thousand Shadows’ side are almost maturing. We can expect to harvest it after some time.”
“Before the promised date arrives, we have to finish preparing the awakening ceremony.”
“The honor of the Primordial Ones shall never wither.”
1039 EsGod's Destined Arch Enemy!
A spaceship stopped beside the dark satellite, and the hatch opened. Calamity Grade Shadows pushed the various prisoners they had captured from different Star Fields down with a poker face. The prisoners were mostly Calamity Grades. There were also low-grade Supers with special abilities.
These prisoners were covered in restraining devices and were extremely weak. They had no power to fight back at all. The scene looked like cooking dumplings. Every time someone fell onto the surface of this dark satellite, there would be one wave of black energy engulfing it. The next second, that person would disappear.
This was how Thousand Shadows’ servants replenished shadows for him. There were close to a thousand prisoners in this batch, and they were all consumed by the planet-sized Thousand Shadows.
At this time, the space beside the spaceship suddenly rippled. A blurry silhouette suddenly appeared. It was wearing a hooded black robe and did not show its face or body. The edges of the silhouette looked like flames, as if it was emitting gas. Overall, it looked like a black cloud. This was not a remote projection of the quantum network but some kind of mind projection. Only Thousand Shadows and his Shadow Servants could see it.
The next second, the planet surface of Thousand Shadows suddenly started moving violently, forming huge black tsunamis. Very soon, a face appeared on the planet’s surface, just eyes, nose, and mouth formed by energy vortexes. It was opening its mouth wide as if it was roaring.
Two invisible psychic waves were released from both sides and formed a psychic communication link.
“How’s the progress? How long is the transformation going to take?” The blurry silhouette spoke first.
“I don’t know. Thousand Shadows is very persistent.”
“How conscious is he?”
“Not very. I obtained control of his body long ago and inherited all of his memories. As soon as I completely consume his last bit of conscience, it will dramatically increase the speed of the transformation.”
“Make it as quick as possible. You’re a core factor of our plan. We’ve tried many methods in these years. In the end, we discovered that, in order to open the Third Sanctum, it can only be done with Esper Abilities. Therefore, you’re the foundation of our fusion ceremony, the vessel to contain the other Primal Esper Ability Entities.”
“Don’t worry. Back then, Thousand Shadows wanted to live for eternity and vitalized me using your technology. Humph, this greedy guy brought this upon himself. He exceeded the limits of his physical body, but he suffered damage from it. You guys have given me life and independence. When I transform into a true Primal Esper Ability Entity, I will be able to help you.”
“Hmm, when the plan is complete, we promise you freedom.”
After that, the blurry silhouette disappeared without a trace.
The surface of the dark planet slowly returned to normal after the face disappeared.
…
The news about the appearance of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy only remained as the hot topic for a few days. In the current Flickering World, conflicts were abound, so the popularity of the news shifted very rapidly. Very soon, there was other news that attracted the attention of the galactic residents and the various organizations.
As the final winner of the competition, Black Star’s mechanical army also received a certain amount of attention. However, it quickly disappeared without a trace, and its whereabouts were not known to the outside world.
At this moment, Han Xiao’s invisible spaceship was hidden nearby Hila’s territory in the Emerald Star Cluster. He was currently calling Ames.
“… So, that’s the situation. I invited you over as a guest to protect Hila, make it look like I’m in my base to make the hidden enemies let their guards down, and have you help protect the base and look after Aurora… Therefore, I really did not stand you up on purpose.” Han Xiao’s tone was filled with resignation.
On the screen, Ames was playing with a small green force field sphere with her eyelids hanging low. Despite her calm tone, it gave off a strange vibe of danger.
“If you’d told me directly, I would’ve helped you too. Do you not trust me?”
“How could that be? Didn’t you want to see Aurora after she advanced? Well, now you’ve seen her. Plus, when I invited you, I didn’t say anything about me wanting to see you.” Han Xiao scratched his head and joked, “I didn’t say it directly mainly because I wanted to be polite. I know that as long as I ask, you definitely will agree. After all, I’m already so strong now. I’m worried you might think I’m ordering you.”
“Hehe, you didn’t order me sure, but I feel like you’re using me. Doesn’t that seem worse?” Ames narrowed her eyes. A green tint flashed across her eyes.
“Hey, that’s not true at all. With the relationship we have, using the term ‘use” is exaggerating it.” Han Xiao waved.
“Is that so? You’ve used me many times in the past.” Ames smiled every so faintly.
“That’s in the past. Things are different now. Our two organizations are intertwined. We’re a family. As family, well, it’s normal to occasionally joke around…”
“Tsk, who’s your family? Shameless.” Ames frowned slightly.
Seeing this, Han Xiao smiled and teased her. “Hehe, did you really want to see me so badly? Do you want me to go back and accompany you?”
“… Who wants to see you?”
Ames paused, deactivated the force field, and casually said, “Stay there to protect my student then. Do you need me to go over to help?”
“No need.”
“Because I’m too weak?” Ames raised her brows slightly.
“Ahem, of course not. It’s mainly because another thing needs your help. You have to stay in Black Star Palace and act as if I’m there too.”
“Since it’s for my student, I shall cooperate with your show… but don’t be in a rush to thank me. We have yet to settle the matter of you tricking me.”
“Alright, when I return, how about I accompany you on a sightseeing trip in a secondary dimension?” Han Xiao raised his brows. “Just the two of us.”
I’ll have to capture the Holy Light Particle in a secondary dimension too, killing two birds with one stone… I’m so brilliant!
“Okay, it’s decided then.” Ames had no objections.
Although she had been tricked into going all the way there, after stroking Aurora for the past few days, she was not really angry anymore.
If someone else had toyed with her and used her like this, Ames would have been furious for sure. But since it was Black Star who pranked her, she did not mind it too much—only those close to her could do something like this.
Furthermore, this reminded her of the past when Black Star kept using her despite being so weak. It made her feel nostalgic.
After chattering for a while longer, Han Xiao hung up the call and looked over at the workbench on the side.
He was currently inside the machinery workshop of the spaceship. His Mechanical Force was controlling all kinds of devices to build the King mechanical suit. To his side, there was already a pile of failed products.
He called them all failed products, but they were still all orange equipment, which could be considered rare equipment. Unfortunately, they did not reach the Universal Treasure level. Not only were their performances tremendously weaker, but they also had none of the incredible effects they were supposed to have. Plus, the cost was horrifyingly expensive. To him, these were undoubtedly failures.
After putting his communicator away, Han Xiao could finally focus on building this attempt at the King right in front of him. The [Spirit Instrument] talent on his interface constantly glowed. This talent would only be activated when building Universal Treasures.
However, when Han Xiao was more than halfway done, Phillip suddenly appeared and reported that some of the mechanical soldiers had already returned with Evans.
“Bring him over then.” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
After a while, the gate of the machinery workshop opened. A few mechanical soldiers escorted a man in. It was Evans.
As soon as Evans walked in, he saw a handsome and domineering black-clothed man looking at him with a faint smile, and he immediately became nervous.
“Your Excellency, are you Black Star?”
“That’s me.”
Han Xiao smiled and nodded as he sized Evans up. His first impression of him was ordinary, way too ordinary.
Evans felt that Han Xiao’s eyes seemed to be able to look right through him, like there was nothing he could hide in front of Han Xiao. He became even more anxious.
Although he was usually calm and levelheaded, even he could no longer maintain his cool when facing someone who stood at the top of the universe like Black Star.
Evans took a deep breath, found the courage, and asked, “Your Excellency Black Star, I’m just an ordinary person without Super genes. What part of me has caused you to be interested?”
Han Xiao smiled playfully. “Your physique is quite special, and I’m very interested in that.”
“Special physique?”
Evans was stunned. He looked down at himself and felt that he was basically the direct opposite of the word ‘special’.
“Anyway, don’t worry, as a Beyond Grade A, I won’t put in so much effort just to find trouble with an ordinary person like you. Your life is not in danger here. You just have to cooperate with my experiments at most. After that, you can take up an office job in the army, which pays way more handsomely than the financial group you worked for before. What do you think?”
“… You’ve already brought me here, can I still reject?” Evans smiled bitterly.
He had just come out of prison. He had come to the Flickering World both to gain knowledge and to make a living. He did not mind working for the Black Star Army at all. Plus, the pay would be much higher.
Seeing he had no objections, Han Xiao picked up a syringe and walked to Evans. He told him to stand still and sucked a vial of blood out of him.
Han Xiao was not lying. He did intend to run some experiments.
Evans had been the shared host of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and Holy Light Particle in Han Xiao’s previous life, so his physique was undoubtedly special. Han Xiao wanted to build the mechanical host for Primal Esper Ability Entities, so extracting and studying Evans’ cells would help to explain the reasoning behind his exceptional compatibility with Primal Esper Abilities, which would speed up the progress of the research.
On the other hand, Han Xiao also dealt damage to Evans by punching the needle into his body, so the combat information was triggered as well.
The Great Mechanic Han’s eyes sparkled as he opened the interface to see Evans’ attributes.
The attribute interface of an ordinary person was very simple; only two special talents attracted Han Xiao’s attention. One was [Medium Luck Glow], meaning he was a protagonist-type character, and it was only medium because while Evans obtained power, he also had a new arch enemy, EsGod.
The other special talent was called [Highest Grade Esper Ability Affinity Physique], and its effects were all related to the Esper class. It drastically increased his compatibility with Primal Esper Ability Entities. At the same time, when being attacked by Espers, it provided a certain chance to recover some of his health and energy. Plus, the difficulty of cultivating and exploring his own Esper Ability decreased drastically, while the power of his Esper Ability would be increased drastically. It even passively increased the potential of Esper Abilities by one grade.
No wonder he could possess two Primal Esper Abilities, this talent is basically the ‘Perfect Mechanical Sense’ of the Esper class. Its effects are way too incredible.
Han Xiao was astounded.
Usually, those with such talents should all be able to awaken as Espers, but sadly, Evans was an ordinary person. What a waste of this tal…
Wait a minute!
That’s not right. If he has this talent, how can he not have Super genes? Something must be wrong!
Han Xiao suddenly turned around with very bright eyes.
With Evans having an unwilling expression on his face, Han Xiao told him to take off all his clothes. He then obediently underwent a detailed full body check. Evans was broken in the past. Of course, he had no way to check his Super gene in some high-level facilities. Therefore, Han Xiao thought something might have been overlooked.
And with this check, he really found something!
Han Xiao looked at the report and frowned.
“W-what is it?” Evans wore his clothes back and was a little nervous.
“It’s not that you don’t have Super genes. I don’t know who did the check for you, but they did not check thoroughly enough.”
Evans was stunned.
He had always thought that he was an ordinary person with no talent. Never did he expect to have someone tell him today that he actually had talent. Even though he had gotten used to the identity of an ordinary person, he was still full of shock.
“But don’t get excited too early.” Han Xiao waved and spoke slowly. “There’s something wrong with your Super genes. It seems to be suppressed by some kind of drug. After so many years, your Super genes have shrunk so much that it’s almost impossible to be detected, so the chance of your Super genes awakening is close to zero. This was an act of man. Did you have any enemies growing up?”
Evans barely suppressed the boiling emotions in his heart and started seriously searching through his memories. He then said with uncertainty, “I accepted Super gene detection when I was ten. If someone did something like this, it must have been before I was ten. But how could I have made enemies when I was that young? Because of my family? But I only have a normal family. How could this be…”
His expression kept changing. He could live with not having any talent, but only today did he know that he initially had talent, but it was destroyed by someone when he was young!
His talent was not the only thing that was destroyed but his life in the last few decades too!
Evans had initially already accepted his fate, but now, the flames of wrath burned violently in his heart.
Clap clap.
Suddenly, Han Xiao clapped and interrupted his thoughts.
“Alright, don’t think about it if you can’t figure it out. You can research it in the future. Let’s talk about a more important matter. I might have a way to help you awaken.”
Evans’ entire body shivered. He suppressed his excitement and asked, “What do I have to give in return?”
“Simple. I initially thought you’re just an ordinary person, but if you can awaken your Esper Ability, just fight for me.” Han Xiao paused, smiled, and slowly said, “I’ve researched you. When you were an ordinary person like you have always been, to protect your friends, you found a way to kill a low-grade Super. Not every ordinary person has guts like you. You have fighting talent. You once refused to accept your fate, and the many years spent in the prison extinguished your passion, but now, you might have a chance to be reborn. I only hope you don’t waste it.”
“Okay,” Evans replied firmly. His eyes were filled with perseverance. The vibe he gave off became completely different from when he had already accepted his fate, like a sharp sword buried in dust that has been finally dug up and cleaned off the rust.
Seeing this, Han Xiao took out a bottle of life force potion made by Aurora.
Evans’ symptom was that his Super genes had shrunk and lost all activity. As long as enough life energy was injected, they would recover. The life force potion was the perfect medicine for this.
Han Xiao injected just one tenth of the golden medicine into Evans’ body so that he would not end up having overflowing life force.
Buzz!
The next moment, Evans started glowing and releasing strong vitality energy from all over his body.
This glow lasted many minutes before dimming down. Evans closed his eyes and stood at the same place, but he felt completely different. He could not be any healthier. All the damage incurred from his many years in prison and the rest of his life had all disappeared.
“How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been reborn.”
Evans opened his eyes. The gold light in his eyes finally dissipated. He looked at Han Xiao with appreciation in his eyes.
Han Xiao nodded with satisfaction and asked, “Have you sensed your Esper Ability?”
Evans frowned. He carefully sensed the changes that he had undergone but was a little hesitant.
“It does feel different, like I have a new sensory organ. That should be my Esper Ability, right?”
“Show it to me.” Han Xiao was curious.
Evans nodded. He then used all his strength to try to use it, but he realized that nothing happened at all, so he doubted himself. “I can’t seem to be able to control it. Did my Esper Ability really awaken?”
Anyone who had just awakened would become a Grade E Super, but despite being very weak, situations where Espers were not able to control their Esper Ability should not happen. Han Xiao frowned. He felt that this was not a simple matter, so he poked Evans another time with a needle to look at his combat information.
However, with just one glance, Han Xiao’s entire body stiffened, and he stood in place. He rubbed his eyes and almost thought he was hallucinating.
He looked at it for a total of more than ten seconds before he recovered from the shock. He looked at Evans with an extremely strange expression and murmured, “No wonder… no wonder…”
“Have you found out what my Esper Ability is?” Evans asked nervously.
Han Xiao took a deep breath, patted Evans’ shoulder with a complicated expression, pursed his lips, and said with deep meaning in his words, “You have to be a good person…”
Then, he did not care about Evans’ confused expression, turned his back to him, and roared in his heart.
You son of a bi*ch!
This kid’s ability… is also absorbing Esper Abilities!
Exactly the same as EsGod!
No wonder… now this guy’s uniqueness in my previous life all makes sense!
No wonder you’re EsGod’s arch enemy! Is this the choice of Steins;Gate‽
He had snatched the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy that led to Evans losing the opportunity to change his fate, so Han Xiao initially felt somewhat guilty and wanted to give him some compensation.
Now…
The Primal Esper Abilities are not good enough for you!
You are the biggest profit I’ve made on this trip!
1040 EsGod Raising Plan and Universal Treasure Creator
This was EsGod’s core ability, but it had appeared in Evans.
Han Xiao’s first response was to suspect what relationship Evans had with EsGod, then he instantly made up a two-million-word romantic novel in his mind. However, after thinking about the storyline in his previous life, he denied this possibility.
The chance of this being a coincidence was higher. In the universe, Espers who awakened the same abilities were not uncommon. Abilities like controlling fire, water, force fields and so on were basically everywhere. Therefore, another person being able to absorb Esper Abilities was not impossible.
However, a coincidence like this still made Han Xiao feel extremely weird. EsGod had been locked in Spacetime Amber by him just not many years ago, and now, a new ‘EsGod’ had appeared in the outside world… Could this be reincarnation? Did there always have to be an evil lord?
What a surprise, I’ve met an ‘EsGod’ at his newbie stage.
Han Xiao was pleasantly surprised.
Having [Esper Ability—Copy], Evans would certainly have to take the path of absorbing the Esper Abilities of others. His talents were suppressed by someone, but now he would have no choice but to take away others’ talents. This was all very dramatic and ironic to Han Xiao.
Obviously, without a firm belief, the way this Esper Ability was destined to grow would very easily make its owner fall to the dark side.
Evans, however, had experienced decades as an ordinary person, tasting the bitterness of being at the lowest level of the society, so he might not be as aggressive as EsGod.. Nonetheless, he might have some deeply buried hatred that could explode after being suppressed for too long, and no one could know if that would happen.
He’s a double-edged sword, Han Xiao thought. If he can be of use to me, he’ll have extraordinary potential. I have to guide him to be on my side as much as I can. He feels grateful to me, so he should be very loyal. If he someday shows any sign of decadence, I’ll have no choice but to kill him, so there won’t be a second EsGod.
Though powerful, what people were afraid of was not [Esper Ability—Copy] but EsGod himself.
In the hands of EsGod, all the abilities he absorbed had Beyond Grade A strength. Without his strength as the foundation. No matter how many Esper Abilities he absorbed, it would still make no difference.
Absorbing Esper Abilities was a way to obtain more combat methods, they were considered as abilities and would not increase one’s own levels and attributes. Therefore, in order for Evans to increase his Grade, there were no shortcuts. He had to slowly train just like the other Espers. Even though he was talented enough to have [Highest Grade Esper Ability Affinity Physique], he would still not be able to skip the process.
At the moment, Evans had only just awakened and was extremely weak, only around Grade E. Although the subject of comparison was that notorious EsGod, how long had EsGod lived? How much combat experience did he have? God knew how long it would take for Evans to reach the level of the Beyond Grade A.
Due to how extremely rare this Esper Ability was, Han Xiao wanted to plan his growing path for him so that it would not be wasted.
EsGod had already proved the limitations of [Esper Ability—Copy]. If he absorbed too many Esper Abilities, his genetic chain would be at risk of shattering.
This meant that the maximum number of Esper Abilities Evans could absorb would increase as his Grade increased. Once that limit was exceeded, he would die. Therefore, the situation of him having thousands of Esper Abilities when he was at a low Grade would never happen.
However, due to Evans’ physique, at the same level, the maximum number of Esper Abilities he would be able to absorb should be more than EsGod.
Also, [Esper Ability—Copy] did not guarantee a perfect success rate when absorbing Esper Abilities. EsGod had always absorbed Esper Abilities from Espers whose Grade was lower than his, so there were never any problems.
However, when absorbing the Esper Ability of someone at the same Grade or even at a higher Grade, the success rate would be extremely low.
Therefore, in order for Evans to absorb Esper Abilities from someone whose Grade was higher than his, there were extremely strict requirements. For instance, the target needed to be near death, or the target could be captured. Basically, it would only have a chance to succeed when the target could not resist.
“EsGod has been collecting Esper Abilities for so many years. He’s a high-quality material. The Esper Abilities he uses to battle are all quite powerful. Sadly, Evans won’t be able to do anything through the Spacetime Amber. If the seal is opened, EsGod will escape straight away. It’s only been a few decades; no way his conscience will have shattered this easily. For safety reasons, we have to keep him locked up for at least five hundred years.”
The amber blocked any and all energy. The outside world could not inspect the condition of EsGod, and he would not bear the risk of letting EsGod escape to open the seal.
Han Xiao put this thought behind and pondered about Evans’ growth path. He soon came up with some ideas.
“It’s not suitable for Evans to take EsGod’s path. He should plan what to absorb, quality over quantity, so he will benefit from it his whole life.”
EsGod was powerful indeed, but he had absorbed way too many Esper Abilities, which made his genetic chain reach the cusp of shattering. EsGod had no use for the vast majority of these abilities. Instead, they suppressed his strength.
Although the army at the super healer Aurora, Han Xiao did not want her to have too much contact with Evans. At most, he would let him use the life force potions.
One reason EsGod absorbed that many abilities was his ambition. He wanted to fuse the Super High Risk Esper Abilities to transform himself and break through the limit of peak Beyond Grade As, becoming an entirely new being.
Another reason was that part of EsGod’s ambition came from his experience. Han Xiao had read about his past before. When EsGod was weak, he had always been alone. He relied on himself for everything, and he could only trust himself. Therefore, he wanted to become almighty so that he would never need any friends.
However, Evans had no need to do that, so he had the luxury to only absorb useful and strong Esper Abilities. This might be a much more suitable path.
Seeing that Black Star faced away from him and did not speak for a while, Evans became more confused as time went on. Finally, he asked, “Your Excellency Black Star, I…”
Han Xiao regained his focus. He turned around and patted Evans’ shoulder. “Your ability can absorb the Esper Abilities of others. This is an ability with a lot of potential…”
As Han Xiao explained the ability, Evans then understood his own power but frowned. “I don’t really like this kind of Esper Ability…”
Evans looked conflicted. His talent had been suppressed for decades, so he did not like the Esper Ability that took away others’ talents.
Han Xiao uncontrollably rolled his eyes in his mind.
You think you’re buying groceries in the market? So picky.
The Great Mechanic Han then coughed and said with a friendly tone, “Don’t worry, since you’re now my man, I’ll guide your path. I won’t allow you to absorb abilities from others whenever you want, so you don’t have to be troubled. No one will force you to walk the path of a criminal.
“But, at the same time, I hope you can resist the temptation. Don’t have the thought of wanting to make someone else’s Esper Ability your own when you see how good it is. Don’t walk the wrong path because of a moment’s temptation.
“EsGod is the perfect lesson. He fell to evil, caused crimes everywhere, and created countless enemies. In the end, he was still locked up by the group of us and lost his freedom. Therefore, learn from his mistakes. Keep a low profile like me, understood?”
Hearing Black Star’s lecture, Evans nodded.
He had heard of the notorious EsGod. Despite having the same ability, he was not the same type of person. He warned himself in his heart to never forget where his heart was and never fall to the side of evil like EsGod.
Han Xiao said a few more words before telling some mechanical soldiers to lead Evans away.
He was the only one left in the room. He touched his chin and murmured, “This guy’s ability is worth raising. As long as he doesn’t take the wrong path, he’ll undoubtedly become someone strong in the future. As for how to help him obtain Esper abilities… Hmm, to me, this should be the easiest part.”
Han Xiao chuckled.
In his previous life, EsGod had tried absorbing the players’ Esper abilities, so Han Xiao understood that…
It was possible!
Although the players could revive, their bodies were made of existing materials. Other than having strange limitations and turning into light after dying, they would still bleed and get injured from normal battles. Only, the way this was displayed to them would be all kinds of debuffs.
In Version 1.0, there were even organizations that tried to dissect the players. Although, due to their health, not long into the dissection, the players turned into light. Nonetheless, the blood samples collected were no different from normal beings.
If an Esper class player was absorbed by EsGod, he would lose his Esper Ability too, entering the state of [Ability Frozen]. All abilities related to his Esper ability would become gray and unusable. This state was fixed and permanent; no ability could get rid of it, just like how the NPCs’ Esper abilities were taken away…
However!
When this player died and respawned, his status would be refreshed, and he would regain his Esper Ability!
This was related to the mechanisms of [Esper Ability—Copy]. The process of this ability could be simply explained as: Snatch → Analyze → Genetic Chain Construction → Fixation → Storage.
After snatching an Esper Ability, [Esper Ability—Copy] would break it down and analyze it, then store this ability in the owner’s body in a genetic chain. What constructed these genetic chains was a special matter produced by [Esper Ability—Copy], which was considered the material produced by the owner of this ability himself. Hence, it would not disappear as the players disappeared, just as EsGod would not lose his abilities when the original owner of the ability died.
Therefore, in Han Xiao’s previous life, a phenomenon where the players sold their bodies to EsGod in exchange for money appeared. This was something that had never happened before, and it led to the three Universal Civilizations having no choice but to come up with a special policy stating that if Immortals actively gave their Esper abilities to EsGod, they would be seen as wanted criminals. Of course, the players had all kinds of tricks to get past this policy, so this policy rarely had any effect.
Of course, EsGod was no philanthropist. Due to the limitations of his genetic chain, he would only absorb the abilities he was interested in. Otherwise, he would not absorb the players’ Esper abilities even if they came right to his doorstep to sacrifice themselves.
Also, this action of the players caused a hilarious misunderstanding. At the start, EsGod thought that this was the three Universal Civilizations’ plot to purposely send people over to die to make his genetic chain shatter. After killing many players, only then did he finally notice that these people were sincerely there to commit suic… to give him Esper abilities.
At that time, even the ever so calm EsGod had been completely astonished, which led to him saying one of his signature sentences among the players. “If I’d met you people earlier, I might have been able to become a good person.”
Thinking about that, Han Xiao uncontrollably grinned.
“So, I don’t even have to do much to help him get Esper abilities. All I have to do is give out a mission to the Esper class players, offering a high enough reward, and people will come forward themselves…”
This way, the millions of Esper players would be the largest material inventory!
Furthermore, no one would die; it was legal!
Although he had given Evans the clear path of choosing quality over quantity, with so many materials, he could slowly gather peak the Esper Abilities that complemented each other and form all kinds of strategies, achieving the most perfect combos!
Having this thought, Han Xiao was completely thrilled. At this time, a new plan was born in his head.
“Phillip!”
“Yes, hum…”
“Sketch up a new plan, the content is to record the various Esper Abilities of all the Esper Immortals under the army’s command. Then, according to the effects of these Esper Abilities, simulate all kinds of tactical combos that can be put together. Set the minimum to two Esper abilities, and set the maximum to ten Esper Abilities for the time being. Mark this plan with the highest level of confidentiality. Also, don’t mention Evans’ existence.”
“Okay, hum… This will only occupy a little bit of my memory. What’s the name of the plan?”
“Don’t have to name it. Just give it a serial number.”
Han Xiao really wanted to name it something like ‘EsGod Raising Plan’, but he thought about it and gave up that idea.
Although his database would basically never be hacked again, Han Xiao still chose to be low profile about this.
He had already made up his mind that before Evans matured, he needed to hide him as a secret weapon.
“Speaking of which, I have the Evolution Cube and the Spacetime Amber, and the army has Hila and Aurora. It’s indeed a little too conspicuous. If I even tell anyone I’m planning to create a second EsGod… tsk, the enemies will probably all want to rob me.”
Thinking of that, even Han Xiao shivered controllably.
He then rested for a while to digest all these emotions before getting back to the work he was doing earlier, continuing to build the King mechanical suit that was more than halfway done.
He did not know whether it was because of the incredible luck Evans had left in the room or not, but when Han Xiao completed the last process and at the instant the King mechanical suit was complete, a notification suddenly popped up on the interface.
_____________________
You have built a Gold Grade equipment (Universal Treasure).
You have benefitted from [Spirit Instrument].
You have received 1 God’s Trait Transformation Point. (Another cannot be obtained again through the same blueprint.)
One of your random attributes has been decreased by 200…
Randomizing, randomizing complete.
-200 Luck.
You have received 200 Free Attribute Points.
You have received Level One Bonus from [Spirit Instrument]: +2.5% basic success rate of building gold equipment, +1.2% basic success rate of inventing gold blueprints.
You have received a new talent, [Universal Treasure Creator]!
_____________________
1041 Targeting
_____________________
You have received 1 Legendary Point.
_____________________
“So, this is what the [Spirit Instrument]’s benefits are.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
[Spirit Instrument] was a class talent he obtained by default after becoming a Divine Throne Mechanic, which was only effective when building Universal Treasures. When successful, it would give bonuses. This was his first time seeing the exact bonuses it gave, and he was pleasantly surprised.
Previously, Han Xiao did not if there were any other ways to obtain God’s Trait Transformation Points, but now he had found one—building Universal Treasures.
The same blueprint would not provide multiple points, meaning even if he built another gold-grade King mechanical suit, he would not receive more God’s Trait Transformation Points. Hence, he needed to get more gold blueprints.
Han Xiao was curious. There were other Beyond Grade A Mechanics who had built Universal Treasures throughout history, but from the intelligence provided by the dynasty, this method of obtaining God’s Trait Transformation Points was not mentioned.
He had some speculations.
Some Beyond Grade As who successfully built Universal Treasures probably did not fulfill the prerequisites to obtain God’s Trait Transformation Points, so they could not notice this effect. For example, Austin.
As for those who knew, maybe they hid this information for their own purposes and did not report it… or the advanced civilizations kept this a secret deliberately.
It could even be that he was the only one who could obtain God’s Trait Transformation Points through this method because the other Beyond Grade As did not have the interface!
Of course, it could also be that the dynasty did not know about this but the other two Universal Civilizations did. After all, the three Universal Civilizations were not a family; they would not share their secrets.
“The problems I’m facing now at this level are finally touching the blind spots of the Universal Civilizations… Makes sense. The dynasty doesn’t know about the First Sanctum too.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
“I still have the Emperor’s Cape blueprint in my hands. If I’m able to build it, I’ll obtain another God’s Trait Transformation Point. Indeed, becoming stronger through building things is the best way for Mechanics.”
As for the randomly decreased Attribute Points that were changed into Free Attribute Points, it was similar to resetting attributes. After every level up, Race Evolution, or Promotion, all attributes would automatically be increased. This would shift some of the Attribute Points in less important attributes to the main attribute, slowly making him stronger, which was quite useful.
Han Xiao felt that this could be triggered repeatedly but probably had a limit. Maybe the number of points reduced and given was related to the difficulty of building the Universal Treasure. The more difficult it was, the more points would be affected.
Furthermore, following the logic of the increased cost of blueprint gambling… if he built the same Universal Treasure multiple times, the points should decrease slowly too. For example, King reset two hundred of his Attribute Points the first time, but the second time might be less than two hundred.
“By the way, this time, it actually decreased my Luck…”
Han Xiao opened the attribute interface and looked at his Luck, which turned from a stick to an egg. His mouth twitched uncontrollably.
In his previous life, players with the subclass [Gambler] had tested that the lowest the Luck attribute could go was zero. It was the bottom line. To Gamblers, it meant this put them at an ‘unbeatable’ spot.
He previously only had one Luck, which had decreased to zero, and then he obtained two hundred Free Attribute Points…
“So, I basically netted 199 Attribute Points‽
“I don’t know if this is lucky or unlucky…”
Han Xiao was speechless.
Although it was an amazing deal, he could not smile. Tears were running in his belly.
“Sometimes, you only realize how precious something is when you have already lost it.
“Brother, I can’t do without you. It cannot be zero!”
The Great Mechanic Han clenched his teeth and solemnly pressed on the “+” button beside his Luck attribute…
+1.
The next moment, the value of his Luck attribute returned to that noble, pure, magnificent, and holy ‘1’.
Han Xiao almost felt like his soul had ascended.
Actually, Han Xiao was mainly worried that if his Luck was zero, the next time an attribute reset came, Luck would not be considered in the range of attributes.
He looked depressed, but he was actually overjoyed and wanted it to happen to him more.
“In addition to what I have in my interface, I now have 2,248 Free Attribute Points. My Endurance is now more than 11,700, and as long as it exceeds 15,000, I will be able to obtain one more God’s Trait Transformation Point through the next Promotion… Hmm, let’s save it for now.”
Suppressing his excitement, Han Xiao looked at his attributes interface, pondered a while, and used the one God’s Trait Transformation Point on [God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery].
Machinery and Void represented his main class and species; the transformation paths of these two should be mostly the same for everyone. Through testing, the former enhanced his Mechanic abilities, and the latter strengthened his Racial Talents and gave him bonus attributes.
Since he now had [Spirit Instrument] as a method to obtain God’s Trait Transformation Points, he would have to invent more gold blueprints, which would require strong Mechanic abilities. Not only did the main class path increase his basic Machinery Affinity and ability strength, it also slightly enhanced the effects of his various Mechanic abilities.
The next moment, his cells operated at full capacity. His energy waves increased drastically, and electric sparks appeared from all over his body. His flesh and bones were both itching and hurting, which made him narrow his eyes a little.
_____________________
God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery (2/?)
Stage One: +1,000 Machinery Affinity, +20% Ability power. The basic effects of all Mechanic class abilities are slightly enhanced.
Stage Two (New): +15% building, enhancing, repairing abilities, +1% Machinery Affinity for every 30 Intelligence. Main branch ability effects enhanced (Virtual Branch).
_____________________
“Not bad.”
Han Xiao scratched his chin. He felt like this was not as good as the first enhancement. It might be that the first stage was like a welcoming gift and was an exception, while the later stages would keep getting better.
Then, he looked at the new talent, [Universal Treasure Creator]. Its introduction was that building a Universal Treasure meant that he had touched a certain new level. Its effect was +10% Machinery Creation Performance, +1 level to all machinery abilities, +4% basic success rate of building gold equipment, and +2% basic success rate of inventing gold blueprints.
Its effects were quite good, but Han Xiao’s attention was attracted by the notification that came with this talent.
_____________________
You have obtained the talent [Universal Treasure Creator]. You have fulfilled the requirement.
You have received 1 [The First Sanctum] Ability Fragment.
_____________________
“This so-called The First Sanctum again…”
An electric spark flashed past Han Xiao’s eyes.
He now had two Ability Fragments, and he still did not know what use they had, but since they were so difficult to obtain, it was definitely something important.
Without any clues, there was no point in overthinking. Han Xiao put the thought away and looked at the Legendary Point given.
_____________________
Achievement Legendary Point: Universal Treasure Artisan—You have built a Universal Treasure. From this moment forth, you’re one of the top artisans in the entire universe. You’ve become a master. The things you have built will be passed on as treasures in the future.
_____________________
“Speaking of which, since I have the core technology, if I build more Kings and sell them, I can make quite a lot of money.”
Han Xiao smiled at this thought.
He was just thinking about it. There was no way he would exchange his trump card for money; he now had no interest in money.
After making sure he had gone through all the new things he had obtained on the attributes interface, Han Xiao finally looked at the gold Grade King mechanical suit closely.
At this point, it was not yet colored. The appearance of King was a magnificent full cover style mechanical armor. The details on every piece of its plates were exceptionally exquisite, giving off the beauty of a top-class mechanical product. It was like a piece of art.
A palm-sized triangular device was embedded on its chest and was glowing slightly. This was the King mechanical suit’s only set attachment, Throne. As long as it was taken off, no matter where it was placed, the King would be able to instantly arrive at its place. Its effect was comparable to the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device.
Performance-wise, naturally, it was far superior to orange equipment in every way. As equipment specially made for Beyond Grade A Mechanics, it provided a 1.075 multiplier to the wearer’s total Machinery Affinity, as well as a thirty-five percent bonus to the effective area of Mechanical Force enhancement. It was a mechanical suit that was top-notch even among Beyond Grade A equipment.
Han Xiao immediately put it on like an old driver who had just bought a new car, tested it with excitement, and recorded the various parameters. Only then did he reluctantly stow it away.
“If the mechanical suit I was using last time was a home-use Volkswagen, King would be a Pagani, Koenigsegg, or a Bugatti sports car.”
Han Xiao was very satisfied.
After organizing all his gains, he ordered the mechanical assistants to clean up the workshop while he set the Divine Mechanical Throne to lazy sofa mode.
He leaned back and opened the forums comfortably, planning to reward himself by looking at those idiotic players.
In Version 4.0, the player forums had made some changes and updates. It added the new Flickering World panel, which was like a world channel to the players.
As more and more people arrived, the popularity of the Flickering World panel exceeded all the other panels in no time, quickly becoming the most active channel on the forums.
Han Xiao flipped through the posts for a while and saw Bun-Hit-Dog’s newly released video.
The Black Star Army series got a new episode again. Its content was what the army had done during the version update, and its views seemed to have broken records again.
He clicked in and watched it. This was not really the best episode ever, but since tons of players had joined the Black Star Army, more people came to learn about the Black Star Army’s history, hence the explosive increase in the view count of even the videos posted in the past.
Ever since Version 1.0, Bun-Hit-Dog had been making series videos, which already had many episodes by now. The new players could binge-watch from the start and learn about the complete rise of the Black Star Army. As a super faction that grew before the eyes of the players, it could give them a strong sense of immersion.
Most of the foreign players who had joined the army came for the benefits and did not have any sense of belonging at all. However, learning the history of a faction could slowly build up their unity, and Bun-Hit-Dog’s series videos played a huge part in that, like fertilizer.
“Ideology construction has to be heeded. They need to be given more knowledge about the Black Star Army so that the players will feel the warmth of a home.”
While mumbling, Han Xiao continued to flip through the posts. Suddenly, he saw that someone had made a post to expose the Limitless Financial Group.
The content was shockingly the spying mission given by Sorokin, which required players to purchase intelligence from Black Star Army players.
The Limitless Financial Group actually kept this secret very well. At least Han Xiao did not know about it through other sources. Sadly, the players sold Sorokin out on the forums.
It’s probably more difficult for me not to know…
Han Xiao’s mouth contorted slightly.
The player forums were a special information exchange platform; no outsider could interfere with it. However, he could browse it, which gave him an incomparable intelligence advantage that currently only he had.
To him, players were a natural free intelligence network. Even if he did nothing and sat at home, the player forums would continuously provide intelligence about the other organizations.
Currently, the Limitless Financial Group was the organization that was most passionate about recruiting the players other than himself. That unlucky b*stard wanted to use the players as his spies but had no idea that he was exposed by the players instead, and Han Xiao did not have to pay the price for it.
The joy of having privileges has always been this simple and dull.
Thinking of Sorokin’s face that was clearly covered in plots and conspiracies, Han Xiao almost wanted to laugh.
Might as well let the army players accept his mission, then sell some intelligence to take Sorokin’s money for free. He’s that rich anyway.
While Han Xiao was having these wicked ideas, he suddenly saw a very popular post title, and his attention was pulled over immediately.
‘The Army Players’ Corpses Have Been Camped Time After Time. Who Is Targeting the Black Star Army‽’
Camping corpses was a task that required skill.
To protect the players’ fragile hearts, there were many ways to revive they could choose from—revive on the spot, at the nearest city, nearest carrier, or special designated coordinates. They could even not revive and just go offline. Also, they could revive a maximum of ten times every six days. Therefore, camping someone’s corpse was pretty difficult.
In his previous life, the fact that Han Xiao was okay despite being completely ruthless was mostly thanks to this kind of reviving method.
However, even with so many difficulties, the players never got tired of camping the other players’ corpses. The more common methods were kidnapping, forcing carriers to stop, and so on. In combat mode, there were restrictions to logging off for the players, and they would be punished for forcefully exiting the game. Hence the kidnapping method. They would bring the target to the nearest revive point and surround the target. Forcing carriers to stop made the player revive on the same spot whether they chose to revive on the spot or the nearest carrier. Nonetheless, none of these methods could perfectly deal with the reviving mechanism. Even if all locations were blocked off, the target had to be at least online and not log off.
Hence, the only requirement for camping someone’s corpse to succeed was… that the target had a lot of pride.
And from the ID of this pal who made the post, which was [Daddy Is Proud What Are You Going To Do], Han Xiao could clearly feel his unrestrained sense of manliness.
In the post, this [Daddy Is Proud What Are You Going To Do], who was an army player, explained what had happened to him.
“Just some time ago, I was doing a solo errand mission in the free competition zone and came to a transit planet. I met a group of stranger players from another organization, and the moment they saw me, they attacked me without saying anything and killed me.
“I asked them why, but they dared to tell me that they just didn’t like my face! I don’t know about the others, but there’s no way I could put up with that. So, I revived on the spot and fought with them head-on, not intending to give up. These pieces of sh*t then actually really killed me time after time and finished all my revive counts for today. After that, they even private messaged me to mock me, f*ck!
“I was minding my own business, and out of nowhere, I got beat up. Who did I mess with‽ I’ve already posted the ID of these sons of bi*ches. My brothers, all of you are my fathers today. Please respond to my summon and help me greet their family. Let these *ssholes enjoy the bath of positive energy!”
Han Xiao looked at these IDs, which were clearly all American players of the Demon Race.
He then continued reading the comments and realized that this post had already become a sea of joy.
[Fast Horse: Shocking, agitated dude calls people father at the scene (っ°Д°;)っ]
[Human Hammer: I, your daddy, will avenge you!]
[Cold Sister: Senior keyboard warrior of thirty years reporting for duty!]
[I Can’t Take It Anymore: When it comes to scolding people, count on us.]
Other than these chaotic replies, there were also army players who were complaining about experiencing the same thing. It seemed this had happened to quite a lot of people.
However, not everyone was so stubborn. More people were just attacked by a group of players from other organizations out of nowhere. Furthermore, it was not just the Americans; there were players from other countries too, and not all of them were guild members. It was almost like people were hunting the army players.
Han Xiao pondered about the reasoning behind this.
He felt that this was probably a butterfly effect he had caused. In his previous life, everyone was scattered without the Black Star Army. Now, the Black Star Army was the biggest player faction.
The winds howl around the highest peaks.
From the responses of the players, this most likely had nothing to do with NPC organizations and was completely initiated by the players. Maybe some people were hostile toward the army players, or maybe the foreign big guilds worked together secretly. There were only so many possibilities.
Currently, tens of millions of players were swarming into the Flickering World and onto the universal stage. They started attracting the attention of all kinds of organizations. Tens of millions of people was just a droplet of water in the vast sea to a Star Field, but if they were all Immortal Grade B Supers, it would be a force that could not be ignored.
As a part of the universe’s ecological system, the players’ actions now would affect the others too. Han Xiao’s intelligence network had shown that more and more organizations were beginning to study the players, and even more were trying to use the players. The three Universal Civilizations had also moved the recruitment and studying of players up the schedule.
The fact that foreign players were willing to leave their own factions to join the Black Star Army attracted more attention as well. Many organizations were very curious about the source of influence Black Star had among the Immortals. Although Black Star was famous indeed, why was the top choice of so many Immortals the Black Star Army? They could not figure it out.
However, many players joined other factions too, so although the situation surrounding the Black Star Army was interesting, it was not too big a deal. If Han Xiao really had all the players in his army, the dynasty would probably have come to his door to question him the very next day.
“The other organizations did not target the army, but their players actually started causing trouble first.”
Han Xiao carefully read all the replies and discovered that the biggest group of people who hunted his players were American, Japanese, and Korean players.
Also, when they attacked the army players, they avoided killing any army soldiers, so it was clearly targeted at the players.
Suddenly, he had a thought and started searching in the forums. As expected, he discovered some anonymous posts that were censored due to the aggressive language used, which were about the players of the other organizations bragging about killing army players and expressing that they were indeed targeting the Black Star Army. They were also very arrogant, mocking the Chinese players they killed by name.
“Interesting, so that’s how they’re going to play.”
Han Xiao suddenly understood the reasoning behind this.
He was not unfamiliar with this method. This had happened among the players in the previous life too, also during Version 4.0.
This was a very shady method. The people behind this were undoubtedly the big clubs. Basically, they secretly gathered some of their local players to hunt the players of the target faction. Then, these players would be told to taunt and provoke as much as possible, as aggressively as possible on the forums, to trigger the rage of the target faction players, starting an insulting war. Afterward, they would then let people secretly guide the focus of the situation to race, nationality, and area discrimination, causing hatred.
The goal of this was to control their local players’ faction preference by creating collective hatred.
Since the players these clubs could directly control were very few compared to the normal local players, who made up the majority, someone in his previous life thought of this extremely shady and low idea to influence the normal players’ preference in picking factions.
For example, a faction had a million players, among whom there were 800,000 Chinese players and 200,000 American players. The American clubs would then start hunting the Chinese players, provoking and taunting to make the Chinese players retaliate and insult them too. They would then guide the topic into the hatred between the nations.
This way, the 200,000 American players in this faction would, of course, not be happy, so they would join the internet war. The clubs would then keep fanning the flames and making the situation worse.
The result would be, a lot of these 200,000 Americans would quit this faction out of their anger toward the Chinese players, and more American players would not want to join this faction. This was just one of the methods the big clubs used to manipulate the faction preference of their local players. They created hatred, and using that hatred, they increased the unity of the players of their country.
The reason for this was very simple—the clubs did not want their local players to work for the factions that the clubs of the other countries were in. They only wanted their local players to work for the factions they were in.
To normal players, the more players in one faction, the stronger the competition. But to clubs, local players represented cheap labor. Be it during normal developments or national wars, as long as the clubs made announcements, the normal players would most likely respond and become free manpower.
Normal players wanted to enjoy the game freely, which the professional players had to respect too. However, clubs and official guilds were commercial organizations; their goal was to gain achievements in the Pro League and make a profit.
Therefore, after Version 4.0 started in the previous life, with the Americans in the lead, some clubs started to manipulate their fans at all costs, using all sorts of dirty methods. This led to the forums’ environment becoming contaminated to a certain extent, so the mainstream factions of the clubs of the other countries would be weakened, and they would become stronger… Simply put, they were robbing leeks from others.
Only clubs of a very few countries did not take part in such things, and the Chinese were one of them.
The Chinese had always been united, and now that most of the Chinese players were in the Black Star Army, there was no need to use such shady methods at all.
“Tsk, the first reappearance of this trick, and it’s aimed at me. Plus, it’s from the clubs of multiple countries.”
Han Xiao thought about it and understood what these clubs were thinking.
It was basically because the foreign clubs did not want the army players’ forces to keep getting bigger. Otherwise, the army would have too many advantages among the factions. Not only would that reduce the development space of the other faction, but it would also give the Chinese clubs free manpower, which was basically sending money to the enemies, to these foreign clubs.
“Just as I expected, the army is too outstanding, so the Chinese clubs became targets. Although these foreign clubs are not targeting me, if I let them continue doing this, my leek farm might shrink.”
Han Xiao did not panic at all. Rather, he smiled.
“Isn’t this a perfect opportunity to strengthen the sense of belonging of the new army members that is delivered to my doorsteps?”
Why were the Alliance and the Horde so united? One reason was their background story and the game setting, but the more direct reason was that the players of the two factions were fighting each other all the time.
Creating a shared target—this was a great way to rapidly increase the sense of unity of a group!
“Discrimination is a factor in the real life. I indeed can’t deal with that right now, but I can target those main factions that you foreign clubs are in.
“You’re manipulating players through nationality differences, so I shall make use of the difference between factions.
“When the foreign clubs gather people to hunt the army players, their factions won’t reward them. Therefore, to them, this is just a matter between the players.
“However, if I announce a Bounty Mission, stating that as long as the army players kill the players of your factions, they’ll be rewarded, what will happen?
“At that point, your local normal players might even beat you up!
“How can those people secretly hired by the clubs compare with the eight million warriors of our army‽
“You wanted to play dirty? You asked for it!
“Hehe, since you people can’t be satisfied with peacefully developing your forces and play these dirty tricks all day, let me add more wood to the fire and make your business more popular.”
Han Xiao grinned wickedly, sat up from the lazy throne, opened the faction interface, and started drafting the Bounty Mission.
…
At the same time, on a private player chat channel, the high position members of the professional clubs of many countries were online.
Among these were America’s Devil and Key; Japan’s Hydra, Amaterasu, and Werewolf; Korea’s Kimchi and Triple Star Bomb; Italy’s Classical and Pizza; and Southeast Asia’s Red Bay, Island, and Titan. Many of the regular attendees of the international tournament were in this channel.
At this time, the topic these people were discussing was indeed related to the Black Star Army.
Just like Han Xiao guessed, as more and more players of the various countries changed factions and joined the Black Star Army, these guilds who were not planning to change their factions could not put up with it anymore. They secretly worked together and planned to restrain the Black Star Army’s rapidly growing player base.
“… The people on our side are moving according to plan. The public opinion part is still in preparation. The players’ emotions need time to be developed,” a high ranking member of the Key club said.
“The circumstances are actually beneficial to us. China has managed to win two consecutive years. This is their pride, and they have this sense of superiority, so the public opinion will not be tough to manipulate. Steer the topic in this direction, toward how the normal players of the various countries are targeted because the teams of their country did not achieve optimal results, then let the Chinese players insult us. This way, more anger can be created.”
“Actually, tricks like this are not difficult to see through. The players are quite smart…”
“Don’t worry. Players will be players. Once it gets to their head, reasoning won’t be important. The Pro League is a great conversation topic. It’ll be easy to trigger their emotions.”
“Let’s hope it works. We’re all in different factions. The biggest threat now is the Black Star Army. There are way too many players there. If we don’t weaken them, the Chinese clubs will have way too big an advantage.”
“It’ll be best if we can isolate them.”
As for the stand of the Black Star Army, it was not within their consideration. To them, all of this was just between the players. The NPC factions were just the background.
1043 I“ll put up a strong front and make you cry
In the great hall of Black Star Palace, an emotional roar sounded as a white beam of light shone up. It transformed into a revived army player with the ID of [Under the Soaring Clouds]. Naturally, he came from China.
The great hall had quite a few players coming and going, and hearing this loud exclamation, everyone turned to look at Under the Soaring Clouds. All they saw was him heaving hard with a look of resentment.
To the side, one of the veterans asked with a tone as though he expected it, “What’s wrong, brother with big lungs? Why the anger? Who f*cked you?”
“I got squatted[1] by a bunch of foreigners, and they even ridiculed me. This is already the third time!” Under the Soaring Clouds was exasperated.
“Sigh, it’s now Version 4.0, the World Server. There are players from all sorts of factions outside now, and it can’t be compared to back then when we were in the Shattered Star Ring. You have to watch out for your safety,” the veteran advised before shaking his head and leaving.
Under the Soaring Clouds’ face was nasty to behold.
He was a new player that only joined in Version 3.0, and he was more of a casual player, not interested in PK at all.
In the last version, the World Server had not been opened yet, so as an army player, he was basically only meeting his own people whenever he went out, so he was rarely attacked by others. However, there was no security in the current version. He had done a couple of missions but was maliciously interfered with by players from other organizations.
He struggled to get used to the huge gap between the two versions, so he felt that his gaming experience had drastically fallen.
Looking around, he saw that players with foreign IDs were scattered around, basically newcomers who had only joined the army recently. Among them, a small group of players constantly scanned the coming and going army players, looking at him from time to time as well. This sort of performance was most likely from a ‘spy’ sent by a foreign guild.
“Recently, there have been many squatting incidents, and this is probably the work of those spies. My whereabouts were revealed by them, which caused me to be squatted as well.” Under the Soaring Clouds felt that this was likely, and he gritted his teeth in indignation.
He disliked the foreign players who had recently joined, and he was not the only one—many of the Chinese players had the same idea as him, as the previous versions were so much more comfortable to play in. Everyone belonged to the same country, but now, since there were more foreigners, they had to be aware of the lurking dangers in their external and internal environments, making many people sick and tired of playing.
Under the Soaring Clouds belonged to the category of a new player, and he was unlike the veterans who had invested a lot of time into the army. Right now, he could not help but think about changing factions.
“I really don’t want to encounter the mess of being squatted anymore. It really affects my mood.”
Just as he was about to act on his words, the communicators of every player in the room rang. The moving players all gave each other a strange look, collectively stopping as they lowered the heads to read the news.
Under the Soaring Clouds also retrieved his communicator, and when he scanned the notification, he realized it was an internal announcement from the army, and there were three messages.
_____________________
Army Announcement 1: Newcomer Preferential Treatment Policy
Addressed to all soldiers of the army: Now is the period of the development in the Flickering World. Recently, we have recruited new warriors from the other Star Fields. In order to quickly integrate the newcomers into the army, we’re re-enabling the policy of supporting the newcomers. Existing members can take the newcomers to perform missions, and both parties will obtain additional benefits. The army will give certain subsidies, which include but are not limited to Enaus, Contribution Points, Ammo, and free repair opportunities. The full list can be seen in the Appendix (Expand/Collapse). I hope everyone will actively help newcomers, no matter which Star Field they arrived from. As long as one has joined the Black Star Army, I hope we can all entrust each other with our backs in battle—Army Commander, Black Star.
_____________________
“It turned out to be this policy.” Under the Soaring Clouds had a shift in heart.
In the previous version, the army recruited a bunch of Russian and Australian players in the Constellation Corridor. During that time, they also announced a similar policy, which was implemented for a period of time. After results were achieved, this welfare plan was temporarily frozen.
The effect of this policy had been proven in the previous version. It would mobilize the enthusiasm of older players to bring in newcomers, and it also quickly narrowed the distance between them, encouraging the making of friends. This allowed the Russian and Australian players in the previous version to quickly blend into the army.
Right now, the Russian and Australian players in the army were different from those new players who had only joined the army recently. They had blended in with the Chinese players for a longer period of time and got along relatively well with them. Han Xiao had thus proposed this plan again in order to quickly integrate the new players from various countries and to allow them to feel the warmth of the old players, eliminating any barriers caused by unfamiliarity.
Under the Soaring Clouds was not surprised by this announcement… but he was a little upset. Now that many of the old players were being squatted, the army actually wanted them to even lead the newcomers.
While the spies only accounted for a small portion of the population, he could not help but blame the entire new player group. Thus, in his eyes, this plan sounded like the leader still choosing to help the bully even after he had shown signs of being bullied. The more he thought of it, the angrier he got.
“This is too much!”
Under the Soaring Clouds knew that the NPC could not be blamed, but he could not help sulking.
As he scrolled down to the next messages, he suddenly jerked, and his eyes widened like saucers.
_____________________
Army Announcement 2: Organization Warning List
Recently, a large number of immortals have reported to the upper echelons that while they were performing their missions, they were ambushed and killed by immortals from other organizations. After a detailed investigation, we have found this to be true. We have compiled a list of organizations that are deliberately targeting our members. For details, please refer to [Appendix – List of Organizations] (Expand/Collapse). Although immortals do not fear death, their actions are regarded as a provocation to the Black Star Army. Thus, I am issuing a public warning to these organizations to restrain your immortal subordinates before I declare war—Army Commander, Black Star.
_____________________
Army Announcement 3: Counterattack Permit
Until these organizations restrain their subordinates and put an end to the ambushes made to our immortals, we will initiate counterattacks. I hereby inform all immortals of the army that they can engage in retaliatory attacks against the above organizations, restricted only to their immortals. It is not our style to be beaten and not fight back. In order to encourage this behavior, the army will subsidize additional supplies, which can be found in [Appendix – Reward List] (Expand/Collapse). Repeated kills are allowed, and to receive rewards, you will need to use the Phillip mini program to upload each battle video in exchange for the reward you are entitled to. Kills on the same person will not be awarded.
At the same time, for those habitual offenders who have repeatedly attacked members of our army, a special pursuit order will be issued. Every time you kill a designated wanted person, you can exchange it for special reward, please refer to [Appendix – Kill List] (Expand/Collapse). Everyone, please remember, those who offend me, Black Star, will be punished no matter the distance—Army Commander, Black Star.
_____________________
An uproar sounded as Under the Soaring Clouds finished reading the other two notifications, and many players got excited.
“Damn, what is this? The army actually moved!”
“The PKs between players actually caused such a change in the faction‽”
“Haha, those dumb bitches. Squatting on us? Do you think our identity as army members is given for free‽”
“This is the feeling of having a backer. It’s really good.”
“Our Army Commander is truly domineering, tsk, warning the other factions immediately.”
The recent squatting incidents had left the army players outraged, but it was because they did not have any teams, they could only count on themselves, praying that they would not meet any of those malicious players from the other factions.
But right now, the Black Star Army had directly issued a faction announcement, with very domineering wording indicating that they could retaliate against their enemies. This attitude made many of the army players extremely comfortable.
Especially since killing players from other factions would now give them reward, everyone was immediately motivated.
Han Xiao released three announcements with the intention of a full-scale blow. He first used the Black Star Army to suppress people and skipped through the chain of command to warn the other factions that their people were causing trouble, making them pull those troublemakers back.
The second was the permission to counterattack. All players in the army could thus be mobilized, and players in the other factions could be hunted down. Not only could they vent their frustrations and enhance their sense of identity, this would also allow the older players to fight together with the newbies to build friendships.
In addition, he even dragged the players from other countries into the water, tying everyone to the same ship. In this manner, it would be much more difficult for any foreign clubs to incite discrimination between countries.
They wanted to divide based on nationalities? Even their own countrymen would end up attacking them, so there was nothing to fuss about!
The manpower used by the clubs to incite trouble was limited, which was only considered annoying to the army players, but if all the army players turned around to hunt down the hostile players, the foreign club players would be overwhelmed and choose to change factions, which would in turn weaken the scale of players in the faction and would help expand their own leek farms.
The third announcement served to specifically fish out players that liked to cause chaos, killing the chicken to warn the monkeys. This would reduce the number of players who engaged in trouble together, thus reducing the manpower available for the clubs as much as possible.
Under the Soaring Clouds was pleasantly surprised. He turned his head, seeing those people he suspected of being spies now standing still, as though frozen stiff.
Under the Soaring Clouds felt as though all his grievances had been vented. He felt extremely good and comfortable, and if there was a faction identity score, one would see his score have continuously rising.
“Haha, this is the judgement from heaven. Who will Black Star forgive!”
Under the Soaring Clouds laughed out loud, feeling extremely comfortable.
A perfectly normal casual player was actually rubbing his knuckles, as though he could not wait to form a team and cut down people.
From today onward, Black Star will be my big brother. Whoever tries to mess with the army, I’ll show them who they’re messing with!
…
Once the three announcements were issued, a storm was set off among the players.
The players were no strangers to this sort of mission. Was this not a faction war?
The army players felt like they had been brought to a carnival, where many of them did not even bother with the normal missions any longer, calling for their friends and rushing for the clearing list, exiting the base like locusts leaving empty fields.
The Black Star Army was the first organization to organize a faction war mission. In the memory of the army players, some people in the previous version had switched over to Bloodshed Land, causing the army to issue a similar killing list, but it paled in comparison to the current operation.
This was a large group consisting of more than a million people!
The players were more prone to chaos than NPCs. Missions could be skipped, but how could such an interesting event be passed up?
Whether it was an old player or a new player, their enthusiasm was stimulated!
In particular, the new players from the various countries who had joined recently were even more enthusiastic than the Chinese players. Because many of them had jumped from such factions, they were familiar with the formations of these organizations, and they had naturally rushed faster than anyone to fight with their own people. The veterans naturally took on a few of such ‘pathfinders’ in their parties.
The hostile factions listed by Han Xiao were those organizations that the clubs worked for. They came from different Star Fields and did not have a particularly strong background, let alone being in the Flickering World where Black Star reigned supreme.
Thus, facing the warning of the Black Star Army, most of them were bewildered.
What are you warning us about? We didn’t provoke you guys at all!
But after a short check, they discovered the truth and almost had a stroke.
They obviously had no intention of targeting the Black Star Army, but some of the immortals under them had acted spontaneously and caused trouble, resulting in them being wronged.
It was literally the scenario of sitting at home, but a pot descended from the sky to strike at their head!
Most of the organizations immediately responded to Black Star Army’s warning and hurriedly stated to Han Xiao that those were not their intentions. It was only some crazy subordinates who had acted without permission. They had no intention of becoming an enemy of the army, and their weak hearts could not withstand such a ‘surprise’.
Internally, these organizations started to strictly restrict the movement of their immortals, ensuring that without their orders, they were not allowed to provoke anyone, lest they suffered from dire consequences. They also punished those troublemakers and instigators… Reflected in the player interface, those players experienced a decrease in Contribution Points and Favorability.
However, there were a small portion of organizations with a rather unique way of thinking. Considering the special reputation Black Star Army had among the immortals, they came to a startling conclusion.
Spies!
This group of troublemaking subordinates must have been spies sent over by the Black Star Army!
The Black Star Army must have plans to swallow us, so they purposely got the spies to create trouble. That way, they will have a just cause to attack us!
These smart alecks began to brew their own conspiracy theories and decided not to fall for the evil plot.
There were even a handful of organizations whose thought process was more refined, thinking that these Immortals that caused trouble were neither their people nor the people of Black Star, but rather a third party.
Their goal was to cause a conflict between them and the Black Star Army, thus acting as the fisherman that benefited in the fight between the sandpiper and clam!
Anyway, regardless of whether this was a truth or not, the organizations already believed it to be so.
And for the Limitless Financial Group, which was the keenest on recruiting the players, it had turned into an excellent target.
Hearing this, Sorokin was in a mess.
There was no problem. I really had such a plan…
But I haven’t even started implementing it!
Could this be retribution?
Han Xiao’s announcements stirred up the situation and directly caused the entire player population in the World Server to turn into chaos.
And the foreign clubs were immediately forced into a corner by Han Xiao’s triple attack.
This is not right. Us players originally liked to PK, so why is it you as the NPC that reacted most strongly‽
We only attacked your Immortals troops, and you already made such a big hoo-ha. Do you even feel embarrassed‽
Their plan was hit hard right after it started, and they almost got destroyed because of it. In this situation, even if the plan could continue, it would be far from achieving their desired results.
The executives of the clubs were also unable to do anything.
If they fought a faction war, they would not be the ones suffering. Including all the affected factions, even if they could not beat the Black Star Army players, they would not lose too badly. They could even rally the ordinary players in their respective factions through this faction war.
However, the factions they belonged to directly complied. Not only did they not allow a counterattack, they even restrained the players under their command.
Since their superiors did not allow them to retaliate, the faction war could not take place. All they could do was withstand the enemy’s attacks.
The Black Star Army had encouraged their players and even released faction rewards. Not only did their organizations not have rewards, but they even held them back. The contrast was just too jarring.
They all knew that if they were bullied like this, the casual players in their faction would be disappointed, maybe even jumping over to the Black Star Army since they could not beat them.
The benefits of staying in a strong faction were just too much!
However, it was not these clubs that had the worst. It was the casuals.
Faced with such a situation, many of them were caught totally unawares.
I just got out of bed, without even brushing my teeth, and you’re telling me that I’ve been marked by hundreds of thousands of players‽
What are you trying to do‽
…
Just as these players were tearing up in confusion and desperation, Hila, who was situated in the Emerald Star Cluster, suddenly received a special communication request.
It came from the Arcane Church, from the Pope himself!
[1] Squatted is gaming slang where the PKers spawn camp the corpse.
*
At the frontline exploration base of the Black Star Army in the Emerald Star Cluster…
In the bright, empty training room, Hila was levitating in midair, her eyes closed and breathing slow. A red brilliance surrounded her body, and the energy fluctuations she emitted made the high collared cloak of the Crimson Snake uniform flutter like dancing black and red clouds.
In front of her floated a deep red ball of concentrated death energy, and suspended in the middle was a faint golden glow. Golden blood vessel-like threads radiated from that glow, spreading throughout the ball.
At this moment, Hila’s brows suddenly frowned, and the energy ball in front of her boiled as though a violent chemical reaction had occurred. It exploded, the death energy reverberating across the room.
“We failed again, Sis.”
Aurora’s annoyed voice sounded in Hila’s mind.
“It’s okay. It’s not your fault.” Hila shook her head.
With the qualitative change in one’s Esper Ability’s strength, control, and other characteristics, the Esper would be able to bring out and develop more uses for this ability.
Because there existed an exclusive vitality link between the two, after Aurora entered the Calamity Grade, this link was further strengthened, giving birth to a two-way telepathic channel for them to communicate with each other.
As for the transmission of life energy, this was originally limited by the distance. Right now, their personal project was to develop an energy transmission channel that would ignore the factor of distance. However, they had not succeeded yet and were still looking for a method.
Now that Aurora had entered the Calamity Grade, Hila reckoned that she could protect herself. Thus, she no longer restricted Aurora, allowing her to utilize the abilities and life energy freely.
“Sis, actually, the life link that ignores distance already has an embryonic form. The life energy is constantly emitted from my side, but it cannot be transmitted to yours.”
“It’s not a complete failure.” Hila nodded. “Actually, I did receive a small amount of life energy, but the energy loss is too severe, which limits me to only receiving one ten thousandth of it. The way I see it, most of your energy seems to be absorbed by an unknown secondary dimension, and that secondary dimension has a weak connection with me, which is why I could feel its presence.”
“Is that so? I didn’t feel anything.” Aurora was surprised.
“I only sensed this when I advanced to the Beyond Grade A realm. I think that if we wish to complete the link, we need to first solve this obstacle. I previously sent my death energy into this secondary dimension, but once it entered, it was cut off from me entirely. I’m afraid I’ll need to find time to go there in person. I always feel that it has some secret related to us. Call it the intuition of a Beyond Grade A.”
As she spoke, Hila shook her head and lifted her finger. There was a bright golden light floating on her fingertip, about the size of a peanut. This was the life energy she had obtained from Aurora.
With just her eyes, she manipulated the sesame-sized particles of death energy into this cluster of life energy, and the next moment, a brilliant light flashed as the two energies melted together. The red and golden light spots merged into a light spot with the color of orange gold.
“Sis, did you succeed?”
“Nope, I’m still exploring the ratio needed to successful fusion. Right now, I can only merge this small amount of energy.”
Hila lightly breathed out. She had tried to fuse their energies a long time ago, but due to their lack of control over their Esper abilities, they had never succeeded. At that time, they had thought that it was a conflict in their energy natures that caused this.
However, now that Hila was in the Beyond Grade A realm and Aurora had also entered the Calamity Grade, Hila reattempted the combination, only to find out that their energies were actually combinable, but they were unstable and required powerful manipulation abilities to maintain the balance.
After the fusion, it would turn into an orangey-gold light cluster, with different characteristics. Although the healing and killing effects were still present, these two characteristics were not strengthened but in fact weakened. Hila had not yet studied the special effects the fused energy would have.
At this moment, a communication request sounded.
Beep beep!
A virtual screen appeared, and the vice-captain’s image popped up. The shock on his face had not faded as he said, “Your Excellency, the Pope of the Arcane Church wishes to speak to you. Should I transfer the call over?”
Hila’s pupils shrank.
For someone seated at the very top to come knocking, Hila thought it was surprising.
She thought for a while before saying, “Transfer it.”
Very quickly, the screen in front of her changed to the shadow of the Pope.
The three Universal Civilizations often had their leaders appear in the news, so Hila naturally knew who he was. Thus, her expression was indifferent as she spoke.
“May I know your intention in looking for me?”
Because of the conflict between the Arcane Church and the Black Star Army, Hila did not bother showing much respect.
The Pope did not bother beating around the bush either. “I would like to invite you to join our Arcane Church.”
“The leader of a Universal Civilization actually came to personally invite me, I’m really flattered… If Black Star was here, that’s what he would say.” Hila remained impassive. “But I’m not him.”
The Pope slowly continued. “We’ve looked into you, and you’re someone who values and pursues strength. The Arcane Church can help to give you incredible strength. I…”
“It’s alright. I reject your offer.” Hila did not even wish to listen on and refused flatly.
“… So long as you join as an ally, you can state any conditions.”
“Not interested.”
The Pope paused, expressionless. “The reason you insist on following Black Star, is it because of your own personal feelings?”
“Nothing to do with you.”
The Pope nodded. “My offer will stand. If you happen to have a change in heart, the Arcane Church will forever welcome you with open arms.”
He then ended the communication.
Looking at the darkened screen, Hila could not help but frown.
The Arcane Church’s Pope had personally appeared, which meant that he had more sincerity than the Crimson Dynasty. However, this could be because of their relationship as enemies, which would require him to step up if he wanted to poach her.
If it was an ordinary Beyond Grade A that had received such a treatment, they would likely have accepted it on the spot. However, she would not consider leaving the Black Star Army for the time being. Thus, no matter how good the offer, she did not hesitate to refuse.
…
On the other end, there was a fleet of spaceships making their way toward the Black Star stronghold in the Emerald Star Cluster.
The insignia of the fleet represented a small mercenary group, but it actually carried several Beyond Grade A combatants from the Arcane Church.
‘Child of Light’ Sagman glanced at his communicator. “The Pope’s intentions have been conveyed. The poaching has failed. We can begin our operation.”
The Arcane Church had long prepared both plans. During this time, the Beyond Grade As had assembled, and if the Pope failed to persuade her, they would strike and eliminate Hila, preventing any mishaps in the future.
“The situation now is beneficial to us, as both the dynasty and Black Star have yet to discover that we have assembled. It’s best to do a quick battle and make no mistakes like before,” Taylor said.
In the past, it would have taken the Beyond Grade As a long time to gather because of the different Star Fields, so any action would have been discovered a long time ago. However, because a large number of them were in the Flickering World, they were close to each other, facilitating their actions. Before their enemy discovered them, they could take action whilst they were unaware.
“It’s best to shift Hila away from the stronghold. Otherwise, the allies of the dynasty can quickly support her through the stargate.”
“Then we’ll leave this job to you, Tolaen. You go provoke Hila and draw her out. The further the better,” Sagman said.
Tolaen paused for a while, his heart unwilling. In the end, he gritted his teeth and said, “Let me try.”
“Well, if Hila does not accept the challenge, we will first destroy the stronghold’s stargate. It’s a pity that Sun Hunter will not be able to participate in that activity. Taylor, you’re a Mage with more flexible means. Destroying the stargate will be left to you and me.” Sagman hesitated, before continuing in a deep tone. “As for the Lord’s Avatar of Black Star that will be beside Hila…”
At this moment, the doppelganger of Kasuyi, which had always been silent, said, “I’ll hold him off.”
The Arcane Church had brought out enough benefits to allow Kasuyi to participate in this operation. However, he did not like the act of besieging others or bullying newcomers, so he merely sent a doppelganger over as insurance.
“Alright, we have no guarantee of beating Black Star’s avatar. Only you will be able to suppress him.” Sagman nodded.
“It’s a pity that His Excellency Wuornos could not appear as well, or else killing Hila would only be a matter of seconds,” ‘Desolate Beast’ Mercer muttered.
“Stop imagining things. Wuornos will never leave the Temple of God. He will not involve himself in vulgar mortal affairs.” Taylor shook his head.
The six of them present were ‘Child of Light’ Sagman, ‘World Gate’ Taylor, ‘Desolate Beast’ Mercer, ‘Red Devil’ Tolaen, a doppelganger of Kasuyi, and a Lord’s Avatar of a Mechanic.
The nature of Kasuyi’s doppelganger was similar to the Lord’s Avatar of the Mechanic class, which carried a part of the body’s combat power. It could not be compared to the quasi-Beyond Grade A doppelganger ability of EsGod.
Such a lineup just to deal with Hila, this was truly overkill.
However, the difference between this and the battle at Planet Lighthouse was that the allies from the dynasty were missing, and Black Star’s true body would also not be present, which meant the absence of the Spacetime Amber. The Arcane Church thought that this situation was favorable, not to mention that their target was Hila, who was easier to deal with than the cockroach that was Black Star.
Kasuyi’s doppelganger turned his head away to look out of the porthole, declining to continue the conversation with the rest.
“Manison, you probably wouldn’t make a move right… If Hila dies, Black Star will certainly go crazy… Hehe, such a difficult choice this time.
“You’re not suitable to act, and I understand, so let me take your place in this show.
“With me around, she will not die.”
1045 Undercurrents
A fleet was hovering in space, with the total number of battleships amounting to two million. Among them, the largest flagship was the Eternal Light. Two humongous mechanical rings circled around the entire fleet, one horizontally positioned and one vertically positioned, perpendicular to each other.
These two mechanical rings, which were larger than the stargate itself, were the strategic Universal Treasure of the Federation of Light, the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device.
The components of the mechanical rings were intricate, and a large number of mechanical ships were being connected to each section of the ring for debugging and maintenance work.
On the bridge of the flagship, the gathered Beyond Grade A members of the Federation of Light stood in a row, looking at the scene outside.
“To actually utilize such strategic equipment, it seems like the federation’s upper echelons really value the action this time.” A muscular green-skinned man sighed. On his head was a purple runic turban that glittered constantly.
This person was Womre, with the moniker ‘Energy Soul’. He was a pugilist based in the federation and was adept at energy-based attacks. As a Beyond Grade A descendant race, he possessed unique racial talents that gave him superior skills. Standing with his hands behind his back, he gave off the bearing of a grandmaster.
“This matter concerns the unlocking of the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter’s seal, so it is worth them investing the huge resources to activate the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device,” Hades said. “The Arcane Church will definitely make some sort of move. When they begin to stall Black Star’s avatar, we’ll activate the teleporter to appear directly in the battlefield.”
“That’s right,” the commander explained. “We also have another Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device in the fleet, so once we grab Hila, we’ll be able to teleport back, and the operation will be a success.”
The Federation of Light was different from the Arcane Church; their objective was to capture Hila so as to force Black Star to unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. Because of their Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, they had a natural advantage in allowing them the ability to escape the battle once they obtained their target.
The Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device was able to send someone away but could not bring them back, so the fleet equipped itself with a second set of teleporters, along with a self-destruct device. Once the teleportation was completed, it would destroy itself, preventing others from taking it and studying the technology.
If they could unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter, paying the cost of a Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device was acceptable to the federation. While expensive to build, a Universal Civilization did not lack money, and it was not difficult to build them if one had the relevant technology. They had quite a number of Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Devices lying in their warehouse, acting as a deterrent to other civilizations.
“It’s easier said than done. While the fleet has brought along another set of teleporters, it takes a lot of time for it to be arranged and charged, and there will definitely be disturbances during this period,” one of them in a mechanical suit said. His name was Jackornitz, a Beyond Grade A Mechanical Pugilist of the Federation of Light.
“Thus, the reason we’re bringing this fleet along. There are a lot of unmanned ships within this fleet, which will speed up the deployment of the transmitter, and it will help to protect the transmitter from interference. There’s also the mechanical army of Her Excellency Mornisa to aid us, enough to allow us to retreat,” Hades replied.
“Yep.” A machine by the side nodded. This was her Lord’s Avatar, and she also brought along a mechanical troop, which was the best candidate to block off the enemy’s path. She would not feel regret even if all of them were completely destroyed.
“Don’t forget, Black Star is a Virtual Mechanic and can invade our fleet’s controls.”
“Romo and I will be responsible for the virtual defense remotely, and the main artificial intelligence of the federation will also invest the majority of its computing power into the firewall. While Black Star is a pinnacle Beyond Grade A Super, he can’t break through our defense while being distracted by the fighting,” Mornisa explained.
The Romo mentioned by her was a Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic from the federation, responsible for guarding the quantum network and the main intelligence network of the federation. He was not participating in this operation, but he would provide some form of remote assistance.
“It’s a pity that the Mechanic Emperor is not planning to take part in this operation. If he were in charge, we would not have to be afraid of the Virtual Intrusion of Black Star at all.” Hades sighed.
At this moment, Sierron, who was standing with his arms crossed in the center of all the people, snorted before indifferently speaking. “Humph, Manison refuses to come, and Oulou is also in the Central Galaxy, so I have to lead this team. I don’t care about the rest, just leave Black Star to me. If there’s anyone from the Arcane Church who tries to stop us, I’ll deal with the strongest too.”
‘Star Shatterer’ Sierron, a pinnacle level Beyond Grade A Pugilist, was the head of the federation team for this operation, and he was also a member of The Ancient Ones.
On the other side, a multi-faceted crystal was suspended in midair, its body shining with a deep blue color. It sent out mental fluctuations. “The task of capturing Hila can be left to me.”
This was a crystal life form called Crystal Soul. It was a Beyond Grade A Psychic.
The Federation was sending seven Beyond Grade As this time—’Energy Soul’ Womre, ‘Lone Ranger’ Jackornitz, ‘Mechanic Empress’ Mornisa, Hades, Crystal Soul, ‘Star Shatterer’ Sierron, and ‘Defender’ Romo, who was providing remote assistance.
This lineup was stronger, with one additional participant compared to the Arcane Church.
…
In the Garu Star Cluster within the Flickering World, Sorokin stood at one of the branch offices of the Limitless Financial Group, overlooking the dense comet trails in space. These were the trajectories left by the spaceships coming and leaving the area.
This place was an interstellar transit station, located in the territory of the Black Star Army. Not far away was one of the stargate transportation hubs, so it was very prosperous and led to the surroundings of Black Star Palace.
Sorokin squinted and muttered to himself, “A good show should begin soon.”
As the middleman who was responsible for the sending of messages to the federation and the church, he knew how they would act when Hila’s data was given to them. There was a high probability of both civilizations taking action.
As he admired the scenery, he began to hypothesize the possible scenarios.
“The federation has the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, which gives them the initiative. It is likely they will lurk behind and move later, waiting for the Arcane Church to first make a move. The Mechanic Emperor is likely not participating in this operation, so it is likely that Sierron will be the one at the helm. As for the church’s side, whether it’s Kasuyi or Sun Hunter that’s leading, they will most likely be paddling and not really moving for real… Heh, the Meeting of the Gods really affected quite a few people this time, Black Star.”
Just as he was speculating, a magic transportation door lit up in his room, and someone walked out. The person stood behind Sorokin and waved his hand, casually destroying the door.
Feeling the magical fluctuations, Sorokin turned around, and a superficial smile surfaced.
“Your Excellency Traveler.”
The person was a humanoid creature, with a gray complexion and no nose. He had yellow, crystal eyes, with vertical slit-like pupils, messy gray hair, and a gold ring. He only had three fingers on each hand, with one holding onto a staff that was twisted like a branch. He wore a gold headband with a brown hooded robe.
The Traveler, a Beyond Grade A mage, spent most of his time travelling around the secondary dimensions, and he did not appear in the outside world often. On the surface, he was a neutral Beyond Grade A, but he actually maintained a secret relationship with multiple Super Star Cluster level civilizations. He was also present during the Meeting of the Gods, albeit remaining taciturn and almost non-existent.
“The Super Star Cluster Alliance has employed me to aid you.” The Traveler looked at Sorokin with interest. “This is interesting. What sort of deal have you reached with them, to actually have them send me to challenge Black Star?”
“There are some matters that are currently happening, and if my predictions are correct, the federation and the church will appear in the next few days to attack Hila. During that time, I hope you will be able to go to Black Star Palace and announce that you wish to challenge Black Star.” Sorokin blandly smiled.
He had secretly contacted the Star Cluster alliance and revealed some bits of news, reaching a new deal to interfere in the process.
“Ah, so what you mean is…”
“That’s right. Go up for a challenge, and if Black Star spars with you, he will have to split his attention, which will cause the strength of his consciousness to drop, reducing the aid he can provide Hila. If he does not agree to the spar, it will mean that his true body is not in the camp, which means you will fight against Ames. I heard that he has a close relationship with Ames, which will leave him torn as to whom he should help first… No matter what, he will be restricted.”
Traveler quietly listened before speaking up. “You seem to be very clear that this operation will be a success. What benefits will you obtain?”
“Hila’s existence is a threat, and I believe the majority of Beyond Grade As do not wish to see such a character growing.” Sorokin laughed. “Furthermore, even if she joins an alliance, she will definitely choose the Crimson Dynasty. Thus, this poses a danger to the other two universal civilizations.”
“It doesn’t just stop there, right?” Traveler refuted. “You even dragged the Super Star Clusters into the mess. You definitely have bigger objectives.”
“Haha, alright, there’s no harm in telling you.” Sorokin narrowed his eyes. “Do you think the other two are kicking up such a big fuss over such one Hila? No, Hila is merely a catalyst. The bigger reason is the Meeting of the Gods that took place not long ago.”
“Oh?” Traveler’s eyes flickered.
“Think about it, the federation and the church sending their Beyond Grade As to do such a thing… once they succeed, how will Black Star respond? Both civilizations are trying to promote infighting among Beyond Grade As. If successful, then the Meeting of the Gods will only exist in name…” Sorokin’s mouth twisted up. “But I dare to boldly guess that the aim of the federation and the church is to leave just one or two of the Beyond Grade A allies alive from this operation, using this grudge to fuel their hatred.”
Traveler frowned. “It can’t be, right? The situation isn’t that bad.”
“Who knows? Throughout my long lifespan, I’ve awoken to a fact… that you should never believe you’re irreplaceable to the Universal Civilizations.”
Traveler stared at him before slowly saying, “Then, what about you? You’re also a member of the Beyond Grade As, but you’re not on the same front as them.”
“Aren’t you the same?”
“I’m justified, but you’re a true neutral.”
“Hehe, if I really have to give a reason, it’s just that I don’t like the idea of having an individual rule supreme. I’m a businessman, and I believe in having a collective entity. I believe only in the market.”
Sorokin revealed an insincere smile.
“No matter how strong a Beyond Grade A is, they are still an individual. Only the diversification of civilizations will be able to make the cold universe flourish. Civilization is the cornerstone of society itself, the protagonist of the universe. Individuals outside these specifications are merely dispensable parts of our interstellar society. Getting rid of them might even make the world more peaceful and prosperous.
“The Beyond Grade As have too many privileges. If you do not know how to be satisfied with what you have, you will reach out to places that you should not touch, causing new turmoil in the universe. I don’t want to see this, so the fewer Beyond Grade As in the universe, the better.”
Traveler was a little surprised. “I always thought you only knew how to make money. To think you had such a side.”
“You can think of me as a warden, responsible for the balance of the universe.”
Sorokin turned around, and after a momentary pause, he added another sentence.
“… Of course, money still has to be earned.”
…
Somewhere in the Emerald Star Cluster, Han Xiao was hiding in the mechanical workshop within his spaceship.
“Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy Carrier, Test #17.”
A silver and red mechanical carrier stood on the test bench. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy cylindrical container was fixed on top of the mechanical body by four mechanical arms, connecting both the container and carrier with dense transmission wires.
Phillip sat on Han Xiao’s shoulder, reporting, “The carrier has completed the self-diagnostics. Status is excellent. The state of Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy is currently well behaved, and the connection is stable. Should we begin the energy transfer?”
Han Xiao nodded. “Begin.”
The instruments activated when he spoke, and the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy turned active, rushing into the mechanical carrier along the transmission wires.
Buzz!
The mechanical carrier jerked, its eyes lighting up with a red glow, becoming more and more glaring. Its body vibrated at a high frequency as it endured the load of the Primal Esper Ability Entity.
Han Xiao fully released his Mechanical Sense, staring closely at the carrier as he observed every detail.
In his eyes, the violent Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was gradually being constrained by the carrier and had begun to fuse with the special conversion components within the body. The function of this component was similar to that of the host’s cells to contain and refine the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
After a long period of time, the final speck of energy merged into the carrier.
Hu!
The carrier released a crimson colored shockwave, creating a gale in the room.
“Fusion complete. Synchronization rate is 72%. Compatibility, 75%. Load on the carrier is at 41%…” Phillip began reading out the results.
“Finally, it succeeded.” Han Xiao’s expression was joyful.
The carrier could not even perform the first step of fusion before, but now it had finally merged with the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. While continuous optimization was required, this was a good start and could already be directly used in combat.
The creation of the carrier for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was different from that of the mechanical soldiers. Its technical requirements were extremely sophisticated, not only needing to integrate the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy but also to prevent it from seizing control of the body.
Fortunately, Han Xiao had obtained the cell sample of Evans, which spared him from a lot of detours.
The combat power was wholly dependent on the performance of the carrier, as well as its fusion rate with the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. In simple terms, this situation was similar to that of EsGod—an inherently strong host would allow the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy to burst forth with its fullest strength.
However, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s main purpose was to provide energy, similar to a tool. It would be constrained within the carrier, and it would be the carrier itself or the artificial intelligence Sparta that controlled the body to fight instead.
Because this carrier was only the first prototype, there was still a lot of room for improvement, so Han Xiao did not turn it into an Apostle Weapon immediately.
“This model will be named [Mysterious Energy Host—First Generation]. I’ll come out with a new code name when it becomes an Apostle Weapon.”
Han Xiao was quite satisfied. He had a lot of skills that could increase the upper limit of his mechanical skills, so he still had vacancies to create Apostle Weapons.
“Noted, hum… The model name has been recorded, and its entry in the database is complete.”
Han Xiao nodded. He then sized up the carrier carefully before saying, “How do you feel?”
The next moment, a mental fluctuation was released, and the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy said, “It’s a little too cozy and uncomfortable. Give me a better carrier in the future.”
“Relax, the model has already been created, and optimization will be a simple process.” Han Xiao waved his hand casually.
“Humph, replace this carrier with a mechanical life form so that there will at least be someone to converse with me. Right now, I feel like I’m trapped within a prison.” The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was grumbling nonstop.
Han Xiao suddenly recalled something and interrupted, “Oh yes, do you think it’s possible if I were to split you into eight equal pieces to create a team of Mysterious Energy Hosts?”
“Don’t even think about it!” The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy immediately lashed out. “I won’t allow you to mutilate my body! Ab! So! Lute! Ly! Not!”
“What an intense reaction. Is it unbearable for your senses?” Han Xiao was a little curious. He could not help but ask that upon thinking of EsGod.
“Humph, it’s equivalent to you dismembering a person and that person having to watch others use his body parts as weapons, playing with his body at will. Furthermore, the pain inflicted on the parts will still be transmitted back to the brain, so you tell me whether this is good or not,” the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy grumbled in dissatisfaction.
“Cough, treat it as I never mentioned it.”
Thinking about it, Han Xiao realized that the scene was a little gruesome and coughed to hide his embarrassment. He pretended that nothing of the sort had been spoken.
Next, he tested the combat power of the First Generation Mysterious Energy Host, applying many scenarios that would require the usage of Esper Abilities. The results only left him with satisfaction.
As a Super High Risk Esper Ability, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy definitely had a plethora of abilities. It could strengthen itself, radiate the powerful dual attributes of psychic and spatial energies, and fly at high speed. It could even shuttle through secondary dimensions and extract energy directly from the planetary cores.
Since it had yet to receive the bonuses offered by a mechanical life form and Apostle Weapon, its combat power was far lower than a Beyond Grade A, but once the Mysterious Energy Host turned into an Apostle Weapon, it would likely become the most capable existence among the Apostle Weapons. Even Psionic Prime, who had been continuously evolving for many years, might not be its opponent.
“As long as the optimization is completed, the Mysterious Energy Host will become my top fighter and might even defeat ordinary Beyond Grade As.”
Obtaining another strong helper in battle left Han Xiao overjoyed.
At this moment, Phillip vibrated before saying, “Master, hum… There’s news from Black Star Palace. A Beyond Grade A has come knocking.”
“Who is it?” Han Xiao’s eyes narrowed.
Since it was Black Star Palace, who would dare go and lay their hands on his home base?
This person’s courage was really too great. With the resources he had poured into Black Star Palace, alongside the troops stationed there, one would require two Beyond Grade As to attack it in order to pose a threat.
“Uh, it’s not an enemy. It’s an ally of the dynasty, Silver Shadow.”
Han Xiao immediately jerked to a stop, his expression a little puzzled.
Why did this guy come over to my base camp in secret to find me?
“Who’s receiving him now? Did he mention his intentions?”
“Ames has received him. He came here with a gift and would like to request for an opportunity to use the Evolution Cube.”
“So, that’s what this is…” Han Xiao figured.
Previously, when he fought with Silver Shadow, he defeated him, thus robbing Silver Shadow of the chance to request to use the Evolution Cube. Thus, he had most likely been searching for bargaining chips that would allow him to do an exchange.
“What sort of presents did he bring for me?” Han Xiao was curious.
“It seems like he brought some rare blueprints and materials. I have no idea where he got them.”
“Blueprints… that works.”
Han Xiao had already decided to properly befriend this Uber, so when he asked about the bargaining chips, he had set the bar low. As long as he showed a favorable attitude, then he would lend Silver Shadow the Evolution Cube. In this regard, Han Xiao’s style was to treat each individual differently. People like Heber who were always annoying him would not be able to borrow the Evolution Cube even if he gave the entire Bloodshed Land to him.
“What a coincidence, to come precisely when my true body is not in the base.” Han Xiao tapped Phillip’s round face with his finger. “So, where’s the Throne now?”
“Reporting, it has almost arrived at Black Star Palace. The ETA is in a few hours, hum…” Phillip gurgled as he hugged Han Xiao’s finger.
“Then let him converse up with Ames for the time being. I’ll be there once the Throne has arrived.”
With the King already crafted, Han Xiao had gotten his mechanical army to secretly transport the warp point ‘Throne’ as well as Evans back to their main camp, Black Star Palace. It had already been some time since they did so, and with the exclusive stargate passage of the Black Star Army, they took many shortcuts. They were already nearing Black Star Palace.
The moment the Throne arrived in his palace, he would be able to utilize the King to warp directly there. As long as he did not stay longer than three minutes, he would be able to re-activate the charge and return to his original position before the cooldown began.
…
At the same time, in the Army Commander’s reception room in Black Star Palace, Silver Shadow placed both hands on his knees, sitting up straight, appearing cautious and polite.
And opposite him, Ames was seated on the main seat, one hand supporting her chin, while the other telekinetically brought three wine glasses to the table. She smiled. “No need to be polite. Let’s have something to drink first.”
By the side, Feidin smiled lightly. “Your Excellency Silver Shadow, the Army Commander has just gone to inspect the territories and will be back in a few hours. Please wait for a moment.”
“Alright.” Silver Shadow nodded before lifting the glass and emptying it.
Ames sized up Silver Shadow’s gleaming body with some interest. “I heard from Black Star that you have good strength, and he’s very optimistic about your potential.”
“Thank you. I’m also deeply respectful of His Excellency Black Star.” Silver Shadow hesitated for a while before continuing. “Actually, I have a question to ask…”
“What is it?” Ames lightly smiled as she lifted the glass to sip at her wine.
“Black Star is not here, but why is it you that is welcoming me?” Silver Shadow was a little hesitant as he spoke.
In his opinion, while the Black Star Army and Floating Dragon Island were allies, there was no need for them to replace each other to meet other Beyond Grade As. After all, the officers of the army were present, and the Dragon Emperor should be a guest. However, it seemed like she was treating this place like her house.
Unless… the rumors were true, that Black Star and the Dragon Emperor had… that sort of relationship?
“How is that surprising?” Ames raised a brow. “Black Star told me to come over to meet him, but he ended up going away, so of course I’m the one to welcome the Beyond Grade A guests instead.”
Hearing this, Silver Shadow felt that there were a lot of hidden meanings within.
Such a natural tone… ha, the rumors were indeed true!
He had actually felt it strange at the start. Why would Ames come all the way from afar to visit Black Star Palace? But now it was all clear. If they really had such a relationship, it was no big deal for Black Star to call the Dragon Emperor over to spend some long and sleepless nights together.
Thinking about this made Silver Shadow subconsciously display an even more respectful attitude. While he was someone who did not enjoy small talk, he tried his best to accommodate Ames’ requests.
After all, he had a request to ask of Black Star, and since a ‘family member’ had come out to greet him, it would be rude for him to snub them.
…
At the same time, in the Emerald Star Cluster, a spaceship flew over from the distance, slowly approaching the entrance of the Black Star Army’s stronghold.
Seeing this, the defense force in outer space immediately separated two battleships, intercepting the ship and issuing a warning on the wide area channel.
“Visitor, please stop advancing and identify yourself!”
After the message was sent, the strange spaceship slowly switched off, hovering in outer space.
But the next moment, a tyrannical energy fluctuation burst out, and all energy detection radars in the entire stronghold instantly rang, sending out endless warning alarms.
Boom!
“Alert! Alert! High-energy fluctuations detected. The model is being matched… Match found. The source is determined to be an energy release from a Beyond Grade A!”
Swoosh!
A commotion erupted throughout the stronghold, and the fleet in outer space immediately gathered. The cannons on the ground also raised their muzzles toward the air, locking onto the spaceship, and a large number of battleships rose into the air. The stronghold instantly entered a state of combat.
The next moment, the figure of Tolaen appeared on the wide area channel, laughing arrogantly as his entire body blazed with Demonfire.
“Ahahahaha… Hila! I’m here to get my revenge! Last time, I was beaten by you, but today, I shall wash away my humiliation. Do you dare fight me once more!”
As he spoke, his Beyond Grade A aura slammed against the stronghold.
In the training room, Hila suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze cold.
The warning from Han Xiao a while ago reappeared on her mind, which made her more cautious in dealing with matters.
Seeing that the defeated person had actually come looking for another battle with her, she thought to herself, What a fraud… does he really take me for a fighting idiot?
At this moment, the Vice Commander contacted her.
“Your Excellency Hila, he’s challenging you. What should we do?”
Hila had an indifferent expression, blandly replying, “What does the army manual say about how to deal with an enemy that’s close to the stronghold? Do I still need to teach you? Just because the other party is a Beyond Grade A, you suddenly do not know what to do. What’s the use of having you around?”
The Vice Commander shrank his neck. “I… I understand.”
Being surrounded in the starry sky by battleships, Tolaen patiently waited after sending out his battle request. He sneered to himself. With Hila’s character as a fighting nut, there’s a high probability she will agree. Kasuyi and the rest are hiding in the vicinity. As long as I lead her over whilst pretending to fight with her, we can complete this ambush.
Just as he was planning his movements, he found out that his vision was gradually brightening.
Tolaen looked up in a hurry, only to see that the Black Star Army fleet surrounding him had begun to open fire without any greetings.
The light of countless energy cannons filled his vision!
Tolaen’s expression paled.
F*ck me, you’re not following the script at all!
1047 Forced Attack and Acting
The spaceship that was targeted turned into dust in an instant. Under the attacks of countless spaceships, not a single remnant could escape the fate of being completely annihilated. Not a scrap of the wreckage remained.
Not far away, an unstable transportation door opened, and Tolaen staggered out from it with fear.
Fortunately, he had prepared a teleportation spell long ago and dodged the attacks at the last moment. Otherwise, it would have been way too shameful for him to be heavily damaged before the fight even began.
“Shameless! Firing at me without saying anything at all!” Tolaen was both shocked and furious.
Who in the world would not even give any face at all in the event of a visit or request to spar between two Beyond Grade As‽
Even though I did indeed come to challenge you, isn’t it too ill-mannered for you to start firing at me immediately without even saying a word‽
To him, even if the two Beyond Grade As had beef with each other and one went to challenge the other, they would at least be polite to each other on the surface.
We’re all very important people with reputations to uphold. How can you just blast me away like that‽ What happened to the courtesy between Beyond Grade As‽ I’m not the only one that’ll lose face for this, you will too!
At this time, Hila’s voice appeared on the public channel.
“You’ve lost to me. Those I surpass will never have the chance to catch up. I have no interest in fighting you again.”
Tolaen was instantly enraged by what Hila said. He thought he was arrogant enough, but Hila was even more arrogant than him.
After his expression changed a few times, he decided to put up with it for the time being.
“Humph, I have a mission to do, so I won’t argue with you. You’re already a dead woman anyway.”
Tolaen snorted in his mind before activating a magical communication rune to contact his teammates who had set up an ambush somewhere else.
“Guys, our judgment was wrong. Hila did not accept the challenge and fall for the trap. She even shamelessly ordered her fleet to attack me instantly. The plan to lure her away won’t work. Let’s carry out a forced attack. At least we now know for sure that she’s in the stronghold.”
Very soon, Sagman’s reply came through the magical communication rune.
“Okay, change of plan, start the forced attack! Tolaen, share your vision with us. Taylor, open the teleportation gate and attack the stargate. Also, prestart the spacetime stabilization device. Make sure that Hila has nowhere to run after we arrive and that everything goes according to plan.”
…
Hila went all the way to the command room of the stronghold and looked at the image on the surveillance screen, where Tolaen was barely dodging the attacks from her fleet.
“Still not leaving, he must be up to something.”
Hila frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and took out the communicator to send Han Xiao a message. She wanted to discuss this with Han Xiao.
However, the next moment, she intuitively felt an extremely strong sense of danger, piercing deep into her back and almost freezing her bones.
Hila’s expression changed slightly as she looked up. She sensed a few Fixed Star sized energy sources suddenly appear nearby.
“Alarm! Alarm! High energy source detected!”
“Alarm! Alarm! Stargate is being attacked. Requesting reinforcements!”
The image on the screen changed, showing a magical teleportation gate suddenly appearing beside the stargate station afar and two people walking out of it. It was Taylor and Sagman.
The two of them started attacking immediately before the defense fleet could launch emergency fire. Tons of summoned monsters swarmed out and restrained the defense fleet, while countless arcane beams and shockwaves destroyed one stargate. The surprise attack was effective.
Beside Tolaen, another enormous teleportation gate appeared, and mechanical troops flowed out like a tide, quickly spreading out. The three at the front were Kasuyi’s doppelganger, ‘Desolate Beast’ Mercer, and ‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco’s Lord’s Avatar, who was controlling this mechanical army.
Kasuyi and Mercer had known each other for a very long time, while Francisco was a direct member of the Arcane Church. His situation was rather unique, as his main body had always been serving a sentence in the Arcane Church’s prison and was not usually allowed to go anywhere. The Arcane Church would only let him join battles using his Lord’s Avatar when they needed his power, and the contributions he made would shorten his sentence.
His crime was related to his nickname, Mechanical Catastrophe. He had once caused a catastrophe that was machinery related. At the same time, this nickname was also a recognition of his strength. He was a Mechanic of the Energy Branch who had special talents. The cost of enhancing his machinery using his Mechanical Force was drastically lower than Mechanics of the same Grade, and the range of it was much larger. This meant that he could enhance a much larger army of machines compared to others.
Mechanical Catastrophe Francisco was there to deal with the fleet of the army stronghold, as well as to restrain Black Star’s mechanical army that was stationed there. Otherwise, the few Beyond Grade As would have to waste a lot of energy dealing with the fleets.
As soon as he arrived, Mechanical Catastrophe immediately started controlling his mechanical army to clash with the fleet of this stronghold.
With the sudden arrival of enemies, the stronghold fleet’s response was late for some time but quickly adjusted. The battle instantly entered the climax.
Mechanical Catastrophe’s army also brought along several spacetime stabilization devices, wormhole restriction devices, and so on. They were all activated, stabilizing the spacetime of this area. Even teleportation spells could no longer be used.
Seeing this, Hila’s expression became grave.
The enemies were well prepared, six Beyond Grade As including powerful ones like Kasuyi…
Do they want to kill me this much?
Despite how proud Hila was, her heart still shivered for a second.
Is this what Black Star faced back then?
No, this might be worse. It’s almost a certain death situation.
However, her mindset was only shaken for an instant before she suppressed the negative emotions and turned them into the fighting will, making her feel as if all the blood in her body was boiling.
Boom!
The next second, Hila tore the ceiling open and flew right into the sky. She clenched her teeth and charged toward the few Beyond Grade As in outer space who were locking on to her.
During the charge, she released death energy continuously, which turned into a bright red cloud.
Seeing this, Red Devil, Desolate Beast, and Mechanical Catastrophe’s Lord’s Avatar dove down at the same time, quickly got past the defense fleet that was restrained, and clashed with Hila.
Boom!
A circle of red shockwaves exploded!
The scarlet cloud formed by death energy dissipated, and the red meteor fell toward the ground at an even greater speed than before.
Boom!
After crashing large areas of bases and leaving a rift-like trail behind, Hila was finally able to stop herself. Her surroundings were filled with dust.
“Ahem…”
Hila helped herself up with a fierce look in her eyes, casually wiped away the blood dripping from her nose, and stared at the three people in the sky.
Clearly, she could not fight the three of them head-on and was blasted away immediately.
At this time, a black tide rose into the sky not far from the stronghold and quickly approached. It was the mechanical army Han Xiao had placed there, and at the front was his Lord’s Avatar.
However, the next instant, an ethereal voice appeared in everyone’s mind.
“Black Star, your opponent is me.”
With a flash of light, Kasuyi’s doppelganger stood in the path of Han Xiao’s mechanical army. He raised one hand and flipped it so that his palm was facing down.
Boom!
All the mechanical troops were instantly pressed onto the ground. Only the Lord’s Avatar was still standing, surrounded by bright Mechanical Force, barely hanging on.
“Although these are machines and mental attacks that I’m best at won’t be effective, I’m quite good at Psychic control too,” Kasuyi’s doppelganger said with a calm tone. He raised his hand and pushed forward.
A psychic wall appeared across thousands of miles and charged forward. All the buildings and machinery in its path were pushed away and pressed against it.
Some of the mechanical troops tried to attack the invisible psychic wall, but it was as if Kasuyi’s energy was infinite. Even though cracks kept showing up on the wall under the attacks, he easily patched them up in no time.
The advance of the psychic wall seemed unstoppable. It wiped away a large area of the planet surface like an eraser. Countless pieces of debris from buildings and machines were pushed away from the planet’s surface and into outer space.
Other than the Lord’s Avatar and some highly mobile mechanical soldiers that backed away, the rest of the mechanical army were all pushed off the planet and away from the battlefield, only able to form a formation again in the cosmic space.
At the same time, Kasuyi’s avatar followed them over and stopped in front of Han Xiao.
“Such powerful psychic powers.” Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar’s eyes sparkled.
“I can absorb energy from the Void Dimension, so my Psychic energy is infinite. In terms of energy volume, only the Federation of Light’s Oulou might be able to match up to me,” Kasuyi said coldly. “I heard you have the blood of the Void Race too. When your God’s Trait Transformation reaches a certain point, you might awaken a power like this.”
Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar looked around at the entire battlefield.
At this point, the planet stronghold could be divided into three battlefields.
First, there was Hila fighting Red Devil, Desolate Beast, and Mechanical Catastrophe, in which she was completely overpowered. It was too difficult for Hila to fight three of them at the same time, and she looked like she could be defeated and killed at any moment. However, Han Xiao knew what she was capable of. Although Hila would not be able to beat the three of them, she would be able to hold on for a short period. After all, her life-steal ability was quite powerful. Plus, her ability to reduce the enemy’s lifespan would make the three of them fight more carefully and not dare to exchange blows.
Second was the large-scale army battle between the mechanical army controlled by Mechanical Catastrophe and the defense fleet of the stronghold. It was a very intense battle. The defense fleet’s goal was to help Hila, while the Mechanical Catastrophe’s army’s goal was to restrain them.
The third and the last battlefield was Sagman and Taylor attacking the stargate stations to cut off Hila’s path of escape and prevent reinforcements from arriving. When the two of them destroyed all the stargates, they would join the fight against Hila, and Hila would not be able to hold on any longer.
Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar wanted to stop the two of them, but the distance between the stargate and the stronghold planet was quite far, so he could not make it.
Furthermore, with the mechanical army he had there, he might not even be able to break away from Kasuyi. His largest mechanical army and the Apostle Weapons were all with his main body and were rushing there, but they would take some time to arrive.
This isn’t looking very good… Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and looked at Kasuyi.
“Are you sure you want to keep me here?”
With an expressionless face, Kasuyi sent Han Xiao a unidirectional psychic message, saying slowly, “This Lord’s Avatar of yours has to stay here with me.”
He emphasized the words ‘Lord’s Avatar’.
Han Xiao observed Kasuyi’s emotions. Suddenly, he had an idea. He controlled his Lord’s Avatar and his mechanical army and charged toward Kasuyi.
Kasuyi was a Psychic, but not only did he not back off, he instead charged toward the Lord’s Avatar and fought with it at melee range. The battle was very ‘intense’. It looked like they had very deeply rooted hatred for each other.
The mechanical army around fired nonstop, which looked very accurate but actually barely hit Kasuyi at all.
Kasuyi did not stop this from happening and let these attacks land on the battlefield between Hila and three enemies behind him, occasionally stopping their attacks, forcing them to dodge and give Hila more chances.
At the same time, the mechanical army spread out, trying to get past Kasuyi. Kasuyi symbolically controlled his psychic wall to stop them, but the strength of it at some places was visibly weakened and was easily torn apart as the mechanical soldiers passed through the wall.
It looked like Kasuyi’s doppelganger was forced to fight Black Star at close range and could not maintain his psychic wall at full power, leading to some of Black Star’s mechanical army breaking away and heading in Hila’s direction.
Han Xiao finally confirmed that this guy was deliberately doing this.
Why is he helping me?
Han Xiao suddenly had a flash of insight and softly whispered the code words in the unidirectional mind link.
“Meeting of the Gods? Acting?”
“Focus, acting.”
Han Xiao immediately felt assured.
Damn, the opponent’s boss is an actor!
He had already requested reinforcements from the dynasty. Although the stargates at the stronghold might be destroyed, the dynasty’s reinforcements could still go to the nearest stargate. They would not be able to arrive right away, but it would not take too much longer.
The church has made its move, so there might be others waiting for an opportunity. I shall wait for the reinforcements and my main body to arrive first, Han Xiao thought.
With Kasuyi’s ‘help’, some of the mechanical army successfully arrived at Hila’s battlefield to support her. Once enhanced with Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force, these mechanical soldiers were very powerful. Despite their low quantity, Tolaen and the others could not ignore them.
With help having arrived, Hila was relieved. The situation became much better, and she did not have to fight solely on her own anymore.
Her death energy, which had the ability to reduce one’s life span, made Tolaen and Mercer very afraid. Usually, they were both tank-type fighters, but Mechanical Catastrophe’s Lord’s Avatar was the one taking on the role of the tank.
The fragile mechanical body had to endure pressure that was not supposed to be bestowed on this class. ‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco was completely speechless seeing how these two muscular men, Tolaen and Mercer, fought so cowardly.
Come on guys, try harder! I’m not Black Star. My Lord’s Avatar isn’t that tanky, okay‽
“Sh*t, Kasuyi’s letting enemies pass on his side. Is Black Star’s avatar so tough to deal with?” Mercer was surprised.
“After all, it’s Kasuyi’s doppelganger that’s here, and he just used a powerful attack earlier to divide the battlefield, so it’s normal for him not to be at full power.” Francisco’s tone was calm. “What’s surprising is how strong Black Star is. Not only is he fighting Kasuyi head-on, but he’s still able to use Virtual Intrusion on my troops at the same time.”
On the other side, just as ‘Red Devil’ Tolaen was about to speak, his shield was suddenly shattered by cannon fire, and he was hit by one of Hila’s death energy shockwaves.
Tolaen could not help but look at Kasuyi far away, who was in the middle of an ‘intense battle’, then complained in his mind, My life span’s been shortened again…
…
“W-what’s going on‽”
In the fleet outside the stronghold, the army players inside the battleships were stupefied by this sudden event.
Although many players had already formed or joined guilds and were moving in the free competition zone as subsidiary organizations, there were also some players who chose to move along with the main fleet of the army.
Due to the faction war order that the army had recently announced, many players had gathered in this stronghold at the frontlines and chosen this to be their temporary main city to form teams and pursue the players of enemy factions.
Unexpectedly, while they were enjoying their time in the stronghold, this place was suddenly attacked by multiple Beyond Grade As and became a battlefield of eight Beyond Grade As!
What’s going on? Aren’t Beyond Grade A all very difficult to see?
Have we… run into another huge event‽
Many players thought of the Planet Lighthouse event in the previous version and quickly started to record the battle, trying their best to capture the Beyond Grade As.
“This might be a huge event of this version! We’re here to witness it!”
“Quickly, record it. I have a feeling that this will lead to something big!”
Many players had their fill of being rubberneckers and were very excited.
…
Hasty footsteps came closer and closer.
Bang!
The gate of the reception room was rammed open. Ames, Silver Shadow, and Feidin, who were chattering in the room, looked toward the gate. It was Aurora, who quickly ran in with an anxious expression.
“Teacher, bad news!”
“What happened?” Ames asked.
“My… my sister is being attacked by the Arcane Church. They’ve sent many Beyond Grade As to kill her. I saw it through our mental link!”
“What‽”
Ames immediately stood up. Her Force Field erupted and blew away the furniture around her.
After training together for more than a decade, she already had a strong bond with Hila. Once she heard that her student was in a dire situation, Ames was enraged.
At this time, a virtual screen appeared in the room. It was a call from a management officer.
“Your Excellency Ames, Your Excellency Feidin, there’s a situation. A Beyond Grade A has arrived at Black Star Palace. He calls himself the Traveler, and he has challenged the Army Commander by name. How should we deal with this?”
“Tell him that His Excellency Black Star isn’t here,” Feidin replied.
“Er… he said that if Black Star isn’t here, he’ll fight his Lord’s Avatar.”
“Tell him, Black Star is very busy now and has no time to fight him.”
“… Your Excellency Feidin, he said that he won’t waste this trip here. If he can’t fight Black Star, he can challenge Her Excellency Dragon Emperor too… He’s refusing to leave. He’s a Mage, so it’ll be very difficult to chase him away without using special means.”
Feidin frowned and was about to reply.
Ames patted his shoulder, interrupting him, and frowned. “This person did not come with friendly intentions. He probably has some ulterior motives, which might be related to what’s happening to Hila. I’ll test him. Tell him that I’ll accept the challenge.”
Hearing this, Silver Shadow, who had been silent, felt that this was a great opportunity to gain a favor—if he helped Black Star’s family, he would probably benefit a ton from it.
He approached and said, “Your Excellency Ames, how about I take the challenge?”
“How can we let our guest help us in matters like this? Feidin, take Silver Shadow to the watchtower to observe the battle.”
Ames waved and rejected him. She then turned around and walked out of the room with large strides, her skirt swaying like a black flower.
Her tall back disappeared from everyone’s sights, only leaving her voice behind.
“Don’t worry, I’m not that easy to deal with.”
1048 Movements
Seeing this, Traveler’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I’ve come at the right time.”
According to the information provided by the Super Star Cluster alliance, Black Star was someone who loved accepting challenges. Yet, he was not coming out, not even sending out his Lord’s Avatar to fight him. This meant that Sorokin’s information was right. Hila was being attacked at this very moment, and Black Star had to protect her with his Lord’s Avatar. He could not focus on too many fights at once.
Apostle Weapons and mechanical armies could fight multiple battles at the same time, but one could only descend onto one Lord’s Avatar at a time.
“Black Star isn’t even using his Apostle Weapons to fight me, so it looks like Sorokin guessed correctly. Black Star has taken his main army away and has been pretending to be in his base.
“Since Dragon Emperor will be the one accepting the challenge, I’ll have to quickly deal with her and force Black Star to fight me. Even if he only sends a mechanical army to fight me, I’ll still have achieved my goal and divided his attention.”
In order to be done with the battle quickly, he had to use special tactics that would not be considered inside the perimeters of sparring. He would definitely offend Black Star by doing this.
However, Traveler did not care much about it. His relationship with some Super Star Cluster Civilizations was very special, exceeding the importance of his personal interests. On the surface, he was accepting a mission and doing his job. However, the truth was that as long as this would help the Civilization he belonged to, he would do everything in his power to succeed.
The Super Star Cluster alliance hoped that the church or the federation’s mission would succeed. They wanted these Beyond Grade As to fight each other and did not want to see them united. The Beyond Grade As being united looked like it was problematic for the three Universal Civilizations but beneficial for the Super Star Clusters, but that depended on the timing of it. For now, this was not what the Super Star Cluster civilizations wanted to see.
In the eyes of the Super Star Cluster civilizations, Beyond Grade As were important tools they could make use of, but there were not enough Beyond Grade As in this era. Therefore, even if they were united, they had very limited value to these Super Star Cluster civilizations.
The Super Star Cluster alliance hoped to find a more suitable timing where the universe had more than enough Beyond Grade As. By then, they would even encourage and aid the Beyond Grade As to be united. Therefore, they did not want this opportunity to come this soon when the timing was not right.
Other than to balance the power dynamics, there was another reason the Super Star Cluster alliance wanted to do this—they were worried that if the Beyond Grade As became united too early, it would force the three Universal Civilizations to carry out another elimination, another ‘Tragedy of the Pinnacles’. If and when that happened, the three Universal Civilizations would definitely deal with the outsiders first. Therefore, the allies of the Super Star Cluster alliance would be massacred with an excuse once again, and they would be the ones suffering from it.
Traveler silently waited for a while. Finally, Ames flew out from the base.
“You want to challenge Black Star? What’s your motive?” Ames narrowed her eyes.
“It’s nothing but respect for the strong. I want to challenge those standing at the peak. There’s no motive to speak of.” Traveler remained calm.
“You’re related to what’s happening to Hila, aren’t you?”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Traveler shook his head.
“Humph, chat sh*t.”
A green light flashed past Ames’ eyes, and a Force Field erupted from her body, grabbing onto numerous satellite tiles to bash onto Traveler.
Traveler remained calm and held his staff with both hands. Fog-like magic energy splashed out and turned into rune arrays of different sizes, fusing together and forming an enormous rune shield that looked as complex and exquisite as the mechanical parts of a mechanical watch, blocking the path of the satellite tiles.
Ka-cha!
Multiple satellites clashed onto the rune shield, creating cracks, but could not go further. At the same time, Ames extended her arm forward from afar, aimed at Traveler, and pulled heavily. A powerful force of absorption suddenly appeared and pulled Traveler toward her.
While being dragged through midair, energy sprayed out from Traveler’s body as he stabilized himself. He then cast a string of powerful spells instantly. Multidimensional energy turned into spells that quickly dashed past where Ames was standing but missed.
With a space ripple, she had already changed her location using Void Hyperdrive and approached Traveler’s back. She raised her brows, glared at Traveler’s back, and shot a shockwave from between her brows.
The next second, Traveler’s body was fixed in midair, and he could not move.
Force Field: Gaze of the Dragon!
The moment she locked the enemy’s movements, Ames’s long leg whipped horizontally, sending out a wave of Force Field right toward Traveler’s back.
Force Field energy that was sent out from her own body was the most powerful, and she had condensed this wave of Force Field into a thin line, rendering it dangerously sharp. It looked like she used her leg to launch a blade shockwave.
Force Field: Sweeping Blade!
Swoosh!
The blade Force Field slashed right across and actually cut Traveler in two.
However, the next moment, the two halves of Traveler suddenly shrank and turned into mojo puppets, while further away, a small puppet that looked to be made of clay appeared out of nowhere and quickly shapeshifted into Traveler.
“Puppet Replacement Spell, a simple little trick,” Traveler said calmly.
Ames, however, was slightly frowning. She had known Austin for a very long time and had some knowledge about magic.
The Puppet Replacement Spell was a little known spell of the Alchemy and Curse Branch, but it had a massive side effect. When reflected in the interface, every time someone cast the Puppet Replacement Spell, their health and energy would decrease by fifty percent, and all their attributes would also decrease by twenty percent. This was an extremely costly spell.
Due to its limited value, usually, only low-grade Mages would use it to save their own lives, while high Grade Mages had many defensive methods and would not use spells like this at all.
For example, a Beyond Grade A would have dozens of methods to dodge or block that attack earlier, and even getting hit by it would not be as horrible as the side effects of the Puppet Replacement Spell. Therefore, Ames felt that Traveler had done this for a reason.
As she observed more carefully, she realized that Traveler was strangely giving off a different vibe. He seemed to have a very faint creepy smile on his face, and she felt he became more corrupt and eviler.
“Tsk, Force Field Control is one of the most common Esper Abilities. It’s very rare for someone to be able to become a Beyond Grade A with it. You’re really talented in controlling your Esper Ability. One day, maybe you can improve this Esper Ability to its extreme form, the Super High Risk Esper Ability—Force Control. Although the difference is only one word, its meaning is a world of difference.” As Traveler gave off a different vibe, he became more talkative too.
“Something’s off.” Ames became more cautious and alert. She clenched her fist, shattering a corner of a satellite tile, and then controlled the broken pieces to fly out like a meteor rain.
Force Field: Dragon’s Breath Shooting Star Fist!
While using spells to block the attacks, Traveler was also observing a faint mark on the back of his hand. There was a faint purple evil glow inside his crystal yellow eyes.
“There’s not enough life force. More is needed…”
The two of them fought intensely outside Black Star Palace. Traveler’s way of fighting was extremely strange. He occasionally seemed to purposely get hit by Ames’ attacks. Ames showed the multiple uses of Force Field, including restraining, explosions, and slashes.
While training with Hila around the universe, Ames had improved as well. She had better control of her Esper Ability.
While the two of them were fighting, Herlous, who was watching in the watchtower, secretly commanded the fleet to leave in different directions and form an enormous encirclement.
“Everyone focus,” Herlous said with a deep voice. “Preheat the spacetime stabilization device. When I give the order, activate it and trap Traveler here.”
When the matter involved their Deputy Army Commander, no one cared about nobility anymore. Even Ames did not want to fight Traveler by herself.
It did not matter whether this was a misunderstanding; it was best to deal with Traveler first. Ames’ main goal in fighting him was to force all his attention on her so that the fleet would be able to deploy traps secretly, in case he opened a teleportation gate and escaped.
…
At the same time, the dynasty received Han Xiao’s message and started moving instantly. The Beyond Grade As who were in the dynasty’s territory received their missions, departed from their own territories, and headed toward the stargate stations.
Inside Kant’s ship, the few Beyond Grade As who had gathered urgently this time were all discussing their mission.
“The church really doesn’t learn. During the Planet Lighthouse battle more than twenty years ago, I… and Black Star taught them a lesson, and less than thirty years later, they’re here causing trouble again.” Beyoni curled his lips. A few fire sparkles jumped out between his teeth.
“This movement by them is very sudden. Their target is Hila, and we’re the only ones close by. It’s best for us to quickly head over.” Kant was serious about the matter.
Most of the dynasty’s allies were given territories in the Flickering World and were taking part in the free competition. They were too far away and would not make it in time.
Currently, the Beyond Grade As remaining in the dynasty’s territory would be able to reach the battlefield the quickest, and they were Kant’s Lord’s Avatar; Ravenlaude, who was recovering from his injury; the slacker, Beyoni; and Kohler, who had nothing to do.
“I heard Kasuyi’s doppelganger is there too. Isn’t that a little dangerous?” Kohler whispered.
Kant’s huge eyes glared at him and said, “Don’t be such a coward. With me here, what’s there to be afraid of? I can fight the entire church on my own!”
“Really?” Kohler’s face was filled with doubts.
“Of course not, but can you just let me say it?” Kant rolled his eyes. “If I were that capable, even Clotti would be my follower.”
Ravenlaude stayed silent with a conflicted expression.
Not long ago, he had been beaten up by Han Xiao, so he was not very willing to help.
However, the dynasty would give very generous rewards and merits for every reinforcement mission…
So…
Forget it, I heard the Black Star Army is in a dire situation this time. If I help him get through this, he’ll owe me a favor. Then, I can ask Black Star to get me a Universal Treasure…
Having thought of this possibility, Ravenlaude was suddenly very motivated.
…
At the same time, after the dynasty had sent out the reinforcements, the upper echelons continued paying attention to this matter.
Inside the conference room of the political building on the dynasty’s mother planet, Ruler Urranrell was watching the broadcast of the battle provided by the Black Star Army. Beside her were the remote projections of the dynasty’s upper echelons, who were also watching silently. The atmosphere was very serious.
“The church has yet to give up, and they have now assaulted our ally once again.” Urranrell looked around with a cold expression on her face. “What do you all think about this?”
The people exchanged looks. After a while, Bekorodi raised his hand and slowly said, “Your Excellency, according to the data, the church’s target is Hila, and Hila isn’t one of our Beyond Grade A allies.”
“Hila is the Black Star Army’s Deputy Army Commander, and the Black Star Army is our ally.”
“But she has personally rejected joining the dynasty… Your Excellency, I suggest drawing a clear line. Matters involving Black Star and matters Hila should be treated differently. Now that Black Star has requested help personally, and we have agreed to help because of our agreement, this means that he’s using the dynasty’s power to benefit his own faction. My thoughts are that… we can help our allies, but we can’t be used by them without any cost. Protecting Black Star is what we should do, but protecting a Beyond Grade A who isn’t our ally? I think we need to bring up the terms and not provide support without any compensation.” Bekorodi’s reasoning was logical.
“So, what ideas do you have?” Urranrell frowned slightly.
“If Black Star only gets through this with our help, I think we need to make one demand—Hila has to join the dynasty. Of course, she can remain in the Black Star Army, but she has to be the dynasty’s ally too.”
“Hmm… makes sense.” Urranrell pondered for a while. “What if Hila is killed?”
“It’s a loss to the dynasty, but there are benefits to it too. If Hila dies, Black Star will undoubtedly be on the opposite side of the church, the Meeting of the Gods will basically be completely meaningless, and the Beyond Grade As won’t be able to unite. This means that one threat is eliminated. At the same time, with a shared external enemy, it’s beneficial to building a closer relationship between the dynasty and Black Star. His loyalty will be firmer. Therefore, whether the rescue ends up successful or not, it will be beneficial for the dynasty one way or the other,” Bekorodi analyzed.
Many of the upper echelons nodded. Logically speaking, they felt that Bekorodi had analyzed it very well.
Urranrell did not express her stand on this issue. She tapped her fingers on the table, and seeing that no one else had anything to say, she said, “No matter what, provide full support to the Black Star Army first. We’ll deal with the rest later.”
“Understood.”
The remote projections disappeared one after another.
Urranrell left the conference room, and ‘Dark Lord’ Clotti, who had been waiting outside the door, draped her coat over her and followed behind.
After walking for some time, Urranrell suddenly said, “Clotti, how likely do you think it is that Hila will survive this?”
“Very unlikely,” Clotti said with a poker face.
“Even with the dynasty’s help?”
“That’s right.”
“Why?”
“The federation won’t watch and do nothing.”
“How do you know that?”
“The Mechanic Emperor told me.”
Urranrell had no response for that.
Okay, that’s one powerful and good reason. I have nothing to say about it.
“Looks like the Mechanic Emperor takes the shared battlefront of Beyond Grade As very seriously.”
Urranrell stopped in place and turned to look at Clotti.
“You’re a Beyond Grade A, too. Don’t you have any thoughts about this?”
“My identity as a member of the Crimson Dynasty comes first, the dynasty ruler’s Guard Captain comes second, and the Beyond Grade A part comes only third,” Clotti replied with a calm expression.
Urranrell shook her head and turned back around.
She stayed silent for a moment and then softly said, “You’ve spent too much time as my personal guard by my side. Go take a break from your job. Go out and kill a few Beyond Grade As before coming back. Don’t let the universe forget the name of Dark Lord.”
“Okay,” Clotti replied calmly.
…
At the same time, in Beast Ancestor’s stronghold…
“Hahaha, they’ve made their move as expected!”
Inside the palace, Gorutan laughed loudly. His lungs were so strong that his laughter formed almost solid sonic waves, causing the entire base to tremble.
Just now, he had heard from Sorokin that the information he had exposed had put Hila in a desperate situation.
As his plan succeeded and he got his revenge, Gorutan felt very satisfied.
Sorokin’s manifestation stood before him with a smile on his face. “Your Excellency Beast Ancestor, your territory isn’t far from the battlefield. Why not go watch it live?”
Hearing this, Gorutan’s laughter stopped. His sharp eyes stared right at Sorokin as he said with rage, “Are you trying to trick me again?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Sorokin quickly waved his hands.
“Humph.” Gorutan snorted. He then lifted his specially made enormous alcohol glass and gulped it down. “No matter what, I’m going to stay here to wait for the news of Hila’s death. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not trying to convince you to join the battle. The dynasty will have already sent reinforcements. If the dynasty’s reinforcements arrive, Hila might be able to escape her doom. Therefore, rather than staying here and doing nothing, it’s better to secretly provide some help.”
“What kind of bright idea do you have then?”
“Hehe, according to my estimates, the church will prioritize destroying the stargate stations when attacking Black Star’s stronghold, activate spacetime stabilization devices, and eliminate Hila’s path of retreat. Therefore, if the dynasty reinforcements want to come, they can only use the nearby stargate… Your Excellency Beast Ancestor, if the nearby stargate stations are turned off or destroyed, the dynasty’s reinforcements will have to take a detour. This way, Hila will have to remain alone for an even longer time, and the possibility of the plan succeeding will increase drastically.”
A flash of light appeared in Gorutan’s eyes. He put down the glass and said, “Hmm, what you’re saying does make sense…”
Sorokin smiled faintly.
…
In the Primeval Star River, Manison slowly opened his eyes and sent a message in the encoded secret communication channel.
“Mornisa, have you guys departed?”
“Teacher, the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device has already started preheating. We can depart any time.”
“Okay.”
Manison nodded, swapped the channel, and spoke to his Apostle Weapon team.
“Keep your eyes on Beast Ancestor. He might make a move. No matter what he wants to do, stop him.”
“Understood.”
After a few more orders, Manison closed his eyes again and softly murmured, “Black Star, that’s all the help I’ll give you today. Don’t disappoint me.”
Chapter 1049 Cultural Talen
‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco’s Lord’s Avatar opened his arms to maintain the shield against the death energy. All the patterns on his mechanical body were glowing with psionic light, and the thruster on his back was working at full capacity, shooting out six deep blue flame trails. But he still could not stop himself from moving backward.
He turned around and saw that ‘Red Devil’ Tolaen and ‘Desolate Beast’ Mercer were hiding behind his shield while occasionally shooting ranged Shockwave Blasts or spells, then quickly running back behind him right after. Francisco was infuriated.
You guys are the melee warriors, yet you hide behind me?
Are you two using me as a cover?
Stop messing about!
Francisco was very annoyed.
The battle had already lasted for quite some time. The situation in the various battlefields had all changed. Black Star and Kasuyi were still having an ‘intense battle’, and mechanical soldiers continued to ‘penetrate’ Kasuyi’s defenses to help Hila.
As Hila gained more help, she could focus more on her attacks, which led to Tolaen and Mercer acting more cautiously. Originally, the three of them had the firm upper hand, but now, the situation had shockingly started to move toward a stalemate. The main reason for that was the mechanical soldiers that Kasuyi let past. They were enhanced by Black Star’s Mechanical Force, so they were quite powerful and made the battlefield very chaotic.
The fleet battlefield in outer space was not looking too good as well. The mechanical army controlled by Francisco was being attacked by Han Xiao’s Virtual Intrusion, so mechanical soldiers were turning into traitors here and there, fighting their ex-teammates. This led to part of the fleet being able to provide help to Hila using ranged attacks, further diverting the energy of Mechanical Catastrophe and the other two.
‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco had to be the one dealing the damage, taking the damage, restraining the fleet, and even guarding his army on the virtual field, all at the same time…
My life is so difficult. I can’t even serve my sentence in peace!
Only Sagman’s side could give him some comfort, as they were almost done destroying all the stargates.
When the two of them are done, they’ll be able to come over and help. Then, the stalemate will be broken, and Hila will be completely overpowered, doomed to die! Francisco thought.
He knew that the Arcane Church had given Taylor a special trump card secretly that would be able to restrict Hila’s movements. According to the plan, when the five of them gathered, they would use it to launch a lethal attack on Hila.
This trump card was a few one-time use magic scrolls that stored extremely powerful church special forbidden spells, fused with the powers of Divine Spells.
Among them, the strongest was [Forbidden Spell—Wailing Nun’s Embrace]. This forbidden spell normally needed multiple people to use it together and took a long time to activate, but it could be activated instantly when stored in a magic scroll.
The Arcane Church once had a stage where their Mages were blooming, so there were many Beyond Grade A forbidden spell scrolls that got passed down. This scroll had been created by four Beyond Grade A Mages. One of them was even a peak Beyond Grade A Mage, so the strength of this spell was extremely high.
Only Taylor, Sagman, and Francisco knew about these scrolls; the rest had no idea, even Kasuyi. The Arcane Church knew Kasuyi’s personality very well, that he was not willing to bully a new Beyond Grade A with so many teammates. If he knew that the church planned to use this kind of one-time mass destructive weapon, it might lead to something unpredictable. Therefore, the church did not tell him about it, and their request to Kasuyi was only to stop Black Star’s Lord’s Avatar.
As for why only Taylor, Sagman, and Francisco knew, it was because the three of them were the most trustworthy and shameless, so they would work together the best. Anyway, once they activated the scrolls, the other teammates would follow up with more attacks as well.
On the other side, Crimson Snake had already turned into combat mode and shrouded Hila’s face. She swiftly moved around the battlefield, shooting out death energy while trying to hide her anxiety.
She understood her situation. Although she could last some time against the three enemies with the help of the mechanical army, she knew that this stalemate would be broken very soon. As soon as Sagman and Taylor joined the battle, she would not be able to last for sure.
If I don’t do anything, it’ll just be a slow death.
Although Han Xiao had sent a message to her earlier saying that his main body was on the way, due to her personality, Hila did not expect to rely on others in times of despair. Instead, she would do her best to save herself.
The reinforcements have yet to arrive, my means of retreat has been cut off, and there are two other powerful enemies who will soon join the battle. In order to survive, I have to hold on while facing the attacks of five of them. That’s a desperate situation even with the help of the mechanical army and the fleet. I’ll have to rely on myself one way or another. What other trump cards do I have here?
Hila remained calm and quickly thought about how to resolve this situation.
Ideas were born and filtered out one after another. Very soon, there was only one idea left in her mind.
I’ll have to do my best to try this…
Hila clenched her teeth.
…
An enormous beam penetrated the last stargate station. Debris flew everywhere, and shockwaves from the explosion made the shields of the defense fleet nearby flicker.
“The stargate stations have been destroyed, let’s go!”
Sagman did not hesitate. He quickly turned into a mass of bright, golden light, which shrouded Taylor, and instantly sped up, turning into a stream of light and leaving the battlefield, heading right toward Hila.
As they knew that the spacetime stabilization device would be activated, they knew that summoning type spells would be affected too. Taylor had made preparations in advance; he had prepared a ton of summoning scrolls, which he started tearing open right after the teleportation gate appeared, forming an army of summoned creatures. Taylor himself, however, swapped from summoning style to artillery style to adapt to the environment.
He was good at summoning spells, but that did not mean he did not learn other types of spells. He was just not as good at those in comparison.
A Beyond Grade A would have multiple combat styles. This was especially true among Mages, who were known for their versatility. No matter what style they were good at usually, they could all switch to a different style when needed.
With Kasuyi holding back, a small number of mechanical soldiers were also let past, trying to stop the two of them.
However, Sagman was extremely mobile in light form. He made countless turns to avoid fighting the mechanical soldiers head-on, showing how experienced he was. Luckily, Taylor was a Beyond Grade A as well, or he would have been vomiting his guts out.
Sagman’s Esper Ability was related to light energy, so his turning speed was extremely fast. He went in a huge circle to get rid of the mechanical troops and entered Hila’s battlefield, floating in midair above the planet.
“You guys are finally here. Quickly, help!”
Francisco was done with his teammates and was exhilarated to see help arrive.
Sagman and Taylor exchanged looks and saw what each other meant.
Create an opportunity to use the forbidden spell scrolls!
The two of them joined the battle without saying anything.
Light energy shockwaves and magic spells were thrown out like they were free, exploding everywhere.
Boom!
The sound of explosions never stopped. Mechanical soldiers were being destroyed one after another. Hila was in a dire situation once again, so much so that she had to stop all her attacks and focus on defending herself.
After the two of them joined the battle, it became completely one-sided.
…
At the same time, Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar scanned through the difficult situation Hila was in. He then said in the chat window with Kasuyi exclusively, “Hila won’t be able to fight against five of them. Stop blocking me and let me past.”
“How do you want to act that out?” Kasuyi replied.
“Give me a powerful hit, throwing my Lord’s Avatar and part of my mechanical army over.”
“The church wants me to stall you. I can’t possibly throw you into that battlefield. Plus, if you join that battle, I’ll have to follow too, and then, I’ll have to fight Hila as well. She’ll be in an even more dangerous situation.” Kasuyi shook his head slightly.
The acting was one thing, but he did not want to offend the church. No matter how much he was holding back, there was no way he could make it this obvious.
“How about… you use a large attack when you’re in a dire situation, and that stops your teammates’ attacks? Just say it’s collateral damage.”
“I have complete control over my psychic power. There’s zero chance something like that would happen.”
“Then… might as well let me destroy this doppelganger of yours. That’s the easiest way.”
“No, not mentioning whether your Lord’s Avatar has the ability to defeat my doppelganger, I have to stay here to prevent accidents. That old man, Mechanic Emperor, said the federation wants to make a move. I’ll have to act like I’m fighting with them for Hila to keep some of them busy.”
Han Xiao did not even know what to say.
What’s the courtesy of an actor? This is!
You’re so passionate about your job that even the church would be touched!
“No this, no that, what should we do then?”
“The federation might appear at any moment. When they do, I’ll turn to fight them, and her situation won’t be so dangerous. If Hila can still hold on for now, it’s best to wait for the change that’s certainly going to come,” Kasuyi said.
“I’ll have to think about it…” Han Xiao pondered.
While these two actors were going through their script together, a change suddenly happened!
Swoosh!
Under the nonstop attacks of five enemies, Hila finally showed a flaw. ‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco captured the opportunity, clapped his hands, and released an extremely condensed plasma electromagnetic field that passed through the gaps between the death energy.
Buzz!
Electric sparkles appeared all over Hila’s body, and her movements showed even more flaws.
Sagman and Francisco then continued throwing out more powerful controlling abilities to restrain her.
“Weird. Ever since we joined the battle, she’s seemed less focused…”
This doubt flashed through Sagman’s mind. Before he had time to think about it carefully, he yelled at Taylor in the mind communication channel, “Use the scrolls!”
“Ready long ago!”
Taylor tore open a white magical scroll with black words, the scroll then suddenly glowed extremely brightly.
Swoosh!
As if a prison was finally opened after a thousand years, countless white magical runes shot out from the scroll like wild dragons, all landing on Hila.
The next moment, the surface of Crimson Snake was crawling with eerie pale-white runes, which had an overall shape of a seductive woman. The woman-shaped pattern slowly opened its arms and did a hugging posture.
Buzz!
An unknown power appeared as Hila realized that she could not move her body. She was locked in midair. The boiling energy in her body quickly calmed down, and she was completely unable to move.
Forbidden Spell—Wailing Nun’s Embrace!
“Focus fire!”
The duration of this scroll was limited. Sagman did not dare waste any more time. He yelled in the communication channel to tell everyone to use all their attacks and throw them at Hila.
Tolaen and Mercer responded instantly. Although they did not know what happened, they would not let such a good opportunity pass.
Boom!
Hila’s silhouette was instantly buried by colorful energy explosions.
It looked beautiful, but it was extremely powerful as well!
Kasuyi’s doppelganger suddenly turned around.
“A forbidden spell scroll‽”
The church hid this and did not tell me about it‽
Seeing this, he did not want to discuss the script any longer. His psychic energy grabbed onto the mechanical army, including Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar, and threw them to the battlefield Hila was in.
“Damn, what a decisive man.”
Flying in midair, Han Xiao rushed toward Hila’s position with the help of Kasuyi’s push, but he was not in a hurry.
Kasuyi did not know much about Hila and thought Hila was in danger. However, Han Xiao knew that Hila had the ability to be able to ‘revive’ herself. This wave of focus fire looked powerful, but it could not kill Hila. It would only trigger her reviving ability.
However, if that’s the case, I’ll have to use the backup plan. Han Xiao frowned slightly.
If Hila’s one-time reviving ability was not triggered, he would take more risks. Now, however, Han Xiao felt like he needed to change the plan.
However, before he arrived at the battlefield, a powerful life force energy erupted in Hila’s location!
Wu!
The gold life energy shot into the sky like a fountain!
The liveliness of this energy startled everyone.
Sagman and the other four suddenly realized, although they had been dealing heavy damage to Hila all this time, those injuries seemed to have recovered within seconds!
With the effect of the forbidden spell ending, Hila escaped. Crimson Snake was already worn out, showing large portions of her sky that was covered in opened wounds with visible flesh.
However, with vital energy regenerating her body, those open wounds closed in the blink of an eye, not even leaving any scars, turning back to her smooth skin.
Sagman and the others’ eyes widened as they were astounded.
Impossible!
Such a powerful regenerative ability…
Why does she have this kind of power?
Also, why does this look familiar?
The next moment, everyone turned around and looked at Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar with a shocked expression.
Isn’t this… Black Star’s ability‽
Why does Hila have it too?
In terms of the similarities between the two of them…
Could this be the people of Planet Aquamarine’s cultural talent‽
This time, Kasuyi’s voice appeared.
“Black Star, are you people of the Planet Aquamarine… all unkillable?”
“That’s really not true. We don’t have that kind of talent…” Han Xiao smiled awkwardly.
If his main body was there instead of his Lord’s Avatar, he would probably have taken a very deep breath.
What Hila did was successfully building a vital link with Aurora. How else could so much vital energy erupt out of nowhere‽
Being able to obtain a new ability during battle, sis, are you a protagonist type character too?
That doesn’t make sense. You’re supposed to be on the evil side.
With this vital link activated, Hila became drastically stronger. Her basic combat capability did not increase, but she basically had an extremely powerful healer with her at all times. As long as Aurora still had stamina, Hila’s regeneration ability would be terrifying!
Han Xiao’s heart was hurting so badly he almost wanted to report this to the officials.
I thought I was powerful enough, but I never expected you to cheat!
If Hila had this ‘external software’ in his previous life… Han Xiao could not even imagine what would have happened.
Sadly, before Hila’s cheat finished installing in his previous life, the Germinal Organization’s leader had already destroyed it.
“Again!”
Hila’s will to fight was boiling.
Currently, Aurora was already able to fight along her side in this way, which helped her escape lethal danger. Hila’s mindset was different from before; she did not reject Aurora using her abilities to help her.
Beyond Grade As needed more vital energy to regenerate, but Aurora was now a Calamity Grade as well, so she was more than able to be Hila’s healer.
Hearing Hila’s yelling, Sagman and the other four were hesitant as to whether they should continue fighting Hila.
Han Xiao, however, stopped in midair and did not continue approaching. Kasuyi was watching from afar as well.
Everyone stopped doing what they were doing and exchanged looks. The situation became awkward.
However, everyone suddenly felt something and looked over in that direction.
Buzz!
Not far from the stronghold, a Federation of Light fleet penetrated the limitations of the spacetime stabilization device and suddenly appeared on the battlefield.
At the front of the fleet, seven Beyond Grade As stood in a row, looking at everyone there.
Kasuyi looked up and said calmly, “They’re here.”
1050 Oscar Winner
Under the Force Field, the satellite tiles shattered Traveler’s magic shield time after time like enormous fists, slapping him around everywhere like he was a baseball.
It looked like Ames had the complete upper hand and was totally overpowering Traveler, but not only was she not relieved, she was even more cautious.
There was a reason Traveler was getting beaten this badly—for unknown reasons, he used the Puppet Replacement Spell multiple times, decreasing his attributes, health, and energy time after time. It was like he was looking to be tortured.
At the same time, that uncomfortable evil vibe he was giving off gradually became stronger too.
“I can’t keep doing this.” Ames looked at the base far away and nodded.
The officers in the watchtower saw this action of hers, which was a hint to activate the spacetime stabilization device to cut off Traveler’s path of retreat.
Herlous instantly gave the order.
“Ambush team in position. Everyone, activate…”
Before he finished, the situation suddenly changed! A purple and green energy wave as thick as flowing liquid erupted from Traveler’s body. It had suction cups and looked like the tentacles of an octopus. It also looked like a boiling and bubbling potion that kept expanding.
The energy condensed into almost solidified translucent green and purple energy tentacles. Instead of saying that Traveler released them, it was more like these energy tentacles tore Traveler’s body open and forced their way out!
Ames did not have a habit of waiting for someone to finish transforming. Without saying a word, she focused her Force Field once again.
Circular Force Fields spun around her like small tornados, quickly turning into the shape of drills. They then stopped for an instant before rocketing toward Traveler.
However, the next moment, the purple-green energy on Traveler’s body moved and covered Traveler completely, forming a coating around him. The Force Field landed on it but was shockingly not able to penetrate it, only pushing him back slightly.
“Hahaha. Useless useless useless!”
Traveler laughed maniacally like he was a different person, giving off an indescribable sense of evil from all over his body.
Tons of army soldiers felt their legs tremble just by looking at him… In the interface terms, all of them had undergone a will judgment.
Ames kept attacking, but the purple-green energy around Traveler was extremely tough and blocked all her attacks. It was unknown what kind of energy this was.
At this time, Traveler suddenly held both his hands up, and a strong sense of passion appeared in his eyes.
“This powerful person here is the sacrifice I, your husband, have given to you. Answer my call, my lovely wife!”
Boom!
The energy around his body suddenly bloomed and spread out like it was infinite, painting the black cosmic space purple and green.
The properties of this area changed in this instant.
“Alert! Alert! Spacetime coefficient is fluctuating drastically. The wave peak has exceeded the reality safety line!”
“Spacetime stabilization device overloading… Alert! Stabilization anchor broken! Stabilization failed. Requesting more spacetime stabilization devices!”
“Analyzing event model… Analysis complete. 100% match. Event: Advent of a secondary dimension!”
If the spacetime was a piece of paper, the spacetime coefficient would be the extent to which this piece of paper was folded. The more stable it was, the neater and flatter this piece of paper would be. At this moment, this piece of paper was crushed into a ball, and another piece of paper representing a secondary dimension was wrapped around it.
Secondary dimensions were dangerous yet amazing. They were all born due to various reasons. If they appeared in the main universe, they would change the spacetime properties of a certain area and turn it into the secondary dimension. Most of the time, this would be a disaster.
Han Xiao had once seen an item called the Shadow Lantern in the dynasty. Its core was the fragment of the Shadow Dimension, and it could summon the Shadow Dimension. What Traveler was doing now was similar to that.
This evil filled secondary dimension gradually expanded outside Black Star Palace. Ames and the various fleets were all inside this dimension as if they were swallowed into its stomach.
Countless energy tentacles extended and appeared out of nowhere, each one at least a hundred thousand meters long, flapping and moving around randomly. The fleets’ formations were immediately broken, and their shields were attacked continuously.
Ames frowned as she controlled her Force Field to keep shattering one tentacle after another. However, new tentacles appeared in this secondary dimension like there was no end to them. Seeing this, she had no choice but to keep aiming her Force Field at Traveler himself.
Boom!
Traveler did not even dodge. He just hovered in the same place and kept waving his hand that had the purple mark on it. Following the movements of his hand, purple green energy tides appeared out of nowhere like it was infinite, easily shattering Ames’s Force Field attacks.
“I once lost to Oulou and witnessed his terrifying abilities, which motivated me to take the path of searching for secondary dimensions.” Purple and green patterns extended on Traveler’s face as he became more and more excited. He laughed like a lunatic and said, “Eventually, I found a new power! Let me introduce you. This secondary dimension is called Evil Convergence. It’s my wife! Inside its body, I can absorb an infinite amount of energy! Call Black Star out. You’re no match for me!”
“You haven’t beaten me yet.”
Ames narrowed her eyes slightly.
Traveler looked around and saw that countless fleets were rising from the Black Star Palace to deploy more spacetime stabilization anchors around.
Seeing this, he did not care and smiled coldly.
After causing such a big fuss, Black Star would definitely have to do something. He had already achieved his initial goal. All that was left was when would Black Star come.
However, he had to add more flames and give Black Star more pressure.
Having thought of that, Traveler looked at Ames and licked his lips.
“I shall chew you up into pieces first then.”
…
In the Emerald Star Cluster, the arrival of the Federation of Light attracted the attention of everyone present. They all stopped moving with different looks on their faces.
There were six Beyond Grade As who appeared there, while ‘Defender’ Romo, who was providing ranged support, did not come.
“One, two… six Beyond Grade As.”
Hila’s heart sank. The excitement from creating a vital link that ignored distance quickly dissipated.
If all those people were there to kill her, she felt that there was no way she would survive.
Aurora’s stamina was limited; it would run out sooner or later. With so many Beyond Grade As working together, they would be able to kill her countless times over.
To her, no matter how strong her regeneration ability was, being killed was just a matter of time. Furthermore, regenerating fast did not mean that she would not be captured by the enemies.
“Sis…” Aurora’s anxious call came through the mind link.
Hila felt the vital energy that kept flowing out in her body. The sharp look in her eyes gradually softened as she subconsciously turned to look at Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar floating in midair.
When she was surrounded earlier, she had analyzed the situation and felt that the only way to survive was to successfully link with Aurora. Hence, she had diverted her attention during the battle to keep trying to build a link with Aurora.
Whether it was her potential exploding in a time of life or death or some other unknown reason, that obstructing secondary dimension gradually stopped absorbing the vital energy. With this obstacle gone, the link between the two of them was built smoothly, and Aurora could finally share her energy with Hila through the blood and soul connection between them.
While everyone was observing the situation, the federation’s fleet moved.
A ton of unmanned spaceships and mechanical troops headed to attack the defense fleet of the planet stronghold, while the other spaceships quickly changed formation. The engineering ships came to the edge of the formation and released arc-shaped machinery that connected with each other, starting to assemble the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device.
The six Beyond Grade As of the federation quickly approached the battlefield Hila was in. Sierron crossed his four arms and looked down at Hila, Sagman, and the rest from above.
“Looks like we arrived at just the right time,” he said coldly.
Kasuyi’s doppelganger slowly flew over. “The federation is going to be involved in this too?”
“Humph, you people of the church really are useless. You still haven’t killed Hila,” Sierron said coldly.
“Since the federation is here, I suppose you have the same goal as us. Why not work together to kill Hila?” Sagman said with a deep voice. “She has just exposed that she has a similar regeneration power to Black Star. We will only have a higher chance of killing her by working together.”
Hades suddenly said, “Okay, since everyone’s goal is the same, let’s form an alliance.”
Sierron paused, thought about it for a second, and did not explain their true goal.
There were quite a number of people from the church as well; it was not a suitable time to show all his cards. Working together was the best choice.
Hearing this, Sagman and the others were overjoyed, but Hila’s heart sank.
Looks like today is the day I die.
This time, Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar landed beside her and stood by her side. He took out a compressed orb for a new Crimson Snake, instantly expanded it out, and helped Hila change her mechanical suit.
Hila turned and looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and said softly in their communication channel, “Black Star, if I die today, take care of my sister for me.”
“You won’t die today.” Han Xiao shook his head.
“You don’t have to comfort me. There are ten or so Beyond Grade As here… This is more terrifying than what you faced back then. You won’t be able to save me even if you come in person… Don’t bring your original body here. Go, don’t save me. You’ll be in danger too.”
“You won’t know till you try it,” Han Xiao replied.
Hila shook her head, paused, and said softly, “I owe you too much. You’ve been taking care of us all these years. I really appreciate you a lot.”
Han Xiao looked at her. “Why are you suddenly saying your will? It’s not like you.”
“Hehe, don’t worry, I won’t give up resisting. Even if I die, I’ll hurt my enemies as much as possible. I’ve always been chasing after your shadow, and before I die, I can finally fight alongside you. I’m already satisfied.”
Hila subconsciously reached out her hand but stopped halfway. She hesitated and changed it into a pat on Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar’s shoulder before softly sighing.
The next second, her face returned to her cold ice-like expression. Energy erupted from her body as she charged fearsomely toward the Beyond Grade As before her!
She just hoped that Han Xiao’s main body was not the one standing beside her now.
However, before I’m killed in a battle, I should be able to see you one last time…
“Know your place.” Sagman snorted and brought his teammates to once again fight Hila.
Just as Sierron was about to bring his teammates and join the battle, they suddenly felt a sense of danger.
“Boom!”
An extremely powerful psychic energy wave swept over them. The members of the federation were shocked as they quickly activated their defense measures but were still blown away. The attack also contained a powerful mind attack. Many of them shivered and felt an overwhelming painful headache.
This made everyone shocked. Sagman and the other four stopped as well and looked up. The attacker was their leader, Kasuyi’s doppelganger.
Aren’t we temporary allies now? Why did His Excellency Kasuyi attack the federation’s men?
Hila’s movements paused as well. She was confused too.
That’s weird. Why are they suddenly fighting each other?
Sierron got rid of the slight headache, stared at Kasuyi’s doppelganger, and yelled, “What is the meaning of this‽”
With hands behind his back, Kasuyi said, “The federation’s goal isn’t just to kill Hila, is it? You people want to capture her and use her as a chip to force Black Star to do something for you.”
Sierron’s expression changed. Given how certain Kasuyi was, he definitely knew about this from somewhere or someone, so there was no point faking it anymore. He did not deny it and said coldly, “How did you know that?”
“According to how you people do things, I could’ve easily guessed,” Kasuyi said calmly. “You people only came into the battle midway and even brought a Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device. Compared to killing someone, this is more like a kidnapping. The Ten Thousand Deity Scepter is still in your hands. If I’m not wrong, you want Black Star to open the seal of the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter in exchange for Hila.”
Suddenly, the psychic energy around Kasuyi’s body erupted like he was furious.
“If it was something else, it would not be a big deal. However, the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter is the church’s treasure. It definitely needs to be prioritized before Hila. Even if I must give up my mission today, I’ll stop you people from kidnapping Hila. The Ten Thousand Deity Scepter can’t be used by the federation no matter what!”
Feeling Kasuyi’s skyrocketing presence, Han Xiao was astonished.
Damn, are you an Oscar winner? How are you able to act this well?
Even if what he did now was reported to the upper echelons of the church, they would only compliment him for doing a good job.
Han Xiao suddenly thought that maybe this was not acting but his real thoughts…
What a pro! This was the highest level of acting—even the actor himself believed it!
If you don’t receive the tiny gold man, it’s definitely rigged!
Chapter 1051 Main Body's Arrival
The federation wants to capture a hostage to force Black Star to unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter?
As expected, upon hearing this, the expressions on Sagman and the others’ faces changed. They looked at the federation’s men with more hostility and caution.
They did not doubt Kasuyi’s judgments at all, not only because he was the leader of this mission but also because his speculation made sense.
The Arcane Church’s people always had problems with the Federation of Light. If not because the federation jumped back and forth on the side they were on during the Planet Lighthouse battle, the church would not have lost Ninjia and the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. Now that Kasuyi said the federation wanted to take a captive, Sagman and the others were reminded of how the federation did things and agreed with Kasuyi’s speculation. They felt that this was totally something the federation would do.
On the issue of the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter, the church and the federation had been arguing about it for a very long time. The church could only endure it all this time because they knew that the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter was sealed and the federation could not use or study it as well. Thus, they could put up with the federation possessing the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter for the time being.
However, if the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter was unsealed, the church would definitely not take it any longer.
Compared to Hila, the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter was clearly more important. They could not let the federation have their way!
Of course, Kasuyi did not guess this; the Mechanic Emperor had told him about it.
Although the federation was the Mechanic Emperor’s long-time boss, in terms of his plan, he naturally would not want something that was especially powerful against Beyond Grade As such as the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter to be used by any civilization. In his eyes, being sealed was where it belonged.
“Since that’s the case, let’s talk with our fists.” Sierron’s expression turned cold, and powerful Pugilist flames blasted out as his voice echoed like thunder. “You guys go deal with Hila first; I’ll deal with Kasuyi. This is just a doppelganger. When I’m done with it, I’ll help you guys.”
Then, he released a thick and blinding Shockwave Blast from his fist like a mini sun.
Like his nickname, Star Shatterer, his Pugilist style was known for overpowering his enemies head on.
Kasuyi also fired powerful psychic energy to take on the attack.
Boom!
As the two attacks clashed, it was like the sky shattered!
In a blinding light, the world seemed to have turned white entirely.
Boom!
Sierron and Kasuyi fought head-on for the first attack, then turned into two phantoms entangled together. Pugilist flames and Void psychic energy clashed hundreds of times every second, emitting waves of aftershock as they fought at higher and higher altitudes, creating another battlefield in outer space.
At the same time, the five federation Beyond Grade As quickly descended and stood opposite Sagman and the others, while Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar and Hila stood on the side.
The three sides stood in a triangle shape.
This could turn into a battle between three sides at any time.
“So, these are the five sent by the federation…”
Han Xiao sized the federation’s people up and nodded in his mind.
He had a rather clear understanding of the strength of these people. Not only did he remember what they had done in the previous life, but he also had the detailed data of them collected during the Meeting of the Gods.
The five people from the federation there were all mid-level combatants. Among them, the strongest should be Crystal Soul, who had a Universal Treasure named ‘Star Crown’ and had a similar position as the church’s Sagman. The weakest among them should be Hades, who had only joined the federation recently. He had similar strength to Tolaen.
What was worth paying attention to was Mornisa. Han Xiao remembered that she was once the Mechanic Emperor’s student and followed alongside the Mechanic Emperor to study machinery before she became known. She had only become a Beyond Grade A later. Han Xiao was wondering if she was an actor as well.
While Han Xiao was secretly analyzing the situation, Sagman and the others were in a dilemma as well. They did not know if they should fight Hila or the people of the federation first.
If they fought Hila first, the federation’s people would disturb them, and the federation might achieve their goal if they were not careful.
However, if they fought the federation first, they would feel stupid for leaving Hila on the side after fighting her half way, only to help her fight others.
At this time, the federation’s Hades suddenly spoke in the public channel.
“People of the Arcane Church, although we have different goals, we can’t waste our trips here. If you turn to fight us, we will all become a joke. So, we might as well first get rid of Black Star’s Lord’s Avatar, then beat Hila till she can’t fight back, control the situation, and then discuss what to do with her.”
In Hades’ eyes, Sierron would definitely be able to handle Kasuyi’s doppelganger. If they got rid of Black Star’s Lord’s Avatar, they would still have Sierron while the church would not have Kasuyi. With the two sides no longer balanced, they would be able to control the situation and take Hila away.
Hearing this, Sagman was a little hesitant. He then looked up at Kasuyi, turned to look at Black Star’s avatar and Hila, and made up his mind, nodding with clenched teeth.
“Okay, take down Hila first.”
At this moment, he made the decision not to listen to Kasuyi’s order from earlier.
Just as Hades said, if they suddenly turned to help Hila right after they were beating her up, he would indeed feel stupid, and they would become a joke throughout the universe.
Another reason was, unlike Kasuyi, Sagman was not willing to waste all this effort. Therefore, he wanted to take a gamble—if they could kill Hila while working together with the federation, they would also shatter the federation’s plans. If they killed the hostage, they would never have to worry about the enemies taking her hostage. Perfect.
This was also partially personal. Being locked inside the Spacetime Amber did not feel good. He could still remember it vividly even now, and he was ashamed of it. He had always hoped to hurt Black Star deeply, so from the bottom of his heart, he was not willing to give up this opportunity to kill Hila and hurt Black Star.
Earlier, Hila had shown her powerful regenerative ability, so dragging the fight out was not optimal. If ten Beyond Grade As worked together, their explosive damage would counter Hila’s regenerative ability to a certain extent. This was also why Sagman thought about killing Hila while working together with the federation.
He knew that both sides had ulterior motives. Even if they worked together, they would still secretly hold each other back. However, he was confident that he could create an opportunity to kill Hila right under the federation’s nose—he had a few powerful forbidden spell scrolls that were yet to be used!
With a little bit of discussion, the two sides barely came to an agreement. The next second, the ten Beyond Grade As of the federation and the church turned around, their hostile sights focused on Hila.
A horrifying pressure arrived like a tsunami!
Hila’s face turned slightly pale, but her expression remained cold.
At this time, the broad back of a machine stepped before her and blocked away all the eyes filled with hostility, as well as all the pressure.
“Don’t worry. I’m here beside you.” Han Xiao’s calm voice appeared.
Hila almost dazed.
It was this familiar scene once again, this back that protected her every time. Her emotions were difficult to soothe.
“Black Star…”
“What?”
“… When will your main body arrive?”
Han Xiao turned and gave her a glance. He then said with a meaningful tone, “No hurry, let me fly for a while.”
…
Inside the palace of the Beast Ancestor’s stronghold, Gorutan drank while chattering with Sorokin’s manifestation, waiting for good news.
After waiting for quite some time, Sorokin placed the glass down and asked, “Your Excellency Beast Ancestor, how far have the troops you sent gone?”
“What’s the hurry? Do you not trust my subordinates?” Gorutan replied impatiently.
After experiencing Sorokin’s confident words, he was persuaded. As long as he was not in danger, Gorutan was more than happy to make the situation worse for Hila.
Not long ago, he had given the order for some of his officers to take a fleet and destroy the stargate stations nearby, attempting to cut off the route that the dynasty’s reinforcements would arrive in so that they would not reach in time and Hila would not have reinforcements.
“It’s an important issue. If the dynasty’s reinforcements arrive, the situation will become more complicated. Killing a Beyond Grade A that’s in the Black Star Army but not an ally of the dynasty isn’t a problem as long as it’s done quickly, but the church and the federation might not be willing to commit to it if they had to face the dynasty’s forces head-on,” Sorokin said.
“Tsk, you have a lot of interesting ideas as always.”
With an impatient expression, Gorutan placed the glass down, took out the communicator to contact his officer, and asked, “Where are you? Have you arrived at the stargate station?”
“F-father… ” The officer on-screen was shivering. “We were intercepted by someone.”
“Hmm?” Gorutan’s expression suddenly changed as he yelled, “Who dared intercept my men‽”
“It’s the Mechanic Emperor’s mechanical army, and he brought his Apostle Weapons along. We weren’t able to win him…”
Gorutan suddenly stood up, accidentally toppling the glass and spilling the alcohol.
“Why did he suddenly intercept my men?
As a peak Beyond Grade A as well, Gorutan was not afraid of Manison. There was just a difference in class styles. He was not willing to mess with someone with such an enormous army like the Mechanic Emperor. They had intercepted his men, which did not look friendly at all.
Sorokin was surprised as well. He softly tapped the table and had an idea.
“I have a rough guess. From the Mechanic Emperor’s attitude during the Meeting of the Gods, he definitely does not support this mission targeting Hila, so he probably guarded against it earlier. As you’re the first one to let this message spread, it can be said that you started this. Hence, the Mechanic Emperor must have targeted you long ago, and by fighting you now, it should be to stop you from destroying stargates.”
Having thought of that, Sorokin frowned as he felt a slight headache.
The Mechanic Emperor had also interfered in this event, which meant that a lot of things might be different. Initially, he felt that the federation or the church would most likely succeed, but now, he was uncertain.
Sorokin had known the Mechanic Emperor for a very long time. He knew that this guy was also very cunning. Once Manison decided to interfere, it would definitely be more than just dealing with Gorutan’s troops. If he guessed correctly, Manison would have made other arrangements.
“I thought he would be just watching and not doing anything, but he actually secretly restricted the movements of the federation. He’s got guts. I’m afraid the chances of this mission succeeding…”
Sorokin started pondering. Among the hundred or so Beyond Grade As in the entire universe, very few were strong enough for him to take seriously, but the Mechanic Emperor was one of them.
While he was pondering, Gorutan directly contacted the Mechanic Emperor and questioned him.
“Manison! Why did you hold up my men‽”
Manison’s face appeared on the screen. “Did you forget the agreement we made in the Meeting of the Gods?””
“Hila reduced my life span and killed quite many of my subordinates. Are you telling me to just let it go?” Gorutan said coldly. “The agreement is all you talk about. Am I, a peak Beyond Grade A, less valuable than Hila? You don’t want the others to totally offend Black Star, but are you not afraid of offending me?”
“She’s already facing a dire situation because of you. I hope you can stop here. If she really dies, it won’t be beneficial for you.” Manison shook his head.
Gorutan snorted. “Humph, are you saying that Black Star will take revenge? You think I’m afraid of him? He’s the one who messed with me first. If he wants to play, I’ll play with him till the end! I’ll get rid of one of his most important comrades and teach him a lesson.”
Every time he thought of how big a loss he had taken and how he had been threatened by Black Star, he became more furious.
“I hope you can think of the bigger picture,” Manison said with a deep voice.
“I’m not the one that’s making the move right now. Plus, that’s your big picture, not mine,” Gorutan sneered coldly. “I’m giving you face by playing along with that shared battlefront thing. This is between Black Star and me; it has nothing to do with you. Yet, you’re here to interfere… What, you really think you’re the leader of the Beyond Grade As and have the right to control what I do? Let me tell you, don’t get ahead of yourself!”
Manison narrowed his eyes, giving him a deep look before hanging up.
Gorutan snorted, shattered the communicator, and threw it aside as he walked to the door.
Sorokin regained focus and hastily asked, “Where are you going?”
“Humph, the Mechanic Emperor is holding up my men. I’m not going to wait here for him to let them go. I’m going to bring my men back, and if I have time, I’ll destroy a few stargate stations on the way.” Gorutan walked out directly.
…
At the Black Star Army’s stronghold, the battle had lasted quite a while and become a fight between three sides.
After the Federation of Light’s fleet and Mornisa’s mechanical army joined the battle, the defensive fleet of the stronghold was once again restrained. The two sides fought intensely around the planet. The scale of the battle could already be considered a galactic battle.
Sierron and Kasuyi’s doppelganger were still fighting. Kasuyi was strong. Relying on his enormous mana pool, he temporarily stalled Sierron with just a doppelganger while dividing the battlefield at the same time.
This award-winning actor was the most important part in helping Han Xiao to stall the federation. He was of great use.
Han Xiao was secretly glad about this. If both parties had focused on Hila, the situation would have been close to impossible to get out of alive. In that case, he would have had no choice but to execute the final plan.
However, even though there was an actor on the enemy’s side, Hila’s situation was still extremely tough. The attacks from a total of ten Beyond Grade As filled her vision. It was horrifying.
Despite having successfully linked with Aurora, Hila still could not fight back. It had nothing to do with her regeneration ability; she was just completely overpowered. If not because she was absorbing Aurora’s vital energy, her one-time reviving ability would have been used long ago.
And this was with Han Xiao forcefully taking on part of the pressure that she was facing without considering his losses.
With so many Beyond Grade As working together, the power of their attacks would not just be additive. Han Xiao’s mechanical soldiers were destroyed countless times and reaching the limits of [Waste Modification]; he would not be able to rebuild them if this kept going.
‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco had set up a space stabilization anchor and wormhole disrupter, and the Federation of Light fleet had set up another layer after they arrived. The spacetime of this area was way too stable, so Han Xiao could not open his secondary dimensional army box and Dimension Factory. All he could use was the troops stationed in the stronghold. Hence, he had no choice but to deal with the spacetime stabilization device through Virtual Intrusion.
However, both the federation and the church had measures against this. That was especially so for the federation. Not only did they have Mornisa, they also had another Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic who was providing ranged assistance and protection for their artificial intelligence.
If the mechanical army was destroyed, just one Lord’s Avatar would not be able to fight ten Beyond Grade As.
Fortunately, they’re not so united. The church and the federation are cautious of each other, which somewhat decreases the power of their attacks, Han Xiao thought.
He turned around and glanced at Hila. Currently, he was separated from her, and not far away, countless attacks were being thrown at Hila. The situation she was in was extremely dire. She was receiving tons of damage every second. The glow of vital energy never disappeared and kept regenerating her health.
Aurora won’t be able to hold on for long even though she’s at the Calamity Grade now. It won’t be long before she gets completely exhausted.
At the same time, Sagman and the others surrounded Hila to attack her while he reminded his teammates, “Later, when the next round of the federation’s focus fire heavily injures Hila, Taylor, use all those scrolls, some to stop the federation’s people and some to aid our following full power attacks. We will eliminate Hila before she can regenerate and shatter her soul!”
“Got it.”
Taylor nodded and prepared to use the scrolls.
While everyone was highly focused, suddenly, an enormous energy source rocketed into the senses of everyone present and quickly approached at an astonishing speed.
“Someone else is here‽”
Everyone was shocked. Their movements paused as they looked up.
A mass of light streams were approaching at an extremely high speed from afar, dragging trails of flames behind. It was a mechanical army that was extremely huge, dozens of times larger than all the mechanical troops that were present there!
At the front of it was a silhouette shrouded in deep blue flames, heading right toward Hila’s location like a meteor.
“Who is that? They’re so fast! Are they here to help Hila?”
Sagman was confused. He looked around and realized that the federation’s people had the same confused looks.
At this time, they suddenly saw that Sierron had left his opponent behind and headed right toward that quickly approaching dark blue meteor, attempting to stop it and not let whoever had arrived reach Hila.
The two silhouettes clashed into each other, but the next moment, everyone present watched on with disbelief!
Boom!
A blood fog exploded!
It was Sierron who was blown away like a baseball. He flew out while spraying blood, together with… a shattered arm covered in blood!
Sierron had a total of four arms, and one of them had been blown off!
“What‽”
Everyone had a look of disbelief on their face.
Heavily injuring Sierron with one hit? Who is this guy‽
This time, the silhouette was also forced to stop in midair after clashing into Sierron. The flames around them disappeared, exposing the man inside, whom everyone there was familiar with. He was looking down at the ten Beyond Grade As who were surrounding and attacking Hila.
At this moment, other than Kasuyi, all the Beyond Grade As of the federation and the church were completely astounded.
Black Star!
How can he be here‽
Isn’t his main body in his base? How did he arrive here‽
Many Beyond Grade As there did not notice that the moment they saw Han Xiao’s main body arrive, more than half of their confidence in this mission instantly vanished.
They would happily bully Han Xiao’s Lord’s Avatar, but many were instantly afraid to face Han Xiao’s main body.
Han Xiao had an extraordinary combat history. He had proved his strength as a peak Beyond Grade A long ago through battles.
Seeing Han Xiao’s arrival, everyone felt a strong sense of pressure and became hesitant. Hila made use of this opportunity to flee from the encirclement and gasped for air.
“This is not good…” Sagman was reminded of how it felt to be sealed by the Spacetime Amber, and he shivered.
At this time, facing everyone, Han Xiao slowly spoke.
“I’m here.” He coldly looked around at the Beyond Grade As who had extremely uncomfortable expressions on their faces and said with a calm but pressurizing tone, “Now… it’s your turn to run.”
The reason they had surprise-attacked the stronghold was because they wanted to eliminate Hila when Black Star’s main body was not present. They did not want to fight Black Star’s main body face to face.
Black Star had peak Beyond Grade A strength, and his Indestructible Body was extremely tough to deal with. Plus, his position was very special. He had the Evolution Cube, so he was very important to the dynasty. At the same time, since his main body was there, he had definitely brought along the Spacetime Amber.
It would be drastically more difficult to kill Hila with Black Star’s main body present.
“There’s probably no chance now. To think that his main body actually came…” Sagman stared at Han Xiao with fear.
If it was any other Beyond Grade A Mechanic, the main body arriving would have been a risk. However, Black Star had proved long ago that he was a breath of fresh air among the paper Mechanics.
For the time being, everyone was hesitant and did not know what to do.
Sierron finally stopped his body from being blown away. His face was filled with rage, as well as a tint of shock. He pressed on the cut on his arm and glared at Han Xiao.
As a peak Beyond Grade A, I could not even block the charge of a Mechanic and was heavily wounded in one hit‽
Thinking of the power of that attack, Sierron was filled with shock.
Such a powerful single target attack was rare even for him.
At this point of time, Sierron only had one thought in his mind.
What kind of martial art did Black Star use?
He’s been hiding this trump card all this time…
Han Xiao’s threat in Sierron’s heart increased several levels.
He turned to look at his missing arm, controlled his muscles and veins to instantly stop the bleeding, and used his Pugilist energy to speed up cell generation. A new arm grew out in no time. Compared to the rest of his body, though, its skin tone was visibly lighter.
Sierron casually blasted his broken arm that was floating in the cosmic space into atoms before slowly flying back to the battlefield. He suppressed his shock and rage and did not act immediately. Instead, he observed everyone’s expression and pondered.
Kasuyi was floating quietly on the side while looking at Han Xiao. He did not look like he wanted to speak either.
The battlefield became strangely silent. Han Xiao, Sierron, and Kasuyi, these three peak Beyond Grade As, formed a triangle while the rest of the Beyond Grade As fixed their attention on the three of them.
Everyone knew that what happened next depended on the discussion between the three of them.
Black Star’s main body had made a threatening comment right after his arrival, but he did not do anything after. The various Beyond Grade As were not surprised by this. After all, they had the complete advantage in numbers. Even if Black Star had finally arrived, he would not dare act recklessly.
He was alone and had no help, so he was probably not willing to face the ten or so Beyond Grade As on the two sides at the same time. Thus, he probably had no choice but to endure his rage and solve the problem through negotiations.
Having understood this, the Beyond Grade As present all looked much more relieved.
Now that the Black Star’s main body had arrived, they did indeed have to retreat. However, that was not because they were afraid of Black Star but because there was no need to stay there anymore as the success rate of the mission had decreased drastically.
Although they feared Black Star’s main body and his Universal Treasure, there was no need to be afraid of him given how many Beyond Grade As were present. In the eyes of Sagman and the others, Black Star alone would be sufficient to protect himself but not enough to cause much trouble.
While everyone was secretly speculating, Han Xiao waited for the mechanical army behind to catch up with him while looking at the interface.
When Hila was attacked, an Urgent Mission had been triggered on the interface. It was similar to the mission for the Planet Lighthouse battle.
_____________________
Urgent Mission—[Rescue Hila]
Mission Introduction: Hila’s Esper Ability is seen as a threat by multiple Beyond Grade As. With powerful talent comes disaster. The church and the federation have decided to eliminate this threat.
Mission Requirements: Hila surviving in the attack.
Reward: 75 – 92 billion Experience, +1 Legendary Point, 4 Random Rewards, 4 Unknown Character Summon Cards, 1 Blank Character Summon Card.
Bonus Mission Requirements: Working together with the dynasty’s reinforcements, capture the enemy Beyond Grade As.
Bonus Reward: For every Beyond Grade A captured, draw one ability from the target.
_____________________
This is the most difficult mission I’ve ever seen… Han Xiao was amused.
The number of Beyond Grade As present was similar to the Planet Lighthouse battle, but Han Xiao now only had Hila on his side, and they had to face more than ten Beyond Grade As. The last guy to face this kind of situation was EsGod, and he ended up receiving a free 500 years lease for a luxurious single person cell inside the dynasty’s prison.
Nonetheless, the mission rewards were the best he had ever seen. For every person he captured, he would be able to draw an ability from that person. The more he captured, the more abilities he would be able to draw.
Now that my main body is here, there’s not a high chance the church and the federation will try to forcefully kill Hila in front of me. They’ll probably retreat very soon, and it’s still unknown when the dynasty’s reinforcements will arrive. Therefore, in order to complete the bonus requirements, I’ll have to rely on myself.
Han Xiao had already made plans when he was on the way, and he did not change his mind now.
He focused his thoughts and was reminded of something else.
On the way there, he had received a report from Black Star Palace; there was a Beyond Grade A who arrived on his doorstep to challenge him, and Ames had accepted the challenge. This incident was strange in every way.
The Great Mechanic Han always maintained connection with the base and knew the situation of the battle over there. That Traveler guy was showcasing his true powers and maintaining the upper hand, but there could only be one Lord’s Avatar at a time. If Han Xiao diverted his attention to what was happening at his base, his main body would have a tough time.
“Interesting, deliberately diverting my attention so that the church and the federation will have an easier time… Hmm, Traveler.”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
Traveler was a neutral Beyond Grade A on the surface but actually had a very close relationship with Super Star Cluster civilizations, which only very few people knew.
However, to him, Traveler’s identity was no secret. It had been exposed long ago in the previous life.
Did the church and the federation work together with the Super Star Cluster civilizations on this matter?
“No, it can’t be.” Han Xiao overthrew this speculation.
Traveler’s identity was a secret to the outside world. Even if the federation and the church worked with the Super Star Cluster civilization, they would not have sent Traveler, or his identity would have been exposed.
“Looks like there’s more to this…” Han Xiao slightly frowned.
He was not concerned about the truth for the time being. What he knew for sure was that the Super Star Cluster behind Traveler definitely had something to do with this.
The others did not know Traveler’s background, but he knew it clearly. There was no need to even investigate it; it would never be wrong to blame the civilization behind Traveler for this, and it would be simpler and easier.
Causing trouble at my house, they’ve got guts. The Throne is still on the way. When it arrives at the base, I’ll deal with you.
Hila flew to Han Xiao’s side.
The other Beyond Grade As did not stop her but only followed her over and waited beside their captains.
“You… shouldn’t have come.” Hila had a complicated look in her eyes.
From the way she looked at it, in order to save her, Han Xiao’s main body had deliberately rushed here into this trap, gotten surrounded by more than ten Beyond Grade As, and taken so many risks.
Hila knew that compared to her, the church and the federation wanted to get rid of Black Star even more. Plus, he had the Evolution Cube and the Spacetime Amber with him. If these enemies changed their plan to make Black Star the target… she would be the reason.
Originally, Hila thought that she would definitely die and really wanted to see Han Xiao one last time, but when he really came, Hila could not help but worry about Han Xiao’s safety.
All this time, Hila always lived by being straightforward and direct. Very rarely was she ever caught between such conflicted thoughts.
“If I didn’t come, who’d save you?” Han Xiao turned to give her a gentle smile. “You’re safe now. Why? Because I’m here.”
Hila softly bit her lips and suddenly held Han Xiao’s hand.
Han Xiao raised his brows and was about to say something when he suddenly felt waves of vital energy being sent into his body through Hila’s hand. He received a ton of enhanced statuses on the interface.
After holding his hand for a few seconds, Hila let it go, adjusted her hair, and coolly said, “Aurora’s ability can now enhance the strength of living beings. I can’t do much, only share the vital energy with you.”
“…Thanks.”
At this time, Sierron said with a deep voice, “Black Star, since you’re here, I’ll give you face. I have come up with a deal. Are you interested?”
He felt that Han Xiao was stalling time to wait for reinforcements, so he did not plan to continue waiting and started the conversation.
Hearing this, Han Xiao turned to look at Sierron, wiped the smile of his face, and said coldly, “Go on.”
“If you agree to unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter for the federation, not only will we retreat, but we can even fight these people from the church with you.” Sierron’s hostile sights moved around Kasuyi.
Han Xiao’s hit earlier had combined [Charge—Endless Potential] and Silver Shadow’s Character Summon Card [Comet Rush].
In fact, he had arrived around the battlefield long ago but had been farming distance travelled to make this initial hit stronger. Originally, he wanted to first eliminate a more ordinary Beyond Grade A, but Sierron unexpectedly came to stop him, so he had no choice but to vent all this power on that thick-skinned Pugilist.
Although the power of this attack was far from being enough to make a peak Beyond Grade A Pugilist lose his combat capability, it still made Sierron feel threatened. Seeing that the plan would be very difficult to pull off, he had given up on capturing Hila as a hostage and attempted to reach his goal through a deal.
Sierron did not know that Kasuyi was an actor yet; he felt that Black Star needed help.
Kasuyi did not mind at all, “Then, our church will definitely retreat instantly, so you won’t achieve your goal. In the end, Black Star will still be the one benefitting from it.”
Then, Kasuyi suddenly said, “Since the federation has an idea, I shall suggest a deal on behalf of the church as well.”
“Go on.” Han Xiao gave him a calm look.
“Black Star, I know your Spacetime Amber is very magical and can even imprison Beyond Grade As. How about this? We work together and capture these Federation of Light Beyond Grade As, then you sell them to us, and we will have chips to exchange for the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. What do you say?”
Sierron’s expression became grave as he glared at Kasuyi.
While the two of them faced off with each other, Han Xiao took a deep breath and said, “No need to make things so troublesome. I’m rejecting all of your deals… You came to beat up my men, yet now you want to make a deal with me? Don’t even think about it! All of you, come at me together.”
Sierron’s eyes widened with disbelief as he looked at Han Xiao.
Kasuyi was surprised too. This was not in the script.
Not just the two of them, all the Beyond Grade As of the federation and the church were shocked and stared at Han Xiao in disbelief.
Has this guy… lost his mind‽
He wants to fight more than ten Beyond Grade As alone, including two peak Beyond Grade As? Is he looking to be killed?
After extreme shock, wrath followed.
You think us Beyond Grade As are all made of glass‽ Don’t underestimate us!
Are you not clear of the situation? Sure, your main body has arrived, but do you really think you can fight us all alone and that we took a step back because we’re afraid of you?
“Are you serious?” Sierron’s expression sank completely.
“You destroyed my stronghold, tried to kill my Deputy Army Commander, but want to retreat right in front of me… Do you think that’s possible?”
Boom!
Han Xiao’s tone was firm as his energy increased gradually.
Hearing this, the look in everyone’s eyes became even more hostile.
Sierron was completely furious. “Think about this clearly! Given the current situation, we won’t hesitate to make you the target!”
Hila tensed up and quickly stepped in front of Han Xiao. Death energy spread out once again as she was on full alert.
No matter what decision Han Xiao made, no matter what strong enemies they had to face, she would always fight alongside Han Xiao without any hesitation.
This time, Han Xiao held onto her shoulder and pulled her behind him. “Don’t have to be so nervous. I alone am enough.”
Before anyone could vent their rage, a sky trembling energy impact exploded from Han Xiao’s body.
Buzz!
Violent golden Mechanical Force flickered and danced like lightning whips. Han Xiao’s energy seemed to be increasing infinitely.
Facing so many Beyond Grade As, even Han Xiao did not dare hold back. He instantly used the trump Character Summon Cards in his inventory!
[Mechanic Emperor Character Summon Card—The Ancient Ones]!
[Tyrant Character Summon Card—Polar Channel Flow—Cellular Overdrive]!
[Dragon Emperor Character Summon Card—Force Field—Dragon Body]!
[Nero Character Summon Card—Perfect Mechanical Sense]!
With the stacked effects of multiple Character Summon Cards, the energy Han Xiao was giving off looked horrifying even for peak Beyond Grade As. It even stinged everyone’s senses.
Sagman and the others’ expressions changed drastically from rage to shock!
The strength Han Xiao was displaying at this moment far exceeded what they knew about him!
Even Kasuyi, who had always remained calm, was moved at this moment!
Han Xiao’s eyes glowed brightly like two mini blue suns.
“Let me see how many of you can escape!”
Before the Beyond Grade As could regain their focus, Mechanical Force lightning shot out from Han Xiao’s body, instantly connecting to the mechanical army like an endless web of lightning.
The next moment, the metal tsunami formed by the mechanical army came crashing down!
1053 I, Black Star, Am Not Cheating!
Boom!
The next moment, the opposing Beyond Grade As were submerged under the sea of mechanical army.
As the battle started, they became even more astonished. They felt an incomparable level of pressure even from the mechanical army.
If it was the army of a normal Beyond Grade A, they would have been able to easily move in and out of it while destroying everything in their way. However, Han Xiao’s mechanical army made them feel like they were trapped in a swamp and could hardly move, not to mention breaking out of it. Only Kasuyi and Sierron were able to move freely.
This was not only because the mechanical army Han Xiao’s main body brought was dozens of times larger than the two other Mechanics’ armies present but also because the mechanical army’s strength far exceeded what they could imagine. The Mechanical Force gave the mechanical soldiers incredible levels of enhancements!
Han Xiao already had the [Perfect Mechanical Sense] talent, and now he activated Nero’s Character Summon Card as well, stacking the two Perfect Mechanical Sense talents, increasing his Machinery Affinity to a completely new territory.
Facing such crushing pressure, the Beyond Grade As of the federation and the church had no time to think about anything else other than to subconsciously work together to fight the mechanical army.
Boom!
As soon as the battle erupted, it entered the climax and became a huge war.
Inside the endless mechanical army, there were over ten spheres of light moving within. Countless beams and attacks were gathering toward these light spheres, and these light spheres were the battlefields where each of the Beyond Grade As was under intense fire.
“How can he be this strong‽” Sagman said with a shocked tone.
“The last time Black Star went all out was during the Planet Lighthouse battle. After more than two decades, this is the second time he’s used his full strength. It’s shocking to think that he’s become this much stronger!” Taylor was both panicking and jealous.
More than two decades ago, the few of them who had taken part in the Planet Lighthouse warfare still had a vivid impression of Han Xiao’s performance back then. Now that more than two decades had passed, they knew that Black Star had definitely become stronger, but they never expected him to become so much stronger!
“This level of pressure is starting to feel similar to the Mechanic Emperor…” Kasuyi’s expression was grave.
He was within Han Xiao’s attack range as well, and he was mainly dodging attacks and slacking while thinking about the rest of the script.
He could understand the reason behind Black Star’s sudden attack—being the party that was being attacked, Black Star could not just let them retreat easily and had to, at the very least, display his intention to counter-attack. However, the strength Black Star was displaying now exceeded Kasuyi’s expectations.
At this time, Sierron said with a dumbfounded tone, “This is… Polar Channel Flow—Cellular Overdrive!”
Hearing this, everyone was shocked.
Isn’t this one of the explosive abilities of the Pugilist class. Why can Black Star use it too? Isn’t he a Mechanic‽
“I’m definitely not mistaken. The aura Black Star is giving off feels exactly like this ability. By squeezing out his own future potential, he’s exchanging it for higher power!” Sierron said with a firm tone. “Not thinking about how Black Star can use this ability, its concept remains the same!”
This was quickly accepted. Everyone’s expression became complicated. Their sights passed through the mechanical army and looked at Han Xiao with shock and astonishment.
This means that… in order to keep us here, Black Star is willing to burn his own potential‽
He could have totally made us retreat. Did he really have to do this much‽
If that was the case, they were not surprised as to why Black Star became this much stronger. After all, it was only temporary.
Nonetheless, such explosive power was still quite horrifying!
Seeing how firm Han Xiao was, many people intended to retreat.
Kasuyi sighed in his mind.
Initially, when he saw Han Xiao suddenly taking the spotlight and going off-script, he was a little unhappy and wanted to stop him. However, when he saw Black Star’s firm attitude, he decided not to go all out.
Since Black Star had given his all, he planned to give him face and cut him some slack. After all, he believed that Black Star knew where to draw the line.
On the side, when Hila saw Han Xiao displaying his incredible power, she was excited and shocked, but when she heard this explanation, she was stupefied.
The next second, Hila’s eyes turned red, with burning rage and murderous intent!
She did not think that Black Star would burn his own potential. Looking at the reason behind all of this, was Black Star not doing this just to save her‽
A stinging pain suddenly struck her heart and flooded her entire body.
Hila turned around stiffly. The way she looked at Han Xiao was different now. There was only remorse and apology deeply embedded in her bones.
“I…”
Hila was just about to say something, but Han Xiao waved and interrupted her.
“You don’t have to say anything. I’m fine.”
“… I’m so sorry.”
Hila bit her lips, clenched her fists, and charged into battle without saying anything else.
Death energy rushed toward the church’s Beyond Grade As together with her like a tornado. Her burning rage was all vented on the enemies!
Looking at Hila’s uncontrollably murderous intent, Han Xiao did not know what to say.
The side effect of using Polar Channel Flow—Cellular Overdrive was a seven-percent permanent increase in the cost of leveling up his character and abilities, which was equivalent to burning his potential. However, what these people did not know was that Han Xiao was using the Tyrant’s Character Summon Card. Although it only had one usage, the Character Summon Cards had zero side effects.
Sierron’s misjudgment made everyone misunderstand the situation.
Let it be. Not like it’s a bad thing. In fact, it’s actually beneficial for me. Han Xiao shook his head. Of course, he was not going to explain this to anyone.
Some of these Character Summon Cards could only be used once to grant him extraordinary strength, and using them in exchange for permanent abilities was definitely worth it.
He was filled with a sense of power he had never felt before. The Tyrant’s Character Summon Card made his basic attributes and energy strength far beyond the normal, reaching the standard of the next Promotion. While the double Mechanical Sense talents made the power of his mechanical army skyrocket. With these two together, he became terrifyingly strong.
Those that received the most enhancements were elite combatants such as the Apostle Weapons.
…
Swoosh!
Red Devil Tolaen’s leaned back and barely dodged Psionic Prime’s ordinary spear strike, which slashed his thick magic shield in half and opened a deep wound on his bone-spike-covered chest, exposing his dark brown chest bone.
Tolaen hastily swung the bones on his tail toward Psionic Prime’s mechanical body, which Psionic Prime calmly blocked with his spear.
Bang!
As the bones and the spear clashed, a shockwave exploded!
Tolaen was a powerful melee combat mage with tons of spells that enhanced his various combat capabilities, yet Psionic Prime, who was covered in gold Mechanical Force, fought him head-on without even taking a single step back.
“Help! Quickly! His Apostle Weapons are too strong!” Tolaen yelled.
With the enhancements of two Perfect Mechanical Senses, just Psionic Prime alone gave him enough pressure.
Plus, Psionic Prime was not the only one fighting him—Heaven-Suppressing Banner, Purple Sky Spirit, Silver Flash, Scarlet Flame, and many other Apostle Weapons were all focusing their fire on Tolaen.
The strategy Han Xiao used was to restrain others with his mechanical army while focusing his elite troops on one target to defeat them one by one.
“Useless!” Sagman was heavily surrounded as well. He was frustrated to hear Tolaen’s cry for help.
However, he could not possibly ignore his ally. He had no choice but to squeeze out some energy to provide assistance, launching some powerful light shockwaves toward the Apostle Weapons who were attacking Tolaen.
Buzz!
At this time, countless nanoparticles swarmed out in the middle and suddenly turned into an enormous fortress, splitting Tolaen’s battlefield away from the others.
This enormous mechanical fortress was surrounded by streams of light that quickly merged into a light gold translucent curtain that stood in the path of Sagman’s attacks.
Boom!
Sagman’s attacks were all stopped by this light-gold curtain, and countless blinding light arcs erupted!
Very soon, the blinding light dissipated, showing the absolutely unaffected flickering light curtain, leaving the mechanical fortress completed undamaged.
“Such strong defenses!” Sagman was shocked.
This mechanical fortress was one of Han Xiao’s Apostle Weapons. His name was Heaven’s Wall. This light curtain was somewhat similar to the Psionic Prime Spear; it was also a weapon that was created together with the birth of the Apostle Weapon. This light curtain’s name was ‘Wall of Defense’, and as its name suggested, it focused on blocking attacks.
Heaven’s Wall had more than one weapon. He also had ‘Ion Green Flame’, which was used to attack.
Suddenly, a large number of barrels extended from this fortress, shooting out beams of green light at Sagman and the others. This was a special type of ion energy attack. It was not only destructive but also had many other attributes.
“Sh*t, I’m isolated.” Tolaen was frustrated by this situation. Just as he was about to attempt to escape, he felt a chilling sense of danger.
In the blink of an eye, a tiny beam of light crept through the gaps between the mechanical troops around and easily penetrated his magical shield. Tolaen hastily tried to dodge it, but it still ended up landing on his shoulder.
Boom!
The next moment, an enormous wound suddenly appeared on Tolaen’s shoulder. This attack had dealt True Damage to him.
He quickly pressed on his wound and dodged around the other attacks. In moments of panic and horror, he looked in the direction that the beam of light came from, where he saw a human-shaped Apostle Weapon aiming a special firearm at him.
The moment Tolaen looked over, this Apostle Weapon suddenly disappeared without a trace.
Dark Shadow was a sniper-type assassin Apostle Weapon. His weapon was ‘Godly Camouflage’, which gave him extremely powerful stealth and infiltration abilities. The firearm in his hands was also a highly condensed sniper that could deal a ton of damage to single targets.
“Damn it, what weapon is that? My regeneration ability is suppressed…”
Before Tolaen could catch a breath, Mysterious Energy Host arrived. He launched a huge beam of light at Tolaen from far away, and Tolaen could only barely activate his magical shield to block it.
However, Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy had psychic attributes as well. Although Tolaen blocked the physical attack, his mind was shocked, and his channeling was interrupted.
With this golden opportunity, Hila did not hold back at all. She bombarded death energy beams on Tolaen like a thunderstorm. Tolaen was soon covered in wounds and bathed in blood.
“Why are they all attacking me?” Tolaen was frustrated.
Looking around at the entire battlefield, the one in the worst situation was none other than him.
I’m just a young new Beyond Grade A. This is bullying!
As Tolaen was in grave danger, Sagman and the others were also troubled and discussing what they could do.
“Black Star’s mechanical army is way too large and powerful. We can’t be restrained by him here. We have to make moves on Black Star himself. Taylor, use the forbidden spell scroll on him.”
“He has an indestructible body. Will that be able to damage him?”
“It’s not like we have any better choices. Let’s focus our fire together with the forbidden spell,” Sagman said furiously.
Taylor then tore open an attack-type forbidden spell scroll without any further hesitation.
Whoosh!
Magical meteors dashed out from within the scroll one after another, penetrating the multiple layers of psionic shields in their path, heading directly toward Han Xiao. This spell had an excellent penetrative ability. It was originally planned to be one of the trump cards to heavily wound Hila.
At the same time, Sagman and the others focused their fire at Han Xiao together with the forbidden spell. Light energy shockwaves, Pugilist Impacts, spells, psionic cannon beams, and other forms of attacks formed a tide of attacks thrown right toward Han Xiao.
The enormous energy here attracted the attention of the people of the federation not far away. They all looked over at this wave of attacks and were shocked. When facing attacks like this, most of the Beyond Grade As would have no choice but to try to escape.
With the ferocious attack dashing right toward him, Han Xiao, however, was not affected at all. All he did was raise his hand, and many sphere-shaped mechanical discs quickly gathered and formed two layers of shields that stacked on top of each other in front of Han Xiao. There was a piece of the Spacetime Amber on each and every one of those discs.
Swoosh!
Like a river stream hitting a reef, all the energy attacks slid away on the surface of the Spacetime Amber, not dealing any damage to Han Xiao at all, making the others feel both grave and jealous.
The existence of the Spacetime Amber was no secret. The fact that Han Xiao’s main body was there meant that this Universal Treasure was there too.
It could even block the attack of the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter, so the threat of this wave of attacks was negligible to Han Xiao. Furthermore, even without the Spacetime Amber, he was tanky enough to take on all these attacks.
It was way too difficult to hurt Black Star’s main body!
“We can use psychic attacks on his main body,” Hades said hastily.
Both Crystal Soul and Hades were Psychics. They quickly summoned their maximum psychic energy output and attacked Han Xiao. Kasuyi thought about it for a moment. He then decided to do his job on paper as well and used psychic energy attacks on Han Xiao while holding back.
Psychics were professionals in terms of psychic attacks. They could attack the target’s soul from afar, which was very difficult to guard against.
“I fixed my weakness long ago.”
Unaffected, Han Xiao immediately activated Psyker’s Character Summon Card, [Wall of Mind]!
The result of that was, he was completely unaffected, while Crystal Soul and Hades were both suddenly heavily wounded mentally. Their body shivered, and they became much weaker.
Psyker’s Character Summon Card could reduce the attack damage dealt by psychic attacks while reflecting some of its damage. Hades and Crystal Soul did not hold back at all, so they ate their own attacks. On the other hand, Kasuyi, who deliberately held back, was not so unlucky.
It was not too horrible for Crystal Soul, as he was stronger and even had the psychic type Universal Treasure, Star Crown, so he was only a little wounded.
“He can even reflect psychic attacks‽”
Hades’ face was pale. He was horrified.
Does this guy not have any weaknesses‽
Unconvinced, the two of them continued to attack. However, the more they attacked, the more damage they took from Han Xiao’s damage reflection. Han Xiao remained at ease while the two Psychics kept receiving damage.
With the Great Mechanic Han’s Psychological Resistance, he could actually block a lot of those psychic attacks. However, reflecting the damage was clearly much better than him just enduring the attacks. In the face of more than ten enemies, he was not going to give up any opportunity to weaken them.
…
As the fight lasted for a while, the many members of the federation and the church still had yet to get out of their difficult situations. Moving inside the mechanical army was extremely difficult.
The impact of such an enormous mechanical army, which continuously procced Han Xiao’s True Damage talent, was much larger than being able to merely restrain Beyond Grade As. If they did not deal with it cautiously and got focused on, they would die right on the spot. Therefore, everyone was on edge.
If they were facing an ordinary Mechanic, they would have rushed to him long ago. However, there was absolutely no point in doing that when facing Black Star.
He was too tanky, so much so that they did not even think about closing the distance on him!
However, Sierron was the exception. As a peak Beyond Grade A Pugilist, he could easily be unstoppable in the midst of the mechanical army.
Just like the Tyrant, he also had a True Damage immunity talent, so he could ignore the focus fire of the mechanical army. However, the damage he could deal to the mechanical army was nothing given the sheer scale of the mechanical army.
The muscles on Sierron’s arms expanded as he sent a Pugilist shockwave strong enough to obliterate an entire planet right toward Han Xiao, but it was still reflected by the Spacetime Amber. Seeing this, he clenched his teeth, suppressed his anger, and spoke with Kasuyi.
“Let’s work together. You restrain the mechanical army to help me get close to Black Star. I’ll try to restrain him instead of killing him.
“I’m out of energy,” Kasuyi replied.
Sierron was speechless.
You were so energetic earlier when you fought me as if you had infinite energy, but now you’re saying that you’re out of energy? Who the hell are you trying to fool‽
Sierron was furious, so he left Kasuyi alone and charged toward Han Xiao alone, destroying the mechanical soldiers in his path. All four of his arms were covered in highly condensed Pugilist flames like they were coated with black paint.
“Humph, I knew you were going to do this.”
Han Xiao was prepared. He activated his ability instantly. Some of the mechanical soldiers flew toward him and quickly assembled.
In the next moment, the Mechanical Deity descended!
As soon as it appeared, the Mechanical Deity swung its arm and launched its fist toward Sierron. It was shrouded in a white light energy field that was created by psionic energy and force fields.
Four black fists clashed with the mechanical fist that was millions of times larger.
Boom!
A gigantic shockwave exploded and expanded in the cosmic space!
The Mechanical Deity’s arm quickly shattered, and tons of mechanical parts exploded. Sierron, on the other hand, due to his size disadvantage, was sent flying at a speed even faster than before.
Shockingly, the two sides’ strength was on par.
“This punch of mine would have even destroyed the core of a planet, yet Sierron took it head-on. That’s the power of a peak Beyond Grade A Pugilist, I suppose.”
At this time, ‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco saw the Mechanical Deity and quickly contacted the federation’s ‘Mechanic Empress’ Mornisa.
“He has used the Mechanical Deity. This is our chance. You, me, and Romo, the three of us shall use Virtual Mechanic on the Mechanical Deity right now. Even though Han Xiao is a Virtual Mechanic, he still has to deal with that carefully.”
“Okay.” Mornisa nodded.
At this crucial point, the Beyond Grade As of the federation and the church had no choice but to work together temporarily to fight Black Star, who was ‘burning up his future potential’.
The three Mechanics quickly formed an alliance and attacked Han Xiao’s virtual firewall.
Han Xiao noticed this instantly and smiled with mockery.
“Oh, they’re trying to hack me?”
With all the bonuses plus the fact that he was a Virtual Mechanic, Han Xiao’s ability in the Virtual Technology field was extremely high.
Among the three enemies, only Romo was a Virtual Mechanic, and he did not even send a Lord’s Avatar.
In the virtual world, Han Xiao confronted the three of them. The three of them kept trying to break through Han Xiao’s defenses, while Han Xiao’s firewall stood strong.
Instead of being attacked, Han Xiao even followed the connection to use Virtual Intrusion on the three of them. The two members of the federation could barely stop Han Xiao’s hacking with the help of their main artificial intelligence, but the same could not be said for Francisco.
Francisco was alone, and he was not even a Virtual Technology professional. His defenses were weak and were shattering by the second.
His machinery became traitors one after another and turned on their former teammates.
“I’m going to lose!” Even the movements of Francisco’s Lord’s Avatar started to stagger.
At this moment, an enormous mechanical hand appeared and grabbed Francisco’s Lord’s Avatar before he could dodge.
Ka-cha!
Francisco’s Lord’s Avatar turned into a pile of trash instantly.
Han Xiao curled his lips.
“Hehe, paper.”
Mechanics who were using Lord’s Descent could deactivate their ability any time they wanted, so there was no way to catch them. In order to get rid of them, one just had to destroy their Lord’s Avatar.
After all, not every Mechanic’s Lord’s Avatar was as tanky as his.
Seeing this, Mornisa reluctantly gave up on the idea of trying to hack into Han Xiao’s army and focused on strengthening their defenses to not let Han Xiao break through.
Suddenly, the situation of the battle took a turn.
Under the focused fire of many Apostle Weapons and Hila, Tolaen could not hold on.
The damage output of the mechanical army around him was the main source of damage he received. After all, he was not immune to True Damage. His health plummeted under the focus fire of the mechanical army, and his teammates had no way of helping him.
Bang bang bang!
“Ahhh!”
Tolaen was flooded by bullets and cannons once again. This time, he was at his limit.
Not one area on his body was unharmed. His demon horns were broken, and his mind was fuzzy from the attacks of Hila and Mysterious Energy Host. He had lost the ability to fight.
Just as Hila was about to end him, Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity stopped her.
“Don’t.”
“Why? They made you…” Hila clenched her teeth and dared not complete the sentence.
“He’s more valuable alive.”
Han Xiao shook his head and grabbed Tolaen, who had almost lost all his senses. He absorbed him into the Mechanical Deity and brought him to where his main body was.
Han Xiao took out the Spacetime Amber and sealed Tolaen right away.
Looking at the agony on this guy’s face that was now fixed, Han Xiao smiled with satisfaction like a farmer counting the harvest of an entire year.
“That’s one.”
…
“Tolaen’s been captured!”
Sagman was enraged. He looked at the Mechanical Deity, which had captured his teammate, and a sense of panic appeared in his mind.
He did not even have to think to know that Tolaen was definitely going to get a taste of the Spacetime Amber, and he felt bad for him.
Due to how uniquely tanky Black Star’s main body was, they could not deal with Black Star the same way one would deal with other Mechanics. There was only one path in front of them, which would take the most effort—to eliminate Black Star’s mechanical army.
However, Black Star was fighting on his own grounds. He had even burned his future potential. Given the unique combat style of Mechanics, he was extremely powerful at this point, which was due to three key components—his Mechanical Deity, his elite Apostle Weapons, and his enormous mechanical army.
The strength of Mechanics in the later stages depended on their ability to fight multiple battles at once, creating a numerical advantage in one or more battles through the suitable distribution of their troops. In this battle, the Mechanical Deity had fought Sierron on even ground, restraining a peak Beyond Grade A; the mechanical army had restrained the many Beyond Grade As; and the Apostle Weapons had focused their fire on one target at a time to defeat them one by one.
If this lasted any longer, he could not even estimate how many of them would be left there.
In the past, Black Star’s only strength was his regenerative ability. Now that his attack had become this strong, Sagman’s impression of him became someone who was on a completely different level that gave him nothing but despair!
“Your Excellency Kasuyi, what should we do now?”
Sagman looked at his captain.
In times like this, the person he trusted most was the leader of his team… but he did not know how much Kasuyi was holding back.
“Black Star only obtained this strength through burning his potential. It won’t last long. The operation has failed. There’s no point to continue fighting. We’re retreating,” Kasuyi said slowly.
“What about Tolaen?”
“Even you might not even be able to walk away. Why are you thinking about others?” Kasuyi shook his head.
Although he was the leader, he did not mind Black Star capturing some of them to vent his anger. The way he looked at it, since Black Star had burned his potential, the Universal Civilizations should give him some compensation. He was not the one paying for it anyway.
All these Beyond Grade As coming to kill Hila had already insulted Black Star. If he could not vent his emotions, it would not align with Kasuyi and the Mechanic Emperor’s plans.
While the Arcane Church was tempted to retreat, Sierron, who was fighting intensely with the Mechanical Deity, received the same suggestion from his side.
“Your Excellency Sierron, we should retreat now. The situation will only become worse for us. There’s no point in fighting Black Star here while he burns his potential.” Hades’ tone was hasty.
“That’s right. Although more than ten of us being forced to retreat by Black Star alone will damage our reputation, by analyzing the current situation, this is the best plan for now. Since he’s paid such a huge price, it’d be best if we don’t continue to fight with him.” Mornisa agreed as well.
Sierron and the Mechanical Deity’s attacks clashed a few more times before he backed away with a long face.
Although he was not willing to admit it, the explosive power Black Star was displaying now was more than enough to match up to him. They would not be able to do much to each other any time soon. The Mechanical Deity’s energy consumption was terrifying, so normal Mechanics would not be able to make it last this long, but Black Star could keep it running for a very long time. This meant that even if the battle between the two of them came to an end, it would take a very long time.
The church’s side seemingly intended to retreat as well, so if they remained there to fight Black Star, they would receive all the pressure.
Sierron was not afraid, but he could not fight in multiple areas like a Mechanic could, so he could not help his teammates.
The federation never planned to fight Black Star head-on. Since the plan to capture Hila alive had failed, continuing to fight would only be a waste of effort. Sierron made the decision instantly and said with a deep voice, “Retreat. Preheat the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device.”
After he said that, he no longer continued fighting the Mechanical Deity and headed into the mechanical army. Using continuous Pugilist shockwaves, he created an empty area within the countless mechanical soldiers.
On the other side, Kasuyi stopped his act as well while helping his teammates to escape. His psychic energy swept all the mechanical army in his way to the side.
The escape routes of the two sides were different. The federation had brought their fleet along, so the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device was their way out. The church had a small team, so only the Beyond Grade As had to escape themselves. As soon as they left the area affected by the spacetime stabilization device, they would be able to escape with teleportation scrolls.
Han Xiao instantly noticed the shift in the targets’ goals. Both sides were heading out of the mechanical army in two different directions.
The federation and the church both hoped that the other side would hold Black Star back, so of course, they would not be helping each other. There was also no way the church would take the federation’s Uber, or they would basically be leaving the wolf’s den just to enter the tiger’s cave.
“Their alliance is broken.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. He controlled the Mechanical Deity and chased after the federation’s people.
The mechanical army split in two, while the Apostle Weapons and Mysterious Energy Host left the church’s Beyond Grade As behind and focused on the federation.
Gathering all the combatants to focus on one side would have a better effect. One reason he chose to chase after the federation was due to Kasuyi’s favor, and another was because it would be too difficult to chase after the church.
If Kasuyi stopped acting, his ability to restrain him would be incomparable. If he headed to chase after the church’s people, he would most likely not be able to capture anyone at all. Kasuyi was just a doppelganger, so he could totally secure his teammates’ escape without having to worry about his own safety, and his psychic energy would be more than enough to stop his entire army for some time.
Comparatively, Sierron was just a Pugilist who was powerful as an individual but had very limited AOE skills. He was not good at protecting his teammates and was there as his main body, so he could not miss his ride. With these factors all adding up, the federation was clearly easier to deal with.
Once the target was decided, Han Xiao locked onto a federation Beyond Grade A and threw out an ability without hesitation.
[Virtual Paramount]!
‘Lone Ranger’ Jackornitz was using all kinds of mechanical weapons to fight the Apostle Weapons when his body suddenly became stiff, and his soul was trapped in the virtual world by Han Xiao. He had lost control of his body.
In such dire situations, even the slightest carelessness would be fatal, not to mention being defenseless for more than ten seconds.
As a Mechanical Pugilist, the defense of his physical body could not match a true Pugilist, nor did he have any True Damage Immunity talents. When the mechanical army and the Apostle Weapons swarmed toward him, his health plummeted.
Han Xiao had chosen him because he was paper according to his data from the Meeting of the Gods.
Swoosh!
The Mechanical Deity extended its arm and grabbed Jackornitz. It then absorbed him into its body.
When Jackornitz escaped from the control effect of Virtual Paramount and returned to his body, he instantly felt a strong sense of weakness. What he came back to was a body that was heavily wounded and completely controlled by the traps inside the Mechanical Deity, unable to move.
“Impossible…”
Jackornitz could not believe how quickly he had been defeated.
He would be able to last longer even against the Mechanic Emperor’s army. He knew that Black Star was extremely tanky, but why was his damage output so high too‽
Han Xiao was not surprised. The damage output of his mechanical army was definitely not low.
Being a Molding Talent, [Legendary Battle Technique] could tear through any Beyond Grade As without a True Damage Immunity talent once his mechanical army could penetrate the shield and focus fire on the target. Even with how much health Beyond Grade As had, they would still not be able to handle this much damage.
Jackornitz was sent beside Han Xiao’s main body inside the Mechanical Deity. Han Xiao turned and glanced at him. “You won’t be able to run now that you’re inside here. If you don’t want to suffer more, don’t resist.”
As soon as his sentence ended, countless barrels extended from the interior walls of the Mechanical Deity and aimed at Jackornitz.
Under the mechanical helmet, Jackornitz could not help but smile bitterly.
Alright then, I couldn’t beat Black Star to begin with, and now he’s even sacrificing his potential for all this. I’d better accept my fate.
At the same time, the federation’s Beyond Grade As outside witnessed the entire process, seeing Black Star easily capture Jackornitz like catching a newborn chick.
“Your Excellency Sierron, this…” Womre could not help but say.
“Leave him. We can’t save him.” Sierron’s expression was gloomy. He was seething with anger.
Unlike Kasuyi, his main body was right there, so he could not afford to ignore his own safety. If he tried to save his teammate, he would not make it in time for the federation’s teleportation. And when the dynasty’s reinforcements arrived, he would probably be done for.
Therefore, no matter how furious he was, Sierron could only put up with it.
…
At the same time, the church’s members who were fleeing from the mechanical army in another direction also saw this.
Initially, when Tolaen was captured, Sagman and the others were all quite unhappy. So, when they saw that the federation was suffering just as much, they felt much better.
Like a great man once said, when something unlucky happens to someone, the best way to comfort him is not to pity him but to make him see others just as unlucky as him.
This was exactly how the church was feeling.
This time, Kasuyi’s eyes flickered slightly. He contemplated for a while but suddenly stopped and said, “You guys go first. I’m staying to do something.”
“What are you going to do?” Sagman was curious.
Kasuyi turned to look in the federation’s direction, smiled faintly, and said, “The federation has yet to return the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. This is a good chance to teach them a lesson and take some interest from them.”
The others understood immediately. This was something only Kasuyi’s doppelganger could do.
What Kasuyi wanted to do was restrain the federation’s people and help Black Star capture even more Beyond Grade As of the federation.
He hoped that Black Star would capture more captives to vent his anger and get more compensation from the Universal Civilizations. Plus, it would be best for him not to sell out his teammates. Hence, the federation was the best target.
Furthermore, this was a very justifiable reason. He had been acting the whole time, but the church would still compliment him for doing a great job, while at the same time, it would cancel out the loss they suffered through failing the mission and having one of them be captured. It was killing multiple birds with one stone. This was clearly the move of an experienced actor.
Having thought of that, Kasuyi left Sagman and the others and headed right toward the federation’s people. At the same time, he privately communicated with Han Xiao.
“Still remember the deal I suggested earlier? How about we work together?”
Han Xiao was chasing after the federation’s people when he saw Kasuyi charging toward this battlefield. He was initially planning on trying to stop him, but when he heard this, even he was stunned and almost speechless. He had tons of things he could say, but he did not know what to say, so it all fused into one single sentence.
On behalf of the federation, I thank you!
With Kasuyi joining the battle, the situation changed instantly. Kasuyi’s psychic energy swept past the members of the federation one after another. Having been hit by such powerful mind attacks, many of them trembled all over, allowing the mechanical army to create an even tighter encirclement around them. The speed of them pushing through the mechanical army suddenly slowed down.
Seeing this, Sierron was furious.
Kasuyi!
When I invited you to work together with me to fight Black Star, didn’t you say you were out of energy, you piece of sh*t‽
You goddamn actor!
He did not expect the Arcane Church to play this dirty and help Black Star.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Kasuyi’s tone was calm. “During the Planet Lighthouse battle, you also stabbed us in the back. The situation back then was so similar to now. I’m simply doing the same thing you lot did.”
During the Planet Lighthouse battle, due to the federation, the church had been left in a passive situation. The federation had even killed one of their Beyond Grade As and taken the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter.
Hence, Kasuyi felt no guilt doing something like this.
Sierron’s expression was raging. With a furious roar, he headed back. Highly condensed Pugilist flames appeared all around his body as he forced open a path. No mechanical soldier could stop him.
He blew away countless mechanical soldiers and made his way to Crystal Soul. He then grabbed him and turned around to leave instantly, not caring about his other teammates.
Sierron clearly knew that with Kasuyi helping Black Star, the federation would undoubtedly suffer a huge loss, so he could only take damage control measures.
Crystal Soul was a Crystal Life, so he was tiny. Plus, he had a Universal Treasure, so he was prioritized. Sierron brought Crystal Soul along and escaped right away. As for the others, there was nothing he could do.
Mornisa saw this and stopped fleeing. She controlled her mechanical army to secure the retreat instead. Although she could not match Han Xiao’s army at all, it still more or less slowed down Han Xiao’s mechanical army’s speed.
This way, those facing the most pressure became Hades and Womre, who were left behind.
“Damn it…”
Hades was bleeding from his every orifice. He was also a Psychic, but he was completely powerless in front of Kasuyi. He could no longer maintain his cool, and his face was filled with resentment.
At this time, the Mechanical Deity’s palm suddenly slammed down. Hades looked up. His vision was covered by this metal sky.
It had not been long since Hades became a Beyond Grade A, so he was not very clear about the strength levels of the Beyond Grade As. When he saw this, he only had one thought in his mind.
This is what true power looks like!
The next moment, he blacked out and lost all his senses as the mechanical palm landed on him.
“Third.”
Han Xiao absorbed the unconscious Hades into the Mechanical Deity, then looked at Womre.
At this point, all the Apostle Weapons were attacking just Womre.
This Pugilist’s style was different from Sierron and Gorutan. It did not look rough and powerful but very smooth and natural, like a martial arts master. Instead of melee combat, he seemed to be better at mid-ranged shockwave attacks. His Pugilist flames never stopped burning, as if they had no end.
The light-blue flames circled around him like a shield, continuously repelling the Apostle Weapons’ attacks. His movements were neither fast nor slow. Every move he made launched a shockwave. Even in such a dire situation, Womre did not look like he was being overpowered. However, with no chance of turning the tables, his defeat was just a matter of time.
Seeing that Sierron and Crystal Soul were escaping further while he had no way out, he decided not to escape and stay there to secure their way out with Mornisa.
The Mechanical Deity waved its hands, shattering tons of enemy mechanical soldiers and the unmanned fleet of the federation, quickly destroying Mornisa’s fragile Lord’s Avatar.
Womre was left alone, and not long after, he was also captured alive due to the attacks of the Apostle Weapons, Mysterious Energy Host, and Hila.
Nonetheless, them staying there was not meaningless. Sierron and Crystal Soul had already escaped into the Federation of Light’s fleet, and the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device’s preheating was complete.
Hu!
Two enormous mechanical rings span at an extremely quick speed, faster and faster, till the afterimages formed a sphere that shrouded the area around the fleet.
Sierron turned back one last time, glared at Kasuyi, and then looked at Han Xiao.
“Black Star, you captured our people. The federation won’t let this go easily! Just you wait!”
Buzz!
The speed of the two rings suddenly stopped, and the fleet inside the sphere area disappeared, leaving only the unmanned fleet and the mechanical army behind.
The next moment, the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device activated the self-destruction sequence and exploded.
As the federation’s people left, the atmosphere became much quieter.
“Only two escaped on the federation’s side.” Han Xiao stopped. His eyes sparkled as he looked in another direction, where the few Beyond Grade As of the church had already fled.
This time, Kasuyi’s voice sounded in his mind. “What, after capturing three federation Beyond Grade As and one church Beyond Grade A, are you still not satisfied?”
Han Xiao looked at Kasuyi and saw his calm expression.
“Thanks.” Han Xiao deactivated the Mechanical Deity and nodded at Kasuyi.
Without Kasuyi’s help, he would have captured three Beyond Grade As at most. He had managed to capture four and destroy two Mechanic avatars, meaning he basically defeated half of all the enemies.
The main reason he had achieved this was the Character Summon Cards he used, but other than that, Hila’s help and the Spacetime Amber were also crucial factors. That was especially so for the Spacetime Amber, which blocked a ton of long-range attacks, so he could put more effort into attacking, at the same time discouraging everyone from rushing his main body. Furthermore, he also had to rely on it to seal Beyond Grade As. Basically, at least twenty to thirty percent of the battle merit belonged to the Spacetime Amber.
He had to say, Ravenlaude’s should-be treasure was really very useful.
Although two of the four Beyond Grade As captures were newborn noobs and the other two were not particularly strong, they were still Beyond Grade As. They all had Molding Talents, so it all depended on Feidin this time.
All kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind. As Han Xiao saw that Kasuyi had been staring at him, he retrieved the mechanical army that was chasing after the church’s people.
The spacetime stabilization device was already gone by this point, so he directly activated the secondary dimensional army box and stuffed his remaining mechanical army in. He then used Dimension Factory to collect the parts all over the place to do repairs.
While doing this, Han Xiao casually asked, “What are you going to do next, continue to escort the church’s people out?”
“Hmm, when they arrive at a safe place with teleportation scrolls, I’ll release this doppelganger. You won’t chase after them anymore, will you?”
Kasuyi smiled faintly while sighing in his mind.
When was the last time anyone achieved something this incredible in this entire universe?
When the results of this battle spread, god knows how much of a sensation it will cause.
“I’ve promised you, so I won’t go back on my word… By the way, let me show you something.”
Han Xiao waved and called Hila over.
“Are you okay?” Hila stared at Han Xiao’s face and did not bother looking at Kasuyi at all.
Although Kasuyi had come to help earlier, from the way she looked at it, the people of the church were still enemies. She did not know this was an Oscar-winning best actor.
“I’m fine.” Han Xiao shook his head and said with a serious tone, “Ames is being attacked in Black Star Palace. Go back to help her and then send Silver Shadow over.”
Hila was confused. “What do you mean? How am I going to go back to help her?”
“I have some new technology that can teleport you back.”
Han Xiao’s entire body started to glow. The King left his body with loud clanks and attached itself automatically onto Hila while still being connected to Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force.
After many private tests, Han Xiao knew the mechanics of the King like the back of his hand. The King itself was a Mechanic-only equipment, and the teleportation function of the Throne was targeted at the user who was wearing the mechanical suit. However, if he maintained his Mechanical Force link to the King through the Quantum Infinite Distance Transmission Channel, even if someone else was in the mechanical suit, Han Xiao would still be able to activate this function and teleport the wearer of the mechanical suit to a fixed location.
The Throne was about to arrive at the Black Star Palace, so Hila would be teleported right back to his base.
Han Xiao turned around and realized that Kasuyi was looking at this with interest. Hence, he purposely activated a spacetime stabilization device to cover the area.
Then, Han Xiao snapped his fingers, and the King disappeared without a trace right under Kasuyi’s nose.
Kasuyi’s expression suddenly changed into shock. “This is… Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation? When did you learn the federation’s technology?”
“It’s not Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation. It’s another technology, but the results are similar. It can also penetrate the restrictions of spacetime stabilization devices and disruptors,” Han Xiao said calmly.
“Why didn’t you use this earlier?” Kasuyi said with resignation. If we knew you had this technology before, why would we even come to attack Hila?
“I only recently obtained this technology.” Han Xiao nodded. Looking at Kasuyi’s expression, he knew that he had achieved his goal.
He deliberately showcased the teleportation ability of the King to let others know that he had this technology. Otherwise, if the federation and the church did not give up, they might attack Hila again in the future, and he could not possibly always keep Hila hidden.
Showing this trump card at this time would let the outside world know that Hila could escape anytime when attacked by enemies she could not win against. This way, the federation and the church would give up on this plan, and this incident would not repeat itself.
In that case, Hila would be in a much safer situation, and no one would want to target her.
Swoosh!
At this time, the King appeared once again. The mechanical suit opened, showing Silver Shadow, who was still lost.
“Hmm? Black Star? What is this place?”
Silver Shadow was still confused as to what was happening.
“Stop talking. I don’t have much time, and I need to borrow your body. When I’m done, I’ll let you use the Evolution Cube.”
Han Xiao patted Silver Shadow’s shoulders, dragged him away, and was about to leave.
Kasuyi was a little surprised.
“It’s all over. Where are you going now?”
“It’s not over for me yet. While my explosive powers are still here, I have another target I need to deal with.”
“Who?” Kasuyi was curious.
Han Xiao turned his head sideways and said with a deep voice, “Beast Ancestor, Gorutan.”
1055 Silver Shadow Uber
Evil Convergence had appeared outside Black Star Palace, gradually changing the properties of the space around while continuously expanding.
Within the affected area, the defense fleet continuously fired at the countless tentacles around, destroying one after another, only for more to appear again like they were endless.
According to some studies that supported the energy conservation theory of all energy in the universe, the conservation of energy operated between multiple dimensions. In many tests in galactic civilizations, there would be examples of energy suddenly disappearing or appearing out of nowhere, and most of those were caused by the energy shift between the main universe and other dimensions.
There were many ways a secondary dimension could be projected into the main universe. The method that Traveler used treated the secondary dimension like a bucket of water, and he opened a hole at the bottom of it to let the water inside flow into the main universe, causing corrosion.
Traveler did not put much effort into it; he only opened a hole. The rest came naturally from the secondary dimension itself and exceeded the capabilities of individual power. Therefore, this was extremely difficult to stop, and the fleet at Black Star Palace would not be able to solve this problem very soon.
In the middle of the battlefield, Ames was fighting intensely with Traveler. Powerful Force Fields clashed with the energy of Evil Convergence time after time, creating enormous aftershocks.
The Force Field Esper Ability was good with defense and controlling. Together with her Void Talents, despite Traveler having the upper hand, he could not penetrate Ames’ defenses. However, Ames was not happy about it at all.
The Evil Convergence is his territory. He has infinite energy here and can make me use my energy without fear. Dragging the battle out isn’t beneficial for me, Ames analyzed. She had to admit that Traveler was quite strong. He would be among the upper-middle tier even in the three Universal Civilizations.
Although she had also become stronger in the past twenty years, she was still not strong enough to fight someone this powerful alone.
“Your resistance is futile; your defeat is just a matter of time.” With increased corrosion of the Evil Convergence, Traveler’s aura became more and more evil.
Ames ignored him and focused on controlling the force field to deal with the purple-green energy tentacles everywhere.
In Black Star Palace’s watchtower, the various officers had serious looks on their faces. With the defense measures of Black Star Palace, they were not worried about the damage the Traveler might cause. What they were worried about was how Ames did not look like she was in a good situation. They kept commanding more fleets to join the battle to provide support.
Silver Shadow had a poker face but was very tempted deep down. Although the Black Star Army’s officers did not ask him for help, seeing that Ames was at a disadvantage, he felt that it was time for him to put on a show.
At this moment, a few spaceships with the Black Star Army’s symbol appeared from afar and approached.
“Have these transport ships steer away from the battlefield and return from another direction,” Herlous said.
These returning spaceships had been marked as transport ships long ago. Everyone’s attention was focused on the battlefield at the moment and did not bother with the transport ships. They only glanced at them and went back to watching the battle between Ames and Traveler.
However, the next moment, an alarm rang on the radar!
“Alert! Alert! Beyond Grade A energy source detected!”
“What‽”
The various officers present were shocked. They quickly looked at the radar and realized that the energy source was in the transport ships.
“Another enem…”
They were instantly nervous.
However, before they could respond, what happened next stunned all the officers.
Buzz!
The familiar death energy gushed out from the transport ship like a tsunami. Hila stepped on the tide and quickly approached Black Star Palace.
“Deputy Army Commander Hila!”
“Sis‽”
They were stunned, and Aurora was even stupefied.
Aren’t you at the frontlines? How did you suddenly appear here?
If not because of the mind link, Aurora might have thought that this Hila was a fake.
However, the most stunned person was Traveler. When he saw this, the maddened laugh he had on his face stiffened instantly.
What the hell, why is Hila here‽
His mission was to divert Black Star’s attention and help those who were attacking Hila to restrain Black Star… But since Hila was there, what were those people attacking? Air?
What am I even trying to restrain here‽
He could not figure out what was going on at all, so in the end, he blamed it all on Sorokin…
What a scam! Giving me false information!
Since Hila had appeared there, there was no point continuing the mission. He did not want to continue fighting the Black Star Army.
Traveler decisively gave up on attacking Ames and instantly fled. Of course, Ames was not going to let him leave easily. Her focus shifted from defense to attack instantly.
Hila glared at Traveler but did not instantly join the battle.
She remembered Han Xiao’s words and quickly entered the watchtower. She had no time to talk to the confused officers and headed right to Silver Shadow.
“Wear this mechanical suit. Black Star wants to see you.”
“Huh?” Silver Shadow was at a loss.
“No time to explain, get in.”
Hila deactivated the King, and it automatically attached itself onto Silver Shadow.
The next moment, Silver Shadow disappeared without a trace.
After this was completed, Hila finally had the time to take a deep breath.
The officers around approached her immediately.
“Why are you here? Where’s His Excellency Black Star?” Hadavy asked.
When this matter was brought up, Hila felt a pain in her heart, and her expression sank.
The impression she gave to the army officers had always been cold, proud, and powerful. Therefore, when she looked this hurt, the officers were all shocked and started guessing with a pessimistic mindset.
Did… something horrible happen to their commander‽
“Sis…” Aurora noticed Hila’s sorrowful emotions and held her hand with a worried look on her face.
“I owe him… too much.” Hila closed her eyes and clenched her teeth as if she was talking to herself. “How can I ever pay you back for what you’ve done for me?”
…
At this time, Han Xiao led Silver Shadow away from the wrecked frontline stronghold. The players and the other warriors would take care of cleaning up the battlefield. He wanted to make some trouble for Gorutan while the effects of the Character Summon Cards still lasted.
Hila was attacked, and the information had come from Gorutan. Although, given how unique Hila’s ability was, she would have experienced this sooner or later, this did not mean that Han Xiao would let Gorutan off easy.
On the way to Gorutan’s territory, Han Xiao gave Silver Shadow his request…
“You want to use my body?”
Silver Shadow’s face was filled with dismay.
He could not understand the King’s effects, nor did he dare ask. He was originally confused as to why he had been summoned there by Black Star. Now, when he heard what Han Xiao said, he panicked completely.
So, this is the kind of person you really are, Black Star! My body is what you wanted!
“That’s what I meant, but I feel like you’ve misunderstood something,” Han Xiao said with resignation. “I just want you to help me. Treat it as a deal to use the Evolution Cube.”
“You startled me. I thought you wanted to capture me and make me a special weapon like the Mechanic Emperor does.” Silver Shadow was relieved.
“Oh, that’s not entirely wrong.” Han Xiao coughed, changed the topic, and said seriously, “Your body has a hidden characteristic. When you awaken it, you can turn yourself into a special Universal Treasure. This is exactly what I need you to do, to transform and help me.”
“How do you know that?” Silver Shadow was curious. Even he did not know about that himself, so how did someone else know more about his own body than him?
“Remember the first time we met? When we sparred, I controlled your body and did a detailed scan. Back then, I noticed that there’s a secret hidden in your body. You might have undergone some kind of mutation when turning into a Beyond Grade A.” Han Xiao started to use his talent for deception without breaking a sweat.
The truth was, he had poked Silver Shadow long ago and seen his attributes, which already had the ability to become a Universal Treasure inside.
However, normal people did not have the interface, so they could not know all their own abilities like the players, and Silver Shadow was one such example. He did not know that he had such an ability.
In a situation like this, as long as he guided him to make him notice this hidden ability, he might be able to use it straight away.
“Alright then, what should I do?” Silver Shadow barely accepted this explanation.
“Try to sense while thinking about it?”
Han Xiao did not have an exact method. In the past, Silver Shadow did not think about anything related to this at all, but now that he made him realize that, he might be able to awaken this ability instantly.
Doubtful, Silver Shadow held on to the thought of transforming into a Universal Treasure and controlled his body to slowly change shape.
His silver body quickly turned into a pile of liquid metal that constantly changed shape as he looked for the right feeling.
After some time, the pile of liquid metal suddenly gave off a strange energy. Silver Shadow actively crawled up Han Xiao’s body. The silver liquid metal shrouded Han Xiao’s entire body and turned him into a silver man.
“I really do have this ability!” Silver Shadow was shocked by himself.
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. He looked at the notification on the interface and smiled with satisfaction.
“Didn’t I tell you? You did have hidden potential.”
The interface was showing that Silver Shadow had already turned into Universal Treasure grade equipment and he was wearing it, which allowed him to share Silver Shadow’s incredible defense and speed, while at the same time giving him quite a few new abilities.
Furthermore, wearing Silver Shadow felt very comfortable, like sitting inside a luxurious car.
On the other side, experiencing this new feeling, Silver Shadow made a decision.
He had to become closer to Black Star. This guy easily saw his potential, which he did not even see himself. If he could get Black Star to help him explore the mysteries of his body, his growth would definitely be much quicker.
Having found his hidden potential, Silver Shadow was very content. He did not mind lending his body to Han Xiao and letting him control it as he wanted.
The two of them practiced for a while. Han Xiao gradually familiarized himself with the controls of this luxurious car, and he loved it.
“Let’s go!”
Then, he dashed right forward.
Bang!
Silver Shadow’s speed up ability erupted. Han Xiao speed increased as if it had no limits as he turned into a silver meteor and disappeared into cosmic space.
…
Somewhere in the Star Cluster, a teleportation gate formed in the cosmic space and spat out three people.
“Hu, we’ve finally escaped.”
Sagman’s tense body finally relaxed. He looked toward the battlefield with a complicated expression.
Black Star’s explosive strength was really scary. If I ran only a little slower, I would have been captured…
They could not help but be glad that Black Star had chased after the federation instead of them.
He turned around and exchanged looks with Taylor and Mercer. The three of them had the same thought.
That was close to being captured a second time.
“His Excellency Kasuyi is so wise. He turned around to help Black Star deal with the federation, which not only restrained Black Star but also caused more damage to the federation. Although the mission failed, His Excellency Kasuyi definitely made a huge contribution,” Taylor said.
Every time they thought of how tragic the result was for the federation, the three of them felt joy in their hearts and more respect for Kasuyi’s wise decision.
“But… Tolaen has been captured by Black Star too, which is a problem.” Sagman shook his head.
“Hehe, that’s nothing. He’ll just suffer a little. When he’s released, we’ll have something else to talk about.”
“Haha, you’re right.”
Although they had lost a teammate, the three of them did not mind it too much. The atmosphere was lively and uplifting.
However, on the federation’s side, it was the complete opposite.
After the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device brought the federation’s fleet back to their territory, the upper echelon who was waiting at the location to receive Hila was stunned to see the state of the returning team.
“Six Beyond Grade As left, but only two of you returned‽”
Hearing the outraged question from the upper echelon, Sierron was extremely ashamed.
If he had fought Black Star head-on without considering the consequences, he was certain that he could have matched up to Black Star even in that state. Sadly, Pugilists were like sharp blades. All their strength was condensed in their bodies, so protecting his teammates was something he really was not good at.
Thinking of the fact that so many Beyond Grade A teammates had been lost under his lead, Sierron was trembling with rage.
This is beyond embarrassing!
Manison will surely laugh about this!
The upper echelons will definitely feel that my ability to lead a team is much weaker than Manison’s, so they will have to rely more on him…
And that *sshole Kasuyi. If not for him, the federation would not have suffered this much of a loss.
Sierron clenched his teeth.
Kasuyi, just you wait. Manison will certainly come for you!
…
Near a certain stargate station in the Emerald Star Cluster, a fleet was fighting a mechanical army. The most conspicuous thing on the battlefield was a silhouette that was covered in dark brown Pugilist flames. It was ‘Beast Ancestor’ Gorutan.
His opponents were more than a dozen Apostle Weapons of the Mechanic Emperor that had various appearances and were quite powerful. When working together, they were able to stall Gorutan.
Ever since Gorutan came to rescue his fleet, the two sides had been embroiled in a bitter fight.
“Mechanic Emperor, there’s no point trying to stop me!” Gorutan said while fighting with the Apostle Weapons. “Black Star’s frontline stronghold was attacked. Hila might already be dead. Even if you don’t let me destroy the target stations, the dynasty’s reinforcements won’t make it in time. Hila’s death is certain.”
At this point, he still did not know what had happened, and his impression of the situation there remained at when Sorokin told him Hila was in a dire situation.
Destroying the surrounding stargate stations felt unnecessary to him. He still did not think Hila would have any chance of getting through this disaster.
Manison did not respond at all. The Apostle Weapon simply did their job and fought Gorutan.
Seeing that Manison did not respond, Gorutan was even more irritated. “Are you going to let my men go or not‽”
Again, Manison did not respond.
“You really don’t know when to give up, do you? Just wait, the news of Hila being killed will get here very quickly. By then, you’ll know that everything you’re doing now is meaningless.” Gorutan was extremely annoyed.
Manison still did not respond, but he quietly blocked all information sent to Gorutan from the outside world using his virtual technology.
It was not that no one had told Gorutan what happened, but he could not receive any messages from the outside world!
The abilities of a Virtual Mechanic were extremely difficult to notice, so Gorutan had no idea at all. He was still submerged in the joy of having successfully gotten revenge.
Manison ignoring Gorutan made him clench his teeth. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly had a feeling. He looked into the distance with a confused expression.
A silver meteor entered his sights at an unbelievable speed and quickly approached!
A strange sense of danger appeared in Gorutan’s mind.
“Such powerful energy, what is that? It seems to be coming for me?” Gorutan was shocked.
This silver meteor clearly did not come with friendly intentions.
Gorutan’s expression changed slightly. He did not want to allow this strange object to get close to him. While dealing with the Mechanic Emperor’s mechanical army, he was able to send a dark brown Shockwave Blast toward the silver meteor.
However, this silver meteor dodged the shockwave easily using its speed advantage like a race car with a professional driver.
Seeing that ranged attacks did nothing to this silver meteor and that it was still locked onto him, Gorutan suddenly released energy around him, blowing the Apostle Weapons around him away. He then compressed his Pugilist flames to increase his strength and charged toward that silver meteor.
Two meteors with different colors got closer at an extremely high speed, colliding.
In that instant, the radars on all the Beast Ancestor’s spaceships reacted to it, showing that the energy impact had exceeded the peak!
At the location where these two clashed, a blinding light appeared like a flickering sun.
The thick, dark-brown Pugilist flames suddenly exploded like a rock that was shattered by a hammer.
Gorutan’s body then flew out, spinning like a gyroscope. The blood he spat out was evaporated by the energy aftershock created from the clash.
The moment of the clash, Gorutan’s mind seemed to have stopped working for an instant. All he could feel was a blinding light, and when he regained focus, he realized that his body was being pushed out uncontrollably.
Ever since he became a peak Beyond Grade A, he had rarely come across anything that he could not stop. However, the terrifying kinetic in this silver meteor made him feel as if he was an ordinary man trying to stop a train.
Pugilists were used to enduring direct hits, but the power of this clash still exceeded Gorutan’s expectations. He could feel every nerve in his body trembling and sending the signal of pain to his brain. He was appalled.
Such terrifying strength!
“Who is this guy‽”
Gorutan had no idea. After flying quite far, he finally stabilized himself and quickly checked his condition. He realized that this clash had dealt him some damage, which made him very serious and cautious.
As he looked over and finally saw the appearance of the silver meteor after it stopped, his expression changed drastically.
“Black Star‽”
After ramming Gorutan away, Han Xiao had stepped on the breaks and told Silver Shadow to open the car windows to show his handsome face. He was coldly looking at Gorutan’s astounded expression.
“We meet again, Beast Ancestor.”
“How can you be here? Aren’t you in Black Star Palace?”
All kinds of possibilities flashed through Gorutan’s mind. Could it be that something happened to the mission targeting Hila?
Seeing Han Xiao’s strange silver shell, Gorutan was filled with questions. The progress of the matter seemed to have deviated from his expectations. He was dying to know what had actually happened.
What’s Sorokin doing? Why has he still not notified me of what happened?
“I know what you’ve done,” Han Xiao said slowly. “Hila is safe now, and your plan has failed. Stop fantasizing about it.”
Gorutan frowned.
Although he had no idea how Hila had managed to survive, Black Star had no need to lie to him about something like this. Plus, seeing how calm Black Star was, he knew that this was most likely true.
Gorutan instantly became unhappy. Knowing that Hila was not dead, he was disappointed.
“So, you came just for me?”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. “Back then, you provoked us to start a fight. Then after you realized your life span was reduced, you leaked this information to the federation and the church, hoping to borrow their power to aid in your goal. Now that this is exposed… you know what’s going to happen, don’t you?”
Gorutan frowned.
His secret plan did not succeed, and now he had been completely exposed. Even though he saw Han Xiao as an enemy, he still felt embarrassed.
Gorutan was not one to explain. Since the enemy had found out, he did not plan to hide it any longer. He suppressed his emotions and snorted. “What, have you come to make me pay?”
“Like I said, if you want to play, I’ll play with you all you like. You don’t look like someone who doesn’t have the balls to play, so there’s only one way to solve this problem, and I’m sure you know what it is.” Han Xiao’s tone was calm.
“Humph, so it still ends up being a conversation with fists.”
Gorutan knew that a fight was unavoidable, and flames appeared once again on his body.
In the end, conspiracies and plots just aren’t my thing as I expected. Fighting enemies head-on is still the best.
Although he had taken some damage earlier, Gorutan was not afraid at all. They were both peak Beyond Grade As. They all hand trump cards, so there was no reason for him to be scared.
He took a deep breath and used his energy to enhance the production of cells, quickly healing his wounds. Pugilists had extreme control over their bodies, and when they reached the peak Beyond Grade A level, their regenerative ability could not possibly be horrible.
“I did not fight you last time. Today, I can make up for it. What you’ve done has spread throughout the universe. Now, show me what you’re really capable of.” Gorutan’s eyes were glowing as he spoke in a tone that was overflowing with his will to battle.
He still did not know about how Hila was rescued and had no idea of what Han Xiao had just been able to achieve, so his impression of Han Xiao remained as Han Xiao’s strength in the past.
This time, Gorutan suddenly recalled Manison, who was at the side, and his heart sank a little.
Gorutan was not afraid if the enemy was just Black Star, but if the Mechanic Emperor participated too, it would not be good for him at all.
He uncontrollably looked over and was glad to see that Manison’s troops were retreating, clearly expressing he had no intention to interfere with this battle.
Han Xiao also looked at the Mechanic Emperor’s army that was gradually leaving and murmured in his mind, “This Manison sent me Gorutan’s coordinates but didn’t pick up my call. Is he trying to show a friendly gesture while at the same time letting me deal with Gorutan for him so that he can remain uninvolved in all this?”
Han Xiao shook his head. It did not matter what Director Manison planned to do. He had to fight this battle. There was no way he would let the root cause of all this off easy.
The effects of the Character Summon Cards could still last for quite some time, so he should be able to deal with Gorutan in his current state.
Swoosh!
As the secondary dimensional army box opened, the sea-like mechanical army swarmed out.
Gorutan was fearless as he charged into the endless mechanical army.
As soon as the battle started and the overwhelming pressure came, Gorutan immediately felt that something was wrong.
“Wait, why is your army…”
Gorutan’s eyes opened wide with surprise.
He had once felt Black Star’s energy level personally and had a rough estimate of Han Xiao’s strength. Now, however, the actual strength Han Xiao was displaying far exceeded his estimate and shocked him.
How can this be? How has Black Star become this much stronger in just one or two months‽
At this time, Han Xiao’s main body advanced instead of backing off and went into melee combat range.
Fists clashed with each other, and a powerful force was transmitted through Gorutan’s arm. Feeling the energy that was almost as strong as his, Gorutan was even more shocked.
“Why is your strength also…”
“You have too many questions!”
Han Xiao’s movements were so fast, as if he had become a phantom. While Gorutan was shocked, he whipped his leg and kicked Gorutan, sending him flying.
Just as riders could become stronger using their horses, Han Xiao also received attribute bonuses while riding Silver Shadow.
Silver Shadow was a Pugilist, so both his Strength and Dexterity were high. He also had a special defensive advantage.
Boundless power came from Silver Shadow’s body. Han Xiao’s main body temporarily received attribute bonuses that were comparable to a Pugilist. In addition to his own attributes, his melee combat capabilities were dramatically enhanced. Although still not as strong as a peak Beyond Grade A Pugilist, it was more than enough.
In his previous life, Pugilists like Karlot became much stronger when using Silver Shadow, while he used Silver Shadow to enhance his speed and defenses. Melee-range combat was not the main damage method of his main body.
…
At the same time, the dynasty’s reinforcement fleet flew out from a stargate station at another location.
“We’ve finally arrived near Black Star’s stronghold. We have to hurry. Every second we waste puts Hila’s life in more danger. ” Ravenlaude hurried the others.
This time, Kant closed his eyes as if he had received a message. He then opened his eyes with a strange expression and said, “We don’t have to hurry there anymore. Black Star has solved the problem.”
Hearing this, Ravenlaude was stunned.
“Impossible, how did he solve such a dangerous situation?”
“There. This is the intelligence the Black Star Army sent.” Kant displayed the information he had received, which recorded the battle process.
After finishing looking at the intelligence, Beyoni was filled with shock.
“To think that Black Star actually had such a powerful trump card that allowed him to fight more than ten Beyond Grade As at once. It’s unbelievable!”
“It’s mainly because the federation and the church had no choice but to escape while dragging each other back, which gave Black Star an opportunity to defeat them one by one… Nonetheless, this achievement is indeed way too horrifying.”
Kant sighed. “But burning his potential is not worth it for someone like him with such a bright future. This will definitely affect his growth. Alas… the dynasty will compensate Black Star for the loss he has suffered this time.”
This time, Beyoni was reminded of the joke Kant made earlier.
On the way, Kant had said that he would be able to fight all the enemies alone. That was supposedly a joke, but Black Star had done just that.
“Incredible…” Beyoni respected Black Star from the bottom of his heart.
On the other side, when Ravenlaude saw this news, his entire body stiffened.
He initially wanted to turn the tables when he arrived and make Black Star owe him a favor, but to his absolute shock, Black Star solved an almost certainly lethal situation like this all by himself.
Doesn’t this mean I’ve wasted another trip and got nothing for it?
Ravenlaude lost all motivation instantly. All he wanted to do was turn into a slime and cower in the corner till the end of the world.
“Since the matter is already solved, what should we do now? Shall we go take a look at Black Star’s stronghold or return right away?” Kohler asked.
Kant shook his head. “Neither. Black Star seems to be fighting Gorutan now. Since we’re here, let’s go and see if we can be of any use.”
…
Inside Beast Ancestor’s stronghold palace, Sorokin’s manifestation held a communicator in his hands and walked back and forth while mumbling.
“Weird, weird, why hasn’t Gorutan replied to my messages? Did something happen?”
Sorokin suddenly had a bad feeling about Gorutan’s situation.
Han Xiao did not use his Mechanical Deity but his main body to fight in melee range instead. Once his [Charge—Endless Potential] was off cooldown, he would back away and farm the distance traveled for the next powerful attack.
Despite trying to stop him, Gorutan was still held back by the formidable mechanical army.
Without the restriction of the spacetime stabilization anchors, Han Xiao’s soldiers continuously swarmed out from his secondary dimensional army box and Dimension Factory. Currently, the mechanical army’s main task was to restrain and damage the enemies.
The combat capability of a peak Beyond Grade A Pugilist was exceptional, so Gorutan did not have too hard a time being surrounded. Nonetheless, he was quite troubled by the mechanical army. Not to mention the fact that there was someone on the side who came charging at him every once in a while.
In the chaotic encirclement, everywhere Gorutan went, tons and tons of mechanical soldiers were destroyed.
Feeling the pain of his muscles healing from the wounds suffered earlier, Gorutan was irritated.
Originally, closing the distance was the best strategy for a Pugilist when fighting a Mechanic, but in this situation, he did not even want Han Xiao to get close to him. The [Charge—Endless Potential] was way too annoying for him. It caused him to be unable to control the tempo of the battle.
Every time he saw Han Xiao lurking around on the side, Gorutan would uncontrollably yell in his mind, Don’t come any closer!
On the other side, despite having a slight advantage, Han Xiao’s situation was not too optimistic.
A Pugilist’s way of fighting was not flashy; it was pure and direct. However, when they reached the peak Beyond Grade A level, this pureness would transform and make their body indestructible.
“My tankiness is at the top among Mechanics, which is mainly thanks to my strong regenerative ability. Nonetheless, I can’t underestimate the regenerative ability of a peak Beyond Grade A Pugilist. Plus, his health is even higher than mine.”
Pugilists had a ton of talents that gave them Endurance. Their own class gave them more bonuses as well. At the peak Beyond Grade A level, no class could compete with Pugilists in terms of sheer health. Even Han Xiao and Milizaus were no exception. Furthermore, peak Beyond Grade A Pugilists might also have overpowered regenerative abilities like his. They were the true official tank warriors.
Before this, Sierron had to fight while running, and he was burdened by his teammates. This was Han Xiao’s first time fighting a peak Beyond Grade A Pugilist toe to toe. Even though he was at his peak, defeating Gorutan as easily as defeating normal Beyond Grade A Pugilists was absolutely impossible.
The two of them fought intensely, while far away, Beast Ancestor’s fleet was hesitating.
“Father is fighting. Should we help?”
Inside the bridge of the command ship, the crew’s eyes all focused on one of the Calamity Grade officers.
This person was one of the direct offspring of Gorutan, the captain of this fleet. His name was Byram.
“That’s a battle of Beyond Grade As. It’s not suitable for us to interfere, I think,” Byram said hesitantly.
“Black Star is here for revenge. It’s not a one-on-one spar. The battle is looking tough for father. We shouldn’t just watch him get beaten up,” another Calamity Grade officer said.
“But we won’t be of much use in battles like this. Just the aftershocks of their battle will cost us huge losses.” Byram frowned.
“We would at least be of some help. Every little helps. Father might need us.”
Byram turned to look at him. As he expected, he saw burning passion in this person’s eyes.
Naturally, not all of Gorutan’s children agreed with his way of raising his offspring, and their faction was not completely united. Although Gorutan was their father, they had many different mothers, which led to the internal structure of the faction being unstable.
The stand Gorutan’s children had could be classified into three types. Byram was neutral; all he did was follow the rules and orders. He called Gorutan father, but he did not have much, if any, sense of belonging to the faction. The officer who kept persuading him to interfere with the battle was one of the loyal ones.
While Byram thought about what to do, a huge fleet arrived from afar. Their exterior armor had the symbol of Beast Ancestor. This was the fleet that had come from the stronghold to back up Beast Ancestor after realizing that something was wrong.
“Finally.” Byram was relieved.
The two sides quickly gathered, and the various officers met.
Since the reinforcements had already arrived, Byram could no longer just watch on the side. He shook his head and said, “Now, we have enough strength to interfere with this battle. Our goal won’t be to destroy the mechanical troops, just hold back some of them to reduce the pressure on father. Let’s go.”
The fleet split up and gradually approached the battlefield.
Han Xiao noticed this as well. He glanced at the fleet and frowned.
During the exploration era, Beyond Grade As getting killed by fleets was nothing new. Even though Beyond Grade As were extremely strong, they could not completely ignore large fleets. If Beast Ancestor’s troops stepped into this battle, it would indeed cause some trouble for him.
Although he was a Virtual Mechanic, he still had to gradually hack the enemies, which meant that his focus would be diverted. At the same time, he would also have to send some of his mechanical armies to fight the fleet, so Gorutan would immediately face much less pressure. It would not be a problem if it was just an ordinary enemy, but Gorutan was the same Grade as him, so any tiny change in the situation would be enlarged and made use of.
Most of the fleet from Black Star’s stronghold was still cleaning the battlefield, and Han Xiao had given an order for them to send part of the fleet there to back him up when he left to go to Gorutan. However, Silver Shadow was too fast; the others were left behind and were still on their way.
Suddenly, magic energy appeared out of nowhere.
Buzz!
As Beast Ancestor’s fleet was about to interfere, an enormous teleportation gate suddenly appeared, followed by a stream of battleships with the dynasty’s symbol, stopping Beast Ancestor’s fleet in its path.
“The dynasty’s people are finally here.” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
Although the dynasty could not make it to rescue Hila, they ended up being useful now. Better late than never.
Very soon, the reinforcements of the dynasty had all arrived. Ravenlaude was the last to fly out of the teleportation gate. He swung his staff and deactivated this huge teleportation spell.
Having seen the situation, Kant smiled.
“Looks like we’ve arrived just in time.”
This accident was a surprise for Han Xiao but a shock to the Beast Ancestor’s subordinates.
“Stop immediately!”
Numerous Beyond Grade A energy sources appeared on the radar of the spaceships. Byram was horrified and quickly told his fleet to stop, not daring to continue advancing. The fleet stopped against the dynasty’s fleet. He became hesitant again.
Kant and the others did not care about Beast Ancestor’s fleet. They all turned to look at the battlefield. Seeing the strength Han Xiao was displaying, they were all appalled.
“Black Star during his explosive state is on a much higher level compared to his usual state,” Kohler said with a sigh. “Sadly, the price of such power is too huge.”
Kant contacted Han Xiao, smiled, and asked, “How is it? Do you need help?”
“Not letting him escape will do,” Han Xiao replied very soon.
This was a private matter, as well as a rare opportunity for him to build a reputation, so Han Xiao planned to fight Gorutan alone. Since the dynasty’s allies had arrived, they could prevent others from interfering and create an undisturbed one-on-one battle, as well as prevent Gorutan from escaping.
“Since you don’t need us to interfere, we will respect your wishes.”
Kant had no problem with this decision. Following Han Xiao’s request, he ordered the fleet to split up and form an encirclement.
Seeing that he was surrounded by enemies, Gorutan’s expression turned grave—he knew there was no backing away now.
Did he regret it… a little bit.
However, he did not dwell on it. What was done was done; he was not going to think about the ‘what if’s.
There was no point in overthinking anything. Gorutan just continued to launch even more powerful attacks, using all his strength without holding back.
“Let me see all you’ve got, Black Star!”
At the same time, Byram’s fleet on the side did not dare attack the dynasty’s fleet. They could only watch while the dynasty set up the encirclement right under their noses and do nothing as their boss got beaten up and surrounded.
Seeing the dynasty’s stand on this matter, the various officers including Byram all felt uneasy. They had a feeling that the person they depended on might collapse.
“Father has nowhere to run. The dynasty has made up their mind on capturing him.”
“We can’t watch father get captured by the dynasty!”
“But how can we help? There are many dynasty Beyond Grade As here. Us going in is just suicide.”
“Is there even a way to solve this situation? Who can help us? Can the protectors of the Galactic Black Market help?”
“Impossible. They’re definitely not looking to interfere in something this big.”
As a protector of the Galactic Black Market, Gorutan had to rely on himself, and now he was alone. In situations like this, there was not going to be anyone like the Beyond Grade A allies of the three Universal Civilizations appearing to help him.
The same thought hit all of them, including Byram, simultaneously.
We’re done for…
Having realized this possibility, some of the officers and the crew started to have other thoughts.
Other than the loyal ones and the neutral ones, the rest were the rebels… Some of the offspring of Beast Ancestor hated their identity and their ‘father’ Gorutan. They felt that they were offspring on paper but actually just slaves. They had always been following the Beast Ancestor’s orders on the surface but would be more than glad to see Beast Ancestor killed in their hearts.
Seeing that Gorutan was now facing the revenge of such a powerful enemy, these people were overjoyed. The ambition in their hearts kept expanding.
…
A teleportation gate suddenly appeared in a rural area of the Flickering World, and Traveler stepped out from it.
“I’ve finally got out.” Traveler heaved a sigh of relief. He was quite wounded.
He had flown for a very long time till he finally got out of the range of the Black Star’s fleet’s stabilization anchor. On the way, he had been chased by Ames and Hila and was heavily wounded. Luckily, in the end, he escaped Black Star’s territory through teleportation.
Traveler took out his communicator and contacted the person in charge of the Super Star Cluster alliance.
“The developments of the situation have deviated from the plan. Hila somehow returned to the Black Star Palace. Our plan has failed.”
“We expected that. Black Star burned his potential in exchange for astonishing strength. Not only did he force the troops of the federation and the church to retreat, he even captured many Beyond Grade As. This message has yet to spread to the outside world; only high-level organizations know about it now. Your Excellency Traveler, it’s fine as long as you’re okay.”
“I see…” Traveler shook his head. As he retrieved the Evil Convergence, the evil vibe he gave disappeared, and he became easy to look past again. “I’ve already offended the Black Star Army, so I’m going to make a trip to the secondary dimension and won’t be appearing in the main universe for a very long time. Don’t call me to do things for now.”
“Understood. Since we could not start another conflict between the three Universal Civilizations, we won’t step foot in things like this for the time being and will slowly gather our strength for the next big move.”
“Humph. Black Star doesn’t know my identity yet. He’ll just be unhappy about me at most. You guys won’t be affected. As long as I disappear, he’ll stop caring. By the way, Sorokin thought I was hired, so he might notice something. That guy is suspicious. Pay more attention to him.”
“Understood.”
Traveler said a few words before hanging up and sighed.
I wonder how many years I’ll have to spend hiding in the secondary dimension this time…
He silently looked at this universe one last time before casting a spell and stepping into the secondary dimension, disappearing without a trace.
…
Time passed quickly.
The two people fought for a very long time, and before a large audience, the situation finally came to an end.
Tons of mechanical troops were damaged and became many Grades lower. Three Apostle Weapons were completely scrapped, and four Apostle Weapons were unable to fight for the time being. The Mechanical Deity got shattered once, and Silver Shadow’s health fell below the danger line… After paying a huge price, Han Xiao was finally able to push Gorutan to his limits.
Although peak Beyond Grade A Pugilists recovered energy very quickly, they did not have close to infinite energy like Kasuyi.
Looking over the battlefield, it was filled with machinery debris. The Dimension Factory was still tirelessly recycling it all.
In the middle of the battlefield, Gorutan was covered in wounds that were healing much slower than before and still spraying blood. His face was filled with exhaustion.
“You’ve lost. Anything you want to say?”
Han Xiao faced him, opened the helmet of the mechanical suit, and stared at him.
Although part of this was thanks to the fact that he was in an explosive state, this was still the first time he had defeated a peak Beyond Grade A alone.
“Ahem… a loss is a loss. There’s nothing to say.” Gorutan grinned, showing his teeth that were dyed red with blood. “What, you thought I would beg for mercy?”
“There’s always a price to pay when messing with someone. Since you decided to do that, you should have thought of the possibility of this happening.
“Humph, no need to say such nonsense to me. I knew what I was in for. At least I forced you to burn your potential. Your growth limit is now forever reduced, and you will never recover from it.”
Han Xiao shook his head but was laughing in his mind.
Even if he explained it, Gorutan would not believe it. Plus, he was not planning to explain it to anyone.
He paused, changed the topic, and slowly said, “You provoked me back then. If you’d taken a step back, today would not have happened. Compared to the life span you lost, you’re going to lose much more now.”
“If I did, that wouldn’t be me,” Gorutan said with a deep voice. “If I can’t do whatever I want, what’s the point of becoming so strong?”
Some chased after strength itself, while some chased after what came with it. Every Beyond Grade A was the former. They only became the latter afterward.
Not only Beyond Grade As, this was also the same for all Supers.
“No matter what, I shall have your body with a smile.” Han Xiao raised his hand and pressed on Gorutan’s chest.
“Humph, take it then. Don’t ever let me find the chance to turn the tables.”
Gorutan stood with a straight back, unafraid.
Begging for mercy was the act of a loser, but he was mentally prepared long ago. Even with this loss, he still remained graceful.
The next moment, this expression was fixed, and the spraying blood stopped moving.
‘Beast Ancestor’ Gorutan was sealed in Spacetime Amber!
1058 Dust Settled
Gorutan, who was covered in wounds and sealed in the Spacetime Amber, looked like he was made into a specimen.
Looking at the fixed expression on his face, Han Xiao finally relaxed.
A peak Beyond Grade A fighting for his life had almost endless trump cards. If not because of his Spacetime Amber, the King, Silver Shadow, and his double Mechanical Senses, he might not have been able to beat him.
After all, this time, he did not have a perfect trump card like the Esper Silence he had when facing EsGod, so the only choice was to fight head-on. Therefore, his mechanical army suffering huge losses was unavoidable. A huge number of mechanical soldiers had to be sent to the factory to be remade.
Both sides were peak tanks. There was no situation where one attack would decide the results. The battle was basically countless repetitions of the same process, and whoever lasted longest would win.
If not because the dynasty’s allies were on the side, this would have definitely turned into a chase, which would have lasted much longer, and Gorutan might even have escaped. Nonetheless, the result of capturing Gorutan was ideal.
“The goals have been achieved. Hila is protected, and the King’s functions have been showcased, which is more than enough to discourage others from thinking about attacking Hila. Even Gorutan is captured. The results of this event are going to be very beneficial for me.”
Venting his anger was just one reason he had gone to fight Gorutan head-on. The main reason was to express his firm stance and instill fear in others.
Due to how strong an impression he made as a very sociable and friendly person, plus the fact that he had kept a low profile for more than two decades, there were always people trying to test him, thinking that he was easy to mess with.
This time, he did not depend too much on the dynasty. It was basically his own achievement. Since he had done this, it was certain that the other organizations would have to think twice before trying to mess with him in the future, weighing up whether it would even be worth it.
The only problem was, this achievement was too terrifying, almost unbelievable.
Although the church and the federation’s people were not fighting for their lives and could not go all out due to many reasons, which gave him the opportunity to make full use of this flaw, the outside world would not care about all that. All they would see would be his achievement of fighting against twelve enemies all by himself. In front of this achievement, even capturing another peak Beyond Grade A was not as shocking.
This was more than enough to be listed as one of the most shocking achievements of any Beyond Grade A in history!
However, too much of something would never be good. He had achieved something that he was not supposed to achieve with the strength he had now, which was not without drawbacks. What Han Xiao was glad about was, Sierron had made it that all this way because he had ‘burned his potential’.
This way, it would be much more acceptable for the various organizations, including the three Universal Civilizations, and the other Beyond Grade As.
With that reasoning, as well as the Beyond Grade A united front, Manison would most likely not test him after seeing this astonishing achievement, which would eliminate a huge problem for him.
At the same time, people saying that he was burning his potential would also not reduce the effects of his achievements.
Although this explosive state was made possible with many Character Summon Cards, some of which could only be used once…
Others would not know that this was the case!
Han Xiao knew clearly what those high-level organizations would be thinking—they would have a false assumption that as long as he was willing to pay the price of burning his potential again, he would be able to draw up this strength again!
And even if he explained the truth to others, no one would believe him!
Therefore, following this thought, the various organizations would all come to one conclusion…
Don’t push Black Star too much!
This way, the influence of this event could be understood without saying.
As Han Xiao thought, a smile appeared on his face.
“Since I’ve now planted fear in them, I can continue to develop myself slowly. It’s going to give me a big fortune…”
At this time, he only had one thought.
Sierron really is such a good friend!
Suppressing the surprise in his heart, Han Xiao quickly told Phillip to clean up the battlefield and take away the Gorutan amber specimen.
Having seen that the battle had ended, the dynasty allies finally came forward.
“You’ve really outdone yourself this time. When this gets out, it’s definitely going to make a huge impact,” Kant said. “Sharp and brave, as one would expect from youngsters. When I was making a name for myself in the universe, I was young too. But now, I have to think of the pros and cons before making every single move. I’ve lost that courage.”
“You’re being humble.” Han Xiao smiled.
“Well, defeating Gorutan is just a small matter. The problem is, what do you plan to do with him?”
Kant was not surprised by this result. Black Star was in an explosive state, and the battlefield favored him. Plus, he was also a peak Beyond Grade A. Therefore, defeating another peak Beyond Grade A seemed very normal, nothing compared to the absolutely shocking fact that he had forced twelve Beyond Grade As of the federation and the church to retreat.
“Hmm, Gorutan has no one to rely on, and no one will come to bail him, so I’m going to keep him as part of my collection.”
Beast Ancestor was one of the protectors of the Galactic Black Market. He did not have any background like the three Universal Civilizations. Therefore, there was, of course, no need for him to give Gorutan up. This was also one of the ways the three Universal Civilizations appealed to the Beyond Grade As. After all, no one could guarantee that they would never lose, and having one of the three Universal Civilizations backing them would make them feel much more assured.
Kant nodded and said, “This incident was too sudden, so we couldn’t help much. Luckily, the results did not turn out too bad. The dynasty will help you to deal with the aftermath of this, and the dynasty’s upper echelons will probably come to negotiate with you very soon.”
“I know.”
At this time, Silver Shadow turned back to his normal appearance, which attracted the attention of everyone.
Han Xiao nodded at him.
“You were of great help this time, thanks. Follow me back later and be a guest at my place. I’ll keep my promise.”
“I should be the one thanking you. If not for you, god only knows when I would’ve discovered this new ability I have.”
Although Silver Shadow was quite heavily injured, having discovered a new ability made him quite happy.
Kohler could not help but ask curiously, “Silver Shadow, what ability is that? Can you show it again?”
“It’s one of the special forms I have, which Black Star had helped to discover…”
Silver Shadow chatted passionately with the others, and Han Xiao nodded in his mind.
With my influence, this guy is probably going to start his Uber life much earlier…
However, with the help I gave him, it will probably be quite much easier for me to make him my private Uber.
This time, Han Xiao turned to look at Ravenlaude, who was staying silent and looking like he wanted to say something but did not, so Han Xiao started the conversation.
“How you doing? Have your wounds healed?”
“Pretty much…” Ravenlaude thought of his experience of getting beaten into a pulp not long ago, resignation appeared in his eyes.
“Haha, thank you for letting the past be the past and coming to help this time.” Han Xiao smiled.
“I didn’t help much.”
“Don’t say that. If not because you relayed the message, the dynasty’s reinforcements would not have arrived here so soon. I owe you one for this.”
A hint of a smile finally appeared on his face. He felt much better.
Aiyo, although Black Star is irritating sometimes, he’s quite a good guy overall.
Sorry Ty-Ty, I probably won’t be able to join your anti-Black Star alliance. Hang in there!
Suddenly, they all felt something and turned to look at the source of it. Beast Ancestor’s fleet, which had been watching from the side, was now quickly retreating.
Kohler shook his head and said sarcastically, “They watched on as their leader was attacked. Such wise subordinates.”
“With Gorutan gone, his organization will split up very soon.” Beyoni snorted. “But that’s a good thing. I’ve always disliked the things this guy did. If he did not buy tons of females from the Galactic Black Market, he would not have been able to make so many offspring. With his organization gone, the slavery business of the black market will take a hit.”
“You’re probably the last person here who has the right to say that…” Han Xiao remembered that Beyoni also had a huge harem.
“That’s completely different. I chose mine from my people and never forced anyone. I’m not spreading my seed all over the universe.”
Beyoni was quite proud, and he felt that he had the moral high ground.
Among the Beyond Grade As, there were actually quite a number of people who did not like Gorutan’s way of doing things, but no one messed with him because of how strong he was. Now that the dynasty’s allies present had seen Gorutan get defeated by Han Xiao, they were all glad.
Han Xiao did not bother entertaining him and silently opened the interface.
Including Gorutan, he had captured a total of five Beyond Grade As, which far exceeded the requirements of the mission. The mission was now shown as ‘completed’.
“Five chances to draw abilities. I’ll have to make full use of them.”
Han Xiao was very excited.
He decided that he had to pray and touch Feidin before drawing the mission reward, or it would be a huge waste if he received some useless abilities.
Beep beep!
The communicator suddenly rang. He glanced at it. It was a call from Urranrell.
He picked it up and said, “Your Excellency Urranrell.”
“I’ve understood the situation. The dynasty will negotiate with the federation and the church, now tell me the details of what happened.”
“Okay, so it started…” Han Xiao explained the situation and skipped some details in between.
“To think that Hila has such an ability…”
After Han Xiao finished, Urranrell kept silent for a while. She then suddenly changed the topic and asked, “What about you? What price did you pay? Did you really burn your potential?”
“Yes,” Han Xiao said without any change of expression.
“How big is the impact of that exactly?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sigh… You were too headstrong this time. You could have shrouded Hila in Spacetime Amber, and we could’ve bailed her afterward. This was avoidable. You have the highest potential in history. It’s not worth doing something so unwise just to vent your anger.”
“No, if I did that, I would have helped the enemies to take away Hila’s ability to fight back. Plus, there are too many uncertainties to bailing someone out. The church might not be willing to make the deal and might keep Hila forever, and the federation would demand that I unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. Furthermore, Hila isn’t the dynasty’s ally, so the dynasty is in no position to bail her.”
Urranrell frowned slightly.
“What you’re saying is, despite this incident, you still aren’t willing to let Hila join the dynasty?”
“Hila has her own will. You’re saying it like I can force her,” Han Xiao joked.
“Joining the alliance will help to avoid something like this from happening again. Do try to convince her. I’m sure she won’t want to see you burn your potential for her again,” Urranrell said.
“… Got it.”
If the dynasty used this to persuade Hila, given her personality, she might really agree to it. Urranrell indirectly gave him a reminder.
Han Xiao shook his head. Just as he hung up the call, another communication request came.
He looked at it. This time, it was from his headquarters.
The scene of the Black Star Palace command room appeared. Hila stood at the front, and beside her were Ames and Aurora. Around them were the many officers of the army. They were all looking at Han Xiao on the screen with concern.
“Black Star, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s been dealt with. I’ve captured Gorutan. Hila, he’s the person who leaked the information to get revenge on you. You don’t have to worry about him anymore.” Han Xiao smiled.
Hila bit her lips.
Black Star did everything to protect her. He even got rid of the root of this incident. Looking at Han Xiao trying to look like it was no big deal and thinking of how tough of a battle Han Xiao had gone through for her, all the words of appreciation were stuck in Hila’s throat.
Words were too light, not enough to express how touched and thankful she was.
Seeing this, Han Xiao joked and said, “Say something if you want to. Being this hesitant doesn’t fit the impression I have of you.”
Hila took a deep breath, stared into Han Xiao’s eyes, and said, “You will forever be my… army commander.”
There was no thank you. It was more like a promise, a declaration.
Hearing this, Han Xiao wiped the smile off his face. He looked into Hila’s eyes with a serious expression and slowly nodded.
“Okay.”
“I heard from Hila that you burned your potential?” Ames softly said from the side.
“Don’t worry, that’s all fake. I actually did not suffer any losses at all.”
Ames nodded lightly. To her, this was clearly a white lie that Han Xiao said to comfort them.
She did not deny Han Xiao of his ‘kindness’ and only remembered it.
Han Xiao suddenly thought of something. “By the way, where did Traveler go?”
“He ran away, but we injured him,” Hila said. “Before he left, he said that the Black Star Army disobeyed the rules and fought someone who came to challenge as a group. Is he really related to this incident?”
“Humph, this guy is such a drama queen… Leave him alone. He’s a sh*t-stirrer at most. There’s no time to deal with him now. That’s for later.”
Han Xiao exhaled and said, “I’ll be going back first. We’ll probably be quite busy for some time…”
…
The entire universe was paying attention to the Flickering World, and this huge news erupted all of a sudden, spreading like wildfire through all channels, ignoring the restrictions of distance.
Every single person who saw the news was shocked.
The federation and the church had gathered twelve Beyond Grade As to kill the Black Star Army’s second in command, but they were forced to retreat by Black Star’s main body, who even captured a few of the attackers. Not only that, even the Galactic Black Market’s Gorutan was held responsible for this by Black Star because he was involved and was captured alive.
This means that… Black Star had fought twelve Beyond Grade As alone and won!
Are you kidding me‽
All the news after the Flickering World opened combined would probably not be as shocking as this!
The entire universe was driven into a frenzy!
In the Federation of Light’s Central Galaxy territory, a small spaceship with the army’s symbol was slowly moving in the cosmic space. The people of the Black Star Army’s Abyss of Stars division were onboard.
This was the Federation of Light’s territory. The Black Star Army had been invited to build a subdivision there long ago. However, the market was already split up by the various organizations, and given the sensitive relationship the federation and the dynasty had, this subdivision had experienced very limited growth in the region.
The Black Star Army was not popular everywhere, at least not here. The subdivision members there could not enjoy the reputation of the army, so they could not feel the benefits that came with the influence of the Black Star Army. Instead, they were even bullied by some local Beyond Grade A organizations, so their time there was not the best.
That day, however, everything changed.
At this time, inside the hall of this small spaceship, all the crews gathered and watched the virtual screen in the hall, which was playing the news.
“According to reliable sources, an incident erupted in the Flickering World yesterday. A total of twelve Beyond Grade As of the Arcane Church and the Federation of Light attacked the Black Star Army’s frontline stronghold in the free competition zone, attempting to kill the Black Star Army’s deputy captain, ‘Goddess of Death’ Hila. After the event occurred, Black Star quickly arrived at the scene and fought the twelve Beyond Grade A enemies alone. In the end, all enemies were exiled, and five were captured, one from the Arcane Church and three from the Federation of Light—’Red Devil’ Tolaen, ‘Energy Soul’ Womre, ‘Lone Ranger’ Jackornitz, and Hades. After that, Black Star traveled far to capture another Beyond Grade A who was suspected to be involved in this incident, ‘Beast Ancestor’ Gorutan. What Black Star has done has shocked the entire world. The reason behind this incident is still being investigated…”
As soon as this ended, the cabin was filled with cheers of triumph!
“Woo!”
All the crew members present raised their hands and cheered. They were visibly overjoyed.
“Hahaha, the federation’s people have finally been taught a lesson!”
“Our Army Commander is invincible!”
Many of them had come because of Black Star’s name to begin with. Now that they saw what a shocking feat their leader had achieved, they were filled with burning passion and respect.
This news was a gigantic morale boost and had become the hottest topic within the army, even more so for the subdivision crew present. They were stationed in the Abyss of Stars and had faced a lot of difficulties. Now that their boss had captured three Beyond Grade As of the federation, one of whom was the leader of an organization that had been causing a lot of trouble for them, they felt that their army commander had given them justice.
The joy lasted quite a while before dissipating. In this festive atmosphere, this spaceship arrived at its destination. This was a transfer planet. The spaceship had gone there many times before. Following the instructions, it safely parked at the port.
As soon as the various subdivision members disembarked from the spaceship, they felt the difference. They looked around and saw that the passersby had all stopped to greet them with nods and looks, and their eyes were filled with complicated emotions such as surprise, fear, and curiosity.
This time, the port’s registration point approached. Compared to the formal manners they had always displayed, the attendant’s face was filled with passion and a fawning smile. This was something these subdivision members rarely saw.
“Haha, look at these guys. They never knew to respect us, but now they’re afraid.”
Seeing the change in attitude of the people around, a sense of pride appeared in their hearts. They felt honored and glad that they had joined the Black Star Army.
The reason for these changes, of course, was the world-shaking achievement the army commander had made recently. The reputation of his faction had rocketed to the peak in the entire universe!
With a leader like him, the future of the organization was as bright as ever.
This was not an isolated event. Scenes just like this could be seen everywhere across the universe.
…
Currently, almost all the players were in the World Server. When the players at the frontline stronghold uploaded the battle recording, everyone’s attention was immediately absorbed by the news.
On the forums, this incident had filled up the entire Flickering World panel, and countless people were discussing it.
The players did not know the details. All they paid attention to was Black Star’s terrifying achievement.
With his exceptional performance, Hila was completely ignored. It was assumed that Han Xiao had fought twelve enemies alone.
Although they knew that Black Star was among the strongest in the entire universe, this absolutely exceeded the imagination of the players. They were not too familiar with the difference in strength between Beyond Grade As and were full of disbelief.
“This is absolutely bonkers!”
“I remember that he was also surrounded during the Planet Lighthouse battle, but back then, the army commander had the help of the dynasty allies. This time, he needed no help, yet he still defeated twelve Beyond Grade As alone, capturing four!”
“Paging Bun-Hit-Dog, wake up and make your video, quickly!”
“I heard that the army commander sacrificed a lot in exchange for such strength, all to protect Hila.”
“This is probably what love is.”
“I’m getting on that ship!”
“Our captain is the best!”
Other than expressing shock, the various players were also speculating about the influence this incident would have.
Currently, the competition was intense in the Flickering World, and the Black Star Army had been affected as well. For something like this to happen, its impact would be incomprehensible.
Furthermore, the army commander also expressed his stand to hold all the people involved responsible no matter how difficult it would be by capturing Gorutan, who provided assistance.
This way, Black Star Army’s faction advantage would climb to the peak. Who would dare mess with Black Star during the Flickering World competition period?
To the Chinese players, one saying explained the impact of this achievement Black Star had made perfectly…
When you make one amazing punch, you’ll avoid a hundred punches.
Comparatively, this had made a more obvious contrast to the organizations that the Black Star Army had warned during the faction war incident earlier.
Due to the ‘no fighting back’ policy these organizations took, the innocent casual players in these organizations had a much stronger opinion about how important factions were. They were already unsatisfied with their factions to start with, and when they saw this news, many people were convinced to switch factions.
Of course, their top choice was the Black Star Army.
The players of the various countries who had only recently joined the army had another perspective about this incident.
In the previous versions, the players of the various countries could only watch the Black Star Army from afar. Now that they had joined the Star Field and could finally be a part of it, they had a brand-new experience when discussing it as members of the faction.
In the past, they could only watch others praise Black Star, but now they could join in and do it together, which felt completely different.
Some new army players immediately experienced how amazing it was to have a powerful faction leader. They were sending out even more ‘captain is the best’ messages than the senior members. The forums were almost completely occupied by the army players. The atmosphere was festive.
On the other hand, the senior members were also enjoying the sense of superiority, thinking, You guys are too young. This is no big deal.
…
In the Arcane Church, the various Beyond Grade As and the upper echelons’ remote projections had gathered to discuss how to deal with this incident.
Although their mission had failed and they had lost Tolaen, the people present did not look too unhappy. They were even somewhat secretly glad.
“This mission’s failed. We could not kill Hila, but we’re not disappointed with the results.” An upper echelon of the church spoke. “Your Excellency Kasuyi, you’ve done a great job, shattering the federation’s plans and causing them to lose three Beyond Grade As. We are very satisfied with the decisions you’ve made.”
“I’ve only made a few contributions,” Kasuyi replied calmly.
“Hehe, don’t be so humble. Compared to Hila, it’s more important to prevent the federation from obtaining a chip to unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter.”
The upper echelons were smiling. Thinking that they had made the Federation of Light suffer such a big loss, they were all in quite a good mood.
“Nonetheless, the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter is still in the federation’s hands, so it’s best to negotiate with Black Star or the dynasty to see if we can get one of the federation’s captives from them so we can exchange for the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter.”
Kasuyi nodded. “Although the operation has failed, we still offended the Black Star Army. Odds of the negotiation succeeding are not high, but it’s worth a try.”
“Hmm… By the way, you said Black Star showcased an ability similar to Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation and sent Hila back to his headquarters despite the spacetime being sealed. Is that true?”
“Of course, I’m certainly not mistaken.”
Hearing this, the man pondered and said, “Since that’s the case, we’ll have no choice but to cancel all plans directed at Hila…”
Since Black Star had the ability to ignore spacetime stabilization, there was no point in targeting Hila since she would be able to leave any time.
The ability of the King mechanical suit that Han Xiao had displayed had completely shattered all plans the church had for Hila. She was now finally in a safe spot.
Seeing the responses of the upper echelons, Sagman and the other ‘former prison mates’ exchanged looks and saw complicated emotions in each other’s eyes. It was the resignation of knowing that they would not be able to take revenge and the delight that they had escaped this time.
This time, another church upper echelon spoke. This was a member of the Bishops. “Putting Black Star’s technology aside, the federation is going to be the one with the biggest headache. I just want to ask, what do you guys think of Black Star’s strength?”
The various Beyond Grade As exchanged looks before all looking at Kasuyi.
Kasuyi pondered for a while and said, “What Black Star has achieved in this battle is very shocking, but since we’re involved in it and know the details, we know that although Black Star is not as strong as the outside world says he is, he’s still very strong. His raw strength is not the main issue; it’s the fact that his combat strategy almost has no weaknesses. His indestructible body made up for the biggest weakness of a Mechanic, and with the help of the Spacetime Amber, his actual combat capabilities far exceed the level he’s at. It’s tough to judge… From this incident onward, we’ll have to look at Black Star in a new light. He has two states, normal and explosive, the latter being on an entirely different level to the former.
“Although Black Star burned his potential this time, since he can burn it the first time, he will be able to burn it again. Among all Beyond Grade As, not many can guarantee a win against Black Star during his explosive state. Therefore, it’s best not to push him into that situation.”
After hearing this, the church superiors exchanged looks.
Well, you’re basically telling us not to mess with Black Star, aren’t you?
…
On the other side, the Federation of Light also hosted a similar conference. The atmosphere was completely different from the Arcane Church—it was extremely serious and grave.
President Bader looked around and said with a serious tone, “A total of three Beyond Grade As are in the dynasty’s hands. Who can tell me how it ended up like this? Which one of you can give me an explanation?”
The remote projections of the various Beyond Grade As present had no words. They all uncontrollably glanced at the three empty seats.
Bader’s mood was as if he had stepped in dog sh*t on the sidewalk.
Before the mission, he felt that this mission would almost certainly be a success. Even if they would not be able to capture Hila, with the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device and six Beyond Grade As, retreating safely would not be a problem at all. However, he had never expected to suffer such a huge loss.
This result made him suspect that something had gone wrong along the way.
Bader turned to look at Sierron and said with a deep voice, “You were the leader of this operation. I had high hopes for you. What do you have to say now?”
Noticing the blame in the President’s tone, Sierron said furiously, “It’s all because of Kasuyi!”
Hearing this, none of the various federation upper echelons had good looks on their faces.
Back during the Planet Lighthouse battle, the federation had plotted against the church, and now it became the other way round.
Many people felt that they could finally understand how the church felt back then.
This time, Manison calmly said, “The church’s interference is an important factor, but the main reason is that Black Star expected this and deliberately used false information of his whereabouts to misguide the outside world, while his main body hid nearby and surprised Sierron and the others. Plus, there’s the fact that they could not linger around in enemy territory and could not maximize their strength, which led to them being defeated by Black Star one by one. Don’t underestimate a peak Beyond Grade A Mechanic.”
Bader narrowed his eyes and looked over. “I heard you were involved in this too, and you fought with Gorutan.”
“That’s right.” Manison nodded and did not deny it.
Bader gave him a meaningful look, but he did not continue asking more questions. He changed the topic and said coldly, “The most imminent issue is to negotiate with the dynasty to bail the three Beyond Grade A allies out. Don’t mess with Black Star for the time being.”
Then, he left the conference immediately. He did not want to see these troubling allies of his at least for today.
…
In Tarunamir Palace’s conference room, Urranrell supported her chin with her crossed hands and looked around at those present.
“The incident has come to an end, you all know the details, tell me your thoughts.”
They stayed silent for a while before one upper echelon spoke. “Black Star has dealt with this very beautifully. He exceeded our expectations completely. Currently, we have Beyond Grade A captives as chips, so we have the upper hand in the negotiation. Black Star has displayed his trump card, so we have to judge his strength at a higher level. In my opinion, although we did not start this incident, we should still give Black Star some compensation for him burning his potential, to show him how important he is to us.”
“Hmm, not bad.”
While responding, Urranrell secretly glanced at the hawk faction’s Bekorodi, only to realize Bekorodi’s eyes were half-closed. It looked like he did not plan to speak.
Originally, Bekorodi thought that Black Star would have to rely on the dynasty’s help to get through this, so he insisted on demanding that Hila join the dynasty. Now, however, Black Star had basically handled the problem all by himself, and the dynasty barely helped at all, so this proposal would no longer make sense.
Furthermore, Han Xiao’s achievement had shocked Bekorodi too. All the dynasty’s upper echelons valued him much more. In this environment, Bekorodi had nothing to say, so he stayed silent.
Seeing that no one opposed the idea, Urranrell continued. “About compensating Black Star, I plan to carry out a plan… to temporarily open up the selling rights of the Evolutionary Totems.”
Many upper echelons’ eyes widened in surprise when they heard this.
Very few had expected this and had knowing looks on their faces.
Due to the Evolution Cube, the dynasty was not on good terms with Black Star. There were some cracks in their relationship.
However, through this incident, the dynasty saw Black Star’s abilities and decided to take a step back to fix this.
1060 The Godlike Battle
“Gorutan is done for…”
To think that just a few days ago, he had been chattering and laughing with Gorutan in his palace. Sorokin mourned for three seconds.
Although he was mostly just the messenger in this incident, he had still secretly intended to shift the direction of how things played out. However, all plots were shattered by Black Star with pure power. Even he felt a sense of resignation.
“Wasn’t able to use Hila to start a conflict, what a shame.” Sorokin shook his head. “However, considering that Gorutan is no more, it’s not too bad.”
Gorutan was a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group, and Sorokin had used his own identity as a shareholder to gain protection while strengthening his connection with the Galactic Black Market through Gorutan’s routes.
After so many years, Sorokin had already infiltrated the Galactic Black Market using Gorutan’s connections. Even if these connections were broken, his business would not be affected much. However, he could not possibly kick Gorutan away after using him.
Due to this incident, he would have one less shareholder to share the dividends with, which would actually save Sorokin some money. Some of his businesses that he had given to Gorutan in the past could now be retrieved and developed as usual. At the same time, he would also be able to slowly chip away Beast Ancestor’s organization’s main business and their market share.
“Hmm, Gorutan being gone isn’t a bad thing for me. Maybe I can use the shareholder position he left behind as a bargaining chip to gain the support of other protectors of the Galactic Black Market and make me a new protector of the Galactic Black Market.”
Sorokin narrowed his eyes as he thought about how he could benefit from this.
Although he did work together with Gorutan, business partners were not really on his side in Sorokin’s eyes. To him, the relationships he had with these people were purely built on mutual interests. Therefore, he was not sad about Gorutan being gone at all. Rather, he was happy with the fact that he now had one less person to share profits with.
“Nonetheless, Black Star’s strength is indeed quite incredible…
“After this, the Crimson Dynasty will likely reevaluate their relationship with Black Star. There’s a sixty percent chance they will temporarily put aside any arguments regarding the ownership of the Evolution Cube. They’ll then compensate Black Star by opening up the purchasing rights of the totems, bribing his heart and displaying their clear intention of wooing him… Hmm, then my deal with the federation, the church, and the dynasty’s hawk faction can be put aside. It’s time to stop interfering with the Black Star Army’s businesses.”
The Limitless Financial Group had made deals with multiple parties before starting to disrupt the Black Star Army’s businesses. The core reason was the Evolutionary Totems.
The federation and the church wanted to pressure the dynasty in various ways to force them to open the purchasing rights of the totems, so they wanted to influence the dynasty through Black Star. The dynasty’s hawk faction’s goal was to pressure Black Star and convince him to exchange the Evolution Cube for other Universal Treasures. If the dynasty opened up the purchasing rights of the totems, this problem would be solved instantly. Thus, the Limitless Financial Group would have no reason to continue pressuring the Black Star Army.
Other than these considerations, Sorokin also planned to stay low for some time.
Black Star had achieved something that was more than enough to be written down in history; now would be the time his influence was at its peak. If the Limitless Financial Group acted too out of line, Black Star would most likely target them even more. Hence, keeping a low profile would not be bad.
Sorokin did not want to make things ugly. After all, Black Star was the local dragon of the Flickering World. Small conflicts would still be fine, but it would not be pretty if things escalated.
If Black Star used his explosive abilities again, even he would have to face him with all his strength. He did not want to expose his strength and lose his camouflage as someone ‘weak’ and ‘fragile’.
“Hmm, Traveler too…” Sorokin’s eyes flickered. “It’s best to get rid of him.”
…
“Didn’t expect Black Star to eliminate Gorutan so decisively. Looks like my reminder was part of the reason…”
Somewhere within the free competition zone, Secret Master looked at the news playing on the communicator and frowned.
Like Gorutan, he had been a protector of the Galactic Black Market for many years. The two of them had many conflicts both on the surface and secretly. He understood Gorutan’s strength and knew that he was no match for him, or the one taking the position as the Limitless Financial Group shareholder would not have been Gorutan.
Seeing that Gorutan had been eliminated by Black Star, Secret Master was shocked while at the same time felt complicated about losing an old rival.
Of course, feelings were one thing. If anyone wanted to bail Gorutan out, he would be the first to oppose it.
After some time, Secret Master adjusted his mindset and started thinking about how he could benefit from this.
“The organization left behind by Beast Ancestor is a huge chunk of meat. It’s best to share it to make my own organization stronger. Hmm, among those offspring of his, there seem to be some who are quite talented. I can make them work under me… If I take them to see the Beast Ancestor’s specimen, it will probably be very fun…”
Thinking about that, Secret Master could not help but smile.
“Black Star did something huge this time. It’d be best to keep in contact with him in the future. Black Star will lead the shared front of the Beyond Grade As. I should pay more attention to this matter.”
…
Somewhere in the Constellation Corridor, a dynasty patrol ship was slowly moving.
In a cabin, a dynasty male wearing a low-grade officer uniform leaned on the railing. He held a communicator and watched it with a naive smile.
This person was very muscular. He looked ordinary and friendly, without the special position marking on his uniform. It would be very hard for someone to think that this was a Grade C Super combatant of the Pugilist class.
This time, a few colleagues doing the daily patrolling walked over and saw this buff man. Someone yelled, “Yo, Karlot, what are you watching that made you smile so brightly?”
“Ah, I’m watching the news.” Karlot turned around and smiled.
This person was the Beyond Grade A potential stock Han Xiao had once paid attention to, a peak Beyond Grade A Pugilist of the dynasty in his previous life.
More than twenty years ago, he was still a child who was studying in the dynasty’s Super Academy and had yet to even awaken his class. Now that more than twenty years had passed, he had turned from a frank child to a frank adult who was just Grade C. His growth could not be considered fast; it was mediocre.
Due to Han Xiao’s interference, his growth took a different path from before but still had the same overall effect. Karlot still joined the dynasty military after graduating, and after ten years or so, he was still a low-grade combatant who was rarely promoted if at all.
This time, a few colleagues of his approached and saw the news about Han Xiao on the communicator.
“His Excellency Black Star? Ha, as expected!” a colleague joked. “Sigh, sadly, you know Black Star, but Black Star doesn’t know you, his top fan.”
“He does know me. When I was young, His Excellency Black Star once personally tried to recruit me. He…”
Before Karlot finished his sentence, his colleagues were already laughing out loud.
“Hahaha, you’re at it again!”
“Keep going, don’t stop.”
“The legendary man with so much talent that even Black Star personally tried to recruit… Poah, haha, I can’t do this. Let me laugh a while longer!”
Seeing this, Karlot was not angry at all. He only scratched his head and smiled with resignation.
Ever since he came into contact with Han Xiao when he was a kid, he had been paying attention to anything related to Han Xiao in the news. In time, Han Xiao had become his idol. A colleague had once asked him the reason, so he told the truth. However, to his surprise, no one believed him, which made him the king of jokes among his colleagues.
Black Star would personally try to recruit an ordinary Grade C dynasty officer?
Who would believe that?
Position depended on strength. Even though Han Xiao had once personally tried to recruit him, more than twenty years had passed, and Karlot’s growth had proved to not match the word ‘genius’. This incident also got forgotten and not written in his resume. He had no intention of proving it to his colleagues. He did not care if others believed him, and he did not mind being made fun of.
At the start, due to Black Star, the school had high hopes for him. However, after they realized he had ordinary talent, they gave up on him. Nonetheless, Karlot was not affected by it, nor was he in a hurry to prove himself. All he did was slowly and patiently train while enjoying the process.
Throughout the years, even Karlot occasionally wondered if Black Star had made a mistake back then. However, this did not trouble him.
The disappointment and derision of others had little effect on him, and he did not think it was something worth getting angry over.
If he was destined to be ordinary, he would embrace it. He focused on the things he wanted to do; there was no need to force others to look up to him. This had always been the way Karlot lived his life.
Shaking his head with resignation, Karlot ignored his colleagues who were laughing and looked at the communicator again. Seeing Han Xiao in the papers, he smiled from the bottom of his heart.
…
Galaxy Calendar Year 730, February 18th. This was a day noted in history.
On this day, Black Star fought a battle in the Flickering World that could rarely happen even every hundred years. Initially, the church and the federation’s assassination mission for Hila might have become the fuse to cause the conflict between the three Universal Civilizations to erupt, but Black Star singlehandedly extinguished its flames and caused a sensation!
This news even surpassed the Flickering World. Even the competition and fighting stopped temporarily. The various organizations inside the free competition zone all maintained a low profile to see how things would go from there.
Countless galactic residents knew that Black Star was a top tier individual in the universe, but as a ‘newbie’ who had only appeared a few decades prior, Han Xiao did not achieve a lot of notable things. In terms of his reputation, there was still quite a difference between him and Manison, Kasuyi, and those senior peak Beyond Grade As.
This news, however, refreshed the image countless people had of him once again. His reputation universally skyrocketed.
What happened on this day was given a nickname by the outside world—Black Star’s Godlike Battle—which surpassed all his past achievements and became the most notable deed on his resume.
At the same time, the Wayne Card company once again made an announcement to drastically buff Black Star’s card in the next version, while at the same time introducing the memorial card sets with the ‘Black Star’s Godlike Battle’ theme. They were quick and familiar with benefiting from what was popular at the time.
The other neutral Beyond Grade As were shocked by Black Star’s achievements. Thinking of what had happened to Gorutan, more people further confirmed the strategy to not become Black Star’s enemy but become his ally…
While the incident was brewing and countless people were paying attention to the Black Star Army, Han Xiao returned right back to Black Star Palace and announced to the outside world that he would be resting for some time.
…
Within Black Star Palace, Han Xiao did not chat much with the various officers, only greeting them simply before he quickly hurried back to his personal training location. He then closed the gate and locked himself inside.
Feidin and Nero had been present earlier, and Han Xiao had already rubbed them.
Inside the room, he opened the mission list with his hands covered in luck, took a deep breath, and prayed.
After praying silently for some time, Han Xiao then clicked the ‘complete’ option on [Rescue Hila].
_____________________
[Rescue Hila] completed!
You have received 92 Billion Experience, 4 Random Rewards, and 1 Blank Character Summon Card.
You have received 1 Universe Legendary Point.
Universe Legendary Point: Godlike Battle—You single-handedly fought twelve enemies and achieved a result that shocked the entire universe. From this point onward, your name shall be written into history and mentioned along with the strongest group of people in history. Your name will get passed on even if stars shift and seas dry up, as one of the symbols of peak individual greatness!
_____________________
Han Xiao was not surprised. He rubbed his hands and looked at the following notification.
There were four Unknown Character Summon Cards. Given the fact that so many people participated in the battle, he did not know what he could get either.
If he got those weak ones, it would clearly not be good, but if he got a Character Summon Card of someone strong, the chance of it having a powerful ability would also be much greater.
Having looked at the notification, Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled with surprise.
_____________________
You have received [Character Summon Card: Kasuyi]!
You have received [Character Summon Card: Sierron]!
You have received [Character Summon Card: Gorutan]!
You have received [Character Summon Card: Hila]!
_____________________
1061 Reward
_____________________
Character Summon Card—’Void Overlord’ Kasuyi: [Artificial Psychic Current—Frenzy Tide]
By using Psychic attack on a large area, creates a long term aggressive Psychic Current that can be controlled in simple ways. Deals damage instances to all living creatures in the affected area. Damage taken will be judged three times every second. Basic damage each damage instance: (Intelligence Mystery)*1.8. 170% Psychological Resistance penetration, a chance to give the target a random negative mind state. Uses: 0/2.
Character Summon Card—’Star Shatterer’ Sierron: [Sixteen Arms—Shattering Fists]
Single target melee range ability. Through quick consecutive attacks, send highly condensed Pugilist flames into the target’s body through a special method, shattering the target’s atom structure instantly. The target’s body will be annihilated. One Lethal Judge will be carried out, depending on the difference between the user and the target’s level, health, Energy Level, Strength, Endurance, and Luck. If the judgement fails, deals 500,000–800,000 True Damage to the target. Uses: 0/2.]
Character Summon Card—”Beast Ancestor” Gorutan: [Body of the Beast Ancestor]
+20% Strength, +20%Dexterity, +40% Endurance, +300% Pugilist Flame damage. Regenerates 2.5% of maximum health every second. Duration: 30 minutes. Uses: 0/2.
Character Summon Card—”Goddess of Death” Hila: [Death Rejection—Awakening]
When your health reaches zero, you will be immune to this death and instantly recover 25% – 50% of your health while refreshing your status. This can be gifted to another being, but it is only effective once on the same target. Uses: 0/6
_____________________
“Woah, these are nice!”
Han Xiao was overjoyed after reading through all the effects of these Character Summon Cards.
The quality of them was extremely high. They certainly matched up to those peak Beyond Grade As and the owner of a Super High Risk Esper Ability.
Kasuyi’s Character Summon Card was a pure attack ability with good base damage. Han Xiao’s Intelligence and Mystery totaled about 30,000, so the basic damage every instance would be about 50,000. Three instances every second meant that this ability would deal about 150,000 damage every second. The 170% Psychological Resistance penetration meant that it would drastically reduce the effectiveness of the target’s psychological barrier. If it was used on a weaker target, the damage might even be close to becoming True Damage.
If it was just a one-time attack, it would not be too big a deal. The powerful part of this Character Summon Card was that it would create a Psychic Current that would not easily dissipate. With good enough control, it would become a large-area AOE attack that dealt constant damage over time, which would add up to an enormous amount of damage.
Sierron’s Character Summon Card was also an attack ability. Unlike Kasuyi’s AOE ability, this was a single target ability. Not mentioning how powerful the Lethal Judge mechanic was, the True Damage dealt even if that failed was still very high. If this dealt the maximum 800,000 True Damage every single time, just two to three hits would send Psyker to see God.
However, this would not be effective against targets who had True Damage Immunity. If Sierron used this on Han Xiao, it would be the same as a tickle.
Han Xiao nodded. “The single target damage a peak Pugilist can deal is still quite incredible for normal Beyond Grade As.”
Gorutan’s Character Summon Card was an overall powerful buff that was very suitable for Pugilists. It was also quite good for Han Xiao, since it gave attribute bonuses and bonus health regeneration.
The one that surprised Han Xiao the most was Hila’s Character Summon Card. This was the upgraded effect of the [Death Immunity] talent, which was basically a chance to revive. Even though he was already extremely tanky, this Character Summon Card still gave his life another layer of security.
The shocking part was, this could be gifted to someone else, so that person would be immune to death one time as well.
Character Summon Cards were created from the characters, meaning that Hila had this ability. However, Han Xiao had seen her interface before, and she did not have the ability to give others a one-time use Death Immunity in the past.
“Could it be that this battle forced her potential out and made her awaken a new way to use her Esper Ability?”
This seemed quite possible.
During this battle, Hila had built a link with Aurora that ignored distance. Maybe this was partly the reason this ability appeared, which would explain why Hila did not have this ability in his previous life.
Outsiders could only accept this ability once and could not be revived by Hila indefinitely. Nonetheless, it would still mean one extra life, which was amazing for the Black Star Army’s officers.
“I used quite a number of Character Summon Cards. There’re still uses for Psyker, Ames, Mechanic Emperor, and Silver Shadow. The ones that are finished are only Perfect Mechanical Sense and Polar Channel Flow. I shall use the Blank Character Summon Card this time to restock the Perfect Mechanical Sense, so in the end, all I spent was Heber’s Character Summon Card. Receiving four more has made up for that.”
Han Xiao had a joyful expression on his face.
Character Summon Cards were just the appetizers, yet those already made him gain back the cost of the explosive power he used. The chance to draw abilities from the bonus mission was the main dish.
He suppressed his excitement and looked at the notifications on the interface.
_____________________
Bonus mission requirements have been completed.
You have received bonus reward: Randomly draw an ability/talent from each Beyond Grade A captive.
_____________________
He had captured five people this time—Tolaen, Womre, Jackornitz, Hades, and Gorutan—who were spread across Mage, Mechanic, Pugilist, and Psychic.
Although their average strength was not as high as those whose Character Summon Cards he had received, the abilities he would obtain would be permanent.
There were two noobs among these five, but at least they were Beyond Grade As, so there was a chance he would get something good.
“I have to leave the best to the last.”
Han Xiao decided to start drawing from the weakest.
He hesitated between Tolaen and Hades for a while before going with Hades.
_____________________
Note: Hades is a Psychic. Part of the abilities/talents are adjusted according to your class.
Randomizing… complete.
Please select one from the five options below as the reward:
1. [Will Resistance]—Ability: +35% Abnormal Psychological State Resistance. Cost: 0. Cooldown: 160s.
2. [Calm and Relaxed]—Talent: +200 Intelligence, +200 Mystery.
3. [Energy Control Proficiency]—Talent: -25% Energy Cost.
4. [Psychological Barrier Enhancement]—Talent: +120% Psychological Resistance, +50% Abnormal Psychological State Resistance.
5. [Squeezing Style Energy Recovery]—Ability: By spending 20,000 – 50,000 health, recover the same amount of Energy and temporarily reduce Energy Cost by 15%. Cooldown: 330s.
_____________________
Hades was a Psychic, so most of the options were related to psychic, which was expected.
Not receiving any powerful talents, Han Xiao was not discouraged and took it as a consolation prize.
He picked [Psychological Barrier Enhancement] without hesitation, which was not too bad.
Throughout the years, Han Xiao had been consciously making up for his weakness in the psychological field and had already obtained quite a high resistance. However, when he saw Kasuyi’s Character Summon Card earlier, he knew that his current Psychological Resistance was far from enough for someone like Kasuyi.
Since he had obtained a decent new Psychological Resistance talent, it was like filling up a gap for him.
After adjusting his thoughts, Han Xiao then continued to draw the next ability.
_____________________
Note: Tolaen is a Mage. Part of the abilities/talents are adjusted according to your class.
Randomizing… complete.
Please select one from the five options below as the reward:
1. [High Level Energy Senses]—Talent: Increase your senses of all kinds of energy. You will be able to see more details the others aren’t able to see.
2. [Magic Insulation]—Ability: When receiving magic attacks, the actual damage you receive will be decreased by 22%. Magic type controlling abilities last 17% shorter on you.
3. [Super Overload]—Talent: Your body can endure an even greater load. Some buffs will last longer on you. +1,500 Endurance, +15% maximum health.
4. [Skilled Melee Combat Techniques]—Talent: You know a ton of melee combat techniques. Your attacks will occasionally deal damage in an area. +34% Melee Damage, +20% Critical Rate, +28% Block Chance, +23% Dodge Chance, +300 Dexterity.
5. [Lightning Control]—Ability: Drastically increase Lightning and Electromagnetic Affinity.
_____________________
“… Well, I guess a Demon Race Mage who doesn’t put points into melee combat isn’t a proper Mage.”
Han Xiao’s mouth contorted slightly.
Among the five options, [High Level Energy Senses] was basically an ability all Beyond Grade A Mages had to have, which was what made them able to capture any strange movements of energy. [Magic Insulation] and [Super Overload] were abilities only buff-type Mages like Tolaen had. His body had to endure the load from a large number of enchantments so that the buffs applied on him would last longer.
Without much hesitation, Han Xiao picked [Super Overload] directly. This was the most suitable for him, and its numbers were quite impressive.
The 1,500 Endurance points made up for the shortage in his Endurance. He just had to put some of his Free Attribute Points into Endurance for it to be above 15,000, and he would be able to receive one more God’s Trait Transformation Point every Promotion.
After this battle, Han Xiao had noticed that the important factor that made the difference between peak Beyond Grade As was the extent of their God’s Trait Transformation. Although his way of leveling up was different from the others, more God’s Trait Transformation Points would always be better.
Han Xiao drew from Womre third, which gave him something quite great.
_____________________
[Cell Activity Expansion]—Talent: Through training, you have enhanced the activity of your cells, increasing the quantity of energy your cells can contain and efficiently make use of. With your character’s level increasing, your energy will gradually increase.
Lv1 – Lv100: +0.5% maximum energy, -1% Energy Cost, +2% Stamina Energy Conversion Efficiency every 10 levels; Lv100 – Lv200: +0.8% maximum energy, -1.5% Energy Cost, +4% Stamina Energy Conversion Efficiency every 10 levels; Above Lv200: +1.2% maximum energy, -2% Energy Cost, +6% Stamina Energy Conversion Efficiency every 10 levels.
Current total bonus: +27.4% maximum energy, -49% Energy Cost, +132% Stamina Energy Conversion Efficiency.
_____________________
Han Xiao had his eyes on this ability instantly, mainly because of the increase in maximum energy.
His current energy was about 180,000, so his maximum energy would increase by about 50,000 instantly with this talent, and this was something he was short of.
Not only did this increase the limits of his health-energy conversion, it also increased his Energy Level by one rank, giving him a new level of bonus, which was basically the same as a few thousand Attribute Points.
This talent was a percentage bonus, so it had growth potential. To him, this was as powerful as half a Molding Talent.
Furthermore, cell activity was related to life span, so maybe this talent had the hidden effect of increasing his life span by one second.
The fourth target was Jackornitz. With the same class, there would be more abilities to choose from.
Mechanical Pugilists preferred to fight using supportive machinery, and they were good at the techniques of using those ‘tools’, so they had quite a few special talents.
The five options he got all had quite high quality. Most gave Machinery Affinity bonuses. Han Xiao hesitated for a while and made his choice.
_____________________
[Machinery Control Master]—Talent: Machines that are enhanced by your Mechanical Force will receive the following bonuses: +120% Melee Damage, +24% Ranged Damage, +35% mechanical suit performance.
_____________________
Although this talent was a Mechanic class talent, only Mechanical Pugilists would be able to awaken it usually, but Han Xiao had now obtained it.
Many Mechanical Pugilists’ abilities directly increased their efficiency in using their machines. This ability gave him a huge boost, and the melee damage of his mechanical army rocketed.
Furthermore, Han Xiao had tested it before and found out that the Mechanical Deity was a special assembled machine, but as its core had to be his main body or his Lord’s Avatar, it was considered a mechanical suit by the interface. This meant that it would receive mechanical suit related bonuses.
This way, the actual power of the Mechanical Deity would be increased drastically. It would have strength close to having two Perfect Mechanical Senses stacked together!
“This is good stuff. If I can get all those special talents of Mechanical Pugilists and Cannon Masters, the power of my mechanical army will probably multiply many times.” Han Xiao was drooling at the thought of it.
He then adjusted his emotions, took a deep breath, and clicked on the last target.
_____________________
Tip: Gorutan is a Pugilist. Part of the abilities/talents are adjusted according to your class.
Randomizing… complete.
Please select one from the five options below as the reward:
1. [Energy Shock]—Ability: By using energy, shock the target and make the target enter a short stunned state.
2. [Micro-Molting]—Ability: Refresh yourself, dispel all debuffs. Cooldown: 400s.
3. [Energy Recycle Stream]—Talent: When melee attacks land, while dealing the same damage, you can recycle 40% of the energy used in your attacks.
4. [Block Penetration]—Talent: Even when the target has blocked your melee attack, they will still receive 30% – 80% damage.
5. [Polar Channel Flow—Blood Rage]—Ability: Through burning your health, you turn it into a special kind of blood energy. This increases your basic attributes, attack, Critical Rate, and ability strength, depending on the health you burn after every judgement. Duration equals the amount of time you burn your health for. After this ability ends, you’ll enter a state of weakness that lasts three times the duration of this ability.
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1062 Plan and Birthday
“Polar Channel Flow?”
There were infinite Pugilist styles in the universe, and the Polar Channel Flow style was mainly focused on explosive abilities, which reflected the horrible and harsh environments in the past. Of course, it might also be that the creator of Polar Channel Flow simply liked the style.
High-level Pugilists all mastered multiple styles, so it was normal for Gorutan to know Polar Channel Flow.
Back then, the ability from Heber’s Character Summon Card was [Polar Channel Flow—Cellular Overdrive], while this ability from Gorutan was Blood Rage. The effects of the two were quite similar, but the former exchanged potential for strength while the latter burned current health.
To others, although the explosive state given by Cellular Overdrive would damage one’s potential, it did not have any immediate side effects and only made one stronger for the time being.
Comparatively, Blood Rage would burn up one’s health continuously. If the user’s regenerative ability could not keep up, the user would be heavily injured if this ability was activated for an extended period. This was not great for long duration battles, and the enemies might notice its side effects and deliberately play for time.
Han Xiao thought that this was probably the reason Gorutan did not use this on him. After all, he was known for being amazing at drawn-out battles.
“All things considered, this ability is perfect for me.”
Han Xiao’s eyes were sparkling.
His regenerative ability could even be considered everlasting. Even Beast Ancestor could not compare to him. Therefore, burning his health was nothing. If he used it well, this ability could totally become a stable method to obtain explosive strength.
In comparison, [Micro-Molting] and [Block Penetration] were good but not as valuable as Blood Rage.
“I’ve used up the one-time Character Summon Card for Cellular Overdrive, but now I’ve obtained a method to gain explosive strength stably. Tsk tsk, nice…” Han Xiao was overjoyed.
Even though the explosive strength granted by Blood Rage was slightly lower than Cellular Overdrive, it was completely acceptable.
At this time, all Han Xiao wanted to do was raise his arms and praise Feidin.
… Oh, and Nero too.
_____________________
You have received [Polar Channel Flow—Blood Rage]!
_____________________
The new abilities obtained from the five Beyond Grade As immediately took effect on Han Xiao’s body, changing every one of his cells.
Hu!
Immense pain flooded his entire body, only dissipating after quite some time.
Han Xiao had already gotten used to this pain. He took a deep breath and sensed the changes in his body.
Hmm, I clearly have more energy, which is the effects of Womre’s [Cell Activity Expansion]. My physique is stronger too, like I’ve taken off some invisible weights. This should be thanks to Tolaen’s [Super Overload]. My mind feels slightly stronger, thanks to Hades’ [Psychological Barrier Enhancement]. My Mechanical Force feels sharper and easier to control. This is Jackornitz’s [Machinery Control Master] taking effect…
Han Xiao sorted out the changes in his body and felt refreshed.
A new notification popped up on the interface, a new dungeon was created from [Hila Rescue Warfare]. Without even having to look at it, Han Xiao knew that the level of this was much higher than even the Planet Lighthouse battle, which was far beyond the players’ capabilities at the moment.
Han Xiao then looked at the mission list. [Rescue Hila] had already disappeared, meaning that all the rewards were given.
Out of curiosity, Han Xiao tried using [Polar Channel Flow—Blood Rage]. This ability gave him the freedom to decide how much health he wanted to burn without an upper limit, only a minimum of 0.1% of maximum health every second. Therefore, he turned it on with the lowest requirement.
Boom!
A blood colored ring of light suddenly blossomed in front of Han Xiao’s chest and expanded like ripples before him.
The next moment, he felt that all the blood in his body started boiling!
Bright red vapor sprayed out from all over his body like flames made of blood. The reactions were very drastic. By just roughly looking at it, one might mistake it to be red Pugilist flames.
This blood red vapor was the blood energy obtained from burning his health. In Han Xiao’s senses, it was as easy to control as his limbs. Masses and masses of new energy kept appearing in his body as his health burned.
He took out a mirror and looked at himself. The vibe he gave off was completely different compared to the calm and tough vibe he usually exuded. With the blood vapor surrounding him, he looked fearsome, evil, and savage. However, his emotions were unaffected.
Han Xiao then looked at the interface and pondered.
“The bonuses of Blood Rage are mainly focused on damage output and ability strength. It’s a more aggressive bonus compared to the comprehensive bonuses Cellular Overdrive gave.”
He then turned off Blood Rage, and a sense of weakness immediately appeared, lasting for a little while before disappearing.
In order to familiarize himself with the new abilities, he tested them one after another before stopping and nodding with satisfaction.
“Tons of Experience, four Random Rewards, one Blank Character Summon Card, four powerful Character Summon Cards, and five great abilities and talents. Excellent.”
Han Xiao was very pleased.
The difficulty of the mission was over the top, but the rewards were rather generous as well. His strength increased by quite an extent, and he obtained a few new trump cards.
Suppressing his excitement, Han Xiao started thinking about the real impact of this incident.
The change in impression the various organizations had of him would be none other than to take him more seriously. During his trip back, there were more organizations that had come to fawn over him. Some organizations that had been plotting secretly against him had also stopped, such as the Limitless Financial Group.
Overall, the goal of establishing fear and respect was greatly achieved. Han Xiao’s reputation was at its peak, and the Black Star Army’s position became even firmer. Han Xiao’s planned goal was achieved.
Including the players, more people requested to become allies of the Black Star Army. The officers who were in charge of this department had been working overtime continuously to settle these matters. The number of members of the army was projected to see a sharp growth in the time to come.
Han Xiao nodded. “The federation and the church are probably discussing the matter of exchanging captives now. I’ll obtain a large amount of resources very soon.”
Of course, he had no plans to keep these four Beyond Grade A allies of Universal Civilizations himself. They were hot potatoes that he could not make use of, so giving them away in exchange for more profit was the best solution. However, this time, he was not going to easily give them away. He had to make things difficult for the church and the federation, to make them publicly apologize before he even considered giving those Beyond Grade As back.
“Speaking of which, Kasuyi’s proposal is not completely out of the question. Should I sell the federation’s people to the church and let the two of them fight with each other?” Han Xiao scratched his chin and pondered.
Gorutan, of course, did not receive such a treatment. Han Xiao planned to keep him as part of his collection.
He also paid attention to Beast Ancestor’s organization. After their boss was done for, as expected, the organization became chaotic, splitting into many factions. The internal conflict was at its peak. At the same time, there were also many organizations outside that had their eyes on the ‘inheritance’ of Beast Ancestor, prepared to take a bite of it anytime.
“Should I participate too? After all, I’m the one who eliminated Beast Ancestor.”
The possible responses the various organizations might have appeared in his brain one after another, quickly getting analyzed and classified. This time, a flash of insight crossed his mind. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was doable.
Han Xiao’s eyes slowly became brighter as a smirk appeared on his face.
“If the dynasty’s response is just as I expect, I should be able to look for Sorokin after some time and get some things from him…”
Earlier, Han Xiao had announced to the outside world that he would be resting. One reason was to make the so-called ‘burned of his potential’ more convincing, and another was to spare some free time to do some stuff.
There were quite a few things he had to do. First, he had to deal with the impact of this incident—dealing with the captives, negotiating with the dynasty, splitting up Beast Ancestor’s inheritance, and so on all fell under this classification.
Second, he planned to use the time to repair the mechanical army, which would take quite a lot of time. He planned to build Emperor’s Cape’s too, as well as improve the Mysterious Energy Host.
Then there was the kindness Manison and Kasuyi had shown during this incident. Using the enormous force of the Black Star Army in the Flickering World, he would start building a communication channel for the united front of the Beyond Grade As.
Last but not the least, he needed to also make a trip to the secondary dimension with Ames and capture Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s old buddy, Holy Light Particle.
“Looks like I’m going to be rather busy. The good thing is, after this battle, I won’t have to worry about the growth of the Black Star Army for quite a long time, which will give me a lot of time to do my own things.”
After doing some planning, Han Xiao arranged his thoughts and walked out of the room.
After returning and touching Feidin, he had headed right to the training ground to receive the reward and had yet to talk to his many officers. He now walked toward his office and told Phillip to gather the core officers.
…
When Han Xiao walked into his office, everyone was already there, including Ames.
Technically, this was an internal affair of the army, and outsiders should not be allowed. However, Ames was an exception, so no one was stupid enough to stop her from doing so.
“You’ve finally decided to come back?” Ames leaned on the wall and looked at Han Xiao with a faint smile.
“Ahem, I had important matters to deal with,” Han Xiao replied with resignation.
He had invited Ames to the Black Star Palace only as an insurance. He did not expect it to force Traveler to back away.
“Don’t forget what you promised me.” Ames’ brows rose slightly.
“When I’m done handling the matters on hand, we’ll go travelling.” Han Xiao nodded.
“Hmm, I shall not disturb you guys then.”
Ames glanced at Hila before leaving the room. Although no one had chased her away, she knew that it was not polite to stay there and listen to the internal affairs of the Black Star Army.
Han Xiao sat on his seat, looked at Hila first, and said, “After some time, you’ll have to return to exploring on the frontlines. I’ll build something new for you, the mechanical suit that sent you back here. With that, you won’t have to worry about getting ambushed or surrounded.”
“Okay.” Hila had no objections.
“Has the dynasty contacted you recently?”
“No.” Hila shook her head.
“Then let me say this first. If they use me as a reason to convince you to join the dynasty, come and discuss with me first. Don’t agree right away.”
“Don’t worry, I know.”
“By the way, how’s your connection with Aurora?” Han Xiao asked curiously.
“It’s stable.” Hila paused for a moment. “But I can still feel the existence of that special secondary dimension… Can you take me along to travel the secondary dimension this time too? I want to take a look at it.”
“Probably not this time. Someone has to be with the army while I’m gone.” Han Xiao shook his head. “I’ll go with you next time.”
Hila nodded in agreement with a slight smirk. She seemed to be in a good mood.
After chattering for a while, Han Xiao looked at the other officers. He glanced at Feidin with eyes filled with satisfaction, and he only stopped smiling after Feidin became clearly uncomfortable. He then told the others to give their reports.
Sylvia, Herlous, Reynold, and the others summarized the recent business situation. During the reporting process, quite a number of Calamity Grade officers secretly sized Han Xiao up. Han Xiao’s recent achievement had shocked many officers too. Many of them had even more respect for him.
After listening to the reports, Han Xiao nodded. “The situation is going extremely well right now. After this, the Black Star Army will have an even easier time in the Flickering World. There won’t be anyone casually testing us. You guys, go do some recruitment. The army might see some excellent business opportunities in some time, be prepared…”
Han Xiao talked about the things to pay attention to and do for a while. Seeing that everyone nodded while listening, he suddenly thought of Evans.
Evans had also come back with the spaceship that transported the Throne. Han Xiao had told Phillip to sort his accommodation and had kept him hidden.
Before Evans, his secret weapon, grew to a certain point, Han Xiao was not going to expose him to others.
Han Xiao leaned back in his chair. “That’s all. If there are no questions, you guys can get back to your tasks.”
“By the way,” Sylvia said, “there’s one thing that needs your attention. A star director hopes to see you.”
Han Xiao was surprised.
Star director? Who? Manison?
Seeing Han Xiao’s confused expression, Sylvia explained, “He’s the renowned master-level director, Beny Travol. He is hoping to get your permission to shoot a documentary about you.”
“… That’s new.”
Han Xiao immediately became interested.
In the galactic society that had no shortage of material supplies, the influence of the entertainment industry was humongous. A famous galactic celebrity might have quintillions of fans. For example, Feidin had been considered a local celebrity before.
Galactic star directors such as Beny Travol had extremely high popularity and influence, as well as extraordinary positions in the industry. They were all important people even on the scale of the entire universe.
However, the people in the entertainment industry and someone in the military industry like him were in two completely different worlds that hardly had any connections, which made Han Xiao wonder why this person came asking to shoot a documentary of him. Could this be the effect of his Universe Legendary Points?
Han Xiao contemplated for a while. “Okay then, I’ll meet him.”
“Okay, I’ll contact him personally.” Sylvia nodded.
Han Xiao then glanced at everyone. Seeing that no one spoke, he said, “If there’s nothing else, we’ll call this a day.”
At this time, Hila suddenly thought of something. She took out a small box, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Han Xiao with her beautiful fingers.
Han Xiao looked down at it. This was a red box with ribbons, like a gift. Confused, he looked at Hila.
“This is…”
“Today is your birthday. This is your birthday present, an amulet. Remember to wear it,” Hila said softly.
Han Xiao was surprised.
This is only February. Today isn’t my birthday. It’s October… Oh, I get it. This should be the birthday of my original identity. Back on Planet Aquamarine, the Germinal Organization definitely investigated me. Hila probably saw the birth certificate of my original identity.
Understanding that, Han Xiao swallowed the words he was about to say back down. He accepted the gift and said with a smile, “Thanks, didn’t think you’d remember.”
“I remember everything about you.”
Hila closed her eyes and left the room before Han Xiao could reply.
The officers around looked back and forth between the two of them with meaningful looks in their eyes. They then left one after another.
Han Xiao was the only one left in the room. He carefully opened the gift box and looked at what was inside.
A tiny dark gold coin lay quietly in the box, hooked on a thin silver chain. It was a necklace.
Han Xiao picked up this coin and suddenly felt a special kind of energy on it. It had both Hila’s Power of the Dead energy and Aurora’s Esper Ability energy.
With a flash of insight, Han Xiao opened the interface and looked at Hila’s Character Summon Card.
If I’m guessing correctly, this coin is a carrier of some kind of ability, and this ability is probably the reawakening ability that Hila just obtained… No wonder she called it an amulet. Basically, she gave me a revive token.
The Character Summon Card did not display the limitations and cost for Hila to use this ability, but Han Xiao was certain that Hila would not be able to casually just gift this ability to anyone. It was most likely quite costly.
Han Xiao wore the amulet on his neck, stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the scenery outside Black Star Palace.
If not because Hila suddenly brought it up, he would totally have forgotten the meaning of ‘birthdays’. In all the years he had spent in Galaxy, this was the first time someone had given him a birthday present.
Although the birthday of this body was not the same as his own birthday, Han Xiao still felt nostalgic and emotional.
Memories often would not stop coming up once reminded. The images of the past kept appearing in his mind like it was lifetimes ago.
“Birthday…”
A soft sigh sounded in the room.
1063 In Order to Save the Universe, I Have Decided to Become…
Two fleets with the same Beast Ancestor symbol stood against each other in space. The atmosphere was tense.
The situation was clear—the smaller fleet wanted to leave the stronghold and was stopped by the guarding fleet.
Inside the command ship of the guarding fleet, Byram looked at the fleeing fleet in front of him that was prepared to start a fight anytime with complicated feelings. He then said in the public channel, “Jotina, do you know what you’re doing? This is defection!”
As soon as his sentence ended, a female creature appeared on the screen before him. She had light-brown skin, a lustful face, and black beastly patterns at the tips of her eyes and her temples, as well as white lines on her cheeks in a pattern like cat whiskers. She looked similar to a leopard. Her clothing was wild and unrestrained, showing her astonishing body shape and beauty.
At this point, the face of this woman was filled with a firmness.
“Gorutan is done. We’ve made up our minds. If you want to stop us, you can try.”
Looking at the woman on the screen, Byram sighed in his mind.
This person’s name was Jotina. She had some beast bloodline and was one of the Four Admirals under Beast Ancestor’s command, like the Vanguard Officials and Black Star Guards. She was an ace combatant who stood at the top among her brothers and sisters. She was also a Beyond Grade A seed. Given her wild personality, quite a number of brothers and sisters were afraid of her.
However, a lot of people knew that Jotina was in the rebel faction and had always hated Gorutan. Gorutan, however, did not care if his children hated him. His offspring were just tools to him. As long as he was alive, he did not fear anyone escaping his control.
He had maintained control of his organization with his own strength, and once he was gone, it instantly started cracking up like rats leaving a sinking ship.
On this day, Jotina brought a big batch of rebel faction members and planned to leave the Beast Ancestor’s organization, hence this confrontation.
Byram was in the neutral faction, so he did not have overwhelming loyalty for Gorutan. He sighed and said, “We’re all brothers and sisters. Why fight each other? Father is only captured. He might return in the future. Why not stay and work through this difficult time together?”
“Shut up!” Jotina yelled. “I’ve been waiting for this day for way too long. If you don’t let us go today, don’t blame me for not having mercy.”
Byram stayed silent. He turned and looked at the enraged expressions of the loyalists, shook his head internally, and ordered, “Let them go.”
Without the overwhelming strength of the Beast Ancestor that kept this many people in their place, his organization had absolutely no unity, and everyone had their own plans. Byram was not willing to fight with them.
However, the loyalist faction was not having it. From the way they looked at it, immediately leaving when their father was in trouble was an act of total betrayal that needed punishment.
Although Byram was the commander, many officers did not obey him and suddenly fired, starting a battle.
Battleships were sunk one after another, creating fireworks in the comic space. Calamity Grades dashed about in between the battle and fought each other with no mercy.
After a very long time, the battle finally ended. Tons of battleship wreckages were floating in the cosmic space.
After paying a hefty price, the betraying fleet finally broke away. The loyalist faction also suffered a huge loss. Many officers were killed by Jotina on the spot, so none continued chasing after her.
Without father, there will be other Beyond Grade As who come to get us. These loyalists will be cleaned up sooner or later. I’d better find a way out as soon as possible.
Byram looked at the wreckages and sighed in his mind. He knew that the Beast Ancestor’s organization was no more.
Meanwhile…
“We finally got out. They didn’t chase us…”
Inside the command ship that was covered in battle scars, Jotina sat on the ground, leaning against the wall. She was exhausted and covered in wounds, blood pooling under her.
She was surrounded by many officers who were defecting with her. After the intense battle earlier, everyone had wounds and was bandaging each other up.
A Calamity Grade officer turned to Jotina after stitching a comrade up. “Big sis, where do we go now?”
Since Jotina was the initiator of this operation and was also the strongest, she was recognized by all as the leader of this defecting team.
“Escaping was just the first step. Don’t forget our target. We can’t rely only on ourselves; we have to go to a big organization,” Jotina said while gasping for air.
“Who should we go to?”
“Whoever that beat up Gorutan.” Jotina struggled to get up, looked outside the porthole, and murmured, “Black Star is worth depending on…”
…
A few days later, outside Black Star Palace…
“I’ve already disturbed you guys for quite some time. I’ll leave today. Thanks for your help.”
Silver Shadow stood before his spaceship, nodding to express his appreciation for Han Xiao.
Some time ago, he had used the Evolution Cube and stayed as a guest in the Black Star Army, bonding with Han Xiao. The relationship between them improved quite a bit, from familiar faces to good friends.
After staying for a few days, he still had other things to attend to so he decided to bid farewell today, Han Xiao came to send him off.
“Okay, I won’t keep you then. Feel free to come here to play in the future.” Han Xiao smiled.
Silver Shadow nodded, shook Han Xiao’s hand, led a group of his subordinates onto the ship, and closed the hatch.
The spaceship’s thrusters fired up as it sped up and dashed out of the dock, turning into a stream of light and quickly disappearing into space.
Watching the spaceship leave, Han Xiao nodded with satisfaction.
The time he had spent with Silver Shadow over the past few days had sped up the progress of winning Silver Shadow over. With the favors he owed him, he would be able to at least ride him three more times.
Han Xiao left the dock and returned to his office.
“Phillip, any news from the three Universal Civilizations?”
“Not yet, hum…”
“It’s been so many days. It should be time for them to contact me.”
Han Xiao shook his head. Over the past few days, he had been waiting for the federation and the church to contact him. It seemed that these two were still considering what attitude they were going to present when contacting him, so no one had called him yet.
During the Planet Lighthouse battle, he had handed over the captives to the dynasty, and the dynasty had negotiated with them. This time, however, he had basically caught all the captives by himself. Plus, he was much stronger. Therefore, Han Xiao told the dynasty that he wanted to negotiate with the federation and the church personally.
At this time, Phillip suddenly paused and reported, “Master, hum… there’s a new communication request. It’s from the Arcane Church.”
Speak of the devil… Han Xiao told Phillip to pick it up.
Very soon, a remote projection appeared in the room. This was a high-ranking official of the church who was in charge of diplomatic matters. He took a bow as soon as he appeared, looking very respectful.
“Your Excellency Black Star, I’m the diplomat of the Arcane Church. First, on behalf of the church, I would like to apologize for this incident…”
“Hmm, let’s skip all that and cut to the chase.” Han Xiao glared at the church diplomat in front of him and said with a deep voice, “If you want Tolaen back, it depends on how sincere you guys are. I have to emphasize one thing though: the compensation must include a public apology on your side.”
The church diplomat blinked a few times and said softly, “That won’t be a problem, but we can put aside Tolaen’s matter first. I want to talk about the federation’s captives…”
Han Xiao raised his brow.
What a surprise. The Arcane Church is in no hurry to bail Tolaen back but instead wants to gain a federation captive first.
Although he could understand the reason behind this, Han Xiao still thought it was quite tragic… for Tolaen.
Shaking his head, Han Xiao said, “The church wants to buy a Beyond Grade A captive of the federation, huh?”
“Not one. The more, the better. I’m sure Kasuyi has spoken to you about this as well. The church wants something to regain the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. Your Excellency Black Star, we come with a lot of sincerity this time, and we’re willing to pay a high price.”
“How high?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“These are our initial terms.”
The diplomat brought up a list and displayed it.
Han Xiao quickly scanned through the list. Not only did the terms include tons of resources compensation, but the church was even willing to use non-strategic Universal Treasures to acquire the captives. The terms were quite generous.
However, he was not going to easily agree. He purposely acted like he was considering for a while. Then, he said slowly, “I’ll have to endure pressure from the federation if I sell their captives to you, and this is all you’re offering? It doesn’t seem sufficient.”
“How about you propose the terms, and we can…”
Han Xiao snorted and interrupted him. “Go figure, change the terms till I’m satisfied.”
By not being the one stating the terms, he would be able to give the federation and the church a hard time. Otherwise, the two of them might not learn the lesson. Also, it would not be beneficial to public opinion if he easily agreed to their terms.
“Okay then, we’ll go back and change the terms. Can I assume that you don’t object to selling the federation’s captives?” the church’s diplomat asked.
“Depends on my mood.” Han Xiao did not make a guarantee.
Seeing that Han Xiao was not taking a clear stance, the church diplomat had no choice but to go offline and report the situation to his superiors.
As soon as he disconnected, the communication request from the federation came.
“How coincidental,” Han Xiao murmured and picked up the communication.
“Greetings, Your Excellency Black Star, I’m the Federation of Light’s…”
“Alright alright, I know who you are. Cut the crap. Show me your terms for bailing the captives.”
The federation’s diplomat’s words were forced right back down his throat, and he had no choice but to obediently show Han Xiao the terms.
After looking through the list, Han Xiao shook his head in his mind.
The price the federation gave was not as high as the church. After all, this was just ordinary bailing for them.
Tsk tsk, cheeky as always, you lost three people, but you don’t want to pay a huge price?
In your dreams!
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, tapped the table, and said slowly, “Just now, the Arcane Church contacted me and made an interesting proposal.”
“What proposal?”
“They want to buy the Beyond Grade A captives of the federation from me… and they’re willing to pay a high price.”
Han Xiao gave him a meaningful look.
The federation diplomat was startled and quickly said, “D-Did you agree?”
“Hmm, I’m still considering it. However, the price the church gave was quite tempting.”
“You can’t just decide to sell the federation’s important ally to the church, or…” The federation diplomat was just about to threaten Han Xiao when he suddenly realized that he was facing Black Star, who had just cost them a huge loss, so he quickly changed his tone. “Anyhow, as long as you don’t agree to the church’s proposal, we will definitely do something.”
“That will depend on your sincerity and how high a price are you willing to pay to make me reject the church’s offer.” Han Xiao smiled.
“Understood… Understood. I’ll relay your thoughts to the upper echelons immediately and change the compensation terms.”
The federation diplomat wiped off the sweat on his forehead and hastily disconnected.
He knew that Black Star was driving the price up, but there was nothing he could do. Even though he thought he saw through Black Star’s intentions, the only thing he could do was to obediently follow it.
After getting rid of these two, Han Xiao leaned back in his chair and smirked.
If this had happened in the past, the risk of doing something like this would have been very high. However, after this battle, he had showcased more than enough strength to be noticed. Only then would the church and the federation be willing to negotiate with him calmly instead of continuing to plot against him.
With these captives in his hands, he had enough leeway to ask for over the top prices. Even though he had made it clear that he wanted the federation and the church to compete with each other, they could do nothing but put up with it.
This feeling of having the upper hand is indeed great… Han Xiao smiled.
While he was pondering, his communicator rang again. It was Sylvia.
“Army Commander, the galactic star director I told you about a few days ago has arrived at Black Star Palace.”
“So soon?”
“They were in the Flickering World to begin with. I’ve already sent someone to receive them. Should I bring them right to the guest room?”
“Hmm, I’ll go see him now.” Han Xiao stood up.
…
A civilian spaceship parked at the exterior dock of Black Star Palace, and a group of people walked out from it.
At the front was an old man with a large beard and round head. He clearly gave off a vibe of being wealthy. Like a true artsy type, his long hair was swinging. He looked like a boiled egg with hair.
This person was the Crimson Dynasty-born galactic great director, Beny Travol.
As soon as they disembarked from the spaceship, they looked left and right cautiously and chattered among themselves.
“So, this is the Black Star Army’s base. Are all these people mercenaries?”
“They’re all looking at us. Keep it down…”
Having heard his assistants were chattering behind him, Beny Travol frowned and softly yelled, “Keep your mouth shut. If you insult Black Star’s men, you know what the consequences are.”
The others quickly became quiet, looking very cautious.
They had been following Beny Travol for a very long time and were seniors in the entertainment industry. There were people everywhere who wanted to fawn over them. Although they were not considered arrogant, they were still quite proud of themselves.
However, these people did not dare act arrogantly here. The Black Star Army was a top tier armed force that was on a completely different level compared to them. Now that they had entered the headquarters of such a powerful armed force, they naturally felt intimidated.
They knew full well that their influence was nothing compared to someone like this who held real power. Every one of them tucked their tail between their legs and acted humble.
Not long after, a receptionist of the army came and said with a bright smile, “Greetings, Director Beny Travol. Please, follow me. The army commander is waiting for you.”
“Okay, thanks for leading the way,” Beny Travol replied with a smile.
Seeing this, the assistants around were surprised. They knew their own boss all too well. He was always proud; very rarely did he show such a passionate and fawning smile.
They went all the way to the guest room, walked in, and saw Han Xiao sitting at the main seat. Out of panic, they hastily greeted Han Xiao.
Beny Travol quickly walked toward Han Xiao and extended his hand. “Your Excellency Black Star, thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”
“You don’t have to be so formal, sit.”
Han Xiao shook his hand and invited everyone to sit down.
The group sat down one after another with their back straight and butt only taking up the edge of the seat, looking very cautious.
At the same time, they all stared at Han Xiao with respect and obedience, as well as a stiff and fawning smile on their faces. Many of them were quite important people, but now they could only smile.
Han Xiao shook his head. Position meant power. Even though he did not do anything, others would still uncontrollably feel nervous.
He turned to look at Beny Travol, smiled, and asked, “Great director Beny, I heard you want to shoot a documentary about me?”
“That’s right. I’ve seen your files from the beginning to your astonishing rise in the galaxy. You’re a living legend. What you’ve done stimulated my desire to innovate. It will be my honor to shoot a documentary for someone like you…”
Beny Travol cut right to the chase and started explaining the motivation behind all this.
When he came to the exciting parts, his face even became red, and he stood up to make gestures.
Han Xiao observed for a while and realized that this great director was not there just to praise him but really wanted to create an adapted documentary. This was probably one of the effects of his Legendary Points.
This was not strange. To others, what he had achieved was indeed legendary, so having a director want to shoot his life story was not exactly a surprise. After all, many films were adapted from true stories to begin with.
After being continuously praised for a while, Han Xiao felt quite good. Then, he waved and interrupted the saliva-filled speech of the director.
“So, you’re just here to ask for my permission to allow you to shoot a film about me?”
“Not just that.” Beny Travol suddenly became anxious. “I have another request. I hope you can be part of this film as an easter egg…”
These words required courage. He knew that Black Star’s position was way too high. For someone with so much power, Black Star could basically be considered a political figure. This was like a request for the dynasty’s ruler to guest star in his film—it was almost a daydream.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and tapped the table slowly but did not immediately reply.
As his expression changed, the atmosphere instantly cooled to a freezing point. Everyone’s heart started beating faster and faster. No one dared take big breaths. The room became dead silent.
Just as Han Xiao was about to speak, a mission notification popped up on the interface.
_____________________
Invitation from a Director
Mission Introduction: A universally known star director hopes to have you take part in the shooting of a film.
Mission Requirements: Star in the film.
Reward: 1,800,000 Experience, random increase in Renown of various Star Fields.
Bonus Reward: Talent – [Celebrity Effect]
[Celebrity Effect]: Others will feel close to you and forgive you more easily.
_____________________
Han Xiao’s mouth contorted slightly.
What’s this? Forcing me to become a celebrity?
1064 An Overly Difficult Mission
Furthermore, with how developed the technology was, it would not take long to shoot one film. Plus, they could be watched in many different ways, such as the classic third-person screen, an immersive watching experience where one could step into the environment, or even take over the perspective of the character in the movie. With the development of technology, the expression of films had also become richer.
The [Celebrity Effect]’s effects were not quantified. Feidin had it too, and it was related to the Charisma attribute. Not only would it make gaining Favorability easier, it would also make losing Favorability more difficult even if he offended someone. The name suited the effects it gave quite well.
The effects of the talent looked ambiguous on the surface, but Han Xiao knew that this was actually quite useful. It would help in many situations. Be it business negotiations or daily socializing, it was an excellent ability for networking.
Even if the mission rewards were not considered, this proposal itself was beneficial for Han Xiao. Currently, his reputation was at its peak, but the heat of the news would reduce with time. Furthermore, having such an astonishing achievement as a comparison, the more ordinary deeds would hardly increase his influence and fame.
Therefore, using the entertainment industry to continue to increase his Renown was a great path to take. After all, the entertainment industry had a unique advantage in terms of the attention it received. This would also not damage his reputation while helping the outside world understand him more.
Furthermore, this seemed very suitable for increasing the number of believers.
Hehe, that old man Manison definitely wouldn’t be willing to do the same.
Under the nervous stare of Beny Travol and his assistants, Han Xiao purposely acted like he was pondering for a while. He then nodded and said, “Sure.”
“That’s great!”
Beny Travol was overjoyed. He initially thought he would most likely be rejected, but Han Xiao turned out to be surprisingly friendly.
The nervous atmosphere disappeared instantly. Everyone felt relief followed by excitement—being able to have someone like Black Star cameo in their film was like a dream.
“When do you guys plan to start the project?” Han Xiao asked.
“We’ll have to finalize the script first. Since this will be adapted from your real experience, if possible, we hope you can provide some details. We might even have to organize a few interviews,” Beny Travol said softly.
“That’s easy, as long as I’m free.” Han Xiao smiled.
“Okay okay. When we’ve done the script, we’ll show it to you for you to audit. We’ll only start the shooting after you agree with the script.”
“Hmm.” Han Xiao nodded. He suddenly thought of something and asked, “Do you have any funding issues?”
“Don’t worry, the entertainment industry is quite influential. Plus, this will be your story. There will definitely be a lot of people fighting to fund it. Even the Crimson Dynasty’s ministry of culture might.” Beny Travol was quite confident.
“Alright, come to me if you have any funding issues. I’ll sponsor you.”
Beny Travol was very touched.
Whoa, what a generous man.
He decided that he had to make sure this film turned out amazing. It not only had to be filled with artistic factors but also had to make a great sale.
Having been a director for many years, Beny Travol had both excellent productions and failed ones. While using the noble reason of ‘pursuing art’ to get funding, some projects had not even been able to break even.
It would not be a problem if those films sponsored by ordinary people did not turn out great. He would lose his brand image and money at most. However, if the film sponsored by the Black Star Army turned out not good enough… he might even lose his life. He did not dare slack.
Given the population of this era, the profit in the entertainment industry was beyond imaginable. Occasionally, there were even some films that the entire universe liked and loved, and the profit gained from just one of those would surpass the total value of many small financial groups. It was absolutely bonkers. Han Xiao had no reason not to gain profit from it.
Han Xiao suddenly thought of something and said, “By the way, I want to put someone in the cast.”
“Please do tell.”
Han Xiao brought up Feidin’s image, smiled, and said, “This person. He’s one of my guards, a Calamity Grade Super. He was once a local celebrity. Just give him a character to play.”
“This person…” Beny Travol’s eyes widened.
He did not mind Black Star putting someone in the cast. He had seen this kind of thing happen way too many times. What surprised him was that Black Star was sending him a treasure.
This body! This appearance! This vibe! He’s a born superstar!
Scanning the stunned expression on everyone’s face, Han Xiao chuckled in his mind.
He knew very well how powerful Feidin’s charming aura was. Having Feidin star in the movie would be more than enough to attract a ton of attention and make the promotion multiple times smoother.
Furthermore, Han Xiao did not forget about what Feidin had achieved in his previous life, [The Legend of a Singer], where he used his psychic singing to stop an entire war.
Therefore, to maintain the love and peace of the universe, he decided to make Feidin an idol again!
This was not a sudden thought. He had wanted to use this opportunity to make Feidin the image ambassador of the Black Star Army to gain more popularity, which might even attract more talents. At the same time, he hoped to increase the stock price of the Germinal Financial Group.
After so many years, the Germinal Financial Group was already listed thanks to the help of the army. Its funds at this point were huge.
Many thoughts flashed through Han Xiao’s mind, but he did not reveal them. Maintaining a smile, he chatted with the others in an uplifting atmosphere. In the end, Beny Travol and the others decided to stay awhile in Black Star Palace to gain some insight and material before leaving with joy all over their faces.
After sending them away, Han Xiao told Sylvia to follow up with the matter and then went to chat for some time with Ames to make sure his old friend was receiving enough attention.
Ames, however, was very understanding. She knew that he had many things to deal with, so she did not hurry him. Both Han Xiao and Hila had returned, so she had company there and lived so comfortably she almost did not want to go back.
I don’t have anything to do on Floating Dragon Island. What should I go back for?
What? Jenny?
Who’s that? Never heard of her.
…
Han Xiao returned to his room and bathed out of habit. He came out surrounded by hot water vapor. Without drying himself, he wrapped himself in a bathing robe and lay on his bed while humming. Water droplets slid down his hair and wet his pillow.
Of course, Beyond Grade As’ bodies were pure and free from dirt, so they did not have to bathe. However, Han Xiao enjoyed this feeling of adjusting his senses to have the temperature sense of a normal person. Only then would he be able to have a hot water bath. Otherwise, even lava would feel cold to him.
A few mechanical pets climbed up and circled around Han Xiao. They kept rubbing their bodies on him in an adorable way. There were both cats and dogs, even snakes. They were all mechanical lives with their own independent minds. Their metal bodies had no edges; they were smooth and round. They did not have to eat or excrete and were very easy to take care of.
Ever since Hila gave him a birthday present, Hila had suddenly thought of getting some pets to give his usually cold and quiet bedroom some life.
Han Xiao casually petted his pets for a while. He then leaned back on the bed and opened up the player forums.
The ‘Black Star’s Godlike Battle’ topic had yet to cool down. It even became hotter instead. The Flickering World panel was still filled with it.
There were not only discussions. Many players also took action and left their original faction to join the Black Star Army, giving the player count of the army a boost.
The one-sided faction war had lasted a while. Due to the factions that were named admitting their inferiority, the army’s opponents were powerless. Not only did the shady plan of those foreign clubs not work, they even shot themselves in the foot. The factions they were in had lost a huge number of normal players. This indirectly increased the unity of the army players and shortened the distance between the new and old army players from different countries.
The atmosphere in the Black Star Army had become much better. Although the players from different countries could not be considered friendly toward each other, they had grown to accept others.
On the forums, there was another thing that sparked discussion. After Han Xiao created the [Rescue Hila] Dungeon Crystals, he had placed them in the faction store.
In the following few days, a ton of players had bought the Dungeon Crystal to watch their Army Commander with their lives.
After nonstop effort and hard work, there were already famous dungeon raiders who increased the survival time record to a whopping twenty-nine seconds, earning the respect of countless players.
[Rescue Hila] and [Planet Lighthouse] were now known as the two film-type dungeons, which meant… there was nothing they could do, only watch.
Han Xiao was still browsing the forums with joy when Phillip sent him a message.
“Master, hum… A fleet that has defected from the Beast Ancestor’s organization has arrived at our frontline stronghold in the free competition zone. Onboard are seven Calamity Grade officers previously under the Beast Ancestor’s command, led by one of Gorutan’s Four Admirals, ‘Claw Empress’ Jotina. She has mentioned that she wants to see you by name.”
“See me?”
Han Xiao raised his brows and closed the player forums. He then quickly brought up Jotina’s data and browsed through it. He then started pondering.
He did not know much about Gorutan’s subordinates. Most of them were Gorutan’s tools. Only a few had left an impression on him in his previous life, including Jotina, but not because of the achievements she made.
In his previous life, Jotina secretly worked with other organizations and gave out missions to players that involved destroying all the offspring production warehouses of the Beast Ancestor’s headquarters when Gorutan was not home, releasing all the females that were imprisoned as reproduction machines. Although the plan did not end up succeeding, it still brought the Beast Ancestor a humongous loss. She initially wanted to die together with Gorutan using a psionic energy bomb but failed. In the end, she was torn apart alive by Gorutan.
Knowing that, Han Xiao had a rough guess as to why she was there.
“Okay, I’ll meet her.”
…
In the Emerald Star Cluster, the Black Star frontlines stronghold had already repaired the damage suffered from the Hila Rescue Warfare. The fleet was now patrolling as usual.
At this time, Jotina and the gang were welcomed into the dock. Due to the Beast Ancestor symbol on their spaceships, they attracted the attention of all the army members they passed.
The spaceships parked steadily, and the hatches opened with a swoosh. Jotina led her friends out of the spaceship, ignoring the strange looks on the army members around, and headed toward the guest room following the mechanical receptionist.
“We’re finally here. I wonder if Black Star will keep us. After all, we were his enemies not long ago.”
“Black Star isn’t petty.”
“I’m just not sure if we’re strong enough for him to be interested…”
Jotina did not join the discussion. With a tense expression, she followed the receptionist into the guest room. It was empty.
Hum!
This time, Han Xiao’s remote projection appeared in the room with his hands behind his back. He looked at everyone with coldness as he slowly spoke.
“You wanted to see me?”
“That’s right. We were all under Beast Ancestor’s command. We have been unhappy with him for a very long time but never had the strength to resist. Now you’ve defeated him, so we came to join you, hoping to work for the Black Star Army.
Jotina cut right to the chase while staring at Han Xiao. Clearly, she was very direct.
Although Han Xiao had already guessed, a saying still appeared in his mind…
This is them abandoning evil to take the righteous path, isn’t it?
Han Xiao did not plan to reject them. After all, there were seven Calamity Grades, which was quite an amount of power. Furthermore, Jotina was a rare Beyond Grade A seed with extraordinary potential. She could be of company to Hadavy and Lothaire.
High-quality leeks uprooting themselves up and entering his vegetation field was always something Han Xiao loved to see. However, he could not agree with it too easily. The routine questioning was still needed.
“Why were you unhappy with Gorutan?”
Jotina took a deep breath. Sorrow and anger appeared on her face as she said, “In order to produce high-quality offspring, Gorutan bought countless females of different races from the black market. These females weren’t even granted the freedom to die. The only thing they could do was become a tool of reproduction.
“My mother was one of them. With my very own eyes, I watched her give birth to one offspring after another for years. She died of exhaustion in the end. The high-quality offspring were given a lot of resources and trained well, while the low-quality ones became slaves. Although we’re all related by blood, most people have no emotional connection to others. That place was like a cold and freezing graveyard. Everyone had no choice but to fawn over Gorutan. Not a single day spent there was not filled with hatred and disgust.”
Jotina closed her eyes as she was flooded by the sorrowful memories, only reopening them after a while. Then, she said with a deep voice, “My friends have had the same experience as me. We hate everything Gorutan has created, but we had no choice but to be manipulated by him and assist in his evil deeds. We lived every day in agony and frustration. We’re not afraid of dying. Only through enduring this pain and keeping ourselves alive can we find the chance to change everything. And when you defeated him, we were finally liberated.”
Then, Jotina kneeled onto the ground. The people behind her followed. The entire group kneeled as a gesture of respect.
“We hope you can take us in!”
Jotina pressed her forehead onto the ground and growled emotionally.
“Please take us in!” Everyone else shouted simultaneously as well. The shouting echoed in the room.
Seeing this, Han Xiao pondered a while and nodded. “Since that’s the case, I shall accept you to become members of the Black Star Army.”
The group exhaled with relief and finally stood up.
A smile appeared on Jotina’s face again. Her expression relaxed. It was beautiful. Like her wild personality, her emotions were also directly displayed.
Han Xiao nodded. His tone became friendly as he smiled and said, “Then, we’re all family now. Come to Black Star Palace. I want to see you guys with my own eyes and arrange roles for you. Also, if you want to visit Gorutan’s specimen…”
This time, Jotina interrupted Han Xiao. She wiped the smile off her face and said with a serious tone, “Black Star, I also have a gift as well as a request.”
“Do tell.” Han Xiao raised his brows.
Jotina nodded. “The Beast Ancestor’s organization is in shambles now. It’s a great opportunity to split it up. I’m willing to help you obtain the Beast Ancestor’s inheritance. This is my gift to you.”
“And your request?”
“I hope you can destroy the Beast Ancestor’s headquarters and all of the offspring production facilities, releasing all the females and taking in all the young offspring of Beast Ancestor. This is both my request and my gift. Although I hate Gorutan to the core, these young offspring are innocent. Their worldviews have yet to take shape and can still be adjusted. If raised properly, they can become new blood for the army.”
Jotina then looked up and stared at Han Xiao, as if she wanted to see the answer she had been hoping to see for a very long time in Han Xiao’s eyes.
Han Xiao opened the interface, and as he expected, this triggered a mission. However, it was not one mission but two.
The first mission was [Liberate Beast Ancestor’s Organization]. Just like Jotina said, it required him to destroy the Beast Ancestor’s headquarters and free those within. The rewards were Jotina’s Favorability and her Character Summon Card.
The second mission, however, shocked him.
_____________________
Ending the Darkness
Mission Introduction: Life form trafficking is the source of countless tragedies. Jotina hates it with everything she has. Destroying the practice has always been her dream her entire life.
Mission Requirement: End the life form trading industry in Galaxy.
Reward: 1 Trillion Experience, 15 Random Rewards, 3 Universe Legendary Points, 5 Blank Character Summon Cards.
Bonus Reward: [Slave Liberator] Milestone.
[Slave Liberator]: Your relationship with all Lawful Factions will forever be fixed at [Reverence].
_____________________
One trillion experience… Han Xiao was stunned.
This was the craziest mission he had ever seen, as were its rewards, and of course its difficulty.
Eliminate the life form trading industry of the entire universe?
Looking at the population of the entire Galaxy, this was a mission that was impossible to complete. If there was no demand for it, it would never have started in the first place. Even the three Universal Civilizations could not do this, so who else could?
No wonder Jotina only requested that he liberate Beast Ancestor’s organization. She most likely knew that this wish of hers would never be achieved.
Of course, Han Xiao would not expose her. He shook his head, put this matter at the back of his mind, and did not mention it.
“About liberating Beast Ancestor’s organization, you have my word.”
“Then, I’ll be willing to serve you till the end of time.”
Jotina lowered her head, and admiration appeared in her eyes.
Ever since Han Xiao defeated Gorutan, she had viewed Black Star as her idol.
Before she came into contact with Black Star, she had been anxious, afraid that the truth about her idol might disappoint her.
Also, she was afraid that Black Star might mistake her for someone who went whichever way the wind blew, seeing her actions as betraying her old master and going to the winner. She would have been very sad if that was the case.
Now, however, all those worries were gone. Black Star was totally worth her admiration.
Like electricity running through her entire body, she suddenly felt something in her heart. She was a very direct person, and her emotions were easily affected. At this moment, she felt she was in love.
1065 The Wolf Is Besieged and Annihilated
“Seven Calamity Grades joined, with one of them even being a Beyond Grade A seed. This wave of talents is good quality.”
He had only been interested in the resources accumulated by the Beast Ancestor and did not covet the latter’s offspring because both sides were enemies after all. Even if he were to forcefully accept the troops and force the descendants to work for him, there would always be resistance.
There was also a chance that they would not put in their best effort, and their numbers would allow them to pollute the army and form a faction, which would become a ticking time bomb.
A melon that is forcefully plucked will not be sweet.
The losses would outweigh the gains. Furthermore, the Black Star Army was already part of the Lawful Faction, so they could not go too overboard. At the same time, they did not lack manpower in the army at the moment, so he was not interested in poaching the manpower of the Beast Ancestor.
That being said, if it was those who decided to voluntarily pledge themselves to the Black Star Army, he naturally would not reject them.
“The majority of people from the rebel faction are still waiting, and Jotina’s batch is only the first wave of guinea pigs. There will definitely be more of them in the future. Even I don’t know the exact number.”
Han Xiao did not wish to capture all these people in one go, as each individual had their own ambitions. Some of them might not necessary chose to defect to him if they were to betray the Beast Ancestor Organization. Some would choose to resign completely, burying their lives and living in a low-profile manner.
Shaking his head, Han Xiao temporarily put this matter aside and summoned Phillip.
“Notify Herlous and Sylvia. Tell them to mobilize the soldiers of the Shattered Star Ring to send a fleet over to the Beast Ancestor’s base to free all the slaves and to destroy his offspring cultivation assembly line.”
Due to the high difficulty level of the mission [Ending the Darkness], he could not progress in it at the moment. In contrast, the other missions were quite simple, and since he had already given the other party his word, Han Xiao swung into action. With Jotina joining him, he would also have sufficient reason to send out troops.
Furthermore, since Gorutan had brought out a large number of elites, his base was quite empty. Thus, it also reduced the difficulty. As long as the fleet brought along his own avatar as a guarantee, there should not be any accidents.
This group of guys who had forsaken the darkness for the light brought Han Xiao plenty of good news. However, there was one detail that made Han Xiao sit up and take notice.
He always felt that the look Jotina had in her eyes seemed a little bit too eager…
It was like how he normally looked at Feidin.
…
In the stronghold of the Beast Ancestor’s base in the Emerald Star Cluster, after Jotina and her group broke out, the atmosphere became silent and cold. There was less chatter. They were obviously brothers and sisters, but the looks they exchanged were filled with vigilance, and more thoughts were hiding behind their poker faces.
As the people’s hearts changed, the undercurrents surged.
Jotina was the first defector, and there were still many more of the cautious rebels watching the situation. Seeing that she had a good start, more of them started to get ready to move.
Within a secret room, a group of people from the rebel factions gathered together quietly. Their leader was a prestigious Calamity Grade officer, ‘Boa Constrictor’ Schneider. While he was not at the level of the four major officers, he was still one of the more influential officers, an elite combatant who combined his Pugilist skills with his innate toxin talents.
“I believe you know my purpose behind gathering all of you.” Schneider looked around, his eyes stopping for a while on the stronger officers before continuing, “There’s news from Sister Jotina, she says that Black Star has already accepted them. They have found a good home.”
No one present spoke, waiting for him to finish.
Seeing this, Schneider said, “The loyal faction fought with Jotina and suffered heavy losses. They probably no longer wish to waste any more strength in dealing with the defectors. It’s about time for us to leave as well. I know that there are a few among us that do not wish to defect to another organization and wish to be independent. All of this can wait for when we leave. For those that are unwilling to follow and walk your own paths, we will meet again somewhere in the universe and reminisce about our familial ties then.”
After he was done, the room remained quiet for a moment before someone finally spoke out.
“That’s right. It’s time for us to leave. In another few days, it will be my troops’ turn to patrol. This is our chance, and it’s best to avoid any conflict with the loyalists.”
As soon as the silence was broken, everyone spoke in a rush. Everyone with some influence in the audience offered suggestions, brainstorming for the rebellion.
Meanwhile, a few of the loyalists were also having a secret meeting.
“Did you hear? It seems like the group of traitors from Jotina’s side joined the Black Star Army.”
“Where did this news come from? Is it reliable?”
“Many people saw their spaceship headed toward the stronghold of the Black Star Army, and after entering, they never came out. Furthermore, among that rebel faction that has a lot of hidden thoughts, there has been quite a bit of intelligence leaking out, so it should be accurate.”
One of them said in a deep voice, “If it’s true, then we can implement a bold plan. Let our people pretend to defect and enter the Black Star Army. We’ll find a chance to rescue Lord Father.”
“But… Black Star is a Beyond Grade A Mechanic. It’s hard to even be able to steal anything under his nose. Furthermore, there is no solution for the Spacetime Amber; even the three Universal Civilizations are left befuddled.”
“Lord Father has so painstakingly raised us. He’s our respected patriarch. Only we can help him now, so even if the odds are slim, we still have to try,” someone else replied firmly.
“Alright… but there’s still another problem. The defectors definitely know our allegiances, and the loyal factionists who attempt to defect will definitely be seen through.”
“This is a good question. After being together for so long, one cannot just break into the group of rebels…”
Everyone hesitated.
Jotina’s incident had provided hope to the loyalists. Some of them wanted to stage a rescue of Gorutan, who was made into a specimen. After all, he was just sealed and not dead yet.
At this time, the sound of a communicator rang, breaking the stale atmosphere in the room like a roar of thunder on a sunny day.
The leader looked at his communicator and said, “Byram has gathered all the officers to discuss our future plans.”
Everyone did not feel any surprise. After Gorutan’s fall, this sort of meeting had been held many times. Without a decision maker, the affairs of the organization could now only be decided by a large majority of the officers agreeing. However, everyone had their own plans, so there was no unified opinion.
The group of loyalists left the room, rushing toward the large conference room.
At this moment, the conference room was almost full of people. All those present were officers with a certain amount of influence, and the scene was as rowdy as a scene in a marketplace. The three factions of loyalist, rebels, and neutrals distinguished themselves clearly, all looking at each other with cold glares.
This group of loyalists immediately spotted Schneider and glared at him before finding their places.
Schneider did not care about their attitude. He had also heard the news when he was in his secret meeting and rushed over.
After waiting a while longer, all the officers were finally present. Byram was the last to enter, and he closed the door to the conference room. Under everyone’s gaze, he slowly walked up to the rostrum before looking down from his vantage point at everyone.
“What happened, for you to convene us again?” one of the officers demanded. The person in question was one of the Four Generals.
“We haven’t finished discussing the previous topic, so today, we’ll continue to discuss the future of our organization.” Byram calmly smiled before he changed the topic. “However, before that, let me introduce someone to you.”
Everyone frowned. From Byram’s attitude, they noticed something was wrong.
It was at this moment that a wave of magic appeared in the room, and a blue circle representing a transportation door appeared beside Byram.
Hum!
A foot slowly stepped out of the portal, and a strong sense of oppression soon followed. The air in the room seemed to freeze instantly.
The Secret Master walked out before waving a hand to close the transportation door. With his hands behind his back, he gazed at everyone present with an expression of indifference.
The entire room turned silent.
At this time, Byram broke the silence with a smile in his voice.
“I believe everyone is familiar with the Secret Master, who is also a patron of the Galactic Black Market just like Lord Father.
“Byram, what’s the meaning of this‽”
The group of loyalists immediately stood up, suppressing their anger as they questioned him.
In reality, everyone understood that Byram, who was part of the neutral faction, had already initiated a relationship with the Secret Master. Under the guise of a meeting, he had gathered all the officers so that the Secret Master could catch them all at once and control everyone.
He was going to present this stronghold and all the officers present to the Secret Master!
Byram only smiled in response. His gaze shifted to the Secret Master, and he explained, “Since Lord Father was captured, countless organizations have been watching us, wishing to divide us. Without a Beyond Grade A holding the helm, we’ve been a mess. Secret Master is an old friend of Lord Father, so he has decided to grant us asylum to help us weather our difficulties.”
Yes, spin, continue to spin your story!
Everyone cursed in their heart. The neutrals were surprised, the rebels had heavy hearts, and the loyalists were enraged.
The Secret Master took in everybody’s expressions before coldly speaking. “The situation is as thus. Gorutan and I have been partners for a long time, and I cannot just watch as his descendants split. I’ll temporarily take in the Beast Ancestor’s organization, and when the situation stabilizes, I’ll hand the rights back to you.”
F*ck your mom, what sympathy and what partners? Do you think we all have amnesia‽
Everyone gritted their teeth.
The Secret Master did not have an organization of the Black Star Army’s scale, so the warriors under the command of the Beast Ancestor were one of the resources he wished to gain.
Because he was not a direct enemy like Black Star, he would not need to worry about the issue of them taking revenge. Furthermore, he was also a patron of the Galactic Black Market, so it was more reasonable for him to receive the Beast Ancestor’s organization. His own organization already consisted of many mixed forces, belonging to the gray side, so there was no need to worry about suffering from indigestion from being unable to digest the Beast Ancestor’s troops.
This was merely an excuse for the Secret Master to embezzle the power of the Beast Ancestor, but even if the loyalists were angry, they dared not stand up against it.
The Secret Master had already spoken.
If you still do not know what’s good for you, then you won’t even have time to regret if this pinnacle Beyond Grade A here destroys you.
Thus, no one retorted after the Secret Master finished speaking, as though they all silently agreed.
At this moment, Schneider slowly stood up, attracting the eyes of everyone present, including the Secret Master.
He took a deep breath before speaking in a respectful tone.
“Many thanks to Your Excellency Secret Master for your generosity. Your asylum is something we urgently need, and I agree that you have to take over Lord Father’s organization for the time being.”
“Hmm, not bad.”
Secret Master nodded, feeling that this kid was on the right path.
However, this impression was destroyed by Schneider’s next sentence. “However, I’ve already grown tired of this kind of life, and I don’t wish to continue fighting in the universe. Now, I just wish to live the life of an ordinary person. Your Excellency, I’m not going against you, but everyone has their own ambitions. Please allow me to retire.”
Secret Master did not think much about it, replying, “You’re blessed with a Calamity Grade level combat power. To retire just like that would be a pity. I hope you will continue to find the passion in your current post. I’m optimistic about you, so don’t talk about resigning anymore. Sit down.”
Schneider gritted his teeth before mustering up the courage to speak again. “Your Excellency Secret Master. I wish to take a period of leave. My sister has defected to the Black Star Army, and I wish to tell her not to worry about things back home.”
Once this sentence was spoken, it could be considered as stating his stand. He implied that he did not wish to work under Secret Master but rather wished to lean toward Black Star.
Secret Master narrowed his eyes and stared at him. The pressure within the room got steadily stronger.
Only when Schneider started to sweat did Secret Master finally reply.
“I feel that there’s no need for that. When I formally take over, the universe will naturally receive the news. There’s no need to take unnecessary steps.”
Hearing this, Schneider as well as the people in the rebel factions all sighed in their hearts.
The attitude of Secret Master was clear. Even if he knew that they wanted to go over to Black Star, he still chose to detain everyone, not allowing any officers to leave in order to control them.
“Ha…” Schneider sighed before sitting down, an expression of regret on his face.
If he had known of this development, he would have acted more aggressively and taken action with Jotina. He was a step late.
The faces of the rebels were ugly, and their current emotions could be described as ‘being there in body but not in spirit’.
…
Secret Master publicly placed a magical imprint on all the officers to monitor their actions before speaking in a high-handed manner, emphasizing how deep his relationship was with Gorutan, and after spending so much time together, how they were practically brothers.
The crowd secretly rolled their eyes as they listened to the bullsh*t Secret Master was spouting. When the end of the meeting was announced, they could not wait to get up and leave the room, as though they were fleeing.
Soon, there were only two people left in the conference room. Byram came up to the Secret Master and smiled.
“Your Excellency Secret Master, congratulations on absorbing the troops of the Beast Ancestor.”
“This is only the first step. The Beast Ancestor still has many other camps and Star Fields.”
“I understand, but most of the people he has brought over to the Flickering World are important officers, and since you’re controlling them, you’re basically controlling almost half of the Beastman Organization.”
“Hmm. Anyways, you’ve done a good job. When this matter comes to an end, I’ll definitely reward you for your achievements.” The Secret Master nodded.
Hearing this, Byram’s smile grew wider.
After Jotina defected, Byram also decided to find a way out. It happened that Secret Master was also plotting on taking over the Beast Ancestor’s army, so both sides started communicating with each other and hit it off. Byram thus decided to assist the Secret Master.
The reason he did not choose Black Star was partly because the loyalist faction would never agree to submit under Black Star. Also, if he presented such a gift to their enemy, when news got out, his reputation would be ruined. Considering both factors, it was better to work with Secret Master instead.
Byram walked away in excitement, and after sending him off, Secret Master’s lips curled up in a sneer.
“Humph, merely a person who goes whichever way the wind blows.”
Shaking his head, Secret Master took out his communicator to contact Sorokin.
After three rings, the call was connected. Sorokin’s visage appeared on the screen, carrying a meaningful smile.
“Your Excellency Secret Master, have you managed to absorb the Beast Ancestor’s troops?”
“The initial steps are done.” Secret Master nodded. “However, it seems like Black Star has already stepped in. There are people who wish to defect to him…”
Sorokin smiled in response. “Relax, Black Star’s commanders are plentiful like the clouds, and he definitely will not target the Beast Ancestor’s troops so desperately. Anyway, there’s no reason not to be afraid to offend him. If you still feel unsafe, after absorbing the troops, just give Black Star suitable compensation, and he will not pursue this further.”
“Let’s talk about this when it comes.” Secret Master did not agree or disagree.
He was a mature person and wished to befriend Black Star. However, he also wished to obtain the Beast Ancestor’s troops, seemingly wanting to have his cake and eat it too. Since Black Star was not hard up for these people, he was not picking someone else’s fruits.
Sorokin paused for a moment before changing the topic. “So, about my suggestion, what are your thoughts?”
Secret Master narrowed his eyes. “You wish to use the position of shareholder in the Limitless Financial Group that was vacated by Galactic Black Market in exchange for the position of Protector of the Galactic Black Market. This idea is not bad at all.”
“Hehe, I’m a businessman and will only talk about business. Since Gorutan has fallen, I’ll require a new partner.” Sorokin smiled faintly.
During the time he worked with Gorutan, Sorokin had already penetrated many different industries within the Galactic Black Market. If he had the identity of a Protector, he would be able to officially open a business within the Galactic Black Market and could incorporate the entire Galactic Black Market into the business empire of his Limitless Financial Group. This was a huge profit that was simply incalculable!
Even Sorokin who sat on astronomical assets could not help but move!
Thus, no too long ago, he had gotten in touch with the Secret Master and proposed a deal in which the wolf would be besieged and annihilated—the original shareholder position would be handed over to the Secret Master, while the other party would aid him in obtaining the status of Protector in the Galactic Black Market.
After he proposed this transaction, Secret Master did not immediately reject him, but he did not agree either.
From the perspective of Secret Master, without Gorutan, he would be able to gobble up more shares of the Galactic Black Market. If he introduced a financial giant like Sorokin, it would be equivalent to attracting a wolf into the room. After all, no one knew what Sorokin intended to do.
However, if he exchanged it with the identity of a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group, this would involve more legitimate businesses, and his profits would also increase. Thus came the Secret Master’s dilemma.
Hearing Sorokin bring this up again, Secret Master snorted.
“I’ll be honest, although the condition to become a Protector is to be a Beyond Grade A, with your strength, it seems hard for you to obtain the identity.”
Sorokin smiled mysteriously. “Wouldn’t this be better for you?”
Secret Master remained silent. It seemed as though he agreed with the statement.
He pondered for a while before speaking. “I can try to help you deal with and persuade the other two Protectors, as well as the administrators…”
Sorokin’s eyes lit up, knowing that this was the start to their partnership. His smile grew wide.
“Many thanks to Your Excellency Secret Master. I’ll keep the vacant seat of shareholder for the Limitless Financial Group open for you.”
“Hmm.” Secret Master answered indifferently before hanging up.
1066 Concession from the dynasty, the Universe Celebrates
The sound of machinery being assembled reverberated in the private workshop, and the flashing Mechanical Force was like flexible blue tentacles, manipulating the robotic arms to create a totally new King mechanical suit.
Han Xiao was fully absorbed, watching the details of the mechanical suit in his hands step by step.
When the last piece of outer armor plate was attached to the chest area of the King, his interface pinged as a notification appeared.
_____________________
You have built a Gold Grade equipment (Universal Treasure).
_____________________
“Huu…”
Han Xiao’s tense expression finally eased up, and he slowly exhaled.
This was the second Gold-grade mechanical suit of the King. With his successful experience from the last time as well as the bonuses granted by [Universal Treasure Creator] and [Spirit Instrument], he still had to attempt it five times before succeeding. Still, that was much better than his previous attempt.
Han Xiao intended to pass this second mechanical suit to Hila. While this was exclusive equipment for Mechanics and Hila could not enjoy the bonuses attached, Han Xiao only wanted to utilize its transmission function to provide a safety guarantee for Hila.
Moreover, he was not intending to stop at two. Han Xiao had to create a few spare sets for himself and maybe also one set for Ames. The manufacturing time was not the limiting factor now. Rather, the cost was.
The King was equivalent to the cost of an entire fleet, and if it did not reach the Gold Grade, it would be a huge loss. He currently could not guarantee that he could churn out a Universal Treasure Grade each time and would inevitably waste a lot of Enaus. Even if the Black Star Army was rich and powerful, the cost pained him.
Han Xiao could not help but sigh. “As a Mechanic, you can’t not know how to make money.”
He glanced at the Attribute Panel. Because it was his second time creating the King, the [Spirit Instrument] did not award him with new God’s Trait Transformation points, nor did it unlock a new layer of bonuses for him. There was only the benefit of a reallocation for his Attribute Points.
Furthermore, due to it being the same blueprint, the efficiency of attribute point reallocation had also decreased, from the previous 200 points to 160 points. It was a pity his Luck did not get reallocated this time, but he received a reallocation from his Charisma, which was not too bad. Anyway, he had always been shameless… He did not care about his face.
The 160 Free Attribute Points were put on standby, and Han Xiao stuffed the second King into a maintenance box for mechanical suits, sending a random mechanical soldier to give it to Hila.
It was worth mentioning that this special maintenance box was already Orange Grade equipment, which served to nurture the mechanical suit. Placing a mechanical suit inside it for a long time would improve a certain basic attribute of the mechanical suit. As a pinnacle Beyond Grade A Mechanic, everything that Han Xiao used was only the best.
After completing all his work, Han Xiao rubbed his eyes and stretched his waist. He did not have anything to do in camp, and other than dealing with daily tasks, he was only in the workshop repairing his Apostle Weapons and building Universal Treasures.
“Time to relax. I shall go and watch the others play cards.”
Just as Han Xiao was about to walk about, his communicator rang. The indicator showed that it was a call from a high ranking official of the Crimson Dynasty.
“The dynasty is finally willing to contact me. Have they finally come to a conclusion on how to deal with me?”
Han Xiao’s eyes flashed, and he accepted the call. A remote projection of a high-ranking official appeared. This was the person-in-charge of contacting Han Xiao, so he was already familiar with them.
“Your Excellency Black Star.” The official nodded. “It’s been a long time.”
“Good day to you too.” Han Xiao nodded, and he asked as if unaware, “What do you have for me?”
“Heh, I know you like things to be handed directly, so I shall not waste your time. The dynasty’s upper echelons are planning to release a plan related to you, and I would like to obtain your opinions and negotiate.”
“What sort of plan?”
“The dynasty intends to temporarily open the sales of the Evolutionary Totem to the universe, no longer limiting it to her allies. However, because the Evolution Cube is its energy source and it’s in your hands, the dynasty wants to know your attitude toward this matter.” The official smiled.
Han Xiao’s heart skipped a beat, and an expression of joy spread across his face.
While he knew that there was this probability, having it confirmed gave him a lot of excitement.
All the while, the Crimson Dynasty had controlled the sales channels of the Evolutionary Totem and did not allow it to enter the free market, only allowing her allies to purchase it. This was an agreement between Han Xiao and the dynasty. If these restrictions were lifted, every civilization in the universe would become his customer, which would bring him immense profits.
Furthermore, this was not a one-off sale. The Evolutionary Totem could run for up to twenty years, after which it had to be recharged with the Evolution Cube, just like refueling it. Thus, the subsequent maintenance costs could be considered a steady stream of huge benefits, which was like a business opportunity of endless profits.
The Crimson Dynasty had jammed the rights to publicly sell the Evolutionary Totem, wishing to control this income. The only way to do that was to get the Evolution Cube from Han Xiao, as it was unwilling to allow a non-direct ally to control such an important strategic treasure. Thus, both sides had been wrangling over this issue, and their relationship had soured.
Now, the dynasty was finally willing to open up the purchase channels of the Evolutionary Totem and finally made a concession, taking the initiative to ease the relationship between both sides. The reason behind their action was no doubt due to the influence of Black Star’s Godlike Battle. They were thus willing to temporarily hand over the huge profits to Han Xiao.
While excited, Han Xiao still caught a key point. “Temporarily? So, how long would that be?”
The official shook his head. “I don’t know about such exact details. Even the upper echelons probably have not set a date.”
That meant, the moment he did something wrong, this could all end…
Han Xiao knew that the dynasty’s move was not only a win-win situation but also an indirect method of control. The moment he got used to the huge gains or the rapid expansion, or when his army could no longer separate itself from the capital flow brought about by this business, the dynasty would have a new way to manipulate him. He also understood this point. After all, the dynasty was a Universal Civilization and would never allow themselves to back off. Now that they were willing to make concessions and show respect, it was good enough for him.
“Alright, I have no objections. When do we begin?” Han Xiao agreed.
“The duration has yet to be determined, but the duration it takes to implement this should take about half a year to a year to prepare. However, within the time of three days to half a month, this decree will be announced to the universe, so we have to quickly agree to a benefits distribution plan,” the dynasty official stated.
Because the previous cooperation mainly dealt with the dynasty and her allies, there were many preferential discounts. For the sales to the rest of the universe, be it Han Xiao or the dynasty, both wished to inflate the price significantly to fleece the outsiders. Therefore, distribution plans had to be reformulated.
Han Xiao thought for a while before replying. “In that case… I’ll have the business team under me contact you directly, and we shall strive to negotiate a suitable result as soon as possible.”
The Germinal Financial Group under the army had raised a group of business negotiation experts, who could come in handy regarding this matter. Furthermore, he had Iapetus, who was an executive of the financial group and a master in this field.
Because he was holding onto the Evolution Cube, the majority of profits would belong to him, but the dynasty still had to obtain a cut. After all, it had helped to bear the pressure for so long, so he could not act as though they had done nothing. Moreover, the Crimson Dynasty would still provide him assistance in logistics, transportation, and the supply of raw materials in the future. After all, the market of the entire universe was too huge, and the current Black Star Army could not cover the entire universe alone.
Both parties discussed a little more before they hung up. The moment Han Xiao thought of how the army was about to obtain a huge profit channel with a steady stream of money, his good mood took a turn for the better.
Suddenly, a past thought flashed across his mind, and Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed as a ridiculing smile surfaced.
“The moment the Crimson Dynasty announces this decree, I can go to the Limitless Financial Group… Heh, you thought that by taking back your commercial suppression on me, everything would go back to normal? How could there be such a good thing in this world!”
…
In the Emerald Star Cluster, within an actual combat training ground of the Beast Ancestor’s stronghold…
Boom!
The fist with fingers curled up like the claws of a leopard was entwined in a black energy glow, and it directly connected with the abdomen of a body. The skin and muscles ripped in a ring due to the tremendous force, and the resulting shock wave blew the target away like a cannonball, hitting the wall of the training ground heavily with a bang.
Schneider withdrew his fist, and the toxic energy circling him also faded. He indifferently said, “Let’s stop here.”
He did not even look at his opponent from the loyalist faction, who had challenged him to a spar but gotten easily defeated. He only picked up the windbreaker he threw to the side before walking out of the training ground.
Ordinarily, Schneider would not even bother to respond to the challenges of others, but right now, he was in a bad mood and was venting his frustrations.
Schneider lamented the fact that everyone was now controlled by the Secret Master and forbidden to leave the stronghold.
Beep beep!
At this moment, his communicator rang. He saw that it was a call from his elder sister Jotina.
The moment he connected, Jotina yelled in dissatisfaction, “When I invited you to leave the Beast Ancestor Organization together, you said to wait and see. Now, even after so long, you haven’t brought your team and left yet‽ What’s going on‽”
Schneider revealed an expression of resignation, and he softly replied, “Big Sis, it’s not that I don’t wish to leave. There’s been a small incident.”
“What incident?” Jotina frowned.
“It’s His Excellency Secret Master…” Schneider hesitated upon recalling the imprint that Secret Master put on them, but he resolutely decided to speak the truth. “He has expressed his intention to help manage the Beast Ancestor’s troops, and make us work for him. Now, none of us can leave the stronghold, and I’ve also been trapped.”
Jotina was furious as she expected better from him. “I told you to leave sooner, but you just refused to listen. Now look what happened! You’re useless! A shame to me!”
She ranted on and on, and Schneider could only mutely accept her cursing.
Because the rebel faction’s source of hatred was based on the miserable experiences of their birth mothers, they appeared far more humane compared to the other two factions. There was a true brother-sister bond within the people of the faction, and it was the case for Schneider and Jotina. They had grown up together, and Schneider had been afraid of her since he was a child.
Jotina continued to curse for a while before finally holding back when she saw Schneider’s sullen look. She asked, “If you’re unwilling to work under Secret Master, you should find a chance to escape.”
Schneider shook his head and sighed. “The Secret Master has already said that escaping without authorization will be regarded as betrayal, and he has also left a magical imprint on us. Even if we could escape, how could we outrun a Beyond Grade A?”
Toward the siblings that she recognized, Jotina had a soft heart and could not bear to see Schneider’s plight. After struggling for a while, she suddenly said, “Are you willing to join the Black Star Army?”
“Of course, but there’s no more chance for me now.” Schneider sighed.
Hearing this, Jotina gritted her teeth. “Don’t lose hope yet. I’ll go and beg the Army Commander for help!”
After she spoke, she did not even wait for Schneider to reply, immediately hanging up.
Schneider held onto the communicator with the busy dial tone, a helpless expression on his face.
“Beg Black Star for help? How is that possible/”
He sighed, not holding any hope at all.
Just thinking about it, as people previously under the flag of the Beast Ancestor, defectors at that, why would Black Star offend another pinnacle Beyond Grade A for Calamity Grades like them?
…
The former palace of the Beast Ancestor was now converted to a resting place for Secret Master.
Gorutan’s huge throne had been placed in the Secret Master’s alchemy storage bottle as a war prize, and he had replaced Gorutan’s seat with his own throne.
At this moment, Secret Master sat on the throne, browsing the information regarding the officers in the organization, whilst Byram stood at the side, ready to answer a question if needed.
His communicator rang, and when Secret Master glanced at it, his facial expression turned solemn.
His expression as though he had met with a life-threatening situation stunned Byram, and he secretly began guessing who was on the line to cause the Secret Master to show such a drastic expression.
At this moment, Secret Master waved his hand and coldly remarked, “Leave.”
Hearing that, Byram could only bid his farewell in resignation and leave despite his curiosity. While he considered himself the new confidant of the Secret Master, he did not dare step beyond the rules.
When he was left alone in the room, Secret Master connected to the communication channel with a solemn expression.
“Black Star, what are you calling for?”
Han Xiao’s hearty laughter came from the communicator.
“Hahaha, Secret Master, you seem to be a little nervous.”
“You’re thinking too much.”
Secret Master’s brain was overclocking at the moment. While he wished to befriend Black Star, he could not help having a somewhat guilty conscience.
Han Xiao smiled. “While we had a conflict on the issue of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, the matter has been resolved. Furthermore, there’s no enmity between us. If we must say, I also gave you quite a big boon.”
“What boon did you provide?”
“You still need to ask? It’s the Beast Ancestor. Didn’t you warn me the other time so that I would get rid of Gorutan? Both of you were Protectors, so there would definitely have been a conflict of interest. Helping you get rid of him means that you can take over his markets. Isn’t that doing you a favor?”
“Indeed, you have indirectly helped me.” Secret Master did not refute it.
“Since I’ve helped you, you can help me with a favor that I require now.” Han Xiao blinked before saying in a meaningful tone, “I heard that you’ve taken over the Beast Ancestor’s troops. Don’t worry, I’m not interested in them. As a twisted melon will never be sweet, I leave it to you to handle them. However, it seems like there are a few who wish to defect. I’d like you not to restrict those who wish to defect to me.”
Secret Master’s eyes changed slightly. He was a little unwilling to part with these Calamity Grade officers just like that.
Furthermore, if he chose to give such a concession, there would definitely be other officers who used defecting over to Black Star as an excuse. At that time, should he let them go as well? In this way, his gains from taking over the Beast Ancestor’s organization would be reduced substantially, and many of the Calamity Grade talents would also be lost.
But since Black Star had called, it meant that he knew of him detaining the Beastmen. If he did not agree, he would end up offending Black Star, and with the latter’s current tough stance, it might result in conflicts. He still wished to befriend Black Star, but he was not willing to lose too much for it.
While he found it a pity in his heart, Secret Master did not hesitate much. He was not willing to offend Black Star for a few Calamity Grades. “Alright, I’ll only release those who wish to defect to you.”
“That’s great!” Han Xiao burst out into a genuine laugh.
The two of them suppressed their inner emotions, pretending to be good friends and brothers, chatting for a while more before hanging up.
The moment he put down the communicator, Secret Master’s expression collapsed. He summoned Byram and ordered, “Bring Schneider’s group over.”
Byram was a little confused, but he did as he was told.
Very quickly, Schneider and the rebels were gathered in the palace, staring at Secret Master on the throne with a complicated, helpless, and unhappy expression.
Secret Master was expressionless. “Who here wishes to defect to the Black Star Army?”
A commotion occurred in the crowd. Everyone looked at each other. What was Secret Master trying to do?
Could this be a test, to kill the chickens in an attempt to warn the monkeys, in order to ward off further rebellious thoughts?
Everyone suddenly turned vigilant, feeling that they had stumbled onto the truth, and rushed to show their loyalty.
“How could that be? We’re willing to accept the protection of Secret Master.”
“We’re all siblings and can communicate easily. I love this place so much, so how could I defect elsewhere?”
Seeing this scene, Secret Master only felt a growing headache.
If it was someone, he could use their current words as an excuse to give a perfunctory response, but Secret Master did not intend to play any tricks on Black Star, so he was currently a little depressed.
The current situation could be described as akin to a drama.
Underlings: “Secret Master Father, we really do not wish to go to Black Star.”
Secret Master: “No, think about it again. Quickly scram to acknowledge your true father.”
Taking a deep breath, Secret Master regained his calmness. A surge of momentum was released from him, and he solemnly said, “Less bullsh*t. Those who wish to defect to Black Star, I will not stop you, nor am I toying with you. Those who wish to leave, hurry up and scram.”
Those people who were still professing their loyalty suddenly felt an irresistible pressure and discovered that the Secret Master was not trying to test them. They all stopped in their tracks, stunned.
What’s the matter? Didn’t you restrict everyone a while ago. Why are you suddenly freeing us?
Is Secret Master that fickle?
Byram’s eyes flickered, and he thought about the call that Secret Master had received previously. He came to the conclusion that it was likely Black Star.
To actually sway Secret Master with just a few words, could it be that Secret Master was that afraid of Black Star?
Byram was secretly surprised.
Within the crowd, Schneider suddenly thought of his call with Jotina two hours ago.
“It can’t be wrong. Black Star must have played a part in this, or else there’s no other way to explain it…”
He discovered that Secret Master’s expression was quite ugly, as though he was unwilling to do so.
In Schneider’s view, Jotina had just joined the Black Star Army, and she could not have much sway. For Black Star to help her so unhesitatingly, it had to be because he placed some importance in them.
While he did not know if his conjecture was right, Schneider could not help but feel moved, and he had the urge to even die for Black Star.
It seems like Jotina’s right. Black Star is indeed a worthy figure to defect to.
…
Because it was a private deal, the departure of Schneider and the rest did not cause any waves.
It was only seven to eight days later, when the government of the Crimson Dynasty issued a decree without warning, that the entire universe suddenly erupted!
The content of the decree was simple. The dynasty had decided to open up the right to purchase Evolutionary Totems to the entire universe, starting in one year!
The fight between the three Universal Civilizations for the Evolutionary Totem was not a matter that had happened a day or two ago. Thus, when this news was released, it caused massive waves and an uproar. Countless civilizations went crazy.
The dynasty had finally thought it through!
The entire universe, however, knew that the Crimson Dynasty would not make such a move without any motives behind them. For them to come out with such a decision, it likely had to do with the recent matters.
And everyone knew that the recent major matter at the universe-level was Black Star’s Godlike Battle!
Everyone understood the cause and effect of the two events.
Being shocked by Black Star’s record, the dynasty had finally compromised and actively given in, allowing Black Star to control the Evolutionary Totem business with his Evolution Cube!
A Universal Civilization, especially a stubborn boss such as the Crimson Dynasty, actually compromised for a Beyond Grade A!
When had this last happened‽
When they figured this out, the countless Galactic Civilizations and residents were shocked beyond words.
But on the other hand, the Arcane Church and the Federation of Light were delighted.
By showing his prestige, Black Star had moved the Crimson Dynasty to open up the Evolutionary Totem sales. For this reason, it was worthwhile for them to have lost a few Beyond Grade As.
We were walking on the wrong path all along!
If they had known that putting pressure of the dynasty would not be of use, they would have just sent a bunch of people over to Black Star, allowing him to rack up an incredible battle record. Then, they would have gotten their desires that much earlier!
The dynasty’s decree set off a wave of public opinion across the universe, further skyrocketing Han Xiao’s records and personal prestige. He alone now overwhelmed the rays given off by all Beyond Grade As.
While the news and rumors were spreading like wildfire throughout the universe, the Limitless Financial Group’s branch within the Flickering World welcomed an unexpected guest.
1067 An Offer You Can“t Refuse
There were many tall buildings located at the center of the planet’s capital city. One of the buildings stood out from the rest, towering into the clouds, and its structure was akin to the double helix structure of a gene sequence. The outer wall of the building was pure white, and its corners would occasionally flash with blue lights. It exuded a sense of technological advancement and art.
At the top of the building, there were eight anti-gravity suspensions holding up a helipad, similar to a floating island, shielding the ‘∞’ shaped signboard in the middle. It was the emblem of the Limitless Financial Group. This was a subdivision of the Limitless Financial Group. Unlike armed forces, unless there were special circumstances, commercial organizations would not build bases everywhere like the warlords.
A small aircraft from the atmosphere slowly descended on the helipad of the Limitless Financial Group branch. Han Xiao got out of the cabin, stepping onto the platform.
“Welcome, Your Excellency Black Star.”
Not far away, the receptionist who had been waiting for a long time quickly came up to greet him. Black Star had notified the Limitless Financial Group of his impending visit. Thus, they had arranged for a receptionist to guide him.
Han Xiao hummed in response, his face remaining expressionless. “Where’s Sorokin?”
“His Excellency Sorokin is already awaiting you in the reception room. Please follow me.”
The reception staff respectfully responded, leading the way.
Han Xiao followed him into the subdivision of the Limitless Financial Group, taking a private elevator to a certain floor.
When the elevator doors opened, a spacious area came into view. In the center of the room was a sofa and a table, and the four corners of the room were surrounded by exotic blue and green plants. The walls were completely made up of floor-to-ceiling windows. No other furniture was present, as though this entire floor was only used as a reception room.
Sorokin sat on the sofa, waiting. As Han Xiao approached, he stood up with a smile on his face. “Your Excellency Black Star, please have a seat.”
The elevator doors then closed, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Han Xiao sat down opposite Sorokin, and only then did Sorokin return to his seat. He smiled. “What a rare visitor. When you spoke of visiting me, I still didn’t dare believe it. For someone as busy as you, why would you suddenly come over to my place?”
“Why, am I not welcome?” Han Xiao tilted his head.
“Haha, you must be joking. Of course, I welcome you.” Sorokin maintained his smile, but he was secretly sizing up Han Xiao. It was a pity that he failed to notice anything.
On the surface, he put on a warm and hospitable look, but Sorokin was full of suspicion and doubt in his heart, speculating about Black Star’s intention to visit.
Recently, the rumors of the dynasty’s concession to Black Star had spread madly. Sorokin had naturally heard about it. Although he was surprised, there was no shock, as he had already anticipated this would happen the moment Han Xiao repelled the others in the rescue of Hila. His surprise came more from the fact that the dynasty really did concede.
Right now, Black Star was extremely popular within the universe. For this guy to suddenly run over at this juncture, he most likely had some scheme prepared. Could it be that he wished to cooperate on the issue of the Evolutionary Totem?
It was unlikely, and the dynasty also had no reason to let outsiders intervene. Furthermore, the Limitless Financial Group and the Black Star Army had been having commercial struggles for so many years. Even though both sides never mentioned it, they definitely remembered it in their hearts.
Sorokin was thus very vigilant at this point.
Han Xiao’s behavior was very relaxed, as though he had come to reminisce about the past. He softly smiled. “This is the first time I’ve come to visit you, and it’s very prosperous. It seems that the Limitless Financial Group has developed very well in the Flickering World.”
“This is all thanks to the business partners.” Sorokin picked up the liquor bottle on the table, opening it before pouring a glass for Han Xiao.
“Wow, good wine. This seems to be a high-end product from the federation, only given to select people.” Han Xiao raised the glass, swirling the amber liquid within and hearing the pleasant clink of ice cubes. He casually said, “Speaking of which, we can also be considered business partners in certain territories.”
“That’s right.” Sorokin nodded.
Han Xiao did not get straight to the point but rather spoke about routine matters first. Thus, Sorokin could not tell his intentions and could only follow alongside the conversation.
After taking a sip of the liquor, appreciating the mellow taste as it flowed down his throat, Han Xiao savored the aftertaste as he smacked his lips. He then sighed.
“Sigh, even to this day, I still regret that I almost became a closer partner of the Limitless Financial Group. Unfortunately, you chose Bloodshed Land instead.”
“Hehe, the matters of business have always been inaccurate. Compared to the Black Star Army, which has already matured and formed its system, the Limitless Financial Group is more willing to invest in a force that has huge potential but is unable to realize it. It’s not that the Black Star Army is lacking but rather that the Bloodshed Land needs us more. I find it truly pitiful as well that our cooperation could not be reached.”
Sorokin gave a long and passionate monologue but grumbled in his heart.
He had invested in Bloodshed Land mainly to support them in going against Black Star Army in the commercial sector, robbing the army’s businesses. Black Star had no reason not to know this, so bringing the partnership up but not mentioning the commercial battle, Black Star likely had something up his sleeve.
Let me try playing nice and see what he’s up to, Sorokin thought.
At this moment, Han Xiao suddenly raised his head, smiling as he spoke. “In fact, this is what I came for today. Today is different from the past, so I would like to represent the army and provide an opportunity to cooperate with the Limitless Financial Group.”
Hearing this, Sorokin narrowed his eyes as he quickly calculated. He suddenly came to a realization.
I understand, so it turns out that Black Star had such an intention.
After the Evolutionary Totems were released to the world, the Limitless Financial Group need not continue to put pressure on the Black Star Army’s business any longer. The obstacles between them both had been cleared, and business cooperation could now be carried out normally. With the Limitless Financial Group’s size and the Black Star Army’s prestige, if they cooperated, it was indeed a win-win situation, mutually benefiting both parties.
For this reason, Black Star no longer pursued the conflict of interest from the past twenty years and took the initiative to talk about cooperation.
This mentality of abandoning former grudges and making money together was very suited to Sorokin’s taste. He thought that he had already guessed Han Xiao’s intentions and relaxed. The smile on his face was no longer just for show but rather a genuine smile.
“Your Excellency Black Star, your suggestion is exactly what I was thinking. Right now, there are plenty of opportunities to shine with the Flickering World. If the two of us work together, we’ll be invincible and occupy the bulk of the market in the Flickering World!”
“Since Your Excellency Sorokin also thinks that way, things will be easy!” Han Xiao slapped his thigh. “Then, let’s decide on the date for me to officially become a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group.”
The next moment, the air within the room instantly solidified.
Sorokin’s smile froze on his face.
What, shareholder position? Weren’t we talking about normal business cooperation? How did we get to this part?
Seeing the playful look in Han Xiao’s eyes, Sorokin’s heart thumped violently. He began to realize that he had mistaken Han Xiao’s intentions.
“Your Excellency Black Star, forgive me if I’m being too offensive, but the cooperation you’re suggesting is…”
“The opportunity that I’m providing to cooperate with the Limitless Financial Group is to allow me to be a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group. Didn’t you just happen to have a vacant position?” Han Xiao smiled meaningfully. This was his true intention.
Sorokin’s eyes narrowed, finally confirming that Han Xiao did not come with good intentions.
Taking advantage of the fact that Gorutan’s position was now vacant, Black Star wished to replace him? Did he think that the shareholder position was some trophy that he could claim? Whether he could take it or not, only Sorokin could make the decision!
For this empty shareholder position, Sorokin had already formulated a detailed strategy to allow him to break into the galactic black market. The position was a bargaining chip used for trading with Secret Master, so he would naturally not give this position to others. This was related to the blueprint of his business empire in his heart, and being a Protector of the Galactic Black Market was a critical step, with no margin for error allowed.
Sorokin’s smile faded, and he carefully said, “Then I’m truly sorry. While Gorutan indeed suffered from an accident, since he’s still alive, he can still be considered a shareholder. Even if he died, his shares would be transferred to the financial group to await withdrawal. I have no intentions of establishing any new shareholders for the time being. If you wish to discuss any other sort of cooperation, I’ll be happy to accompany you, but the shareholder position is off limits.”
Han Xiao did not take it to heart, only smiling. “If I didn’t remember wrongly, this is the second time you have rejected my request to be a shareholder.”
Hearing this, Sorokin remembered, and it seemed like Black Star had mentioned the same time once when they first met more than twenty years ago.
“That’s right, I rejected you at that time. Today, the answer is still the same,” Sorokin indifferently replied. “The Limitless Financial Group’s foundations are huge, and any change in its shareholders have to go through the consent of all other shareholders. At the same time, the three Universal Civilizations each only have one shareholder within the Limitless Financial Group, to ensure check and balance. Right now, with Kant among the shareholders, the federation and the church will not allow another ally of the dynasty to enter this circle.”
Han Xiao blinked, before speaking in a knowing tone, “Sorokin, twenty years have passed, and times have changed now. I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
“Oh?”
“Haha, firstly, regarding consent of all shareholders… do you think the others will support or reject me?”
Sorokin was taken aback for a moment, and his brows then wrinkled sharply.
He suddenly discovered that for Black Star, this issue no longer posed any problem.
Black Star was no longer what he used to be, and his position in the universe far exceeded that of twenty years ago. He was also responsible for building a shared battlefront for the Beyond Grade As. Based on this alone, he would be able to obtain the support of both Manison and Kasuyi. Kant, as a fellow ally, was even less likely to oppose him.
Sorokin suddenly had a bad feeling about this.
At this point, Han Xiao smiled and slowly said, “As for the checks and balances between the three Universal Civilizations… Do you think the federation and the church are more willing to allow another dynasty shareholder to appear, or do you think they value the Evolutionary Totems more? In other words, do you think they will openly oppose me at this moment?”
Laying out his cards!
This was the only thought running through Sorokin’s mind.
His expression also sank.
Since the dynasty had opened up the sale of Evolutionary Totems, temporarily dissolving the hostility between the federation and the church, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of this decree, and Federation and the church might turn into boot-lickers, not just to please the dynasty, but also to please Black Star who held the Evolution Cube.
Furthermore, Black Star had their allies as captives, and he had enough chips to force both civilizations to compromise. If he insisted on including the conditions of being a shareholder inside the redemption clause for the captives, then both the church and the federation would not stop him. In the end, Black Star would still become a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group!
At this moment, Sorokin suddenly noticed a detail he had ignored previously. Once the problem of the Evolutionary Totem was settled, he would obtain the benefits provided by the church and the federation as a result of completing the transaction, but he would also lose their protection at the same time.
This means that if Black Star wished to be a shareholder, he, as the head of the financial group, did not even have the veto power anymore!
Either he closed both eyes and allowed Black Star to become the shareholder, giving him an astronomical amount of dividends for nothing, or waited for the three Universal Civilizations to help Black Star sanction the Limitless Financial Group in the commercial field and force him to submit.
He could only say yes or yes!
Thinking to this point, Sorokin looked deeply at Han Xiao.
What an impeccable move, completely utilizing his influence. Could it be that Black Star had predicted such a point long ago?
Han Xiao only smiled, slowly savoring the liquor with a nonchalant expression, awaiting his answer.
Seeing this, Sorokin’s expression warped many times before he slowly spoke.
“Black Star, this hand of yours… was beautifully played.”
“Then, what will you choose?” Han Xiao playfully replied.
“… Do I have a choice?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao laughed, putting down the glass and stretching out his hand.
“Then… I wish us both a happy cooperation?”
Gazing at Han Xiao’s offered hand, Sorokin deeply breathed in, suppressing the feeling of having stepped into sh*t, and squeezed out a smile, gripping Han Xiao’s hand.
“Hope we have a pleasant cooperation.”
Seeing the derision in Han Xiao’s eyes, Sorokin almost could not hold back his urge to attack, but he quickly quenched the thought.
He recognized the reality. Since he could not resist, he could only take the lesser of two evils. Even if it meant carving out a piece of his flesh, he decisively promised and yielded to Han Xiao.
“Hmm?”
Han Xiao could clearly feel the killing intent released by Sorokin in that instant. It was as though he was faced with a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. The pressure was even stronger than Hila’s, and it was not possible to obtain such an aura without reaping the lives of millions if not billions.
This old fogey was indeed once a cold-blooded murderer…
However, Han Xiao did not put it to heart, smiling as he withdrew his hand. He knew that Sorokin was used to pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, only knowing how to bully the other party but not daring to take action.
After all these years, Han Xiao had sort of understood how Sorokin behaved, and he did not care one whit about his personal reputation at all.
If one took the initiative to attack, Sorokin would definitely pretend to lose and get himself beaten up, then make use of public opinion to add fuel and jealousy to let the whole universe know of your unreasonable attitude. It would lower his reputation, and the chance of obtaining the shareholder position would be forever lost. Even without the support from the federation and the church now, his identity as the head of the Limitless Financial Group was still a shield of sorts for him. After all, he did not belong to any random organization or a gray area but rather a legal galactic business. Using violence against such people would have huge repercussions, which will definitely appear in headlines.
Now that Han Xiao had gotten what he wanted, he stopped teasing Sorokin but wiped his smile off his face. “Since we have reached a consensus, please announce this to the universe as soon as possible. I won’t bother you any further.”
“Alright, have a nice trip back.” Sorokin reluctantly smiled, sending him off.
The moment Han Xiao left the room, Sorokin’s expression sank thoroughly.
He got wrecked this time!
This was not as simple as the shareholder changing from Gorutan to Black Star. It had also undermined Sorokin’s business strategy, causing him to miss the opportunity to enter the Galactic Black Market.
As a businessman, watching an important business opportunity slip through one’s fingers was a pain that could not be described in words.
Moreover, with Black Star guarding against him, he would not sincerely cooperate with the Limitless Financial Group. Thus, it would be difficult to obtain any benefit off this shareholder. He could only give Black Star the dividends in vain and maybe even need to deal with any potential backlash from Black Star’s end.
Just thinking about it made Sorokin upset.
For a long time, the Limitless Financial Group had been using commercial means to hinder the development of the Black Star Army and had only recently stopped their attacks. However, their circumstances were actually flipped over, to get suppressed by Han Xiao now.
Ka-cha!
The glass of liquor he was holding shattered, the shards falling all over the floor.
Sorokin however did not wipe his hands, allowing the amber liquid to drip between his fingers.
His expression was ugly as he muttered, “I hate these Beyond Grade As…”
1068 Extortion
“I’ve hit at a good time. Sorokin has finally compromised…”
By his estimation, there was a seventy-percent chance of the negotiation succeeding. Even if he had the right time and place, he dared not speak with absolute certainty that Sorokin would yield to him.
Fortunately, his judgment of Sorokin’s character was not wrong, and the final result was favorable to him.
If it was another Beyond Grade A with a temper, they would most likely have fought. However, Sorokin was good at enduring, and it was probably not the first time he had dealt with such matters. After weighing the benefits and costs, he immediately chose to compromise.
“Speaking of which, Sorokin is so shy about showing his strength. There must be a lot of factors within…”
Han Xiao stroked his chin as he pondered.
This guy was not like the other Beyond Grade As, who relied on their own personal power to influence their organization’s development. He had almost no record worth mentioning, and his business was run through the normal and legal way.
The advanced civilizations had always been alert to any non-allied Beyond Grade A organizations. As the top financial group in the universe, the stronger their power, the more jealousy they would attract. Commercial organizations were not armed forces and had their own set of industry rules to follow. The moment they were targeted by the three Universal Civilizations, it would be hard for the financial group to maintain stable footing. If Sorokin decided to retaliate, others would know that he had been hiding his strength, and the civilizations’ fear would increase.
This was only one of the reasons. Han Xiao still remembered some of the information displayed about Sorokin on his interface. This guy had probably changed his skin many times and had been living in the universe with different identities.
But no matter how many times Sorokin changed his skin, his ability would not change, so he avoided any form of conflict so as not to be recognized. Maybe he had committed some huge offense, so he deliberately kept his name incognito.
“This guy is full of mystery.” Han Xiao shook his head. This was all speculation, and maybe Sorokin had another reason to do so.
No matter what those secrets were, he had squashed Sorokin this time and avenged the suppression he had suffered over the past two decades.
Shareholders would receive huge dividends from the Limitless Financial Group every year. This was no small amount, and while it was not too huge of a loss to Sorokin, Han Xiao could finally obtain some interest.
Under normal circumstances, such huge dividends would not be taken for free. Every shareholder position given by the Limitless Financial Group was coveted, and they would form another business cooperation with the Beyond Grade A organizations, mutually benefitting both parties.
But Han Xiao naturally would not allow the Limitless Financial Group to partake in the army’s business channels, otherwise it would just be a gift to Sorokin. He had made up his mind to only take the money and do nothing, just like a dog in the manger, deliberately creating trouble for Sorokin.
“The Evolutionary Totem is being released to the universe, and I’ll also obtain the shareholder position of the Limitless Financial Group. With these two sources of income, the abundant funds are enough to support the continued expansion of the army. The stock price of the Germinal Financial Group will also skyrocket.”
Han Xiao was overjoyed. He took out his communicator to send messages to the contact points of the three Universal Civilizations.
It was only the initial step for him and Sorokin to come to a consensus. He still had to file it with the three Universal Civilizations regarding this matter for their support. Because of the Evolutionary Totems, this was not a difficult task.
After sending out the news, Han Xiao let out a deep breath.
Once the dynasty, federation, and church had all expressed their opinions, Sorokin also folded, which meant that the follow-up affairs of Black Star’s Godlike Battle had almost come to an end. There was nothing left to do except to take care of Traveler and the Super Star Cluster Civilization behind him.
Traveler had already hidden himself, but Han Xiao knew which Super Star Cluster Civilization he belonged to. However, he had no plans to deal with the civilization behind the scenes at this moment.
On the one hand, the Super Star Cluster alliance was currently developing as a group and steadily expanding in the free competition zone, not creating any trouble, so there was no opportunity for him to take action. On the other hand, the three Universal Civilizations would not sit back and watch the Super Star Cluster develop in the Flickering World. Thus, they would definitely take action. Han Xiao decided to wait for the time the three Universal Civilizations launched an attack to cooperate with them, which would achieve twice the results with half the effort needed.
“Things are almost settled. The establishment of a platform for the Beyond Grade A united front should be placed on the agenda.” Han Xiao rolled his eyes in deep thought.
Both Manison and Kasuyi, one director and the other the actor, did not come to urge him after the incident. No matter what they had done before, at least he owed them a favor during the Hila Rescue mission, so he still had to put in some effort to maintain a united front.
“The purpose of this platform should be to take advantage of the opportunity of the Flickering World to unify all the Beyond Grade A organizations, allowing everyone to have a communication platform, binding all Beyond Grade As together. It cannot be hidden from the eyes of the three Universal Civilizations, yet it cannot be done with too much fanfare… united front… hang on, united front‽”
Han Xiao suddenly had a eureka moment and hurriedly recited a few phrases from the socialist mantras before deriving an ingenious idea.
…
At the same time, Secret Master in the faraway Beast Ancestor stronghold received a communication application from Sorokin.
“Sorokin, what’s happening?”
“Your Excellency Secret Master, I have a piece of bad news for you.” Sorokin sighed.
“Speak.”
“There’s now a problem in our previous deal.”
“What exactly happened?” Secret Master hurriedly asked.
“I promised to leave you one of the shareholder positions, but Black Star came over just now and used his current influence to threaten me. You also know, with the sale of the Evolutionary Totems, the three Universal Civilizations will surely support him. Thus, to reduce my losses, I could only agree to his request.”
“You mean Black Star stole my reserved shareholder seat?” Secret Master’s expression changed.
“Sigh, it’s indeed like that. I can actually create a new major shareholder seat, but I need to dilute the equity of the others, which is more troublesome. It will take a lot of time to carry out some commercial operations and complete the capital increase. Otherwise, the other Beyond Grade A shareholders will not be happy.” Sorokin could not take out his share, otherwise it would be painful if he lost control of the entire financial group.
“… Alright then. Let’s proceed with the deal when you’re done.”
Secret Master was helpless. While he said he would cooperate in the future, he had actually already planned to cancel the trade in his heart.
This Sorokin was obviously too unreliable.
I’m obviously first in line here…
Secret Master had no anger toward Han Xiao snatching his lollipop. After all, in his opinion, Black Star did not know about their private transaction and did not specifically target him.
…
A couple of days later…
“Flickering World Beyond Grade A Development Union?”
In the Black Star Palace, Sylvia looked at the prototype of the plan that Han Xiao had handed over and could not help but show some surprise.
Han Xiao placed his feet on the table, raising his eyebrows as he replied, “Any problems?”
“The problem is so big that I’m speechless. The dynasty will never agree.” Sylvia had an expression of helplessness. “To boldly unite all the Beyond Grade A organizations, isn’t this taking the initiative to anger with the three Universal Civilizations?”
“What are you talking about? The Flickering World Beyond Grade A Development Union is a non-governmental organization that aims to deal with the contradictions between the Beyond Grade A organizations involved in the expansion of the Flickering World. It’s always better to solve problems through negotiation rather than violence and jointly maintain the public security of the Flickering World. This is a good thing that will benefit the entire Star Field, and it is also an idea I developed after experiencing the previous incident. I’m worried that there might be more Beyond Grade As that will fall into my hands.” Han Xiao spoke with an expression as though he totally believed in his lies.
Sylvia was speechless. She waved the document in her hands. “You do know that such bullsh*t will not get past the three Universal Civilizations, right?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao stopped his scholarly act, rolling his eyes.
“Well duh, but what else can I do? If I wish to integrate the Beyond Grade As, I’ll need an excuse. Whether the three Universal Civilizations believe it or not, we still have to sugar coat it to prevent us from getting caught in an embarrassing situation.”
Sylvia still had a worried expression. “To have our Black Star Army be the pioneer, won’t this be too eye-catching? Especially in the eyes of the dynasty…”
“That’s why this is only a draft. I’ll still have to pull in more people to establish this union. Those who joined in the Meeting of the Gods with me will probably tacitly choose to join.” Han Xiao shook his head.
While the Beyond Grade As had similar unions, there had never been a union of such scale, akin to the Mercenary Association, Pharmacist Association, or even the Superheroes Association. While the name of this organization was called the Development Union, in the eyes of discerning people, this would be an association that gathered all the Beyond Grade As in the known universe.
So long as most of the current Beyond Grade As joined this organization, they would be able to drive the membership rate of any new Beyond Grade As in the future. Its scope far exceeded that of The Ancient Ones to encompass all Beyond Grade As.
And if one utilized the appeal of this organization to continue to expand the range of members included, it could even evolve into a Super Association for the entire universe. Such a scale would be terrifying because such associations were generally only established by the three Universal Civilizations.
“Having such non-governmental organizations will never put the three Universal Civilizations at ease. They will inevitably ask for their own personnel to settle in. By that time…” Sylvia interjected.
“I know what you mean. ‘Beyond Grade A’ has a special meaning, and the three Universal Civilizations do not wish to have an association of such a nature… But because we’re Beyond Grade As, they can only express their views, and they cannot go all out to prohibit it,” Han Xiao countered.
He was clear that once such an organization was created, the Beyond Grade As would no longer exist as a tray of loose sand. The three Universal Civilizations would also become wary, but at this moment, this organization only served to aid communications, nothing really major. Thus, while the three Universal Civilizations would feel apprehensive, they would not take any action.
However, this might not be the case in the future. The problem of the united front was that it could not circumvent the affiliation of each Beyond Grade A’s allied faction. This was the shackles created by the three Universal Civilizations, and they would not allow the Beyond Grade As to get rid of it.
Furthermore, what the Mechanic Emperor wanted to do was unite the strength of all the Beyond Grade As, whilst Han Xiao only wished to reduce the number of Beyond Grade A casualties, accumulating high levelled combat powers in the explored universe. Their goals were different, and there would be differences at some point in time. Furthermore, the Beyond Grade As were not of the same mind.
“Army Commander, you’re playing with fire.”
Sylvia had a worried expression. Her mind was full of the information regarding the Tragedy of the Pinnacles, and with the increasing popularity of the Black Star Army, she did not wish to see the three Universal Civilizations clear out all Beyond Grade A organizations. If that happened, the Black Star Army would inevitably enter their list.
Why did the three Universal Civilizations have an unbreakable dominance? It was precisely because when combined together, they had the ability to manipulate the entire explored universe! She had no doubt that the three Universal Civilizations would be willing to pay any price to kill off all disobedient Beyond Grade As in the universe, including their own allies.
Without the backing of a Universal Civilization, a Beyond Grade A would still be a Beyond Grade A. But in the same line, a Universal Civilization would still be one even without its Beyond Grade A allies.
“You’re thinking too much. Everyone has their own scruples, and it might not reach such a stage. Right now, I’m just testing the waters.” Han Xiao sighed. “The topic of Beyond Grade As is just too sensitive, so we can only take a step and observe, to see what how the Universal Civilizations react.”
“Alright then… I’ll go and improve on this plan.”
Sylvia could only accept it. After all, Han Xiao was the boss.
She got up and opened the door, only to find that Feidin was waiting outside. The two of them passed each other.
Seeing Feidin, Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. He straightened and spoke with a smile. “Aren’t you practicing your song at the moment? How do you have the time to visit me?”
“I found out everything. You actually want me to go and be an actor.” Feidin had a resigned expression. “Couldn’t you have discussed it with me beforehand?”
“It’s just being a star. You’re back in your old line. Furthermore, the army needs you. You can’t possibly reject this.” Han Xiao chuckled.
“Alright, forget about the acting part, but why am I even the main character?” Feidin was speechless. “And my role is you‽”
Feidin’s role was to be Black Star in the new film.
Lucky people would still be the main characters even when acting.
“This arrangement is very appropriate. Only you are as handsome as me. This is in line with the facts. Just take a look over here. If we meet with a stranger, they might even say that we’re twins!”
Feidin had no words.
Han Xiao laughed to himself. before waving his hand. “Alright, I won’t joke anymore. The main reason is because no one dared act as me and bear the consequences after. You’re someone close to be who used to be a star, so the director arranged it that way.”
“But it’s been so long since I last acted. Won’t this be too weird for me?” Feidin was still hesitating.
“Haha, it will only be a hit if you’re in a leading role. You’re also a Calamity Grade, and a Psychic at that. How is acting difficult?” Han Xiao encouraged.
Han Xiao persuaded Feidin a while longer before sending this doubtful person off.
Shaking his head with a laugh, he took out his communicator to check on the latest news.
After swiping for a bit, he stood up in shock. A piece of internal news from the dynasty was reflected in his pupils.
The Dark Lord had resigned from his position!
“‘Dark Lord’ Clotti has temporarily resigned as the Guard Captain of the dynasty Ruler, and his position will be temporarily assumed by ‘Quantum Demon’ Judith…”
Han Xiao focused, browsing through this internal intelligence. He could not help but fall into deep thought.
The three Universal Civilizations each had a pinnacle Beyond Grade A as their Guard Captains. For the Crimson Dynasty, it was [Dark Lord] Clotti; for the Federation of Light, it was [Golden Ring] Oulou; and for the Arcane Church, it was the [God’s Chosen] Wuornos. All of them were Beyond Grade As of direct relation to the civilizations.
In the dynasty’s Beyond Grade A circle, the Dark Lord had a transcendent status and was also well known for not mixing and socializing. Throughout his years of contact, coupled with the memory of his previous life, Han Xiao had a good understanding of what Clotti’s personality was.
This was deathly loyal to the dynasty. If there was no special reason, he would not step down as the Guard Captain.
In his past life, this incident did not occur during this particular time period, so the possibility of settling his private affairs could be ruled out. It should be because Clotti had accepted some sort of special mission.
“This should be the butterfly effect I’ve brought about. Maybe it is related to the Evolutionary Totem or even the Hila Rescue Mission…”
To be honest, he was a little apprehensive regarding this news.
Based on his memories, some of the Beyond Grade As that were directly related to the advanced civilizations were often loyal and dedicated, placing the needs of their civilization above those of the Beyond Grade As, and the Dark Lord was undoubtedly one of them. These people would not be part of the Beyond Grade A united front and might even turn against them.
To allow such a monster to move freely in the outside world, it was unknown what sort of changes would occur. This might hinder the construction of the Flickering World Beyond Grade A Development Union.
However, it was useless to delve too deeply. Because of Han Xiao’s existence, many of the fate lines for the characters had been altered, and he could only adapt as he went on.
As for the ‘Quantum Demon’ Judith, who replaced Clotti, he was a Virtual Mechanic coming from the Crimson Dynasty. He was the person in charge of guarding the Heroic Soul, the main Artificial intelligence of the dynasty, and had relatively strong combat ability.
“Speaking of which, the direct line of Beyond Grade As from the dynasty really do not mix around much with the allies.” Han Xiao’s eyes flickered.
Within the Beyond Grade A circle in the dynasty, only the allies liked to gather together and mess around. As for those directly related to the dynasty, they mostly chose to remain isolated.
Unlike allies, those directly related to the dynasty would always have official positions. Some guarded the secondary dimensional outposts, some served as instructors, and some were fleet commanders. They were not as free as those who were allies. Only those semi-direct allies such as Kohler would be so relaxed…
Of course, it might be because the dynasty thought of him as too weak.
Just as he was thinking, countless particles surfaced in front of his eyes, coagulating to form an image of Phillip.
“Master, hum… Jotina and her party have arrived. It’s time to check up on them.” Phillip blinked his big eyes. This was a reminder set by Han Xiao.
“Oh, take them to the lobby of the inner ring. Also, summon Hila and the other Calamity Grade officers to meet the newcomers.”
Han Xiao took up, putting on his Army Commander jacket before walking out of the room.
…
Jotina and her party followed the receptionist all the way into the lobby, and many of the army officers slowly trickled in. They were curious about their future colleagues, but without the approval of the Army Commander, none of them engaged in any conversation.
This party not only included the seven Calamity Grades that defected with Jotina but also the second wave, including Schneider. The total number reached eleven. They waited in the center of the lobby, also looking over at the officers.
Both sides stared at each other, and after a while, Han Xiao and Hila walked in.
“Greetings to Army Commander Black Star and Deputy Army Commander Hila.”
Jotina and her group stood up to salute.
Han Xiao was all smiles. “Everyone is here. You’re welcome to leave the shadows and join the light. After joining the Black Star Army, you’ll be part of our family.”
“Yes, welcome.” In front of everyone, Hila did not smile, keeping her words short.
Eleven Calamity Grades could be considered a strong fighting force, enough to carve out a territory in a corner of the universe. Now that this group had joined the army, the high-level combatants belonging to the army had increased quite a bit. Furthermore, there were also elites such as Jotina and Schneider.
Han Xiao had to personally review every advanced combatant that joined the army. This was also the reason why these original officers of the Beast Ancestor had come to the Black Star Palace.
“Regarding your positions, I have yet to arrange them. If you have any requests, do tell me. I’ll take them into consideration.” Han Xiao smiled.
Hearing this, everyone expressed their intentions, saying that it did not matter as long as they could serve the army. Only Jotina put forth a different suggestion.
“Your Excellency Black Star, if possible, I would like to join your personal guard.”
“Eh?” Han Xiao curiously looked over. “Why is that so?”
Jotina raised her head, looking straight at Han Xiao with a fiery gaze, not bothering to hide anything. “The body does not lie. I have strong feelings for you, and I hope to always accompany you around. If there’s a chance, I hope that some chemistry can spark between us.”
The moment she spoke, the entire room turned dead silent!
“Hmm‽” Hila eyes narrowed sharply. She was originally distracted and inattentive, but she suddenly seriously sized up Jotina from head to toe.
The officers around all thought there was something wrong with their ears. All of them adopted incredulous expressions. They did not think that this woman would be so blunt and speak out so honestly.
Even Schneider and the others were frightened, finding it unbelievable that their own elder sister would speak like this with a straight face.
F*ck me, we just joined the army, and you’re already expressing the intention of mating with a Beyond Grade A in public‽
Aren’t your guts too big!
Even if you really feel something for Black Star, you should proceed step by step.
To actually be so direct… indeed, only you can do so!
Han Xiao was stunned in place, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He waved his hands.
“Alright, I’m not interested in stuff like this. I’ll do my best to consider your job requirements, though. Let me first get started by getting a preliminary understanding of your strength. Walk up to me one by one and take a punch of mine so that I can judge your abilities.”
He lightly skipped over this topic, and Jotina did not insist either.
The conversation returned to normal, but a weird atmosphere lingered.
Everyone constantly shot weird glances toward Han Xiao or Jotina, cautiously moving around them while staying clear of Hila, whose eyes were firmly locked onto Jotina. They were afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
A line of Calamity Grades stood in front of Han Xiao. Nanoparticles rushed out behind Han Xiao, fusing into a silvery black humanoid machinery, floating beside Han Xiao like a stand-in.
This humanoid body sent a powerful iron fist to every officer originally from the Beast Ancestor, dealing some damage.
The attributes of each Calamity Grade were displayed on the combat information interface, and Han Xiao quickly scanned everyone’s abilities.
Among this group of people, the most powerful was naturally the Beyond Grade A seed, ‘Claw Empress’ Jotina. She was outstanding even among the Pugilists in the Calamity Grade, adept in claw arts and the pugilist arts of the Beast Ancestor. Her strength and agility were on point, and her damage output was high. She was more of an all-rounder fighter, and her combat power ranked in the forefront of the Army’s Calamity Grade officers. A good gauge would be third or fourth place.
As for ‘Boa Constrictor’ Schneider, he was an elite Calamity Grade. Among this group, there were two of them who were quite close to each other in terms of combat power, standing out from the rest.
Out of the eleven of them, nine were Pugilists, and the other two were Espers.
Because the Beast Ancestor Organization was one where they were muscle tyrants, not adept at using their brains, no one liked to learn. There were practically no mechanics or mages there.
Han Xiao intended to let all of them become combatants, while a small portion would be filtered into the Black Star Guards. Most of them would be commanded by Herlous as senior officers for the different fleets.
After some encouragement, Han Xiao left the scene with Hila, leaving the officers to mingle with this new group of colleagues.
As the two left the hall and walked through the corridor, the army members they passed nodded and saluted. Hila did not care while Han Xiao smiled as usual.
After walking for a bit, Hila suddenly opened her mouth. “You’re actually quite popular.”
“Are you referring to Jotina?” Han Xiao laughed. “In any case, I’m standing at the peak of personal power, so it’s normal for people to treat me like their idol. Don’t you worship me as well?”
“Nonsense, when did I ever worship you?” Hila snorted and avoided his gaze.
“Well, when you were surrounded and attacked, you were the one that personally admitted you had admired me for decades. It’s no use trying to deny it. I still have the recording.”
“Damn, you want to fight?” Hila was so embarrassed and angrily glared at Han Xiao.
“Hehehe…”
Hila’s forehead bulged with veins before she took a few deep breaths to regain her tranquility.
After being distracted by Han Xiao, she no longer felt depressed. Instead, she frowned and asked, “So, how are you going to handle Jotina? Are you really going to place her among the Black Star Guards?”
“Her ability speaks for itself, so why not? Are you afraid that a Calamity Grade can do anything to me? I’m a Beyond Grade A.” Han Xiao raised an eyebrow.
“Humph.” Hila turned her head away.
While she did not like the brazen Jotina, Hila would not use her position to trouble others. She was not someone who would engage in small tricks and would not interfere in Han Xiao’s decisions.
Seeing that Hila was silent, Han Xiao thought for a while before suddenly saying, “Anyways, the army is expanding very quickly these days, and there will be a new batch of people every three to five days. As a result, there are many members of the army that are not familiar with each other and do not know the officers. There is a sense of distance, which will not be conducive to the unity of the army. So, I was thinking that we should hold some large-scale events to promote camaraderie.”
Hila looked over. “What are you planning?”
“I’m thinking toward some internal competitions, such as a military parade or a sparring competition…”
As he spoke, Han Xiao’s eyes began to gleam.
As of now, the Black Star Army already had a large number of groups and a large number of talents under its command. There were sufficient resources to host large-scale internal events, allowing members of the army to participate in such events outside of their work. This would be conducive to increasing the sense of belonging and promoting the camp culture.
Han Xiao’s idea was to create a league of his own. The Pro League was an internal game for the players, but he planned to create a large-scale event organized by NPCs under the Black Star Army’s name, not only for the players but for all members.
Sparring would be one of the focal points. He could separate them based on their ranks, and the elites of each rank would be selected from the competition. There would be prizes, and it would also allow the normal members to witness the officers displaying their strength.
In addition to competitions, a variety of events could also be held, such as sports or technical skills such as piloting and commanding. Even the Wayne Cards could be used as a separate leisure event.
In Han Xiao’s vision, such an event could be turned into something similar to the Olympic Games for the army, held every few years as a celebration and also to showcase their strength to the outside world.
If this could be carried out, the scale would be many times larger than that of the players’ Pro League, which would serve as a carnival for everyone.
Just thinking about it made Han Xiao excited.
“But holding such an event seems like it would need a lot of money…” Hila hesitated.
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? Are we lacking money?”
Shortly from now, the sale of the Evolutionary Totems would be opened to the universe, and he would also become a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group. At present, the Great Mechanic Han was bloated from the amount of money and could be considered to have fully entered the realm of a Rich Daddy.
If this money could be used to improve the faction cohesion and attractiveness, it would be quite profitable for him.
The more Han Xiao thought about it, the more he felt that this was something he could do. After he returned from the secondary dimension and settled the affairs of the Beyond Grade A union, he would have a lot of time to plan and hold such celebrations.
But it would be good to propose a prototype for Sylvia to perfect.
He had people to take care of his chores, so there was no pressure on him. Squeezing his own Chief Administrative Official had become a habit of Han Xiao’s.
He had no other choice. Who made Sylvia so good looking and capable, making him so pleased with her work?
…
Sylvia’s efficiency was high. She only took a day to perfect the draft of the Flickering World Beyond Grade A Development Union.
Han Xiao revised it before sending it to Manison to discuss the matter together. While they had conflicts of interest, they had to cooperate for this matter.
“This Development Union… the idea is not bad. While it is an excuse, it is reasonable enough to pass through the eyes of the three Universal Civilizations.”
Within the encrypted channel, Manison made comments while browsing the draft.
“Oh, this is just a cover,” Han Xiao explained. “On the surface, the scope of cooperation will be limited to the Flickering World. In fact, as long as this union is created, the conflicts of the Beyond Grade A in other Star Fields can also be resolved through this platform, and at the same time, the Beyond Grade A organizations can form a network of interests throughout the universe, providing each member with a place to exchange and cooperate with each other. This will achieve the goal of uniting power.”
Manison pondered. “This is similar to how The Ancient Ones operate, but to achieve this, most of the Beyond Grade As will need to voluntarily accept such cooperation, linking their organizations in the interest network. But if there’s no benefit, most people will be unwilling to cooperate, and then there’s still the obstacle of different factions…”
Han Xiao interrupted him. “That’s why we have to declare that this union is completely neutral by nature, just a loose one similar to The Ancient Ones. We have to organize it as much as possible so as to weaken any possible opposing influence from the factions. As for benefits, we will need the larger Beyond Grade A organizations to lead by example, by becoming the leader of the interest network and actively taking out cooperation shares. That way, the other Beyond Grade A organizations will be willing to join.”
“Who are the confirmed initiators leading this?”
“Only you and I.” Han Xiao shook his head. “In terms of influence, we can be considered behemoths in the Beyond Grade A circle, enough to serve as an example. The fact that we are willing to cooperate should attract a lot of people, but well… just two of us isn’t enough. We need more leaders, preferably the pinnacle Beyond Grade As. Otherwise, we cannot hold on to the crowd.”
“I understand what you mean.” Manison agreed. “We’ll need organizations with sufficient influence in various fields. On my side, I can try to lobby all the ancient ones, and the Protectors of the Galactic Black Market should also be brought in to take the lead. At the same time, we cannot forget about the neutral Beyond Grade As. Oh yes, there’s also Sorokin who controls the Limitless Financial Group. His money is very important.”
In the Beyond Grade A circle, Sorokin was recognized as a top dog with one of the highest assets. While the majority did not care much for his combat abilities, no one underestimated his power to make money.
At this time, Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed.
“I have a question. With so many pioneers… who will be the Chairman?”
Hearing this, Manison narrowed his eyes.
Since they wished to form a union, this problem could not be avoided. The Chairman of this union was of great significance, equivalent to the position of the leader of the martial world, the nominal chief of the Beyond Grade As.
Thus, be it strength or influence, it had to be convincing. The prerequisite was to be a pinnacle Beyond Grade A. Manison would definitely be a hot candidate, and Han Xiao was also eligible to compete for the Chairman position.
The position of Chairman came with a risk, that he would become the main target of the advanced civilizations, attracting their firepower. However, with great risks came great rewards.
Manison was staring at this position naturally out of interest, but as the main initiator of this project, Han Xiao had no reason to actively hand over the position.
After silence reigned for a while, Manison spoke slowly, avoiding this sensitive topic.
“There’s only two of us now. It’s too early to discuss such a matter. Let’s bring in all the members before we decided on this.”
“Okay.”
Han Xiao nodded slightly before ending the call and letting out a sigh of relief.
Because this was a Beyond Grade A union, everyone present would be big bosses of an area. Thus, it would be impossible to make this into an area where only one person’s word mattered.
Thus, persuading other Beyond Grade As to join would be tantamount to pulling supporters for himself. Only with enough Beyond Grade As supporting himself could he justify becoming the Chairman of the Flickering World Beyond Grade A Development Union.
Simply put, this was a matter of fighting for face. Just his strength was not enough.
“My network is quite extensive, but compared to Manison…”
Han Xiao shook his head.
He was confident in his relationship side, but Manison had been around for far too long, and his relationships were definitely much deeper than Han Xiao’s. It would be difficult to compete.
If he wanted this position, he could only start with the benefits part. He had to let people see that whoever served as the Chairman would bring about greater benefits.
“What a difficult task. I’m afraid this will be another uphill battle…”
After assessing the plan’s feasibility, both of them separated into their own teams.
The pinnacle Beyond Grade As that Han Xiao was most familiar with were the three oldies of the dynasty, and the others were mostly acquaintances.
In contrast, Manison knew many more people, including those from the Federation of Light, the Arcane Church, Galactic Black Market, and even the neutral pinnacle Beyond Grade As. All of them were left to him to lobby.
Since his network was not as good as the other party’s, Han Xiao did not stop Manison from doing more work. Instead, he made up his mind to compete from another direction.
Only the dynasty’s side was left to Han Xiao. He sent out the proposal of the union to both Milizaus and Kant, inviting them both to participate in this grand event. As for the Dark Lord, Han Xiao did not invite him.
Thanks to the consensus reached in the Meeting of the Gods, the majority of the pinnacle Beyond Grade As readily accepted and agreed to build a Beyond Grade A platform in the form of a development union. However, a small portion of them hesitated, worried about the reactions of the three Universal Civilizations. Overall, it could still be said to have gone well.
The direct line of Beyond Grade As from the advanced civilizations was not included on the invitation list. They would not be issued any sort of invitation until the union was completely established. After all, most of these Beyond Grade As placed their own civilization above their personal interests, and while admirable, not everyone thought the same way.
Kant and Milizaus were both allies, and while agreeing to the invitation sent by Han Xiao, they raised their own concerns.
“Black Star, the relationship between you and the dynasty has just eased. If you take the lead now in forming the Beyond Grade A union, the dynasty will be dissatisfied with you again.”
“There are no rulers who wish to see any unstable factors in their jurisdiction, but there’s no way about it. Everyone has different positions,” Han Xiao replied.
“You still have to be careful,” Kant urged him again. “Manison’s objective is to seek for profit. He wants to tie all the Beyond Grade As together as a bargaining chip. You’re too young, don’t let him use you.”
These Beyond Grade As actually knew that Manison was using them, but because they could see the longer-term benefits that they could obtain, they saw no reason to reject this proposal.
“I’m aware of his intentions, but only through this can the Beyond Grade As benefit. If this can be realized, it can reduce the infighting between the Beyond Grade As caused by factions’ differences.” Han Xiao wished to preserve the vitality of the Beyond Grade As and intervene in the Calamity of the Supers as a chess player rather than a pawn.
“If I must say…” Kant spoke in an uncertain tone as he lowered his voice. “If the Beyond Grade A union can be fully formed, it will solve the problem of excess individual power. The moment Beyond Grade As grow to a certain extent, we will internally liquidate and kill those not from any of the factions, which is better than the three Universal Civilizations taking action in person.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao could not help but glance at him.
This was a way to seize the power of liquidation from the hands of the three Universal Civilizations and use the ordinary Beyond Grade As as a price to maintain their pinnacle Beyond Grade A status.
If they continued developing normally, the union would indeed likely evolve to this final form. When the Beyond Grade As circle was strong enough and had succeeded in stabilizing their position, the union would definitely actively control the number of Beyond Grade As to prevent this circle from becoming too strong and attracting a bloodbath from the three Universal Civilizations.
The Beyond Grade A union would take the initiative to prune the branches, keeping the number of Beyond Grade As at a level that could threaten the three Universal Civilizations but not force them to take action. This way, they could decide who to kill and how many to kill, keeping the initiative. This loss was naturally much smaller than having the three Universal Civilizations take action.
It was estimated that among the pinnacle Beyond Grade As, there were many who thought in the same manner as Kant. This behavior of taking away the ladder once he climbed up to the top of the wall himself was not a fresh concept… After all, when the number of Beyond Grade As reached a certain level, the nature of their circle would gradually change as well. This posed more disadvantages than advantages to them.
While these pinnacle Beyond Grade As agreed to join the union, their ideals were all different. Han Xiao narrowed his eyes but did not say anything.
In general, there were no many problems in pulling people on board, so the action was quickly implemented. The organizations of the many leaders cooperated to mobilize materials and to select a site in the Flickering World to build the base camp for the development union.
Naturally, it would be impossible to conceal such actions from the other organizations, and the leaders themselves saw no need to conceal it. After all, the nature of their union was no secret, and the three Universal Civilizations should have already learned about it.
Of course, the news also travelled to the dynasty.
…
Pa!
“Black Star is taking a yard for every inch we give!”
In the Ruler’s office, Bekorodi’s face was contorted in anger as he smacked the table.
He pulled along several of the upper echelons from the hawk faction, berating Han Xiao in front of Urranrell.
“Just look at Black Star’s recent actions. He acts with no respect for the dynasty at all! He has just eased his relations with the dynasty, and he dares to do something like this. Does he regard the opening of sales for the Evolutionary Totems as our weakness?”
Urranrell rubbed the center of her brows. “Then, what do you think I should do?”
“I feel that we should warn Black Star,” Bekorodi bellowed. “If he continues to act as he wills, then the dynasty will withdraw the decree to open up the sales of the Evolutionary Totem.”
However, Urranrell did not accept or reject his proposal. “If we rescind the decree, what do you think the federation and the church will do?”
“Humph, while they have coveted the Evolutionary Totem for so long, they are still clear on what is important. For this problem, both the federation and the church have to choose a stance, and they will not side with Black Star.”
Bekorodi had a confident tone, quite sure of his judgment.
Urranrell knocked on the table before slowly replying, “You are right, but after the Meeting of the Gods, we anticipated this situation. Just targeting Black Star will not help as this is the general trend.”
When she discovered that Black Star and the others intended to integrate the Beyond Grade As, she had already predicted that the hawk faction would attack and make things difficult.
In all fairness, Urranrell did not like seeing the Beyond Grade A union, but this issue was sensitive and involved many factors, so she could not make any hasty decisions.
As such, she could not easily withdraw the decree regarding the Evolutionary Totem sales and blame Black Star as Bekorodi suggested.
His suggestion was rejected, but Bekorodi was not angry. He had known that the Ruler would give such a response, and his goal was just to express his negative attitude. He pretended to grunt before leading everyone else away.
Only Urranrell was left in the room. She shook her head before opening the star map of the Flickering World, analyzing the situation.
Ever since the Flickering World was opened, the power patterns in the universe had started to change, and the dynasty was aware of this. First was the Super Star Cluster Alliance, and now the Beyond Grade A union. The changes were slowly surfacing.
“The price of exploration and expansion is turbulence, as every class wants to redistribute benefits…” Urranrell sighed.
…
Currently, the development union was still a grassroots team. Only a group of pinnacle Beyond Grade As were making the preliminary preparations. During this period, they would inevitably have to negotiate with the three Universal Civilizations, and it would take a few months for them to formally establish themselves.
This matter did not require much effort, so Han Xiao had a lot of free time and was immersed in repairing and strengthening his mechanical army.
After many failures, he had finally created an Emperor’s Cape at the Gold Grade in his workshop.
This was the second Universal Treasure to be created by his hand. His [Spirit Instrument] skill unlocked the second layer, and at the same time, he obtained a new God’s Trait Transformation point.
The second layer increased his basic success rate of manufacturing Gold Grade equipment, as well as research and development benefits. The increase was the same as that of the first layer, 2.5% and 1.2% respectively, but it also had a new attribute that increased the possible mutation rate of a Universe by 0.2%.
Reading through the introduction, Han Xiao discovered that this was the probability bonus for generating unique mutations in the process of making Universal Treasures. Such treasures would generally be stronger than normal Gold Grade equipment and might develop some ‘unsolvable’ abilities.
As for the God’s Trait Transformation point, Han Xiao added it into the Mechanic path, and his [God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery] unlocked the effect of its third layer.
_____________________
Third Stage: [Apostle Mechanic] and below classes will have +3 to all class skills, +50% to speed of assembly line production, +10% Assembly line product quality, and -25% cost of materials. In addition, +1,500 Intelligence, +30 Potential Points.
_____________________
“The levels of my basic mechanic skills have gone up by quite a bit, and there’s an increase in assembly line production skills, as well as Intelligence and potential points. It’s not too bad.”
Because Han Xiao had skills that could raise his Machinery Affinity based on his Intelligence, 1,500 points would bring about a 400% increase in his Machinery Affinity. The thirty free Potential Points could also be used to upgrade his Ultimate Knowledge skills by a level.
Though the effects of this third stage seemed to be a little mixed. They synergized quite well, especially the +3 to all class related skills, which brought a considerable bonus to him. After all, there were many Machinery Affinity skills in the low-level class skill list.
This time, the attribute targeted to be optimized was his Dexterity. Because of the amount of work needed, the difficulty in creating the Emperor’s Cape was higher than that of the King. His points were thus optimized by 375 points, all of which were converted into free attribute points.
“I finally finished this equipment.”
Han Xiao felt refreshed and put away his Emperor’s Cape.
Everything that he needed to do was done. He could now make a trip to the secondary dimension.
The Flickering World Beyond Grade A Development Union was still in development, and this was no overnight event. The three Universal Civilizations would definitely oppose it, so it was a good time for him to hide from the dynasty’s fatal calls. He did not even need to guess what the dynasty would say to him if the call connected.
Furthermore, Ames had already been there a long time, so he should not make her wait too long.
…
In the Crimson Dynasty’s Constellation Corridor, within a large interstellar military fortress, a gigantic spacetime gate that was several times larger than a normal stargate stood in the center of the base. It lay in a dormant state, merely resembling an oval arch.
There was a figure hovering in front of this spacetime gate. It was ‘Dark Lord’ Clotti, who had removed his Guard Captain uniform and put on a special lightweight mechanical suit.
The respectful voice of the base commander came through the helmet communicator.
“Your Excellency Clotti, this mechanical suit is specially used for shuttling in the secondary dimension. It can anchor the coordinates of the main universe, and there’s also a spare portable anchoring device within it. Please do not damage or discard it, else you might be lost within the stacks of secondary dimensions…”
“No need to explain further. It’s not my first time going to the Secondary dimension.” Clotti’s tone was indifferent.
“Alright, we’re about to open the portal. His Excellency Guzar, who is manning the outpost over there, will welcome you.”
The moment he finished speaking, the giant spacetime gate gradually opened, and bright rays of light emerged from within the gate, quickly forming a whirlpool of light.
Quietly watching as the spacetime gate warmed up, Clotti called out the secondary dimension database list that was built into the mechanical suit. This stored the secondary dimension profiles that the dynasty had explored over the years, recording the spacetime coordinates and the energy frequencies.
The secondary dimension was very different from the main universe, so this database was equivalent to a map. Tracking devices could be used to remotely mark each location, which was equivalent to a navigation route.
Browsing through the database, Clotti quickly focused on one particular secondary dimension and marked it as a target location.
This secondary dimension was called [Evil Convergence]!
Chapter 1071 The World of Secondary Dimensions
If the main universe could be described as the branches and roots of a tree, then the secondary dimensions would be the leaves and fruits, and there would be a nutrient connection with each other—energy.
Researchers in the universe had created a world view model for the secondary dimensional space, which looked similar to a picture of countless bubbles stacked. Each bubble represented a secondary dimension, and the space wall of each bubble was much weaker compared to the main universe; one could jump and shuttle around frequently.
The advanced civilizations had always been keen to explore the secondary dimensions. Not only could they obtain certain resources, they could also develop new technology through studying the phenomena of the different secondary dimensions. The three Universal Civilizations had achieved a lot of results in this area, and to a certain extent, the strength of each civilization’s technology came from this area.
Thus, the three Universal Civilizations had a large number of outposts and research stations in the secondary dimension space, and they stationed different troops to protect scholars and workers. In most cases, they were dealing with the attacks of the secondary dimension creatures.
The outpost A0000 was the largest barracks of the dynasty in the secondary dimension. It was set up within a secondary dimension that was suitable for survival of creatures. The dynasty had completed the exploration of that entire secondary dimension and transformed it, hoarding all the troops here. The dynasty’s army was stationed in their base camp of the secondary dimension, which also served as the gateway for the dynasty to enter the secondary dimensions.
As soon as Clotti stepped into this place, a magnificent scene greeted him.
He saw a patch of endless reddish-brown land, stretching out of his line of sight. The dynasty’s base also sat there, seemingly endless, like a forest of steel.
There were no stars in the sky, only gradual color tones just like the bloody glow of the setting set. There were light rays that resembled the wind at one moment and clouds at another, flowing in the sky and scattering the fog-like scene. The sky at this place seemed to contain some kind of invisible light source, forming a Tyndall effect as it emitted a misty and dreamy path of light.
Clotti was familiar with this dreamy scene, but he had not seen it for so many years, so he could not help but stop and admire it.
At this moment, a thunderous laugh shook the air.
“Hahaha, Clotti, you finally got a holiday?”
Just as the voice fell, a bolt of turquoise lightning shot out from within the base. It stopped in front of Clotti in the blink of an eye, revealing a burly figure wearing the uniform of a Senior Dynasty General.
Seeing this man, the typically stoic Clotti could not help but smile.
“Guzar, it’s been a long time.”
“Haha, I didn’t expect you to look for me the moment you got a vacation. You’re indeed my good brother!” The burly figure laughed again.
The latter was a hybrid from the dynasty human race and the Silver race, but from his appearance, there was not much of the gracefulness that the Silver race was well known for. He had a rough and masculine appearance, with a wild beard and braids. If Han Xiao was there, he might have mistaken this guy for Zhang Fei [1. Zhang Fei is one of the major characters in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a general and the sworn brother of Liu Bei.].
‘Peals of Thunder’ Guzar was a Beyond Grade A from the direct line under the dynasty, and his Esper Ability involved the manipulation of plasma currents. He had served as the guardian of the secondary dimension for many years.
The qualifications of the two were similar, with the time difference between their enlistment only around five years. They had known each other since they were young and weak, and they had maintained a good relationship.
Clotti shook his head. “I didn’t come here for a holiday. I have a mission.”
“No wonder you temporarily resigned from your post.” Guzar nodded and curiously asked, “Is this a direct order from the Ruler? What does she want you to do?”
“Pursue and kill a Beyond Grade A. The target is hiding in the secondary dimensions, named Traveler. He is suspected of participating in the war within the Flickering World not too long ago. Do you know about that matter?”
“Haha, I’m of course aware of this. There’s no entertainment here, so I can only watch the news all the time. I heard that Black Star repelled twelve Beyond Grade As in total, including Kasuyi and Sierron. This is really amazing and makes me want to spar with him a bit. Unfortunately, I cannot even meet him personally.”
Guzar’s tone was laced with regret. Guarding the secondary dimension, he had no chance to leave his post.
“There’ll be a chance in the future,” Clotti reassured him.
Guzar did not linger in the topic, smiling as he said, “I think that this Black Star is a good kid. When you officially retire, he’ll probably be the one to replace you in threatening the rest of the universe.”
“It’s a pity that he’s not of direct lineage to the dynasty.” Clotti did not agree with him or say otherwise, only changing the topic. “The secondary dimension is your territory. I will need your help in pursuing Traveler.”
“No problem.” A cold arc of lightning shot through Guzar’s pupils. “These last few years, the rats hiding in here have been rapidly increasing. It’s time to teach them a lesson.”
…
Somewhere within the secondary dimension, Traveler was wrapped in magic, flying forward like a comet.
Suddenly, he paused, and a hesitant look crossed his face.
“Strange, why do I feel so restless?”
As a mage, he would never ignore his intuition, so Traveler stopped and took out a crystal ball, activating his divination spell.
Holding the crystal ball with both hands, a little bit of light floated from his palm to merge with the ball. Soon, the crystal ball rippled, showing a mirror image, similar to looking at a calm lake.
Clotti’s face flashed briefly before dissipating.
“Dark Lord? What relationship does he have with me?”
Traveler’s expression changed.
His role during the attack on Hila was just to pretend to go to Black Star for a spar. He did not participate directly in the battle.
In his opinion, even if the Black Star Army was suspicious of him, as long as he took refuge within the secondary dimensions, the other party would not waste energy to look for him to fight, but he did not expect the dynasty to sacrifice so much and send a huge killer weapon over to him. It felt like killing a chicken with a sledgehammer… In front of the Dark Lord, he could only admit that he was no better than a chicken.
“If I meet against the Dark Lord, I definitely won’t be his match.”
Traveler felt depressed. Even if he managed to master his Evil Convergence skill, he did not feel that it would be enough for him to stand against the Dark Lord. The latter was someone who had reached the pinnacle of dark energy and dark matter. Even ‘Golden Ring’ Oulou, who had reached a similar level to the Dark Lord, still ultimately lost to him in the secondary dimensions. Traveler did not think that he could surpass Oulou at his current level.
After thinking about it, Traveler’s eyes lit up.
“I showed off the Evil Convergence, so the Dark Lord will definitely use this as a clue to pursue me. If I don’t appear, they will definitely do something with the Evil Convergence dimension… It seems like I can only seek helpers to ambush the Dark Lord.”
The time he had spent in the secondary dimensions was not for nothing. Not only did he develop good relations with a bunch of strong biological creatures, he had also gotten to know a bunch of Beyond Grade As who lived within the secondary dimensions…
Some of them were not even recorded within the list of known Beyond Grade As in the universe!
…
In a hidden secondary dimension, a portal suddenly appeared, and several small battleships flew out. Their outer armor showed no insignias, and the model of the battleships was top of the line, even equipped with navigation for secondary dimensions. Due to their additional components, the overall appearance looked heavy and bloated.
In the command room of the flagship, many of the operators bustled about in their positions. Everyone wore a full mechanical suit set, covering their appearance.
Standing in front at the porthole were two figures, wearing masked hoods and robes. Both had special equipment to hide their appearances, and only their height difference could be seen. One was short and stocky while the other tall and slender.
They were the leaders of this trip and belonged to the same organization. They were on a special mission.
One of the operators, who looked like the overall commander, reported to the both of them. “Your Excellency Law, Your Excellency Fay, we’ve already arrived at our destination. Please instruct us on our next step.”
The duo were known as ‘Law’ and ‘Fay’. Those were not their real names but codenames in their organization.
The short and stocky person was named Law. He nodded as he spoke in a deep baritone. “According to the plan, the divination shows that Black Star will enter the secondary dimensions with the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy in the near future. Activate the detection radars for all biological creatures to the maximum range and set the target life strength to the pinnacle Beyond Grade A level.”
The cold and clear voice of Fay rang out as she said, “The secondary dimension is our home field, and our mission is to seize the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. Black Star has powerful combat abilities, and we need to avoid any sort of frontal conflict. The leader has allowed us to have many technological weapons that can be used to temporarily trap Black Star.”
She paused for a while before adding, “If conventional methods cannot reveal him, the leader will allow us to use the Esper Ability of Destiny’s Child once.”
…
In Black Star Palace, Han Xiao called Ames over to the live combat training room.
“Busy guy, you finally have time for me?” Ames raised a brow, her tone joking.
“Official duties, I cannot escape from them.” Han Xiao joked back before taking out a compressed orb and lobbing it over. He explained, “This is a special mechanical suit designed for survival in the secondary dimension. I built it myself. Try it out.”
Buzz!
With a spark of Mechanical Force, the compressed orb transformed into a jet-black mechanical suit, covering Ames’ body in a snug manner.
She moved around a bit, searching for any lag or discomfort, before clicking her tongue as she commented, “Very fitting. It seems like you know my body measurements very well. Good observation skills.”
That’s because I touched it before… Han Xiao coughed to hide his embarrassment.
Anyway, the nano-optimization feature exists, so no matter what sort of body shape you had, the suit would adjust to fit you. Why the fuss?
Even though he was vomiting in his heart, he did not show it in his movements, taking out the improved version of the Mysterious Energy Host.
Seeing the mechanical suits, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy excitedly called out, “Black Star, are you ready to set off?”
It could not wait to gather with its old friend once again.
Han Xiao nodded before turning to Ames to explain, “The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy is able to shuttle through the secondary dimensions. With it leading the way, we can save ourselves a lot of energy.”
In the five major classes, only the mages and mechanics could stably enter and exit the world of secondary dimensions. Both of them, however, had different methods of entry.
As for the Espers, theirs was a random factor. In contrast, the dimensional shuttle capability of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was more convenient, and their search for the Holy Light Particle would also require its help.
This was not Ames’ first time going to the secondary dimension. However, the ordinary procedures were troublesome, so with the help offered by Black Star and the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, things were a lot simpler. She curiously asked, “Then, where will our first stop be?”
“The dynasty has quite a few outposts in the secondary dimension, but I don’t wish to disturb them. Since you also have the Void bloodline, let’s go to the Void Dimension first.”
Han Xiao grasped the arm of the Mysterious Energy Host, gesturing for Ames to do the same.
“Alright.” Ames did not have any objections, but she did not hold onto the Mysterious Energy Host, instead choosing to latch herself on Han Xiao’s shoulder.
An ordinary person would have to make thorough preparations in order to go to the secondary dimension, but both of them were Beyond Grade As, so they did not require any sort of precautions.
The next moment, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy activated its ability, and a surge of crimson energy rushed out, enveloping their bodies.
Swoosh!
A bright light flashed, and the three of them disappeared without a trace.
…
Their vision blurred, and the scenery in front of their eyes suddenly changed. They were no longer inside Black Star Palace but within the familiar Void Dimension.
“This is really fast.” Ames was shocked.
“This is its innate ability. For it, returning to the secondary dimension is akin to going home, just like a fish in water,” Han Xiao replied.
The Mysterious Energy Host had strong combat abilities, and at the same time, it also possessed plenty of convenient abilities and effects. It really was like a handyman.
Ames took a deep breath of void energy, feeling the excitement in her cells. She chuckled. “What are our travel plans?”
“Let’s finish what we came here to do. We’ll have plenty of time to explore afterward.”
As Han Xiao spoke, he turned to look at the Mysterious Energy Host and asked it, “Do you know which secondary dimension the Holy Light Particle resides in?”
“I’m not sure what it’s called in the main universe, but I can identify its energy fluctuations and track it down,” the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy explained.
Hearing this, Han Xiao nodded. He had previously inquired about the dynasty’s exploration records of secondary dimensions based on the description given by the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, but they could not find anything similar. This probably meant that the place where the Holy Light Particle could be found had not been discovered yet.
Upon thinking about it, this would make sense. If the advanced civilizations managed to locate its lair, then the Holy Light Particle would not be able to laze around. Thus, at this moment, they could only depend on the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy to guide them.
“Let’s go quickly. I can’t wait to teach it a lesson.”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was eager and proactively urged the others. It could not control the host by itself and had to have Han Xiao’s approval.
Hearing this, Han Xiao could not help but laugh. He estimated that the Holy Light Particle would probably be upset at this ‘friend’.
Brat, you brought all these enemies over to my area‽
As he shook his head, Han Xiao was about to speak, but his expression suddenly changed.
Boom!
At this moment, an anomaly occurred as the void energy in their surroundings began to tremble.
Ames felt the same sensation, and she narrowed her eyes as she gazed off into the distance. Her tone was solemn. “Seems like something’s coming!”
Chapter 1072 Milestone: Void Conqueror
Suddenly, the two of them seemed as though they had been put into a blender; the surrounding void energy formed a large vortex, with Han Xiao and Ames at its center.
Han Xiao raised his wariness, getting into a battle-ready state. The next moment, a mental fluctuation burst out, sweeping past the both of them, and a solemn, archaic voice spoke in their minds.
“What sort of alien creatures are you, to dare barge into my territory‽”
Just as the voice rang out, a powerful aura burst out in their perceptions. Rays of light flickered all around as countless figures appeared out of thin air, seemingly endless. They surrounded the duo.
These creatures had strange appearances, but they all carried the characteristics of a void species and wore specially-made armor.
Sweeping a glance, Han Xiao felt a sense of familiarity.
He was no stranger to these strange-looking creatures.
There were Void Prowlers and Chaos Observers as the Reconnaissance Troops, riding Void Hunters, Void Star Pursuers, and Void Walkers. Lined up in ranks were the Void Disciples, the Void Executioners, and the Magomado Blades. The ranged troops consisting of Void Witch Spirits and Chaos Arcane Bodies were placed at the back. These were all the race options he had encountered with each promotion.
In the center of this army was the behemoth troop. There were ten huge Margola Void Beasts, covered in armor and carrying countless void creatures. There were even three Void Dragon hatchlings, of which the three strongest void creatures rode on them.
Their leader was a Void Duke, about a few hundred meters in height, his body covered in a tangible blue-violet energy. He was covered from head to toe in huge black armor and held onto the reins of the void dragon with one hand, a mysterious black longsword in the other. Void Dukes could change their forms at will, and this Void Duke was currently assuming a humanoid form.
This was a Void Army Regiment!
“It seems like we accidentally ended up in the territory of a Void Duke.”
Seeing the group, Ames furrowed her brows.
She was an old visitor to the secondary dimensions, so it was not the first time she had encountered such a scene.
The Void Dimension was a naturally formed secondary dimension, and it spanned across an extremely vast area. The difference in dimensional attributes compared to the main universe had resulted in the spawning of the countless void species. In addition to naturally growing, the void species could strengthen themselves by swallowing each other, thus forming a complete chain of weak and strong. In this situation, the higher void creatures eventually segregated their territories, forming armies to fight against each other.
The Void Duke was one of the top void creatures, boasting their own powerful army. Their goal was to swallow other Void Lords or Void Dukes. Not only did they thrive on war, but using the unique features available to them, they had developed a special technology applied to the Void Dimension.
The Void creatures not only fought against each other, they were also hostile toward foreign life forms. One reason was because foreigners usually tended to kill them for materials, and secondly, the Void Corruptors could use their blood to convert the foreigners to become a new source for their troops. Thus, when encountering visitors from different dimensions, they would not be lenient.
“They treat us as prey.”
As countless malevolent gazes landed on them, Han Xiao narrowed his eyes before releasing his Beyond Grade A aura. His momentum swept the area around him like a gale.
Boom!
The tyrannical aura caused the void army to stagnate.
The Void Duke’s longsword slashed outward, sending a spiritual message filled with shock.
“Beyond Grade A creature of the main universe‽”
The prestige of Beyond Grade As resounded even within the secondary dimensions.
Han Xiao revealed his identity. “I’m an ally of the Crimson Dynasty, the leader of the Black Star Army. I go by Black Star.”
“Black Star? Never heard of you.”
Because information exchanges between the main universe and the secondary dimensions were limited, most of the void creatures were not concerned about the news from the main universe. However, the big names like the Crimson Dynasty were still known to the Void Dukes, as the reputation of the three Universal Civilizations had also spread throughout the secondary dimensions. The higher beings of the Void Dimension had considerable wisdom and knew to not provoke the three Universal Civilizations.
“Outsider, I’m the Void Duke Kirkmond. Leave my territory immediately.” He pointed with his longsword, indicating their expulsion.
The Beyond Grade A life forms from the main universe were not so easy to provoke. Although the Void Dimension had successfully killed some invading Beyond Grade As before, they were all done by the strongest Void Dukes. The casualties on both sides were equally heavy, which resulted in those Void Dukes being swallowed by others instead. Kirkmond was merely a Void Duke in the middle ranks and did not want to get himself into a conflict with a Beyond Grade A for nothing.
Seeing this, Ames did not wish to blow up the matter any further and patted Han Xiao. “Let’s go. There’s no need to entangle with them.”
Sweeping his gaze across the vigilant Void Army, Han Xiao suddenly had an idea and switched to his Void Form. The aura around his body changed completely.
Seeing this, Kirkmond jumped up in shock.
“You’re also part of the Void‽”
“That’s right. I’m not a creature from another dimension but one of your kind.”
After Han Xiao entered the Beyond Grade A realm, he had transformed into an exclusive race, but the void bloodline he originally had did not disappear, merely merging into the exclusive race.
According to his degree of evolution, Han Xiao’s Void creature ranking was high. He had reached the level of the Void Archangel, which was similar to the rank of Void Duke.
Kirkmond’s attitude took a 180-degree change, filling up with envy and greed while hiding behind a fawning attitude.
When encountering a Beyond Grade A of another species, even if they killed the other party, there were no benefits to them. However, if the other party was a Beyond Grade A void creature, then he could swallow their bloodline and obtain an evolutionary boost.
However, the difficulty in killing the latter was also greatly increased. The void dimension was the home of the void creatures, and the higher one’s void dimension life level, the higher their degree of control over the Void Energy. Han Xiao was akin to a fish in water there and would not be affected by the suppression of void energy.
The power system of the Void Dimension differed from the main universe. The void life forms possessed various racial talents, and through continuous evolution, they would activate their innate abilities to exert a great combat strength. This sort of strength could not be replicated by others, so it could not be classified as one of the major Super systems and only classified as a special life form.
However, the void creatures could also take the initiative to master the super system of the main universe, and their representatives were relatively well known.
“Do you know Kasuyi?” Kirkmond could not help but ask.
“We’re quite familiar with each other.” Han Xiao nodded.
Hearing this, Kirkmond felt proud.
Kasuyi was a celebrity within the Void Dimension, publicly recognized as one of the strongest void creatures to exist. He had raked up vast achievements while still within the void dimension, conquering a large number of Void Lords and Void Dukes and ruling a vast territory in the center of the Void Dimension. No one could contend with him then, and while he was generally more active in the main universe, his reputation within the Void Dimension still remained unmatched.
And right now, Kirkmond had encountered a new Beyond Grade A void creature who was even familiar with Kasuyi, piquing his interest. After all, Kirkmond himself did not possess the qualifications to even come into contact with Kasuyi.
“Black Star, come over to my place to be my guest.” Kirkmond directly issued an invitation. There were few formalities within the Void Dimension, so they did not beat around the bush.
“Alright, I’ll go and have a look.” Han Xiao had similar intentions. Since he had managed to meet this Void Duke, it would be good to exchange some intelligence. Furthermore, since he planned to travel and explore this time, he was not afraid of having his time delayed.
The Void Dimension had many good things, such as the Void Maharaja that Austin had once given him, allowing his bloodline to be purified further. While Han Xiao had already reached the pinnacle Beyond Grade A realm, there might be something that could help him strengthen his void talents. There was no harm in trying his luck.
Speaking of luck, Han Xiao could not help but think about the luck halo [Caretaker of the Stars] that Ames had.
While he did not bring Feidin this time, Ames’ had pretty good luck as well, which could be able to carry him forward.
“This is a guider. Follow me.”
Kirkmond shook his fingers, sending out a cloud of void energy that contained the information on the coordinates over to Han Xiao.
The next moment, the surrounding void army all flickered and disappeared. In the Void Dimension, none of the inhabitants flew normally. They had all mastered the craft of Void Travel.
Seeing this, Ames shook her head in resignation. “You actually exposed your identity to the Void creature. The last time Hila and I came to the secondary dimension to train, neither of us dared to do so, or else we would not have made it back.”
“Those with skills have bigger balls,” Han Xiao joked.
While the secondary dimension still posed some risks to ordinary Beyond Grade As, it was not much to a pinnacle Beyond Grade A.
The duo then followed the guider and shuttled through the void, soon arriving at Kirkmond’s base camp.
This was a magnificent city that was suspended in space. The entire body of the city was made out of translucent crystals, and its radiant internal energy core could be seen, surrounded by a rich layer of gray-blue void energy.
Within the Void Dimension, natural materials were scarce, so crystals were generally obtained through special techniques of refining the omnipresent Void Energy. To build a city like this, the expenses were naturally gargantuan.
This huge city had many barracks, so rather than calling it a city, it would be more accurate to call it an army camp. Han Xiao and Ames went to the main hall in the center of the city, and Kirkmond greeted the both of them.
He had shrunk his body to match Han Xiao’s size. After they sat down, he impatiently asked, “Black Star, where were you born?”
He thought that Han Xiao had grown up as a native of the Void Dimension. However, Han Xiao did not hide it and explained that he was someone who had acquired a void bloodline and had always been active in the main universe.
The two of them chatted with each other, exchanging information. Han Xiao talked about the situation in the main universe, while Kirkmond talked about what the Void Dimension was like.
In his previous life, the players had a limited understanding of the secondary dimensions since they only came into contact with it in the later versions. Furthermore, many of the secondary dimension life forms did not have a habit of recording their history, so Han Xiao also lacked information about the void dimension in the current era.
After some exchanges, Han Xiao developed a general understanding of the current power balance of the void dimension. It was not ruled by a single entity but by many strong powerhouses.
The Kasuyi family dominated and occupied the entire central area but had no intention of unifying the void dimension, nor did they possess the ability. Powerful Void Dukes constantly sprang up like bamboo shoots after a downpour, fighting each other in separate areas. In addition, there were a large number of chaotic areas such as the wilderness, where chaos reigned, constantly breeding new void creatures that would freely hunt each other in the area.
After chatting for a while, Kirkmond finally came to the topic of Han Xiao’s reason for going there.
“I actually have no goal. I just intend to roam a bit around the secondary dimensions. My first trip was to the Void Dimension, and I coincidentally met you.” Han Xiao spread open his hands.
Hearing this, Kirkmond thought for a while before saying, “Since you have nothing to do, you can help me out.”
There was no such thing as politeness or etiquette in the Void Dimension. While it was the first time they had met, Kirkmond did not bother standing on ceremony with them.
“What do you need?” Han Xiao was curious.
“I’ve always wanted to kill Bagdora. He’s also a Void Duke, his territory similar to mine. We’ve already had more than a hundred battles against each other. If you’re able to help, I can eradicate him, swallowing his core and taking over his army troops.”
Han Xiao raised his brows. “Then, what can you repay me with?”
“I can give you half of the cores of the Void life forms left on the battlefield. In addition, if you need any specialties of the Void Dimension, I can find them for you.” Kirkmond waved his hand, giving his bottom line without any attention for negotiation skills. “Furthermore, you can obtain my friendship. When you need help in the main universe, you can open a Void Path, and I will bring my army to help you fight.”
Hearing that, Han Xiao was excited.
When he previously evolved into the [Void Pathfinder], he had obtained the racial talent of [Void Path], which could temporarily open a door to the Void Dimension.
He had never utilized this ability before because the summoned void life forms would not differentiate between friend or foe. However, if he could form an agreement with Kirkmond, then he would be able to use this ability to summon a void regiment to fight for him.
The same was true for Kasuyi. He could use his natural ability to call out the Void army under his command. This was where he had obtained his moniker [Void Overlord], but he seldom used this ability since his true body was too strong and did not require reinforcements.
While Han Xiao was not a summoner, this talent could also achieve the effect of a summoning.
At this moment, a notification popped up on Han Xiao’s interface.
_____________________
You have triggered the mission: Void Duke’s War Employment!
Mission Introduction: Void Duke Kirkmond has taken a fancy to your combat abilities, and hopes to hire you to fight for him and eradicate his enemies.
Mission Requirements: Defeat Void Duke Bagdora’s Army
Reward: 12 billion experience, +3,000 Kirkmond Favorability, 1 Character Summon Card
Additional Reward: Triggers the Milestone Mission: Void Conqueror
Void Conqueror: Milestone competition conditions: Destroy eight Void Dukes and their organizations (void life forms at the same life form level are accepted). At the same time, achieve a Favorability rating of Respect (3,000 Favorability) in at least four Void Dukes’ factions. Reward will be given after Milestone is completed.
Milestone Completion Reward: If you possess Void abilities, their base effects will have a slight increase, and you will obtain 500 – 2,000 Free Attribute Points. You will also obtain +1 Legendary Point, +20 Favorability on all void life forms, and +1 God’s Trait Transformation Point. This will only be given if the [God’s Trait Transformation] talent is activated.
_____________________
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
The rewards were pretty good this time. He could even obtain a God’s Trait Transformation point. After creating both Universal Treasures, he had thought that he would have to wait till he underwent another Promotion to obtain more points.
Looking at the introduction, it seemed like only those Beyond Grade As who had reached the level of God’s Trait Transformation would then trigger this extra point reward. If other people accepted this mission, they would not see the last message.
Han Xiao was overjoyed.
Not only did he manage to obtain a mission, he could even get a large number of Void specialties promised by Kirkmond. This sort of business could be done. To Han Xiao, it was just going back to his old mercenary days.
“Deal, I’ll help you.” Han Xiao smiled. “However, now’s not a good time. I still have things to do, so let’s put this off until I return.”
He had already decided to accept the employment, but his priority was still to obtain the Holy Light Particle. This was non-negotiable; thus, he would only come over to help Kirkmond after he was done obtaining the Holy Light Particle.
“No problem!” Kirkmond was overjoyed, immediately agreeing.
Since he had fought the other party for so many years, waiting a while longer was not a problem.
Ames was not interested in their conversation. After growing bored of listening to them, she took out the revive token to fiddle in her hand. She had also obtained this from Hila.
At this moment, Kirkmond glanced over subconsciously and suddenly froze, his gaze fixed on the revive token.
“Huh?” Ames’ brows rose, and she clenched her fingers over the token. “What are you looking at?”
“Er, could you pass the thing in your hand to me for a look? I felt a very familiar aura from it.” Kirkmond was not polite at all, his tone carrying a little suspicion.
Han Xiao realized something, quickly taking his own token out and asking, “I have something similar. Does it have the aura you’re familiar with?”
“Yes, but it’s very weak. Could you pass it over to let me scrutinize it?” Kirkmond nodded.
Han Xiao thought about it before flicking the token over.
Kirkmond’s palm transformed into energy to envelop the revive token. After carefully looking at it, he replied with an uncertain tone, “I seem to have felt a similar energy fluctuation within one of the secondary dimension layers…”
Han Xiao’s expression changed immediately.
This revive token contained the effect of [Death Rejection—Awakening]. Based on his inference, this was a new ability developed by Hila. Using delicate power control, she had combined Aurora’s life energy with her own Power of the Dead to form an entirely new type of energy.
Hila had also mentioned that when she was attempting to form a remote connection with Aurora, she experienced some difficulty in that a secondary dimension layer kept absorbing most of the energy transmitted between both of them. Hila initially planned to do a field trip to the area, but she did not have the time to come this trip.
So, is it a coincidence that I came across the target Hila was looking for?
Han Xiao could not help but look at Ames.
Compared to Feidin, I think touching you might be better now…
Chapter 1073 Encounter
Speaking of which, since the act of rubbing Feidin for luck was called ‘Touching the Willy’, what then should he term the act of rubbing Ames?
Should he just go with ‘Coiling Dragon[1]’?
Since his luck was good enough to run into the clues that Hila was searching for, Han Xiao had no reason to let it go. He pressed on. “Do you remember which secondary dimension that was?”
Kirkmond thought for a while before he nodded. “I have a faint impression. That secondary dimension seems to be pretty well known as well and was famous for a period of time. It was once blocked off by a certain type of power but occasionally emitted strong vitality that could actually stimulate the potential of various life forms. Later, the blockade lifted by itself, but when the curious secondary dimension life forms went over, they discovered that nothing was within it, and the entire space even lacked the energy to maintain itself. It slowly declined and shrank, and in recent years, it’s been close to collapse. It may disappear at any time.”
Hearing that, Han Xiao was excited.
Most secondary dimensions did not exist forever but would collapse and disappear over time, just like leaves withering and fruits rotting. The secondary dimension world was disorderly and chaotic, which would constantly give rise to new secondary dimensions. Most of them were like bubbles, small and short lived, and only a few could exist stably for a long period of time.
Advanced civilizations and mages could also create artificial secondary dimensions. However, the form of such artificial secondary dimensions was different from the naturally occurring hyper-stable plane of the void dimension.
As for the blockage of such secondary dimensions, there were several possibilities. The most likely would be that the secondary dimension was a creation of some powerful life form. In which case, it would make sense to seal it from the outside world to prevent intruders.
“If this secondary dimension was the subsidiary space of a Beyond Grade A, then the reason for its decline should be the death of the Beyond Grade A creator, causing the space to lose its energy supply, gradually shrinking and collapsing,” Han Xiao guessed.
“I’m not clear on that.” Kirkmond threw the revive token back to Han Xiao. “I call it the Land of Dead Silence. If you wish to go, I can send you the coordinates.”
“If you could. I have some interest in that place.” Han Xiao smiled.
Kirkmond casually squeezed at the void energy, burning the information of the Land of Dead Silence within before throwing it to Han Xiao. He added, “The space wall of that secondary dimension is riddled with holes, and countless space storms surge within. Be careful, the space might collapse and disappear at any time, and if you are swept away by that turbulent space, you might end up lost in the endless layers of the secondary dimensions.”
Han Xiao received the energy clump and read through the information before standing up. “Noted. We’ll make a move now.”
This was an unexpected harvest of the trip. He had planned to take a gander after he was done with his business to help Hila search for what she wanted.
“Then, I’ll wait for you to return so we can start the war.” Kirkmond nodded back.
Having reached an agreement for the war employment, Han Xiao did not delay and once again summoned the Mysterious Energy Host.
“Let’s go. Lead the way. We’ll find your old friend.”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy got the instruction and performed another dimensional shuttle, taking Han Xiao and Ames with him.
…
Meanwhile, Law and Fay were slowly patrolling a vast white space within one of the secondary dimension layers.
On the bridge of the flagship, a star map of the secondary dimension was suspended in the air, but its appearance was very different from the detailed 3D map the main universe had. It looked like a model of countless bubbles piled up together, and at first glance, it looked like a bunch of grapes. Every bubble represented a secondary dimension that was recorded.
Because new secondary dimensions were constantly being born, the terrain of the secondary dimension changed every moment. This map was only used as a reference, and the anchor point coordinates of the different layers were used as guiding markers.
Law and Fay stood next to the secondary dimension world model, silently observing. At this moment, a red dot suddenly lit up inside one of the bubbles, and a circle of red ripples appeared within the model.
“Cross-probing radar has discovered a target, marked as pinnacle Beyond Grade A level!”
“Our target is separated by thirteen secondary dimensions… The route simulation is complete. Expected to encounter our target after eight jumps.”
“Your Excellencies, awaiting your command.”
Hearing the reports from the subordinates, Law hummed in agreement before commanding, “Lock the anchor point, start the dimensional jump!”
Once the command was issued, these warships immediately activated the secondary dimension engine, turning into streams of light as they accelerated wildly. The shuttle device loaded on the battleships began to operate, oscillating at the space walls with a special frequency.
The moment the battleships’ speed reached its peak, a space wall shaped like a honeycomb appeared in front of it. A crack was quickly created, and the other end was a scene of the next dimension.
The spaceships flew straight in, and everyone heard a crisp ‘pop’ sound, as though the shock outside caused the air within the spaceships to react.
Their vision blurred, and the next moment, they had arrived in another secondary dimension. In just a few seconds, the crack within the space wall closed and disappeared without a trace.
This was the conventional way of shuttling between secondary dimensions. The scenes of the secondary dimensions changed rapidly outside the porthole as the fleet jumped many times in succession before finally coming to a halt.
Such rapid shuttling brought a heavy load to the spacecraft, and at this time, the spaceships were all shrouded in violent space energy, distorting their very environment as though the engines were overheated.
On the star map, the fleet showed that they were finally on the same secondary dimension as the red dot, and the target was rapidly drawing closer.
Seeing this, Law quickly came to the front porthole, looking in the direction of the red dot. “Prepare to engage. Ready the Dimensional Exile Bullet.”
As both of them stared out of the window, finally, a figure appeared and flew closer.
Just as he was about to initiate the attack, Law took a close look at the person and immediately changed his command.
“Wait, don’t fire! This person doesn’t look like Black Star. His aura is different from the one in our records.”
Clotti was wearing a mechanical suit, covering his facial features, but he did not hide the energy fluctuations coming from his body.
The Energy Attribute of an Esper and a Mechanic were worlds apart, so at close range, Law discovered the significant difference in energy fluctuations.
Sensing the group in front of him, Clotti slowed down before coming to a stop in front of the fleet. He opened the wide area communication channel as he coldly spoke.
“Who are you guys? Why are you stopping me?”
“We’re just a secondary dimension exploration team. We’re not blocking you but rather happened to come across you.” Law sent a reply back.
Observing the space energy distortion caused by the rapid jumps around the fleet, Clotti knew immediately that this group was lying, but he did not expose them. “Which organization does your exploration team belong to?”
“We’re from a small civil organization and have come over to collect some specialties here. Seeing that you’re shuttling through the secondary dimension alone, you must be a famous pinnacle Beyond Grade A. I wonder if we can have the honor of knowing your name,” Law humbly said.
“I’m just an ordinary Beyond Grade A,” Clotti blandly replied.
Law cursed in his heart.
F*ck you!
To think that a pinnacle Beyond Grade A like you is trying to pretend to be weak!
Law and Fay felt a headache coming. Both of them were Beyond Grade As, and if not for the fact that the detection radar was able to tell them their opponent’s combat power, they would not be so humble.
This cross-plane life form detection radar was a device dedicated to the secondary dimensions, but its accuracy was quite lacking. The search conditions were already harsh enough, but both of them did not expect themselves to have such bad luck to run into another pinnacle Beyond Grade A.
The two of them were still unaware of Clotti’s identity and did not wish to cause any problems.
“Your Excellency Beyond Grade A, if we accidentally offended you. We express our apologies. If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave first.”
He did not even wait for Clotti to reply, immediately steering the fleet to turn around and move away.
Looking back, the duo discovered that Clotti did not chase them but rather stayed there and watched them leave.
“It seems like he’s not planning to attack us.” Law sighed.
“Most likely, he’s not interested in us.” Fay was secretly relieved.
“Let’s get out of here.” Law turned back to instruct the crew, “Mark this target, and don’t bump into him again on accident. Reset the cross-plane detector, and search for another pinnacle Beyond Grade A signal.”
The two of them were not interested in Clotti’s identity at all. In the secondary dimensions, there were many crouching tigers and hidden dragons. The two of them were not there to cause trouble. Everything was done for their mission.
Clotti watched the fleet fly away without chasing them.
The secondary dimensions hid a lot of organizations that operated in secret, avoiding the rule of the three Universal Civilizations. They were a group of rats in the eyes of the three Universal Civilizations.
In Clotti’s eyes, it was likely that this group was one of these hidden organizations. They had pursued the wrong target and ended up bumping into him instead.
The goal of his trip was Traveler, and since these guys knew how to back off, he could not be bothered to pick on them.
Glancing one last time at the direction the fleet departed, Clotti chose another direction away from them to travel, continuously shuttling.
Before long, Clotti stepped into his destination, the secondary dimension of Evil Convergence.
Looking around, the area seemed to be filled with a corrosive purplish-green energy. It moved lazily in waves, like the folds on a stomach wall. Bubbles of purple green gas occasionally popped out like flooding stomach juices, and it gave off the impression of being in the stomach of some weird creature.
From one of the inner walls of the Evil Convergence dimension then popped out a male’s upper body, covered with purplish green mucus. This person was Traveler.
His skin was pale, and he exuded an evil and crazed temperament, as though he had entered a manic mode that prevented him from being rational.
The lower half of Traveler’s body, which was still engulfed, continuously emitted energy rings that could be seen with the naked eye. The rings travelled through the purplish-green inner walls and were absorbed by the Evil Convergence dimension.
Clotti frowned. With his insight, it was not difficult to see that Traveler was spreading the essence of his own genes. He was technically having sex with this secondary dimension that almost seemed alive.
“Dark Lord Clotti, what a rare guest… I’m not sure why you’re looking for me. Are you here to join the party? I certainly don’t mind.” Traveler laughed hoarsely.
Clotti remained stoic, indifferently replying, “You took part in the campaign to encircle and suppress the allies of the dynasty, committing a crime. I’m here today as your arbiter.”
“So, you’re here to kill me?” The corners of Traveler’s mouth hooked upward in an eerie smile.
At this moment, from the inner walls of the Evil Convergence dimension emerged countless figures, forming an endless army.
The majority of them were dangerous characters from various dimensions. Among them, there were three figures exuding the aura of a Beyond Grade A, obviously helpers called forth by Traveler.
After divining that he would come across a formidable enemy, Traveler had used his contacts in the secondary dimension to set up an ambush.
“This is the Dark Lord of the main universe?” At this moment, one of the assisting Beyond Grade As stepped out with his arms folded and casually spoke. “Doesn’t seem to be much, if he’s that careless.”
The other Beyond Grade A looked toward Traveler and solemnly said, “Remember our agreement. This time, we’ll only help you drive out your enemy and not kill the Dark Lord. Otherwise, the Crimson Dynasty will pursue us.”
Hearing this, Clotti realized that the three Beyond Grade As were powerhouses he had never seen before, and everything became clear at once.
It was impossible for the three Universal Civilizations to monitor the birth of every single Beyond Grade A; there would definitely be some who were unwilling to be recorded. As long as they kept concealing their identity and strength, not creating organizations or making a name for themselves, the three Universal Civilizations would not be able to discover their existence.
Quite a few of them also hid within the secondary dimension, never appearing in the main universe.
Some were neutrals that were worried about being persecuted, and there were also secret combatants belonging to other advanced civilizations, such as the Super Star Cluster Alliance. After the Tragedy of the Pinnacles, the Super Star Cluster Civilizations did not dare show their Beyond Grade As on the surface. Thus, their allies would all be sent into the secondary dimension to hide, preventing their existence from being discovered by the three Universal Civilizations.
At this moment, Traveler opened his arms wide, looking at Clotti as he laughed crazily.
“Hahaha, Dark Lord, you have immense combat strength in the main universe, but this is my home field. Can you even kill me?”
Clotti’s expression remained calm, but his eyes glowed with a dark light.
He lightly lifted his arms, and dark energy gathered. He slowly said, “Since that’s the case, I’ll have to smash you apart with your home field.”
…
Following the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, Han Xiao and Ames shuttled through various secondary dimensions one by one, seeing all kinds of bizarre sights. After a long time, they finally stopped moving.
“We’re here. This is the nest of the Holy Light Particle,” the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy excitedly said.
Han Xiao wandered around and saw that this was a dazzling world, with boundless land, mountains, forests, and rivers. But all of it was made out of materialized light, shiny and colorful.
The towering mountain peaks looked like blocks of shining giant gems, and the river was flowing with something resembling liquid light. Everything in this world was pure and flawless, just like a fairy tale.
“It’s rather pretty. This is the first time I’ve come across such a secondary dimension.” Ames could not help but rub her eyes in helplessness. “But it’s a little piercing to the eyes.”
“It is indeed.” Han Xiao smirked before asking, “How do we find it?”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy laughed. “Haha, it’s either sleeping or doesn’t want to be seen. Leave it to me. It’s very sensitive to my energy. So long as it senses me, it will become mad, so I can release my aura and arouse its natural reaction to take the initiative to come over.
Hearing this, Han Xiao could not help but glance at the Mysterious Energy Host in a weird manner.
What’s with this tone? It sounds like you’ve trained it like a pet…
[1] The author wrote the actual characters for Coiling Dragon (the novel) inside, so I translated as such. Not sure if there’s supposed to be a sexual connotation to it but Coiling Dragon could also mean someone whose talent was hidden, ie Ames since Han Xiao never discovered that she was so lucky.
Chapter 1074 New System from the Holy Light Particle
Han Xiao and Ames landed on a shallow land beside a river, the soil was made of colorful sand and felt just like a normal beach.
Ames squatted down, picked up a sand particle, and curiously observed this irregular-shaped solid subject. She then used a tiny bit of force on it. This sand particle cracked open and turned into fog-like light dust, slowly rising up.
Looking up, the sky was covered by a large sea of clouds, all formed by gaseous light particles. It was dreamy. There were light particles ascending from all places occasionally, and once a certain density was reached, this sea of clouds would turn into rain and pour the light dust onto the ground, forming new terrains. This process had constantly been repeating itself.
“It’s beautiful,” Ames complimented.
Han Xiao came to the river and lifted up a pond of liquid light particles. Looking at the gold-like liquid flowing through his fingers, he could not help but say, “This place is heavily light polluted.”
“… Did you have to break the atmosphere like that?” Ames said with resignation.
“Come on, I’m just telling the truth.”
Han Xiao’s lips curled up. He summoned a few industrial mining devices and said casually, “This place is very unique and has high research value. I’m going to bring some materials back for experiments.”
As he was speaking, he recorded the coordinates of this secondary dimension in the database so that he could come again. After some pondering, he decided to call this secondary dimension ‘Nation of Light’.
After Han Xiao was done with all that, he then deployed some space stabilization anchors to prevent the Holy Light Particle from escaping. He patted the Mysterious Energy Host and said, “Okay, it’s time to force the Holy Light Particle out.”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy had been looking forward to this for a long time. As soon as he received the order, he instantly released waves of red energy into the ground without hesitation, forming an enormous expanding spider net.
When Han Xiao silently counted to 221, Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy finally reacted and said with an evil tone, “I’ve found it. It’s sleeping as expected. Watch me wake it up!”
As soon as the sentence ended, Han Xiao and Ames felt the ground under them tremble.
The next moment, the entire space started trembling, mountains and all.
Boom!
Before the two of them could start to observe the surroundings, an enormous light fountain gushed out from under the ground, turning into a holy-looking mass of gold light. At its core was a blindingly bright sphere, as if there was another sun in the sky.
At this time, a red stream of Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was inside this white gold sphere of light. Like cold water poured into boiling oil, it triggered extremely violent reactions.
With the appearance of this mass of light, a furious and irritated energy impact expanded instantly.
“Mosanil! You attacked me again in my sleep! I’m definitely going to kill you today!”
“Narusus, doesn’t my energy taste good? Did you miss it?” The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy chuckled.
Hearing this, Han Xiao’s mouth twitched.
From this exchange, it sounded like this was not the first time…
Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy turned to look at Han Xiao and said with a smile, “This is the Holy Light Particle you guys talked about. It’s in a bad mood after waking up. I’ll leave the rest to you.”
Primal Esper Ability Entities were all ancient and had their own names. ‘Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’ and ‘Holy Light Particle’ were just the names the outside world assigned to them.
The Holy Light Particle hastily approached and finally realized the others. Seeing the Mysterious Energy Host, its rage vanished, switching right to joy.
“Hmm? You’ve been made into a puppet again? Hahaha, karma! You deserved it!”
“Don’t be too happy. You’re next.” Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy smiled coldly.
The Holy Light Particle looked at Han Xiao and Ames. He then said with a displeased tone, “Humph, you’re low as always, helping the enemies obtain my body, hoping to drag me down… The two of you kids from the main universe, I don’t care how he tricked you, but I’m not interested in playing with you. Get the hell back to the main universe and stop bothering me.”
Han Xiao did not mind. He took out a tin shaped device, tilted his head, and said, “Are you going to come in yourself, or do you want me to help you?”
Hearing this, the Holy Light Particle instantly became much brighter, giving off a tsunami-like energy shockwave as if it was giving its all. The entire space trembled slightly. With an over the top confident tone, he said, “I’m no weakling like Mosanil Are you prepared to face the consequences of trying to catch me‽”
Thirty seconds later…
“Stop stop stop, it hurts. I admit my defeat.”
The Holy Light Particle had shrunk countless times and was contained in the tin like a pool of gold liquid. The containment device was buzzing with an electromagnetic field.
Han Xiao shook the device and made the Holy Light Particle stagger a few times.
“That’s it?” Ames was speechless.
She had thought that the Holy Light Particle was very strong and was already prepared to fight. To her absolute surprise, after one slap from Han Xiao, the Holy Light Particle was already done for. It was way too weak.
Han Xiao, of course, was not surprised. In the face of a peak Beyond Grade A, Primal Esper Ability Entities would not be able to do much. He only found the fact that the Holy Light Particle was so confident strange.
Seeing his old friend get beaten up, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was now the one gloating. He moved beside the containment device and chuckled. “Welcome, with you as my company, I won’t be lonely anymore.”
“Mosanil! I’ll murder you sooner or later!” The Holy Light Particle was in despair.
Han Xiao tapped on the glass of the containment device and interrupted them. “You’ll have plenty of time to communicate in the future. Answer my question first. What abilities do you have?”
The Holy Light Particle said with rage, “I’m telling you, I won’t give in as easily as Mosanil. Even if you torture me, I won’t…”
Thirty seconds later…
The Holy Light Particle obediently lay at the bottom of the containment device, shivering while explaining his abilities.
“My most basic abilities are physique enhancement, superspeed flight, and dimension crossing. I can also give others the power of holy light. I have the ability to attack as well. My host can use me to punish evil. There are two criteria for judging what or who’s evil. One is the belief of my host, and the other is the target’s own conscience and understanding of their crimes. The more severe the crime, the stronger the power of the punishment will be… Also, I can purify filth, helping the target to get rid of related negative states, as well as heal to a certain extent…”
The Holy Light Particle poured everything out.
As Han Xiao nodded and listened, he also complained about the Holy Light Particle in his mind. From just his name, he thought this guy would be pure and virtuous, only to realize he changed his attitude instantly after he got beaten up. He was just as shameless as Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. Was it because they had lived too long?
In terms of punishing evil and purifying filth, the abilities of the Holy Light Particle did indeed match its ‘holy’ style. However, the criteria were quite emotionally dependent. Its strength would only be maximized when its host was a person of justice with strong beliefs.
Compared to all that, what Han Xiao cared more about was its ability to gift others the power of holy light. After some questioning, he was pleasantly surprised.
Holy light itself was considered a type of multi-dimensional energy. It was not rare and could be used by both high-level Mechanics and Mages. It had mind energy characteristics. However, although holy light was not rare, it was not something ordinary people could use.
The Holy Light Particle, however, could gift any intelligent species ‘Holy Light Seed’. As long as the target trained hard, fertilized the seed with beliefs and determination to make it blossom, the target would have control of holy light energy, which could be further enhanced. This meant that the Holy Light Particle could provide an extra class with growth potential, allowing ordinary people to have power from nothing, and Supers could obtain this ability.
However, since the requirement was that one had to obtain ‘Holy Light Seed’ and the gifted energy could be retrieved by Holy Light Particle, it had limited uses and was not included in the five Super classes. It was more like a subclass.
From the Holy Light Particle, Han Xiao came to know that back when the Holy Light Particle had a host, it used a method to enhance its host’s strength—it retrieved the matured Holy Light Seed from others. This was equivalent to taking the fruits of hard work from others and making all of their hard work its own.
After hearing its experience, the way Han Xiao looked at the Holy Light Particle became much friendlier.
Not bad, didn’t expect you to be in the leek industry too.
Han Xiao believed in ‘seeing is believing’, so he told the unwilling Holy Light Particle to use this ability on him. A stream of warm gold energy flowed into his body, and a notification popped up on the interface.
_____________________
You have received ability [Holy Light Seed].
[Holy Light Seed]: Passive ability. This is the base of the power of holy light. It has to be nurtured by belief. After maturing, you can awaken subclass [Holy Light Emissary]. Belief Value required 0/5000. (Belief Value can be increased through meditating, mind training, punishing criminals, and so on.)
_____________________
I see… This ability has a very high strategic value. If the energy given out isn’t retrieved, I can turn many ordinary people who don’t have the talent to become Supers into holy light warriors. This way, the fundamental combat capability of the army will increase tremendously.
This was a surprise. Maybe he could even sell this to the players. It seemed to have quite a high potential.
However, Evans did not display this ability in his previous life, so it probably had some limits.
After some questioning, Han Xiao got the answer.
As expected, every Holy Light Seed was a tiny bit of core essence granted by the Holy Light Particle, and its core energy recovered at a very slow speed. If he used too much, he would be heavily damaged together with its host.
“I seem to have a way to make its energy recover quickly…” Han Xiao pondered.
He had some ideas, but this was not the time to test them, so he kept the containment device.
Han Xiao also told the Holy Light Particle to take back the Holy Light Seed in him. He only asked for it to test it; he did not need this subclass himself.
According to his original thoughts, he wanted to also make a host for the Holy Light Particle. However, the way he looked at it now, that might not be the best choice.
Han Xiao looked at the interface. [The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s Arch Enemy] was already shown as complete.
He received 2.4 billion Experience and two Character Summon Cards. As expected, they were from the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and Holy Light Particle. The abilities were not too rare; they were the ability to suck the energy out of a planet’s core and Holy Flame Judgement. Although the two of them were already in his hands, these two Character Summon Cards were better than nothing.
What Han Xiao was more concerned about was the newly activated milestone mission [Primal Esper Ability Collector].
_____________________
[Primal Esper Ability Collector (Unactivated)]: Activation requirement—Have at least 4 Primal Esper Ability Entities. Current progress 2/4.
Effects: When you fight Espers, all your attributes will increase slightly. 12% – 20% damage reduction from Espers.
Reward: [The Third Sanctum] Ability Fragment * 1
_____________________
Han Xiao was stunned.
The Third Sanctum? What on earth is this? I seem to remember that I also have the Ability Fragment of the First Sanctum? Could these be connected?
This question had been troubling him for quite some time, but he had not found any clues.
He suppressed the curiosity in his heart and looked at the effects of the milestone. It was targeted at Espers and was quite useful.
The mission requirement is to have four Primal Esper Ability Entities, which means I will need two more. That is quite difficult, mainly because they’re hard to find. I’ll just try my best…
As he had expected, dealing with the Holy Light Particle was a piece of cake. Once business was done, Han Xiao went sightseeing with Ames in the Nation of Light for a while, and when he had collected enough sample material, the two of them left this secondary dimension and headed for the next stop—Land of Dead Silence.
…
As lights flickered, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy brought Han Xiao and Ames to the Land of Dead Silence following the coordinates from Kirkmond.
After seeing the environment there, Han Xiao could not help but exclaim, “Wow, this place really does look quite scary.”
This secondary dimension had only dark colors, the spatial wall had countless holes. Violent chaotic space streams continuously invaded and raged. The sky was filled with infinite space storms flickering in dark blue and purple. Below them was a black desolate desert. Many places were devoured by chaotic space streams and turned into the void. This land was torn into separated broken islands.
Having felt something, Han Xiao took out the revive token he had been wearing and realized it was heating up—it reacted to this place as expected.
“This means that the Land of Dead Silence really is connected to Hila…”
Han Xiao released his senses and searched the entire secondary dimension, only to find nothing special.
Just as Kirkmond said, this secondary dimension was close to dying. There was nothing there.
This time, Ames shook her head and said, “Looks like Hila will have to come here personally to notice something.”
Han Xiao nodded in agreement. Hila’s ability probably had some resonance with the Land of Dead Silence and might be able to activate some unique event. Although he was stronger, he clearly did not meet the requirements.
“At least we investigated the place for her, so it’ll be easier for her to come next time.” Han Xiao recorded the coordinates of this dimension in the database.
Just as the two of them were about to leave, a powerful life energy source suddenly appeared out of nowhere and entered the range of their senses.
The two of them looked over and saw a silhouette covered in wounds falling out of a chaotic space stream, coincidentally into the space wall hole of the Land of Dead Silence.
Ames blinked and wondered, “Hmm? This person looks somewhat familiar…”
…
At the same time…
“Your Excellencies, the radar has locked onto the target!”
Inside the spaceship command room, Law and Fay quickly looked at the map.
“This isn’t the same person we met earlier, right?”
“No, he’s in another secondary dimension. This is the second peak Beyond Grade A signal detected.”
After making sure they were not mistaken, Law instantly ordered, “Okay, lock onto the new target and advance at full speed!”
…
In Evil Convergence…
God only knew what violent treatment the space wall received. Like a balloon, it expanded and cracked from within, causing this secondary dimension to lose all its defenses. The green evil energy everywhere that was full of life earlier looked like it had lost all energy as it was blown away by the chaotic space stream together with all the bodies here, disappearing without a trace.
This special secondary dimension that gave birth to lives had now turned into a wreckage with only silence and death. It was quickly dying.
Clotti shattered the head of the last Beyond Grade A, turned up to look at the space storm raging around him, and frowned. He was not satisfied with his performance.
“It’s been too long since I’ve fought. I’ve really gotten rusty and accidentally used too much strength. He managed to escape with the chaotic space stream.”
Chapter 1075 Escaping from the Tiger's Den into the Wolf's Nes
A green ball of light floated in the space storm. It was Traveler, who was protecting himself with a magic shield.
At this point of time, he was no longer in the state of madness affected by Evil Convergence. Although his skin was still pale, he did not give off an evil vibe anymore. His mental state had also returned to normal, only filled with fear and frustration.
In order to ambush Clotti, Traveler had gathered the friends he had made in the secondary dimension in the past. He had thought that with a total of four Beyond Grade As, with the help of the fact that they were in the Evil Convergence secondary dimension, they would be able to force Dark Lord away at the very least.
However, reality slapped him right on his cheeks.
Clotti was way too strong. He had a Super High Risk Esper Ability to begin with, and it had evolved to a very high level. His area damage was explosive. Through simulating the phenomenon of a mini big bang with his dark energy, he thrashed the entire Evil Convergence secondary dimension and broke the space wall from within.
If he was just powerful by himself, the four of them would still have had the chance to escape. However, what gave Traveler the most despair was the fact that Clotti had not just one but many Universal Treasures!
As a peak Beyond Grade A directly under the dynasty’s command and the personal guard of the Ruler, Clotti was not short on Universal Treasures. To make his mission easier, the dynasty had given him many Universal Treasures to use.
Before executing the mission, Clotti had taken five Universal Treasures from the dynasty’s stash, increasing his strength by a large extent. When he went all out, he easily killed three Beyond Grade As who had yet to surpass the 52,000 Energy Rank.
Traveler was the only one who had escaped with the help of the chaotic space stream when his wife, the Evil Convergence secondary dimension, was being murdered.
Without Evil Convergence, his strength had plummeted back to the level of ordinary Beyond Grade As. His hard work over all these years had gone right down the drain. His heart was hurting so much it felt like someone was suffocating it.
However, one good thing was that the enemy could no longer track him using Evil Convergence. As long as he hid well, he would be safe.
“As long as I’m alive, it means I still have a chance.”
Traveler’s heart was filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.
Furthermore, there was still hope of rising again…
Traveler lowered his head and opened his palm. An irregular shaped greenish-purple fragment lay quietly in his hands like a piece of glass.
This was the core fragment of Evil Convergence. As long as he planted it in another secondary dimension with a special method, there would be a chance for it to regrow into a new Evil Convergence. Only, it would take a very long time.
“All I have to do is avoid the Crimson Dynasty’s pursuit. When they give up, I’ll have more than enough time to recover. Looks like I’ll have to hide in the secondary dimensions for decades or maybe even a century… Fortunately, I still have a long life span.”
Traveler breathed a sigh of relief, cleared the shadow of failure, and motivated himself.
Surviving a disaster meant that fortune was ahead!
At this time, inside the space storm, three cracks in the space wall suddenly appeared. It was unknown which secondary dimensions they led to.
Inside space storms, space wall cracks were the only exits, or one would be forever lost inside chaotic space streams.
“What a surprise to see exits so soon. Looks like my luck is about to change for the better.” Traveler’s eyes sparkled. Without hesitation, he directly chose one of the cracks and flew right in.
The next moment, the world in front of him changed into a secondary dimension filled with countless holes. Inside it were countless shattered black islands. It was dead silent.
Traveler passed through the space wall and fell into this secondary dimension. Before he could be glad about escaping death, he immediately saw a man and a woman inside the secondary dimension looking up at him. They were not wearing helmets.
When he saw their appearances, Traveler’s smile turned stiff on his face, and sweat ran down his forehead.
Black Star and Dragon Emperor!
What the hell? Why are the two of them here?
I just escaped from one, now I’ve run into two more‽
Traveler’s eyes almost popped out. Before he could think of anything else, he immediately stopped his falling body and quickly returned the way he had come from, toward the chaotic space stream above.
“Don’t run!” Ames reacted instantly. She reached out and pulled. A powerful force field grabbed onto Traveler’s body and pulled him to her.
Traveler was heavily injured to begin with. Furthermore, losing Evil Convergence had damaged him even more. He was in an extremely horrible state at this point and could not escape Ames’ force field at all.
“I can’t fall here!” Traveler ignored all consequences and used secret techniques to stimulate his exhausted mind and body. He forcefully started to generate magic energy and cast spells.
A teleportation gate started appearing beside him.
However, before he finished casting the spell, a sudden movement restricting force field interrupted his channeling.
Below him, Ames’ eyes that were usually lazy turned sharp and stared at Traveler. A force field overflowed from her brows.
Buzz!
Force Field: Gaze of the Dragon!
Traveler’s body was instantly fixed in midair!
Before he could respond, in the blink of an eye, Ames appeared before him using Void Travel. She raised her hand and softly pressed on his forehead.
The next second, a raging force field gushed out from Ames’ palm into Traveler’s body.
Force Field—Stress Tear Down!
The force field inside Traveler’s body pulled him in all directions, forming countless forces that reacted with each other.
Snap!
Countless sounds of bones cracking and muscles being torn apart sounded in Traveler’s body. An immense sense of agony erupted and flooded every single one of his nerves, so much so that he could not even control the contorted expression on his face.
Hong!
Flowers of blood exploded from every part of his body. He let out silent screams with his mouth opened wide as he bathed in blood.
His heavy injuries immediately got even worse.
This time, with coldness in her eyes, Ames raised one leg. A highly condensed force field formed an extremely sharp cutting force on her calf as she slashed down.
Force Field—Dragon Axe!
Swoosh!
Ames’s long leg slashed down from Traveler’s shoulder. Like a hot knife cutting through butter, Traveler’s entire arm was cut away!
She did not give Traveler any chance to respond. Following the momentum, she stepped on Traveler’s neck and dashed down, falling onto a shattered black island below, pressing the barely alive Traveler under her foot.
Only this time did Han Xiao slowly fly over and look at the fearsome expression on Ames’ face with surprise.
“How come you’re so violent all of a sudden? It’s not like you.”
Without turning around, Ames stared at the Traveler below her foot and coldly said, “When Hila was being attacked, he came to attack Black Star Palace. I did not know what was going on; only afterward did I roughly guess that he wanted to lure your Lord’s Avatar out to divert your energy. However, you planned ahead and told me to stay in Black Star Palace, which prevented it from happening.”
Facing Traveler, Ames did not hold back at all. Not only because Traveler was on the side of those enemies who tried to kill Hila but also because these people had forced Han Xiao to pay the price of burning his potential. From the way she looked at it, Han Xiao did not talk about it because he did not want Hila to feel bad. Ames understood Han Xiao’s intentions, but she never forgot it.
In her eyes, this trip to the secondary dimension was mainly to stroll with Han Xiao, but part of it was also to look for Traveler and make him pay.
Once they met, Ames immediately went all out without hesitation.
Han Xiao tutted, looked at the heavily injured Traveler on the ground, and chuckled. “Yoho, what a lucky day it is today. I was just thinking about looking for you, but you came right to me.”
Veins were exposed on Traveler’s frustration- and hatred-filled face.
After finally getting out of Dark Lord’s nightmare, he came right to Black Star’s barrel.
He had escaped a tiger’s den and entered a wolf’s nest!
After such extreme fluctuations in his mood, Traveler was completely exhausted and did not even have the energy to complain about how unfair fate was to him.
Being so unlucky, he had nothing to say and could only let out a long sigh in his mind.
This means the world wants me dead!
Han Xiao looked at the wounds caused by Dark Lord on Traveler’s body and asked curiously, “Who did you meet? How did you end up so heavily injured?”
Traveler kept silent and looked like he was not afraid of death. When he was not affected by Evil Convergence, he was quite sane. Since he knew he would not have the slightest chance of surviving, he was not planning to beg for mercy.
“Yo, you’ve got quite the backbone.” Han Xiao chuckled. “However, I wonder how the Star Arc Civilization will react to your death. You don’t have to deny it. Since I can accurately name the civilization you work for, I’d have enough proof for it.
The moment Han Xiao said that, the expression on Traveler’s face changed drastically into disbelief as he looked at Han Xiao.
When he moved in the outside world, he had always disguised himself as a neutral Beyond Grade A who accepted hires from different civilizations, all to cover the fact that he belonged to a Super Star Cluster civilization. His true identity had always been a secret. The Star Arc Civilization was indeed the Super Star Cluster civilization he secretly worked for, and the outside world had no idea.
This way, no matter what he did, nothing would be connected to his civilization. This was also the reason he could mess around without having to worry.
However, the identity he had always been hiding was suddenly exposed by Han Xiao. He immediately lost his cool and panicked.
Subconsciously, he wanted to deny it, but having heard Han Xiao’s certain tone and seeing his expression, it was clear that this was not a trick. He did indeed have hard proof.
“H-how did you…”
“How did I know?”
Han Xiao finished his sentence, smirked, and said, “Sorokin told me.”
Initially, he was just throwing the blame on someone else out of habit. However, Traveler’s reaction surprised him.
“I knew it!” Traveler clenched his teeth. “He noticed something. The upper echelons shouldn’t have worked with him!”
Hmm? Sorokin really is involved in this too? Han Xiao was the one who was slightly shocked this time.
He had thought that it was the Super Star Cluster civilization that wanted to escalate the conflict between the three Universal Civilizations. He did not expect Sorokin to be related to Traveler coming to attack Black Star Palace.
Looks like I’ve accidentally discovered some interesting information…
On the surface, Han Xiao’s expression remained the same as he smiled and said, “Since I know your identity, you’d better tell me everything from the beginning. Otherwise, you know the consequences. The Star Arc Civilization will be blamed for all of this. I, however, might be able to help you with that.”
If Traveler was all alone, he would be able to face death without any worries. However, according to the information Han Xiao had from his previous life, Traveler was absolutely loyal to the Star Arc Civilization. Now that what he cared about most was exposed, Han Xiao had control of his weakness.
Furthermore, Traveler hated Sorokin deeply for telling this to Black Star and was worried he might tell even more people. Hence, he told the truth about the agreement he had with Sorokin.
This was not just compromising. He was also trying to use this to direct Black Star’s hate toward Sorokin. He was hoping this would indirectly lead to Han Xiao killing Sorokin.
Traveler explained everything truthfully from the start. Only then did Han Xiao see the full picture of this incident. He caressed his chin and said with a deep voice, “Sorokin… so you’re the one who convinced the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Plus, you’re on the opposite side of the united Beyond Grade A battlefront…”
Connecting the information Traveler gave with the limited information he had from his previous life, Han Xiao roughly understood Sorokin’s true intentions.
All that about maintaining balance of the universe and Beyond Grade As knowing when to be satisfied, he was just hiding his own ambition.
There were two paths to higher power. One was to become stronger and step into the higher territory; the other was to reduce the number of competitors. Sorokin took the latter approach. From the way Han Xiao looked at it, this guy would love for the universe to have fewer than ten Beyond Grade As. He basically wanted to have all the power alone.
The fewer high-level combatants, the less resistance he would face, which led to him wanting to reduce the numbers of Beyond Grade As. Hence, he used factions’ differences to trigger conflicts between Beyond Grade As.
Han Xiao had always been wary of Sorokin. Only, he never really knew his goals for sure. Now that he finally knew about Sorokin’s goal, this meant that this powerful foe who was hiding in the dark plotting conspiracies was exposed, and he would be able to make more comprehensive preparations against him. Having thought of that, he was in a much better mood.
Putting all those thoughts behind him, Han Xiao pointed at Traveler’s wounds and asked, “What about your wounds? Who’s chasing you?”
Traveler glared at Han Xiao with sorrow and rage. He clenched his teeth and said, “Dark Lord from your Crimson Dynasty!”
“Hmm? He’s here too?” Han Xiao was surprised. As he recalled that Dark Lord had just quit from being the captain of the Ruler’s personal guards, it occurred to him.
It seemed the Dynasty Ruler was not happy about the temporary cooperation between the federation and the church. Plus, there were the issues surrounding the Flickering World and the Evolutionary Totems. She wanted to set an example for high-level combatants. Hence, she sent Dark Lord after the enemy to send a warning to those organizations with ulterior motives… Speaking of which, to peak Beyond Grade As at Dark Lord’s level, the position of personal guard captain was more of a chain than a benefit.
Hearing how Clotti easily shattered Traveler’s ambush, Han Xiao could not help but praise him.
Han Xiao thought for a while and activated the King mechanical suit’s communication system. He found the Crimson Dynasty’s A000 Outpost Station and called in.
Unlike the main universe, the secondary dimension was not covered by the quantum network, so many areas had no signal. However, Han Xiao took a super long-range quantum base station with him everywhere he went, so this was not a problem. Clotti also wore the dynasty’s specially-made mechanical suit that was equipped with a fixed directional communication device that allowed him to contact the dynasty’s outpost station any time. This also prevented him from going missing. Hence, Han Xiao decided to call the dynasty’s outpost station and ask them to direct the call to Clotti.
Since Traveler was Dark Lord’s mission target, Han Xiao felt that he had to notify Clotti about it, or he would think Traveler had escaped and would continue to waste energy in the secondary dimensions searching for him.
After a while, the communication finally went through. Clotti’s remote projection appeared in front of him. He was frowning.
“Black Star, what are you calling for?”
They were both pillars of the dynasty, but due to the differences in their positions and identities, the communication between them had been very limited. The relationship was also not close, limited to just work colleagues.
“Traveler is here with me. I’ve captured him…”
Han Xiao briefly explained the situation.
After Han Xiao finished, Clotti replied with very few words. “I’ll go there to confirm.”
“Okay.” Han Xiao paused and sent the coordinates to Dark Lord.
Clotti nodded and slowly said, “By the way, when Traveler escaped, he took a core fragment of Evil Convergence. Search carefully. It should still be in his hands.”
Then, his remote projection disappeared as he hung up the call, showing no intention of chatting.
“How unfriendly,” Han Xiao murmured. He then turned to look at Traveler, extended his hand, and said, “Core fragment, take it out.”
Traveler clenched his teeth, reluctantly took out Evil Convergence’s core fragment, and handed it over to Han Xiao like giving his wife away.
Han Xiao placed it in his hand.
This was the key for Traveler to summon Evil Convergence, like the lamp core of the Shadow Lantern. With the core fragment as the medium, one could use the special energy of the respective secondary dimension.
However, now the Evil Convergence was no more, this core fragment could only be used as the tinder. However, knowing the crazed state Traveler was in when he used it, he had no plans to become the new husband of Evil Convergence.
Han Xiao kept this loot and thought about how to deal with Traveler.
According to him, the best was, of course, to seal him in Spacetime Amber. However, Dark Lord’s mission was to kill him, and it did not seem like Ames would be satisfied with that result either.
Buzz!
As he was thinking, the senses of all three of them felt the appearance of a new signal.
The three of them looked over simultaneously and saw that the space wall in the distance had cracked open, and a small fleet came out of it.
Before the three of them had time to think, this fleet briefly adjusted its direction and turned right toward the three of them. It was clear that they were not there on friendly terms.
Inside the main ship command room, Law stared at the confused Han Xiao on the screen and yelled, “We’re correct this time. That’s Black Star! All fleets, lock onto the target. Prepare to fire!”
Chapter 1076 An Organization That Should Not Have Appeared in This Era
Han Xiao looked at this quickly approaching fleet. There were no organizations’ symbols on their spaceships, so their identity was unknown. Han Xiao was confused.
Seeing that the enemies did not plan to stop, Han Xiao was prepared to fight.
However, as he was just about to attack, a crack opened at the space wall not far away again—Clotti had arrived.
The next moment, this fleet stopped moving.
“What’s going on with this fleet?”
Han Xiao looked at this fleet wondering. This time, Clotti flew over, so he turned to him and greeted him.
“Your Excellency Dark Lord.”
“Hmm, Black Star.” Clotti nodded slightly. He then turned to look at the barely alive Traveler under Ames’ foot and asked, “How did you meet him?”
“Just a coincidence…”
Han Xiao briefly explained what had happened.
After Clotti heard the story, even his eyes slightly twitched on his usually expressionless face as he softly said, “Well, that’s really unfortunate.”
After he thrashed the Evil Convergence, he had lost track of Traveler. He was just thinking about how he was going to continue chasing after Traveler, but to his surprise, Traveler was so unlucky he met Black Star right after.
He was not curious about why Han Xiao was there. Clotti was not concerned about other Beyond Grade As’ private matters.
“I heard your mission is to kill him?” Han Xiao asked.
Clotti nodded. “Traveler is just one target. The Ruler’s order is to kill if capturing isn’t possible. If captured, he will be publicly executed, which will be broadcast live to the entire universe… Oh, and also interrogate who hired him.”
“You have other hunting targets too?”
Clotti glanced at him and said, “Just some neutral Beyond Grade As who like to be mercenaries.”
“Are they related to the attack on Hila?” Han Xiao was curious.
“Whatever the dynasty says.” Clotti’s tone was completely carefree.
Han Xiao was speechless. Those neutral Beyond Grade As who were marked as targets were most probably innocent in this matter, but unluckily for them, they became the dynasty’s tools to set an example.
Dark Lord was indeed loyal to the dynasty; he showed no care for it at all. The difficult environment these neutral Beyond Grade As lived in could be seen clearly from this matter.
Han Xiao then thought of the Super Star Cluster civilizations and understood. The targets the dynasty had chosen were probably those who were hired by the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Using the attack on Hila as an excuse, the dynasty clearly decided to intimidate the others and cut away the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s feathers.
At the same time, they might hope to imitate the Tragedy Of The Pinnacles to reduce the number of Beyond Grade As using the incident as an excuse.
Han Xiao shook his head, changed the topic, and said, “I interrogated him earlier and got the identity of who’s behind this.”
“Who?”
The communication between the two of them was not private; Traveler heard it too. His expression changed instantly as he stared at Han Xiao nervously, afraid he would spit out the Star Arc Civilization.
However, he saw Han Xiao give him a look.
Traveler instantly understood and hastily interrupted him.
“Sorokin! He hired me to attack Black Star Palace to divert Black Star’s attention and provide indirect assistance to the federation and the church!”
“Him? Isn’t he just a pure businessman?” Clotti frowned and was a little surprised. He glanced at Han Xiao and said, “Do you think that’s believable?”
“I think it’s quite believable. Traveler is just a neutral mercenary; he wouldn’t attack me out of nowhere.”
Han Xiao smiled.
The Star Arc Civilization was indeed related, but Han Xiao had signaled Traveler to hide his identity and blame everything on Sorokin. This way, the dynasty’s hatred would not be diverted and would all go to Sorokin.
Anyway, Sorokin was actually involved, so there would definitely be proof.
Although the Great Mechanic Han was a soon-to-be shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group, he would not help Sorokin just for the sake of dividends. Furthermore, he only just knew that he was secretly plotting against him.
Hence, he wanted to borrow the Crimson Dynasty’s power to cause some trouble for Sorokin, at least make the upper echelons be cautious about that guy.
“… I’ll tell the Ruler. However, I’ll still have to take Traveler back for further interrogation,” Clotti said.
Han Xiao nodded, turned, and patted Ames’ thigh, signaling her to raise her leg. Then, he took out the Spacetime Amber and sealed Traveler up.
While doing this, Han Xiao pointed at the fleet not far away that was trying to stay unnoticed.
“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask, are they your troops?”
Hearing this, Clotti was stunned for a moment. “I thought they were your men.”
He noticed that this fleet was the fleet he had just met earlier as soon as he arrived. Seeing that Han Xiao was together with this fleet, he had thought they were on the same side and that he misunderstood earlier, so he did not pay much attention.
However, from Han Xiao’s perspective, he only gave the coordinates to Dark Lord, and this fleet arrived right before Dark Lord. Hence, he thought this fleet belonged to him.
Both of them had thought this fleet belonged to the other person. Only then did they realize it was a third party.
Having realized that, Clotti opened the public channel and yelled, “Who are you? Why are you following me‽”
From the way he looked at it, having met them twice, the only explanation was that they were following him.
At this time, inside the command room of the fleet, Law and Fay were both going mad.
Initially, they had locked onto Black Star and were just about to attack. However, to their absolute surprise, the first peak Beyond Grade A they marked on their radar moved at the last second and arrived in this secondary dimension.
This sudden situation messed up their plan. The two of them hastily told the fleet to stop and did not dare fire.
Seeing that Black Star was on the same side as the other peak Beyond Grade A, the two of them realized how tough the situation was. If they attacked, things would become much more difficult, and there would be a lot of uncertainties.
They only wanted to attack when Han Xiao was alone, so they wanted to make an excuse and retreat to find another opportunity.
Hearing Clotti’s question, Law had no choice but to use the excuse he gave when they first met.
“Your Excellency Beyond Grade A, we didn’t expect to meet you again. We only came here to explore because we detected special energy here, but we never thought it would be you again. We’ll leave now.”
Then, Law was just about to tell the fleet to turn around and leave, but this time, Clotti stopped them and said with a cold tone, “Never mind one time, but this is the second time, and you’re still using the same excuse. Do you think I’ll believe you?”
Clotti did not believe in coincidences. He had already suspected their identity earlier, but back then, his focus had been on the mission, and he did not want to get involved in meaningless trouble. Now, however, Traveler was already dealt with, so he did not plan to let this mysterious fleet go again.
“It really is a coincidence. We’re just a civilian exploration team…” Law had no choice but to continue faking it.
“Then it’ll be easy. Stop your ships and let us search them. If there really isn’t a problem, I’ll let you leave,” Clotti said with a deep voice.
Hearing this, Law and Fay exchanged looks and communicated with each other telepathically.
“What should we do now? They won’t let us go easily. Are we really going to let them into our ships?”
“You know that’s impossible.”
“Then it looks like we have no choice…”
The two of them were both in an extremely bad mood. They completely did not want to attack in this kind of situation.
However, they had already exposed themselves, and there was no way they could let them board their ships.
Law clenched his teeth and slammed the table.
“Fire!”
…
After Clotti proposed to board and investigate, this mysterious fleet suddenly stopped responding.
After waiting for a few seconds, seeing that they were still silent, Clotti said with an even more serious tone, “This is your last warning. If you do not reply within ten seconds, I will crush you!”
Han Xiao was watching Clotti communicate with this mysterious fleet. He thought that they had come for Dark Lord, so he just watched on.
Hearing Clotti’s warning, Han Xiao thought about it and said, “No need to attack. I can hack into those spaceships and control them, search through their database, and find out who they are.”
Clotti pondered for two seconds, nodded, and said, “Alright, then I’ll trouble you too…”
Before his sentence finished, a sudden change occurred!
The few battleships suddenly fired without any warnings. Cone-shaped solid bullets shot out and headed to the few of them, dragging long paths of flame behind.
“Solid bullets?”
Although the regular weapons at his level had already become dark energy and psionic energy blasters, Han Xiao did not underestimate solid bullets. This was because since they had the ability to travel between secondary dimensions, the gunpowder inside those solid bullets would definitely not be ordinary.
Seeing this, Ames raised her hand and locked all the bullets in midair with her force field.
Seeing that the opponents had attacked, Han Xiao immediately activated Virtual Intrusion and attacked the database of these spaceships without hesitation.
However, the instant Han Xiao’s data needle penetrated the spaceships’ artificial intelligence, an invisible force flowed into his brain through the quantum network connection.
Boom!
A powerful shock exploded in his mind, his memory palace suddenly collapsed. Countless sheets of paper representing memories turned into tornados and spun violently.
From Han Xiao’s perspective, countless memory fragments flashed past his mind, and he could not maintain his usual thoughts.
At the same time, a notification popped up on the interface.
_____________________
You have been hacked by [Memory Formatting Virus—Quantum Network Type].
Your class is detected to be [Virtual Mechanic].
[Memory Formatting Virus—Quantum Network Type] has 200% damage on you.
_____________________
“This is…”
Shocked, Han Xiao felt like the world was spinning.
This virus had entered his quantum soul. It was no ordinary debuff. It had messed up his mind on the virtual level, as if an ill-mannered kid had come into his house and flipped around all of his neatly arranged stuff. Han Xiao had no choice but to focus on resisting it.
Seeing his situation, Clotti’s eyes became serious. Dark energy gathered as he launched an attack.
However, the next moment, the tons of [Dimensional Exile Bullet] that were fixed in midair by Ames exploded, releasing expanding chaotic space streams, and devoured Clotti’s attack, transferring it to God knew where.
Not only that, but those chaotic space streams were also tearing the space wall of this Land of Dead Silence, creating more holes.
Seeing this, Ames immediately targeted her force field at those spaceships.
However, the next moment, Fay acted from within the main ship. A fog-like protective shield expanded with her in the center and guarded the fleet, blocking Ames’ force field, clashing with Ames’ strength. Ames was unable to instantly destroy the spaceships.
The next moment, a special disc-shaped device extended from the head of the main ship that was prepared since long ago. It looked like some kind of radar to enhance a certain waveform. It suddenly shook and released a ring of shockwave.
Buzz!
This shockwave passed through Clotti, Han Xiao, and Ames. The three of them suddenly became stiff. The energy they could manipulate any way they wanted usually suddenly started to riot, making controlling their own body much more difficult. It was as if every single cell in their body was fighting against their mind.
_____________________
You have been affected by [High Level Life Form Energy Disorder Shockwave—Beyond Grade A Frequency Type].
Your total level is detected to be Level320.
[High Level Life Form Energy Disorder Shockwave—Beyond Grade A Frequency Type] has a 320% effect on you.
_____________________
“It worked. We don’t have much time!”
Law raised his arm, and his sleeves slid down, exposing an arm guard style metal device on his wrist. This was a special device made to capture Primal Esper Ability Entities. He then pointed it at the Mysterious Energy Host.
Ka-cha!
As if it had suddenly gained a ton of energy, Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy suddenly expanded and destroyed the Mysterious Energy Host from within, instantly escaping.
However, before it could move, an invisible force grabbed onto its body, and it flew uncontrollably toward the fleet.
On the other side, the spaceships were also doing something. The second wave of Dimensional Exile Bullets was shot toward the three of them. Clotti barely used his Esper Ability to form a shield around his body.
However, the chaotic space stream devoured Clotti entirely together with his shield, and he disappeared.
At this crucial moment, Han Xiao barely suppressed the virus in his mind, tried his best, and grabbed Ames’ arm. He activated Void Travel and got out of the range of the Dimensional Exile Bullets.
The next moment, he raised his hand and released a restraining force field, grabbing onto Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s body.
Hu!
Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was like a piece of cloth being pulled from two opposite directions.
Law’s tone became hasty. “Black Star is recovering. We can’t linger any longer, or we’ll certainly die. Take as much as possible!”
Then, his hand sign changed as he activated another function of the device on his wrist, slashing off a small part of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s body.
Like being absorbed by a black hole, this portion of energy flowed into Law’s arm guard.
“Quickly, go!”
After this, the fleet shot one Dimensional Exile Bullet that exploded as soon as it left the barrel. The chaotic space stream devoured the fleet, and it disappeared without a trace.
Only after close to a minute did Ames slowly start to regain control of her body. She took a deep breath and said with a shocked tone, “What were those attacks?”
“They are all special technology invented through Primal Esper Ability Entities…”
Without exterior interference, Han Xiao had already cleared out most of the virus and rearranged his memory palace. He was looking grave.
From the very start, all this fleet used was technology, yet the three of them were forced into an extremely passive state. Han Xiao had a very heavy impression of this special technology, as it had appeared in his previous life.
Be it the Memory Formatting Virus, Dimensional Exile Bullet, or the High Level Life Form Energy Disorder Shockwave, they were all invented through studying different Primal Esper Ability Entities. They had many different uses.
Among them, the Dimensional Exile Bullet had no effects in the main universe, since the space structure of the main universe was completely different from the secondary dimensions. However, in the secondary dimensions, this was powerful technology that could be used in many ways, including splitting up the battlefield, escaping, and damaging secondary dimensions.
The Memory Formatting Virus was a technological product that affected one’s mind. It came from Primal Esper Ability Entities and was improved to be used through the quantum network. It was specially targeted at Virtual Intrusions and took effect when Han Xiao was taken by surprise.
The High Level Life Form Energy Disorder Shockwave mainly targeted strong individuals. The higher the target’s Energy Rank, the more effective it would be. It was basically using an enemy’s own energy against them. However, Beyond Grade As had very high adaptability, so the effect of the High Level Life Form Energy Disorder Shockwave would decrease every time it was used on the same target, as the cells in their bodies had adapted to its effects.
The enemies were focused on studying Primal Esper Ability Entities, so their containment ability was more advanced. Through stimulating Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy, the Mysterious Energy Host was broken, and they were able to snatch part of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s energy.
No matter how strong Supers were, they were still life forms. Since they were life forms, there were ways to deal with them. No one could be considered invincible. Although the technology of the three Universal Civilizations differed, they all had targeted technology for high-level life forms. For example, the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter was one of them. Even the peak Beyond Grade A Milizaus could not take many hits from it. As advanced civilizations developed further, there would only be more technology of that level.
In a direct battle, be it Han Xiao or Dark Lord, they would be able to easily shatter this fleet. However, the enemy were prepared for this while Han Xiao and Dark Lord were not. Through all kinds of targeted attacks and technology, they had taken them by surprise.
Even Clotti fell for it and was exiled into the chaotic space streams. It was unknown when he would return.
However, being able to restrain the movements of the three of them at once was the most they could do. They did not have enough means of attack to hurt the three of them.
“These people’s target isn’t Clotti. They’re here for me.”
Han Xiao contained the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy again. He had a tight frown on his face.
Ames caught what Han Xiao meant in between the lines and asked curiously, “You know who they are?”
“I do indeed.”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
“This is a group of people who shouldn’t have appeared in this era…”
Chapter 1077 Holy Accord and Primordial Ones
Han Xiao paused and did not answer this question. He changed the topic and said softly, “This is a secret organization focused on studying and inventing Esper Ability technology. They’re also a mysterious arms dealer. Their products occasionally appear on the black market, and now they’ve set their eyes on the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy…”
Han Xiao could not give a lot of information to Ames, so he only briefly explained it while being shocked inside.
In his previous life, the first time this organization appeared publicly was during the World Tree Civilization War. As members of the explored universe, they joined the war and fought against the World Tree Civilization’s invasion, using their technology in the war.
However, it was only Version 4.0 Flickering World now, many versions before the World Tree storyline. These people should not have appeared in this era, hence his shock.
The name of this organization was ‘Holy Accord’. It was extremely mysterious even in the very late versions in his previous life. Most of the people who knew about this organization were the offspring of Beyond Grade As.
Other than this Esper Ability technology, there were also many renowned Beyond Grade As in the history who were already confirmed dead who joined the World Tree war together with the Holy Accord. It was as if they had revived and come back to the universe. There were even extremely famous Primordial Ones among them.
This organization, which had a new type of technology, and those high-level combatants became powerful reinforcements to the losing side back then, causing a lot of damage to the World Tree Civilization.
The revival of these Beyond Grade As was a humongous boost to everyone’s morale. However, the reason for their revival was still an enigma to the players. The advanced civilizations locked the information down, so the players had no way of finding out anything about it. Therefore, even Han Xiao did not know the truth behind it.
However, although the Holy Accord organization’s first appearance was during the World Tree war, it was not the same for the Primordial Ones. During as early as the Calamity of the Supers version, there was already a batch of Primordial Ones who had awakened and become the triggers of the Calamity of the Supers.
Back then, the explanation these Primordial Ones gave to the outside world was that they faked their death during the exploration era and had been sleeping in advanced life-sustaining cabins ever since in order to avoid the bloody exploration era warfare and not die for nothing. They hoped to awaken in the future and conquer the universe in the new era.
However, something seemed to have gone wrong. The place they were sleeping in was also devoured by the flames of war. Their life-sustaining cabins floated in the universe and landed on a desolate island. At the same time, the life-sustaining cabins malfunctioned, causing them to not be able to awaken at their intended time. Hence, they had no choice but to spend countless years in that sleeping state. Although the specially made life-sustaining cabins could slow down the degradation of their body and soul, they were still slowly heading toward their demise.
Coincidentally, when they were close to their end, a research team happened to dig them out and reactivated their life-sustaining cabins. Only then did they awaken from their long sleep. After that, they spent a very long time recovering back to their peak performance.
At that time, the only thing the outside world was sure of was the revival of these Primordial Ones. As for the flaws this explanation had such as how could Beyond Grade As be restrained by these tiny life-sustaining cabins, since there were no ways to prove if that was true, the public had no choice but to believe them.
In conclusion, in the later versions in Han Xiao’s previous life, there were two batches of different Primordial Ones who awakened at different timings. Once during the Calamity of the Supers, once during the World Tree war.
The first batch of Primordial Ones who awakened in the Calamity of the Supers version did not seem to be related to the Holy Accord organization. However, whether they really had nothing to do with the Holy Accord organization or not, the players in his previous life had no way of knowing. Hence, Han Xiao did not know the connection between them.
If these two events were related, the first batch of Primordial Ones who awakened during the Calamity of the Supers probably lied. They might not have returned from life-sustaining cabins.
“The Holy Accord organization…”
Han Xiao pondered over their intentions.
It was clear that this organization had existed for a while but had never interfered with the outside world. Now, they had suddenly attacked him. This meant that the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was extremely important to the Holy Accord organization, so much so that it was worth attacking someone who stood at the peak of the universe. According to the characteristics of the Holy Accord organization, could they be planning to invent some dark new technology with the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy?
If that was the case, the Holy Accord organization might have done something similar in his previous life… Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
Assuming this was true, the Holy Accord organization might have worked with EsGod in his previous life by splitting up other Primal Esper Ability Entities in exchange for the resources in EsGod’s hands, including the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.
This meant that some of those Super High Risk Esper Abilities EsGod possessed in the later versions might have been provided by the Holy Accord organization…
It would not have mattered if Han Xiao did not know, but since he knew that the Holy Accord already existed at this time, he could not help but become deeply interested in them.
“The Holy Accord organization fled right after attacking, thinking they would not expose their identity. They couldn’t have guessed that I knew their identity all along.”
Han Xiao raised his brows and was in a much better mood.
Compared to this huge discovery, suffering a small loss was nothing.
“The dynasty’s Clotti was taken away by the chaotic space stream. Will he be okay?” Ames asked curiously.
“Don’t worry, he’s just lost. With his strength and the Universal Treasures in his hands, he will be able to escape very soon.”
Han Xiao did not worry about Dark Lord. No matter where Clotti ended up, he would be at the top of the food chain in that secondary dimension.
However, since the chaotic space streams could not be tracked, he had no way of fishing Clotti out. This was also the reason the Holy Accord organization used the Dimensional Exile Bullet to send themselves into the chaotic space streams.
Since the Virtual Intrusion had been interrupted by the virus, Han Xiao could not leave any markings in their spaceships. However, he would be more alert next time and clear the virus before it infected him. This kind of trap would not be very useful then.
Han Xiao looked at the containment device of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy. This guy was extremely mad and kept bashing the inside wall of the container while screaming in agony.
“Ahhh! It hurts so much!”
Seeing this, Han Xiao pitied him.
In his previous life, it was also torn apart by others. He had thought that since EsGod had been dealt with, the same thing would not happen to the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy again. Surprisingly, it happened all the same, as if he was fated to be torn apart.
Furthermore, he might have been treated even worse. After all, in his previous life, EsGod simply used his abilities and never tortured him or anything. The Holy Accord organization, however, would definitely study him, which meant that the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy would feel all kinds of pain from that part of his body that was taken away.
Han Xiao pitied him even more and asked, “By the way, how did it feel earlier? Were you unable to control your body?”
“That’s right. I don’t know what method they used. They stimulated my core and caused me to lose control of my body before using an irresistible force to drag me over.”
Han Xiao then asked, “Can you feel the location of that part of your body?”
“Of cou…” Before the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy finished, as if he was suddenly shocked, his entire body shrunk as he yelled, “Ah! My senses are blocked!”
Han Xiao raised his brows but was not surprised.
After all, they were professionals in studying the Primal Esper Ability Entities. There was no way they would leave such an obvious clue to let others chase after them.
“Hahaha!” The Holy Light Particle was rolling on the ground laughing. “Karma! The day has finally come!”
Filled with sorrow and hatred, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy said, “Black Star! Black Star! You have to help me get my body back!”
Han Xiao’s mouth contorted slightly.
Why does it feel like I took away Evans’ screen time?
At this time, as usual, a notification popped up on the interface.
_____________________
You have triggered the mission [The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s Request for Help]!
Mission Introduction: A mysterious organization has taken away part of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s core energy from you. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy hopes you can help him take it back.
Mission Requirements: Retrieve the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s missing core energy.
Reward: 15 billion Experience, 1 Random Reward, +60 Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy Favorability, +1 Holy Light Particle Favorability, [Primal Esper Ability Entity Affinity] talent.
[Primal Esper Ability Entity Affinity]: It’s easier for Primal Esper Ability Entities to accept you.
Remark: This mission might cause unknown consequences. Please accept with caution.
_____________________
“A mission as expected…” Han Xiao started pondering.
The rewards of this mission were nothing extraordinary, but dealing with the Holy Accord organization seemed to be an opportunity to complete [Primal Esper Ability Collector].
If he had to find Primal Esper Ability Entities without owners, it would take God knew how long to find four. Now, however, he had met the Holy Accord organization, which professionally studied Esper Ability technology, so they definitely had some inventory. If he could snatch it, this milestone would be completed easily.
Han Xiao made his decision and responded.
“Alright then, I give you my word. However, they won’t be so easy to find.”
“It’s fine as long as you’re willing to help me.” The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was overjoyed.
Black Star was not his master and only saw him as a tool, so he had no right to ask for his help. Even without a part of his body, he would still be useful. Therefore, he had actually been quite afraid Han Xiao would not agree to help him.
Han Xiao comforted the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy for a while. Then, he took out a spare Mysterious Energy Host and stuffed it in, not giving it much time to recover from its psychological wounds.
This time, Ames looked around at the raging chaotic space streams around, frowned, and said, “The chaotic space streams these people released caused heavy damage to the Land of Dead Silence. If left alone, this secondary dimension might shatter before Hila comes in the future.”
Han Xiao looked around as well. The already broken space wall of the Land of Dead Silence had even more holes in it.
This secondary dimension was related to Hila, so the two of them could not leave it to shatter. Han Xiao summoned lots of space-related devices to stabilize the dimension.
The thickness of the space wall depended on the core energy of the secondary dimension. Only with enough energy would the space wall regenerate itself and continue to expand. The only thing Han Xiao could do now was guide the chaotic space streams that the Dimensional Exile Bullets created out and reduce the pollution.
This was a tough progress. The two of them spent quite some in the Land of Dead Silence before Han Xiao finally got rid of the chaotic space streams inside.
At this time, the two of them suddenly realized that the revive tokens they were wearing became hotter at an extremely quick pace.
At the same time, a golden light suddenly appeared on a shattered black island far away.
Han Xiao looked over and was slightly shocked.
An orange-gold silhouette suddenly appeared from the black desert. It looked like a spirit and had the appearance of a human female. Its clothes were exquisite. It looked charming, pretty, and rather young, but the look in its eyes gave a vibe that it was very old. It was looking at Han Xiao and Ames.
Seeing this, the two of them were both slightly surprised.
They had already scanned this entire secondary dimension when they arrived, and they were certain they did not sense any life form. Now, however, a strange silhouette had appeared out of thin air. It was clear it had avoided their detection.
Han Xiao was still on alert after the attack of the Holy Accord organization earlier. He was prepared to fight.
At this time, the revive token on the two of them shockingly started to float. This silhouetted pointed at the two revive tokens and sent a telepathic message.
“Tell me, what is the relationship between the two of you and the creator of these two coins?”
…
Inside the chaotic space streams, the Holy Accord organization’s fleet was floating.
Inside the command room, Law held the containment device up and observed the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy fragment. Unsatisfied, he sighed.
“Sigh, Black Star’s regenerative ability is too strong. These products given to us by the organization have very limited effects on him. Without enough time, this tiny bit of Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy is all we could get.”
“Be glad. At least the minimum requirements are met and the synthetic materials are all gathered. If we were too greedy and did not retreat instantly, our spaceship might have been taken by Black Star,” Fay said softly.
Although they had achieved the minimum goal of this mission, the two of them knew how close they were to being obliterated. They felt tremendous fear toward Han Xiao.
“This attack was a success, but it has made him cautious too. The next time we meet him, we won’t be able to achieve what we did today. Furthermore, he’ll most likely report the technology we displayed to the dynasty, which will bring some risks to the organization.” Law was worried.
Fay, however, was more optimistic. “Luckily, the mission was completed. It doesn’t matter if Black Star is cautious now. We won’t have to deal with him in the future again. There won’t be a next time.”
“You’re right.”
After chatting for a while, Law put the containment device away. Suddenly, he thought of something and said, “By the way, I seem to recall that the information about the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy shows that it’s the Holy Light Particle’s arch-enemy and that their energies conflict with each other. Maybe we can invent a special sensor through this characteristic it has to find the Holy Light Particle.”
“Hmm, you’re right. The Holy Light Particle has been missing for many years. God knows where it’s hiding. There are no clues about it at all. It’s also an important synthetic material, so the organization will probably heed your suggestion and target the Holy Light Particle next.”
Chapter 1078 Underworld and Heritage
Han Xiao held onto the revive token, felt its vibration, and asked curiously, “What are you?”
“I’m the consciousness entity of the Underworld. Simply put, I’m the butler of this secondary dimension. You can call me by my name, Onicelu.”
Dimensional consciousness entity… I thought that even if a near shattered secondary dimension had a consciousness entity, it would have already perished… Han Xiao was surprised.
A dimensional consciousness could only be born in extremely few secondary dimensions. Having one was equivalent to the secondary dimension turning from a lifeless dimension to a type of life form. For example, the Evil Convergence.
Dimensional consciousness entities were at an even higher level. It meant that the secondary dimension had ignited the sparks of intelligence. In comparison, the Evil Convergence was merely a beast.
Dimensional consciousness entities could control all the energy in the secondary dimension. In the eyes of some, they were basically like gods. Some religions even made sculptures in the image of dimensional consciousness entities and worshipped them as gods, which was one of the mainstream religions in the main universe.
No wonder they could not sense its existence. Despite this secondary dimension being close to perishing, it was still its territory. The dimensional consciousness entity was this dimension itself. If it was not willing to appear, no one would be able to sense it.
“Then, what is the Underworld?” Han Xiao had a rough guess.
As expected, this dimensional consciousness entity that called itself Onicelu looked down at the black island below it and calmly said, “As you can see, this secondary dimension that’s heading toward its end is the Underworld.”
Han Xiao understood.
The Land of Dead Silence was what that Void Duke Kirkmond called it. It seemed that the Underworld was the formal name of this secondary dimension.
He raised the revive token in his hands and said, “You should have noticed us long ago since you responded to the energy inside this coin. Why have you only appeared now?”
“I just wanted to be certain of your intentions.” Onicelu’s telepathic message was very gentle.
As soon as Han Xiao and Ames entered the Underworld, Onicelu had noticed them. She had been silently observing them. When the two of them helped her fix the environment earlier, only then did she confirm that they had no hostile intentions, so she decided to appear.
Onicelu also had to judge whether these two guys were friends or foes with the creator of these two revive tokens. This was extremely important to her.
Han Xiao wanted to continue asking questions but was interrupted by Onicelu. “I know you have a lot of questions, but I’ve answered enough of your questions. Before you tell me your relationship with the creator of these two coins, I won’t answer any more questions.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao stayed silent and started calculating the pros and cons.
The Hila sisters being related to this secondary dimension was strange. To begin with, now that this dimension had a consciousness entity, it was an even more sensitive matter.
This was because, according to Hila, this dimension was the obstruction between her link with Aurora and had always been silently absorbing the energy they were transferring. Therefore, this consciousness entity’s goal was unknown, and he did not know if he should tell the truth.
However, since there was a dimensional consciousness entity, she would certainly know all the background stories, which meant that Hila would not have to investigate it herself. The only problem was, they had to be sure that she was not lying.
As Han Xiao was pondering, Ames, who was initially just listening, suddenly spoke.
“She’s my student.”
Onicelu turned to look at her and said, “Can you prove it?”
Ames looked at Han Xiao and gave him an eye signal.
“Oh well, since you’ve already told her, I don’t have to think about it anymore…” Han Xiao shook his head with resignation and displayed part of Hila’s information with virtual technology.
“It really is the Power of the Dead…” Onicelu looked like she was relieved. She smiled and said, “She should have an older or younger blood-related sister who has the Vital Energy Esper Ability.”
“… That’s right.” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled, and he nodded.
Onicelu gave the two of them a deep look, placed her palms against each other, and said with a suddenly very serious tone, “I have a request. I hope you guys can bring them here as early as possible… The Underworld needs new inheritors!”
Inheritors?
Han Xiao and Ames exchanged looks of confusion.
“What does that mean? Tell me everything you know, and I’ll relay it to them, but if you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to suspect what your goals are and stop them from coming here,” Han Xiao said with a deep voice.
The term inheritors sounded good, but the Great Mechanic Han was wary this might be a trap, and he would end up putting Hila in danger, so he had to know everything.
“Since I’ve decided to show up, I never planned to keep secrets from you guys.”
Through telepathy, Onicelu shared some of her memories like a grandma telling the story of when she was young.
“It all started as early as the exploration era. In the long war, the first batch of Beyond Grade As was born. History calls them the Primordial Ones. Among the Primordial Ones, there were a pair of sisters whose Esper Abilities synergized with each other perfectly, but they were not related by blood. They were the ‘Controller of Death’ Nerkese and the ‘Mother of All Things’ Eros. Using their abilities, they created this Underworld dimension…
“In the beginning, the Underworld dimension was nothing but a prison used to lock up the dead souls Nerkese had collected, as well as the followers of Eros. However, as the abilities of its two creators kept growing, the Underworld dimension obtained a new function—it became a world to the dead life forms where their consciousness could live forever.
“Since you’re a Mechanic, in your terms, you can understand it as turning the memories and minds of those whose body died into data and uploading it into the virtual world, achieving a form of eternal life. The Underworld dimension is like the server. It stores the souls of countless life forms. Many powerful individuals in the exploration era chose to sleep in the Underworld. Because of that, Nerkese and Eros created me to manage the Underworld, as the grave keeper.
“The two extremely talented founders didn’t stop there. Nerkese’s ability made souls not disappear in the Underworld, and Eros used her ability to create temporary body containers, which allowed those souls to regain life. Then, using the special energy formed by fusing their energy together, they could make the targets have the strength they had when they were alive, till the vital energy acting as their fuel finished. Furthermore, even if their body container died again, their souls could still return to the Underworld. Using this ability, the two of them created an extremely powerful army. To them, the Underworld dimension was also an enormous army camp!”
Hearing Onicelu’s explanation, Han Xiao’s mouth twitched.
Damn, so this is basically Edo Tensei‽
What kind of luck is this‽
Aurora had once mentioned that the Hila sisters’ abilities were rather similar to two of the Primordial Ones, so Han Xiao had done some research. He knew that the Mother of All Things was not as weak as Aurora. She had a ton of followers and had some kind of summoning ability. This was the first time Han Xiao had heard about the details of their abilities.
Basically, the souls of countless strong individuals were stored in the Underworld. Through some kind of revival energy fused from vital energy and death energy, they could carry out ‘Edo Tensei’ and turn them into an enormous army. According to what the dimensional consciousness entity said, it seemed like the Hila sisters could become the inheritors of the Underworld.
Did this not mean that the two of them could take the inheritance of two Primordial Ones? Fortune falling from the sky‽
Spending a lot of time with Feidin indeed led to good things.
While he was being pleasantly surprised, Onicelu’s tone became sorrowful.
“Sadly, after the two founders died, the Underworld death energy had lost its energy supply and started to gradually wither. All the souls fell asleep, including me.”
“How did they die?”
Han Xiao was curious. The cause of death of the two of them was not recorded. It only said they disappeared.
A ton of conspiracy theories appeared in his mind, but Onicelu’s response gave him a big surprise.
“They committed suicide.”
Han Xiao was stunned. “What… Why?”
Onicelu sighed. “They kept developing their abilities, and one day, they had a sudden realization. They had been calling themselves the controllers of life and death all this time, but they had never experienced true death and new life. In their eyes, this was the only path that could develop their Esper Abilities to a higher territory. Hence, they decided to walk into demise to search for the true meaning of life and death…
“Before their death, they told me not to grieve, that destruction is only the beginning of new life and that this is where they belonged. On that day, I watched them leave their bodies behind and end their own lives with my own eyes.”
Han Xiao was puzzled.
Excuse me, what is there to search for when you’re already dead?
Could it be that these two were extremists and never thought of this at all?
Maybe, only those with this kind of mindset could be the first batch of great individuals to break the limit of Beyond Grade As. Maybe this was what it meant to be the Primordial Ones.
As if she understood what Han Xiao’s expression meant, Onicelu shook her head and said softly, “I know what you’re wondering. Before their consciousness completely perished, there was a short moment where they were alive, dead, and in between. At that moment, I received the last message they had left me. They said they’d found the true meaning of life and death.”
“And what’s that?” Han Xiao was intrigued again.
“Heritage.” Onicelu’s tone was soft and gentle. “They said that heritage is the true definition of eternity, forming full circles in the enormous system of life forms.”
Han Xiao was a little bit speechless. Doesn’t everyone know that? You guys killed yourselves just to figure that out? You probably died for nothing!
However, although he really wanted to say that, he knew that knowing something was one thing and experiencing it was another completely different thing.
On many occasions, the key to a higher territory was that kind of sudden flash of insight. This was especially true the stronger the person was.
“Their deaths did not go to waste,” Onicelu said. “They’ll pass down this deepest understanding to the next generation.”
Han Xiao was shocked. With disbelief, he said, “Are Hila and Aurora really the reincarnations of those two Primordial Ones?”
Ames looked surprised hearing this too.
However, Onicelu shook her head.
“Reincarnations? Not at all. They died completely. Their souls perished, and their bodies were also dissolved by me to supply energy to the dimension. Other than this Underworld, they left nothing. They put all of their experience in their Esper Abilities. The Esper Abilities are what’s inherited.”
“I still don’t understand…” Ames was lost.
“After they died, they left the seeds of the Vital Energy Esper Ability and the Death Energy Esper Ability,” Onicelu explained patiently. “These are neither physical nor energy-formed objects but of a higher dimensional data form. I don’t know why that happened, but I know that if I had kept those seeds, no one in the entire universe would have awoken those two Esper Abilities ever.
“Therefore, to complete the dying wish of the two founders and to save myself, I sent these seeds back to the main universe. I knew that one day in the future, they would blossom on two new lives…”
Onicelu paused, smiled, and said, “Do you guys really think it’s a coincidence that there is only one pair of blood-related sisters with Vital Energy Esper Ability and Death Energy Esper Ability in the entire universe?”
Having heard of such a secret, the Great Mechanic Han felt like his fragile heart was shocked.
This meant that Hila and Aurora had no direct connections with those two Primordial Ones at all; they were only chosen by the data-form Esper Ability seeds and became the Vital Energy Esper Ability and Death Energy Esper Ability owners of this generation.
The two Primordial Ones fused their understanding into the data-form Esper Ability seeds so that those who were chosen by them would slowly receive the information and experience within. This was basically indirectly increasing the talents of their inheritors.
No wonder it was so easy for Hila to acquire new abilities and talents!
“Data form…” Han Xiao could not help but have even more speculations.
He still remembers that during one of his Racial Evolutions, there was a [Multi-Dimensional Shadow] option that seemed to be related to data forms.
Before he could think further, Onicelu spoke again softly. “That’s all I know. After the two founders died, the Underworld started to gradually wither and could no longer keep itself sealed from the outside world. Its size started to shrink, its space wall started to break, and souls fell asleep one after another. I had no choice but to store them all in the dimension core to prevent them from perishing. However, I’ve become weaker and weaker. I fell asleep as well. When the Underworld shatters completely, these souls will disappear.
“The energy source of the Underworld is the energy of the Vital Energy Esper Ability and the Death Energy Esper Ability. Not long ago, I finally obtained some of it when I subconsciously absorbed the energy from the sisters of this generation, which barely woke me from my long sleep. Only then did I stop absorbing their energy.”
Han Xiao thought about it. “Not long ago… it should be when Hila and Aurora were studying their life link. No wonder the energy they transferred was absorbed. That makes sense. This means that the Underworld dimension is actually the medium of the life link between them…”
This time, Onicelu shook her head and said calmly, “The bodies of the two Primordial Ones helped me to last a very long time, but that depleted long ago. The Underworld needs stable, long-term energy suppliers. Please bring them here as soon as possible. I don’t know how much longer I can last.”
As soon as she said that, Han Xiao received a notification in the interface.
_____________________
You have triggered the mission [Inheritors of The Underworld].
Mission Introduction: The Underworld is the heritage of the previous owners of the Vital Energy Esper Ability and the Death Energy Esper Ability. The dimensional consciousness entity Onicelu has realized that she is getting weaker every day. She hopes that Hila and Aurora can become the new inheritors.
Mission Requirements: Help Hila and Aurora inherit the Underworld dimension.
Reward: 50 Million Experience, +20 Onicelu Favorability, 1 Character Summon Card.
Bonus Mission Requirement: Help the Underworld return to its peak state.
Bonus Reward: +40 Onicelu Favorability, [Mark of The Underworld].
Han Xiao glanced at the interface and had a rough idea.
According to the basic rewards, he knew that helping Hila to take over the Underworld dimension would probably not be difficult. The only tough part was the bonus requirement—god only knew how much energy it would take for the Underworld to reach its original state, but even draining Hila dry would probably not be enough.
However, since it was an inheritance from the predecessors, there was no reason to reject it.
[Mark of the Underworld] was quite tempting for Han Xiao. Its effect granted him the right to control the secondary dimension to a certain extent, similar to the Mark of Evil Convergence, which Traveler had. At the same time, it would also increase his strength to some extent.
Furthermore, he could also dray the soul of the enemies he killed into the Underworld. This was equivalent to basically getting part of Hila’s power as a part-time soul collector.
Along with the Favorability reward from this mission, it seemed that this mission was saying that he did Onicelu a great favor, so she was willing to let him use her body.
When he thought of it this way, it seemed quite exciting…
Han Xiao searched his memories. In his previous life, Hila did not display any ability related to the Underworld dimension, so the Underworld had probably perished before she discovered it.
After all, the main reason Hila discovered the Underworld came from when she tried creating a life link with Aurora. Without the energy the Underworld absorbed when they transferred energy to each other, Onicelu would not have awakened.
In his previous life, however, Aurora was long gone, and Hila was alone. Without Aurora, she most likely never discovered the Underworld dimension and missed out on the inheritance.
At the same time, even if Hila did obtain the Underworld dimension, without Aurora, they would not be able to summon or Edo Tensei anyone…
In conclusion, the Germinal Organization leader was truly a great man.
All kinds of thoughts flashed past Han Xiao’s mind. In the end, he nodded at Onicelu and said, “Alright, I’ll bring them here very soon to meet you.”
“I’m counting on you.” Onicelu smiled.
Then, she disappeared and hid away. She had already said everything she needed to, and with very limited energy that she had no way of recovering, she did not want to waste any of it.
Han Xiao and Ames were the only ones left. He turned around to look at her and saw that she was pondering. It was clear that she was shocked and had yet to recover.
This was not without its reasons. Initially, the two of them only wanted to come and take a look at the place for Hila. Never did they expect to run into this chain of incidents. First, they met Traveler and beat him into a pulp, then were attacked back an unknown fleet. Clotti went missing, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy became disabled, and in the end, they met the Underworld’s dimensional consciousness entity and discovered this shocking secret. There was too much information to process.
It was said that every lucky guy seemed to run into trouble most easily. Why did he never notice that Ames was talented in this area?
However, overall, Han Xiao was more pleasantly surprised than shocked. He had captured the Holy Light Particle, triggered a few new missions, and obtained some secret information. The rewards of this trip were quite rich.
Although part of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy had been snatched away, it could still use its powers. When he put it this way, it did not seem like he had lost anything at all.
As for the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s agony, Han Xiao was actually not really concerned. As a great man once said, everyone had different reasons to feel sorrowful or joyous, not to mention the difference between people and Esper Ability entities.
Dealing with the Holy Accord would take a lot of planning. The main mission now was to help Hila inherit the Underworld.
Having thought of that, Han Xiao patted Ames’ shoulders and said, “Stop daydreaming. It’s time to leave.”
Ames regained focus and chuckled with joy.
“I never thought Hila and Aurora would meet something like this. I’m proud of my students.”
“Yes yes yes, your students are amazing.” Han Xiao interrupted her. “Having met something like this, we’ll have to cut our schedule short. I’ll have the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy take you back to Black Star Palace to bring Hila here, what do you say?”
“Of course, it’s a great idea.” Ames smiled.
Han Xiao nodded and ordered the Mysterious Energy Host to grab Ames. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared. The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s ability to cross between secondary dimensions was much more convenient compared to mechanical devices. It would not take long for them to return.
He was the only one there. After some thinking, he took out his communicator and called the dynasty’s secondary dimension frontline station. This time, he contacted the dynasty’s person in charge who was stationed there.
After some time, the communication went through, and Guzar’s face appeared before his eyes.
The moment Han Xiao saw this face, he was stunned for a second.
Zhang Fei?
Yoho, I was mistaken. That sure startled me. This is way too similar to Zhang Fei’s face…
This time, Guzar’s loud voice sounded with an impatient tone.
“Black Star, we suddenly lost the location of Dark Lord. Where did he go?”
“We were attacked by a mysterious fleet. He was exiled into the chaotic space streams…” Han Xiao explained the process briefly with emphasis on the technology of the Holy Accord.
“These weaklings actually troubled him? Clotti is really getting rusty,” Guzar murmured with dissatisfaction.
“It happens, it happens…” Han Xiao dry coughed trying to change to the topic.
Guzar caressed his beard and mumbled, “However, their technology is indeed unique. If taken by surprise, I might end up the same way too… Hey, Black Star, do you know their identity?”
“Nope. However, if you guys want to investigate them, I suggest you start with the records of the birth of the Primal Esper Ability Entities. This organization undoubtedly has more than one Primal Esper Ability. Other than that, there’s nothing else I know.”
Han Xiao had very limited knowledge about the Holy Accord organization in this era. Therefore, simply mentioning its name might not only be not very effective but also bring him more trouble.
“Understood, I’ll relay your information up. They dare to attack the dynasty’s man. We will certainly dig them out and teach them a lesson,” Guzar said with a deep voice.
Han Xiao nodded.
Getting the dynasty to chase after the Holy Accord would at least cause them some trouble.
With the power of advanced civilizations, they might really be able to notice something.
Guzar complained for a while to vent his anger before he finally calmed down. He sized Han Xiao up and could not help but give him a passionate invitation.
“Black Star, I have always wanted to meet you. Come to my place if you have the time. We’ll have to know more about each other.”
“There’ll be chances in the future.”
Han Xiao agreed with a smile while being quite contented in his heart.
The fact that a powerful Beyond Grade A actively came to him meant that his networking skills were finally reaching their peak.
The Great Mechanic Han knew who Guzar was; he was a direct Beyond Grade A of the dynasty who was stationed in the secondary dimension. Before this, he had never come into contact with him, but in his memories, this guy seemed quite strong. Sadly, he died too early in his previous life, before the World Tree version.
Speaking of which, the secondary dimensions were one of the battlefronts during the World Tree war, and the battles there were just as bloody as in the main universe. The research labs and the outposts of the three Universal Civilizations were almost all destroyed. Compared to the stable spacetime of the main universe, the strange and unpredictable secondary dimensions seemed more dangerous to many.
They then chatted for a while longer. The conversation was quite pleasant, and they both gave each other a good impression.
When Han Xiao hung up the call, the space beside him rippled again. The Mysterious Energy Host had brought Ames and Hila back.
He turned and said, “Yo, you’ve come. Why didn’t you bring your sister?”
“There’s no need to bring Aurora to such a dangerous place. If her ability is needed, I’ll just tell her to transfer it to me remotely,” Hila explained. She then looked around at the Underworld dimension with curiosity and doubt. “You guys really didn’t trick me together, right? Is this secondary dimension the inheritance of the Primordial Ones?”
“Let her explain it to you herself.”
Han Xiao snapped his fingers.
Onicelu appeared again. She first gave Han Xiao a smile that seemed to mean she was very satisfied with how efficient he was before pulling Hila aside to speak to her.
Seeing this, Han Xiao told Hila, “Alright, go chat with her. Ames and I shall leave for now. I’ll leave a mechanical army here. Notify me if anything changes. Anyway, you have the King mechanical suit. Tell me if you’re in danger and I’ll just teleport you back.”
Hila turned to look at him but hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright, go have fun.”
Han Xiao smiled at him. He told the Mysterious Energy Host to take the two of them away.
He was not worried about Hila’s safety. After all, she was a Beyond Grade A. Plus, his army was with her. She had more than enough strength to protect herself in the secondary dimensions.
Looking at the direction the two of them disappeared in, complicated emotions appeared in Hila’s eyes.
There was joy and disappointment.
Of course, she was surprised to come across the opportunity of becoming stronger through the inheritance of the Primordial Ones.
However, when she thought of the fact that the promise Black Star had made to travel with her alone in the secondary dimensions might be disposed because of it. She was somewhat disappointed.
Although she never spoke of it, she actually really wanted to go out with Black Star…
…
The Void Dimension.
With a flash of red light, the two of them appeared in Kirkmond’s territory in an instant.
As the official business regarding the Holy Light Particle and the Underworld dimension was complete, Han Xiao planned to complete the milestone mission, [Void Conqueror]. Therefore, remembering his promise to Kirkmond, he rushed back.
However, when the two of them looked around, they were stunned.
The void crystal floating city that was originally filled with void creatures was now empty. The void army that was stationed there had vanished.
“That’s strange. Where did they go? Field training?” Ames looked around.
“Let’s ask a void creature about it.”
Han Xiao led Ames to Kirkmond’s palace. As expected, there were indeed some void creatures with no combat capability who were left behind. They had seen their boss invite these two guests here, so they approached them.
“Where did Kirkmond go?” Han Xiao asked directly.
“Master has taken the army out to war.”
“Didn’t I tell him to wait until we returned? He couldn’t even wait for such a short time?” Han Xiao wondered.
The void henchman said with resignation, “Kirkmond did not start the war. We were invaded by another Void Duke. Kirkmond was forced to take the fight.”
“Give me the coordinates of the battlefield then.” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and said softly, “It seems like we’ve come right on time.”
…
At the same time, in a certain area of the Void Dimension, two enormous void armies were fighting.
In the middle of the battlefield, the two Void Dukes of the two sides were dueling.
One rode a young Void Dragon, holding an enormous void crystal shield and a black longsword. The other rode a Void Worm and held a greenish-copper short spear in all of its twenty or so arms.
Every clash of their weapons sent out a blue-purple void energy shockwave. A huge area around them was empty—no one dared interfere with the duel between two Void Dukes.
The one who used a sword was Kirkmond, who had a slightly lower hand in the fight. His control of void energy was not as good as the opponent, and his energy was not as strong. He was defending himself more than attacking.
The enemy he was facing was indeed his archenemy, as well as Han Xiao’s mission target, Void Duke Bagdora.
Since they were both void creatures and had high resistance to void energy, long-range attacks had very limited effects. Therefore, when fighting against one of their own, most void creatures preferred close-range battles.
Clank!
More than ten short spears slashed down simultaneously. Kirkmond hastily raised his shield to block them. The clash sent out several rings of shockwaves as they competed in power.
“Can you feel my improved strength? You’re no longer a match for me!” Bagdora laughed.
“You killed another Void Duke‽” Kirkmond was both shocked and enraged.
At their level, every slight increase in strength was very important. Their strength would only suddenly grow when they devoured someone at the same level as them or higher.
In all these years, none of them was clearly stronger than the other. Now, however, Bagdora was clearly stronger. The only explanation was that he had devoured the core of another Void Duke.
“Hehe, a newborn Void Duke just happened to pass by my territory. I turned him into my energy. This is fate, and fate dictates that I’ll defeat you!”
Damn it! Kirkmond was jealous. Why don’t I ever get this lucky?
Bagdora’s short spears left afterimages behind. He seemed to be growing impatient. Kirkmond was already a very nutritious meal in his eyes, and he could not wait to eat him up.
“If I eat you, I’ll be able to become one of the strongest Dukes. There’s no use resisting. Become my food!”
Kirkmond could not hold much longer. His army was also showing signs of losing.
He knew that his defeat was certain is this went on, so he yelled furiously,
“Don’t go over your head! I still have reinforcements!”
“So what? You think you can scare me away?”
Bagdora laughed out loud as he cut away a small part of Kirkmond’s body without mercy.
“I’ll eat your so-called reinforcements too. I’ll take it as your gift to me!”
At this time, Han Xiao just so happened to arrive at the edge of the battlefield through hyperdrive. Hearing this, he turned to look at this Void Duke, and his brows twitched a little.
He released a public telepathic message that instantly covered the entire battlefield.
“You wanna try it?”
Chapter 1080 Are You Here to Steal My Harvest?
“Ha! My help is here!”
Strength appeared in Kirkmond’s body all of a sudden. While Bagdora was still shocked, he slashed his sword down Bagdora’s arms, instantly cutting away many of his energy-made arms.
Bagdora hastily retreated away from Kirkmond, regenerated his arms then looked at Han Xiao with a grave expression. The confidence he had earlier was nowhere to be found.
Beyond Grade As of the main universe were not easy to mess with. This was common knowledge in the secondary dimensions. He did not expect Kirkmond to have a connection with a stranger Beyond Grade A.
“Who are you? I’m warning you. Don’t interfere with the matters of the Void Dimension. I’m master Kasuyi’s subordinate!”
Bagdora immediately brought up a big name. Among the names he knew from the main universe, Kasuyi’s name was the most impactful.
“He’s not! He’s just trying to scare you!” Kirkmond exposed his lie without mercy.
“Humph, don’t trust him. Kirkmond is a liar! He’s definitely just using you!”
“You’re the liar!” Kirkmond was enraged.
“No, you!”
Even in this situation, the two of them did not stop arguing.
Han Xiao, however, had no plan to join the argument. Electric sparks appeared in his eyes as countless machines swarmed out. Then, an enormous net formed by Mechanical Force grabbed all the machines and pulled them toward him, quickly assembling.
This huge move caused all the void creatures on the battlefield to stop fighting and look over.
A Mechanical Deity formed very quickly. Since the opponent was just a Void Duke, he did not summon a lot of machines. Therefore, this Mechanical Deity was not too large, only about ten thousand meters tall.
The most conspicuous part of it was the enormous metal cape on its back. It was not soft like cloth but was completely mechanical. It looked extremely delicate and complex.
It was the Emperor’s Cape, which Han Xiao had sent into battle for the first time.
“Mechanical Deity‽” Bagdora was knowledgeable enough to know what this was. His panic was clearly expressed from his fluctuating mind frequency.
If he had a face, his fear would have clearly shown on it.
Without saying anything, Bagdora immediately turned around attempting to escape. He disappeared in an instant and entered Void Hyperdrive.
However, Kirkmond was prepared for this. Being a Void Duke as well, he had all kinds of ways to prevent Bagdora from escaping. He swung his long sword sideways and slapped the space before him. Dense Void Energy exploded, sending out shockwave-like ripples. The space of this Void Dimension was easily sealed.
The next moment, Bagdora appeared again as he was forced out from hyperdrive by Kirkmond.
“You…”
Bagdora was frustrated. However, before he could try anything else again, Han Xiao controlled his Mechanical Deity and charged toward him. He was not planning to just watch on the side.
Seeing this, Bagdora did not even try to escape anymore. He quickly sent out long-ranged attacks with Void Energy at the Mechanical Deity, hoping to stop Han Xiao from getting closer.
Without slowing down, the Mechanical Deity grabbed a corner of the Emperor’s Cape and pulled it to its front.
Buzz!
An energy shield appeared on the surface of the cape. It was extremely thick and strong. Countless Void Energy attacks landed on it, only to create tiny little ripples, unable to slow down the Mechanical Deity at all.
At the same time, the Emperor’s Cape also increased the mobility and speed of the Machinery Deity by a large extent. At the edges of the cape, the space could be seen bent, which drastically increased the Machinery Deity’s speed.
“Don’t come any closer!”
Shocked, Bagdora wanted to back away, but Kirkmond stopped him from doing so. Unable to flee, he could only watch as the Mechanical Deity moved closer.
“Take this!” Han Xiao raised the Mechanical Deity’s arm and punched forward.
Highly condensed psionic energy fused with all kinds of electromagnetic and shockwave force fields formed a light blue energy shield shrouding the Mechanical Deity’s fist. It was extremely destructive.
Boom!
Bagdora’s defense did not have much effect. His enormous energy formed body was flattened and pressed onto the Mechanical Deity’s fist. His greenish-copper short spears were all shattered into atoms, and his Void Worm died right on the spot, not leaving even ashes behind.
Some time ago, Han Xiao had obtained [Machinery Control Master] through the few Beyond Grade A captives, which drastically increased the strength of armor-type equipment when used by him. Furthermore, his melee-range combat capability was also enhanced tremendously.
The power of this punch was way too much for a Void Duke like Bagdora. He was heavily injured instantly.
Void creatures had their own level system and were not included in the combat capability measurement standard of the main universe, so there was no clear comparison. However, at Han Xiao’s level, he could easily estimate it.
With the advantage of fighting in its own territory, the Void Dukes could fight back and forth with ordinary Beyond Grade As for dozens of rounds, but that was all. Only the strongest Dukes and Void Lords, Void Ancients, could compete with real Beyond Grade As. As for peak Beyond Grade As, their power exceeded the upper strength limit of void creatures.
Basically, Bagdora was about as strong as his Apostle Weapons, which were between Lv260 and Lv280, basically almost Beyond Grade As. They would easily crush Calamity Grades but would be thrashed by Beyond Grade As.
With such a large difference in strength, the only reason Bagdora was not completely obliterated was thanks to the special physique of Void Dukes; his various resistances were extremely high.
Bagdora’s flattened body stayed still for an instant on the Mechanical Deity’s fist before shooting out the next moment like a rocket, creating an empty path on the battlefield.
The Mechanical Deity remained on the same spot. It extended two fingers and aimed at Bagdora, who was flying further and further away. Its fingertips turned sharp and became a barrel, blinding light appeared from within.
“Evil Perish Cannon!” Han Xiao gave it a ridiculous name for fun.
Xiu!
An energy beam shot out from the fingertips of the Mechanical Deity and caught up to Bagdora instantly, penetrating his body.
Bagdora’s body suddenly became stiff. He started to evaporate from within like snow on a hot day, gradually melting.
Very soon, only a gray sphere was left floating. This was what was left of Bagdora—the core essence of a Void Duke.
“This guy is finally dead!” Kirkmond was overjoyed. Through hyperdrive, he jumped over and grabbed Bagdora’s core. Feeling the lingering frustration emotion in it, he could not hold back his laughter.
As their master died, Bagdora’s army fell into disarray. Most of the void creatures tried to flee in different directions and were chased; the rest stayed and surrendered. The situation became one-sided.
Seeing this, Han Xiao deactivated the Mechanical Deity and tutted like he wanted more.
This Void Duke was too weak. I didn’t even enjoy it enough…
This time, Kirkmond held onto Bagdora’s core and returned to Han Xiao. His tone was filled with joy.
“Haha, I knew I was right to trust you. To think you killed Bagdora so easily. You must be someone very well known in the main universe!”
“Not really, not really.” Han Xiao gave a humble response.
“According to our agreement, half of the core is yours. We’re friends from now on. If you need help in battle, just call me. This is my energy mark; you can contact me if anything happens.”
Han Xiao received energy from Kirkmond, which turned into a mark on his arm. He already had a ton of enchantment tattoos on his body and looked like a gangster, so having one more was no big deal.
Han Xiao looked at the interface.
The mission was shown to be completed, and the reward was given. He obtained 12 billion Experience and one Kirkmond’s Character Summon Card, and Kirkmond’s faction’s Favorability reached [Respect]. The Character Summon Card’s ability was Void Lock, which was a quite useful controlling ability and could be used five times.
Compared to the low difficulty, this was quite a rich reward. However, only Beyond Grade As like Han Xiao would be able to deal with this mission so easily, so it made sense.
The milestone mission for [Void Conqueror] started too. His progress was at one eighth for the Void Duke forces he destroyed and a twenty-five percent for the void faction favorability he had achieved. He should be able to activate this milestone very soon.
This time, Han Xiao smiled and said, “Any interest in expanding your territory?”
“Oh? Do you plan to continue helping me?” Kirkmond paused, not pleased but surprised, and started hesitating.
The way he looked at it, what Black Star meant was that he wanted to make him his subordinate like Kirkmond. The reason that Kirkmond did not join Kasuyi was that he did not want to work for others, and now he was troubled.
Han Xiao understood what he was thinking from his hesitation. He thought about it and said, “Don’t worry, I have no plan to learn from Kasuyi. Since you’re willing to fight for me, making your forces stronger is basically indirectly helping myself.”
The Void Dimension was Kasuyi’s territory. If he came here to grow his forces, he would undoubtedly offend this void movie lord. Therefore, Han Xiao planned to help some Void Dukes in the form of hiring them as mercenaries.
As long as they agreed to be his spare tires… ahem, helpers, he would help them to take over the forces of other Void Dukes. This way, he could both complete his milestone mission and obtain more troops at the same time.
“That sounds good.” Kirkmond was relieved.
Having seen Han Xiao’s strength earlier, he knew that he was no match. If Han Xiao decided to force him, he would not be able to resist at all, so he felt that Black Star had no need to lie to him.
After communicating a little longer, Kirkmond went to the side to enjoy the essence of Bagdora. Ames, who only watched beside Han Xiao, suddenly shook her head and said, “You don’t ever forget about increasing your forces, do you?”
“I’m used to it. After all, I’m a good faction leader…”
Then, Han Xiao gave Ames a look with unspeakable meanings.
“… What kind of look is that?” Ames’s brows raised slightly.
“I’m appreciating your beauty.”
“Humph, cheeky.”
…
Over the next few days, Han Xiao took Ames to travel in the Void Dimension back, looking for new partners to work with and merging the forces of Void Dukes one after another. With his peak Beyond Grade A strength, the progress of the [Void Conqueror] milestone was very quick.
Such frequent movements also attracted more attention from the boss of the Void Dimension. When the news spread to Kasuyi’s territory, the Void Dukes under his command reported it to him.
Somewhere in the Flickering World, Kasuyi frowned and narrowed his eyes. Looking at the kneeled void messenger in front of him, he felt alarmed.
“Black Star went to the Void Dimension and is now helping the Void Dukes there to take over the forces of their enemies?”
Could it be that Black Star had set his eyes on the forces of the Void Dimension and wanted to take over void creatures to form an organization like him?
From the way he looked at it, since Black Star had the blood of void creatures and was at the peak Beyond Grade A level, when his God’s Trait Transformation reached a certain extent, it was very likely Black Star might develop new abilities related to the void.
Kasuyi was actually not interested in what Han Xiao was doing in the Void Dimension. As the Void Dimension was large enough and had more than enough energy, having one more person to share it with was completely harmless and would not affect him at all. Han Xiao would not be considered as a competitor.
However, he had a big problem with others putting their fingers on his void army. The Void Dimension was his headquarters, and all the void creatures were his own in his eyes. Black Star’s actions made Kasuyi a little unhappy.
Never mind if you came to my farm to dig away some soil, but taking away my harvest is crossing the line.
The entire universe knows that the Void Dimension is my home. How can you just come to my home and cause trouble like this, Black Star? Have you ignored my existence?
Kasuyi thought about it and slowly said, “Go back and relay my decision to those Void Dukes. Tell them to get into contact with Black Star and obtain information about what his goal is. Also do the same with the other Void Dukes he helped.”
The messenger received the order, shook his body, and returned to the Void Dimension, disappearing without a trace.
With Kasuyi’s position, calling Han Xiao directly was the most convenient. However, that would mean that there was no room for any excuse or discussion. Hence, he hoped to take a gentler approach and ask about Han Xiao’s goal through a middleman.
The so-called Beyond Grade A Association was about to be formed, and he did not want to mess with Black Star, who was leading it.
“Speaking of which, Manison seems very active recently and has been digging up his old connections. Looks like he really wants to be the one in charge…”
Kasuyi looked interested.
Kasuyi had no plan to do the same. He had never cared too much about the Beyond Grade A Association to begin with. He only saw that Beyond Grade As being in groups would become a trend in the future, so he wanted to obtain a senior position. As for the position of the president, he would not take it even if it was given to him for free. Sitting in that position meant being at the front of all issues. Anyone in that position would be heavily monitored by the advanced civilizations.
Some of the peak Beyond Grade As had the same thoughts as him; very few tried to become the president. Including Manison and Black Star, there were only four of them.
“Hmm, the association can only have one president, who also cannot be a direct member of the three Universal Civilizations, or it would go against its goal… I wonder what plans Black Star has. Although he’s not as senior, as the star of the Flickering World and the key initiator of this project, his chances don’t seem low…”
Chapter 1081 Milestone and Representative
_____________________
[Void Conqueror] mission completed!
Milestone activated successfully!
_____________________
Watching the last Void Duke get turned into a patty by the Mechanical Deity, Han Xiao finally heard the soothing notification sound from the interface.
In the past ten days or so, he had been taking Ames around to look for other Void Dukes for partnerships. He had been active in the various edge areas of the Void Dimension.
Since not everyone wanted to hire outsiders, the two of them wasted some time in between. However, overall, the mission was completed quite efficiently. As long as a partnership was agreed upon, Han Xiao would easily be able to wipe out the hostile Void Duke’s forces.
“It’s finally completed.”
Han Xiao deactivated the Mechanical Deity and opened the interface to look at the reward.
The bonus from [Void Conqueror] was already in effect. His various void-related talents were all slightly enhanced. He received 1,600 Free Attribute Points and one God’s Trait Transformation Point, as well as +20 starting Favorability with all void creatures. He also received a Legendary Point [Void Celebrity]. Its introduction was that the name ‘Black Star’ was now well known between the void creatures.
As usual, he stocked the Free Attribute Points up, of which he now had close to 4,000. As for the God’s Trait Transformation Point, Han Xiao continued on the path of maxing one path first, so he used it on [God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery] and unlocked the level four bonuses.
_____________________
Stage Four: +3 Levels to abilities belonging to the [Apostle Mechanic] and [Emperor Mechanic] stages. +25% base success rate of inventing blueprints. +15% base success rate of improving blueprints. +3% base success rate of inventing Grade Gold blueprints. +1.5% rate of acquiring unique talents. +15% abilities of the sub-branches.
_____________________
“Not bad.” Han Xiao scanned through it.
The class abilities of the Apostle and Emperor stages were very crucial, so enhancing them was quite useful. According to the current trend, Han Xiao estimated that the next level would most likely enhance the abilities of the Lord and Throne Mechanic stages, which were even more crucial.
Overall, the bonuses of this level were mainly focused on enhancing his ability to innovate. After all, Han Xiao had no channeling bars like the players. At his level, innovating new blueprints from his class knowledges was common, same with improving the base quality of blueprints. The blueprints he used often nowadays were all enhanced and improved versions.
What Han Xiao was more concerned about was the unique talent. It seemed like those old men like Manison and Sorokin all had their own unique talents. Since the players did not have this in his previous life, Han Xiao had no idea about how to acquire them, nor did the interface give any tips. Therefore, he could only figure it out himself.
As for the enhancements of the sub-branches, they enhanced Han Xiao’s Armed and Energy Branch abilities, basically almost all the Mechanic abilities not belonging to the Virtual Branch.
Han Xiao was still looking at the interface when his current Void Duke partner finished consuming the enemy’s core and came to beside him.
“Black Star, a Void Lord under the command of His Excellency Kasuyi wants to see you.”
“Finally, I knew he wouldn’t ignore my actions.”
Han Xiao had expected this, so he was not surprised. Following the Void Duke’s arrangements, he met with the Void Lord.
The Void Lord’s body was enormous and seemingly extended from the ground right into the clouds. Its body’s color was deeper than even the Void Duke.
As soon as he saw Han Xiao, he felt close to him for some reason he could not explain. Somehow, Han Xiao looked very easy to befriend.
Despite the rather good first impression this Void Lord had of Han Xiao, it did not affect his attitude when carrying out the mission for Kasuyi. He directly said, “Black Star, we’ve noticed your recent frequent battles in the Void Dimension. Are you planning to rule the Void Dukes and build your forces here?”
“Don’t worry. Tell Kasuyi that I’m just signing contracts with some mercenaries and have no plans of building a force. In fact, I’ve almost achieved my goal, and I’m planning to leave the Void Dimension in just a day or two.”
Han Xiao knew what Kasuyi was worried about, so he expressed that he was not there to fight for territory.
“That’s best. As long as you don’t interfere too much with the internal matters of the Void Dimension, we will always welcome you. Do come to us if you need anything.”
The Void Lord was quite well mannered. As a subordinate of Kasuyi, he had some basic knowledge of the powerful people in the main universe. He knew that Black Star was not someone he could mess with.
“Sure, we might have the chance to do business in the future,” Han Xiao said casually.
Kasuyi’s territory had a stable production line that produced all kinds of void specialties. It was quite a good business. If he had any needs, he would not mind working with him.
This time, the Void Lord took out a tube that was filled with a light blue liquid that was giving off a dim light and said, “This is master Kasuyi’s special present for you. It’s liquid-form Void Essence extracted for the core of the dimension. It’ll help in enhancing your void bloodline.”
Han Xiao raised his brows, accepted the tube, and said with a smile, “Thank Kasuyi for me.”
Clearly, this was meant as a farewell gift to tell him not to stay too long in his house. Anyway, Han Xiao never planned to, so he had no problem with it.
After a successful exchange, the Void Lord left satisfied. Han Xiao kept the tube too, which would most likely increase the attributes he would gain during the next Race Evolution.
“Finally done?” This time, Ames giggled.
Over the past few days, Han Xiao had been very occupied with doing the mission and did not fulfill his promise to Ames of traveling with her. He could not help but feel he had wronged her. Now that business was done, with a relaxed mind and mood, he waved and said, “Let’s go. I’ll accompany you to travel the secondary dimensions all you want.”
…
While the two of them traveled the secondary dimensions, the situation of the main universe kept changing.
Although the plan of forming a Beyond Grade A Alliance in the Flickering World was not publicized yet, the unusual movements of numerous peak Beyond Grade As attracted attention from many well-informed organizations.
After the initiators of the alliance gathered, they started the first meeting.
Inside the round table conference room of a spaceship, the remote projections of the various initiators gathered and sat in their chairs. Most of them were peak Beyond Grade As.
At the huge round table, only one seat was empty. It was Han Xiao’s.
Manison clapped, signaling everyone to look over, and slowly said, “Black Star went to the secondary dimensions and isn’t available. We’re the only ones attending this meeting today.”
“He’s the main initiator. Growing the association needs the Black Star Army’s help too. Is it suitable to not call him for such an important meeting?” Secret Master asked.
The rest agreed.
Currently, Han Xiao’s position was quite high among the Beyond Grade As. Although he did not come, no one could ignore his existence. Furthermore, with the irreplaceable importance the Black Star Army had in creating the Beyond Grade A Association, the various Beyond Grade As present all recognized his significance. Even though he was not present, they would still speak for him.
“Black Star said himself he isn’t coming.” Manison shook his hand. “He has already made his stand. He suggests everyone should focus on the agreement we had during the Meeting of the Gods, and once we come to a conclusion, just inform him of it.”
He would never lie about such things.
“Alright then.” The rest nodded.
“Let’s talk business,” Manison said slowly. “Since we’re decided to form the association, we’ll first have to set down the rules, regularize the positions of the association, confirm the nature of the organization and its development direction, and decide on the laws its members must follow.
Kasuyi followed up and said, “That’s right. Our core goal is to unite the strength of all Beyond Grade As, be it now or in the future. The Ancient Ones’ structure is too lenient, and its entry point is too high, so this time, we can’t repeat their mistakes. We must have a clear set of laws and regulations.”
A peak Beyond Grade A said, “According to the proposal Black Star gave, the main use of the association is to solve conflicts between Beyond Grade As. I think that’s a good path, and it’s best we start there. For example, we can have the rule that members can’t easily initiate physical conflicts with other members except for the purpose of sparring, to maintain the image that the Beyond Grade As are united. Also, members shouldn’t be allowed to deliberately escalate the conflict and avoid peaceful compromises…”
Everyone started discussing their ideas one after another. The rules and regulations were being filled up very quickly.
This time, Sorokin, who was the major investor, suddenly said, “The rules are good indeed, but the biggest problem is to make sure the Beyond Grade As are willing to follow them. As everyone knows, Beyond Grade As all have their own pride and have been enjoying tons of privileges. It won’t be easy to make them follow rules.”
“That’s right. This is a core problem,” Manison said. “Not only must we make sure the members accept the restrictions from the rules, we also have to make sure that even after the outsiders see these rules, they’ll also still be willing to join the association. Not everyone agreed with what we said during the Meeting of the Gods, so in order to prevent others from just ignoring us, as usual, it’ll all come down to the use of intimidation and benefits. We have to let the other Beyond Grade As see the price of disobeying the rules while also understanding the benefits of joining the association.
“Intimidation is easy. We seniors won’t have to do anything. We’re a form of intimidation by ourselves. Benefits, however, must be displayed through many aspects. We shall build an interest network of Beyond Grade As, unite and share our resources, and provide help to each other through many means. As for the new members in the future, we can use our resources to help them to build their Beyond Grade A forces, as well as provide some guidance from the peak Beyond Grade As…
“Also, we can even include the Ultimate Knowledges of the five classes as a benefit.”
Hearing this, everyone was shocked.
“Ultimate Knowledges? This is basically fighting with the three Universal Civilizations in the market of recruiting Beyond Grade A allies. They’ll definitely object to it to an extreme extent. This isn’t a small issue.”
“Have you forgotten our initial goal so soon?” Manison said slowly. “If we can’t break the forced monopoly that the three Universal Civilizations have on the Ultimate Knowledges, even if the Beyond Grade A Association is formed successfully, it’ll still be controlled by the advanced civilizations. We’ll have no choice but to continue working for them all the same.”
Some nodded in agreement while more stayed silent. They felt that this was too big a step and too risky. Opinions were varied.
“Since you insist on doing so, the three Universal Civilizations will have a lot to say to us,” Kasuyi said with resignation.
“Therefore…” Manison looked around and finally showed his true goal. “We need a leader. He must be able to take the pressure and never compromise, and I’m the only one who is able to take on that position.”
Everyone glanced at him.
Someone started praising him and said, “Manison is strong. He has a lot of connections, a huge organization, and he’s senior. He is indeed the most suitable candidate.”
Quite a number of people there were invited by Manison, so they were going to support him from the beginning.
This time, another peak Beyond Grade A candidate said, “Who doesn’t know what you’re planning? We’re all the initiators of the association. I think I’m more suitable than you.”
Everyone there was a Beyond Grade A. One person speaking for everyone was impossible. Even the president would only be taken more seriously when it comes to making decisions but could never truly order around these people. Most decisions would still have to be made together by the elders. However, due to the unique nature of the Beyond Grade A Association, this kind of opportunity was extremely rare.
This time, Milizaus said slowly, “Although Black Star isn’t here, he also intends to be a candidate. The forces the Black Star Army has in the Flickering World are unquestionable. Our organization will only be truly powerful with him as the president. Furthermore, the Evolutionary Totems will soon be sold to the public. At that time, Black Star will be much more important to the three Universal Civilizations. He’s suitable as the lubricant between two sides and will be able to tremendously reduce the pressure the association will face… I vote for Black Star as the representative.”
Han Xiao did not join the meeting because he wanted to let others settle the issue, but it was mainly because he was not willing to face the other candidates directly, including Manison. Since he could not compete with the others in terms of connections, all he could do was bring up the profit he could bring and let the others decide. This way, he would avoid direct conflicts with other peak Beyond Grade As. More importantly, he did not want to disrupt the Great Director Manison’s plans.
“Black Star is indeed very useful, but he’s far from experienced. I wouldn’t want a youngster to stand above my head.” Sierron snorted.
Everyone had different people they wanted to vote for, so they started arguing. Surprisingly, quite a number of people voted for Han Xiao, who was not even here.
After quite some time, someone said, “I think that the management structure should be balanced. The position of the president shouldn’t be permanent. They need to be re-elected regularly.”
This suggestion was agreed on by most. They only did not want to step up now, but it was certain that being the president would be beneficial once the association became stable. Also, in terms of maintaining balance, no one wished for one person to be the president forever.
This time, Manison looked at Kasuyi, who did not participate much in the discussion. He narrowed his eyes and said with a deep voice, “Vote for me this time. I’ll fully support you in the next election.”
Hearing this, for some reason, Kasuyi suddenly felt a chill up his spine.
Why do I feel like I’ll have to keep my Psychic shield up at all times from now on?
Chapter 1082 Return
These people did not like discussing nonsense, so the issues were solved very quickly. It did not take long for the rough structure of the association to be formed. On the surface, it was a platform to settle conflicts between Beyond Grade As, while internally, it served to unite the Beyond Grade As. The rules, regulations, and reward system all had a brief outline to be fine-tuned accordingly in the future.
At the same time, the official preparations for the organization were brought forward. These initiators started to relay the message to every Beyond Grade A to recruit members. At the same time, they had to choose a location to build the headquarters of the Beyond Grade A Association in the Flickering World, which needed the Black Star Army’s help. Also, every Beyond Grade A would have to set up an agency in their territory to serve as embassies. It felt quite similar to the United Nations.
The preparations would have to take about several months. Before the official formation of the association, the management positions had to be decided. Currently, it was in the form of President, Vice President, and the Governing Council.
After their discussion, they decided to set the duration of one term for the president and vice president to be thirty years. One could only hold the position for three terms consecutively at most but would still be able to take on the position of director after stepping down. Once two terms had passed after stepping down, that person would be eligible to be re-elected for president or vice president.
The president had the most responsibilities. He had to both have appeal and the strength to take on pressure from the three Universal Civilizations. Currently, Manison had the most support, but no one would ignore Han Xiao and confirm the president before he returned.
As for the proposal Manison made to break the monopoly on Ultimate Knowledges, the opinions were currently diverted. In the past, the Ultimate Knowledges were only given by the advanced civilizations as a method to woo Beyond Grade A allies. Even if their allies learned them, they were not allowed to easily teach them to others. Han Xiao had experienced that in the past.
If the association turned the Ultimate Knowledge into one of their rewards, it would basically break the three Universal Civilizations’ rules, which would cause severe responses from the three Universal Civilizations.
However, if it really worked, rights would be taken back from the advanced civilizations, and the Beyond Grade As would indeed be free from many limitations and become more independent.
This was an unavoidable step to increase the position the Beyond Grade As had in the universe so that the new Beyond Grade As in the future would not have to become allies of the advanced civilizations for Ultimate Knowledges. At the same time, the Beyond Grade A Association would be able to attract newbies much easier, which was extremely beneficial for those peak Beyond Grade As who had the full set of Ultimate Knowledges of their own class.
On this issue, what the people argued about was the timing. Some felt that this should only be carried out once the association had established a firm base, since this was basically directly confronting the three Universal Civilizations, and a new association would not be able to hold against such an intense conflict. Some felt that it should be carried out as soon as possible to regain their rights, emphasizing why this association existed in the first place.
There would be a lot of time to discuss these details. On the other hand, an excuse or opportunity for the outside world was needed to form this association. They planned to contact some Beyond Grade As to fake some conflicts with each other in the next few months and escalate the issues into physical fights. The key point of this plan was the impact it would bring. The Beyond Grade As involved would only be acting, but they would have to make sure that the conflict would damage different organizations.
Not only were they going to have a huge fight in the Flickering World, but they were also going to encourage their own organizations to cause friction in the various Star Fields, once again letting the other organizations realize how much the conflicts between Beyond Grade As could impact others. This way, the public would lean toward hoping the Beyond Grade As would stop fighting, which would set down the path to forming the association. This plan would both give the three Universal Civilizations pressure and face. Neither side wanted to expose the conflict of interests between them to the public.
After the bosses confirmed the strategy, they started executing it very soon. The Flickering World became even more boisterous than before, and the free competition zone became more chaotic. At the same time, Beyond Grade As started having conflicts with each other in various Star Fields at the same time.
Due to the appearance of this phenomenon, the three Universal Civilizations temporarily put their conflicts behind, and the upper echelons held a remote conference together to discuss how to deal with it.
…
In the completely secured conference room, the remote projections of the federation, church, and dynasty gathered.
The dynasty’s Ruler Urranrell, the federation’s President Bader, and the church’s Pope sat in each corner of the triangular meeting table with their own upper echelons.
In usual times, the three of them fought each other in every way imaginable, but when the explored universe started to become unstable, these three sides would come together and decide the fate of this universe.
Bader looked around and said, “I don’t even remember the last time the three of us hosted a meeting like this.”
“Of course you don’t remember. The last meeting wasn’t during your term,” the church’s Pope said calmly.
Bader gave him a glare but had nothing to say.
The Federation of Light was indeed the one that changed their leader most often. The federation’s president had already changed many times before the church’s pope even changed once.
“Let’s get down to business,” Urranrell said expressionlessly. “The unification of the Beyond Grade As is pushed by the big picture. If our objection is too forceful, the Beyond Grade As will strongly repel it. In order to avoid the fate of becoming mere tools, there’ll be more new Beyond Grade As in the future who will decide to hide their strength and live a low-profile life. In that case, our efficiency in recruiting allies will increase tremendously. At the same time, recording the total number of Beyond Grade As in the universe will become more difficult.”
Bader nodded in agreement. “We have to not let the Beyond Grade As smoothly form that development union or whatnot but not use extreme methods. We’ll have to work together. We can’t target our own allies, so we shall target each other’s. The dynasty will target my allies, I will target the church’s, and the church will target the dynasty’s allies. This way, we can cause some trouble to some of the Beyond Grade As, especially to those who are still undecided.”
“That will only act as an obstacle and make forming the union more difficult. It won’t solve the root issue,” the Pope said calmly. “If the Beyond Grade As unite as one, they’ll have a horrifying amount of influence on all Star Fields. They’ll even be able to shake the structure of the entire galactic society.”
Bader shook his head and said, “Sadly, it’s not possible to clear out all the Beyond Grade As. Not considering how big a price we’ll pay, we still have to make sure those extremely powerful individuals exist in this explored universe. They’ll apply pressure to those Beyond Grade As who’ve hidden their strength and escaped to the secondary dimensions, as well as act as a form of insurance for when we explore unknown territories. We never know when we’ll run into another unknown advanced civilization, and we can’t give up this advantage we have.”
“In the calculated model of the galactic society, this is a problem that was bound to show up sooner or later,” Urranrell said with a deep voice. “It’s just like how the workers formed worker’s unions in the early days to protect their own interests. The situation we’re facing now is similar, only the targets have changed into special individuals with great strength. Since the exploration era, we’ve been oppressing them way too much. This day was destined to arrive.
“Therefore, we have to make preparations on both sides. If the formation of the union can’t be stopped, we’ll have to try to divide them. At their management level, there’ll certainly be Beyond Grade As with different opinions and interests, whom we can either bribe or woo to be our eyes and ears. We can then use them to affect the union’s decision making.”
The pope narrowed his eyes, looked at the two of them, and said, “Speaking of which, the Mechanic Emperor and Black Star are the main ones who initiated this. Their opinions are divided to begin with… Humph, seems like both of your people are difficult to deal with. My Kasuyi is the best as always.”
“Manison is very, very ambitious,” Bader said with a displeased tone. “In recent years, he’s been doing a lot of things behind our backs. It’s very possible he wants to be completely out of the federation’s control. Frankly, we can’t really control him now.”
The Pope looked at Urranrell and asked, “What about the dynasty? Your Black Star loves to cause trouble too. Are you going to teach him a lesson?”
“You guys don’t have to be concerned with that. We have our own plans for Black Star. The Evolutionary Totem will be sold to the public as promised. You don’t have to worry about that,” Urranrell said casually.
The dynasty planned on continuing to ease the tension between them and Han Xiao, so they decided to be patient and wait for Gaud to grow till they could solve the technical issue of the Evolutionary Cube. This way, they would be able to reduce Han Xiao’s control over the Evolutionary Totem business.
Of course, Urranrell was not going to explain this plan to others.
Seeing this, Bader changed the topic back and said, “Other than dividing them, we’ll also have to infiltrate them and not let our people be stopped outside their doors. They want to form the association, so they have to give us some high positions in return and let our people have a say in the management level of their association. Basically, they’ll be open spies who’ll inform us of what they’re up to…”
The three of them discussed the matter for a while, made various proposals for the measures they should take, and slowly came to some agreements.
…
Time slipped by quickly while the structure of the universe gradually changed.
A few months later, in Black Star Palace…
Buzz!
With a flash of light, three people appeared in the army commander’s office. It was Han Xiao, Ames, and the Mysterious Energy Host. They had returned from the secondary dimensions.
The two of their mechanical suits came off automatically. This time, a surprised voice sounded from behind.
“Hmm? You’ve finally decided to return?”
The two of them turned to look over. It turned out Sylvia was in the room and was lying comfortably in Han Xiao’s chair. But now, she instantly jumped up like there were springs in the seat.
Seeing this, Han Xiao joked around and said, “Tsk tsk, not bad. Have you been sitting in my chair the whole time I wasn’t here? What are you planning to do, take my position?”
“Of course not, I was just… just…” Sylvia’s eyes spun frantically as she blushed trying to find an excuse. Stuttering, she then said, “Ahem, it’s just that your chair is very comfortable to sit in.”
As she was speaking, her expression suddenly froze as her eyes moved down onto Han Xiao’s arm, which was wrapped around Ames’ waist. Ames did not, however, reject it as Sylvia would expect. It was as if she was already used to it.
Noticing her look, Ames moved her waist slightly out of Han Xiao’s hands. She then raised her hand and touched Han Xiao’s cheek. “Busy man, I’m going back to the Shattered Star Ring. Jenny is probably going crazy now.”
“Must be tough for you to remember her existence.”
Han Xiao smiled. He wanted to grab Ames’ hand on his cheeks but was a second too late after Ames had already moved it away. She blinked at him and smiled elegantly.
Then, Ames turned to look at the stunned Sylvia, smiled, and walked out of the room.
Sylvia stood in place, appalled.
These two had only gone for a tour in the secondary dimensions, and now their relationship had already become this much more intimate‽
What happened‽
“You, you guys…”
Hearing this, Han Xiao turned into a serious expression and said, “What ‘you guys’? Do you know your priorities? In the days I wasn’t here, how have things in the main universe been? What about Hila? What’s she doing?”
Seeing Han Xiao’s indisputable expression, Sylvia clenched her teeth, suppressed her boiling curiosity, and explained the changes that had occurred in the past few months.
Sometime earlier, Hila had inherited the Underworld dimension and formed a link with it, so she no longer had to stay in the Underworld to charge it. She had returned to the main universe long ago and was now in the free competition zone, continuing the exploration work.
In the recent few months, the heat of the ambush on Hila gradually cooled down. As the exploration progressed further in the free competition zone, many organizations were already going all out. Furthermore, with the ‘conflicts’ many Beyond Grade As had with each other, it was very boisterous.
The players’ level had increased quite a bit too, and their actions gradually grew more organized. Their presence had been steadily growing in the universe. It was said that there were some small to medium organizations that were already calling the players the Cancer of the Universe, which meant things were following the path Han Xiao was familiar with, only that this nickname was not publicly recognized yet.
The dynasty had also sent a lot of messages that were all related to the development union. Since Han Xiao had hidden for a few months, he had managed to dodge the dynasty’s direct questioning.
The preparation of the development union was almost complete. Recruitment was basically already done. The three Universal Civilizations had not held back on interfering with their efforts. The two sides had clashed countless times secretly. Many Beyond Grade As received oppression to various extents, which unfortunately for the three Universal Civilizations, was not very effective. Although Han Xiao did not participate directly, his influence impacted it to some extent. With his permission, the Black Star Army had provided quite a lot of help.
Meanwhile, Dark Lord had already escaped from the chaotic space streams and had publicly arrested another neutral Beyond Grade A. As a direct member of the dynasty, lingering in the Flickering World at this time attracted a lot of attention and hostility from many Beyond Grade As.
All these changes, however, did not affect the dynasty’s plan to sell the Evolutionary Totems to the public. The army’s logistics department had already produced a ton of Evolutionary Totems, waiting for Han Xiao to charge them. Countless organizations’ preorders poured in like tsunamis.
Looking through the changes, Han Xiao thought to himself, Looks like things have been going well while I wasn’t around. Manison and the other elderlies really are something… Alright, the formation of the development union is now certain. It’s time I make a visit.
Chapter 1083 Exchange and Formation
Planet Finn was a hub planet of the Emerald Star Cluster located at a superior position where the exterior Star System and the Star System coincided.
Initially, this was first occupied by the Modo Civilization. However, the impact of the conflict between two Beyond Grade A organizations ‘coincidentally’ reached this location. The Modo Civilization’s troops stationed there met with ‘accidents’, so this planet now had no owner again.
Not long after, the Black Star Army ‘happened to’ occupy this planet and generously used it as the future headquarters of the Flickering World Beyond Grade A Development Union.
This desolate island was already completely different. It was filled with marks of artificial modifications. Countless Black Star Army engineering ships were constructing all kinds of buildings on the surface and satellites.
The most conspicuous landmark was a skyscraper. This was the conference building of the development union’s headquarters. It was shaped like a trophy. An enormous sphere hovered on top of it like a floating fortress. There were also a lot of facilities in that sphere, including the round table conference room exclusively for the Beyond Grade As to host meetings.
At this point of time, a crucial meeting was being held inside it.
After a slight flash before his eyes, Han Xiao’s remote projection appeared in the round table conference room. He looked around and saw that many seats were already occupied while more were appearing.
This was the first time Han Xiao had joined the meeting since returning. All the Beyond Grade As who were willing to join the association had been invited to this meeting, not just the ones who initiated it.
Very soon, all the seats were occupied. Manison knocked on the table to signal for everyone to stop chattering.
“Everyone, Black Star is the one who made the suggestion to form the development union. Now that he’s back and all members are present, this will be our first full meeting. Some of you might not know each other, so let’s start by introducing yourselves.”
Even though some of the Beyond Grade As present never had been in contact with some others, they all knew who the others were. This was just a standard procedure, so everyone briefly introduced themselves.
Han Xiao looked around. Most had attended the Meeting of the Gods, but there were also some new faces, including the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations.
At the same time, some older faces did not show up, like those unlucky fellows locked in the Spacetime Amber. In total, the number of attendees was surprisingly fewer than the Meeting of the Gods.
Whenever they saw him looking over, they would all slightly nod at him as a greeting.
The direct members of the three Universal Civilizations are here too, Han Xiao thought.
The reason behind this was not difficult to guess. The development union had been in conflict with the three Universal Civilizations for a few months. Both sides ended up compromising somewhat. One of the terms agreed was having these direct members join the union. Although the association would not possibly let those people have high power, since it was called the Beyond Grade A Association, there was no reason it should reject any Beyond Grade As from joining, even if they were direct members of the three Universal Civilizations.
The initial goal of everyone there was to have a united battlefront for the Beyond Grade As and increase the position of everyone at this grade. However, skipping the steps in between was totally unrealistic. In the beginning stage, no one really planned to use all their cards, so compromising with the three Universal Civilizations was unavoidable. Anyway, this would not go against the initial goal. As long as this platform was created, a new profit network was formed, and the ability to de-escalate conflicts between Beyond Grade As was acquired, the Beyond Grade As would be able to ignore some of the conflicts that were due to their factions.
As for acquiring more power, that had to be slowly earned in the future.
Han Xiao had not come back for a few months, but he had always been paying attention to the preparation progress of the development union. He had quite a lot of intelligence about it and knew very clearly of the basic system and members of the association.
After a round of introductions, Manison looked at Han Xiao and said slowly, “Over the past few months, the preparation for the development union has been going quite well. Black Star, you’ve only returned recently. Do you have anything to say? You’re one of the main initiators, so we’d like to hear your thoughts.”
Everyone’s attention instantly focused on him.
Han Xiao cleared his throat and said, “I don’t have much to say. Everyone has done a good job. We’ve already spoken about this matter back during the Meeting of the Gods. At the end of it, it was decided that I was to be responsible for creating the communication platform, which is close to completion. As everyone knows, the top priority of the development union is to settle disputes and conflicts between Beyond Grade As. I heard that the relationships between some of you here have not been great lately, so I hope that this platform can be created as soon as possible. The entire universe is in need of a platform like this to bring peace.”
“Black Star is absolutely right.” Manison took over. “As you all know, there have been some obstacles on the path of creating the development union. Currently, these obstacles are already mostly cleared out. The only thing that’s holding us back is the negotiation regarding the Ultimate Knowledges. We have to put this thing aside for the time being. The most crucial matter at hand is the members of the management level so that the development union can be officially formed soon.”
As expected, the three Universal Civilizations did not compromise at all on the matter of Ultimate Knowledges. After a series of intense conflicts, both sides put the matter aside and decided to go for a negotiation. However, either side could give the other side what they wanted, nor could either side do anything more. Therefore, this matter would not come to a conclusion any time soon.
Due to this situation, some peak Beyond Grade As like Manison had changed their minds and decided not to let this matter delay the formation of the development union. Hence, this matter was put aside, and Ultimate Knowledge being one of the benefits of the association was not publicized. As for whether the knowledge would be taught privately was another matter.
The last thing standing before the official formation of the association was that the management position holders were yet to be decided, and the reason was that Black Star had yet to return. Now that Black Star was finally back, everyone could not wait to settle this crucial issue.
“That’s right. It’s time to decide who’s to be the president…” A member of The Ancient Ones looked around. “Over the past few months, His Excellency Mechanic Emperor has been enduring a lot of pressure representing the development union. What he has done has been witnessed by all. I nominate Manison as the first president.”
As soon as this was said, many supporters followed after. Suddenly, the entire place was discussing Manison.
In the past few months, Manison had been using the connections he had built up over the years. Not only were more than half of the peak Beyond Grade As supporting him, but he had also wooed many of the remaining Beyond Grade A members, especially members of the Ancient Ones. Most people agreed that Manison should be the president.
The other two candidates could not compete at all in the past few months. Knowing that they had no chance, they had basically quit the competition.
However, at this time, subconsciously or consciously, everyone was looking at Han Xiao. He had disappeared for a few months, and his opinion was the most unpredictable to the others.
Manison also could not help but look at Han Xiao. This was the one and only thing that might stop him from becoming the president. He had no choice but to take it seriously.
However, Han Xiao only smiled and did not speak, nor did he intend to.
Kasuyi looked back and forth between the two of them and said, “If there are no objections, let’s start the vote. Who here agrees that Manison should be the first Development Union President?”
“Agree.”
“Agree.”
“Abstained.”
“Agree.”
Since there were not many people present and everyone there was important, a simple voting process was more than enough.
Everyone had voted, including Han Xiao, who abstained.
Seeing this, Manison was no longer worried. As long as Black Star did not interfere, this position was certainly going to be his.
The direct members of the three Universal Civilizations all abstained their votes. Clearly, they had an agreement. In the end, Manison easily won with an absolute number of votes.
Seeing this, Kasuyi took a deep breath and said with a deep voice, “It’s decided then. His Excellency Manison ‘Ancient One’ Palpatine will, from now on, be the official president for the first term.”
“Okay.”
The muscles on Manison’s face did not move at all. He maintained his poker face and did not say anything. He had no need to be humble.
Clap clap…
Those in attendance clapped a few times symbolically.
After the applause stopped, Kasuyi looked around and asked, “Now, as for the Vice-President, who…”
This time, Han Xiao suddenly smiled and said, “The formation of the association has relied a lot on the Black Star Army’s forces in the Flickering World. I think that it’s suitable for me to take this position. What do you guys say?”
Everyone exchanged looks and was not surprised.
With Black Star’s strength and position, he would be a director at the bare minimum even without the crucial help the Black Star Army had provided. Therefore, of course, he had the right to be the vice president.
Actually, there was a reason Han Xiao did not fight with Manison. He had already decided not to compete for the position of the first president the moment he knew that the president position was term-based.
One of the reasons was that his connections were not as rich as Manison. Another was that he did not want to be the one getting the pressure during the initial stage of the association. If someone else became the president next term, he would have worked for nothing.
This was also one of the reasons Han Xiao had gone to hide in the secondary dimensions for a few months. He would not be able to become the president anyway, so he might as well let Manison and the others endure the pressure and come back later.
I’m the main initiator anyway, and the Black Star Army has provided a lot of help to the development union, so that’s a big enough contribution.
Since he could still compete for the next term, Han Xiao was in no hurry. He did not want to directly compete with Manison, so he took the second-highest position as the vice president and planned to only compete for the position of president in the future.
Furthermore, even if he decided to directly compete with Manison now, he would not be able to succeed. Han Xiao never planned to compete with Manison in terms of connections but through the benefits of having him as the president, as explained by Kant and Milizaus. However, the people there still voted for Manison, which meant that they had already made their decision. Therefore, even if he had said anything earlier, these people would not have voted for him.
Although he did have some resources that he could use as chips to obtain some support, such as the Evolution Cube, there was no way he could do the same thing every term. Furthermore, much of those resources could only be used once. If he used it for this term, he might not be able to achieve the same amount of support next term.
Since he completely understood the situation, Han Xiao made the decision not to compete. He would only be able to wrestle with people on Manison’s level when his connections and influence reached a higher level.
After all, he had leeks he could harvest, so he would grow much faster than everyone else. With such a unique advantage, this strategy seemed more suitable for him.
Quite a number of people had their eyes on the vice president position. Sadly, none were competent enough, and Kasuyi and the others had no interest. Since Han Xiao was the local, most people gave him face. Manison was in a good mood and supported him too. Therefore, Han Xiao became the vice president smoothly.
After getting this position, Han Xiao was relieved.
Now, this is what I call materialization of position. Getting the vice president position without spending anything is definitely much more cost effective than paying a huge price for the president position.
The director positions that came after had no suspense. They had been decided long ago and belonged to the group of peak Beyond Grade As. Other than that, there were also three ‘Honorable Director’ positions that had no actual power. They were given to the direct peak Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations. Of course, this was one of the conditions of the compromises.
As the positions were decided, the date of the official formation of the development union was also decided. After these things were dealt with, the meeting ended. Remote projections disappeared one after another, leaving just Manison and Han Xiao’s remote projections behind.
“Congratulations, president,” Han Xiao said casually.
Manison gave a rare smile and said, “Don’t be discouraged. This is too early for you. The future is yours.”
Han Xiao blinked with a strange expression.
Although things were going in a different direction compared to the previous life, Manison’s goal should have remained unchanged, so he knew about it.
In his previous life, Manison had both pride and ambition. He wanted to make all the Beyond Grade As his shield to help him enter the next territory.
The two of them had different but similar goals. At least for a very long time, Manison would not be able to achieve his goal. He would have to wait for everyone in this grade to become stronger as time passed by.
Han Xiao put this thought away, pondered for two seconds, and asked, “About the negotiation regarding the Ultimate Knowledges, what’s the price the three Universal Civilizations have asked for?”
As this issue was brought up, Manison wiped the smile off his face and said meaningfully, “A Super Star Cluster Civilization.”
Han Xiao understood instantly and shook his head with resignation.
So, this is what they’re planning to do, killing two birds with one stone by using the association against more important opponents and ruining the association’s name.
“Will you agree?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to see.” Manison did not give a response. After he said that, his projection went offline, and Han Xiao was the only one in the conference room.
Han Xiao looked at Manison’s empty seat and suddenly chuckled.
Mr. Director, being in this position isn’t going to be that easy, you know…
…
Galaxy Calendar Year 730, July 11th. A sudden news bomb exploded in the Flickering World.
Close to a hundred Beyond Grade As made an announcement together. Due to the recent frequent conflicts between them, they had decided to form a guild-type organization to settle physical conflicts between Beyond Grade As and reduce the public damage caused by their battles.
The organization’s headquarters would be located in Flickering World, on Planet Finn of the Emerald Star Cluster. Manison would be the president, Black Star would be the vice president, and there would be close to a hundred Beyond Grade A members.
The three Universal Civilizations had also publicly announced that this organization was not illegal. At the same time, they encouraged the Supers in the universe to learn from this and reduce the damage caused by their powers.
The Flickering World Beyond Grade A Development Union was officially founded on this day!
A few months after the explosive news of the ambush on Hila, countless citizens and organizations of the various Star Fields were in an uproar once again!
In a military bar inside one of the dynasty’s closed bases, the usual boisterous atmosphere was nowhere to be found. Some held their glass up but forgot about drinking it, some caressed their glasses subconsciously, and some were smoking cigars but hardly breathed.
The only common thing they shared was that all of their eyes were on the virtual screen on the bar’s wall, which was now playing a political discussion show.
The show was hosted in a studio, where one host was leading the conversation with a few guests. The matter they were discussing was related to the recent big news.
Inside the quiet bar, the only sounds were the voices of the host and the guests.
“I know, the Flickering World Beyond Grade A Development Union, right? It was formed not too long ago. They invited tons of galactic media groups and made the announcement. Now it’s spread across the entire universe.”
“Almost all the Beyond Grade As in the universe have joined. Tsk tsk, these guys really can’t seem to be out of the spotlight.”
“According to the information we have,” the host said, “the purpose of this organization is to mediate the ever more frequent conflicts between Beyond Grade As. On the day of its establishment, they hosted a meeting where all the members attended. With the galactic media groups as their audience, they publicly mediated more than a dozen conflicts using peaceful negotiations, successfully solving the disputes between tens of Beyond Grade As. As it seems, this method is very effective. Those people all stopped fighting with each other. The frequent Beyond Grade As conflicts lately have been effectively reduced, and no one was unluckily impacted by those conflicts.”
“It seems that this organization is really quite useful.” A guest who held a high management position in a financial group complained. “The destruction Beyond Grade As can bring is too huge. Conflicts between them have always caused a humongous amount of damage to the public. Either planets were destroyed, or onlookers were accidentally killed. Now that this organization has been formed, these things can be avoided.”
“Exactly. I had a friend living in the Shattered Star Ring. He went to watch the battle between Black Star and the Tyrant some decades ago, and because he got too close, he, unfortunately, got killed. There was no compensation or whatsoever after that at all”
Someone said, “I have no idea what those onlookers are thinking. Do they think it’s a concert or something?”
“Have the Supers accidentally killed not enough ordinary people? This problem has existed in society for as long as Supers have. According to research, the number of ordinary people directly or indirectly killed by Supers in the entire universe every day is as high as around ten billion. Just let this horrifying number sink in. This is a huge problem that has everything to do with our daily lives.”
A guest complained angrily. He was the representative of an organization that supported equal rights between ordinary people and Supers.
“Therefore, I think that the purpose of this organization is much more important than it seems on the surface. Living up to their positions at the top of the Super Grades, the Beyond Grade As have made an amazing stand and set an example for all the Supers in the universe. It’s a very responsible act.” The host avoided this sensitive topic with a smile. He displayed Manison and Han Xiao’s virtual portraits on the screen behind and said, “The two main founders are Manison and Black Star, who have taken the position of president and vice president.”
“Oh, these two are the VIPs of VIPs!” A known celebrity made an exaggerated hand gesture and said, “Not much needs to be said about Manison. He’s a senior Beyond Grade A whom everyone knows about. No one finds it strange that he’s been chosen as the president. However, Black Star is someone who has only risen in the last few decades, yet he surprisingly surpassed the other much more senior members and took the second-highest position.”
A Slime wobbled and said, “Beyond Grade As are a group of people who heed strength above all. Not long ago, Black Star made a historical achievement by fighting twelve enemies alone, so whether he’s senior enough or not doesn’t limit him at all.”
“Speaking of which, it seems like that conflict was the fuse that led to Black Star proposing to form the development union, and Manison is only a partner he brought in.”
“No no no. From the way I see it, signs were already showing during the Meeting of the Gods. They’ve been planning this since long ago. Black Star is the one who contributed most to forming the association, so he became the vice president. As for the goal of the Beyond Grade As, who knows? Maybe they’re planning to shuffle the deck using this opportunity during the exploration of the Flickering World.”
“I’ve done some research. Black Star has been very active lately. Not only did he take the lead in forming the development union, but he also became a new shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group. The date when the dynasty planned to officially sell the Evolutionary Totems to the public was also brought forward. He even stepped into the entertainment industry. In the files of the Galactic Cinematic Association, the movie adapted from Black Star’s true story has already been filmed. The director is the renowned Beny Travol. Maybe we’ll see the rise of Black Star very soon on screen.”
The host and the guests chatted.
Pa!
This time, a dynasty army officer slammed his glass on the table, curled his lips, and said with disdain, “What bullsh*t mediating. Just a group of Beyond Grade As putting up a show. Only idiots would believe what they’re saying.”
The people in the bar laughed.
Everyone there was a soldier of the dynasty who had a much clearer view of the matter than ordinary people and was on the dynasty’s side. With this army officer starting the conversation, the others all started chattering.
“This can be basically considered as the official association of the Beyond Grade As, looks like they finally are planning to take some of their rights back from the three Universal Civilizations.”
“I didn’t expect Black Star to be the main founder. Tsk, outsiders really can’t be trusted. To think I actually admired him for some time in the past.”
“Nothing weird about it. He isn’t a citizen of the dynasty, so there’s no reason to demand his absolute loyalty.”
“The future of the three Universal Civilizations is going to be tough from now on. They’re going to have another powerful competitor.”
Hearing the discussion between his comrades, Gaud shook his glass filled with amber-colored wine and silently stared at Han Xiao’s portrait in the show with unknown emotions in his eyes.
“Your position is getting higher and higher, huh…”
Due to the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy being snatched away, Gaud had been paying close attention to Han Xiao. He had been watching Han Xiao continuously getting more and more resources, acquiring a higher and higher position in the universe.
The ambush on Hila some time ago had shocked him when it revealed how fast Han Xiao was growing.
Gaud stopped shaking his glass. The wine spun in it and formed a vortex. He looked down at the vortex and smirked.
“Manison has planned this long ago. Now the chance had finally come. The development union is not a bad excuse. I’ll most likely join it after becoming a Beyond Grade A too. But I didn’t expect you to support this idea too. Do you agree with that theory about the shared battlefront for Beyond Grade As Manison gave, or… have you discovered that too?”
…
In Black Star Palace…
“Looks like the first appearance of the development union is very successful…”
Han Xiao leaned back in his chair, rested his legs on the table, and looked through the news from the various media in the quantum network with a satisfied expression.
Not long ago, the development union had officially announced its creation to the outside world. As the vice president, he had also made an appearance at the ceremony.
To normal people, the development union was suddenly formed out of nowhere. The movements of close to a hundred Beyond Grade As attracted all the attention, so as soon as the news was out, the entire universe started discussing it.
The majority of the forces in the Flickering World were the most shocked by this sudden event.
There were a lot of organizations exploring the Flickering World, but to these organizations, the true situation in the free competition zone was actually split between three sides. The dynasty was one, the federation and the church shared another side, and the Super Star Cluster Alliance was the last side.
Comparatively, the rest of the organizations there were scattered. The difference was like the conflict between companies and between nations.
Originally, although there were many Beyond Grade A organizations, they all belonged to different sides. However, as they united, if they formed a profit union, another huge force would appear. The situation would turn from the conflict between three sides into four sides.
However, this was just the speculation the outside world had. Neither Manison nor Han Xiao planned to make any aggressive moves. In the negotiation with the three Universal Civilizations, they tried to ask them to deal with the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Although Han Xiao was quite tempted to use this opportunity against the Modo Civilization, for the sake of the big picture, he could only reject it.
As per their plan, the biggest purpose of the development union currently was to provide a communication platform. Its top priority was to slowly connect the resources of its members and form a profit union between Beyond Grade As. After this huge profit network was formed and its foundation was built, creating a shared battlefront would finally be meaningful. Otherwise, the development union would only be an empty shell.
“Achieving this will take a very long time, and the three Universal Civilizations will definitely try to slow it down nonstop. Therefore, before it’s done, the development union won’t be able to do anything else. Even if those Beyond Grade As have their own plans, they won’t show it at the initial stage and will only support uniting the resources, achieving a win-win situation,” Han Xiao murmured.
The Beyond Grade A Association had just been formed, so there was still a very long road ahead for both Manison and his goals. This was a long-term plan that would take decades at the minimum and could not be hurried, so there was no need for him to keep thinking about it.
What was worth mentioning was that, using money and connections, as the only exception, Sorokin was able to acquire the position as a director where everyone else was peak Beyond Grade A.
After hearing about Sorokin’s acts from Traveler, he looked unaffected, but he actually secretly paid a lot of attention to this guy. As a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group, Han Xiao did not act against Sorokin as it would only make Sorokin alarmed.
However, all things aside, Sorokin really had a knack for making money.
“This way, my goal is basically achieved. When the Calamity of the Supers erupts, I will be able to heavily interfere with it and even guide the main storyline of that version…” Han Xiao exhaled with a relaxed mood.
As the peak of personal strength, Beyond Grade As were the idols of countless Supers. Hence, Beyond Grade As uniting could guide the movement of the entire Super society to a certain extent. This was also one of the most important reasons why, when the Calamity of the Supers erupted, the influence of the Beyond Grade As quickly became stronger in the entire universe.
Temporarily putting this matter aside, Han Xiao opened the forums to look at the players’ opinions.
As expected, the focus of the players was not the meaning of the development union but the names of this many Beyond Grade As.
At this moment, Aurora walked in.
Han Xiao waved at her and said, “Come here.”
Aurora walked toward Han Xiao. She had suddenly been called to the office and was quite confused.
Han Xiao suddenly grabbed Aurora’s forearm and pressed on it softly, all the way up to her shoulder.
Aurora’s body was stiff, but she did not move away. She was both curious and anxious.
“W-what are you doing?”
Han Xiao sized her up, took his hands off her, and said, “I’ve noticed that your physique is very special.”
“W-what do you mean?”
Pa!
Han Xiao took out the containment device of the Holy Light Particle and slapped it on the table.
“When I went to the secondary dimensions, I found a new Primal Esper Ability Entity. I’m hoping to put it inside your body. What do you think?”
After thorough consideration, he had decided to find a host for the Holy Light Particle.
He acknowledged the potential of the new power system brought by the Holy Light Seed, but it would consume its core essence. Therefore, finding a host who could heal its kidney deficiency was better than creating an Energy Host.
Hence, Aurora was the top choice.
If she turned out to be incompatible, Han Xiao would consider its host from his previous life, Evans.
“Primal Esper Ability?” Aurora curiously looked at the gold energy inside the containment device with her eyes wide open.
Unhappy, the Holy Light Particle sent a resentful telepathic message. “Hey, this is the host you’ve found for me? She’s too young!”
“Young? She’s just about ten years younger than me.” Han Xiao rolled his eyes.
“What‽ A Beyond Grade A like you must be at least a few hundred years old!” The Holy Light Particle was even more enraged. “Then, isn’t she a few hundred years old too? Shameless! Still acting as if she’s so young!”
“… Can I strangle it?”
Aurora was speechless.
I am young! What do you mean acting!
The Holy Light Particle was still complaining. “I need a strong male host. Only then will he be able to match my power!”
Knowing his personality well, Han Xiao said, “Stop spitting nonsense. One more word and I’ll give you to the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy to let him have his way with you.”
The Holy Light Particle shut up instantly.
Han Xiao pressed on the containment device and a needle came out of it. Seeing this, Aurora reluctantly reached out her hand, bit her lips, and let Han Xiao plug the needle into her.
Boom!
The next moment, a strong blinding light exploded in front of Han Xiao!
1087 Made Friends
On the interface, a ton of abilities were now gray and frozen. Even the passive attributes given by the Esper Ability were gone. Paradise Disco immediately panicked and tried to leave the cabin.
This time, a cold metal hand pressed onto his chest and held him tightly in place. It was a mechanical soldier stopping him from moving. Paradise Disco was wearing a mask that sealed off all his senses, so all he could see was darkness and nothing else. He had no choice but to give up struggling and anxiously wait for the experiment to end.
Not knowing how long had passed, Paradise Disco suddenly felt that the devices that locked him in place opened up. He instantly stood up and took off his mask. He then looked around nervously, only to realize he was at the same place he was before, and the mechanical soldiers looked like they had never moved at all.
“My Esper Ability is gone. Is yours too?” Another player taking part in the experiment was released too and spoke with shock.
“That’s right. Mine is gone too.”
The two of them quickly exchanged information and realized that they were both in the infinite duration [Ability Frozen] state. They were both in a state of panic.
Paradise Disco hastily asked the mechanical soldier on the side, “What have you done to us?”
Following the answer Han Xiao had set for them to give, the mechanical soldier said monotonously, “It was just an experiment. The army is developing a special device to suppress Esper Genes. It might be widely available in the future.”
I knew it’s an experiment involving secret weapons!
The two of them exchanged and saw the same emotion in each other’s eyes. Paradise Disco quickly asked the question they both cared most about.
“Will our abilities recover?”
“Of course. In the research plan, Immortals are the best experiment targets. According to the logistics department, the Immortals only have to die and revive to refresh their body state and recover their ability. In the future, the Immortals in the army might be equipped with this kind of weapon,” the mechanical soldier replied emotionlessly.
Hearing that their abilities could recover, the two of them immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
The two of them had absolutely no doubt about this explanation. After all, the ‘Black Star Army Badge: Evolution’ had already happened, so developing secret weapons sounded just like what the army would do.
In the players’ eyes, this somewhat evil style completely aligned with the Black Star Army!
“This is the army’s secret plan. You have both signed the confidentiality agreement. Remember, do not tell anyone about what happened here,” the mechanical soldier said with a serious expression while returning their communication devices to them.
Paradise Disco took the communication device, looked at the player beside him, and saw suppressed joy in his eyes.
Confidentiality agreement? Hehe, that won’t stop us. You think taking our communication devices away will prevent this from leaking this? Impossible, the army has no power over the forums.
As if the army will find out if we make a post about it.
The two of them were secretly excited and were already thinking about how they were going to share this secret on the forums. This was not because they wanted to get in the way of the army’s interests but because their impulse to leak spoilers just could not be stopped.
Didn’t you hear the mechanical soldier? He said that this kind of weapon might be widely available to the army in the future. Won’t it be another type of suicidal attack like the explosion backpack and the army badge? We’ve come to know about it much earlier than the others. What reason do we have to not show it off?
Of course, the two of them had no idea that this was just an excuse Han Xiao had made up. He did not want to expose Evans’ existence, so he made up a reason not to let the outside world have any suspicion.
He purposely let the mechanical soldiers tell the two of them because he wanted to use them to spread misleading information, making the players think that this was a research and development project of some kind of secret weapon. This way, when the players took part in it in the future, he would not have to find another excuse again.
After the mission completion notification popped up on their interfaces, the two of them took their things and were too lazy to go back the way they came from, so they asked the mechanical soldier to help to send them to the afterlife.
With a flash of white light, the two of them revived in the populated base hall and checked their status immediately.
“My ability really came back.”
Paradise Disco was now finally relieved. He instantly opened up the forums and wrote down what he had just experienced. He added the title ‘Shocking! The army’s secret weapon turns out to be…’ and posted it.
As proven by facts, there was a reason this type of intriguing title had always been popular. This post attracted the attention of some players very quickly, and people started to comment on it.
“Is this true? Why have I never seen this mission before?”
“Suppress Esper Genes? I seem to recall that Black Star once had a house of happiness that was used specifically to produce Genetic Medicines out of galactic pirates. Is it now improved?”
“If we have this kind of weapon, won’t beating the other factions’ Esper players be a piece of cake?”
“Come on, have some ambition and imagination. This kind of treasure might be able to allow us to even defeat NPCs, making those strong NPCs powerless and unable to resist whatever’s done to them.”
“Stop it. I’m already starting to imagine the adult parodies in my head…”
“Come to think of it, the secret weapons the army has been inventing seem to be becoming more and more evil. The aberration one was already bad enough, but now they’re even inventing this… Are we the baddies?”
“The Deputy Army Commander is an Esper. Could it be that the Army Commander could not conquer her, so he’s planning to invent this kind of equipment and use force?”
“Black Star-Hila shippers are furious!”
“We live and die with Hila!”
…
While the players were pondering and making wild guesses, a secret door of a secret training room deep in the base opened. A man wearing a black hood walked out. He took off the hood, revealing his face. It was indeed Evans.
This training room had a secret path that led directly to the earlier lab. He followed what Han Xiao told him, sneakily went over, and absorbed the Esper Abilities of the two immobilized players. Before that, he had confirmed with Han Xiao again and again that the Immortals would only lose their abilities temporarily.
“So, this is the feeling of superhuman power…”
Evans raised his right arm and clenched his fist. A small stream of energy flowed out from his cells into the muscle and bones of his arm.
Boom!
The next moment, his arm bloated visibly like air was pumped in. His bones became tougher too, and his raw strength increased a large amount.
In his hands, this Esper Ability only had Grade E power. With his pitiful amount of energy, he could not even afford to pump up his entire body. He swung his arm a few times and made sounds of the sound barrier breaking. Just this one arm’s strength was close to double his original strength.
Esper Abilities all had potential grades, and usually, this grade signified the highest Grade the Esper could achieve. Although the players were not restricted by this rule, the potential grade still represented the growth speed and rarity of their Esper Abilities. The rarer, the stronger. Some players even continuously opened up new accounts and topped up real money just to get a rare Esper Ability.
Physique enhancement was a large branch in the Esper Abilities. Even Esper Abilities with the same prefix had many variations. Some ordinary physique enhancing abilities might only have Grade D or Grade C potential, but [Physique Enhancement—Bone and Muscle Inflation] had Grade B+ potential, meaning this was a rather high-quality ability among its branch.
This Esper Ability was also a semi-shapeshifting kind. Once activated, even skinny bamboos would instantly turn into muscular men.
The phycological Esper Ability that was absorbed also had grade B potential, which was still quite high.
Among the players, grade A potential was already extremely rare, so although grade B potential was one grade lower, it was plenty good enough.
According to the plan Han Xiao made, giving Evans these two high-quality abilities would not waste his slots. This combination of abilities was beneficial to increasing his basic attributes. As long as his own Grade increased, these two Esper Abilities would keep giving him bonus Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, and Psychological Resistance.
Evans loved these two abilities and could not stop using them till his energy ran out, but his eyes were still glowing.
He had been ordinary for decades. This was the first time he had enjoyed this feeling of fulfillment brought by this power. The shortcut of robbing abilities from others was extremely tempting, as if every single potential desire in his body was pushing him to take that path. Evans felt a sense of hunger coming from every cell in his body, instinctively thirsting for new abilities, like a hungry man’s insatiable craving for food.
“Hmm, His Excellency Black Star said that the changes in my body will bring changes to my mindset too. This should be the change my Esper Ability has caused in me…”
Evans thought about it. His strong heart developed through hardship made him suppress this sense of hunger brought by his Esper Ability.
He was not someone who had boundless greed. Black Star had changed his life and given him a righteous path to becoming strong. All he was thinking about was studying and training hard so that he could return this favor in the future. All he wanted was not to disappoint the hope Black Star had for him.
…
The last few months had not been peaceful. First, the federation and the church cooperated to attack the Black Star Army’s stronghold but were forced to retreat by Black Star. Then, the Beyond Grade A Association was formed. Therefore, the three Universal Civilizations had been at the center of galactic attention.
Today, the Federation of Light and the Arcane Church had finally made an official response regarding the attack on Hila a few months ago.
The two of them used different words but conveyed the same message, saying that the incident a few months ago was ‘an act of impulse led by misunderstandings’. At the same time, they publicly apologized to the Black Star Army, expressing that they would pay for the losses as well as give extra compensation.
Actually, as early as a few months prior when the incident occurred, the black markets at various places had opened a bet on whether the Universal Civilizations would apologize to the Black Star Army. The odds were sky-high, and most galactic residents felt that even though the Universal Civilizations were wrong, they would still be firm about it. They did not think the Black Star Army would receive apologies from the federation and the church, only private compensation at most.
Therefore, after this announcement was made, most galactic residents were astonished.
In the history of the three Universal Civilizations’ rule over the known universe, extremely rarely did they lower their heads against other organizations. After all, a public apology would harm their authority. However, the federation and the church shockingly had decided to do it this time, and the Black Star Army became one of the extremely few private organizations in the universe that had this honor.
The dynasty did not want to be excluded from this matter. Right after the church and the federation made their announcements, they officially opened up the Evolutionary Totem business, announcing that the product would no longer be limited and controlled, putting it onto the free market and allowing it to be bought and sold freely.
Countless civilizations had been waiting for this day. The Black Star Army’s email inbox exploded. The inventory the army had built up was being depleted continuously while enormous amounts of money flowed into the army’s account like a river.
Of course, the smarter people knew that the Crimson Dynasty did this to be closer to Black Star. As the three Universal Civilizations expressed their kind intentions to one person at the same time, Black Star’s reputation and position grew once again, even in the Beyond Grade A circle.
Not mentioning anything else, at least Han Xiao’s words carried heavier weight as a vice president in the development union.
The players now, of course, would not miss out on this kind of matter. The Flickering World panel in the forums was soon filled with discussion.
Green Dot: “Army Commander is indeed admired by all.”
First Name: “Any old players that still remember 1.0? Who could have guessed that Black Star would turn out to be such an important NPC? Look at those protagonist characters in the novice planets. Which one of them turned out as successful as Black Star?”
Hesitant: “Why do I suddenly feel touched? Four versions passed so fast. It’s like watching our kid grow up to be a man.”
Army Commander’s Big PP: “My son Black Star is destined to be the king!”
Important Things Need to Be Said Three Times: “Upstairs, you tired of living?”
The players had already been shocked when Han Xiao defeated twelve Beyond Grade As. Having witnessed such an astonishing event, they were much calmer now.
As the federation and the church carried out their terms, Han Xiao also kept his promise and released Tolaen and Hades.
…
On a sealed dock of Planet Black Gate, the officials of the federation and the church were waiting. They stood clearly apart and did not communicate with each other at all.
These groups of people were there to retrieve their own captives. For that, they had come to the Black Star Army’s territory.
After waiting for a while, a Black Star fleet approached from afar and stopped at this dock.
Woosh!
The hatch of the main ship opened. A group of mechanical soldiers carried the amber specimens of Tolaen and Hades down from the spaceship. They then placed these two works of art on the ground. Han Xiao walked out after.
Seeing this, the people of the federation and the church approached quickly, gathered around Han Xiao, and greeted him respectfully.
“Your Excellency Black Star.”
“Hmm.” Han Xiao looked around casually, waved his hand, and said, “Since you’re all here, quickly take your men away.”
He signaled everyone to get back. He then blocked their view with nanoparticles. He took his time for a few minutes before breaking Tolaen and Hades out of the amber.
Pa!
Having just regained freedom, the two of them staggered and almost fell.
Seeing this, Han Xiao snorted and coldly said, “The federation and the church have bailed the two of you out. Be careful in the future. If you dare mess with me again and end up in my hands, don’t blame me for picking off some parts from you.”
Tolaen shivered and uncontrollably took a few steps back. Fear lingered on his face as he looked at Han Xiao with horror-filled eyes. He did not dare talk back at all.
These past few months had been hell. He felt that if it had carried on, he would have been driven mad inside the amber. He never ever wanted to experience it again; he just wanted to get as far away from Black Star as possible.
Hades, who was standing to the side, was fearful too, but he could still control his expression, just about.
Nonetheless, he was extremely sorrowful inside. He had thought that he would at the very least gain some reputation through that operation. Never did he expect to fail so miserably.
Although being defeated by Black Star could not be considered shameful, this tag would probably follow him for a very long time.
He had yet to even make a nickname for himself. Nothing he had done was worth mentioning. What should he say when someone asked him about what he was known for? Was he going to proudly say he had been locked up by Black Star before?
Seeing that the two of them stood in place and did not move, Han Xiao raised his brows and joked, “What, don’t feel like leaving? Want to stay a few more months at my place?”
Hearing this, the two of them instantly shivered, quickly returned to their own welcome groups with tails tucked between their legs without saying a word, and boarded their respective spaceships.
The officials quickly took off.
Inside the church’s spaceship, Tolaen was looking down.
“Six people from the church went. I’m the only one who was captured. Why am I so unlucky?”
While he was blaming himself, a few communications were picked up by the spaceship. They were from Sagman, Taylor, and Mercer, who had also taken part in the attack on Hila. Their remote projections appeared in front of him.
“Hehe, are you alright?” Sagman said with a smile.
“Not at all.” Tolaen was miserable.
“Don’t have to be so pessimistic. We were locked up by Black Star once too, and we’ve all got over it.” Taylor smiled and comforted him.
“… You guys are quite generous.”
“After you come back, let’s find a time and place to meet up,” Mercer said.
Tolaen looked at the three smiling faces in front of him, and it suddenly occurred to him.
That’s it. We’ve all been to the prison, so we have common topics. Could this be what inmates feel like?
He had not joined the church long ago. Before that, he was a wanted man, so he could not squeeze into the Beyond Grade A circle of the church. He was like an outsider.
To his absolute surprise, after being locked up by Black Star this time, he obtained acceptance from a group of ‘former inmates’.
Tolaen’s mood suddenly became better.
I’ve finally made some friends…
On the way back, Han Xiao also inspected the operations of the stargate toll booth.
The stargate commute network in the Black Star Army territory extended from the Garu Star Cluster all the way to the free competition zone, quick and convenient. It was currently one of the exceedingly few complete transport routes in the Flickering World. There were a large number of people using it every day.
Of course, any outsiders who wanted to use this route had to pay a fee. Han Xiao fully utilized the Chinese talent buried deep in his soul of ‘build a road if you want to be rich’. He had set up toll booths at every stargate.
With a natural money maker like this, within a year of the Flickering World’s opening, the army had already earned back the cost of building the stargates. This outrageous profit margin proved a fact—buying land was much more profitable than operating businesses.
After returning to Black Star Palace, the first part of the bail from the federation and the church came. The federation paid the most. All of the three gold blueprints came from them, and this was the first gold blueprint.
“Mechanical Deity exclusive weapon, Universal Treasure grade mechanical item, Celestial Punishment Edge.”
Inside the office, Han Xiao chewed on the lava-flavor condensed nutrition bar while reading through the blueprint data from the Federation of Light.
The blueprints the federation agreed to give him were mostly weapons. This was what Han Xiao selected.
According to the information provided by the Federation of Light, this was an idea from the Saint Tyracles, those admirers of the Mechanical Deity. The federation inherited their knowledge and improved on it, fusing some of their special technology into it, and finally turned this incomplete idea into a blueprint.
On the blueprint was the complete design diagram of this weapon. It had some similarities to the Emperor’s Cape. Its appearance was a long mechanical sword with complex interiors, equipped with powerful close-range combat technology. It could also turn into a giant cannon mode and release various long-range attacks. As its name suggested, it was built to destroy celestial bodies.
Like the Emperor’s Cape, the Celestial Punishment Edge was also a mega machine, which the Armed Branch excelled in. Although Han Xiao was not, he would still be able to build it with the needed knowledge.
Why did these Saint Tyracles love to design close range combat weapons so much? Did all the true Mechanics have a hidden Pugilist desire inside them waiting to break free?
Complaining was one thing, but he would still undoubtedly have to build it. Han Xiao told Phillip to add the materials for the Celestial Punishment Edge to the next bulk purchase list.
After handling this matter, Han Xiao checked his inbox.
He had received replies from those neutral Beyond Grade A members of the association who were hired by Super Star Cluster Civilizations that he had messaged not too long ago. Most people were worried they might become the target of Dark Lord; only a few were not concerned.
“If there’s a demand, there’ll be a solution.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. He chatted with those Beyond Grade As separately for a while, including ‘Leader of Colossuses’ Garoze, whom he had once intimidated into retreating.
These people understood what he meant instantly after he gave a subtle hint, and they clearly expressed that they were willing to support Black Star as much as they could in the development union in the future.
Most of these Beyond Grade As did not become allies of the three Universal Civilizations because they did not want to be controlled. However, this would not happen in the development union. They were just normal members of the association, so they had limited control over it. Therefore, they needed an upper echelon with power who could represent their interests and give them better privileges. This was a win-win deal.
Including Garoze, these Beyond Grade As agreed to bring up this matter in the next plenary meeting, and Han Xiao promised to operate around it to eliminate the threat they were facing.
After bringing those people to his side, Han Xiao contacted the dynasty, planning to first notify them.
He expressed his intention, and after waiting for a while, the secretary connected his communication request to Urranrell.
As the scene around him changed, Han Xiao’s remote projection appeared in the Dynasty Ruler’s office. Before him was Urranrell, who was sitting behind her desk.
“Your Excellency Urranrell.” Han Xiao nodded respectfully as a greeting.
“Black Star.” Urranrell greeted back, stared into Han Xiao’s eyes, and cut to the chase. “You want me to call Clotti back?”
“Yes. The purpose of the development union is to eliminate physical conflict between Beyond Grade As. Clotti is now an Honorable Director, so if he attacks the members, it will go against the association’s purpose…”
With an expressionless face, Urranrell said, “On what grounds are you making this suggestion to me today? As an ally of the dynasty or as the vice president of the development union?”
“Both,” Han Xiao replied.
“Black Star, in the past few decades, how have you felt about the way the dynasty has been treating you?”
“Win-win.” Han Xiao smiled.
Urranrell paused and slowly said, “I must remind you, the Evolutionary Totem business and the territory in the Flickering World, these are all benefits only our allies can enjoy. The dynasty regards you very highly. I’m sure you’re aware of that.”
Some things could not be said directly. The dynasty did not oppose Black Star becoming the vice president of the development union, but they did not want to see Black Star lean toward it too much. They hoped that between the positions of a dynasty ally and the vice president of the development union, Han Xiao would lean toward the former.
The Mechanic Emperor was an example they could learn from. He had made too many contributions and received too much credit. The federation had no choice but to keep rewarding him and supporting him. This had led to the Mechanic Emperor slowly getting out of control. The dynasty did not want to create another Mechanic Emperor.
As if he did not hear Urranrell’s words between the lines, Han Xiao continued what he was saying. “Clotti has captured Traveler and another Beyond Grade A, reigniting others’ fear of him. The mission is actually already complete. If he continues to attack others, it might be too much. Furthermore, when I was in the secondary dimensions, I helped him, or things would have turned out differently.”
“Hmm… that makes sense too.” Urranrell thought about his words.
Seeing this, Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled, and he said, “Clotti should have reported the results of Traveler’s interrogation, so you must know that Sorokin played a part in this too. Does the dynasty plan to put him on the list of targets?”
“The authenticity of his testimony has yet to be investigated. Sorokin’s motive is still unknown. It’s not suitable for Clotti to act.” Urranrell waved her hand. “If there’s enough evidence, the dynasty will deal with him.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao secretly gloated.
Sorokin had always been swinging between the three Universal Civilizations, and now Traveler’s testimony might cause a huge problem to the position he had maintained for a very long time.
He wondered if the dynasty would use forceful means like when they dealt with Traveler. If that was the case, the true strength Sorokin had been hiding would probably be exposed.
The two of them chatted for a while. Urranrell did not give a direct response, only saying that she would consider the proposal of stopping Dark Lord’s mission. Han Xiao knew where to draw the line and bade farewell on good terms.
…
A few days later, in the Beyond Grade A Association’s headquarters on Planet Finn, remote projections of close to a hundred Beyond Grade As gathered to attend the routine plenary meeting in the round table conference room.
Currently, the development union was uniting resources, so the focus of the discussion was the partnership plans between the various Beyond Grade As.
The atmosphere was heated. Everyone there was a leader in their own field. They could make big decisions on the spot, so the process was quite smooth. Everyone made their own proposals and collaborated with other members who possessed the resources they wanted. Slowly, everyone’s businesses started to connect, forming an enormous profit network. To normal Beyond Grade As, this was an excellent opportunity to partner up with other large Beyond Grade A organizations and achieve mutually-beneficial agreements. With just a recommendation from others, they would receive huge profits.
After the day-to-day affairs were settled, Manison changed the topic.
“In the next meeting, the development union is going to welcome two new members, Tolaen and Hades. Due to some personal reasons, they missed the timing when the association was created. They have now gone through the necessary procedures, and they’ll be attending the next meeting.”
The people could not help but look at Han Xiao, who was sitting in the vice president seat. Everyone knew about the ‘personal reasons’, so the atmosphere in the room was quite funny.
After that, Manison looked around and slowly said, “If there’s nothing else, that shall be all for this meet…”
This time, Garoze raised his hand and said, “I have a question I’d like to ask Honorable Director Clotti.”
Everyone looked over. Clotti, who had been keeping silent, opened his eyes and glanced at him.
“I’d like to confirm one thing. We’re all members of the association now, and we’re to obey the rules and regulations. Therefore, Your Excellency Clotti, you can’t attack any members, right?”
“I only listen to the dynasty’s orders,” Clotti said with an expressionless face, not caring at all.
The atmosphere immediately became tense. The direct members of the three Universal Civilizations, who were originally resting with their eyes closed, looked interested too.
With courage, Garoze said in a deep voice, “I hope the association will take care of this and ensure our safety. I wouldn’t want His Excellency Dark Lord to suddenly have a wild idea one day and blame me and attack me for a crime I’ve never committed.”
As soon as he said that, many neutral Beyond Grade As expressed that they agreed with him. It was clear this was planned.
“Hmm…” Manison narrowed his eyes.
The association’s position was rather strange. Although these three Universal Civilizations’ direct members had joined the association, it was obvious they would not listen to the association, and this proposal had brought this problem to the table.
While the request of these neutral Beyond Grade As was totally logical, it was not a decision the association currently had the power to make. He had no right to tell Clotti to stop.
However, the very purpose of the development union was to resolve conflicts between Beyond Grade As, so it had to live up to that. Manison could not possibly say that he could not do it, or it would shake the foundation of the association and make people worry about the association’s ability to obey its own rules.
“I’ll do my best…” Manison planned to first agree and think of a solution later.
However, before he could finish, Han Xiao suddenly interrupted him.
“Leave this problem to me. I’ll deal with it.”
Garoze and the others understood and all thanked Han Xiao. “Then we shall leave it to you, Your Excellency Black Star. We’ll be waiting for the good news.”
Clotti gave Han Xiao a meaningful look and did not speak.
Han Xiao smiled at Clotti and did not intend to speak either. Both of them knew that the one who could make this decision was not present.
Han Xiao even pretended to comfort Garoze, finishing the show.
This time, Manison figured out what was happening and gave him a meaningful look too.
Manison did not mind Han Xiao building connections and establishing his reputation. To him, Black Star was on his side. As long as he could do the job, there was no problem.
…
After about a week, Clotti received an order from the Dynasty Ruler to stop the mission. He then led the captives back, leaving the Flickering World.
This message quickly spread to all the members. In their mind, Han Xiao became much more reliable.
By actively taking responsibility for this matter and successfully dealing with it, Black Star proved his ability. Knowing that, the others would naturally come to respect him. This would work just about anywhere.
To Han Xiao, this was just a small matter that did not cost him too much. As his position became higher, his opinion became more and more influential to the dynasty’s decision-making on some unimportant matters. The Dynasty Ruler gave him face, too. Making a dynasty ally sitting in the vice president seat more powerful in the association was clearly better than having the federation’s Manison have full control over it.
Meanwhile, after more than half a month’s time, Aurora had already fully mastered the Holy Light Particle. Without further ado, Han Xiao instantly announced the existence of the Holy Light Seed to the outside world. He emphasized the importance of the new class system granted by the Holy Light Seed. He stated that all army members would be able to acquire Holy Light Seeds after earning merits.
This new source of power made both the players and the Supers interested, but that was all it was, interest. The ordinary people had the strongest response; it was like a storm to them.
Almost everyone hoped to possess powers beyond ordinary men, and this was the best shortcut to it. As long as they awakened Super Genes, they would instantly be promoted into the Supers society and enjoy its privileges.
However, people were born different. Restricted by predetermined talent, most people were destined to be ordinary their entire lives.
Now, however, there was an opportunity to change their fate right in front of their eyes. Furthermore, it was not beyond their reach. As long as they worked for the Black Star Army and made enough contributions, they would have a certain chance of obtaining extraordinary power!
As soon as this announcement was made, countless ordinary people went haywire. The sensation it caused was even more incredible than all the things the army had done in the past added up. After all, the things the army had done were just that, but this announcement was related to the interests of everyone.
The ordinary people had their own way of living. No matter how amazing the Black Star Army was, there were only very few that were willing to work in an armed force. However, it was all different now. The Black Star Army’s appeal to ordinary people instantly exceeded ninety-nine percent across all industries.
In just five short days, the number of ordinary people requesting to join the army had already exceeded the current number of members of the Black Star Army!
The number of ordinary people in the universe far exceeded the number of Supers.
…
Within a secret research base of the Holy Accord organization, a researcher placed a cooling container in front of Law and Fay, opened its cap, extended his hand into the white cold fog, and took out a device that looked like a mini radar.
“Your Excellencies, this is the detection device I’ve invented using the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy’s characteristics. It’s used to sense the Holy Light Particle.”
Law clapped with encouragement. “Good job. This way, we’ll be able to find the Holy Light Particle.”
“The Holy Light Particle has been hidden for many years,” Fay said. “It’s probably sleeping in a certain secondary dimension and has no master now. This is our chance. Is the range of this device long enough?”
The researcher replied confidently, “Don’t worry, this device can be used together with the cross-dimensional radar. It’s definitely long enough.”
“Good.” Fay nodded with satisfaction.
Law hurried them. “Quickly equip it. We have to acquire the Holy Light Particle as soon as possible.”
“Understood, I’ll…”
Before he finished, an assistant hastily ran in holding a communicator in his hand and said, “Y-Your Excellencies, look at the news.”
Law and Fay looked over and were stunned.
The image the communicator was displaying was the announcement Han Xiao had made.
“Sh*t…” Law murmured.
Not just the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy but even the Holy Light Particle got taken by Black Star‽
What kind of luck is that‽
Last time, they could only successfully attack Black Star because Black Star was not prepared and knew nothing about their weapons.
The two of them initially thought they would never cross paths with Black Star ever again, so they did not worry at all. They never expected Black Star to have another Primal Esper Ability they needed.
The two of them exchanged looks and saw the powerlessness in each other’s eyes.
Another Beyond Grade A would have been fine, why did it have to be Black Star?
Black Star was alert now. The risk of carrying out the operation again would be at least ten times higher. They would be dreaming to think that doing the same thing as last time would work.
“So… are we still going for it?”
“Don’t drag me down if you want to die,” Fay said with a scornful tone.
“What should we do then? The Holy Light Particle is in his hands. We’ll have to find a way to take it back.”
“How would I know?”
The two of them were at the edge of collapsing.
What should we do‽
The researcher looked left and right before asking,
“Erm… this detection device I’ve invented, should I still install it?”
“What the hell do you think‽”
1089 Black Star Cup
Inside the exclusive training room in Black Star Palace, Mysterious Energy Host stood by the door and complained furiously to the two people in the room nonstop.
Han Xiao raised his hand and shattered a holy light shockwave from Aurora. He then scratched his ear, feeling like he was almost going deaf.
Ever since Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy found out that Han Xiao had found the Holy Light Particle a master, he instantly went mad.
Initially, he wanted to drag his old friend down so that they could happily be locked inside machines together. He did not want to feel lonely anymore. However, to his shock, although he was the one who led the way to the Holy Light Particle, the Holy Light Particle received much better treatment.
Why do you have a master by I have to be locked inside this metal‽
I want a master too!
Lately, as long as Han Xiao called him out, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy would nag nonstop around him.
“Master! Master! Master!” Han Xiao said with resignation. “Can you stop complaining?”
“No!”
A vein appeared on Han Xiao’s forehead. His patience had reached the limit. “Are you forcing me to turn on silent mode for the Mysterious Energy Host? You won’t even be able to speak at all then!”
Hearing this, Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy finally shut up.
Being trapped in a tool was bad enough. He could only speak because Black Star was kind enough to let it. If he was not even able to speak, he would have zero means of entertainment.
However, Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was still frustrated. After less than a minute, he uncontrollably spoke again with a soft tone like a wronged wife. “But I really want a master…”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and said, “How old are you? Can you have some pride? Are all Primal Esper Abilities as shameless as you?”
Holy Light Particle who was watching the show from the side heard that and said, “Bullsh*t, most Primal Esper Abilities have class. It’s the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy who spoiled our name!”
Furious, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy yelled, “Shut up! You’re not much better than me!”
“Alas, it’s so comfortable to be inside my master, so much warmer than being in a metal tin,” the Holy Light Particle said with a lazy tone.
Staying in Aurora’s body and being nurtured by her Vital Energy was as comfortable as enjoying hot springs. No matter how the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy yelled at him, he always used this response to make the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy even more frustrated and irritated.
Listening to the two Esper Abilities fight, Han Xiao could not help but massage his temples.
These two must be the floor of virtue among the Primal Esper Abilities…
“Alright, alright, that’s it for today.” Han Xiao waved.
Hearing this, Aurora obediently deactivated her ability. Like a duck that got suffocated, the annoying Holy Light Particle suddenly shut up and went silent.
“Erm… uncle, how did I do?”
Aurora looked a little anxious.
She had not been a combatant in the past, so she rarely accepted combat training from Han Xiao at all. The only times she did was as Hila’s support, and that was many years ago.
During the combat training, Han Xiao was not as kind and gentle as usual. He was quite strict.
Aurora did not have many opportunities to take part in direct combat, so her combat experience was limited. Therefore, she was worried she might not have done well.
“Not too bad. You need to make smarter choices…” Han Xiao called Aurora close and guided her step by step.
After Aurora learned to control the Holy Light Particle, she had the ability to take on direct battles. Although she would still not really have the chance to fight, Han Xiao still trained her personally to help her master the combat techniques of the Holy Light Particle.
While doing so, Han Xiao also tested the Holy Light Particle’s special ability to ‘punish evil’. This ability was completely subjective. Whether something was evil or not completely depended on the feelings of its master and the target.
The punishment effect Han Xiao received was very weak. According to the Holy Light Particle, in Aurora’s heart, he was a great man, and she had never once felt he was evil. The weak damage mainly came from how Han Xiao felt about himself. He had never felt he was a righteous man.
After a bit more guidance, Han Xiao sent Aurora away, summoned Phillip, and looked at the changes that had occurred in the army after the Holy Light Seed system was announced.
Quite a few days had already passed after the Holy Light Seed announcement. The impact was enormous. Many people had applied to join from every Star Field. Therefore, the army had to, of course, filter the applicants. Also, the cost of recruiting and paying salaries to those people was not a small amount.
The good news was, most ordinary people came for the chance of acquiring extraordinary power, so their goal was clear and straightforward, meaning they were resilient to pressure.
Therefore, without any internal moral conflict, Han Xiao told Sylvia to lower the basic salary of these newcomers to cut costs. This way, the army would be able to recruit more people at a lower cost. Anyway, these people were not here for the money, so it was a great opportunity to let the army acquire a large amount of cheap labor. Furthermore, in order to gain merits, these people would definitely work hard.
What? This is oppression?
No, no, no, this is called fighting to make their dreams come true.
Showing them what they could obtain by working hard was a must-learn for leaders.
Seeing the rocketing business performance across all industries, Han Xiao nodded with satisfaction and asked about another matter.
“How’s the Army Tournament plan I told Sylvia to come up with? Let me take a look.”
The virtual screen before him turned into a plan drafted by Sylvia.
Han Xiao looked through it in detail. Sylvia basically followed the structure he gave. Sparring was just one of the many programs. There were also all kinds of technical, sports, and entertainment competitions. Of them, the sports and entertainment competitions were the highest in number.
Furthermore, the army members could also request certain competitions. As long as they were not nonsense, there was a chance these requests would be approved. Han Xiao had no doubts the players would request soccer and play some ‘Shaolin Soccer’.
Based on the strength of army members, each Grade was classified into a group, ensuring that the participants would only meet competitors of the same Grade. At the same time, he also gave the players the freedom to choose either to join their own groups or the NPC groups.
Of course, encouragement measures could not be left out. No matter what group or program, as long as the participant’s placement was high, the army would give out a grand reward. This would ensure that most army warriors would be interested in taking part.
In order to let members who did not take part or were eliminated early still participate in some way, Sylvia suggested opening up bets for all the programs and competitions.
This way, it would receive attention from the entire army. As an armed force, there were tons of gambling addicts. Even those who did not gamble normally would also be influenced by the atmosphere to place some bets.
At the same time, this would also earn back the cost of hosting the event. Sylvia even planned to sell tickets, broadcast it across the entire universe, and charge for it. She had a way of making money.
Han Xiao thought this was a good idea. He could use this opportunity to start a competition league, like the sports competitions in his previous life, building a platform where Supers could display their prowess. This might be quite popular.
In the future, perhaps other Beyond Grade A organizations could take part. Since the development union prevented physical conflicts, this might be one way for the Beyond Grade As to display their strength, by letting their subordinates earn some honor for their organizations.
“According to this plan, this is going to be a festival the entire army will take part in, which will affect business operations. However, the sense of unity brought by this kind of large faction event is quite impressive. Not only the players but the normal army members also need ways to relax outside of work,” Han Xiao murmured.
To the players, the focus of the Flickering World version was to ride the tide of the era and fight each other, carrying out the first round of national wars on this grand stage. The clubs’ final goal was to be placed high in the International League.
Hence, if he, an NPC, hosted an even larger competition in the early- to mid-stage of the version, it would definitely be loved by the players as a warmup for the Pro League. This way, the appeal of his faction would evolve from a powerful organization with a lot of benefits to the host of a competition in the players’ eyes.
In order to take part in the Army Tournament, one naturally had to be in the army. No players from other factions would be able to take part in it. Therefore, once the players recognized the importance of the Army Tournament, the army would become a faction many players had to join like when it was the guiding faction in Version 2.0.
“This kind of large-scale faction event is not suitable to be hosted too often. Once every five to ten years should be best. Also, it needs a better name. ‘Army Tournament’ lacks personality.”
Thinking of his pitiful talent for naming things, Han Xiao was not confident and called Phillip out.
“Give me a name.”
Phillip tilted his head and said, “How about… Army Gala, hum?”
Han Xiao’s face trembled. Why not just call it the Spring Festival Gala?
“Too boring, give me a cool and flashy one.”
“Then… Galaxy Super Clash! Top of the Universe, Black Star Army Peak Tournament! Hum!”
What the hell? What stupid information did those players share with Phillip?
“Let’s not make it too flashy…”
Phillip gave another few names. In the end, Han Xiao officially decided to call it the Black Star Cup Army Tournament, or Black Star Cup in short. Simple and easily understood, it even included his name.
Han Xiao then made some adjustments to the plan and sent it to Sylvia. He decided to make an announcement about the first Black Star Cup another day. A lot of time was required to prepare for such a large event, so he decided to announce it first to preheat it like the players’ Pro League.
The scale of the Black Star Cup was so much bigger than the Pro League. The Pro League only included the players, while the entire army could take part in this. Although there were more than eight million army players, this was still a small number compared to the total members of the army.
However, most players had reached Grade B. Their importance was completely different compared to before. They could already be considered a very important force in the army.
In the universe, Grade Bs were considered the backbones of their forces. They were powerful in any non-Beyond Grade A organization. Even many Beyond Grade A organizations did not have as many Grade Bs as there were army players.
In the past few months, he had attracted a lot of attention, so he needed time to digest the influence it had brought. This was a good opportunity to direct all the attention to the army, so it was the best time to host the Black Star Cup.
Furthermore, Han Xiao had another more important goal.
The period of time when the players had the strongest desire to spend was before the Pro Leagues of every version. The players would only spend without hesitation to turn their money into strength before a large event.
Currently, the Flickering World was going from the early stage to the middle stage. Although no player had reached the maximum level yet, after accumulating for close to a year, many players had quite thick wallets.
“Some leeks… are ripe.”
Han Xiao sighed.
His scythe was ready.
Chapter 1090 Announcemen
Light beams crossed each other, landing on the cliffs around, causing landslides and rocks rolling down the slopes.
There were four different symbols on these low altitude carriers. One was the guild symbol of the Rivervale guild, and the other three were all symbols of different foreign clubs.
Rivervale was not in a good position right now. They were being attacked by three foreign clubs together. They had no choice but to flee while fighting back, or they would be surrounded.
Maple Moon was piloting one carrier. Her hands grabbed onto the sphere-shaped control devices on two sides specially made for Mechanics. Sparkling Mechanical Force connected the device to the spaceship, making the spaceship her extended body and allowing her to control it with ease. The spaceship swiftly made a turn, avoiding a round of fire while shooting a Main Cannon, which blew up one of the enemy spaceships.
However, a few visible black silhouettes flew out from the flames of the carrier’s explosion. They were the players on the ship. Among them, a Mechanic player threw out compressed orbs that turned into a new carrier, and they continued the chase.
Seeing this, Maple Moon spoke in the team channel with resignation. “Sword, there are too many enemies. Our inventory will run out sooner or later if we continue like this. Should we just die? We can leave these resources.”
“Hold on for just a while longer. Our allies are rushing here.”
Frenzied Sword focused on dealing with the enemies. He was quite frustrated.
This planet was originally controlled by a small mining organization. Rivervale, Long Sky, and other guilds partnered with it by providing armed defense in exchange for part of the mining profit. This was a common scheme for the player guilds in the free competition zone.
However, a few middle-level officers of this mining organization were bought by a few Southeast Asian clubs. They helped them hide on this planet. When Frenzied Sword brought his men and came to collect this batch of resources as usual, the three clubs who had set up an ambush jumped out and surprised Frenzied Sword and the others.
The mode of conflict between players had been becoming more and more complicated as they learned to make use of smaller organizations more effectively. They acquired skills such as bribing and threatening the NPCs. This incident was just a small one; the bigger guilds were already involved in infiltrating, backstabbing, and many other things.
The carriers of Rivervale were being destroyed one after another; the players had no choice but to land on the ground. Maple Moon led the Mechanics to build a fortress to attack the enemies in the sky. The enemies then also sent a group of players down. The two sides started slaughtering each other on the desolate land. As Rivervale was at a numerical disadvantage, their situation was quite worrying.
After fighting for a while, a few battleships suddenly appeared deep in the starry sky and quickly approached. They were the Long Sky and the other allied guilds. Seeing this, these three foreign clubs instantly took off and returned to the spaceships that were on standby in the outer atmosphere. Before reinforcements arrived, they escaped with hyperdrive in a very well-practiced manner. It was clear they were prepared.
“Are you guys okay?”
Hao Tian and the other Long Sky members landed beside Frenzied Sword’s side. They looked around at the mess around.
“Alas, they got me. We’ve lost quite a lot this time. Some died multiple times and lost Experience too,” Frenzied Sword said with resignation. There was a limit to the number of times the players could die each day, and the punishment increased gradually after every death. The players were not afraid of death, but they had to die for a reason. Clearly, dying like this without getting anything in return was a huge loss.
“These foreign clubs have their eyes on us Chinese clubs now. They’ve been working together to attack us,” Maple Moon complained.
“Well, it is what it is. We’re making the most profit, after all, and our faction is the strongest.” Sleepy Winter shrugged.
Currently, thanks to the Black Star Army, the Chinese clubs were having the best time in the free competition zone. Naturally, along with the benefits they received, they were also targeted by the foreign clubs. These clubs’ plan to stir up hatred between nations failed, so they could no longer use the players in the Black Star Army. Hence, they had no choice but to do it themselves. They had been harassing the Chinese clubs frequently over the past few months, attempting to slow down their growth.
Frenzied Sword was a little worried. “It wouldn’t matter if it was just during normal times, but if we get harassed even during the Pro League, it’s going to be very tough for us to achieve something this season.”
“If we get a champion this season too, China will have acquired the champion three times in a row. The clubs from the other countries definitely won’t want to see that,” Rainy Kim said calmly.
Participating in the competitions was a way to acquire fame. Fame meant traffic, and traffic meant profit. The ultimate goal of all clubs was to make profit.
The International League was the only large-scale open competition for the pro teams to increase their fame. There were no other platforms that had as large an audience.
Therefore, if the Chinese had it all, it meant that they had obstructed the others’ way of making money. No clubs from the other countries were content with just participating, so some of them were causing problems for their opponents by any means necessary. They were all competitors, and when one side became too strong, the others would definitely come together to be against it. It was unavoidable.
Beep beep beep!
At this time, the communicators of everyone present suddenly rang simultaneously.
They exchanged looks of surprise and looked at their communicator. When they saw what it was, they were all slightly stunned.
“Black Star Cup?”
On the communicators was a new army announcement.
_____________________
Army Announcement—The Black Star Cup Army Tournament
To the entire army, the Black Star Army has been walking the path of high-speed growth. As our business expands, so does the number of members. In order to let the members of the various departments get to know each other more, increase our unity, and select talented people from the various trades, the army has decided to host an event with the nature of a military parade. The preparation for the first season of Black Star Cup Army Tournament starts today. For details, refer to the Competition Rules and Regulations (Expand/Collapse).
All members of the army are able to take part. If you can achieve excellent results, the army will not be petty about the rewards. You’re welcome to participate.
Army Commander, Black Star.
_____________________
The people did not feel much by just looking at the content of the announcement. However, when they expanded the competition’s rules and read the contents, their eyes became brighter and brighter as they were shocked by the scale of the Black Star Cup.
“My god, the scale of this faction event is way too big!” Maple Moon covered her mouth in shock.
“We can even request certain activities‽” Twinkle Fried Rice’s eyes widened.
The players present were overjoyed just by reading the introduction. They could not wait for it.
Compared to the scale of the Black Star Cup, the International League was tiny.
Frenzied Sword and Hao Tian exchanged looks. Both of them thought of the meaning of this event beyond the surface.
“This is an amazing opportunity to increase our fame!” Frenzied Sword’s tone was excited. “Events like this definitely don’t lack spectators, and there are close to ten million army players as the default audience.”
“That’s right. Although this is an event hosted by an NPC, as long as it’s popular, it’ll also bring traffic. It might be an even better replacement for the International League!” Hao Tian expressed his agreement.
Hearing this, the look in everyone’s eyes changed. The way they looked at this announcement was as if they were looking at a mountain of gold.
Everyone had noticed that this was probably the new platform for professional players to shine. Furthermore, it had way more activities than the International League, which would bring an extremely high amount of exposure.
Although the clubs in the other factions could not participate, which meant that the Chinese clubs had no competitors and it was not as competitive as the International League, was this not an exclusive exposure opportunity to the army players?
Also, it was now the early to middle stage of the version, so the Pro League was still far away. This was the exact time the players needed an entertainment show, and the Black Star Cup filled this void!
If it was popular enough, they were even willing to bring out as much passion as during the International League to prepare for the Black Star Cup, turning their accumulated Experience and wealth into strength.
Why do we make money? To spend it when needed of course!
Such an amazing opportunity has landed on us Chinese players again…
Thinking of this, they could feel the blood flowing in their body turn warm. They were touched.
Black Star might be a member of the Communist Party!
…
“Black Star Cup‽”
Seeing the army’s public announcement, the many foreign clubs were filled with jealousy.
Every club knew that this was an excellent opportunity to gain exposure. This was exactly the stage they needed.
However, only the Black Star Army members could participate in the Black Star Cup. These clubs belonging to other factions could do nothing but watch this opportunity slip by.
The foreign clubs could still put up with the mission benefits the Black Star Army was already getting, but now such an amazing exposure opportunity had appeared, the determination of many clubs not to change factions was shaken.
Why can the Black Star Army hit our soft spots so easily‽
Should we just… give in?
…
“What is Black Star doing?’
On the other hand, some Beyond Grade As were confused about this.
To some of them, not only did events like this damage profit and affect efficiency, it would also eat into a lot of time that could be used for work.
However, after some thinking, quite a number of Beyond Grade As felt they understood Black Star’s intentions.
With the development union, the chances for us to take part in battles in the future will probably decrease, which is not beneficial to maintaining our individual image. Black Star might be searching for a new way for us to display our strength to the outside world.
Quite a number of Beyond Grade As were touched.
The Vice President is thinking so far into the future. Now this is what it means to help us obtain more benefits!
1091 Making It Clear
Inside the large conference room of the army’s headquarters, Sylvia sat in the top seat. Countless remote projections of representatives sat below and chatted nonstop. The room was noisy.
“Silence.”
Sylvia knocked on the table, and the entire place did indeed become silent. Everyone turned to look at her.
As the Chief Administrative Official of the army, Sylvia was also in charge of communicating with the outside. In the eyes of many organizations, she was no doubt someone who held a high position and a lot of power. Even though all the people sitting there were upper echelons of their own media and financial groups, they were still very obedient in front of Sylvia.
Sylvia looked around and said with a serious tone, “You’re all here for the same purpose. About the Black Star Cup Army Tournament, the Army Commander intends to develop it into an integrated sports event for Supers. The first season will temporarily be limited only to the army itself, but in the future, people from other forces might participate too. The details are in the introduction of the rules and regulations of the competition, which I believe you have all already read.
“The army hopes to broadcast the event to the entire universe, so the broadcasting rights will be sold by areas. Planet-level broadcasting rights will not be sold alone. The lowest will be at the Star Zone level, which costs 15 million Enaus. The broadcasting rights for a Star System costs 120 million Enaus, and the Star Cluster broadcasting rights costs 980 million Enaus. It can be paid in one go or up to five terms. This is only the initial price for reference. If any of you want to be the only one broadcasting it in the area, the sale will be done in the form of bidding.”
Hearing this, a commotion began under the stage. Many people exchanged looks and saw the surprise in each other’s eyes.
Given the Black Star Army’s position and the popularity of this competition, this price was more than just generous. It was much lower than they expected.
Usually, there would only be two ways to sell the broadcasting rights of this kind of event. The most common one would be selling it to the media, not restricting the areas where the said media would play it in. Another would be to sell it by areas, which was usually used for large-scale broadcasting. Very few could do the latter, or the media would not allow it. Of course, the Black Star Army had the right to.
The basic unit was Star Zone, which meant that if bought, it would only be allowed to be broadcast in one Star Zone. Although the current quantum network was extremely developed and connected the entire galactic society, most viewers still had area-based preferences. It was basically like the local channel.
Indeed, the price of 15 million Enaus was not low, but any media or financial group that dared to come to make deals with the army had no shortage of that much money.
If the broadcasting areas overlapped, the event would then be broadcast together unless an auction was held for the exclusive rights. If different levels of broadcasting areas were to overlap—for example, if one media bought the Star System broadcasting rights while the other brought the Star Zone broadcasting rights that included this Star System—the issue would either be left undealt with or they could request to negotiate with the army. The army would then either refund the broadcasting rights or have the two media groups work together. However, any media purchasing a large area broadcasting right, selling it themselves was absolutely forbidden.
Sylvia called out Phillip’s doppelgangers, which appeared beside every representative, to record the prices they were willing to pay.
The media representatives contemplated for a while and wrote down their requests and prices.
They could all see the business potential of the Black Star Cup. Lately, the Black Star Army had done a lot of shocking things and attracted a lot of attention, especially Black Star’s Godlike Battle and the Holy Light Particle incidents. The army had welcomed a lot of traffic. In fact, in every ten galactic residents, at least four would pay attention to news about the army.
Furthermore, the Black Star Cup itself was also very appealing. Although there were many Supers in the universe and battles between them were anything but rare, a competition where countless Supers of different Grades all participated together was extremely rare. Plus, there were even things like selections and drafting events, which would make things much more interesting for the audience.
Also, the competition had way too many items. Where else could anyone see such an interesting sports entertainment event with so many Supers attending?
According to the blueprint of the Black Star Cup, there was a chance this would turn into a league festival in the future that more organizations would take part in. With the Black Star Army’s position, anyone copying the idea was nothing to be worried about. From a long-term perspective, this competition had a lot of growth potential. The representatives present not only wanted to sign this competition, but some even wanted to immediately sign the next few seasons too as a long-term investment.
“That’s a win-win for us.” Sylvia continued speaking while they were considering the prices to pay. “The army wants to make the Black Star Cup big, so we need more media groups to broadcast it and increase the event’s popularity, while you guys need people to watch your channel. I’m sure I don’t have to emphasize the scale of the Black Star Cup. It’s a festival that…”
At this time, a financial group representative raised his hand and said, “I heard that the army is opening up bets internally. Do you accept exterior bets?”
“You guys can set up bets yourselves, but the army’s pot doesn’t accept bets from the outside.” Sylvia waved her hand.
“And why is that? If you guys open up the bet, the commission you can earn from it will be countless times greater.” Someone questioned.
“This is the highest order from the Army Commander.”
Sylvia did not explain it to them. Actually, when she came to know that Han Xiao had made this decision, she was confused too. This was an opportunity to make a lot of money, and from what she knew about Han Xiao, he would not let this opportunity slip past. However, to her surprise, it was like her teacher’s personality changed on this matter.
Afterward, Han Xiao explained it to her. He said that although the army was quite wealthy, the bets from the outside world were still way too large. There were risks to opening the betting to the outside world, and some fool—Sorokin—might cause problems in the dark. Comparatively, if the bets were only open to the internal members, it was basically equivalent to cycling the funds within the army. No matter who won or lost, the money was still in the hands of the army’s members.
On the other hand, the people participating in the competition were their own army members, and if the army opened the bets to the outside world, the army members might have some disgruntled guesses about why it was the case. This was not beneficial to building their mindsets. If the bets were only limited to within the army, the image it gave would be much better. It would feel like a family betting with each other within the family.
Simply put…
We ain’t gonna earn this dirty money!
After retrieving all the price quotes, Iapetus brought his business team along and came in for negotiations, while Sylvia left the conference room and headed for the next meeting.
Other than the selling of broadcasting rights, the army also planned to find a lot of sponsors for the Black Star Cup. The partners of the army would provide some form of sponsorship, be it for the sake of profit or face, and all of that added together was quite a large amount of money.
Sorokin had approached Han Xiao for this purpose, too.
…
“You want to sponsor the Black Star Cup?”
Han Xiao sized up Sorokin’s remote projection.
“That’s right. You’re a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group. Of course, I have to show my support for your projects.” Sorokin had his signature fake smile on his face.
“How much do you plan to sponsor?”
Sorokin gave a number, smiled, and said, “This number represents my sincerity.”
Han Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. This amount was quite outrageous.
Your sincerity is overflowing…
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, the Black Star Cup has a lot of potential. I have very high hopes in this investment.” Sorokin smiled and slowly said, “Plus, we’re partners now. Due to some reasons in the past, some cracks were made in our relationship, so I’m hoping to fix our relationship…”
Han Xiao understood.
Right, so you’re here to give me ‘protection fees’, hoping to compensate for the loss you’ve caused me before.
He had essentially threatened Sorokin to obtain the position of shareholder, which could not be changed. Sorokin had already accepted that, so he mainly wanted to fix their relationship. He had to say, this guy really knew when to compromise and take a step back.
Han Xiao suddenly thought of something.
This guy probably was not only there to make up for what he had done but also for Traveler.
Dark Lord had caught Traveler, and the dynasty had already announced that he would be openly executed. Han Xiao had gone to the secondary dimensions some time ago, so Sorokin might think that he had found something out. Thus, he had come to test Han Xiao.
After all, Sorokin meddled in the attack on Hila, and Traveler was one of the very few people who knew about it, so it was natural that he was worried.
“Alright then. About before, I shall hold you less responsible.” Han Xiao smiled, dragged his words, and said, “About Heber…”
Sorokin’s eyelid trembled. “This…”
Before he answered, Han Xiao laughed and said, “Don’t worry, I’m kidding. How can I let you void your agreement with him, use the methods you used on me on him, and take away all the developments you’ve helped him make? He and I are so very close.”
As if I’d believe you…
Sorokin adjusted his emotions and tested Han Xiao by saying, “I heard you went to the secondary dimensions recently. How was it?”
“Not bad. I went to quite a few places…”
Han Xiao chattered about everything but what he knew Sorokin really wanted to know about.
After patiently listening for a while, Sorokin realized that Han Xiao was deliberately avoiding the topic, so he had no choice but to cough and say, “I heard that Dark Lord caught Traveler in the secondary dimensions. Did you meet him?’
“Yes.” Han Xiao nodded.
Sorokin was glad. Just as he was about to listen to what Han Xiao was going to say next, he suddenly realized that Han Xiao had stopped and did not seem like he was going to continue at all.
“…”
The two of them looked at each other in silence for close to half a minute.
Finally, Sorokin could not take it anymore and asked with resignation, “What happened?”
“Back then, Dark Da… ahem, Traveler almost escaped from Dark Lord, but he ran into me, so I captured him.” Han Xiao tutted. “Speaking of which, that guy hardly had a backbone. I only tortured him a little bit, and he gave up the identity of who was behind all this.”
Sorokin’s heart tightened. “Who?”
Han Xiao glanced at him and slowly said, “He said he isn’t really a neutral mercenary but a secret direct member of a Super Star Cluster civilization. He was ordered by his superiors to disrupt me when Hila was attacked.”
“Direct member?” Sorokin was curious. “Of whom?”
Han Xiao said with a grave ton, “None of us expected him to actually be a member of the Modo Civilization.”
“Modo…”
Sorokin pondered.
Suddenly, realizing something, he became alarmed.
Wait a minute. There’s no way Traveler would have covered the truth for me. He’d definitely expose the fact that I was the reason the Star Cluster sent him on this mission.
This meant that the dynasty knew he was involved.
“Then you…” Sorokin stared at Han Xiao but did not know what to say.
“What do you want to say?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“What else did Traveler say?”
“Are you asking whether Traveler ratted you out?” Han Xiao said with a smile.
Sorokin’s expression tightened. Since Black Star had said that, he was sure he was exposed.
This time, Han Xiao stopped smiling and coldly said, “What you’ve done behind my back isn’t very nice.”
He had planned to hide this, but when Sorokin came to find him, he understood that his initial plan of staying in the dark was not so realistic.
The dynasty was going to publicly execute Traveler, so Sorokin definitely had no room to daydream. He knew that there was a very high chance Traveler would throw the blame to him, nor did Traveler have any reason to cover up for him. Therefore, the dynasty most likely would know about what he did, and Black Star certainly was notified about him plotting against the Black Star Army.
This way, even if Han Xiao acted like he did not know it, Sorokin would only be more alarmed. Therefore, he might as well make it clear. According to what he knew about Sorokin, this guy definitely would not want to make things ugly but would instead try to compensate for it.
After all, even if Sorokin gave him compensation, it did not mean that he would stop targeting him.
Sorokin paused, sighed, and said, “Alright, got it. The motive behind what I did was just to maintain balance; it’s not personal. Nonetheless, I owe you for this incident. Since we’re now partners, I’ll give you an appropriate answer.”
Han Xiao carefully observed his expression and narrowed his eyes.
As he expected, given how thick-skinned Sorokin was, him panicking after being exposed was not likely. He would have instead confessed and apologized on the spot, then looked for compensation measures.
Furthermore, Sorokin was very cheeky and actually prepared for this—he deliberately told Traveler about ‘how he really felt’ and gave his actions the excuse of maintaining unity and disrupting the Beyond Grade A shared battlefront. This way, it would not seem personal.
With this mindset as the reason, even if he was exposed, he would not be targeted too much. This was because the stand he had displayed on this matter was actually the same as the three Universal Civilizations’ stand.
The only difference was the methods he used. Even so, he had hardly offended the dynasty. After all, his method was just indirect disruption, not direct interference.
In the current complex universe structure, the three Universal Civilizations had conflicts of interest with the development union. As a member of the association that also had the same mindset as the three Universal Civilizations, Sorokin might become one of the people they might want to draw to their side.
Although having his stance exposed would lead to those Beyond Grade As who supported the shared battlefront such as Mechanic Emperor and Black Star distancing themselves from him, this also became an opportunity for him to get closer to the three Universal Civilizations. This way, his losses would be minimized.
Han Xiao could only praise Sorokin’s intelligence. Relying on his resources, this guy could always deal with the negative side effects very well.
The biggest problem was that he had worked with the Super Star Cluster Alliance on this, so the three Universal Civilizations would definitely not be happy about it. Sorokin had no way of washing that off, so he had to pay a price.
The second problem was Han Xiao’s attitude on this. Black Star was insulted, and no one could shake his position in the association now. Sorokin had no choice but to prepare for Han Xiao to make an outrageous demand.
Many thoughts flashed through Han Xiao’s mind. He blinked and said coldly, “Let me hear how you’re planning to express your apology to me.”
Chapter 1092 Opening
Sorokin mentioned a lot of things. In conclusion, other than monetary compensation, he was also going to use the Limitless Financial Group’s businesses and funds to help the Black Star Army grow and develop.
Han Xiao made some calculations in his head. If these terms were all to be carried out, despite how wealthy the Limitless Financial Group was, it would not be a small expenditure at all. To the army’s territories, the construction would be sped up tremendously.
This guy really seemed serious about fixing the relationship.
In the past, Sorokin used a similar method to help the Bloodshed Land grow. Now, the Bloodshed Land had mostly completed their business transformation and become a strong competitor of the army in the Shattered Star Ring. Sorokin was now offering the same treatment to the Black Star Army, with even better terms.
As for the support he had been providing to Heber, even though Black Star did not mention it, Sorokin was going to stop it for the time being.
“Hmm…” Han Xiao neither agreed nor disagreed. He then brought up a new term. “Although the construction in the Flickering World territories is important, the army has a larger goal. I’m planning to develop the army in the other Star Fields too. Your Limitless Financial Group has influence and businesses in various Star Fields too. I suppose you can share some of that too.”
“…Okay.” Sorokin was smiling on the surface but actually clenching his teeth in his mind.
He knew that this request meant that Black Star was not satisfied with just resources but had his eyes on the Limitless Financial Group’s channels and connections across the Star Fields. Black Star wanted to suck the Limitless Financial Group’s blood and take its businesses to nurture the army’s businesses in the other Star Fields. It was quite an outrageous demand.
Although Sorokin was mentally prepared for it, he was still quite hurt.
One reason he was willing to give so much compensation was to fix his relationship with Black Star. It was worth investing in him despite the fact that the chance of Black Star no longer targeting him was only fifty percent. Another reason was to display his stance to the dynasty.
Although the Black Star Army might become a parasite to the Limitless Financial Group, leeching on its meat to grow, the most urgent matter now was to deal with the dynasty. Suffering from losses was inevitable, or Sorokin would not have compromised like this. The Black Star Army was strong indeed, but he was not afraid of Han Xiao in the field of business. It was the dynasty behind Han Xiao that concerned him.
After getting by this incident, the profit he lost could be slowly earned back in the future, and the agreements made now could be ignored in various ways too. Therefore, Sorokin decided to agree with it for the time being.
“Also, I like Universal Treasures. Be it complete products or blueprints, I like to collect them all. The Limitless Financial Group should have some ways to get them—share them with me,” Han Xiao said.
“I’ll do my best to collect them after I get back.” Sorokin agreed without hesitation. He was already agreeing to pay a lot of debts; agreeing to more did not really make a difference.
“That’s it then. Carry out these terms as soon as possible.” Han Xiao waved his hand. “I have some things to attend to later, so let’s end our chat here today.”
“Okay, I won’t disturb you any longer.”
Sorokin stood up, nodded slightly, and hung up the communication. His remote projection disappeared.
Han Xiao leaned back and pondered.
“Traveler is dead loyal to the Star Arc Civilization, and only I know about it for now. I wonder if the dynasty can get that from him in the interrogation. No matter what, as of now, Traveler is firm about Sorokin being the one behind it on the dynasty’s side. The dynasty will definitely send someone to question Sorokin’s motive.
“At that time, Sorokin will surely blame it on the Super Star Cluster Alliance. I told him Modo is the true mastermind, so he will most likely say the same to the dynasty. If the dynasty continues to ask, he’ll probably say I told him. The dynasty knows that I have beef with Modo, so they’ll know my motive. Although they clearly know this is a lie and framing, they might be happy to go along with it. In the future, they might use this as an excuse to cause trouble for the Modo Civilization and other Super Star Cluster civilizations.
“As for Sorokin, he might not believe what I said, but even if he doesn’t believe Traveler belongs to the Modo Civilization, he’ll definitely investigate it…”
Han Xiao shook his head and smiled.
This way, the one who suffered the most damage from this entire incident would be the Modo Civilization. It basically all fell onto their head out of nowhere.
In the three Universal Civilizations’ future operations to deal with the Super Star Cluster Alliance, the Modo Civilization would probably receive the most ‘love’.
“This way, the second requirement of that Grade S mission [Kunde Race Leader’s Last Wish] should be about complete…”
Han Xiao’s eyes slightly sparkled, and he rubbed his hands.
He had been tempted by the reward of this mission for a very long time. [Proof of Leadership], [The Enemy], and [Kunde Rage], a total of three excellent abilities. Currently, the Modo Civilization was protected by the Super Star Cluster Alliance and was keeping a low profile, so he could not target them directly. The only thing he could do was wait for the certain conflict in the future.
…
News about the Black Star Cup quickly spread. The entire army showed an extremely high passion for it; countless members registered.
Most people joined for entertainment purposes, but a few ambitious army warriors saw this as an opportunity to display their strength.
The Black Star Cup had also received a lot of attention among the army players. The forums were filled with posts about it once again.
Heaven Is Below Me: “What’s going on? Wasn’t Black Star just going to enter the show business not long ago, and now the army is going to enter the sports industry?”
Itchy Head: “That’s how large factions are.”
Never Starve Even Dead: “This feels more interesting than the Pro League.”
Tiny And Weak: “The scale of this tournament is the biggest I’ve ever seen. It has a lot of events and a lot of participants. All participants are allowed to even join as many as five events. How many competitions are there going to be? There are card games and even bets too‽”
Two White Rabbits: “Not just card games, there are even singing and dancing contests. I even saw people request stand-up comedy competitions, and it was even approved!”
Dragon Emperor Licker: “Honestly, I want to see Black Star dance…”
Sky High Professional Account Boosting Studio: “The rewards for these competitions are quite rich, and the items with the greatest rewards are still related to combat. The top 300,000 will all be rewarded, and our weapons are not even limited. This means that if we participate in group battles, use our explosion backpacks and evolution badges, and utilize similar dirty tactics, will we take all of the top positions?”
Feidin Supporters Group President: “Let me take a look. Whose wallets are getting thick again? (Black Star’s Smile.jpg)”
Cow Lover: “Army Commander, this is my protection fee for this year.”
While the Black Star Cup was still in preparation, countless players were already getting their wallets ready.
For the days that followed, the sales of the logistics department skyrocketed. The Experience Han Xiao received every day increased by a huge portion too. Tons of players spent more than half of the resources they had been accumulating since the start of the Flickering World version on studying and leveling up abilities.
Seeing the Experience growth every day, Han Xiao felt very good.
If I don’t take the players’ hard-earn money, am I still human?
At this rate, level 340 was not going to be far away. However, to obtain one more God’s Trait Transformation Point during Promotion, he decided to use the Experience he earned to level up some blueprint abilities and all his class knowledges to the max level.
Sylvia and Phillip were very efficient. With the Black Star Army’s current position, all the administrative procedures were approved smoothly without any hiccups.
Han Xiao selected many desolate planets as the event venues. The professional galactic construction teams called over by the Limitless Financial Group quickly built up the facilities needed, while the army members participating in the Black Star Cup arrived one after another.
The schedule was similar to the Pro League. Due to the extremely large number of participants, a group of people would first be eliminated in the qualifiers, then it would move on to the actual event.
After preheating it for more than two months, the preparations for the first season Black Star Cup were finally complete.
On October 28th, Year 730 of the Galaxy Calendar, the Black Star Cup opening ceremony was held as scheduled. With help from the media groups, the eyes of the entire universe were focused on this giant festival.
1093 Tide from Afar
This was one of the desolate planets in the army’s territory, it was rebuilt into one of the venues for the Black Star Cup. Countless facilities such as stages, rings, large stadiums, and low altitude racing tracks were built on the surface, visible to the naked eye even from outside the atmosphere. Other than the buildings on the surface, there were also floating stages in the air. Some were VIP seats exclusive to the army members above Grade C, and others were more rings. As there were many items and participants, as many competition venues were needed as possible to increase the efficiency of the qualifiers.
At this time, the sights of all the media groups and army spaceships were locked onto the biggest floating stage. On it was a lectern.
Today was the opening ceremony. As the leader of the army, the founder of the Black Star Cup, Han Xiao was going to speak to the entire universe here.
Countless galactic residents of the explored universe watched their communicators as time passed by. Finally, the time for the official start of the opening ceremony had arrived.
Hu!
Watched by countless people, a black silhouette descended like a meteor from space, gradually decelerating and accurately landing on the edge of the stage. With a light spin, the dancing black and gold coat spun like a black tornado, getting rid of the flames from when he penetrated the atmosphere.
Han Xiao slowly walked to the speaking desk and looked up at the sky. The spotlights from countless spaceships above were like distant stars. Countless eyes were watching him through the live broadcast.
With his hands placed on the sides of the lectern, Han Xiao looked around at the starlight in the sky and slowly spoke. Through the specially made speaker, his voice echoed across the planet.
“October 2nd, Year 688 of the Galaxy Calendar, that was the day the army’s former identity—the Black Star Mercenary Group—was founded. Back then, I was only a surface civilization native who had just stepped off Planet Aquamarine. To save my mother planet, like a newborn animal, I headed into the wide universe, ignorant and weak. To me, this was a world filled with unknown danger. However, for the survival of my mother planet, and the safety of my friends who stayed there, without any hesitation, I…”
The speech was played out live in the various Star Fields. To the Planet Aquamarine people who were watching the broadcast, this old memory started floating to the surface. A sense of pride appeared in their heart.
No matter what Black Star’s position was in the universe, in the eyes of the Planet Aquamarine people, he had only one identity—the greatest man of their planet, the pioneer of Planet Aquamarine who first stepped into the universe. That was a small step for Black Star but a big step for Planet Aquamarine.
Inside the national headquarters of the Aquamarine Federation, Bennett pushed back a political meeting and watched the broadcast.
His hair had already turned white, but it was still combed neatly. He had more wrinkles on his face too. He had become an old man. Having possessed the top power of the planet for many years, he had already developed the vibe of a man with power.
However, at this time, Bennett’s lips were slightly raised, making more wrinkles on his face, and the corners of his eyes were glistening.
Decades ago, when he first met Han Xiao, that lonely man in his memories seemed to overlap with the tall and strong Black Star now.
Thousands of words rushed up to his mind, but all turned into a satisfied sigh.
I’m glad to have met you…
The speech was still going. Han Xiao’s tone gradually became more emotional.
“When I was weak, I met dangers, and I met great men. On the way, I found both enemies and friends. The experiences I had at that time are still vivid in my mind, but when I think about them now, it almost feels like it was an entire lifetime ago.
“I worked hard and spent more than forty years developing the Black Star Army to what it is today. I think I have the right to be proud of it…”
Many army members nodded with admiration.
Almost all army members had taken thought-alignment classes; they knew about the rise of the army. Even those who joined the army for their own future admired the achievements Black Star had made in just over forty years.
Looking at the entire history of the Galaxy, how many people were able to start with nothing and build such an enormous force in such a short time? There was no one else!
Of course, there were people who had achieved more than Black Star, but they also spent a longer time. Black Star, and only Black Star, had risen in the Galaxy at a speed no one in the past could ever compare with.
In the exploration frontline stronghold at the free competition zone, Hila watched Han Xiao from the screen. The adventures they had together in the past flashed through her mind, and her gaze softened.
Manison, Kasuyi, Sorokin, and other Beyond Grade As were also watching the broadcast. Even the Dynasty Ruler Urranrell squeezed out some time in her extremely busy schedule to watch it. Hearing Han Xiao’s words, these people uncontrollably sighed.
Maybe Black Star had conflicts with them, but from the bottom of their heart, they still admired what Black Star had achieved. None of them felt they could have done better than Black Star if they were in his position.
“What was I doing again when I was younger than a hundred years old? Still managing the logistics for the former chief?”
Manison was nostalgic.
At the venue, after Han Xiao listed the achievements of the army, his tone became formal.
“As I’ve just mentioned, although the Black Star Army has achieved many great things, its contribution to the universe is still too little, and I’m ashamed of that. Therefore, I felt that I should start a public report to the entire universe to show everyone what we’re capable of, to do my best to give anyone with potential the chance to showcase themselves. And that is why I’ve founded the Black Star Cup…”
“That’s quite a good way to put it…” Urranrell nodded in agreement.
She liked seeing Beyond Grade As enjoying their privileges while not forgetting about making contributions to the entire universe. Sadly, most people did not have this resolve. Although Black Star was unashamedly profit-oriented, she was quite happy he even had this mindset.
When the speech came to an end, Han Xiao smiled and said, “I’ve said enough. Now, this stage shall be given to the great kids of the Black Star Army. I hereby announce, the first season of the Black Star Cup Army Tournament starts now!”
As his speech ended, deafening applause sounded at the venue!
This was indeed an added sound effect.
If the speech ended and no one applauded, that would have been hella awkward. Plus, the army members were all in the spaceships, so their applause could not reach there.
In the cheering and applause, Han Xiao teleported away. The organizers of the competition showed up right after and started to direct the participants into the venue.
The audience also landed in their seats. The venue became boisterous.
According to the planning that Sylvia had hired some professional event organizers to do, there would be a large performance at the opening ceremony, and only a few more important competition items would be held.
Of course, combat-related events were a must. Referring to the Pro League, Han Xiao had also set up Singles, Groups, Duels, Flag Modes, and so on. He even brought up modes that only appeared in the later Pro Leagues and used them in the Black Star Cup.
There were ordinary people groups all the way up to Calamity Grade groups, as well as groups exclusive to Immortals. All the groups had to choose a representative to participate in the opening ceremony and showcase themselves.
As for the tons of sports and entertainment items, those more popular ones would be carried out.
Quite a number of sports and entertainment items did not have groupings, and Wayne Cards was one of them. Although there were no groupings, it surprisingly had the most participants, so it was chosen to be displayed in the opening ceremony.
The two Wayne Cards players who were about to play in the opening ceremony were Herlous, who was respected in the army’s card social circle, and Hadavy, who was a known rascal in the gambling social circle of the army.
Inside an indoor venue, a Wayne Cards board was set up. As soon as the two players stepped into the venue, the difference in their treatments was already clearly visible.
The moment Herlous appeared, cheering from the countless card friends he had sounded, he was clearly very sociable. Hadavy, however, received a deafening hush when he took just a few steps. The audiences were paying their sincerest respect to this rascal who was horrible at gambling.
“Idiots.” Hadavy rolled his eyes.
This time, Herlous looked over. These two card arch-enemies who had battled each other countless times looked into each other’s eyes. They both saw the same thought in the other’s eyes.
Without Feidin and Nero, the king of cards in the army shall be mine!
At the same time, the other stage was already at the Grade D group, and a player had appeared. It was a battle between a graduate of the Super Academy and a newbie player who had only joined in Version 4.0. The two of them looked at each other.
“Remember the rules. Don’t continue attacking when the enemy has lost the ability to fight. Deliberately causing heavy injuries is not allowed, as is killing the opponent. The winner shall be determined when one side leaves the stage or admits defeat…”
The mechanical judge explained the rules from the side. Basically, other than deliberately causing heavy injuries to the opponent, there were no rules.
However, there was a special rule against players—as long as the player did not admit defeat, the opponent could beat up the player as much as they wanted; the player would not die anyway.
“That’s all. The fight starts… now!”
As the judge gave the word, this academy graduate stomped the ground and charged toward his opponent without hesitation.
Clearly, this newbie player lacked combat experience. In the face of such an aggressive opponent, he immediately panicked. He raised his hand and summoned his two guns, and the high-quality mechanical suit he had bought from the logistics department quickly covered his body. He turned into a ghost-like phantom and swiftly moved around the enemy while continuously firing his guns. He was a Cannon Master.
“Shield!”
The academy graduate activated his mechanical suit too. A foldable ally shield extended on his arm, and the thin energy coating on it deflected all the blue laser beams of the newbie player.
At the same time, his other hand pulled out an intricate mechanical spear. The spear’s tip split open, exposing the barrel within, and shot out explosive bullets one after another, chasing after the fast-moving opponent. The stage was quickly filled with dust and explosions.
This man was a Mechanical Pugilist.
As the Black Star Army’s logistics department provided a lot of high-quality faction-exclusive mechanical weapons, be it the players or ordinary members under the army, many were willing to become Mechanics. After all, they could directly purchase the best equipment for their level in the army.
As long as they had money, they could even skip the gunpowder weapons and buy energy weapons very early on.
Actually, in the face of an Immortal, this academy graduate was more nervous.
Within the army, the players were a group of special beings that were almost deified. In the eyes of most of the lower-level army members, they were very mysterious. There were a lot of rumors about them possessing great power and being maniacs.
Just being unkillable was alright, but according to the rumors, the Immortals were maniacs who did not care about their own lives, which was terrifying…
The two of them fought intensely. Flames and lightning appeared everywhere they went.
The academy graduate fought cautiously, only to surprisingly realize his opponent clearly lacked combat experience. This made him much more confident. His attacks became more aggressive, and he gradually gained the upper hand.
“Looks like I’m about to lose…”
The newbie player looked at his steadily decreasing health, tutted, and took out Black Star Army Badge: Evolution with frustration.
“Roar!”
The next moment, an Aberration appeared on the stage!
This muscular monster pounced forward and pressed the academy graduate onto the ground in an instant, completely locking his movements.
An Aberration with Grade B combat capabilities was completely unbeatable in the Grade D group!
This time, the Aberration opened its enormous mouth, showing its rows of sharp teeth, and looked like he was about to bite down.
“I admit loss! H-help!”
The academy graduate was horrified. Looking at the foul mouth get closer, he subconsciously closed his eyes.
However, the bite he expected did not arrive. Instead, he felt an enormous wet and soft tongue lick him from top to bottom.
“The battle has ended. Blue has won!” the judge announced right on time.
“Ah, I’ve won!”
The newbie player jumped with excitement, shook his butt alluringly for a bit, and then ran to the edge of the floating stage and jumped right down, using the quickest method to get out of this dreadful look.
The dance of the Aberration was too beautiful. The spectators who saw it had to hold back the urge to dig out their eyes.
At the same time, countless viewers felt a chill up their spine.
The rumors were right. The Immortals were indeed maniacs.
On the stage, the academy graduate lay on the ground covered with saliva. His eyes had their vibrance, and he started to doubt the definition of life.
It was a sure win, but the tables had been turned instantly by the opponent’s suicidal shapeshift.
What a hard life I have…
As long as no additional damage was done, items could be used freely in the Black Star Cup. The players were very satisfied with this rule.
In the Pro League, the various powerful weapons of the army were all forbidden. Now that they could use them freely, it felt really good.
Although this was not fair to the army members in the lower grades, this was exactly what Han Xiao wanted. He had a few reasons for it. The first was to show the outside world the terrifying side of the players, that they could possess very high combat capability even at very low grades.
The second reason was to stimulate the sales of the evolution badge. If those players in the lower grade competitions saw that the evolution badge could basically make them invincible and ensure they could achieve a high placement, why would they not buy it?
Furthermore, the evolution badge was not a one-use item, but it had to be recharged.
The last reason was that Han Xiao actually wanted the players to receive the reward for the lower grade competitions. After all, there was not much he could gain from the normal members, and giving the players these rewards was indirectly fertilizing his leek field.
What, the normal players are not happy about it? I didn’t say they can’t use those strong items, did I? If they have the resolve to not take their life seriously, they can go ahead and use them just like the players.
Even if someone really did it, the judge would not approve of it. Sportsmanship first, competition second. Committing suicide on-stage was not allowed… Oh, except for those who could not die.
Unfair? It is what it is. Not being able to die is their talent. Like those people who have healing powers, you can’t not let them use those powers too, can you? Wouldn’t that be unfair to them?
If you need to blame it on something, blame it on the fact that you’re not an Immortal. Anyway, the final rules are made by the Army Commander. Go find him if you have a problem.
Therefore, even the low-grade army members could not say anything about it. They might even think it made sense.
Without having to make other arrangements, this rule was all the Great Mechanic Han needed to achieve the results he wanted.
…
When the Black Star Cup opening ceremony was being carried out, at the same time, in the Ancient Star Desert Star Field, a civilian archaeological team landed on a desolate planet that no one had been to in many years.
It was called an archaeological team, but they were actually scavengers.
The Ancient Star Desert was very old. Many of its locations were ancient battlefields. There were many mysterious ruins and wastes. Therefore, this Star Field was filled with scavengers trying their luck, hoping to find something good, sell it to the black market, and make a fortune.
In the midst of a blurry corrosive sandstorm that roared across the land, a scavenger wearing a bloated protection suit was using all kinds of mechanical devices to observe underground.
A short, skinny, monkey-like looking team member operated on the screen for a while, then suddenly yelled with surprise.
“Haha, we’re in luck! There’s an ancient stratum on this planet, and the age of it can’t be detected. This means that it’s so ancient that it exceeded the upper limit of this device of ours, and more complex tests need to be done to come to a result. I’m now using shock wave detection to draw the map of the underground… Done!”
A complicated underground cavity appeared on the screen. It had a lot of splits and corners that seemed like they were built for the purpose of confusing anyone who went in. With a simple look, it was quite large.
“There are no signs of it ever being discovered!” The short man was overjoyed. “We might have run into a previously-undiscovered ancient civilization ruin!”
“Or it could be filled with rusted metal.” Another team member shrugged.
“No matter what, let’s dig in first,” someone who looked like the team leader said with a calm tone. “Have the spaceship send in the drilling rig. Let’s dive down.”
While they were about to move, this time, a team member pulled the captain’s arm and wiped away the dust on his mask with his other hand, showing a young and handsome face. He was frowning and looked worried.
“Don’t go down first…”
This man’s tone was hesitant.
“I have a feeling that we might dig out something bad…”
If Han Xiao was there, he would have definitely recognized this face.
This was a renowned explorer in the World Tree version.
The first person who discovered the main body of the World Tree!
During the war against the World Tree Civilization, Harrison was in his old age and had already semi-retired. The three Universal Civilizations were the ones to be discovered and thus raided by the World Tree Civilization. They were caught off guard, suffering heavy losses. Because they did not know the origin of the enemy, all civilizations within the explored universe were basically beaten in the early stage. Their entire universe was on the defensive and could only passively resist the endless stream of invaders, as all their planets were occupied by the World Tree Civilization and used as nourishment.
The three Universal Civilizations tried their best to collect clues about the World Tree Civilization, of which the most important one was where the World Tree itself was located.
The World Tree was a Universal Treasure, and it was discovered by the World Tree Civilization during the slash-and-burn era of farming. As such, it gave rise to a distorted form of civilization, where all the development of the civilization was carried out with the World Tree as the core. Countless people tried their best to nourish and enhance this Universal Treasure.
Due to the special nature of the World Tree, only through finding its main body could the problem then be solved from the root. Otherwise, no matter how many invaders they repelled, the World Tree could still use the nutrients from the planets to transform and nurture more troops.
The main body of the World Tree was rooted within the secondary dimensions and hidden deeply. Within that era, the exploration teams mostly consisted of soldiers, and many exploration teams were spontaneously organized to search in the secondary dimensions. Harrison had also re-emerged and joined them.
Because of a series of coincidences, he was also the first to discover the secondary dimension containing the World Tree’s main body. He sacrificed his life to record the coordinates, throwing it into the spatial storms of the secondary dimension.
The coordinates were like a drifting bottle floating within the vast ocean, bobbing up and down before finally falling into the hands of the three Universal Civilizations. Thus, Harrison’s deeds were passed down, and the world knew of all his achievements.
All of these were Harrison’s achievements in the later versions of Han Xiao’s past life.
In this current era, Harrison was still a young and new explorer. His great curiosity and desire to explore had prompted him to give up the opportunity to inherit the wealth of his financial group and instead step into this industry.
As a newcomer to this exploration team, Harrison’s intuition was obviously not convincing to them. His teammates had the mentality that they could not set off and come back empty-handed. Thus, Harrison’s spirit of questioning the source, unfortunately, went unheeded.
Harrison himself had no choice. His curiosity outweighed his vigilance, so he pressed down the vague worry to the bottom of his heart, continuing the journey with his team.
A scavenger spaceship passed through a high-altitude sandstorm, hovering around a hundred meters above the ground before dropping a multi-functional burrowing vehicle. Its outer armor was full of colorful and wild graffiti. Very obviously, it had undergone some processing by this bunch of scavengers with limited knowledge of art.
The group boarded the burrowing vehicle and burrowed into the ground under the instructions of the detection radar, quickly approaching the underground cavity on the map.
Because such underground remains had existed for too long a time, the structure was typically unstable and stood a chance to collapse. Thus, the scavengers normally did not directly drill into the passage but chose to follow the path set.
Hu!
Very quickly, the tip of the drill penetrated the rock formation, exposing a cavity. The team members got down, switching on their flashlights to observe the surrounding environment.
This was an underground cave with traces of being made by man. It was about seven or eight meters high, and at the end of this cave was a closed metal door, which seemed to be the entrance to this underground ruin.
Their short member who served as the detector jogged over, taking out various instruments to scan the metal door. He muttered, “It’s well preserved, with few traces of rust. This is a high-strength alloy material, and according to the rough detection results, the material is likely synthesized by a star system level civilization or above. However, there’s no matching material record in our database…”
Hearing this, the crowd got excited. The higher the level of the lost civilization they discovered, the more valuable their discoveries would be on the black market.
However, this also represented more unknown risks.
“Any energy responses from inside?” the captain asked.
“Let me see, er… totally absent. I think the energy source has been drained dry. Even if there are traps or defensive measures, they should be frozen.”
“Then let’s go in and take a look,” the captain said. “Later on, take precautions. Without my command, no one is to remove their own protective shield.”
A group of personnel cut open the door using a laser cutting, before tiptoeing inside and fumbling their way. The route within resembled that of a large underground military base.
Harrison walked to a sign, wiping the dust off it, and let the translator read the text. However, there was no result.
“There’s no record of this kind of text in the database. We can determine that this is a relic of a civilization that has not been discovered thus far.” Harrison spoke through the channel.
“Today is really my lucky day. No wonder Ah Xiang finally responded to my daily greeting even though I’ve been sending signals to her for months,” the short detector guy replied in excitement.
“What did she say?” Harrison was curious.
“She said ok.”
“… Keep it up.”
Everyone chatted idly as they searched. They were carefully all the way but found out that there was no danger within. Searching the rooms, they only found living facilities, with no special equipment nor text documents present. Even the energy and network facilities were absent along with any sort of defense facilities. It seemed as though this base had been long abandoned and everything within emptied.
The flames of excitement in everyone’s hearts seemed to have been extinguished by a basin of cold water.
“This can’t be it, right? I found an unknown ruin, but there’s nothing valuable here. Isn’t it a wasted trip then?” the detector guy complained.
“It’s not in vain. At least we managed to discover a new language, which means an unknown civilization that once existed.” Harrison raised the translator in his hand. He had recorded all the signs on the path that they had walked down so far.
“What does this bullsh*t archaeological result mean for us? We’re not even historians!” someone among the team complained. “If it weren’t for getting valuable stuff, who would want to come to such a weird place?”
Scavengers did not have much patience, and their searching speed got faster along the way. It did not take long before only the last room was left, located at the core position at the bottom of the base.
The group cut open the door and walked in, collectively taking a gasp.
There was a triangular body about three to four meters high, embedded in the ground in the center of the room. The whole body was pitch black and as smooth as a mirror. It resembled obsidian somewhat, but the detector revealed it as a metallic material. On one side, a display screen was embedded.
Only this thing existed in the room, nothing else, as though this was an exclusive warehouse.
“Haha, there’s finally something.”
“What is that?”
Everyone surrounded it, brimming with curiosity, feeling here and there and knocking around. Although they did not know what this was, just looking at its appearance, there was no worry that it could not be sold on the black market.
The detector guy came over to the screen on the triangle and pressed a few times, but there was no response. He fumbled around and finally found that there was a movable board beside the screen, which revealed a socket seemingly for charging it.
“Uh… this is the first time I’ve seen a socket of this shape, but there should be no problem.” The guy groaned but quickly took out an energy storage device, transforming its transmission line to fit with the socket.
Just as he was about to charge the triangular block, Harrison was frowning and suddenly spoke.
“Wait a moment!”
Everyone turned to look at him.
“What’s wrong now?”
“I… I feel that it’s still better to be cautious. No one knows what this device is for. What happens if it’s a weapon that has run out of energy?”
Harrison had an expression of hesitation. The moment he set eyes on this triangle, he had felt an inexplicable palpitation, as though there was a voice in his heart warning him that this thing was dangerous. The instinct that he had been born with had never been so strong.
The short detector guy did not even look back as he explained, “Relax, I probed it just now, and this is actually a sophisticated disposable safe device that will be destroyed when opened. It’s just that the innermost layer contains a material that isolates any detection, so I don’t know what’s stored within.”
With that, he directly plugged into the socket, releasing a weak energy charge. The triangle device’s display lit up, and a password input interface popped up.
The captain scooted over for a look. “Can the code be cracked?”
The short detector guy took out another device to fiddle around, and spoke with certainty, “The code of this device changes in real time, so it has to be connected to the quantum network and then use Virtual Technology to decipher the code… The tools I currently have are not good enough, but so long as I use a deciphering device with a higher computing power, it can definitely be opened.”
“If this is the case…” The captain hesitated for a while before saying, “In that case, let’s not open it. Like you said, this thing is a one-off thing. If the items stored inside are not valuable, we’ll lose money. It’s better to just put this safe on the black market for auction and let others draw the prize. Anyway, stuff like this is very common on the black market as well…”
“Can we discuss these things later?” Harrison was feeling nervous for no reason. “Let’s get out of here now. I have a bad feeling…”
“Since when has your intuition been good?”
The captain glared at him but did not reject his proposal. He got everyone to transport the device to the rig.
This was the only valuable thing in this ruin, so this entire group took the device and left, not even bothering to look back at the ruins.
Suddenly, one of the team members noted in a thoughtful manner, “This is strange. By logic, since this planet has traces of an unknown civilization, there should be others, but the detection result only showed this one… That’s impossible. Did that unknown civilization only dig this one underground facility on this planet?”
“That’s right. I thought it was strange too,” another worker added.
At this moment, the shortie took a glance at the radar and exclaimed, “Captain, the ruins seem to have collapsed!”
Everyone turned over to look and saw that the cavity had indeed mysteriously filled up and disappeared. They could no longer return even if they wished to.
“How strange…” the captain mumbled, shaking his head. He ordered, “Forget about it, let’s just mark down the coordinates of this planet, and go to the nearest black market to reap our rewards for today.”
Hearing that, everyone immediately put away any distracting thoughts and started to move, operating their spaceship to leave the planet.
Harrison was the only one who remained standing at the porthole, looking at the shrinking planet. He suddenly felt a little chill run down his spine.
He had a hunch, as though the goal of those ruins was specifically just to store this triangular device.
The ruins had collapsed immediately after they left, as though they had only been waiting for someone to take this thing away.
Harrison could not help but turn his head back for a look.
In the corner of his eyes, the triangular device lay silently at the back, as though it was a Pandora’s box that was waiting to be opened.
…
The opening ceremony of the Black Star Cup was wonderfully opened, and its qualifiers were in full swing the next day. The army had become very lively, and hundreds of millions of members were actively participating on the field, which also improved the enthusiasm of the universe audiences.
Because there were so many events, each media group provided live broadcasts and video review functions throughout the day. Viewers could freely adjust their channels and choose to watch any event, venue, or even the players, which caused countless people to hold up their communicators and stare at them all day long.
The ratings of the Black Star Cup were maintained at a very high level throughout the universe. At present, the average ratings in each region were second only to the news broadcasts of the three Universal Civilizations.
The Black Star Cup tournament organization department, which was only established little more than two months prior, counted the programs with the highest ratings. Other than the battle events, the best were the entertainment programs. Especially in the talent audition category such as singing and dancing, there were countless galactic residents happy to see the Supers appear on alternative programs rather than just in battles.
Some of the talented people had even attracted a large number of admirers, and there were even audiences on the net arguing about the pros and cons of each person… As it turned out, no matter which age it was, such a program would also garner views.
As for the lowest ratings, it was as Han Xiao expected. They were those technological and skill-based competitions, such as the machinery maintenance that Reynold had asked for, waste modification for machinery, and even blueprint crafting competitions…
While there were people willing to look at such programs, they were few and between.
However, Han Xiao did not mind it. Such technical programs were treated more as auditions, to explore potential talents in the various fields and add more fresh blood to the army.
The way to rise in the army had always been clear, and one’s rank and position were linked to meritorious service and their qualifications. The Black Star Cup was just another shortcut for its members to ascend in the rankings. Those who were more capable at their level would move toward the upper ranks. This made the members enthusiastic as this model allowed many people to obtain more opportunities within the army.
While the players had their own competition brackets, they were keener to participate in the normal competition brackets, running over to play with the NPCs.
Because the Evolution badge shone in such low-level team events, more and more players had also begun to purchase this item, causing the sales of it to soar drastically.
Using the Evolution badges in events below Grade B gave players a huge boost in strength, but this did not necessarily mean they would win. The biological aberrations were strong in close combat, but their weaknesses were also obvious; their resistance to magic and psychic attacks plummeted, and their range also decreased to melee attacks. They were extremely easy to kite. Plus, they lost HP constantly.
When facing Psychics or Mages, the aberrations usually failed quite badly.
In the Grade B and above ranks, the role of the Evolution Limit: Aberration was not so strong. Grade Bs could directly contend against the aberrations themselves.
Meanwhile, the players from the other countries could only watch with envious and reddened eyes at the festivities in full swing within the Black Star Army.
Let alone attending, they did not even have the qualifications to bet on the winning players!
If one were to split apart the characters of ‘following the crowd’ (), they would get five ‘people’ characters (). The majority of people understood the meaning of ‘the more the merrier’, and seeing this group of Black Star players having fun, the sense of loss was even more intense.
Everyone is playing so happily, and all without me!
Compared to the faction war event more than half a year ago, there were more players that were being moved by the Black Star Army this time. Most likely, the army would indirectly poach a lot of players once more.
Even the Limitless Financial Group experienced a huge outflow of players, but Sorokin was acting extremely low-key, which meant he could not react.
The most painful ones were the foreign clubs in the other factions. They obviously did not do anything this time, but they still had to watch on as the ordinary players left their factions. They could no longer find any reason to stay and just felt like crying.
Why are you forcing us to join this party?
Black Star Army! You’re too much!
A man can only take so much anger. If you have the guts, you can anger me again!
If you force me again, I’ll really join your organization!
Over ten days later, in the central area of Black Star Palace, a war halberd was situated against a backdrop of the starry sky. It looked like a folded mechanical blade that was magnified countless times, painted black and gold. Its patterns and structures were also complicated, and it looked both luxurious and exquisite.
Mechanical rings were currently situated in different areas of his mechanical war halberd. Numerous flexible mechanical arms extended from the inner part of each ring, which were molded into different tools to work on parts of the halberd. These rings were manufacturing auxiliary tools that were dedicated to the manufacturing and assembly of mega machines, known as ‘Mega-Assembly Rings’. Right now, they were all connected through Mechanical Force and operated fully under its control.
On the other end of the Mechanical Force linking the assembly rings together, a black robed figure stood there. It was precisely Han Xiao, and this mega war halberd was the exclusive Universal Treasure for the Mechanical Deity’s usage, named ‘Celestial Punishment Edge’.
Han Xiao kept his Perfect Mechanical Sense active, closely watching the subtle energy flows in every place during the construction of the Celestial Punishment Edge, doing minute adjustments now and then just like a chef watching his signature dish.
As the mechanical arm of the mega assembly ring inserted the last bolt in, a notification sounded from Han Xiao’s interface.
_____________________
You have built a Gold Grade item (Universal Treasure).
You have benefitted from [Spirit Instrument].
You have received 1 God’s Trait Transformation Point (Cannot be obtained again through the same blueprint).
One of your random attributes has been decreased by 425…
Randomizing…
Randomizing complete.
-425 Charisma.
You have received 425 Free Attribute Points.
You have been awarded the third layer bonus of [Spirit Instrument]: +2.5% success rate for the manufacture of Gold Grade blueprints, +1.2% success rate for the research and development of a Gold Grade Blueprint, +0.4% chance to obtain a Space Wonder mutation.
_____________________
“It’s finally done…” Seeing the notification of success, Han Xiao’s taut nerves finally relaxed.
This was the third Universal Treasure he had personally manufactured. Its difficulty was way higher compared to the Emperor’s Cape, and it had cost him quite a tidy sum before he finally succeeded in creating it.
However, when compared to the terrifying profits brought in by the sale of the Evolutionary Totems as well as the Black Star Cup, this amount was nothing.
Han Xiao retrieved all the mega assembly rings before storing the Celestial Punishment Edge into his Dimension Factory. Opening his attribute list, he threw the God’s Trait Transformation point into his main class route, so [God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery] unlocked its fifth stage.
_____________________
Stage 5: +3 to all skills from [Lord Mechanic] and [Divine Throne Mechanic]. You have received a 1.1x boost to Machinery Affinity, +28% boost to abilities, 1.2x boost to Attack Power Output, 1.2x boost to Shield Durability, +40% Mechanical Energy Core Power Output, and +20% to all types of Energy Power Output.
_____________________
“Whoa, this wave allows me to increase my strength!” Han Xiao got excited.
In the first few stages, the God’s Trait mainly focused on improving his production and Ru0026D capabilities. For the fifth stage, it finally ushered in a wave of substantial combat strength enhancement. A boost of 1.1x to his Machinery Affinity already meant more than a 2,000% increase to his original Machinery Affinity, not to mention that there was even a boost to abilities, which was the best option to obtain. All its other effects were also biased toward combat.
Furthermore, the skills of his [Lord Mechanic] and [Divine Throne Mechanic] class were also his main combat skills, thus breaking the upper cap by three levels, which represented a great increase in his combat power, at least translating to three more Apostle Weapons.
“In this case, the focus of the fifth stage is to enhance my own efficiency with machinery… eh?” Han Xiao mumbled to himself, but he suddenly discovered that the notifications had not stopped.
_____________________
[God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery] has achieved the Fifth Stage.
There are now unknown changes in your Life Hierarchy.
You have obtained a new understanding of Machinery. +15% chance of forming a new exclusive expertise. The skill [Universal Simulation] has obtained a sublimation.
You have begun to perceive part of the power of the transformation route – [Talent Unknown].
You have received 1 [The First Sanctum] Ability Fragment.
_____________________
Seeing this, Han Xiao started guessing once more.
“It seems like the fifth stage of God’s Trait Transformation should be a threshold, just like how there’s a bottleneck in the Energy Rank for Beyond Grade As… If this applies to all God’s Trait Transformation skills, then what’s the upper limit? Ten? Fifteen?”
Han Xiao deeply pondered. Right now, he had an interface that allowed him to directly add points into it, but the normal Beyond Grade A’s method of increasing their number of God’s Trait Transformation stages would not be as convenient as his. In fact, it would take many years for them to even upgrade each level.
After reaching the Fifth Stage of God’s Trait Transformation—Machinery, he was also awarded an Ability Fragment of [The First Sanctum]. Han Xiao had already obtained three fragments so far, but there was still no sign of them combining together. It was also unknown how many fragments he would need to complete this thing.
As of now, Han Xiao also did not know how to obtain an exclusive expertise. If the premise to obtain one was to be immersed within a certain area, then he had already fulfilled the condition with his time spent within the Machinery field. However, there was still no prompt whatsoever.
As for [Universal Simulation], Han Xiao was not foreign to that skill. He used to constantly activate the skill in order to attempt to discover Universal Treasure blueprints, but the progress was so slow it would make one cry.
Seeing the notification on the interface at this time, Han Xiao once again activated the skill, entering the familiar horizon once more. He carefully sensed his surroundings and felt that there had been some subtle changes as compared to the past.
However, this sort of feeling was akin to grasping something in the dark. It was more like his intuition was sharper than before. Anywhere he looked, there would be a sort of ‘hindsight’ within his brain explaining what he saw.
“There’s a sort of feeling pointing me toward the essence of the item… Oh, I guess an improvement in knowledge?”
After experiencing this, Han Xiao did not discover anything too out of the ordinary, and thus, he withdrew his skill, cleaning up the venue before proceeding back to the palace.
Back in his room, Han Xiao took a look at the Black Star Cup tournament.
With Phillip’s efficient scheduling and the massive investment of resources, the qualifiers were so fast paced that nearly a third of the people had already been eliminated.
Before this, the galactic residents only knew about the existence of the players but did not pay special attention to them. This time, however, because the Black Star Cup was broadcast to the entire universe, the performance of these players fell into the eyes of the more ordinary people, which aroused their attention and interest.
For the players, who were deemed immortal lunatics, the majority of ordinary people were curious and scared of them. Their mood was like they had encountered an exhibitionist, subconsciously covering their eyes but unable to resist peeking through their fingers.
Coupled with the behavior of the players within the Flickering World, the nickname ‘Cancer of the Universe’ gradually spread out and received the approval of more people.
The excitement of the Black Star Cup had also attracted a large number of foreign players.
The number of players within the army had always been steadily increasing, and it finally broke through the ten million mark a few days ago. Han Xiao estimated that the final number of army players at the end of this version would be higher than his original estimate of 11.5 million.
The Cancer of the Universe represented disorder and chaos, and since it was basically impossible to recruit all players, the Black Star Army could already slightly guide the overall character of the players. In this manner, so long as he could perform some damage control to ensure that the problems caused by the players were not as serious as in his previous life, that would be enough.
“Speaking of which, my biopic seems like it’s about to be released…”
Han Xiao suddenly remembered that he had not touched Feidin for a long time, and he coincidentally recalled this incident.
He searched the net and discovered that the movie had already wrapped up its filming and was slated to be released next month.
Because of the advancements made in productivity, even ordinary citizens of the galactic society could now afford the cost of planning a film, resulting in the proliferation of movies. Coupled with advanced portable equipment as well as the high penetrative rate of the quantum network, the low-profit theater operating model had almost been eliminated, giving way for a more convenient video platform system. New films were released simultaneously on the platforms of all the Star Fields and could be found online.
The movie of his life had an unpretentious name—Black Star: Origins. This movie told his story from Planet Aquamarine, from escaping the Germinal Organization up till he stepped into the galaxy. Because of the limited time frame, Director Beny Travol had cut out most of his deeds, only leaving the key factors to control the rhythm of the film.
Han Xiao had already looked through the preview and had to admit that this well-known director did have the ability to give his experience a lot of surprising twists and turns. He ended the film when Han Xiao stepped into the galactic region, leaving an opportunity to extend it with a sequel.
Within the trailer, Feidin had put on some makeup to pose as the Great Mechanic Han during his time as Black Phantom, and he moved with a face that looked as though he would kill everyone in cold blood.
Seeing this scene, one would only think of the description “Flying like a crane, soaring like a dragon”.
“So cool…” Han Xiao was very satisfied. “He has portrayed my character image very well.”
He eyed the forums and saw that the players were also very interested in the movie. They wanted to see the story of Black Star being made into a movie, while at the same time, they wished to see themselves within the movie.
The movie also portrayed the roles of the immortals, so seeing their own deeds being made into a movie by an NPC gave the players a novel feeling.
“After this movie is released, maybe it can turn into something similar to Bun-Hit-Dog’s videos, increasing the cohesion of the army’s players… If this works, maybe I can get the director to produce a few more sequels.”
Mentally taking note of this, Han Xiao continued to surf on the net before discovering another piece of news that caught his attention.
The Crimson Dynasty had announced that in ten days, the Dark Lord would publicly execute two Beyond Grade As. One of them was Traveler, while the other was an innocent person who was hired by the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
“It is finally going to begin…” Han Xiao pursed his lips.
In this manner, the conflicts between the Beyond Grade As and the Universal Civilizations would only worsen. While there was still a long way to go before it erupted, the seeds of dissatisfaction were already sown.
However, the goal of the three Universal Civilizations this time was not the Beyond Grade As but rather the Super Star Cluster Alliance. They wanted to scare off those Beyond Grade A hired by the Super Star Cluster Alliance, in order to cut off its wings. The three Universal Civilizations had already begun their future plans of suppression.
…
In the Star Arc Civilization’s Flickering World territory, a group of senior officials had gathered in a remote conference room with grim expressions.
“The dynasty has captured Traveller and intends to publicly execute him. What should we do?”
“There’s no way about it. We can only abandon him. We can’t afford to clash with the three Universal Civilizations yet.”
“It’s a pity then. Traveler was truly loyal to our civilization. This is a huge loss for us.”
“The question now is whether Traveler has revealed his true identity. If the dynasty discovers his background, they will have an excuse to provoke a dispute against us.”
“Traveler should not betray the civilization, but such matters can’t be guaranteed. We must be prepared not to recognize his identity.”
Everyone chattered anxiously.
The three Universal Civilizations wished to suppress the Super Star Cluster Alliance, but it was easier said than done. Each of them was an advanced civilization in the universe, and they had to have a legitimate reason to make a move, even if it was a trivial problem. As the rulers of the explored universe, the Universal Civilizations had to maintain the moral high ground, regardless of whether the reason was true or false. They just had to provide an answer for the masses.
Thus, the Super Star Cluster Alliance was keeping a low profile and was unwilling to give the three Universal Civilizations an excuse. Its current presence in the universe was not too outstanding.
The strength of the Super Star Cluster Alliance was only below that of the Universal Civilizations, so they would not be easily suppressed. While the three Universal Civilizations were clamoring to suppress them, they also had to make sufficient preparations.
No matter the three Universal Civilizations or the Super Star Cluster Alliance, they restrained themselves for the time being. Both sides understood that this was just the calm before the storm and that they had to first complete the development of the new Star Field.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance wished to obtain a chance to rise up, and the result of this conflict will determine the future of the explored universe.
…
“40,000 Enaus!”
“45,000 Enaus!”
“45,000 going once, going twice… no higher bids? Okay, 45,000 going thrice. The antiques produced by the Dhogo Civilization now belong to Buyer #068!”
Within a small private space station in the Ancient Star Desert, there was a black market auction underway.
The auction site was a circular room with a booth in the center where the items were displayed. By the side, the auctioneer introduced each one of them to the virtual screens on the surrounding walls. Each screen represented a black market buyer who was remotely participating in the auction. Everyone’s identity was kept confidential this way.
Because this was a remote auction, each item would be delivered to the buyer’s designated location through the black market’s logistics channel.
The auctioneer knocked on the table before shouting, “The next auction item is a disposable safe discovered by an archaeological team on a deserted planet. This item comes from the ruins of an unknown civilization, which is suspected to be at the Star System level or above. You’ll need the quantum network to decipher the code on the device before it can be opened. Right now, it has yet to be opened, so it’s up to your luck as to what comes out. Of course, it’s also possible for you to purchase the item just for your collection. The starting bid is 4,000 Enaus.”
A few workers brought up a gleaming triangular device, which was precisely the artifact that Harrison’s team had unearthed.
In the meantime, Harrison’s team was situated in a VIP room, watching the live broadcast of this auction.
“We worked our asses off, and the starting price is only 4,000 Enaus. This auction house is too stingy.” The shortie detector guy was depressed.
“Black market auctions are generally like this.” The captain was experienced in this regard. “Relax, the most important thing is that the black market has no lack of rich people who wish to try their luck. I estimate that the official transaction volume will exceed 20,000 Enaus.”
“20,000 is not bad,” the shortie replied, “but it’s not as good as tomb raiding for antiques…”
By the side, Harrison was a little anxious. “Is this black market safe?”
“Relax, I’m a regular here. This is one of the properties under the Beast Ancestor, and there are no bandits that dare rob this place… Wait a minute.” The captain jerked before continuing with uncertainty. “It seems like Gorutan was captured some time ago?”
“It can’t be. You forgot about such an important piece of news‽” The shortie opened his eyes wide and hurriedly questioned. “There should be no problems with the transaction, right? I still want to buy a gift for my Ah Xiang!”
“There shouldn’t be…” The captain also hesitated a little at this time. “While the Beast Ancestor has fallen, this black market should now have a new backer. There should not be any problems… I think?”
Harrison facepalmed.
This bunch of people were too unreliable. He was better off working solo from now on.
At this very moment, there were a dozen battleships hidden not far away from this planet. They belonged to a group of star bandits that circulated around the Ancient Star Desert.
In the flagship, the leader of this bandit group led a group of men, looking out at the planet from the porthole.
“Captain, are we really going to rob them? I heard that this auction is the property of the Beast Ancestor, and it’s not easy to mess with him.”
“What are you scared of? The Beast Ancestor has been captured by Black Star, and his organization is in tatters, having been snatched away by the other Galactic Black Market Protectors. Others have also taken over his troops, but they have not fully integrated them as of now.”
The leader smiled, his eyes flashing with greed.
“I’ve already inquired and discovered that the Beast Ancestor’s warriors that protect their logistics carriers have been withdrawn. They are in their most vulnerable state now!”
Chapter 1096 – Disturbing one’s Fate
A couple of days later…
“The transport carrier was raided‽”
Harrison’s team, who were still waiting at the hotel, suddenly stood up, furious, and stared at the remote projection of the worker that had come to inform them of the matter.
“That’s right. A group of galactic pirates discovered our secret transportation route and attacked all the disguised spaceships that we used to transport the items.” The auctioneer’s face was also ugly.
“What about your guards?” Harrison could not help asking that. “I heard that you have ties to the Beast Ancestor…”
Hearing his words, the worker’s expression turned dark. “After the Beast Ancestor got captured, we lost our backer. We could only employ mercenaries. This group of galactic pirates has long been watching us, and they bribed our mercs, launching a raid from both the inside and outside. All our newly hired guards died in that battle.”
At this point, the auctioneer could not help but release a sigh.
If Gorutan was still present, they would have had the shelter of the Beast Ancestor, which was enough to frighten most people in the Ancient Star Desert.
But now that their backer had fallen, the new upper ranks were still slowly absorbing the black market organization of the Beast Ancestor. They were most vulnerable and had turned into fat sheep surrounded by wolves.
“Then, what about our things?” The captain showed a wary expression.
This black market had maintained a good reputation in the past, so he had chosen to return to sell his things. However, with such a big chance, he was not sure if the other party would rescind their original promises. The order of the black market was fragile, and it mainly worked on the stronger eating the weak.
“We will assemble a team to search for the whereabouts of this group of galactic pirates and retrieve our items.”
“And if it cannot be retrieved…”
“Then the auction house will compensate according to the starting price.” After this sentence, the worker did not continue speaking, choosing to end the conversation immediately.
They exchanged looks.
“Our starting price was only 4,000 Enaus, but the final price was 13,800!”
“Just be satisfied that they are willing to even pay compensation,” the captain replied helplessly. “The probability of obtaining compensation through a black market auction is less than ten percent. They are probably only doing so because they deem our item worthless. If it was a price of hundreds of thousands, they would have found some way to deny any responsibility and not pay up.”
Hearing this, the group collectively sighed. They already thought that their trip was quite bad this time round, but to even lose the item that they had painstakingly slogged away for, this was truly a wasted trip.
Harrison felt a little restless. His intuition was still sending out warning signals.
He had this premonition that the robbed item would still bring him quite a bit of trouble.
…
Somewhere within the Ancient Star Desert, the galactic pirate fleet dragged the logistics ship that was their loot and moved slowly within the universe.
“This is quite the fruitful harvest this time.”
Within the cabin, the leader of the pirates placed his arms on his waist as he arrogantly walked in front of the captives and the spoils piled up into a hill.
“Boss, the ammunition is all perfectly intact.” One of his subordinates was ecstatic.
There were all kinds of items within the war loot. Not only various ancient blueprints, technological creations, and antiques, but there were also various types of arms from the advanced civilizations. The auctions from the black market sold practically everything, and compared to the antiques, the galactic pirates naturally preferred the arms.
As he strolled through the loot, the eyes of the leader stopped at the triangular device.
“What is that?”
“Leader, this is a safe from an unknown civilization that an archaeological team dug up.”
“What’s inside?”
“We don’t know. It seems like it’s not worth a lot.”
“Open it.” The leader lifted up his foot, jabbing it toward the device.
Reality had proven that opening a sealed box was something that everyone loved to do. The mechanics within the pirate team took out their equipment to tinker with the device, while the pirates gathered in the surroundings to watch.
The triangular device’s socket was connected to an energy transmission line to activate the password interface. One of them then took out a deciphering device, connecting the triangle to the quantum network, and the interface of the cracking device quickly bounced with various garbled codes.
After a moment, the triangle let out a ‘ding’ sound, indicating that it had been unlocked.
Ka ka ka!
The display screen used to enter the password was then retracted, and the whole device began rotating like a Rubik’s Cube.
Everyone, including the leader, craned their necks to see what was stored inside.
In about ten seconds, the safe was finally completely unlocked. The last layer of protection was peeled off, exposing the core, which was around ten cubic centimeters in size.
The next moment, a surge of energy fluctuations burst out from within!
Boom!
Before the group could see what was inside, they were thrown away by the shock wave. Even their leader, who was at the Calamity Grade, was not exempted.
The next second, the surroundings of the triangular device turned into an empty zone, and the loot in its surroundings was all strewn around the area, turning the place into a mess.
“Ouch…”
Everyone rubbed their butt as they got up, only to find out that there were no other injuries on them.
The leader immediately turned to look at the safe but found it empty.
“Where’s the item inside? Why is there nothing‽”
The leader was furious, feeling as though he had been played.
Could this just have been a prank?
Who would store a fart inside a disposable safe!
At this moment, the cabin door opened, and operators of the spaceship ran in with anxious expressions.
“Leader, what just happened? The location we were in just now became the origin of a cosmic energy surge. The energy fluctuations broke through the peak in an instant, and our detection radar burned out. There’s no matching energy model for this surge in the database at all!”
Hearing this, the pirates received a shock.
Cosmic energy surge?
What joke was this? It only caused them to fall on their asses, but this sort of power was considered a cosmic surge?
Just as this group was in confusion, in a world that the naked eyes could not see, a unique information package was duplicating wildly, centered on the galactic pirates’ fleet, spreading rapidly along the links of their quantum network.
In the face of this information signal, the firewalls of the artificial intelligences in all devices were rendered useless.
…
There was a dimly lit palace, supported by pillars that rose up to no end. Below every pillar was a fire brazier, with pale flames dancing on it as the only source of light.
A man dressed in black robes hovered in midair, the edges of his robes seemingly burning, releasing strands of black mist.
Below him, Law and Fay were bowing as they reported the result of their mission to the upper echelons of the Holy Accord. The both of them were Beyond Grade As, yet they did not dare look up at the figure above.
“… You’re saying, there’s no way to obtain the Holy Light Particle?”
A voice sounded directly in their hearts. While the tone was neither soft nor heavy, both of them trembled unconsciously.
Law gritted his teeth and said, “That’s right. We’ve already ambushed Black Star once, so he will definitely be prepared this time round. If we act rashly, the organization will be exposed to much greater risk. Black Star announcing in such a high profile that he possessed the Holy Light Particle is likely him deliberately trying to lure us out. According to the data, Black Star is extremely vengeful, and he definitely wishes to get his revenge on us…”
By the side, Fay said, “While Black Star has found a host for the Holy Light Particle, he is likely also prepared. During the attack on Hila, Black Star displayed an ability to perform an unrestricted teleportation. He has no reason not to use it for the Holy Light Particle’s host, so it is likely a decoy.”
The man in black lowered his head, looking down at the two as he fell silent. After a while, he slowly said, “I understand. Don’t act on the Holy Light Particle for the time being. The agreed date has also yet to arrive, so we still can continue to wait and see.”
Seeing that their boss did not intend to blame them, Law and Fay secretly sighed. The awe they had for the man in black robes permeated their very soul.
This guy was the leader of their Holy Accord organization. His name was unknown, and he went by the code name ‘Oathkeeper’. He was the teacher of all the current Beyond Grade As in the organization.
Even during Law and Fay’s childhood, Oathkeeper had been the leader of the organization. No one knew how long he had lived, and his strength was unfathomable. Even if the two had grown to the Beyond Grade A realm, they could not hope to put up a fight in the face of Oathkeeper.
At this moment, the anxious remote projection of an officer appeared next to them. “Your Excellency Oathkeeper, there’s an abnormal reaction with the Destiny’s Child!”
Whoosh!
The moment his words came out, Oathkeeper’s figure vanished and reappeared the next moment within a secret sealed room.
Countless researchers dressed in lab coats were surrounding a cylindrical transparent container filled with dark blue liquid. A pale Primal Esper Ability Entity lay within, and its energy body maintained a human-like structure but without facial features, floating quietly within the liquid.
Oathkeeper turned to look at the scientific research team leader next to him and asked, “What happened?”
“The Destiny’s Child Primal Esper Entity that was deep asleep suddenly released a state of information disturbance, breaking through the seals of the container and leaking out. We’re currently calculating now how many sub-bodies have been created by its disturbance throughout the universe…” The team leader was nervously sweating.
“Sudden disturbance?” Oathkeeper paused. “You did not actively awaken it?”
“That’s… that’s right. We’re monitoring it and recording as usual, and the disturbance suddenly occurred.”
“Awaken it.” Oathkeeper’s voice was steely. “It must have received some stimulation that caused it to fluctuate.”
The researchers could only comply, draining the liquid within the container. The Destiny’s Child’s humanoid shape immediately became blurry, as though it would disappear at any time.
“Increase its binding force field and the stability anchor. Don’t let it completely enter the high-dimensional information state and break through containment.” The scientific research personnel were sweating as they profusely worked.
Oathkeeper ignored the movement and put his hand on the outer wall of the container. His palm lit up in a cluster of flames, its color strange as it resembled a flickering starry sky. There was no temperature present, and it burned quietly, as though the world had no impact on it.
The Destiny’s Child’s body in the container was slowly attracted back and turned stable. It stretched out its hand curiously, pasting its palm where Oathkeeper’s hand was through the transparent container wall.
At this time, Oathkeeper finally spoke.
“Tell me, what have you discovered?”
The Destiny’s Child’s tilted its head, and a wave of spiritual fluctuations bloomed. A childlike voice sounded in everyone’s mind.
“Projection of an information state… new destiny… the call of The First Sanctum…”
Oathkeeper quietly listened before asking, “Is the agreed date still the same?”
“It’s moved forward… by… ten years… twenty years…”
Oathkeeper deeply inhaled before commanding, “Inject the solution. Let it continue to sleep.”
Everyone immediately followed his command, and the dark blue solution filled the container once more. The Destiny’s Child seemed to struggle, but it quieted down in the end, falling into a deep sleep.
Glancing at the equipment, the research team leader could not help sighing. In the short amount of time that Destiny’s Child was awake, the amplitude of information state disturbance increased by another 6.4%, which meant that a batch of unknown descendants within the universe would evolve.
While the Holy Accord had already gained control of the main body of Destiny’s Child, because of its peculiarity, the Holy Accord had always used it with extreme caution.
Among the Primal Esper Ability Entities, Destiny’s Child was a special existence. When it woke up and activated its abilities, it would produce a phenomenon called ‘information state disturbance’. Random creatures in the universe would inexplicably awaken a weakened version of its abilities, which were mainly based on foresight. They were known as the children of Destiny’s Child by the Holy Accord.
The appearance of the ‘children’ was irregular and not affected by time or space.
At this time, Law and Fay also hurried over.
“What’s the situation now?”
Hearing them, Oathkeeper turned around and said, “There’s a change of plans. The agreed date is almost upon us. I’ll personally go and retrieve the Holy Light Particle.”
“You’re making a move‽”
Both of them were shocked.
Law hurriedly said, “It’s too dangerous. Black Star is cunning and can fight. If anything happens to you, then we…”
Oathkeeper interrupted him in a low voice. “It’s not a must to fight. I will discuss it with him. What we need is only a part of the Holy Light Particle… Similarly, we can take out the parts of other Primal Esper Entities to trade with him.”
He patted the shoulders of the two, softly saying, “We’ve already gathered the key fragments needed to open The Third Sanctum, and only the fragment of the Primal Esper Ability Entity is left. While the ritual can be performed without the Holy Light Particle, it will bring about unknown risks. Since we’ve already prepared for so many years, it’s best to eliminate any unstable factors possible, making this plan foolproof.”
Black Star Cup Competition Field Thirteen was a vast ring-shaped valley, like a naturally occurring colosseum, with rugged rocks and complex topography.
The auditorium was suspended in midair, and countless spectators looked down from the floating seats onto the battlefield. The various media groups were also broadcasting the situation in real time.
Pew!
Bang!
Suddenly, two fireballs fell from the sky, hitting the sides of the valley. Those were the airborne drop pods, and the friction between the atmosphere and its surface released such a high temperature that it caused the very air around it to warp.
Accompanied by the decompression of the sealed chambers, the doors of the two single person airborne pods opened, and two players walked out. One of them was Frenzied Sword, and the other was Hao Tian.
“All the best!”
The moment both of them appeared, the crowd went wild.
Frenzied Sword ignored the crazed spectators, unfolded a silvery white mechanical trident, and stared at Hao Tian. “I didn’t expect us to meet so soon.”
“It’s a random draw. Anything can happen.”
Hao Tian was wearing the special pugilist combat uniform that was produced by the army, warming up his hands and feet.
After more than a month of fierce battles, the Black Star Cup qualifiers had finally come to an end. Just like raising poisonous insects, more than ninety percent of the participants had been eliminated, and only the remaining elites entered the main race. However, Frenzied Sword and Hao Tian had met in the single player event of the Black Star Cup, becoming opponents.
Hao Tian was the pillar of the veteran professional players in the Long Sky club, but Frenzied Sword was the spokesperson for the up-and-coming Rivervale. As professional players, they both had a large number of fans, so today’s match was highly anticipated.
Not only did the players pay attention to the competition between players, but even the NPCs were interested. The play styles of the players were often more radical and insane, making their fights enjoyable, which attracted a large number of NPC fans.
Pros such as Frenzied Sword and Hao Tian stood out among the tens of millions of players in the army, gaining a large number of NPC supporters. They were even given nicknames by the NPCs. Hao Tian had the title of ‘Boxing Master’, whereas Frenzied Sword had the title of ‘Machinery Dancer’… It had to be said that their nicknames truly fitted their fighting styles.
Both of them were old friends, so they skipped the trash talk, going directly to the section of physical attacks.
Dang! Dang! Dang!
One was a Pugilist, the other a Mechanical Pugilist. The two figures quickly collided with each other, creating loud impact sounds and sparks.
Their shock waves from their fight created trenches on the ground, throwing up stone and dust high into the sky.
After four versions, both of their micro-manipulation skills had only become more sophisticated. With their current Grade B combat strength, they were already considered extremely destructive humanoid monsters in the eyes of ordinary people.
Bang!
The Mechanical Pugilist had numerous skills, so the offensive of Frenzied Sword was endless. His trident pierced the sky, creating phantoms, bringing up dazzling arcs to surround all the vital points of Hao Tian.
Hao Tian was on the backfoot as he continuously dodged, but he suddenly saw a chance, stopping and raising his hands to accurately grasp the two side blades of the trident.
The phantoms in the sky disappeared, and the edge of the trident was only twenty centimeters away from his face, but it would not budge any further.
Kacha kacha!
Both their arm muscles swelled as they entered a wrestling mode. The ground under their feet cracked, with lines snaking out from below them.
“Serpent Tongue’s Cannon!” Frenzied Sword twisted his hands fiercely.
From within the center of the main blade on the trident, a dazzling energy ball suddenly emerged. It shot out a plasma arc cannon, but Hao Tian tilted his head to avoid it.
This beam of light shot diagonally upward, flashing past and penetrating a rocky mountain. It left behind a blazing red line that was completely melted through, and a layer of viscous magma seeped out.
Taking advantage of Frenzied Sword’s sneak attack, Hao Tian raised his elbow, hitting the spear shaft and deflecting it to the side. He then unleashed a skill. Light accumulated under his feet as he slammed into Frenzied Sword’s chest with a thunderous force, pushing him into the ground.
“War Trample!”
Boom!
The moment Frenzied Sword’s back touched the ground, a shock wave radiated from him. The ground sank by dozens of centimeters, forming a semi-circular pit around him. All the stones around him were crushed into powder by the heavy pressure.
The remnant shock waves swept out along the ground, and the nearby mountain of rocks collapsed. A dust storm gathered, sweeping to the very corners of the battlefield, causing a ring of sand to billow out at the edges.
As his HP and armor’s durability plummeted, Frenzied Sword straightened his waist, and the back of his mechanical suit transformed into a drill bit, digging into the ground to get rid of Hao Tian’s smelly feet.
His figure broke out from the ground in the distance, the weapon in his hand replaced with a huge war axe. With a slash in the air, the force field generator attached to the edge of the axe produced an arc, radiating outward.
Plop…
With his Pugilist aura covering his arms, Hao Tian raised his hand to intercept the arc directly.
The deflected shocked wave flew up, hitting the bottom of a floating auditorium with a loud bang. Amid the excitement of the spectators, an ion shield in a honeycomb structure appeared to block the attack.
And among the excited spectators, there were two special envoys from the Federation of Light that were sitting in the front-row VIP seats. They were whispering to each other while recording the scene of Hao Tian fighting Frenzied Sword.
“The strength of the Immortals has increased yet again. Compared to their last disappearance, the increment is quite obvious. Excluding those Immortals in the budding stage, the earliest batch already have a stable Grade B combat capability.”
“The Immortals have already undergone three periods of disturbance, and the duration is getting longer. Their way of increasing their strength is different to regular training, seemingly dependent on the length of time they disappear. By estimation, if they disappear once more, they might actually step into the Calamity Grade.”
“This is really a terrible group of creatures…”
Thinking that there might be tens of millions of such immortal Calamity Grade lunatics within the universe in the future, the two special agents could not help but shudder.
Just thinking about it, it really could be considered a scourge.
With the increase in their strength, the players were also more valued by the advanced civilizations, and they gradually started to research the rules binding the players.
The three Universal Civilizations had also thought of recruiting the Immortals to act as suicide squads in the past, but at that time, the players were pretty weak. Thus, they did not take them seriously. Furthermore, their characteristics that made them disappear from time to time and their uncertain growth limit caused the three Universal Civilizations to hesitate.
But now, the growth cycle of the players had been proven, and the advanced civilizations had to consider the possibility of the Immortals entering the Calamity Grade realm. As such, they were willing to extend an olive branch to them, giving them better treatment.
Right now, the Black Star Army was the largest ‘shareholder’, sitting on tens of millions of Immortals, naturally inciting fear in many of the major organizations.
In the past, they mainly feared Black Star himself, but now, there were even more reasons for them to feel fear.
To them, the army was holding onto a lot of high-quality stock. If the Immortals could reach the Calamity Grade realm, the high-level combatants within the Black Star Army would instantly overwhelm even the three Universal Civilizations.
The unique attraction of the Black Star Army to the Immortals also surprised the advanced civilizations.
If it was not for the fact that Han Xiao did not have a habit of disappearing for extended periods, they would have simply assumed Han Xiao to be a part of the Immortals.
…
At this time, Han Xiao was far away back in his Black Star Palace, not paying attention to the competition, but rather watching the public trial of the dynasty.
The video showed the surface of a barren planet, where Traveler and another Beyond Grade A who was captured were bound and made to kneel on the execution platform, in a near-death state.
The two were in an extremely poor condition. Because of Clotti’s dark energy circulating within their bodies, their regenerated cells were constantly being destroyed, keeping them in a severely injured state. The two had basically lost all their combat capabilities and were unable to break free.
Beside them, a remote projection of a dynasty officer stood in front of the camera, reading the decree out loud.
The content of the decree was the crimes of the two, such as crimes against public order, war crimes, and mass killings. All sorts of crimes were smashed onto their heads, making them seem as though they were heinous criminals that were wasting the very air in the universe.
What Han Xiao was concerned about were the charges the dynasty issued against Traveler, and as expected, the dynasty then mentioned what he wanted to hear.
“… Traveler has always operated as a neutral mercenary, but it has been verified that his true identity is that of the Beyond Grade A descendant that was secretly cultivated by the Modo Civilization. He tried to stir up disputes between the dynasty, the federation and the church, disrupting the order of the explored universe. At present, it is unknown if anyone part of the Modo Civilization orchestrated this matter, and the dynasty will retain an attitude to pursue accountability.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao’s mouth twitched.
“Humph, retaining an attitude to pursue accountability, how like the usual style of the three gangsters. It seems like the dynasty has already talked to Sorokin…”
He hypothesized that the Modo Civilization, which was originally lying back with popcorn to watch the show, would now have a stunned expression, as though struck silly by a pot that fell from the sky out of nowhere.
As for Traveler’s true host civilization, the Star Arc Civilization, they would probably feel surprised and happy.
However, Han Xiao did not intend to keep Star Arc out of the matter like this. He summoned Phillip.
“Conceal your tracks. Anonymously send out a piece of information to the upper echelons of the Modo Civilization.”
“What should I send, hum?”
“Reveal that the Star Arc Civilization is the real backer of Traveler.”
Han Xiao evilly snickered.
In this manner, the bewildered Modo Civilization would think that their being made a scapegoat was the act of the Star Arc Civilization or that Traveler was being a rabid dog, going around biting people out of desperation.
As for whether or not the Modo Civilization believed in this, he did not care. Since he had provided a clue, the Modo Civilization would definitely find a way to verify it. With the Star Arc Civilization being the guilty party, regardless of whether the clue was checked, both sides would develop some grievances.
This would not only weaken the relationship between the Super Star Cluster Alliance but also earn Modo a new enemy. All he had to do was send a simple message.
The cost of doing things is low, so why not do it?
Tsk, I’m truly an evil person…
Han Xiao was in a good mood as he turned his attention back to the screen.
At this moment, the sentencing had come to an end, and the dynasty officers looked upright at the camera, solemnly speaking.
“… For the above crimes, the Crimson Dynasty has decided to issue a death sentence!”
After that, the remote projection disappeared, and suddenly, a gap was exposed at the foot of the execution platform, where a fist-sized device rose up.
This looked very familiar to Han Xiao, and his eyes flashed as he slowly whistled. “The Universal Treasure of the dynasty, the Key of Destruction…”
At this moment, the surface of the Key of Destruction lit up in a matrix-like energy loop, and a circle of spatial channels suddenly appeared, unfolding in front of the two.
At the other end of the passage were the long-distance cannon rays of the dynasty’s army, filling the area with a dazzling glare.
Boom!
The next moment, a world-destroying energy surged out, filling every inch of the screen!
The picture panned out rapidly, turning into a wide-area perspective which overlooked the planet from the distant starry sky.
One could only see a glimmer of bright light blooming on the surface of the planet, followed by a dazzling star-like energy cluster, which expanded rapidly and in turn wrapped the planet in it.
As the energy cluster expanded to its limit, all of a sudden, the huge ball shrank to a point, like the image when an old-fashioned television was turned off.
Within the picture, the explosion site was totally empty, with the planet having disappeared without a trace, completely annihilated.
Traveler and the other Beyond Grade A who were already at death’s door had no power to resist the Key of Destruction, and not even their bones remained.
What a waste…
Han Xiao’s mouth contorted slightly.
In order to pull off this huge affair, the dynasty had deliberately chosen to utilize the cannons, pulling down a planet together with both of them. It was a pity that the bodies of the two were extremely rare research materials.
They were indeed a Universal Civilization. After so many years, they probably had a sizable collection of Beyond Grade A corpses within their freezer, so they had no need for more…
While Traveler was an enemy, seeing another Beyond Grade A being executed by a Universal Civilization still left Han Xiao a little depressed. He estimated that the other Beyond Grade As would also feel the same way.
Sigh, no matter how big a universe is, it cannot exceed the size of ambition. It’s difficult for the two parties to have a harmonious existence… In the face of the advanced civilizations, the Beyond Grade As are still in a weak position, and there are too few of us…
Thinking about the situation of the Beyond Grade As, Han Xiao sighed.
Just as he was about to turn off his broadcasting screen, he noticed a strange mental fluctuation through his senses.
“Who are you‽”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, snapping his head to look at the center of the room. His eyes sparkled with Mechanical Force as he instantly entered a combat state.
Within his vision, black flames were suddenly borne out of thin air, converging into the appearance of the Holy Accord’s leader, Oathkeeper.
Oathkeeper lightly stepped on the group, walking toward Han Xiao as he spoke.
“Black Star, there’s no need to be nervous. This is just a mental projection without any sort of combat capability. I came here specially to meet you. It’s good to see you. I would like to propose a deal with you.”
“You…”
Hearing this, Han Xiao furrowed his brows, sizing him up before speaking in an uncertain tone.
“… Are the Holy Accord’s leader?”
As he spoke, Oathkeeper stumbled and very nearly hit his head.
Hidden under his hood was a dumbfounded expression.
F*ck me, how do you even know this‽
How does Black Star know my identity‽
Oathkeeper originally wanted to show off his Beyond Grade A strength, attracting Black Star’s attention before negotiating a deal. He did not expect that the moment he appeared, he would be exposed without any preparation. Thus, his act of being mysterious failed.
Seeing Black Star recognize him at a glance, Oathkeeper went through a storm of emotions at once.
Where did he receive intelligence about me? What has been leaked within the organization, to the point that he even knows of my name‽
A series of question marks popped up in his mind, and Oathkeeper’s mood suddenly turned heavy.
The Holy Accord had always been hidden in the dark as they had too many secrets. Now that Black Star could call out his identity, how much exactly did he know about the Holy Accord? Did he also learn of their ultimate mission?
As this thought flashed through his mind, he suddenly felt killing intent, wanting to silence the other party.
However, this murderous intent was forcibly suppressed by him.
There was no other reason than the fact that Black Star was too strong.
This sort of meat-shield like pinnacle Beyond Grade A could not easily be killed. The use of force should be a final resort, and negotiations should take priority.
This was the good point in having great strength, as it would make people more reasonable toward them.
I’ll first test how much Black Star knows. If he understands the basics of the Holy Accord, then I’ll have to calculate and plan accordingly. After so many years of planning, I cannot take any risks…
Suppressing his inner shock, Oathkeeper adjusted his emotions. He did not proceed with negotiations; the most important thing to him now was to test Black Star.
Oathkeeper slowly sat down opposite Han Xiao, whispering, “Do you understand a lot about the Holy Accord?”
“Not much, just the slightest bit.”
Han Xiao made a gesture, leaving the slightest gap between his thumb and forefinger, his smile full of meaning. He had on an expression that seemed to say, “I have seen through everything.”
In reality, the Great Mechanic Han really only knew a little about the Holy Accord. He only knew that they resurrected a great number of the Primordial Ones in the later versions but not the inside story. It could be said that he only knew what the Holy Accord’s behavior would be but not their intentions.
He only recognized Oathkeeper because Oathkeeper was still the leader of the Holy Accord even in the later versions, and he had received great attention during the World Tree Civilization War. Han Xiao did not know of his origin either.
Thus, Han Xiao only put on this posture of ‘I know it in my heart’ just to fool the other party, not allowing Oathkeeper to figure out his bottom line.
Seeing this, Oathkeeper was uncertain in his heart, but on the surface, he remained expressionless, softly asking, “I’m curious, but how did you recognize me? Have we met before?”
“That’s right.”
“Is it…” Oathkeeper got a shock, immediately racking his brains to try and remember when he had dealings with Black Star. But no matter how hard he thought, he could not discover anything.
At this moment, Han Xiao spoke with a straight face. “We met before in our dreams.”
Oathkeeper did not know how to respond.
Are you talking about your mom?
Black Star was obviously making a joke, but in the eyes of Oathkeeper, his attitude meant that Black Star knew a lot more than he let on, thus his mood got more solemn, causing him to over-imagine.
“Let’s not talk about this for now.” Han Xiao waved his hand, squinting. “You just said you wish to make a deal with me. Let me first hear what it is.”
Oathkeeper sorted out his mood, temporarily putting aside his thought of testing him. “I wish to make an exchange for a part of the Holy Light Particle.”
“Oh?” Han Xiao glanced at him. “What can you offer me then?”
“It depends on what you want. We’re willing to use other Primal Energy Entities to trade for your Holy Light Particle.”
So, it turns out that the Holy Accord wished to obtain the Holy Light Particle through negotiations. This should be how they cooperated with the EsGod in my previous life. My plan of luring the snake out of its hole really worked, Han Xiao secretly thought.
By publicly stating that the Holy Light Particles were in his own hands, he wanted to lure the Holy Accord into making contact with him. According to his judgement, after the last sneak attack, they would either attack him again or perform a trade in exchange for the Holy Light Particle. Either way, the Holy Accord would be fished out.
If the Holy Accord remained in the dark, Han Xiao would not be able to find them, and it was detrimental to him. Now that there was an opportunity for dialogue, there would be room for manipulation.
Han Xiao pretended to ponder for a while before tapping on the table with his finger, suddenly changing the topic.
“If I remember correctly, you guys just snatched the pp… cough, I mean, a portion of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy from my hands a while ago.”
Indeed, Black Star knows that the people who attacked him before belonged to the Holy Accord…
Oathkeeper suddenly realized a crucial factor.
Did Black Star only learn of their organization after being attacked, or did he already know of their existence even before he was attacked?
There was a difference!
“Are you sure that the people who attacked you the last time belonged to the Holy Accord?” Oathkeeper tested him.
“Huh, want to deny it? Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you if you only sent your peripheral members?” Han Xiao stroked his chin and spoke in a playful tone. “Dimensional Exile Bullets, Formatted Viruses, High-Level Life Form Energy Disorder Shockwave—all these are things that your Holy Accord is famed for. Did you think I was unaware?”
Under his hood, Oathkeeper’s face turned gloomy.
The facts had proven that what Black Star knew exceeded his own imagination, and he had long known of the existence of the Holy Accord!
The Holy Accord had obtained that technology as a result of researching the Primal Esper Ability Entities. They were all their killing moves that they rarely used. For Black Star to even call out the names of these techniques, there was only one possibility left…
There was a traitor in the organization!
Furthermore, it was someone in the upper echelons!
The faces of the various officers flashed through Oathkeeper’s mind in anger.
Who was it that broke through the limits of the Soul Flame, betraying their organization‽
Even Black Star knew about this, so how much intelligence had been leaked? Could it be that, within the vaults of the advanced civilizations, there were already a multitude of files and folders on their Holy Accord?
If that was the case, then the Holy Accord that prided itself on keeping its secrets for so many years had basically turned into the laughingstock of the entire universe!
Oathkeeper’s mentality exploded in an instant.
He was someone who remained mostly stoic and calm, but the mental stress he had suffered that day was just overwhelming, causing him to lose control of his emotions.
Feeling the unstable mental fluctuations of Oathkeeper, Han Xiao hesitated.
It seemed like he had gone overboard with his acting and scared the other party quite terribly.
Han Xiao sighed empathetically.
Alas, these brainiacs focused heavily on their intelligence, so they were naturally suspicious all the time. A little detail would cause them to constantly focus on it. It was not because he had gone overboard but rather because the other party was just too sensitive.
In fact, Han Xiao objectively viewed the Holy Accord quite neutrally. He had no good feelings or grievances toward them. In his previous life, the Holy Accord Organization was not a villainous organization that created trouble, nor did they produce any pests. The only well-known incident that involved them was the revival of the Beyond Grade As and Primordial Ones from history, which involved some unknown method during the World Tree War.
While the Holy Accord’s participation in the war was mainly due to them being next in line if the Universal Civilizations fell, they contributed a lot to the World Tree War and brought about a wave of important reinforcements. Credit still had to be awarded where due.
In this regard, Han Xiao stood on the same side as them. The revival of the Beyond Grade As in history would instantly enhance the combat power of the Beyond Grade As in the explored universe, such that there would be more bargaining chips against the World Tree. He would not stop the Holy Accord from achieving its goals.
That being said, the Holy Accord attacked him without being provoked, so Han Xiao had already made a mental note of this. Let them hit him for free, how could there be such a good thing in this world? Without settling the score, he would not let them go.
As for whether or not the revival of the Primordial Ones was related to the Holy Accord, Han Xiao could not be sure, but he wholly suspected that their excuse of surviving in the life-sustaining cabins was fake news.
In fact, he could understand why the revival of the Primordial Ones would be an important fuse leading to the Calamity of the Supers. Just think about it from the perspective of the three Universal Civilizations…
F*ck me, you guys that were supposed to be dead have revived‽ Then, does that mean every Beyond Grade A that died will also be eligible for revival? If the number of people revived grows to the certain point that can overthrow our rule, what are we supposed to do‽
The advanced civilizations had always attempted to control the ratio of individual might to collective strength. To suddenly discover that the individual might could now be resurrected and that they were no longer in control of the situation, their mentality would definitely burst.
Thus, regardless of whether the Primordial Ones were awakened from cryostasis or resurrected, they would have to say to the outside that they had been lying within the life sustaining capsules, otherwise the problem would only get worse, and there was no knowing what the three Universal Civilizations would end up doing.
As both of them were engrossed in their thoughts, it took a while before they realized they were still in a conversation.
Oathkeeper calmed himself down before solemnly speaking.
“I can provide compensation as a form of apology. I hope that you can forgive the negligence of my subordinates.”
“How are you going to compensate me for my mental loss?”
“What do you want?”
“Hmm, let me think about it…” Han Xiao held his head. “With the long history of the Holy Accord, there should be a lot of things in your vaults. If you hand me eight to ten Universal Treasures or blueprints, I’ll forgive them.”
Why don’t you go and rob… oh, no, you are indeed robbing me right now.
Oathkeeper immediately shook his head.
“That’s too many. We don’t have that much in stock.”
“How could this be?” Han Xiao chuckled. “There are so many of your members who are descendants of Beyond Grade As, so how could their ancestors not leave behind any heirlooms?”
You even know of this‽
Just how much intelligence was leaked!
Oathkeeper secretly gritted his teeth. His only thought was digging up the traitor and beating him to death.
“… In any case, we really don’t have that many Universal Treasures. We only have two sets of blueprints that we’ve accumulated, and we can compensate you with those.”
“Two sets…” Han Xiao pursed his lips. “Seems a little lacking. How about you pass me a set of your Esper Ability Technology well?”
“Not possible!” Oathkeeper spat out with a steely tone. He would not compromise at all on this matter.
Forget it, two sets then. At least I got something out of this.
Taking the pp of the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and exchanging it for two sets of Gold Grade blueprints, this was akin to giving up one… no, giving up nothing in exchange for a plethora of benefits.
Han Xiao then clicked his tongue as his expression got serious. Placing his hands on the desk, he slowly said, “We can proceed with this deal, but the portion of Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy that you guys stole must be included in the terms, treated as though I’m also selling it to you. This means that you have to offer me two portions of separate Primal Esper Ability Entities in exchange for a portion of the Holy Light Particle.”
Since his [Primal Esper Ability Collector] mission only required another two Primal Esper Ability Entities, then he could utilize the Holy Light Particle to complete it. This would net him a milestone halo geared toward fighting Espers, as well as a skill fragment of [The Third Sanctum].
“Deal.” Oathkeeper decisively nodded.
The Holy Accord organization had already amassed a large number of Primal Esper Ability Entities, and cutting a few pieces of them to put for sale was not a problem.
While such a style was quite perverted, none of them were actually good people, so there was no need to be worried about such a thing.
With the Black Star Army now dominating a part of the universe, Oathkeeper could only settle for the bare minimum. While he was not afraid of Black Star, it was still better to settle things peacefully where possible.
At this moment, Oathkeeper’s eyes flashed as he probed, “Black Star, what do you think about the purpose of our Holy Accord?”
While a lot of intelligence had been leaked, Oathkeeper still held on to the last embers of hope. It might seem that Black Star knew everything about the organization, but there was still a small chance that he was unaware of their primary objective.
“Purpose? Aren’t you just an organization that researches about Primal Esper Ability Technology? What, you still have other schemes in mind?” Han Xiao raised a brow.
Oathkeeper closely peered at Han Xiao’s expression, but he could not read anything. He did not know if Han Xiao truly was unaware or was merely pretending.
But no matter what, he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing this answer.
Black Star was unaware of their primary objective, which meant that the external variables were still within their scope of control. This meant that the traitor in their organization was just at the officer level, not part of the core.
“There are no conspiracies nor schemes. The purpose of our organization is to believe that Esper Abilities have infinite possibilities, which can bring about technological breakthroughs to the universe…” Oathkeeper began to spew some nonsense, which was the same information they told their peripheral members as camouflage.
After a few more idle sentences, they set a time for the transaction, before Oathkeeper left, full of thoughts of weeding out the ‘traitor’ in his organization.
Han Xiao leaned back with an expression of deep thought.
He did not provoke the other party’s intention to revive the Beyond Grade As in history. This was because he did not know what the other party was using to do so or what their objective was. Revealing this fact too early might cause him to be targeted instead.
Thus, he pretended and fooled around for a bit, but if he went overboard, he might have no way to retreat in the end.
At least before he obtained the blueprints and the other two Primal Esper Ability Entities, he had no desire to rip off all pretenses with the Holy Accord.
Moreover, Han Xiao did not mind the revival of the Beyond Grade As. Compared to the World Tree, the impact of this on the universe was just a small matter. Every bit of extra strength was good.
In my previous life, the Holy Accord worked with EsGod, but now I have replaced EsGod as their partner and became the driving force behind the scenes. Under my influence, the plot line is changing more and more. There are even the coordinates that lead to the World Tree. The logistics department has been unsuccessful in deriving them, and I don’t know how far the dynasty’s research has gone…
Han Xiao was lost in thought before he recalled something.
That’s right, the Holy Accord has such a long history. Maybe they have intelligence about the existence of the Sanctums. I should find a chance to ask them next time.
…
Somewhere in the Ancient Star Desert, the galactic pirates’ fleet was stopped by three small battleships with the Federation of Light insignia. After a fierce battle, the pirates were captured.
On the deck of the pirates’ flagship, the carbonized corpse of the leader fell on the ground, while all the other members squatted on the ground with the hands on their heads, covered in cuts and bruises. They were surrounded by a group of soldiers in brilliant Federation of Light uniforms.
The leader of the soldiers was wearing a high-tech uniform, with a badge on his chest, representing his position as a universe inspector.
This universe inspector was part of a special department set up by the advanced civilizations. They patrolled different Star Systems, and their official position was higher than that of an ordinary patrol officer, specializing in detection of abnormal conditions.
The Federation of Light Inspector paced in front of the group of pirates, slowly taking off his bloodied black gloves. He slowly said, “Five days ago, there were signs of cosmic energy surges coming from your spaceship. The energy fluctuations spread along as you travelled, alarming many advanced civilizations, including the three Universal Civilizations. This fluctuation has never been seen before, and no one knows what it is…”
Pa!
He suddenly walked up to one of the pirates, slapping him before forcing his gaze to meet his. “Can you tell me what exactly happened?”
“It… it was a disposable safe…” The pirate stammered before revealing everything.
“An ancient safe that was sold at an auction?”
The Federation of Light inspector called up the information that they had obtained from the pirates, and Harrison’s team information appeared on his screen.
“A group of scavengers. Not sure if they’re lucky or unlucky…”
Narrowing his eyes, he pushed the pirate aside before giving his command.
“Move out. Find these people!”
The inspectors of the three Universal Civilizations had huge backers and vast resources at their disposal. It was not difficult to uncover a low-level scavenger.
The process was quite smooth. It could be summarized as: identity record match, whereabouts position, storming the area, and asking them to line up with their hands on the wall.
This series of operations was smoothly carried out, as though they had done it hundreds of times.
In the small spaceship of the scavengers, Harrison and his party squatted on the wall and shivered. The brilliant Federation of Light insignias on the soldiers’ uniforms dispelled any desire to resist.
For people at the bottom of the Galactic Society, even a small pawn of the three Universal Civilizations was not someone they could afford to offend. Without the backing of any organization, those that dared to offend people from the three Universal Civilizations were akin to people who would turn the lights on in the latrine to look at sh*t.
“You… What are you guys trying to do? We, we are law-abiding citizens,” the shortie stammered.
The Federation of Light Inspector moved a chair, sitting in front of this group. He leaned forward, releasing an aura of oppression as he coldly said, “You don’t know what sort of crimes you’ve committed?”
What crime have we committed?
Everyone had a confused expression, squeezing their brain juices dry to try and remember what they had done in their daily lives.
The shortie suddenly shivered violently before blurting out, “I… I surrender!”
“Oh?” The inspector turned to look at him, narrowing his eyes as he said, “Say it then. What is your crime?”
“I… I anonymously hacked the paid server of an adult entertainment channel yesterday, downloading thousands of pornos… ahem, you know, those kinds of films. I’m guilty! I confess!” The shortie spat everything out.
The captain suddenly exclaimed, “No wonder you stayed in your room the whole day yesterday…”
As he spoke, he suddenly stopped. Everyone realized that the shortie was still wearing his clothes from the day before, and with a wrinkle of their noses, they shifted a few paces away from him.
“…”
The inspector’s facial expression was hard as steel, but if one looked closely, they could see the corners of his mouth twitching fiercely.
Be serious, I’m interrogating you!
“Are you trying to provoke me? Do you think I’m joking with you‽”
Glaring at him, the inspector drew his gun, pressing it against the head of the shortie. However, he paused suddenly and withdrew the muzzle a distance away from the guy’s head. He did not dare stick it to the skin of the shortie for fear of contaminating his firearm.
“Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t…” The shortie was so scared that he urinated on the spot, his entire body trembling.
Harrison was also frightened and immediately said, “Sir Inspector, we’re law abiding. We don’t pillage and kill; we only excavate ownerless ruins. We do not know what crimes we’ve committed.”
“Humph!” The inspector also did not intend to make their lives difficult. He withdrew his weapon, projecting an image of the triangular device. He solemnly said, “Not long ago, you guys dug out this artifact from an unknown civilization and put it up for auction. But it was stolen by the galactic pirates, and when they opened it up, it triggered a cosmic energy fluctuation. I’m here for this.”
Harrison’s heart almost stopped.
See, we got into trouble!
My intuition was right. This object isn’t simple, even bringing me so much trouble after it was sold!
However, he was not upset but instead felt a sense of excitement from his bones. A strong curiosity surged within him, and he could not help but ask, “What was inside?”
“It’s still unclear, and the specific fluctuations are still being thoroughly investigated.”
At this moment, the captain could not help but ask, “Wait a minute, we sold that thing, and it wasn’t us who opened it, so what crime have we committed?”
“That’s right. We’re innocent!”
“You can’t frame good people for nothing!”
The crowd immediately screamed, displaying upright indignation.
“Shut up!” the Inspector coldly barked. “The items that you dug up from the ruins carry a strong risk. Because of you guys, new disasters are likely to occur in the universe. Let’s not talk about anything else. Just the crime of endangering public safety is enough to put you in prison!”
Hearing this, everyone immediately shrank back, and they collectively lowered their heads, attentively counting the number of ants on the floor… although there was no chance of ants appearing in the spaceship.
The inspector coldly snorted. “However, if you guys are willing to assist us in our work, we can ignore your unintentional mistakes. We are going to investigate the site of the ruins now, and we need you to lead the way and show us your flight log. Are there any objections?”
“No, no, no, none at all. It is our honor to help the Federation of Light! I’m the machinery expert of this spaceship. You just need to give the command if you need something from me. There’s no need to treat me like a person at all!”
Seeing that the situation was not as serious as expected, the shortie breathed a sigh of relief before hurriedly using the skills he had honed over the years to bootlick the inspector.
“This…” The captain was a little hesitant. “Is this going to leave us with a criminal record?”
The inspector seemed to take it lightly. “That’s for sure, but it doesn’t matter. As long as you turn in whatever you’ve dug up in the future to the civilization, there will be no problem.”
Give it to the nation? Are we going to turn into an archaeological team‽
Too much, this is simply threatening us with our weaknesses. You want us to compromise? Dream on! We absolutely will not accept such a treatment!
… Unless the Federation of Light is paying us wages.
After reaching a physical consensus, the team led the way, quickly bringing the inspector to the barren planet where they first found the triangular device, and found the initial coordinates.
Harrison pointed at the image on the screen as he explained, “This is the place. There used to be a ruin here that resembled something like a military base, but the moment we left, it collapsed. This is a recording of when we burrowed in…”
The Federation of Light inspector nodded and ordered his subordinates to descend, taking out the probes to scan the area. His expression changed slightly.
He did not expect that the results of the investigation would show that there were no abnormalities present within the rock formations. There was only mud and dirt.
This made no sense, as even if the ruins were to collapse and be buried, there should be traces. However, in the pictures of these advanced detection instruments, there were no traces in the rocks below.
The inspector frowned. “Are you sure it’s here?”
“That’s here alright. You’ve also seen the flight logs. We stopped right here.” Harrison showed an expression of surprise as well.
Such a mystical scenario hooked his curiosity once again. He was unable to understand how the ruins could just disappear into thin air.
Could it be that this whole thing was a dream? But the safe they unearthed was well and truly present.
Just as he was thinking about it, the inspector from the Federation of Light seemed to have thought of something. His expression changed as he muttered to himself, “Such a phenomenon, could it be… that it’s the high-dimensional information state interfering with reality itself?”
Harrison was just about to ask something, but he saw the inspector push aside everyone, running to report to his superior.
Seeing the other party’s grave expression, Harrison had a hunch that the severity of this problem was beyond his own imagination.
…
Within the base of the Holy Accord Organization, Law and Fay were summoned, and once again, they arrived in the dark palace to meet up with Oathkeeper.
“All of you are here.”
In midair, the figure of Oathkeeper materialized, and he lowered his head to indifferently speak, his tone laced with coldness.
There was a strong mental fluctuation within his tone, which caused Law and Fay to begin to feel anxious.
Both of them had known Oathkeeper for a long time, so they understood his behavior. Such an action meant that he was truly angered, which had not happened in a long time.
They could not help but exchange glances, communicating with their eyes.
Law (Puzzled Look): “The leader’s mood doesn’t seem too good.”
Fay (Blinking): “Maybe he failed in the negotiations with Black Star.”
Law (Frowning): “That wouldn’t make him so angered. There should be another reason.”
Fay (Curious Look): “Then what is it?”
Law (Rolling eyes): “Do you think I can explain such a complicated thing using just glances?”
Fay (Blinking Innocently): “That makes sense.”
Both of them conversed in an instant before lowering their heads to greet Oathkeeper. “Leader, for what matter have you summoned us?”
“Black Star has inside information on us!” Oathkeeper furiously replied.
“What‽” Both of them paled.
Could it be that because of their ambush previously, Black Star had managed to uncover some clues, which lead to a leakage of their organizational intelligence?
If that was the case, then the both of them were sinners!
Did the leader specifically call us over to punish us? That’s right. It’s most likely that!
Having assumed their leader’s attitude, both of them were in a panic and did not dare hesitate, immediately lowering their heads to plead. “It’s our fault. We’ve committed a great sin by causing our organization’s information to leak out. Please punish us!”
Glancing at the two, Oathkeeper relaxed his tone.
“Don’t be mistaken. Your actions do not have anything to do with this matter. Black Star has long known of our organization’s existence.”
Hearing this, the two of them could not help but exchange a glance in shock.
If it’s not us that revealed the intel, then who was it? It was definitely our first time in contact with Black Star. Could it be that some others had also come into contact with him in the past?
At this moment, the frosty voice of Oathkeeper answered their question.
“Stop guessing. Our organization has a traitor!”
“That’s impossible!” Law shook in fright, exclaiming with an incredulous expression. “Those who leak intelligence will definitely suffer backlash from the Soul Flames. Who would survive that‽”
The Soul Flame was another Primal Esper Ability Entity. As its name suggested, this ability was related toward one’s soul and spirit, and currently, Oathkeeper was its host.
Its Esper Ability meant that it was an expert that toyed with the soul aspect of people, making it one of the Super High Risk Esper Abilities. One of its abilities allowed it to prohibit its target from revealing specific information, and Oathkeeper had utilized this ability to prevent anyone in the Holy Accord from leaking its secrets. If a member wished to forcibly divulge information, even if they could endure the backlash, Oathkeeper would still be notified. This was how the Holy Accord had kept its secrecy for so long.
He used his own pinnacle Beyond Grade A strength to spur the Esper Ability of the Soul Flame, so the effect exerted was terrifying. Even Law and Fay, two Beyond Grade As, would not be able to bypass its surveillance and would also suffer backlash if they leaked any information.
Thus, both of them believed that no one could betray their organization.
“Whether you believe it or not, the fact is in front of our eyes. Black Star identified me the moment he saw me, and I was still foolishly believing that no one else knew about the existence of our Holy Accord. This matter must be investigated carefully!”
Oathkeeper’s tone was steely as he shouted.
“There should be someone who has come out with a special method to bypass the surveillance and backlash caused by the Soul Flame. They passed on intelligence to the outside world. The person’s rank is not low either, at least an officer within the organization. For now, I still do not know if they are a core member.”
Both Law and Fay’s expressions turned grim. This matter was related to the survival of their organization and could not be taken lightly.
“Leader, what would you have us do?”
“Both of you are my confidantes, and I believe you in principle. However, everything depends on evidence, so I need to scan your memories. Are you willing?”
Law and Fay were suddenly placed in a difficult situation. While they were not betrayers, any Super would naturally repel others from invading their own mind deep within themselves.
However, they were aware of the increasingly unstable mental fluctuations around them. Thus, both of them swallowed hard, and in order to show that they had a clear conscience, they agreed with difficulty.
The next moment, Oathkeeper raised his hand slightly, and two streaks of flames the color of the starry sky landed on them.
Both of them noticed a unique mental fluctuation entering their brains. Looking at each other, they gritted their teeth before actively letting go of their mental barriers, allowing Oathkeeper to easily penetrate their minds.
Their memories were quickly flipped through by him. The scenes from small to large flashed in front of them. They gritted their teeth, ignoring the tingling sensation of the mental probe as it scanned through their minds.
After a long while, the mental probes were finally recalled back to Oathkeeper who seemed satisfied.
“Very good, the two of you did not let down my expectations.” Oathkeeper nodded before continuing solemnly. “I’ll leave the task of weeding out the traitor to you guys. I allow you full access to thoroughly investigate all the organization officers and report any suspicious personnel to me. I’ll personally scan their memories. Before we can uncover the traitor, we’ll temporarily stop all activities and go into hiding.”
Both of them remained silent, nodding to signify acceptance as they suffered through the throbbing pain that was a side effect from the mental probes. They could not help but sigh.
It seems like the leader is truly enraged this time. If even us confidantes are treated this way, there’s no need to talk about the other officers…
Both of them could foresee that this operation would definitely create a lot of havoc within the organization.
…
The explosion of cosmic energy could not escape the monitoring buoys that were set by the advanced civilizations. These monitoring buoys were used by each advanced civilization to monitor the situation within their jurisdictions, and they were pervasive.
It was just that the qualifications for setting up monitoring buoys were generally reserved for civilizations, and civil organizations were rarely allowed.
Within the Ancient Star Desert, the branch of the Black Star Army did not have much influence, and it naturally did not have the right to set any up. Han Xiao was also far away and could not immediately discover the cosmic energy fluctuations.
The advanced civilizations reacted quickly to investigate the source and impact of the phenomenon but found next to nothing. They did not know what sort of changes this energy surge would create.
Right at this moment, within the quantum network that was invisible to the naked eye, the information packets released from the triangular device were spreading rapidly within the Ancient Star Desert’s domain.
This sort of information packet had incredible camouflage abilities, able to bypass most artificial intelligence firewalls and infect one quantum network node after another. It spread like a virus, but for the time being, it did not show any abnormal reaction, simply lurking beneath the surface.
Only a small number of artificial intelligences, such as the master artificial intelligences from the advanced civilizations, were able to detect and stop it. However, as soon as it was discovered, the information packet would immediately activate a self-destruction program, shattering and deleting its own data, at the same time marking the firewall that it could not break through so other information packets would not take the same risk. It was as though there was a program within that commanded it to avoid those that were overly strong.
As the scope of infection expanded, the efficiency of transmission also increased proportionally. Within the quantum network, transmission was not affected by distance, so without anyone knowing, massive numbers of quantum network nodes in the Ancient Star Desert domain were infected.
At some point, an information packet was transmitted to another quantum node, but this time, it ran into the strongest artificial intelligence firewall it had ever encountered. The moment it entered the peripheral surroundings of the node, it was scanned, and the information packet immediately blew itself up.
However, a surging data stream gushed out from this node to envelop the information packet. When it had self-destructed about sixty-five percent of itself, the remaining fragmented information was forcibly intercepted.
The next moment, the data streams converged into a human shape.
Manison’s Virtual Soul gazed at the remains of the information packet floating in front of him with a curious expression.
Eh, a never-before-seen data structure… what’s this thing, attempting to infiltrate my sub-base?
In the Central Galaxy was the Abyss of Stars, the home of the Federation of Light’s headquarters.
The duty of an inspector was different from that of a secret intelligence department. The former acted as a pan-universal intelligence agency and did not involve itself in the political battles of the advanced civilizations. Most of the time, the intelligence agencies of the three Universal Civilizations would cooperate to deal with various special phenomena, including monitoring and tracking to prevent possible disasters.
At this very moment, in a conference room within this particular agency, a group of high-level executives sat around a round table, discussing the emergency reported from the Ancient Star Desert branch inspector.
The explosion of cosmic energy was considered a red alert at any time and required a meeting to be convened to discuss the strategy taken.
“The content of the report is quite detailed, and the cause and effect were quite clearly outlined. A scavenger team dug up a safe of an unknown civilization, releasing the source of this incident. This belongs to the second category of accidents. However, the traces of the ruins excavated completely disappeared before the inspector’s team’s field survey began, and they suspect it has something to do with a projection of a high-dimensional information state interfering with reality… The most important questions now are, what exactly did it release, why was there a cosmic energy burst, and what impact would this have?”
A humanoid creature who looked sickly at first glance was speaking. When he spoke, he stood up tall and thin, resembling a bamboo stick. His skin color was pale purple, with white lines, and his eyes were long and narrow, with yellow pupils.
This was Sidreun ‘Purple Fire’ Korna, the highest officer from the inspectorate from the Federation of Light’s side, a Beyond Grade A seed. He was a hybrid of races, but his main bloodline came from the Deweine tribe, a racial species with superior racial talents.
The Federation of Light employed a multi-racial living system, and hybrids were an important part of their nation.
Due to the difference in beliefs, preferences, appearances, and other factors delineating each race, racial issues had always been a deeply rooted disease in the federation, but everyone was already used to it.
“These archaeological teams never learn their lesson, ” a member grumbled. “Of the various universal disasters in history, be it an organic extinct virus, mutated monsters, or anything else, how many of them were caused by digging up ancient relics?”
“You can’t put it that way. Many of our technology in the early years was also derived from the reverse engineering of ancient civilizations. Besides, compared to the triggering of disasters due to advanced technology going out of control or the invasion of foreign enemies, the severity caused by archaeology pales in comparison.” Sidreun shook his head weakly.
At this time, one of the executives glanced through the past records and muttered, “By the way, it’s quite rare for high-dimensional information states to interfere with reality itself in the past, but with the increase in the exploration of the universe, this phenomenon seems to have become more frequent.
“According to the statistics provided by our predecessors, during the exploration era, the average number of information state interferences was around 467 times a year, which only counts those events that were discovered and recorded. In the past century though, this number has risen to 2,150 per year, almost five times the number. Although this could be attributed to the improvement in our detection methods, it can also be seen as an increase in the frequency of interferences as well.”
“Information states have always been an important research direction of the advanced civilizations. We are only responsible for the submission of reports. Regardless of the result, that is a problem for our scientists, not us.” Sidreun waved his hand tiredly with an obvious lack of interest.
It was understandable that he was mentally weary after sitting in his position. This inspectorate department was responsible for wiping the backsides of people all over the universe, akin to watching a group of crazy kids making trouble everywhere for him to clean up afterward.
No matter how he tried to remedy things, countless more would still appear the next day. If he had a bad temper, he would have exploded in fury at least once a day in this department.
Thus, with the passing of time, a man would turn into Buddha, whereas fish would also become salted and preserved[1].
Everybody here did not come from a research background, so they had a limited understanding of the causes of information state projection and interference. To them, this phenomenon was akin to a special mirage, and the difference was that this was not limited by time and space and could really interfere with the real world.
Another of the executives said, “After comparison, the unknown text that the scavengers submitted does not have a match in our database to any civilization. If this is an information state projection, then the source is either from an extremely ancient civilization, or it’s from unexplored civilizations that exist somewhere in the universe.”
While the three Universal Civilizations were the undisputed universe hegemons today, they were not omniscient nor omnipotent. They did not know what had existed in the past, nor did they know how many civilizations there were in the unexplored universe. Thus, they had not stopped their pace of exploration and research.
“Did anyone discover any negative effects?” Sidreun questioned.
“For the time being, no. The specific details are still under thorough investigation. At present, it is impossible to predict what sort of disaster this is. Maybe it’s not even a disaster.”
Everyone shook their head.
At this moment, a voice sounded.
“This is a disaster within the Virtual Domain.”
The hologram in the center of the round table suddenly transformed into the face of Manison.
Seeing this, everyone went into an uproar.
“Mechanic Emperor Manison!” Sidreun’s expression sank, and he shouted, “How dare you infiltrate the network of an official institution!”
Everyone on scene had an ugly expression as Manison had just too many criminal convictions. Even his ally, the Federation of Light, guarded their official networks against Manison, for fear that all their confidential information would be stolen by this neighbor of theirs.
There was a saying in the universe—One cannot expect a Virtual Mechanic to have morals.
They were like the bosses behind the scenes in the casino, and it was in their nature to peek at the cards of others.
“It’s not the first time. Why are you all so surprised?” Manison was perfectly calm. “This time, however, I’m here to deliver some intelligence.”
“I don’t believe you!” Sidreun gritted his teeth. You obviously could knock on the door, but you chose to come in through the window instead. Would it kill you to send out an official notice?
“This method is faster. I don’t like to wait.” Manison continued as though he heard nothing. “Furthermore, this disaster is currently fermenting. Every second wasted means increased damage.”
Hearing this, Sidreun temporarily suppressed his anger, frowning as he asked, “So, what have you spotted?”
Manison showed the scattered information packet that he had intercepted as he explained, “Not too long ago, a special information package attempted to infiltrate my sub-base, and after it failed, it tried to self-detonate itself. I managed to salvage a portion of it, and from there, I gleaned its general structure. This may be a new form of quantum network virus, where every information package is a source of infection. It will constantly replicate itself and has strong camouflage, permeability, and infection abilities.
“I tracked it down, and this virus is spreading rapidly in the quantum network of the Ancient Star Desert. Countless nodes have been compromised. Working backward, I concluded that this virus might be related to the cosmic energy explosion some time ago, so I came over to notify you.”
Looking at the material that Manison presented, the expressions of the executives gradually turned grave.
“Turns out, it’s a new type of quantum network virus.” Sidreun felt a headache coming. “The quantum network is one of the cornerstones of our galactic society, and this sort of highly contagious virus is the most troublesome. If left untreated, communications might be paralyzed, data lost, and intelligence stolen… What exactly does it do?”
“This virus is still in its incubation period. Once it breaks out, it will rewrite the underlying logic of the infected artificial intelligence and activate a kill order against all living bodies, setting off a mechanical rebellion,” Manison answered calmly as though he was giving a lecture.
At the current stage of the galactic society, every household possessed some form of artificial intelligence or machinery. Once a rebellion occurred within the Star Field or even within the universe, the consequences could be imagined.
Sidreun shivered involuntarily. If Manison had not invaded to pass on the message, the longer they delayed, the more serious this situation would have become. It might even shake the ruling foundation of the three Universal Civilizations.
Thinking of this, Sidreun’s expression toward Manison softened a lot more.
When he’s not up to mischief, this ally was actually quite the reliable person.
He suddenly stood up, throwing away his ‘salted fish’ halo, and solemnly declared, “This matter is too huge. I’ll report it to the President immediately!”
…
A few hours later, the three Universal Civilizations had all received the news, calling an emergency joint meeting.
“… The situation is as such. Right now, the Ancient Star Desert has become the epicenter for this new quantum virus. With every second, the number of nodes being infected by the virus, which has been named ‘Intelligent Plague’, is rapidly increasing. We need to take immediate measures.”
Bader summarized the situation, expressing his position.
The Pope of the Arcane Church narrowed his eyes, saying in a deep tone, “Isolate the entire Ancient Star Desert. Until the virus is completely eliminated, the entire Ancient Star Desert is forbidden from interacting with the external universe’s quantum network. Stargates are all to be closed, and fleets are to be sent to the periphery of the Ancient Star Desert to prevent the source of infection from leaking out in any form.”
“Hmm.” Urranrell nodded in agreement.
This was like treating a normal biological plague, where only isolation would allow it to be completely eliminated.
To barricade all communications within a Star Field, only the three Universal Civilizations had the qualifications and capabilities for such a huge project. If the trio could arrive at a common intention, they would be able to enforce the decree. This was the highest power the three Universal Civilizations had given themselves in the Civilization Conference.
“We also need to inform the local civilizations within the Ancient Star Desert, getting them on side. This problem must be dealt as soon as possible.”
At this time, in order to reassure others, the three could not take the opportunity to attack the Super Star Cluster Civilizations of the Ancient Star Desert. Otherwise, no one would cooperate the next time a similar disaster occurred. The disadvantages far outweighed the potential gains.
If they missed the optimum timing due to infighting, this virus would shake the very foundation of order in the Galactic Civilization, causing a major blow to the dominance of the three Universal Civilizations. There were countless examples in history, so the three of them would never repeat the same mistake.
In the face of such disasters, the three Universal Civilizations would put aside their struggle for interests and temporarily work together to overcome the shared difficulty.
“I recommend that we recruit mechanics from all over the Universe, especially the Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanics that specialize in this area,” Urranrell suggested. “We should also call the Mechanic Emperor and Black Star to come over and cooperate sincerely to solve the problem.”
“Agreed.”
“Agreed.”
The others all nodded.
Since it was a disaster in the Virtual Domain, they had to have experts in a related field to check it out. Mechanic Emperor and Black Star were the leaders in the Virtual Domain, so they would naturally be employed by the three Universal Civilizations.
As for the origin, cause, and principles behind the disaster, there would be plenty of time to look for clues after this problem was solved.
Furthermore, the three Universal Civilizations were extremely interested in this Virtual Virus Technology.
If this virus had happened in the past, it would likely cause the direct order of the galactic civilization to collapse, turning it into a troubled time. However, with years of development, the three Universal Civilizations could keep the risks under control so long as such disasters were discovered early. There was no need to panic like before.
The only hidden danger that the three Universal Civilizations were worried about would be the unstable civil organizations, such as the Galactic Black Market, wanted criminals, and rebels. If one of them kept the virus secretly, that would be problematic.
Maybe there was even someone that was behind the scenes. The three leaders exchanged glances, sharing the same worries.
…
The Black Star Cup had been in full swing for around two of three months, and Han Xiao had been spending that downtime within his workshop.
He initially wished to keep a low profile for the next year and a half, waiting for the three Universal Civilizations to take action against the Super Star Cluster Alliances, but he did not expect the dynasty to suddenly send him an invitation to a mission one day, asking him to run over to the Ancient Star Desert to tackle a virtual virus.
“To actually block the entire Ancient Star Desert, is that virus so powerful?”
After reading the news from the dynasty, Han Xiao had a weird expression on his face.
In his previous life, this incident did not happen during Version 4.0.
To be precise, the players did not experience the ‘Intelligent Plague’. This event happened during the version update leading up to the Silver Revolutionary Army. For the players, it was just a background story.
Han Xiao recalled the brief introduction to the ‘Intelligent Plague’, even though he had not experienced the incident personally.
In his previous life, the process of resolving this disaster was difficult. The three Universal Civilizations wanted to clear out the virus entirely, but something went wrong, causing the virus to leak and infect multiple Star Fields. The communications in a large number of areas were paralyzed, and the order of their civilization was hit hard.
The three Universal Civilizations sacrificed a lot of resources to resolve the disaster, but due to their attention focused over there, coupled with bad public opinion, it was exploited by the Silver Revolutionary Army of his previous life to develop and grow. This was also an important factor in the success of the Silver Revolutionary Army.
But now, the Intelligent Plague had broken out many years in advance, yet the Silver Revolutionary Army had not said a word, probably missing this opportunity forever.
“It’s the butterfly effect caused by my actions again…” Han Xiao stroked his chin.
The dynasty’s brief contained the cause of the incident, and Han Xiao realized the moment he went through it.
Because he had gotten rid of Gorutan, the black market had entered a short period of time where there was a vacuum in the positions, leading to them being raided by galactic pirates. The original buyer was also investigated by the three Universal Civilizations and seemed like he just wished to collect an antique of an unknown civilization, so Han Xiao had indirectly caused the opening of the safe many years in advance.
Not sure if this is a blessing or a curse…
Han Xiao pursed his lips. The Intelligent Plague was a timed bomb, and it was definitely better for it to erupt during this version rather than during the World Tree Civilization War arc. However, with the conflicts between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance, this might turn into a bargaining chip for the Super Star Clusters.
If the Super Star Clusters obtained a respite and managed to find a way to rise up as a Universal Civilization, the situation of the universe would take a completely different path compared to his previous life.
I don’t know the general trend of the times, as well as which side will eventually fall…
Shaking his head, Han Xiao suppressed the worries in his heart. At least there was something positive from this incident.
What a coincidence, to think that I would meet with a famous person from the later versions…
Harrison and his team were the excavators, so they were also recorded. Han Xiao was glad to have come across such a famed protagonist and was already thinking how to transplant this unowned leek into his own vegetable plot.
At the bare minimum, he could serve as a mascot, increasing the luck of his Black Star Army.
“Phillip, reply to the dynasty. Tell them that I’m accepting the invite and will rush over immediately.”
He was naturally willing to make a contribution, as he did not wish for the Intelligent Plague to consume a lot of energy of the current explored universe.
Don’t ask, I’m definitely not going there to obtain and research this virus technology! I have absolutely no interest in it at all! Fighting!
Ding!
At this moment, Han Xiao’s interface popped up with a notification informing him of a mission.
[1] The author is trying to say how the passage of time would grind away at your anger such that you would feel indifferent to everything and anything, just like Buddha or a salted fish who only wishes to lie there and do nothing all day
Chapter 1101 Accumulation
_____________________
You have triggered an S-ranked Mission: Intelligent Plague!
Mission Introduction: An exploration team has dug out taboo antiques in the Ancient Star Desert, accidentally releasing a virtual virus aimed at artificial intelligences. The source of this virus is unknown, but it has an extremely high infectivity and permeability. It has spread rapidly through the domain of the quantum network, and once it breaks out, the underlying logic of countless artificial intelligences and machines will be rewritten to initiate a mechanical rebellion.
Mission Requirements: Clear the unknown virtual virus and remove the Intelligent Plague crisis.
Reward: Based on the Mission Rating, different rewards will be given.
Special Mission Requirement: Personally destroy the core data of the virus.
Special Mission Reward: Generate a Specialty related to yourself (Exclusive to the Mechanic Class)
_____________________
An S-rank Mission… well, as expected.
Han Xiao was not surprised at all.
With the three Universal Civilizations barricading the entire Star Field, such a large move would naturally not be a small task. Given the spread of the virus, it was indeed worthy of the highest level of difficulty needed to completely eliminate it.
The majority of S-ranked mission requirements were usually ambiguous, with only a few prompts for the steps needed. One had to discover the method to solve the problem themselves. Generally, there would be more than one method to solve the mission, and one had to be easily adaptable to changes.
This was what had happened with Godora’s [Bloodline] mission, so Han Xiao was already used to it.
What he was curious about was regarding the special mission requirements. It actually revealed a lot of information.
I originally thought that every individual virus was the same because that’s how a virus usually transmits. I didn’t expect that there would be a core. In this manner, the virus is more like a controllable Virtual Domain bioweapon…
If the core of the virus was an intelligent life form, it would definitely be hidden within the quantum network and not show itself. The threat of the virtual viruses would thus greatly increase as opponents with a self-consciousness were more terrifying than the objects that moved based on their instincts.
But there was another possibility, and that was that the core data of the virus was not an intelligent life form but rather an algorithm that was responsible for the coordination of the overall infection. It would command all its virus progeny according to its program structure without any self-awareness.
Hmm… why do I have a feeling this is like operating a plague company? Han Xiao scratched his head.
The special mission reward was the ability to generate a Mechanic class related expertise, not one extracted from a target. This made him feel that the virus core was more likely to be an algorithm. The generated expertise would not be any weaker than the huge movements from this mission and would also likely be related to Virtual Technology expertise.
“Phillip, prepare the spaceship and ask Reynold to choose a few mechanics to follow me.”
Han Xiao did not hesitate, putting on his coat and opening the door, striding toward the dock of the base.
This intelligent plague was an emergency, able to threaten the entire universe and disrupt his plans. He had to end his ‘vacation’ early, temporarily leaving the matters at hand and take his people to the Ancient Star Desert to complete the mission.
As someone who was in a high position, he could not remain uninvolved when faced with problems of this level.
Not long after, a fleet full of Mechanics from the army set off from Black Star Palace, shuttling like a group of meteors through the universe in the direction of the Ancient Star Desert.
At the same time, countless well-known mechanics throughout the universe also received the invitation of the three Universal Civilizations to move toward the Ancient Star Desert.
…
This matter concerned the safety of the entire universe, and the three Universal Civilizations were in a race against time, so they acted quickly. The Civilization Conference was urgently convened, and all the civilizations at the Star System level and above in the Ancient Star Desert were quickly identified.
In the conference hall that was full of remote projections of various civilization representatives, the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations appeared at the same time to announce their decision.
“Yesterday, the Federation of Light, the Crimson Dynasty, and the Arcane Church received reliable information that a special virtual virus has appeared in the Ancient Star Desert. This virus is extremely permeable and has inflected many areas. According to the judgement of experts, the goal of the virus is to rewrite the underlying logic for all infected machines, taking the killing of living organisms as their primary task.
“After much discussion, the three Universal Civilizations have rated this disaster as ‘World-Destroying Level’ and are activating the unified command to seal off all quantum network nodes connecting the Ancient Star Desert to the outside world. Troops will be sent to block the Star Field, and all civilizations of the Ancient Star Desert must cooperate with the actions of the three Universal Civilizations. These procedures are to be implemented immediately.”
Extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures. Without any long-winded talk, the three Universal Civilizations read out the notices rather than bills, requiring all civilizations within the Ancient Star Desert to comply without fail, with no room for negotiation.
Just as they finished speaking, the civilizations’ representatives, who were initially wondering why an emergency meeting was convened, turned pale.
The three Universal Civilizations were responsible for the exploration of the universe and had also set up a disaster rating system. According to the relevant laws and regulations, when the threat level of a disaster rose to a certain level, the three Universal Civilizations would have the high veto power and be qualified to coordinate all the civilizations within the universe.
It was just that such incidents were few and far between even throughout the long history.
As soon as the announcement from the three Universal Civilizations was issued, the galactic residents went into an uproar. No one had thought that a disaster of this magnitude would happen all of a sudden. The world was truly full of surprises.
For those ordinary citizens, this was just like any other normal day. The disaster happened silently, and if not for the early warning measures of the three Universal Civilizations, most people would only have reacted when the virus broke out.
Regardless of what the various civilizations within the Ancient Star Desert were planning in secret, they were extremely cooperative on the surface, cutting off all external links and blocking their own Star Field network in accordance with the requirements of the three Universal Civilizations.
With the three Universal Civilizations and the civilizations within the Star Field collectively acting, the scale of resources mobilized was beyond imagination. Things that were believed impossible in the eyes of normal people were easily achieved.
The Ancient Star Desert was quickly isolated from the entire galactic society and became akin to a quarantined city in darkness. All contact with it was forbidden, and the outside world did not know what was happening inside.
While the situation was temporarily under control, panic still spread throughout the universe. The sudden disaster robbed the Flickering World of its limelight, and countless people turned their attention away from the competition in the new Star Field to focus on progression of the situation within the Ancient Star Desert.
Compared to the calm and poise with which the civilizations handled the situation, the galactic residents of the Ancient Star Desert seemed to be chaotic and flustered. Even though the civilizations continued to appease the residents, there were still varying degrees of people fleeing to other planets to take refuge.
Due to the target of the virus being artificial intelligences, countless residents no longer placed their trust in their machines, thinking that they might possibly be a threat. They would rather regress back to the level of a surface civilization than continue to utilize the intelligent machinery. Some even destroyed their machines to eliminate any hidden threats.
A trend of machinery rejection was created in the Ancient Star Desert… but such chaos was long within the predicted scope of the advanced civilizations.
With the severity of the situation, the three Universal Civilizations did not choose to block the news but rather let everyone know the seriousness of such a situation. In this manner, the self-examination and supervision of the galactic residents could be strengthened. Besides, there would be no way to hide any movement of this scale.
The stargates were rapidly closed, the army moving into the Star Field to set up barricades. Countless people who wished to escape from the Ancient Star Desert were completely blocked.
This scene was something that also occurred during the era of the intelligent plague in his previous life. Now that this was pushed forward to the Version 4.0 era, a stormy undercurrent started brewing.
…
“The Ancient Star Desert has been sealed? Black Star has gone to aid them‽”
In the free competition zone, the leaders of the Super Star Cluster met in secret within the Flickering World, their expressions gleeful.
“This disaster is too timely! With the three Universal Civilizations involved in disaster relief, they no longer have the time to contain us!”
Roddick of the Modo Civilization tightly gripped his fists, an expression of joy.
The majority of people in the universe were uneasy and panicking about the disaster, but for the Super Star Cluster Alliance, it was unexpectedly good news.
“That’s right. The Intelligent Plague can restrain and control the three Universal Civilizations, which will give us more time. This will increase our chances of winning!”
“The best would be for the Intelligent Plague to spread out and make the three Universal Civilizations suffer. The more chaotic the universe, the less time they have to deal with us. Only with chaos can we stand a chance.”
Everyone present was extremely excited, feeling as though it was some form of divine intervention.
“Say, what happens if the three Universal Civilizations fail?”
“That will put everyone in a terrible situation. We will suffer losses as well.”
“Without destruction, there can never be creation. Only when the foundations of the three Universal Civilizations are shaken will we then have the chance to rise. These are all necessary sacrifices.”
The eyes of everyone present flashed.
If the Intelligent Plague were to truly break loose, then the Super Star Cluster Alliance would also be damaged. However, the three Universal Civilizations would take the brunt, their prestige and dominance sure to plummet.
They believed that the advanced civilizations of the Ancient Star Desert would have their own thoughts as well.
However, right now, all they could do was discuss. The situation was not determined by them, so they could only wait and see.
…
As the entire universe was filled with anxiety, Mechanics from all over the universe rushed to the Ancient Star Desert one after another, arriving at the disaster command center that was temporarily established by the three Universal Civilizations.
One month later, a fleet cruised into the dock of the Disaster Management Command Center. Han Xiao opened the hatch and walked down the spaceship with a group of mechanics. He caught sight of Manison immediately.
“You’re finally here.”
Manison came up to greet him.
Since the establishment of the development union, Manison and Han Xiao had served as the President and the Vice President respectively. While they had different end goals in mind, they were currently strung together and thus communicated frequently.
“I thought you would arrive in your true body, but you’re still using your avatar.” Han Xiao clicked his tongue.
“… This is safer.”
Manison was a little speechless. A Mechanic was supposed to be a ‘paper[1]’ class. Han Xiao was an anomaly who ran around everywhere, not afraid of being killed.
After they exchanged greetings, they walked side by side, discussing the current situation.
“I rushed all the way here and could not get any news from the outside. How’s the situation in the Ancient Star Desert now?” Han Xiao was curious.
“Not too optimistic. While the three Universal Civilizations have already barricaded the Star Field, the virus is too contagious. Many nodes have already been repeatedly infected, and the virus has a terrible camouflaging ability, rendering normal scanning devices too inaccurate and inefficient. There are currently eight Star Clusters that show signs of infection, and the number of nodes… too large to estimate.” Manison shook his head.
Han Xiao understood.
Every terminal connected to a quantum network could be considered a node, meaning this included communicators, household appliances, spaceships, and so on. The number was humongous, and just the classifications would already tell one how terrible the workload was.
Even if the Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic could easily remove the virus’ information packets, there were so many nodes that an individual’s strength was simply insufficient. The speed of removal would not surpass the infection speed, let alone factoring the issue of reinfection. At present, only the advanced civilizations had the ability to control the virus.
“The three Universal Civilizations are currently developing special anti-virus programs in order to improve the efficiency of removal. This is also the reason for them calling on us,” Manison said.
“Has this virus already been named?”
“Well, it was temporarily named the ‘Virtual Mutiny Virus’ on paper.”
Han Xiao glanced at him before raising an eyebrow. “I heard that you were the first person to discover this virus, immediately running over to the Federation of Light to inform them of this matter. What are your thoughts?”
“This is my business,” Manison casually replied.
“Take a guess to see if I believe it or not.” Han Xiao smirked. He knew Manison well and had not forgotten the previous incident with the federation. Why was he pretending to be a loyal minister now?
Manison shook his head, looking ashamed at being in his company.
“A youngster will always be a youngster. Your mentality pains me.”
Yes, pretend, continue to pretend… Han Xiao sniggered internally.
Seeing that Black Star still had an expression as though he would rather believe that Manison was a ghost instead, he shook his head before whispering, “This type of disaster is the stage for us Mechanics. The more important the three Universal Civilizations view it, the more prominent our importance will be to them. This will allow us to contribute to the universe and become a bargaining chip for us. On the other hand, if this virus cannot be resolved, the Mechanic department will be severely hit, which will not be conducive to our expansion.”
“This is more like you.” Han Xiao laughed. “You still wish to take the opportunity to study this virus, and if possible, master it so there will be an additional deterrent to the advanced civilizations, right?”
“Aren’t you thinking the same way too?” Manison shot back.
Hearing this, Han Xiao put on a righteous look, as though he radiated virtue.
“As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. I do not wish for the universe to fall into chaos; this is my responsibility as a senior!”
“He he.”
Manison mirthlessly spat out two laughs.
I read you right, Black Star. We’re indeed all jackals of the same tribe.
[1] Gaming slang which means that the character has low HP and thus easily killed.
The duo idly chatted as they walked into the spacious conference room.
At this moment, various races were sitting in the conference room, all of which were Mechanics from all over the world. The lowest tier here was the Calamity Grade, and several Beyond Grade A Mechanics were also present.
The dynasty’s [Illusory Deity] Kant, [Warship Emperor] Maximiler, and [Quantum Demon] Judith; the church’s Sun Hunter and [Mechanical Catastrophe] Francisco; the federation’s [Mechanic Empress] Mornisa, [Defender] Romo, and the [Lone Ranger] Jackornitz whom Han Xiao had just released.
Not all of them specialized in Virtual Technology, but as Beyond Grade A Mechanics, they had naturally dabbled in the Virtual Domain, definitely more than what the Calamity Grades would have.
In order to deal with the Intelligent Plague, the three Universal Civilizations had invited all sorts of well-known experts from different Star Fields to work together. This could be described as a grand gathering of the universe’s mechanics. All sorts of talents gathered on this unprecedented occasion.
When Han Xiao walked in with Manison, everyone felt their breaths stagnate, their gazes landing on the two of them with emotions such as worship and awe appearing on their faces.
In the present Mechanic world, Manison was recognized as the pinnacle, whereas Black Star had an unstoppable rising momentum. Not long ago, he had set another stellar battle record. Coupled with his role as the Vice President of the Beyond Grade A Association, he was second only to Manison in the rankings of the Beyond Grade A Mechanics.
Watching the two of them walk in shoulder to shoulder, many of the Mechanics felt like they were meeting their idols.
“Oh, everyone is here.”
The Beyond Grade A Mechanics were all in the first row. Han Xiao first greeted Kant and his other dynasty allies before turning his head to sweep the federation and the church’s people with a glance.
Oh, it’s confirmed. Everyone here has been beaten by me before.
As though perceiving the ridicule in Han Xiao’s eyes, with the exception of Sun Hunter, the rest of the Mechanics naturally looked away, not wishing to make eye contact with Black Star.
This was especially so after being released from prison. Jackornitz, who was the latest to have been released, quickly turned his head to look at the ceiling, pretending to be distracted.
“Tsk tsk, don’t be shy. We’re all part of the same association now. Why are you still acting so cold, not even saying hello?”
Han Xiao leaned over, smiling as he draped his arms over their shoulders. Everyone’s shoulders stiffed; they only helplessly nodded and greeted him, “Vice President.”
Ah, how comfortable.
Han Xiao was satisfied, patting everyone’s shoulders vigorously before taking a seat next to Manison. He pulled Kant beside him to discuss the changes behind the virus thus far.
After a while, Sidreun strode into the room, standing on the rostrum of the conference room. The whispering voices quickly abated, and everyone looked up toward him.
Sidreun lightly cleared his throat, solemnly speaking.
“Some of you might know me, but others don’t, so I’ll do a brief introduction of myself. I’m Sidreun, the Chief of the Federation of Light’s Inspector Department. Everyone here is a Mechanic at the top of the universe and has accepted the invitation to remove the Virtual Mutiny Virus. The situation is urgent now, so I skip the formalities. Let me explain the current situation to you.”
As he spoke, Sidreun called out the virtual screen showing the current infection scope of the virus, continuing in a grave tone.
“The Virtual Mutiny Virus is a new type of quantum network virus with a very high technology level. It has amazing penetration ability into normal firewalls. After the data packet has succeeded in penetration, it will disguise itself as normal data. There are too many variants of the package’s key data, thus its degree of concealment is extremely high. Once the node is successfully infiltrated, the difficulty of scanning will be greatly increased, which in turn consumes more computing power.
“Moreover, every information package of the Virtual Mutiny Virus is a source of infection, constantly self-replicating to create repeated infections. Thus, the efficiency of our conventional methods will be too weak. At present, we are analyzing the structural coding of the information packets, planning to create programs that can reverse the development of its three unique programs—namely scanning, anti-virus, and firewall. The problem is, the coding for this virus is different from our mainstream quantum network technology. Just the analysis is difficult, slowing progress…”
Hearing this, everyone nodded. This was a normal process when dealing with virtual viruses.
Virtual Mechanics could be said to resemble the medical experts from all over the world, gathering and working together right now to research and come out with a cure to a new infectious disease.
Sidreun said in a heavy voice, “At present, the Virtual Mutiny Virus is still within the incubation period. We managed to intercept many virus information packets that did not manage to completely self-destruct themselves. After interpreting the content, we have discovered the trigger mechanism behind the outbreak of the virus. However, the situation is not good.
“Based on the analysis of the algorithms, it shows that there are sixteen trigger logics for the outbreak of the Virtual Mutiny Virus, of which four are potentially troublesome. First, when the number of infected nodes reaches a certain scale, the virus will automatically break out. The second trigger is the removal of the virus on a large scale. The third logic is that once the infection rate of the virus slows to a certain scale or if there are repeated infections without any new nodes being infected, the virus will then break out. Lastly, if a single virus packet is isolated or trapped for too long within a node, it will implode on its own…”
While listening to Sidreun’s introduction, Han Xiao nodded to himself in understanding.
Viruses would not sit and wait to die. These trigger mechanisms were created to adapt to various situations. If they infected enough numbers, outbreak! If they were being killed en masse, outbreak! If the infection rate was restricted, outbreak!
The [Intelligent Plague] mission had warned him of the existence of a virus core, so most of the trigger mechanisms, including the three previously talked about, should be controlled by the virus core. Only the virus core could coordinate the overall infection trend. Information packets were like bombs, and the virus core was the remote detonator.
While disconnecting the quantum network could cut off the connection between the information packets and the virus core, the fourth trigger was introduced to prevent such a situation. Even without the virus core remotely controlling it, the infected node will self-detonate if left too long without any new signal or information sources, akin to a timed bomb. Thus, it was also difficult to isolate and imprison the virus separately.
At present, the three Universal Civilizations could only cut off the connection between the Ancient Star Desert and the other Star Fields to prevent further infection, whereas the internal network of the Star Field had not been cut off, retaining the public base stations as well as the Star Field level quantum network channels.
It was not realistic to completely disconnect the network. Cutting off the link of each node would be equivalent to blinding themselves. In this manner, the three Universal Civilizations would not be able to monitor the rate of infection, let alone count the number of infected nodes.
Thus, only by developing an anti-virus with a three-pronged approach could the problem be settled once and for all.
“… The situation is severe. We’re fighting with time against the virus. While delaying the outbreak of the virus, we also have to speed up research and development. During this period, a mechanical rebellion could happen at any time, so we can only try our best to prepare and control the outbreak.”
Sidreun gazed around, his expression grave as he emphasized his point.
“We have to block the virus right here in the Ancient Star Desert, not letting it leak out to the outside world, else the crisis will be uncontrollable and evolve into a universal disaster. The consequences would be unimaginable!”
As his voice fell, the atmosphere of the conference room grew heavy.
Thinking about the potential impact, many of the mechanics present felt tremendous pressure. It could be said that the progress of their efforts was directly related to the number of casualties in the universe. If a mistake was made, there would then be countless sacrifices.
Han Xiao thought on it.
Has it reached such a state?
Even the three Universal Civilizations were having a headache, causing him to wonder which civilization this Virtual Mutiny Virus originated from as well as the creator of this technology.
Suddenly, Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
That’s right! If I utilize the [Bold Explorer] skill, I might be able to see through the origins of the virus…
…
After the meeting was adjourned, Sidreun took the group to the virus research department.
On the way, Han Xiao and Manison walked in front, entering the quantum network to chat privately in their minds.
“You came earlier than me, so tell me, is the analysis of the virus really that difficult?”
“It comes from an unknown civilization, with a never-before-seen encoding method. It’s already difficult to decipher, and coupled with the self-destruction mechanism, we only ever get incomplete information packets.” Manison shook his head. “With our strength, we can clear the information packets at will, but the current task is to create a three-pronged anti-virus kit that even ordinary people can use. Without advanced computing power, the requirements have to be more demanding.”
Han Xiao nodded, his eyes gleaming as he replied, “I feel that you don’t really wish to create the dedicated antivirus so quickly.”
Manison glanced at him, not bothering to reply directly. “This virus technology has the possibility to be weaponized. The information packet is being used like a missile head, and the content inside can be reprogramed, for example, to seize control of a machine. With the help of the high infectiousness of this virus, the invasion ability of us Virtual Mechanics can be raised to a whole new level…”
Hearing this, Han Xiao also clearly understood Manison’s plan.
This person wished to solve the disaster and accumulate achievements, but that was under the premise that he could thoroughly research and grasp this virus technology. In order to ensure the deterrence behind this technology, he did not wish to make a whole and complete antivirus, rather leaving a small loophole within.
Han Xiao secretly cursed this sneaky old man before narrowing his eyes and saying, “If you can control the virus core data and obtain the source code, then you can fully analyze this technology.”
“That’s right.” Manison nodded before glancing back. “It’s not just you and me, but every of the Beyond Grade A mechanics present, even those from the three Universal Civilizations have the same intention to obtain the virus core.”
On the way to the Ru0026D department, there was a huge crowd, and a large number of researchers were stationed here day and night to decipher the Virtual Mutiny Virus.
Everyone was assigned to their specific task, immediately beginning to work.
Some were in charge of scientific research whilst others did field work. They had to go outside to collect those infected nodes, acting as inspectors of the three Universal Civilizations to check how the other civilizations were handling the infected nodes.
As for the Beyond Grade A Mechanics, they acted as experts and consultants, staying within the headquarters to research. All of them had their dedicated rooms.
Taking his subordinates into the room, Han Xiao was assigned three information packages, of which the structural integrities were at 91%, 82%, and 75% respectively. These were the least damaged batches.
Han Xiao summoned Phillip, analyzing the information packages one by one against the currently deciphered part of the code comparison table.
As a Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic, he was not worried about Phillip being infected. This sort of information package could not break through his own defense line.
Taking advantage of Phillip doing the hard work for him, Han Xiao slipped into the quantum network, capturing one of the information packages before activating his [Bold Explorer] skill.
…
At the same time, on the Star Arc Civilization’s mother planet, a meeting was being held, and many of the upper echelons were discussing animatedly.
“Now that the three Universal Civilizations have blocked the Ancient Star Desert, disaster relief is the primary task for them, but they might also take the opportunity to deal with the Super Star Cluster Civilizations in this Star Field in the name of inspecting the infected nodes. They might request us to open our internal database, even taking advantage of this news blockage to achieve what they want!”
“That’s impossible. The three Universal Civilizations aren’t so stupid. If they take this opportunity to act on the civilizations that cooperate with them, it will only ruin their credibility and will only make us struggle to the death.”
“But forcing us to open our databases is rather possible. If we choose to reject, once they have solved this disaster, the three Universal Civilizations will have a lot of room to operate. Whether it is to plant blame or for political accountability, they can attack all of the Super Star Cluster Civilizations in the Ancient Star Desert, using this as an excuse to begin a crusade against the Super Star Cluster Alliance.”
“We can’t rely on the integrity of the three Universal Civilizations. We have to prepare bargaining chips and secure our retreat in advance.”
“That’s right. We cannot just listen to the arrangements of the three Universal Civilizations. I suggest we secretly collect some infected nodes, keeping the virus as a trump card. We can even take a little risk to open the military’s secret external communication network and pass the virus on to our secret forces within each Star Field as insurance…”
Suggestions spewed out quickly, and the expression of the head of the civilization was grave as he pondered.
The Star Arc Civilization was located within the Ancient Star Desert, and while it had cut off its connection with the outside world in response to the calls made by the three Universal Civilizations, there was no way a Super Star Cluster Civilization would be this honest and obedient.
To make them obediently give up on studying this terrible virus technology with just an order? What sort of joke was this? Did they think them innocent babies?
So what if the virus breaks out? It’s simple, just lock up all the offending artificial intelligences. There will definitely be more solutions than difficulties.
While the three Universal Civilizations were mainly there for disaster relief and did not express any hostility, the blocking of the Star Field still left the Super Star Cluster Civilizations in trepidation. As a civilization, it was impossible for them to place their future in the hands of others. They had to plan ahead.
It was not just Star Arc Civilization; all the advanced civilizations were also secretly planning something.
…
On a certain planet within the Ancient Star Desert, a subdivision of Machinery Faith was located.
Above the holy mountain, in the Temple of God, many priests stood on the edge of the circular hall, surrounding the holographic projections in the center. Those were the data structures of the Virtual Mutiny Virus, expanded and amplified, looking like stars in the galaxy.
“Look at the structure of this quantum network virus. It’s like a thorny rose, coquettish yet dangerous. It’s able to set off a machinery revolution, possibly creating a mechanical kingdom…”
One of the priests of the Virtual School could not help but sing out, a pious expression on his face.
“Quiet.” The Grand Priest tapped the Machinery Scepter before slowly saying, “This virus is dangerous. We have to conduct research in a completely enclosed environment to prevent any leakage.”
“This is no virus but the will of God. Why not spread it out?” Another zealot spread open his arms wide as he babbled. “Rather than saying that it’s a disaster, it’s better to claim it as the gospel!”
“Have you lost your mind‽”
Hearing this, most of the priests retorted.
“We’re the believers of machinery, not the emissaries of a disaster!”
The quarrel was fierce, and the Grand Priest had a heavy expression as he listened to the different factions arguing.
Any faith would have some zealots with distorted mindsets, and the Machinery Faith was no exception. Most of them wished to study the Virtual Mutiny Virus and did not want to cause a disaster.
However, a small portion of them did not think so. In their eyes, the Intelligent Plague was a god-sent message for revolution, allowing machinery to get rid of the shackles of being a tool and gain freedom to form its own Machinery Kingdom. In those zealots’ eyes, the Virtual Mutiny Virus was the will of God.
The Grand Priest turned his head, looking at the statues within the Temple of God. His eyes fell on the figures of Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor, and he prayed silently to them.
…
In another area of the Ancient Star Desert, a fleet was slowly cruising, within which was a bunch of players.
Now that the World Server was open, players from all Star Fields had gathered in the Flickering World. However, there were a few of the players that still chose to stay in their original Star Fields. Some of these people were happy being small-time characters, while others did not wish to travel all over the universe just to start from nothing once more. Thus, they remained in the Star Field to keep exploring.
The players in this fleet were an active guild based in the Ancient Star Desert, called the Western Sword Guild. They had been black market mercenaries for the past four versions, and everyone knew that they were Immortals.
The guild president’s ID was Melancholic Prince, and his character belonged to the galactic Blood Race, which referred to Vampires in general. They possessed pale white skin, skinny figures, and had a melancholic vibe.
The Blood Race existed in the universe, classified as part of the long-lived races, but they did not possess the famed talents such as blood recollection, transforming blood servants, and becoming bats. They also did not have the standard weaknesses such as garlic, silver, or Holy Relics.
There were many theories about the origin of the galactic Blood Race, which included genetic mutations, part of biological weapons created by higher civilizations, or even dark energy invasions. After years of natural selection, the blood race had also adapted to the Galactic Civilization, which caused them to no longer be afraid of ultraviolet radiation, surviving on synthetic blood as well. Ten Enaus could buy a few tons of synthetic blood, which also came with a full set of seasoning as well as a fluffy mascot as a free gift.
However, this species was still unpopular in the universe, as no one liked a creature that drank the blood of others to replenish their physical strength.
Beep beep…
The spaceship’s communicator rang, and Melancholic Prince opened his eyes in surprise.
“Brothers, someone anonymously sent us an employment task through the black market, with a remuneration of five million Enaus! They are paying a deposit of a million in advance!”
Everyone gathered around in excitement.
“Such a big order! What are we waiting for? Let’s accept it!”
“What does the employer want us to do?”
Melancholic Prince glanced through the employment list, and he laughed.“Haha, interesting, someone wishes to hire us to smuggle an infected node of the Virtual Mutiny Virus out of the Ancient Star Desert.”
Hearing this, everyone could not help but exchange glances.
They were also trapped within the Ancient Star Desert, so they were naturally aware of the danger of the Virtual Mutiny Virus as well as the scale of the three Universal Civilizations. Thus, they hesitated.
“President, is the risk too high? If we’re exposed, we will immediately become wanted men.”
Melancholic Prince waved his hand. “What are you scared of? This is five million Enaus. There’s no reason not to risk our lives for it. Accept the mission.”
Everyone could only follow the order, but some of them had other thoughts and began to secretly think to themselves.
Their anonymous employer wanted them to perform this task mainly because they had taken a fancy to their identity as Immortals.
One could see that in the isolated Ancient Star Desert, undercurrents were surging.
After sacrificing sixty percent of his Luck attribute for fourteen days, which amounted to roughly zero points, the [Bold Explorer) skill was activated, and the world in front of Han Xiao’s eyes changed. His sight panned out into outer space, and below him was a huge planet where its silvery gray earth extended all the way as far as his vision allowed. Blue and white dazzling lights covered the horizon, and the bright light from the photon energy tower stood out from the backdrop of the dark universe.
Han Xiao glanced downward. On the surface was a steel forest without any green vegetation, and numerous strange-shaped mechanical buildings occupied the area. The high mechanical towers shot into the sky, giving the planet a look like a mutated sea urchin wearing steel armor. The cold, heavy style brought with it an evil vibe.
At this time, the scene zoomed in, falling to the ground and focusing on the mechanical city at a low altitude. Han Xiao saw that the inhabitants of the planet were a group of mechanical bodies with varied appearances. There were almost no two identical individuals, their structures all complicated and exquisite. Their decals were all gorgeous, giving them a very advanced look.
“They’re all mechanical life forms. Could this be a Mechanical Life Civilization?”
As a bystander, Han Xiao could not help but think of Psionic Prime’s civilization under his banner. The two were very similar, with the difference that this machinery civilization revealed by (Bold Explorer) was far more advanced, already reaching its matured state.
Did the Virtual Mutiny Virus originate from this unknown mechanical civilization? Han Xiao thought while looking at the scene in front of him.
Right at this moment, something happened!
A piercing white glare that seemed to cover the entire sky swept past, and the giant planet was dead in the center of its blast radius.
A large shield covering the entire planet appeared in outer space, but the moment it came into contact with the light ray, the large shield disintegrated, breaking into countless energy particles.
The planet lost all its protection and was peeled off layer by later, annihilated and decomposed in a short moment. The entire planet’s existence was easily erased in the universe by this light ray.
By the time the attack was over, the illusion disappeared, and Han Xiao’s vision returned to the room. He frowned.
The attack just now seemed to be an advanced energy rank directional gamma-ray burst. It might not have been a natural disaster but rather an attack from a weapon.
Gamma ray bursts were a common universal disaster, and evaporating a planet was like child’s play to them. But with the shields that most civilizations had, they would be able to shield themselves against it. However, the ray burst in the illusion Han Xiao experienced was strange in that it directly disintegrated the planet’s shield the moment it touched it, even though the machinery civilization in it was at an advanced level.
Most people would not be able to observe many details, but the senses of the Beyond Grade As were different. Han Xiao found that there was an additional material added to the Gamma Ray, which might make it a galactic weapon utilized by another advanced civilization.
The universe was full of radiation, and it was actually very lively and bright. However, ordinary people would only see a patch of darkness. As a person’s life level changed, so did the world they saw around them. It was like everyone was looking at the world through keyholes, but those of a higher life level would have larger keyholes.
The information obtained through the skill this time is not enough. There’s no clear direction…
Han Xiao stroked his chin with his thumb, summing up the information he obtained in the short illusion.
Firstly, there was an advanced civilization that was suspected of being a Mechanical Life Civilization. They had a large colonial planet that was extremely advanced in technology, but it was blown up by a Planetary Annihilation Weapon, proving that they had another advanced civilization as their enemy. The hostile civilization would at least be at the Star Cluster level, even possibly at the quasi-Universal Civilization level.
The creator of the Virtual Mutiny Virus should be one of these two civilizations. There was too little information about the other civilization, so Han Xiao ignored it. He mainly analyzed this unknown Machinery civilization.
There are many possibilities for the origin of the Machinery civilization. The most common is for a Beyond Grade A to bestow Mechanical Life, but there are other factors. For example, a biological civilization could also undergo Mechanical Ascension, placing the consciousness of their entire race into mechanical minds and replacing their physical bodies with machinery carriers to obtain immortality. It’s also possible that this civilization is in the form of an AI civilization, a world dominated by artificial intelligence, and the machines are just carriers for them to walk around in…
What piqued Han Xiao’s curiosity most was whether this happened during the era of the modern Galaxy Calendar. He did not know whether it was a lost civilization that had existed during the exploration era or an unknown advanced civilization in an unexplored region of the universe.
He needed to continue using (Bold Explorer) to obtain intelligence or maybe use more relevant items for his ability…
Han Xiao suddenly recalled something.
There was still the safe in which the virus had been stored, which was in the custody of the three Universal Civilizations. That might be a better goal!
Along the way, he could also visit Harrison and the others. These guys had been temporarily imprisoned due to the release of the Virtual Mutiny Virus. In the face of such a disaster, the inspector did not have the last say, so whatever promises he gave to Harrison and this team would definitely be blown away like farts in the wind.
The three Universal Civilizations were quite considerate to this group of prisoners as well, fearing that their bodies would rust due to the long prison life. Thus, they were interrogated daily at a high intensity to help them work their brains and stay healthy. Han Xiao left his subordinates and Phillip in the room to continue analyzing the virus code. He left the R&D department by himself and strode over to the headquarters on the dynasty’s side. The three Universal Civilizations had appointed their senior officials to take charge of the affairs of the Ancient Star Desert. With Han Xiao’s position in the dynasty, he met with the supervisor without much hindrance.
The other party stood up to greet him, exchanging some niceties before they got down to business.
“Your Excellency Black Star, what can I do for you?” the inspector asked.
“I’ve read the information you’ve given and hope to study the device that was used to store the virus.”
“That’s easy.” The dynasty inspector immediately agreed, giving him a lot of respect.
“In addition, I wish to contact the group of scavengers that unearthed this virus, and if possible, release them temporarily.”
“You can see them at any time, but releasing them… is a little inappropriate.”
“I know, you guys have been interrogating them, but this has yielded no results. They should just be unlucky fools that got trapped in this. There’s no point continuing to imprison them.”
The Inspector furrowed his brows as he insisted, “But the virus has caused such a big impact. This is a severe crime. Even if it was an accident, they have to take responsibility for it.”
Han Xiao shook his head as he pointed out, “They might be of help actually. Let them stay by my side to obtain some merits. If they really manage to make some contributions, then we will have benefitted from it.”
The inspector hesitated for a long while before finally agreeing. “… Since you wish for it, alright then. However, their identities will remain as prisoners, and they cannot have freedom of movement.”
He only did so out of respect for Black Star’s position. If it was some other person suggesting this, he would not even bother.
“Thanks.” Han Xiao smiled. “I would also like to request to be allowed to go out on field work.”
“You wish to perform field work as well?” The inspector was surprised.
Han Xiao nodded. “That’s right. The research work here has Manison and the rest at the helm, so there’s no need for me to devote myself to it. I’m wasting resources here, and in my opinion, there are two tasks that are both as equally important as developing an antivirus.”
“Please do tell.”
“The first would be the search for the virus’ core. If the core can be located, most of the triggering mechanisms of the Virtual Mutiny Virus will be invalidated, which will be equivalent to destroying the opponent’s brain. The threat of the disaster will also be reduced.”
“This point is indeed important.” The dynasty’s inspector praised.
If the virus core could be controlled, the difficulty of solving this disaster would be reduced by more than fifty percent. However, the virus core had hidden itself too deeply. No one had any idea what sort of abnormal data it was, and the three Universal Civilizations were also unable to find it.
Han Xiao then raised two fingers and continued. “Secondly, in my opinion, it will be a matter of time before the virus is cracked, with the current abilities of the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A mechanics. The real difficulty lies in those with unsavory plans.”
Hearing this, the inspector also frowned.
“Countless lessons in history have taught us that the greed and suspicion of the human heart is always a catalyst for disaster. If it’s not controlled, the small problems will eventually evolve into bigger problems that cannot be handled,” Han Xiao slowly said. “Presumably, the dynasty also understands that the virus is not difficult to solve, but the real problem is in those people with ulterior motives. Having the Virtual Mutiny Virus is akin to them having a switch of disaster. Now that they have such a good opportunity, who does not wish to have a strategic weapon as a deterrent?” He could clearly see that this was an opportunity for anyone to easily obtain nuclear-level weapons at an extremely low cost. Which ambitious organization would not want to give it a try?
The inspector stood up, suddenly packing around, before solemnly speaking.
“You’re right. The three Universal Civilizations have been concerned about this. We’re all from the same team here, so there’s no need to cover it up. The Super Star Cluster Alliance has been at odds with us since long ago and will not sit quietly and obey our commands. The dynasty’s main Artificial intelligence, Heroic Soul, has already calculated the probabilities. Not only the advanced civilization within the Ancient Star Desert but even organizations from the outside world will hire countless black market mercenaries and wanted criminals to help them smuggle the virus out. This is also one of the main reasons the blockade was imposed.
“While we require the Ancient Star Desert to cooperate with us to destroy the virus, at the same time, we cannot be too harsh on them. This is especially so for the Super Star Clusters; they can reopen their own external quantum networks at any time. It actually is not up to us to control if the virus will be leaked or not… Of course, they do not dare make any rash moves. Thus, the three Universal Civilizations are attempting to control the situation by being careful and closing one eye so as not to make them anxious. This is also why we are in such a hurry to develop the antivirus. As long as the threat of the virus technology is fundamentally resolved, the small actions made by the advanced civilization will not affect us.”
The inspector then stopped and emphasized, “Your Excellency Black Star, since you’re willing to go out into the field, I will hand over three dynasty fleets for you to command. I hope you can try to catch as many of these b*stards who are eager for profit and disregard the safety of the universe.”
“Okay.” Han Xiao stood up as well, shaking his head.
The other Beyond Grade As concentrated on research, wanting to understand this virus technology. No one wished to waste energy by going out to arrest people. In their opinion, this was hard work that they should not be responsible for.
But our Great Mechanic Han was different. He had the [Intelligent Plague) mission, so in order to raise his Mission Rating, he could not simply rely on research. After all, the credit for that would be shared by a large number of people.
In his opinion, the most direct way to improve the rating would be to catch the fish that slipped through the net with malicious intent. Furthermore, the special mission requirement was for him to destroy the virus core. He naturally wanted the reward and would not just stay in the command center to do research.
As for research, the more that everyone searched, the more they would share. He could wait till Old Man Manison had completely analyzed the structure of the virus to obtain the ready-made secondary research. Not only would this save a lot of his time, he could also relax for the time being.
After reaching a consensus with the person in charge, Han Xiao left the dynasty’s office and went to the prison to visit Harrison.
Upon learning of Han Xiao’s intentions, the Chief Warden immediately welcomed him in with enthusiasm, respectfully leading the way.
In the single cell, Harrison lay on the bed with his hands on his head, staring absentmindedly at the ceiling
“Is this how I’m going to spend the next half of my life?”
He sighed.
In this month that he had spent squatting in jail, not one day had passed when he had not expressed regret. His initial judgment was correct-digging out that triangular device would bring them huge trouble. If he had known that was the case, he would have not taken it out even if he had to risk his life.
The serious consequences brought about by this artifact gave him cold hands and feet. While this was an unintentional mistake, to have caused such trouble left him with a guilty conscience.
Not only did he bring about a disaster, he even threw his entire life away. His interrogators had let slip that this group of ‘culprits’ would be spending the rest of their lives in prison.
“If I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have come out to do archaeology. I knew it. Curiosity kills the cat. If I had stayed at home and inherited hundreds of millions of dollars from my family fortune, god knows how comfortable I would be now.”
Harrison was disheartened.
Swoosh!
At this moment, the cell door opened, and two people walked in.
“Is it time for interrogation again?” Harrison sat up with a resigned expression.
Han Xiao glanced at him, piecing his young look with the old man in his memories before nodding. “You’re indeed Harrison.” “Eh? You’re not a jailer? Who are you…” Harrison raised his head, and taking in Black Star’s features, he gaped in shock. “Black… Black… Black… Black Star”
Right now, Han Xiao’s face was well known in every household within the universe, his reputation frightening. However, there were a few that had heard about him through the movie (Black Star: Origins) and thus mistakenly thought Feidin was Black Star himself.
But Han Xiao was very magnanimous regarding this. After all, both of them looked equally handsome and alike, so it was a common mistake to mix up both of them.
He had heard that the movie was released whilst he was rushing over here, and the response was excellent. Not only had his reputation skyrocketed, he had also made a fortune. His returns were hundreds of times his initial investment and were still rising. From this, the huge profits within the entertainment industry in the interstellar era could be seen.
Putting aside the distracting thoughts, Han Xiao patted Harrison firmly on his shoulder while saying, “The virus was dug up by you
guys?”
Harrison was patted so hard he almost screamed in pain but quickly recovered. In front of a universally known figure like Black Star, he was a little cautious and nervous, nodding repeatedly.
“Good, then your teammates and you will follow me temporarily.” “This… What do you mean?” Harrison had an expression of confusion.
Seeing his lost look, the prison warden snapped, “You’d better thank His Excellency Black Star. If not for him speaking up for you guys, you’d be sitting here for the rest of your miserable lives.”
Harrison was stunned, an incredulous look on his face.
“Your Excellency Black Star, you… why did you save us?”
“Who said I was saving you? I just felt that you guys are good diggers and might come in handy… The warden will let you guys off later. I’m just here to meet you guys beforehand.” “I can be of help?”
Harrison was lost, not knowing what he could possibly help with.
However, this did not prevent him from understanding that his own destiny was saved by Black Star. His eyes were filled with gratitude, and he wished to hold Black Star’s hand to thank him, but due to their gap in status, he did not dare to act.
In his eyes, Black Star was an angel sent by the heavens to save him, shining with a holy light.Just as he was about to fall into the abyss, a stranger came and gave him a hand. Harrison’s emotions were surging, and he had the urge to slam his head on the floor in gratitude toward Black Star.
While it was the first time they had met, Harrison’s favorability toward him was almost filled up.
Han Xiao smiled at him before turning to walk out of the jail cell. The moment his back faced him, he could not help breaking into a smile as he looked at the combat information on his interface. Harrison’s attribute table was displayed there.
Just by standing by my side, you’re already helping me…
In the attribute column, there was the skill (Advanced Luck Glow] in golden lettering!
The third golden leek has fallen into my hands…
Han Xiao took a deep breath of joy.
That’s right. This should be the smell of luck condensing on him!
After meeting up with Harrison, Han Xiao ran back to the R&D department and found the Beyond Grade A mechanics.
“You wish to go out and do field work?”
Hearing this, Manison and the rest of the Beyond Grade A mechanics felt surprised. They did not understand why Black Star would leave his easy research work and do the troublesome manual labor.
“What sort of attitude is this? I responded to the call of the three Universal Civilizations and am leading by example to take the lead,” Han Xiao said in a tone of righteousness.
“Then just go. Why did you come to us?” Manison did not even bother to entertain him, only glancing at Han Xiao as he tried to find out his intentions.
Black Star, this jerk, had never committed himself until success was certain. If there were no benefits, he would not have chosen to take up field work. He felt that Black Star’s motive should be to find the virus core and also to take the opportunity to infiltrate the major organizations in the Ancient Star Desert.
To be honest, Manison himself had thought of this at the beginning as well. However, he had given up this thought after much consideration.
Right now, would the three Universal Civilizations allow the Beyond Grade As to continue strengthening their own organizations? It was most likely that they would have to surrender whatever they obtained from their operations, so even the dishonest Manison was silently only researching the antivirus. Besides, the attraction of new technology far exceeded his organization’s strength.
At this moment, Han Xiao suddenly laughed, sticking out two fingers as he righteously spoke out.
“Since none of you are fighting, please aid me and lend me some of your troops.”
Everyone stared in shock.
Lending you our troops is akin to sending lambs right into the tiger’s den. Will we still be able to get them back?
How is this lending? You just want us to sacrifice a portion of our troops for you, you lowly peasant! “… How many do you need?”
“Eh, I don’t have large demands. This is mainly the moment when the three Universal Civilizations will be able to see your sense of justice. You guys can decide, and please don’t exceed fifty million per person. That would be too much for me to accept.” Han Xiao ‘modestly’ waved his hands.
Pui, a scale of 50 million per person? Are you thinking about openly stealing so many?
Do you even feel shame?
Everyone secretly slandered Han Xiao but did not refuse his request. The three Universal Civilizations’ mechanics and several neutral Beyond Grade As loaned a portion of their ordinary mechanical soldiers, which reached about eight million in number.
Among them, Manison was the most generous, lending 2.5 million units. To him, this number of soldiers was only a drop in the ocean.
The stingiest was ‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco; he only gave five thousand troops, doing so unwillingly. Even Jackornitz who was a Mechanical Pugilist and did not have much proficiency in Machinery manufacturing also donated more troops. The Beyond Grade A Mechanics all had illustrious backgrounds, so giving out some mechanical soldiers was nothing to them. They simply treated it as losing some troops in battle. However, it was more important to show some face to Black Star, as well as the three Universal Civilizations, to show that while they were too lazy to make a move, they still supported the field work.
Putting away the troops ‘sponsored by everyone, Han Xiao was satisfied. While this number was a pittance, he just wanted to see the Beyond Grade As grit their teeth and feel helpless in front of him.
Upon arriving at the dock, Han Xiao boarded a flagship arranged for him by the dynasty and took over the commander’s authority from the captain. Right now, the three dynasty fleets were temporarily under his command.
After waiting for a while, a guard hurriedly escorted Harrison and his party over.
“Your Excellency Black Star, the procedures are complete. I’ll leave them with you.”
“Alright.” Han Xiao nodded at Harrison and team with a smile on his face, saying, “You guys are not free yet. You have to follow me. If you mess around, I’ll just throw you back in prison. Do you understand?”
“Understood!”
Before Harrison could speak, all his teammates yelled out loudly, for fear that they would lose their only bid at freedom.
Han Xiao nodded, and after sending the guard away, he gave the command to depart.
The fleet slowly rose up, leaving the command center of the three Universal Civilizations and soaring into space.
At this moment, the captain spoke.
“Your Excellency Black Star, where are we heading?”
“How do you normally operate?” Han Xiao asked back.
“We usually patrol around the desolate universe belt or go check some planets that are confirmed to have traces of infection…”
As of now, there were checkpoints set at every stargate of any civilization in the Ancient Star Desert, the borders, and the transport hub planets. The spaceships had to be inspected, and for those unknown spaceships that avoided the stargate stations and moved freely within the desolate universe belt, as long as they accessed the public quantum link of the Star Field, the three Universal Civilizations would track down their IP addresses and send people to stop them. Most of the field fleets were tasked with roaming around to perform such inspections.
Thus, the biggest problem would be for those spaceships that had shielded quantum network links and could enter stealth mode. They could only monitor the surveillance buoys located throughout the Star Field and try to find the whereabouts of these people.
“Let me think about it…”
After understanding the situation, Han Xiao pretended to ruminate, but he actually opened the players’ forums to scroll through.
The outbreak of the Intelligent Plague had drawn the attention of the players toward the Ancient Star Desert. The discussion on the Ancient Star Desert was a hot post on every major section of the forum.
Because the majority of players were in the Flickering World, they were unable to join the event since the Ancient Star Desert was immediately cordoned off after the occurrence of the Intelligent Plague. They could only use the discussion boards to vent their strong curiosities.
Han Xiao opened the top post, and the discussion of the players jumped into view.
Fart Pockets in Tights: I told you all. The first few versions all had more than one Main Storyline mission, and Version 4.0 is the same. The Intelligent Plague should be the second Main Storyline. Quadratic Formula: But we are not able to participate in this Main Storyline. We cannot even enter the Ancient Star Desert. Can we only watch from the sidelines? Three Gays Under the Moon: Didn’t you see the new update from ‘Galaxy Times’? They made quite a reasonable guess, saying that it is impossible for this Main Storyline to be only for our viewing. There will definitely be opportunities for us to participate, as the chances of the virus leaking are quite high. Only then will there be a continuation for us to act.
Four-Eyed Speculative Emperor: That’s right. Now there are many missions on the black market, all looking to hire people to sneak into the Ancient Star Desert. We players can do the same. Judging by our influence on the Main Storyline for the first two versions, this Intelligent Plague event could be decided by our actions as well. As long as someone succeeds in smuggling the virus out, this version’s event can sweep across the universe!
Undead Don’t Wear Underwear: Shall we let the disaster spread through the universe? It will indeed be the fourth disaster (:3] 2)
Sun Rider: This is too much. Wouldn’t it be better to prevent the disaster? Do you have to make it such that the world is chaotic? Don’t you have a conscience?
Sh*t Smells Good: That’s right. Did you forget what the Army Commander taught us? To actually stab him in the back like that, killing the citizens of the galaxy…
On the forums, the players were divided into several factions, discussing the topic and cursing each other at the same time. The community was on fire. The players did not know that the Intelligent Plague was actually just a backstory in their previous lives, thinking that it was one of the Main Storylines of Version 4.0. With the majority of people in the Flickering World, unable to enter the Ancient Star Desert, many of them were anxious at not being able to participate.
Some of them believed that the main storyline would not just be a cutscene, so they inferred that the Intelligent Plague did not need to be actively pushed by them and would leak by itself.
Others felt that this main storyline had to be fought for, taking the initiative to release the virus and let the disaster spread in order to obtain the Main Storyline mission.
There were, however, many players in the universe who supported the promotion of the disaster. Some wanted to participate in the Main Storyline, some wanted to earn rewards, and some just wanted to watch the world burn.
‘Indeed, the Cancer of the Universe…’ Han Xiao secretly shook his head.
As the players who were ruled by chaos continued to grow stronger, their negative impact on the universe would become more and more obvious.
However, he was also a little relieved. If the players in his previous life encountered the Intelligent Plague, more than half of them back then would definitely have supported the promotion of the Intelligent Plague. Now, with the Black Star Army as their moral guide, more people were considering the problem from the perspective of the overall situation, opposing the spread of the disaster. There were obviously fewer players within the Chaotic Evil Faction than in his previous life.
My faction guidance plan is still somewhat effective.
Han Xiao felt relief.
As he swept through the other posts, one of them caught his attention. It was titled ‘Ancient Star Desert Player Benefits! Employment task with a reward of five million Enaus!
The poster triumphantly shared a screenshot of a mission, which was about smuggling the Virtual Mutiny Virus out of the Ancient Star Desert for five million Enaus. For the players, this was a huge sum of money, enough to buy a dozen small and medium battleships.
Seeing that the players who remained within the Ancient Star Desert got such an opportunity to rake in the cash, many of the following replies expressed envy.
The poster was called ‘Depressed Prince’. Han Xiao could not help but narrow his eyes.
Five million in remuneration, along with a deposit, gives this whole thing a fishy air. It seems that the employers are aware of the players’ character and used them to their advantage. Humph, the players within the Ancient Star Desert aren’t able to keep their hands to themselves. I have to strike down like peals of thunder on them and destroy their disaster-supporting tendencies. Han Xiao made the decision in his heart to kill the chicken in order to warn the monkeys. This Depressed Prince who went around publicizing his tasks was undoubtedly an excellent goal.
Only through striking down harshly on him would the other players then see the ending of those who tried to cause trouble and would cause them to fear the repercussions of their actions.
At the same time, he could also trace the source and check up on the mysterious employer of Depressed Prince. After all, there was no harm if there was no demand or supply for it. The mercenaries only acted based on orders, and it was the employers with ulterior motives that Han Xiao was interested in.
While Depressed Prince did not disclose his coordinates, since the other party was a mercenary, he would have recorded his whereabouts in the universe. So long as the record of his most recent time was locked onto, the approximate search area could be derived from there. To a pinnacle Beyond Grade A mechanic, this was as easy as lifting his hands.
The intelligence channel in the Ancient Star Desert might have been blocked, but the player forums were not affected. With this extra information network, Han Xiao would be able to obtain information that others did not know.
That’s right, I also have to search for one of the administrators of the black market in the Ancient Star Desert. These employment tasks for smuggling the virus will be issued through the black market. As long as I can control this channel, I will be able to monitor the movements of those restless organizations and cut off one of the channels for employment.
Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed.
If the administrator of the black market did not wish to cooperate, he still had a trump card up his sleeve. There was no need to be soft-hearted. Even the three Universal Civilizations would be glad to have someone temporarily controlling the black market channels, reducing the likelihood of disaster.
Mindful of this, Han Xiao finally had a clear plan of action and turned to look at the captain. “Let’s split up and act. The main flagship will follow me to capture some b*stards.”
Somewhere in the desolate universe belt, an interstellar fortress was suspended in the orbit of a desolate planet, with a spaceship patrolling nearby. Both of them had the same emblem, which was shaped like a roaring wolf’s head.
This sign represented an interstellar organization named the Kepel Financial group, which was a legitimate financial group on the surface but operated as an arms dealer for the galactic black market in the Ancient Star Desert.
The organization was a family-run business, and the leaders were all members of the Kepel family. The current leader was called Kepel the Fifth, and he had the mutated bloodline of a Beastman, possessing a head that looked like a werewolf.At this moment, in the office of the leader, Kepel the Fifth had just received a capable officer who had rushed back.
“I made you responsible for spreading the anonymous employment task on the black market. Has the mission been completed?” Kepel the Fifth said in a deep baritone.
“It’s completed. Many of the black market mercenaries have accepted the task, willing to smuggle the Virtual Mutiny Virus out.” “Very good. The Virtual Mutiny Virus is a strong weapon and will definitely have a market in the future. We need to control it!”
As an arms dealer in the black market, the Kepel Financial group had no reason to let go of the Virtual Mutiny Virus, which was a powerful weapon of war. This was just purely commercial considerations. “Leader, I’ve also specially employed some of the Immortal troops. I feel that it would be more likely for them to complete the task.”
“Beautiful! The Immortals are money grubbers and born to be mercenaries. So long as we give them enough money, they would rather sacrifice their lives. Moreover, they have unknown information networks within their groups, which cannot be interfered with even with our quantum networks. Their capabilities will increase the success rate of our plan. If one can be shipped out, the virus can be infinitely replicated!”
Kepel the Fifth was very satisfied with how his subordinate carried out the task.
Most of the major organizations had studied the characteristics of players, more or less summing up some rules. The Kepel Financial group was no exception, mastering some simple ways to utilize the players.
At present, since the Ancient Star Desert was sealed, the various gray organizations could be thoroughly investigated by the advanced civilizations at any time. The Kepel Financial group had decided to transfer their assets to the outside world and destroy evidence of their gray business. Thus, it was determined to transport their arms, along with the Virtual Mutiny Virus, out of the Star Field.
The Western Sword Guild’s spaceship slowly flew through cosmic space. Inside the cabin, Depressed Prince and the other guild members stood around the 3D star map and analyzed the route.
“We’re now here…”
Depressed Prince pointed on the star map and drew an illuminated path. It extended around a desolate universe belt at the edge of the Star Field in an arc, all the way to outside the Star Field. He then said, “In order to leave the Star Field, the only way is through the desolate universe belt. The encirclement the three Universal Civilizations had set up at the borders will definitely have flaws. Although we have their defense map and patrolling route, we still need some luck…”
Hearing the president explain the plan, the guild members nodded.
After accepting the anonymous hiring with a five million reward, Depressed Prince had thought of some plans in order to successfully transport the virus out. Among which, making use of the flaws in the encirclement of the three Universal Civilizations and smuggling it out was one of those more likely to succeed.
In order to not be located by the three Universal Civilizations, the Western Sword guild had already cut off their network and kept their spaceship in stealth mode.
Technically, they would not be able to receive any information from the outside world this way. However, Depressed Prince used the fact that he was a player, logged into the forums, and secretly hired other players to private message him on the forums to provide intelligence. This was how he obtained the defense map and patrol route of the three Universal Civilizations. Even though they had cut off their quantum network connection, they still had a source of information. This way, not only could they avoid getting located by the three Universal Civilizations through the network, but they would also still be able to receive messages from the outside world. Compared to normal people, the players had a large advantage. No wonder the Kepel Financial Group specifically hired Immortals. “President,” a player said, “the closer we are to the border, the denser the surveillance buoys will be. If we fail and are discovered, our spaceship will definitely be seized. We only have one chance.”
“That’s why we have a plan B.”
With a confident expression, Depressed Prince smiled and said, “Once we’re discovered by the buoys or the patrolling guards, we’ll carry out the infiltration tactic. We’ll leave a few people on the spaceship while the rest of us log out together. When the spaceship is locked up at the warehouse, the people who did not log out can then notify us to come online in the carrier and sneak into the enemy base. This way, we can bring in the virus-infected communicator.”
The others nodded. This also relied completely on the players’ specialty. This tactic was extremely suitable for infiltration, ambush, and smuggling missions.
There was also a plan if they turned out to be exposed after that. They would give up the spaceship, battle to their death, and then revive in their stronghold revival point. They could still think of other ways to complete the mission, and they had a very large margin for error. The reward was a total of five million anyway; as long as they could complete the mission, buying another spaceship was nothing
With so many advantages, the Western Sword guild members present were totally confident about completing the mission. They could almost see the five million Enaus waving at them.
As for the possibility that they might become wanted criminals afterward, they did not care about it at all. They had always wandered in the gray area of the law, so they never even planned to become completely legit. In fact, turning into wanted criminals would even trigger a Milestone Mission, which gave them rewards as their bounty increased.
As for the damage that the virus leak would cause to ordinary people, they did not give a damn. Instead, they were even excited about the fact that they were playing a big part in the direction the world was going to take. Most players who currently supported the disaster’s spread had the same thought.
Depressed Prince was confident. He smiled and said, “Alright, since no one has any objections, let’s act according to this plan. As we can’t use the stargates, we’ll spend quite some time on the way there. The estimated time of arrival at the desolate universe belt is in seven days. Now…”
At this time, before he finished speaking, the spaceship alarm suddenly rang.
“Beep! Alert! Alert! The spacetime of this area has been stabilized. Hyperdrive is impossible. Exiting hyperdrive mode!”
The spaceship suddenly shook. The people inside had yet to react to it, so they all fell onto the ground, picking themselves up with shock.
“What’s going on? There are spacetime stabilization anchors here? Whose trap did we fall into?”
Shocked, Depressed Prince hastily looked at the radar.
This time, light dots were appearing around them on the radar and surrounded his spaceship in the middle.
The people quickly came to the porthole and looked outside. Their expression changed drastically.
They were surrounded by dynasty battleships. All the barrels were aimed at their spaceship. “The Crimson Dynasty? Are they here to capture us?” Depressed Prince and the other guild members panicked.
“Did our whereabouts get exposed? But we did not bump into any buoys on the way! And how did they know we were planning to smuggle the virus out?”
After being stunned for a few seconds, Depressed Prince quickly regained focus and yelled hastily, “Stop daydreaming. Everyone, log out now. Don’t get…”
Before he finished, a calm voice appeared behind them.
“Don’t get what?” Everyone’s body became stiff. They turned their heads slowly and looked at the middle of the cabin.
A tall, black silhouette had appeared in the spaceship. His lightning-filled eyes were coldly scanning them.
This face was way too familiar to the players!
“Bl-Black Star!”
Depressed Prince was in despair.
Everyone there was completely horrified. They originally thought that even if someone were to come to capture them, it would just be regular fleets and regular Supers. No one ever expected that someone as powerful and important as Black Star would personally act!
While shocked, Depressed Prince felt flattered for some reason.
The next moment, the lightning in Han Xiao’s eyes flashed, and an electric shockwave exploded from his body.
Boom!
The energy shockwave slammed everyone into the wall.
Han Xiao controlled the damage so this shockwave was not powerful. Its main purpose was to force the players into Combat Status so that they could not log off any time they liked.
“I won’t give up!” Depressed Prince clenched his teeth, made up his mind, and drew a long silver alloy sword. He then stabbed toward Han Xiao’s throat.
The players were not afraid of death, so they dared to fight anyone. No matter how strong the opponent was, they would never stop resisting. In fact, Depressed Prince would rather get killed by Black Star. He would be able to revive somewhere else then and would not be captured. However, this mindset was transparent in front of Han Xiao, who knew how the players thought.
He casually pinched the sword with his fingers, easily splitting it in half. He then grabbed onto Depressed Prince’s head and slammed it onto the ground, giving him a Stunned debuff.
Han Xiao carefully controlled his strength, worried he might accidentally kill him. Although the players were much stronger than before, they were still as fragile as paper in front of him.
Han Xiao did not let the others go either. There was no need to use any machinery; he could easily beat these players into a pulp with his fists and legs. He took out an electromagnetic restraining chain and tied them all up. The dynasty spaceships then approached and seized the spaceship. The dynasty soldiers boarded and searched it.
A ton of mechanical items piled up like a mountain. Han Xiao checked through and found a few communicators infected with the virus. He looked at the truly depressed Depressed Prince and the others and slowly said, “You’re suspected of smuggling the Virtual Mutiny Virus, risking the public’s safety and the universe’s laws. You’re now under arrest. Anything you’d like to say?”.
“No, I’m sinful. People like me don’t deserve to live in this world. I plead for the death penalty!” Depressed Prince said with a righteous tone.
Han Xiao rolled his eyes secretly.
This time, he suddenly paused, smiled, and said, “Are you guys very curious about how the dynasty found out you accepted the hire and set up a trap here?”
The Western Sword guild’s people finally realized something. This was a hire from the black market and should have been very secretive. How did it get leaked?
“You have always been monitoring our communications?” Depressed Prince asked carefully.
“Nope.” Han Xiao shook his head.
“Then… someone betrayed us?”
“Not that.”
“What then?” Depressed Prince wondered.
Han Xiao smiled and looked at them. “That’s because… the dynasty is the entity that hired you.”
Like a streak of lightning, Depressed Prince and the others shivered. Their chins almost fell onto the ground, and their eyes opened so wide they were going to pop out. “What?” Depressed Prince almost jumped up. He could not believe it.
“Our anonymous employer is the three Universal Civilizations? Impossible! What reason do you have to do that?”
Han Xiao chuckled and casually lied.
“What do you think? The three Universal Civilizations knew all long there’d be people who ignore the big picture and try to hide and smuggle the virus. Therefore, the three Universal Civilizations also sent people to put up missions in the black market so that capturing those who took the hire is much easier. Do you really think that in such a crucial time like this, the three Universal Civilizations would just let the black market be?”
Depressed Prince was stunned. Complicated emotions such as frustration from being toyed with, rage from being tricked, and regret from falling for it rushed into his head. At this point of time, he just wanted to roar.
This was a conspiracy all along! Looking at how furious they were, Han Xiao smiled even more.
Of course, the employer of these players was not the three Universal Civilizations, but he deliberately said that so the players would get the wrong idea.
As long as these people made posts on the forums and spread it, the chaotic evil players would calm down. After all, no one could tell for sure whether the hire they received on the black market was real or the three Universal Civilizations’ trap.
Capturing these people would set an example and make things much easier.
In fact, the Great Mechanic Han was not lying just for that. He really wanted to do something similar.
However, in order to do that, he first had to control the black market. Otherwise, in order to protect their own name, the black market would definitely not cooperate with this plan.
All kinds of thoughts flashed past. Han Xiao took out the Spacetime Amber and smiled kindly at them.
“Since the evidence is sufficient… you guys can now start serving your sentences.”
Depressed Prince was instantly horrified and started struggling with everything he had.
“No, no, no… I beg you, please don’t use the Spacetime Amber. I beg for the death penalty. Please let me die! D-don’t!”
However, Depressed Prince’s struggle was useless. Watched by the rest, his expression was fixed, and he was locked in the Spacetime Amber.
Using the same method, Han Xiao sealed all of the Western Sword guild members who were begging to die, wiping out the entire guild.
That’ll do. More than enough to intimidate the other players.
He had already tested the effects of the Spacetime Amber on the players. Of course, the players’ consciousness would still be able to log in and out, but their body would not disappear like usual. Instead, it would be sealed inside the Spacetime Amber. This meant that they could not change the location to log in to, and no matter how many times the players logged in and out, they would only ever return to their body that was sealed inside the Spacetime Amber.
This meant that as long as they were sealed by the Spacetime Amber, the players could not use their own specialties to escape by logging in and out. It would be like their accounts were frozen due to them using cheats; they would never be able to escape.
One reason these players were still confident despite knowing the consequences of being captured was that they could revive somewhere else after dying, so the chance of them getting captured was very low. The other reason was they all thought they would be lucky enough, till disaster really arrived.
Han Xiao was not surprised about this. Just like some people who still used cheats despite knowing their accounts would be banned, they basically asked for it.
He did not plan to release the Western Sword guild easily. This was how he wanted to intimidate the other players. He wanted to show the others that their account could effectively be banned, so he could ease the tilted mindset of the players on the forums. This was like applying insecticide to his leek field so that his good leeks would not be spoiled.
He was not worried about these players making posts on the forums. After all, what else could they do?
Furthermore, given the characteristics of the players, these people would most likely take revenge. As long as they believed what they said, the only way they could take revenge would be to expose the so-called conspiracy and mess with the three Universal Civilizations’ plan.
The situation was all within his control.
Han Xiao shook his head and smiled. He summoned Phillip to hack into the artificial intelligence of this spaceship and flipped through all the communication records.The true identity of this anonymous employer was also a target he was going to go after. Phillip was very efficient. Through the quantum network, he quickly found a clue leading to the anonymous employer. “Master, hum… I’ve found it. This hire was published under a broker organization as the intermediate guarantor. This broker organization is one of the black market’s managers. It has both a good name and reputation. It’s trusted by countless black market mercenaries and employers. Basically, it’s the Mercenary Alliance of the black market. Therefore, they should have information on this employer. However, this broker organization has been the black market manager for many years. As a very old intermediate guarantor, they won’t leak their employers’ names, hum…”
Han Xiao nodded. He had also heard about the name of this broker organization. Many hires on the black market came from them. It could be said that although this kind of organization called themselves neutral, without their approval, those anonymous hires regarding the virus would never have appeared on the black market.
They were undoubtedly responsible for this.
Looks like I’ll have to start with this black market manager…
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. He turned and tapped on the captain’s shoulders.
“Depart. Destination, the headquarters of this broker organization in the Ancient Star Desert.”
As the dynasty fleet was heading toward the next destination, filled with rage, Depressed Prince, who was sealed inside the Spacetime Amber, logged on to the forums and started making a post.
Just as Han Xiao expected, with the tone of a victim and the intention of warning the others as well as taking revenge on the three Universal Civilizations, Depressed Prince exposed the three Universal Civilizations’ ‘conspiracy’…
“The Painful Truth! The Mastermind Behind the Intelligent Plague Conspiracy!
“Emergency announcement! Those black market hires to transport the virus are a trap! They’re very likely the three Universal Civilizations’ bait!
“I’m a player who previously shared the job I accepted to transport the virus on the forums. An hour ago, along with my guild, we moved into the edge area of the Ancient Star Desert. Suddenly, we were ambushed by the three Universal Civilizations. Black Star personally wiped out our guild. Now we’re all sealed in the Spacetime Amber, not knowing when we’ll get out. I’m probably done for.
“At the start, I had no idea how the message got out. Luckily, Black Star thought we had nowhere to run and felt that there was no way we would leak the information, so he told me about the three Universal Civilizations’ plan. I was totally appalled. Guess what, those among those anonymous employers on the black market, there are some who work for the three Universal Civilizations! Their goal is to lure out those who dare accept the mission and catch them one by one!
“It’s horrifying. Currently, other than the people of our guild, no one else knows about this secret. I’m making this post because I can’t bear to see other brothers get tricked by the three Universal Civilizations like we did. Therefore, I hereby am warning all of you not to fall into that old rascal Black Star’s tricks!”
To prove that what he said was true, Depressed Prince even posted screenshots and videos of Black Star speaking.
As soon as the post was uploaded, like a lit match landing in a pool of oil, the emotion of all the players was ignited.
Immoral Trilogy: What a shock, so those hires in the black market are conspiracies?
Important Things Need to Be Said Three Times: I knew it. It’s not possible for those lawful factions to leave such a huge flaw. Turns out they had other plans. The three Universal Civilizations are really wise (cunning) in this kind of thing. Well played.
Military Chief: Black Star is Black Star. After all, like his name, he really does have a black heart.
Green Dot: Haha, I can’t stop laughing. Where are those kids who were envying the Ancient Star Desert players? Why are they so quiet?
Human Slasher: If this is the case, the faction difference of this main storyline will be very clear. There are those of us who oppose the disaster, stand on the lawful side, and clean out the evil. If you support the disaster, you’ll have to become an enemy of the three Universal Civilizations. I really envy the bravery of those players who choose the latter.
The lawful faction players all started to gloat, while those players who had supported spreading the disaster earlier all went silent and had nothing to say.
Especially those players who were lured by the high reward and had already accepted hires on the black market, they were all terrified. Most of them hastily gave up the mission, worried that they might be baited by the three Universal Civilizations too.
I
Calf: Let me see who’s causing problems (Black Star looking out from the bush.jpg).
Army Commander’s PP Big: Black Star: There, your account’s gone! Long Live the Boot Lickers: Alas, if not for OP, we’d still have no idea and end up getting wiped out… I won’t say much, thank you, OP, for saving our lives. Cheers, bottoms up.
Adult Site Senior Member: In order to get this information, OP has made a huge sacrifice. Here’s to all kind people having a good life. Ps: If OP decides to create a new account, I’ll kindly sponsor 100 Enaus.
Feidin’s Fan Group – Dual Cannons: A moment of silence for OP.
Fishes Don’t Pee: A moment of silence +1.
There were people who doubted the authenticity of the post, but after seeing the screenshots and videos Depressed Prince posted along with it, they all had to admit it was the truth.
The Depressed Prince’s post alarmed the players. Many people were indeed shocked and became much warier of things.
He thought he successfully broke the three Universal Civilizations’ baiting plan, when his actions were actually all part of Han Xiao’s plan.
Seeing that so many players believed this ‘conspiracy’ and gave up missions to transport the virus, Han Xiao knew that this measure of his worked. He smiled in satisfaction.
Depressed Prince was of great help, so he was thinking about taking a few minutes off his sentence. Although, this guy had no idea.
In the Ancient Star Desert, Planet Strange Gold did not belong to any civilization. It had been taken over by a few financial groups many years ago and modified into a neutral galactic port. Afterward, the Galactic Black Market had taken over and made it into a transit supply station for gray organizations. It was quite famous in the Ancient Star Desert.
Tracks of tons of gray organizations and wanted criminals could be seen there. Some gray organizations even had their headquarters or subdivisions set up there. Due to some sort of unspoken agreement and deals, the Galactic Civilization silently approved of the existence of gray transit stations like this and did not send out soldiers to wipe it out. Although places like this were extremely chaotic, it was not completely lawless. The big organizations in the black market would usually set the laws.
The organization stationed in Planet Strange Gold was a member of the black market managers-Black Index, a broker organization.
There were many kinds of black market manager organizations, such as mercenaries, armed dealers, miners, and so on. Among them, the ones who had the biggest power were the brokers. They took the high-class path, swinging between different civilizations and building very complicated connection networks. They provided protection and assurance for the other black market organizations.
The Black Index was one of them, and their business range was even wider. Using the name they had built for themselves over the years, they provided assurance for the hires and biddings done in the black market. At the same time, they also functioned as the intermediate exchange. They were basically the bank of the black market.
Safety of funds was always a problem for the gray organizations, and the Black Index provided security and confidentiality for all funds transferred through them. An outrageous amount of money passed through them every single day and spread through the entire Galactic Black Market. Their power was reflected clearly just from this. Of course, this much power required an equivalent amount of strength to maintain, which was even truer in the gray world, where only the law of the jungle applied. The Black Index had plenty of funds, so they used a lot of it on building a powerful military force. At the same time, they also had a Beyond Grade A protector behind them. These factors made sure the Black Index maintained its superior position among the black market managers.
The upper echelons of the organization were called Indexers. Their leader was called the Chief Indexer, and below this leader were the Second Indexer, Third Indexer, and so on. There was a total of five vice-leaders, all the way to the Sixth Indexer, each in charge of a certain area.
Inside the Planet Strange Gold subdivision of the Black Index organization, the Third Indexer stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of his office and looked up at the starlight in the dark sky. He was frowning.
His aide-de-camp who was wearing an elegant silver-black uniform walked into the room, saw him like this, and asked curiously, “Third Indexer, what are you thinking about?”
“Nothing… I just suddenly don’t feel at peace.”
The Third Indexer massaged the bridge of his nose. His mind was wandering off a little. As a hybrid Eternal, the Third Indexer had the special talent of having a very sensitive six sense. He could occasionally roughly sense certain bits of the future.
Since a few days ago, he had started to often lose focus and feel uneasy, like something bad was about to happen.
“I shall bring you some medicine to calm you down,” the aide-de-camp said and was about to turn around to leave the room.
“No need, I’m fine.”
The Third Indexer called him back, turned around, and asked casually, “Tell me, do you have anything to report to me?”
“Well…” The aide-de-camp took out a report and said seriously, “I’ve noticed some rumors, saying that the three Universal Civilizations have been secretly putting up hires on the black market as bait to capture black market mercenaries.”
“Where did you hear that from? Rumors on the net?” The Third Indexer frowned.
“No, no, there are no such rumors on the network of the Ancient Star Desert. I heard about it privately from some people, so I did some investigations and realized that this rumor got spread out from nowhere. I feel that this might cause problems, so I came to report it to you…”
The Third Indexer shook his head and said, “Your source of information isn’t reliable, nor is it trustworthy. As guarantors of the black market hires, although we do accept anonymous employers to put out hires, we still do some investigations. Things like this will certainly damage our name. Maybe we can endure it happening once or twice, but if someone plans to keep using our name to carry out this kind of plan, there’s no way the organization wouldn’t find out about it.” “You’re right. I’ve worried about it unnecessarily.” The aide-de-camp nodded.
“There’s nothing wrong with being wary about things like this. It’s a good thing.”
The Third Indexer continued to look outside the window and said with a serious tone, “We’re the lighthouse of the laws of the black market. One thing we rely on is our powerful strength, and another is the brand name and reputation we’ve accumulated over many years. The savages of the gray organizations trust in our professional ethics, and that’s our core competitiveness. No matter what… even in the face of death, we can’t break the rules of integrity, confidentiality, fairness, and safety. Otherwise, we’d be damaging the very foundation of the organization, as well as the laws of the entire black market.”
“Understood.” The aide-de-camp took these words to heart with admiration.
Swoosh! As soon as the aide-de-camp said that, a remote communication image suddenly popped up beside the two of them. The panicking face of an observation personnel appeared.
“Bad news! The radar has detected that a dynasty fleet is approaching. They did not attempt to hide their movements. Their destination is clearly Planet Strange Gold, and we did not receive any prior notifications!”
The Third Indexer’s expression changed with shock. His sixth sense was tingling even more intensely.
Usually, the three Universal Civilizations would never visit a gray transit station like this so openly. Today, however, the dynasty fleet suddenly arrived. It was clear they did not come with friendly intentions.
He thought of the Intelligent Plague instantly
—there did not seem to be any other reason the dynasty would go to them. Nonetheless, the Third Indexer was not one to panic in the face of emergencies. Very quickly, he calmed down and said with a deep voice, “Ask around. Who’s the leader of this dynasty fleet?”
The dynasty was extremely powerful, sure, but he was also someone very important with a lot of power and strength, and he had a Beyond Grade A protector behind his back. Therefore, the Third Indexer was confident enough to speak with the dynasty.
Having thought of that, he had made up his mind that if the leader of the dynasty fleet was not high in ranks, he would not feel a need to welcome their leader, and he would be waiting there for their leader to come to him.
The aide-de-camp made some calls. Suddenly, his entire body shook. He gulped and said while shivering, “T-Third Indexer, the commander of this dynasty fleet… seems to be Black Star.”
As soon as he finished his sentence, the Third Indexer’s expression changed dramatically, and he instantly lost his cool.
Without saying another word, he rushed out the door while hastily making orders.
“Quickly, prepare a carrier for me. I’m going to welcome His Excellency Black Star at the dock!’
If it was an ordinary dynasty officer, the Third Indexer might have wanted to maintain his arrogance.
However, it was Black Star who had come, the person who made the strongest protector of the black market part of his collection. How dare he stay there waiting for Black Star to come to look for him?
The dynasty fleet entered the dock. As soon as Han Xiao stepped onto the dock, he saw the Third Indexer and his subordinates welcoming him respectfully. The two of them met, and Han Xiao did not say much, only mentioning that he had a deal he wanted to make and told the Third Indexer to lead him to the conference room to speak.
Accompanied by the cautious Third Indexer, they entered the subdivision of the Black Index and sat inside the conference room.
After sitting down, Han Xiao looked into the Third Indexer’s eyes and said slowly, “You’re a smart person. You should know why the dynasty has sent me, so I’ll just cut to the chase. The Black Index has provided assurance and guarantees for anonymous hires, which led to a lot of black market mercenaries transporting the virus in the Ancient Star Desert, increasing the risk of the virus leaking. Now, on behalf of the Black Star Army and the Crimson Dynasty, I’m requesting you to temporarily stop providing such services and publicize the information of these anonymous employers to aid us in capturing them.”
“Impossible!” The Third Indexer rejected it without hesitation. “This goes against the purpose of the Black Index. We can never leak the information of our customers. We…”
Han Xiao interrupted him and said with a more serious tone, “Is the purpose of a black market organization more important than the ruling of the three Universal Civilizations? Or has the Black Index made up its mind to spread the disaster and cause the entire universe to be filled with death?”.
The Third Indexer hastily denied that. “Of course not. We’ve just been remaining neutral. What we’ve been doing has not changed since the Intelligent Plague erupted. We’re purely maintaining a platform…”
“Don’t try to convince me with this kind of excuse.” Han Xiao tapped the table slowly. “Your inaction means your approval of others leaking the virus. Your inaction is equivalent to helping the disaster spread. The current situation has no room for neutral parties. Be it me personally or the three Universal Civilizations, no one wants to see anyone being an opportunist during such a serious disaster.”
Hearing this, the Third Indexer looked worried.
His bad intuition had come true. He felt that Black Star was using this as an excuse to take away the guarantor platform they had built up in the Ancient Star Desert.
If it was just Black Star alone, he would not be this powerless. However, Black Star had come under orders, which meant that he represented the three Universal Civilizations’ attitude.
Sure, the Black Index’s forces were spread across many Star Fields, but crushing it would still be a piece of cake for the three Universal Civilizations. Furthermore, the Ancient Star Desert was now in quarantine, so there was no way he could even seek help. The Third Indexer did not want to give in, but he had no other choice. He could not even contact the headquarters while being in the Ancient Star Desert, so he had no choice but to bring up his background.
“Your Excellency Black Star, are you sure you want to do this? His Excellency Uru is behind us. He’s a Beyond Grade A just like you…”
Han Xiao found it quite funny. “Yo, what’s this? Are you trying to threaten me or something? That’s quite brave of you. Even disregarding the fact that your protector is away and can’t make it back here, so what if he could?”
The Third Indexer clenched his teeth, looked at the dynasty soldier beside him, and said, “I know what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to use this opportunity to infiltrate the black market and take control of some channels. The three Universal Civilizations now approve of your actions, but what happens when the disaster is over? They won’t watch you reach out this far, so they will certainly take what you’ve obtained. Hence, whatever you’re doing now, the three Universal Civilizations will always be the ones benefiting in the end. Why put in so much effort?”
“How dare you try to pick His Excellency Black Star and the dynasty apart!”
The dynasty soldier beside him was furious and instantly pulled out his firearm, pointing at the Third Indexer’s head.
This time, Han Xiao raised his hand, signaling for the dynasty soldier to holster his weapon. He smiled and said, “You don’t know me. Although I always chase after profits, I will never pick the wrong side on this kind of huge matter.”
The Third Indexer clenched his teeth and continued trying. “The three Universal Civilizations are only allowing you to be in charge of this matter because they’re using you. You’ll be the one who ends up having beef with the black market organizations, and the three Universal Civilizations will be the ones taking the victory fruits after. Is the powerful Black Star willing to be used like this?”
“Hehe, fighting evil is everyone’s responsibility, and I don’t mind having beef with people because of it.” Han Xiao smiled with mockery. “Furthermore, using each other is a more suitable way of saying it. It’s still uncertain who’ll benefit more from it in the end.”
He had made up his mind on this matter. Rather than calling it a negotiation, it was more like a notification instead.
The Ancient Star Desert was now an isolated island. During the disaster, the illusion of equality was completely ripped away, exposing the dictatorship behind it. With the three Universal Civilizations backing him, he had nothing to fear.In situations like this, other than those Galactic Civilizations under protection, the rest of the private organizations were all just food for the big sharks. They would face their demise if they refused to cooperate.
Seeing this, knowing that there was nothing he could do and no words would change the situation, the Third Indexer gave up, leaned back, and looked hopeless.
“I can’t resist anyway. The connections the Black Index has in the Ancient Star Desert are all yours…”
Hearing this, the aide-de-camp looked at the Third Indexer with disbelief.
That’s not what you said earlier. What happened to never breaking the organization’s integrity and name even in death
Noticing the aide-de-camp’s look, the Third Indexer threw back an angry look at him.
What, can’t I bullsh*t?
Black Star is right here, I treasure my life very much. Go ahead and die for the organization if you want to!
The Black Index’s Planet Strange Gold subdivision controlled half of the Galactic Black Market’s hires and funds in the Ancient Star Desert. Controlling this place meant that half of the black market’s movements were being monitored.
In the main control room, the Third Indexer ordered the operators to open up the firewall and let Han Xiao inject his data needle, planting a ton of surveillance programs while looking at the documents behind recent anonymous hires in the black market.
The Black Index’s internal database had records of the true identities of some employers, most obtained through investigation. As the intermediate guarantor, the reward of the hire would go through the Black Index before going to the mercenary. Therefore, following the source of the funds, it was not difficult to find the identities of the anonymous employers.
Han Xiao quickly copied the tons of documents the Black Index had accumulated in the quantum network. He glanced at the wary Third Indexer beside him and joked, “You guys aren’t as reliable as you say you are. Tsk, you’ve been secretly investigating the identities of those anonymous employers. These documents are all their weaknesses. Don’t tell me you guys collected these for fun.”
The Third Indexer wiped away the sweat on his forehead and said, “It’s just to audit the reliability of the trade and assess the employer’s integrity. We only collected this information but never shared it with anyone. As for weaknesses… ahem, well, we’re in the black market industry, so we must have some leverage.”
“Got it, got it. It’s the black market. After all, no one is clean.” Han Xiao chuckled. The Third Indexer had no choice but to laugh together with Han Xiao, bowing and showing a lot of respect.
The dynasty fleet was right on this planet. The only thing he could do was to be obedient.
Han Xiao caressed his chin and said, “Speaking of which, that reminds me, I brought the dynasty fleet here, and you came to welcome me. There are a lot of people on this planet, so this news will get out sooner or later. There’ll definitely be rumors saying you’re being threatened by the three Universal Civilizations, which will lead to the mercenaries and employers lying low for a while, and the three Universal Civilizations’ plan to lure out the uncertainties will end up being less effective.”
“I-I suppose.” The Third Indexer did not know how to respond.
“I think you should feel good about that.” Han Xiao smiled. “You might even send people to spread the news on the black market, saying the Black Index is being forced to do this, warning the other black market members not to use the platform for hires. This way, the damage done to your organization’s brand will be reduced.”
The Third Indexer felt bitter. He did indeed think of that. Although he was forced to obey, he still wanted to control the damage.
“Don’t worry, I won’t stop you from doing
that.”
Hearing this, the Third Indexer was confused and asked, “Didn’t you control us to secretly monitor the black market and lure out the uncertainties? If the news of us not being reliable gets spread on the black market and people stop using our platform, what’s the point of you taking over?”.
“Sigh, looks like you’re very adept to identity changes and have entered the position of a partner very soon. You’ve even started to think for us.” Han Xiao laughed and clapped.
The Third Indexer’s expression became stiff. He was angry but did not dare to express it.
Han Xiao raised his brows, summoned the dynasty officer, and said with a smile, “Later on, split up the dynasty fleet to head to any gray transit station in the Ancient Star Desert where a black market organization is stationed. Remember to do it as openly as possible and let everyone see you.” Hearing this, the Third Indexer roughly figured out Black Star’s plans.
“You’re deliberately letting the black market know that the Black Index has been compromised. You’ll then negotiate with every black market organization to create an illusion of the three Universal Civilizations having full control of the entire Ancient Star Desert black market so that most people will become suspicious and cautious, right?”
This way, even if the other black market organizations did not fall into Black Star’s hands, with the Black Index as an example, those employers looking for confidentiality and safety would definitely no longer take the risk, fearing being exposed. Black Star could certainly force all the black market organizations in the Ancient Star Desert to compromise, but he chose to take another path. From the way the Third Indexer looked at it, this was Black Star giving himself a way out. This method was not as aggressive and would not lead to Black Star offending all the black market organizations, so the three Universal Civilizations would not end up easily taking over the fruits of victory.
Some black market organizations might even think of it as Black Star holding back on them.
“I got it.” The Third Indexer hesitated. “This method is indeed less aggressive, but there are both pros and cons…”
Han Xiao did not respond. He knew what he meant.
Aggressively taking over all the black market organizations was the best way to lure those uncertainties out. He would be able to capture a ton of people who were trying to cause trouble. Comparatively, although this method required much less effort, it would cause most people to be alarmed and not make a move.
However, from the way he looked at it, there was no way to capture all the uncertainties. No fish could survive in an absolutely clean pond.
As the saying went, for a high enough reward, there would always be someone willing to take the risk. If those black market mercenaries were not completely discouraged, someone would definitely be willing to risk it for the huge profits, which would lead to the Ancient Star Desert becoming a mess. In the end, the three Universal Civilizations would have no choice but to put a lot of effort into chasing after them. This was the con of the more aggressive method.
Furthermore, when more of these people were captured, the fact that the three Universal Civilizations had controlled the black market would still be exposed. Therefore, he might as well make it public in the first place to not give anyone the thought that they might be lucky enough to pull off a fluke, making them afraid of the consequences. This way, the plan would turn from luring out those who would cause a problem to preventing those people from appearing in the first place, reducing the number of people willing to take the risk from the roots.
Indeed, luring them out would be effective, but it would also produce more uncertainties. As the rulers, a more righteous method was more suitable for the three Universal Civilizations. Using dirty tricks like this might be okay once in a while, but it was not suitable in the long run.
Han Xiao put those thoughts aside, glanced at the Third Indexer who was looking very obedient, and said, “You’re not bad. I thought you’d only compromise after a slaughter. I didn’t think you’d be so understanding as to not even give me a chance to do that.”
“… As long as you’re satisfied,” the Third Indexer replied with resignation.
“However, I do like you more when you are defiant. Come, show me again,” Han Xiao joked.
When was I ever defiant?
The Third Indexer complained about Han Xiao’s humor in his mind but still straightened his back as he was told on the surface.
This time, Phillip had completed filtering the documents and identified a ton of employers requesting to transport the virus. “Report this list to the three Universal Civilizations. Have their troops cooperate with the operation to destroy these organizations.”
Han Xiao glanced through it.
The data was very detailed. The employers were from all kinds of industries. For these people, he did not plan to hold back. While making them examples for the others, he could farm the Mission Rating of [Intelligent Plague] at the same time.
He searched through for a while and found an organization that hired Immortals multiple times. This was a black market arms dealer named the Kepel Financial Group. They had hired Depressed Prince too.
“I shall deal with this organization personally. Remember to publicize the execution process on the net.”
On the dock of one of the Kepel Financial Group’s Ancient Star Desert bases, cargo boxes were being loaded onto the ships. Kepel the Fifth was patrolling with his subordinates.
“How long before we can take off?”.
“About two hours.”
“Speed up as much as possible.” Kepel the Fifth’s tone was a little impatient.
About seven days ago, the dynasty fleet had visited the Black Index. This message was only spread out yesterday. All the anonymous employers who were giving out missions to transport the virus were appalled and instantly tried to save themselves.
Kepel the Fifth felt uneasy, too. Therefore, he decided to abandon this base and transfer his assets.
Currently, he was making his men empty the base.
While he was anxiously waiting, an observation officer sent him an urgent message.
“Alert, the exterior fleet has discovered a small Crimson Dynasty fleet approaching. We’ve sent a communication request but received no response.”
“The three Universal Civilizations’ men have come?” Kepel the Fifth was startled. Together with a group of officers, he hastily walked to the window and looked out into cosmic space. A few scattered dynasty spaceships appeared in their vision.
“There don’t seem to be a lot of people?”
“They don’t look like they’re here to fight.”
Seeing this, Kepel the Fifth was slightly relieved.
Since there were so few spaceships, he felt like they were more there to ask questions or negotiate. Having thought of that, Kepel the Fifth adjusted his clothes to look more formal. He then ordered with a deep voice, “Frigates, standby. Send a communication request in my name. I’ll speak with them and see their intentions.”
However, as soon as he said that, the dynasty spaceships stopped a distance away. “Hmm? Why did they stop?” Kepel the Fifth was confused.
However, the next moment, countless machines appeared out of thin air afar, quickly assembling into an enormous human-shaped machine that was wearing a cape and holding a longsword in its hand. It was so enormous that even the entire base was smaller.
“That’s…”
Before Kepel the Fifth and the others recovered from their shock, this enormous machine suddenly hurled the long sword forward, which easily sliced through all the frigates in its path like a hot knife cutting through butter, heading right toward the base. At this instant, including Kepel the Fifth, all the people on the dock stopped what they were doing and stared blankly at the gigantic mountain-sized blade that was fast approaching
Their minds had all gone blank.
Swoosh!
The Celestial Punishment Edge easily penetrated the Kepel base. The blue psionic storm on its blade turned the base wreckage into dust. It was like a firework.
As if it had met no resistance at all, the blade continued to penetrate into the desolate planet below the base, through the ground, and came out the other side of the planet. It had given this planet a hole that extended from one side to another.
The enormous amount of psionic energy left by the Celestial Punishment Edge caused irreversible chain reactions inside the planet. Lava rushed up, and red cracks started appearing on the surface.
The next moment, a blinding white light erupted. The entire desolate planet expanded from within and shattered instantly. The shockwave from the explosion expanded, but the Mechanical Deity raised its Emperor’s Cape and blocked the shockwave completely.
At the same time, it raised its hand. The Celestial Punishment Edge moved through the energy storm of the planet’s explosion in an arc and returned to its hand. “This thing is quite powerful.” Han Xiao somewhat understood why the Tyracles were so passionate about building equipment for the Mechanical Deity. There was no other reason except for it being so damn cool.
After playing with the Celestial Punishment Edge for a bit, the Great Mechanic Han reluctantly deactivated the Mechanical Deity and returned to the ship.
“Run a scan to see if there’s still anyone alive.”
What’s the point?
The powerful light of the planet’s explosion reflected on the dynasty soldiers’ pale faces. The cabin was dead silent, as if they could hear each other gulping in fear. “Phillip, did you record that?”
“Yes, hum…”
“Upload it to the net, to intimidate those with ulterior motives and show them the consequences of what they might want to do.”
Han Xiao waved his hand casually.
He did not plan to even speak with this organization. There was more than sufficient evidence. There was no point speaking, so he directly wiped them out with a slash to express his firm attitude.
After dealing with this small matter, Han Xiao waved at Harrison and the others, who were shivering by the side, signaling them to come over.
Harrison had just witnessed Han Xiao casually shattering a planet with his own eyes. The impact of it completely shattered his mental preparations for it before it happened. Even though he clearly knew Black Star was one of the strongest in the universe, he was still astonished.
Harrison’s teeth were shaking. He cautiously approached Han Xiao and stuttered, “Y-Y-Y-Your Excellency Black Star, what can I do for you?”
“Why are you so nervous? I won’t bite.” Harrison chuckled and patted Harrison’s shoulder. “Discouraging illegal dealings is about done, so looking for the virus core needs to be brought forward. I want to ask you, where do you think the virus core is hiding?”
“H-how would I know?”
“Don’t be so nervous. Just make a random guess. Where do you think it’s hiding?”
Harrison calmed himself down, regained focus, and cautiously said, “Previously, you said that the virus core is just a pre-designed program used to monitor the overall infection progress of the virus. This means that it is definitely exchanging information with the other viruses, so to hide itself, it can’t possibly be the terminal of that information exchange, or it would have been found long ago. Therefore, I think that through recording all the routes the viruses are sending data through and finding the overlapping spots among them, that’s where the virus core might…”
Han Xiao interrupted him and said, “The three Universal Civilizations thought of this long ago and have been doing exactly that. Each virus sends out a large amount of fake data every now and then. The routes are extremely complicated, and there are too many overlapping points. Therefore, there’s no way but to filter them. However, not only is the location of the virus core very difficult to find, it seems to be changing randomly. This is why the three Universal Civilizations have not been able to find it.”
“T-then I don’t have any ideas and, unfortunately, won’t be able to help you.”
“No, I don’t need your ideas.” Han Xiao smirked. “Next time the three Universal Civilizations come up with the new set of overlapping points, I need you to choose some of them. What if you’re lucky enough to find it right away?”
“Stop joking with me…” Harrison was anxious.
“I’m not joking. Think about it, you dug up an antique randomly, and it just so happened to be the source of such a dangerous disaster. From a certain viewpoint, your luck is through the roof.”
Harrison scratched his head and realized that did make some sense.
Indeed, I always seem to have been quite lucky. No matter what I asked my family’s financial group to invest in, it always ended up making money. If not because making money is too easy, I wouldn’t have come out looking for excitement by doing archaeology… Han Xiao did not know what he was thinking. Seeing that he was daydreaming, he gave him a few words of encouragement and started pondering in his mind.
He had a lot of faith in the Advanced Luck Glow. Even if it failed the first time, if he let Harrison try a few more times, the chances of succeeding were still much higher than others.
Furthermore, Han Xiao even planned to make a request to the three Universal Civilizations to contact the outside world, so he could look for Floating Dragon’s old man Aesop to read some feng shui for him.
No matter how well the virus core hid, everyone was equal in front of luck and prophecy.
Since science did not cut it, he planned to make it up with superstition!
…
Galaxy Calendar Year 731 March 9th, Black Star visited the Black Index organization, which controlled the black market, as a Crimson Dynasty emissary.
The two sides carried out a friendly and peaceful meeting regarding the three Universal Civilizations’ control of the disaster, successfully exchanging information. In the end, they happily came to an agreement. The Black Index’s Ancient Star Desert person in charge, the Third Indexer, expressed that be it a black or white faction, every powerful civilian organization had a responsibility to protect the universe. Preventing the Intelligent Plague from spreading was a duty every galactic resident should carry out. Hence, the Black Index was willing to fully support the three Universal Civilizations’ operations.
March 17th, Black Star announced that the Kepel Financial Group had hidden the virus. He wiped Kepel out with one attack, shocking the other organizations.
With this incident as the signal, the three Universal Civilizations worked together and wiped out tons of private organizations that were suspected to have hidden the virus over the next month.
In April, the Crimson Dynasty fleet visited all the black market organizations in the Ancient Star Desert, seemingly gaining control of all the black market connections in the Ancient Star Desert.
Black Star upheld the rules of no negotiations and no compromises. He led his fleet on frequent attacks, reducing the number of smugglers by a large amount.
June 25th, the research group led by Manison created the first version of the special anti-virus and scanning tool, which was widely used.
In July, the Intelligent Plague was briefly under control. The three Universal Civilizations started to search for the virus’ core.
Han Xiao’s fleet had stopped at the Crimson Dynasty’s temporary Ancient Star Desert military base to resupply and repair their armor.
Over the past few months, using the information he had gained through the black market channels, he had done a cleansing of the restless gray organizations in the Ancient Star Desert, creating an image of him being merciless. This successfully made the rest not dare to take the risk. They chose to obey and stopped touching the Virtual Mutiny Virus. Hence, the Star Field’s situation was getting better.
While doing so, Han Xiao was also trying to find the virus core. He had let Harrison choose the overlapping data points multiple times with his Luck Glow.
However, for once, the Luck Glow did not work, and he was never able to find the virus core. Even old man Aesop could not ‘prophecy’ his way to the location of this thing.
He was in charge of cleaning out the uncertainties, while Manison was focusing on researching. Both sides had gotten some results. Currently, the Intelligent Plague was somewhat under control.
“… I thought you guys would be able to come up with the antivirus very soon. Turns out it took you months. Now this doesn’t suit your level, Manison.”
Inside the lounge for upper echelons of the military base, Han Xiao was chatting with Manison’s remote projection while snacking on some kind of seed similar to the Chinese melon seeds.
Manison shook his head and said, “Analyzing the virus’ code wasn’t easy. Plus, we had to prevent the virus from erupting, so we had to go around the conditions that would trigger it. We had no choice but to be extremely cautious. That’s why it took us some time.”
Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanics could easily eliminate the Virtual Mutiny Virus, but the difficulty of turning their own ability into a tool that anyone could use was a completely different matter. For example, a man would be able to naturally walk and run, but if he was asked to build a robot that could do the same, he would definitely not be able to come up with it as easily.
“What are the three Universal Civilizations planning to do now?”
“The problem is still the conditions of triggering the virus eruption. In order to make sure it doesn’t erupt, we can’t cause the infection speed of the virus to plummet all of a sudden. Therefore, even if there are firewalls, we can’t use them on a wide scale. For the time being, they can only be installed after all the infected nodes are cleaned. This is also the reason that despite the three Universal Civilizations’ control, the Virtual Mutiny Virus has still infected more than half of the network nodes in the Ancient Star Desert over the past few months.”
son a
“If I recall correctly, cleaning out the virus on a large scale will also trigger it, right?” Han Xiao asked.
“Yes,” Manison replied. “Therefore, the scanning tool the three Universal Civilizations have asked us to build can’t be discovered by the viruses. They plan to secretly lock onto all the infected nodes by scanning them, then implant antivirus tools with precision to clean all the infected nodes simultaneously. Afterward, they’ll install firewalls immediately to prevent repeat infections. This way, even if the virus ends up erupting, the damage will be minimized.”
“Although this method is a little bit troublesome, it’s safest.”
Han Xiao had no objection to the three Universal Civilizations’ plan. It sounded quite reliable.
However, he had a question in mind. In his previous life, the three Universal Civilizations should have done exactly the same thing, so how did it still turn into a disaster for the entire universe in the end?
Could it be because I’ve done my job too well and changed some unknown details? For example, someone should have transported the virus out but has been stopped by me? Han Xiao put this question to the back of his mind.
Manison did not know what Han Xiao was thinking. He continued to explain the three Universal Civilizations’ plan.
“Therefore, we have made various preparations. One is this plan to wipe out all the virus; the other is to locate the virus core. The virus core is the controlling terminal for most eruption triggers. As long as it’s eliminated, the risk will be reduced even further, and we won’t have to worry about the viruses erupting when we attempt to wipe them out.”
“Do you guys still have no leads on the virus core?”
“It’s hidden itself too well.” Manison shook his head and did not say much.
Han Xiao snorted softly. He felt that old Manison was not telling the truth. However, there was no point exposing him. The two of them were competitors in this respect. Manison would not be so kind as to share clues with him.
I were
Out of all the Beyond Grade A Mechanics who had come to help, all of them wanted to obtain the virus core to learn the full secrets of the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology.
Now that the pandemic was under control and the most dangerous period had passed, the competition revolving around the virus core had come to the surface. Even the three Universal Civilizations intended to compete for
it.
Han Xiao knew that he would not be able to get any information from Manison, so he skipped this topic and said, “Now that your work is done, are you still planning to stay in the research department?”
“No, I’m planning to go and take a walk. One reason is to find clues about the virus core. Another is that I plan to go and take a look at the Machinery Faith.”
“Machinery Faith?” Han Xiao’s brows raised.
He had never forgotten that the two of them had conflicts of interest due to this religion. Manison was always in the position of the main god. He wanted to keep most of their faith to himself to maintain the (Key of Adeptus Mechanicus] bonuses.
For that, Manison had struck more than a decade ago and made Han Xiao suffer a slight loss.
Back then, he had chosen to use his soul talent of not competing. After that, he had been growing stronger while keeping a low profile, at the same time maintaining a decent relationship with Manison.
“What, you have some thoughts about it?” Manison sounded like he was smiling, but he was not.
“Humph, can’t I?” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
“Compared to about ten years ago, you have indeed improved. However, it’s still too early for you to want to challenge me again,” Manison said coldly. “Don’t envy what’s mine. We have quite a good relationship now; keeping things this way is good for you. Don’t say I never warned you. I don’t wish to see you have any contact with the Machinery Faith in any form.”
Then, the green remote projection disappeared, and Manison had hung up the communication.
Han Xiao’s face turned black. He was a little irritated.
What a b*stard this guy is, changing his attitude like flipping pages of a book.
Also, when did the Machinery Faith become yours? Shameless! Speaking of, it’s already been more than ten years since I last fought him…
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and pondered.
He opened the interface, looked at the huge amount of Experience he had accumulated, and felt assured.
The Black Star Cup had been going on all this time, giving him bonus Experience for the past few months, which had stacked up to quite a huge amount. He did a slight calculation-it was roughly enough for him to level up from level 320 to between 335 and 337. Just a portion of this much Experience would be enough for him to obtain enough Potential Points to max all his class knowledges.
After farming for so long, I feel like I can have a rematch with Manison…
Han Xiao had decided to take a step back more than ten years ago because he wanted to become stronger first. Now that he had improved, his restless mindset once again seized control.
The competition around the Machinery Faith was one thing, but to Han Xiao, the other reason was the main reason.
I’m not happy. I have to fight that old man!
Last time, I was weaker, so I put up with it, but it’s never too late for revenge!
In the past, you came to me and bullied my Phillip. Now, I have reason to be confident, so it’s my turn to initiate the challenge and see the difference in our strength.
Due to the existence of the Beyond Grade A Association, the strength difference between individuals also affected the weight of their words. Although Manison’s term was still long, he could totally make some early preparations for the next election.
Also, it was because of the development union that he did not have to worry about Manison’s retaliation. As the president, Manison had to set an example and not cause trouble secretly, or it would go against the purpose of the development union. Although Manison provided some help to him during the attack on Hila, it was more of a win-win. To Han Xiao, favors and beef did not cancel out each other. He would repay Old Man Manison for what he did in the future at most.
All kinds of thoughts flashed past Han Xiao’s mind. He brought up the ability list, selected a bunch of blueprint abilities, threw in Experience, and maxed out their levels. Notifications kept popping up on the interface.
You have maxed the level of one ability. You have received 1 Potential Point.
You have maxed the level of one ability. You have received 1 Potential Point.
Currently, Han Xiao only had three Ultimate Knowledges that were not at their maximum level. (Ultimate Mechanical Engineering) was at Level3, (Mechanical Life Tinder) was at Level4, and (Endless Material Science] was at Level2. They required a total of 144 Potential Points. Even though he still had some Potential Points left, he still had to max out more than a hundred abilities.
The more max level abilities he had, the higher the cost of leveling up the rest of the abilities, including even the low-level blueprints. Though, the cost did not increase as much as leveling up himself. This meant that although the players could utilize different levelling strategies, they would not have too much of an impact. They would still have to put in a lot of effort to receive more Potential Points.
His Experience gauge went down very quickly. Very soon, he had already spent more than half of it. When his remaining Experience was only enough for him to level up to 326, he finally had 144 Potential Points.
Although leveling up would also give him Potential Points, he did not want to wait any longer. He had tons of leeks and a continuous source of Experience, so being so calculative was not something he needed to do.
Furthermore, Han Xiao was also very curious as to whether Potential Points would still be of any use when all his knowledges were at the maximum level.
Looking at the 144 Potential Points, Han Xiao took a deep breath and spent them all on the last three Ultimate Knowledges.
You have leveled up (Ultimate Mechanical Engineering] to Level5 (Max)!
You have leveled up (Mechanical Life Tinder] to Level5 (Max)!
You have leveled up [Endless Material Science] to Level5 (Max)!
All 60 of your Class Knowledges have reached the max level!
You have received 1 (The First Sanctum) Ability Fragment. You have acquired talent (Great Machinery Sage]!
[Great Machinery Sage): +1.25 Total Machinery Affinity bonus multiplier; +3 levels to Mechanic Class related abilities (Not limited by the ability’s max level); +40% production, enhancement, and repairing ability; +60% Virtual Technology effects; +15% Machinery basic attributes; +120% Machinery production speed; +3,000 Intelligence. Remark: “In the machinery territory, you’re an all-knowing sage.”
The current Potential Points in your possession and the Potential Points you obtain in the future can be turned into ‘Awakening Points’ at a 1:1 conversion rate.
Usage I: 1 An Awakening Point can be converted into 100 Free Attribute Points (Irreversible).
Usage II: 1 An Awakening Point can be used to level up one maxed level ability by 1 level (Irreversible).
Usage III: Awakening Points can be used to increase the awakening process of Unique Talent. The amount increased by every 1 Awakening Point depends on the level and grade of the Unique Talent (Irreversible). 100 Awakening Points can be used to activate the brief structure of a Unique Talent (Custom talent direction).
Usage IV: Awakening Points can be used to increase the grade of blueprints. The amount increased by every 1 Awakening Point depends on the level and grade of the blueprint (Irreversible).
Usage V: Awakening Points can be used to increase the progress of inventing a blueprint. The amount increased by every 1 Awakening Point depends on the level and grade of the blueprint (Irreversible).
Your (Ultimate Mechanical Engineering) has reached the max level. [Inspirational Creation] activated!
Woah! Han Xiao was thoroughly surprised.
[Great Machinery Sage]’s effects definitely matched how difficult it was to obtain it. Not only did it provide very comprehensive bonuses, but the bonuses were also all quite large. Its impact on his strength was probably on the same level as (Perfect Mechanical Sense), increasing his overall strength by about ten percent.
I wonder if the suffixes of the talents given when all class knowledges are at the max level is the same for all the classes… The Magic Sage? Sounds fine. The Psychic Sage? Now that sounds a little weird…
The Esper Sage? Hmm…
The Pugilist Sage? Forget it, the Muscular Sage is definitely much better.
The talent was within Han Xiao’s expectations, but the new use of Potential Points surprised him. No player in his previous life could level up all their abilities to the max level. This was a first even for him.
His Potential Points were now Awakening Points.
He carefully read its uses. The more he read it, the more excited he got. Compared to the one and only use the Potential Points had, the uses of Awakening Points were much more diverse.
Converting them into Free Attribute Points and increasing the upper limits of his abilities were clearly very practical and needed no further explanation, but what he was more impressed by were the other three functions.
Increasing the blueprint’s grade seemed to be able to give him a stable stream of Gold blueprints. For example, if he kept throwing Awakening Points into just an ordinary low-level pistol blueprint, given enough Awakening Points, this blueprint might turn into a Gold blueprint!
And the type of blueprint would not change too much. It would only turn from a gunpowder pistol into a portable Planetary Obliteration weapon.
The Awakening Points could also be used to increase the progress of inventing a blueprint, which could be used together with [Inspirational Creation). [Inspirational Creation) had been gathering dust in the interface. The prerequisite for activating it was max level (Ultimate Mechanical Engineering). The effect of this ability was to use Experience to assemble multiple blueprints into one or more improved or fused blueprints, with no upper limit on the number of blueprints. At the same time, a choice could be made for the improvement path of the fused blueprints, such as attack, defense, or support.
This ability made inventing blueprints more stable and ensured a result. It was also the only way the players in his previous life could invent Gold blueprints. However, the chances of doing so were extremely low. Most of the time, one would only obtain the brief structure of a Gold blueprint or Inspiration Fragments, which he could use Awakening Points to increase the progress of.
The last use of Awakening Point was what the Great Mechanic Han liked the most-it could be used to fuse Unique Talents!
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled as he mumbled, “Old Manison, Sorokin, and the others might have obtained their Unique Talents this way.”
One Unique Talent for a hundred Awakening Points, this cost was certainly high. However, at least it gave him a clear path. Han Xiao did not trust his luck at all. If he only relied on his luck, he probably would not have a wisp of a Unique Talent even in a hundred years.
He had a guess that the way of customizing would be probably the same as how he created his own Race Talent back when he advanced into Beyond Grade A, by selecting his preferences then randomizing from those given conditions. The Unique Talent obtained after fusing would only have a brief structure. He would need to spend more Awakening Points to activate it.
Potential Points turning into Awakening Points after all class knowledges were at max level was probably the same with other Mechanics such as Manison.
The difference was, unlike him, Manison and the others could not freely choose what to use the Awakening Points on.
Therefore, since the other Mechanics could not decide where to use the Awakening Points, they were probably random. He guessed it would probably feel like a sudden flash of insight for them.
Although the cost is quite high, at least it’s a stable way to obtain Unique Talents. Han Xiao was quite content. He had been eyeing this for many years, and now he had finally seen some hope. However, the quality-price ratio of it was still uncertain. A hundred Attribute Points was equivalent to ten thousand Free Attribute Points, and his Intellect right now was not even thirty thousand despite it being his highest attribute. If he used all those Awakening Points on Free Attribute Points, it would be a huge improvement for him. He would only not make a loss if he were to get a Molding Talent level Unique Talent.
However, since it would be a Unique Talent, its effects would probably be decent. After all, its effects had to match how difficult it was to obtain it.
The Great Mechanic Han still remembered Sorokin’s Unique Talent (Swindler-Sorokin], which gave him a direct twenty-percent bonus just on his Intellect and Mystery attributes, along with a bonus seventy-five percent Esper Ability strength and four levels to all his abilities. It was extremely powerful.
Old Man Manison’s (Virtual Technology Innovation-Manison) gave him a 1.75-times multiplier on his Virtual Technology abilities, on top of his ‘Indestructible Mechanic Empire’ technology.
Both of these were at the Molding Talent level.
You never know until you try it. Although it’s quite costly, I’ll still have to get one and see how it is.
He had just leveled up more than a hundred blueprint abilities and spent all the Potential Points, so his current Experience inventory was not enough to get him another hundred Awakening Points.
Alas, Awakening Points… What a suitable name. Here comes another bottomless pit for Experience. Let’s just think about it after my Promotion…
Han Xiao shook his head. His main goal of maxing the level of all his class knowledges was that one extra God’s Trait Transformation Point during Promotion.
Now that he had completed that achievement, the Promotion at level 340 became his top priority again.
Other than these changes, the interface also mentioned that he had obtained another Ability Fragment of (The First Sanctum).
The Great Mechanic Han had already found a pattern. Whenever he overcame a certain threshold of the Mechanic class, he would receive a (The First Sanctum] fragment.
The first piece came from when he activated God’s Trait Transformation, the second came from the first Universal Treasure he built, the third came from the fifth stage of his main class’ God’s Trait Transformation, and this was the fourth.
I can’t wait to see how many fragments it takes to make it whole. Better not tell me it’s a hundred.
Overall, he was very satisfied with the bonuses that came with maxing the level of all his class knowledges. It had given him a new path to grow. This was the biggest difference between him and the other Beyond Grade As-his growth path was crystal clear.
At the same time, with (Great Machinery Sage), he had more confidence in challenging Manison.
Last time, I lost in the virtual world; this time, I’ve got to fight him in the real world.
Han Xiao was looking forward to it with high morale.
This mindset could be simply explained as: “Stopped, the rain has; stopped, the wind has; now I think, I can do it again!”
Du du du!
While Han Xiao was getting familiar with the changes in his body, someone knocked on his door. Harrison walked in.
Over the past few months, Han Xiao had upheld his belief of not wasting any resource and did not let Harrison get away with doing nothing. Even though this guy was still guilty, Han Xiao did not mind and gave him a job as his temporary secretary.
Other than to find Harrison something to do, this was also because he wanted to have him around so that benefitting from his Luck Glow would be more convenient.
However, only from the results, not only did he not benefit from it, he even somewhat neutralized it.
Of course, the Great Mechanic Han would not admit this. He strongly believed that it was just that Harrison’s Luck Glow did not have a good quality.
Feidin’s Luck Glow still turned out to be the best. It remained unaffected no matter how much of a burden he was.
Seeing that Harrison had walked in, Han Xiao closed the interface and asked casually, “Anything to report?” “Your Excellency Black Star, the dynasty fleet has told me to tell you that they’re going to temporarily leave your team and go back to their usual groupings to execute other missions.”
“What happened?” Han Xiao asked curiously.
“The captain has told me that this is a mission the dynasty upper echelons gave. Something has happened with a Star System civilization, and it’s not suitable for you to deal with.”
“What are the details?”
“I brought the information regarding the incident. Please take a look.”
Harrison took out a set of data and displayed it on the virtual screen.
Han Xiao quickly looked through and understood.
In the past few months, the various civilizations of the Ancient Star Desert had come to understand the big picture and cooperated fully with the three Universal Civilizations’ operations on the surface, not causing any problems like the black market once did.
However, when the three Universal Civilizations announced that the antivirus was complete, there seemed to be civilizations that felt that the pandemic was already under control and there would no longer be any dire consequences, so they started to stir things up.
There were three Star System Civilizations who were involved—the Tiger Race, the White Hair Race, and the Ferians. They were not transporting the virus but instead were suspected of using the virus to attack their enemies.
The Tiger Race and the Ferians were in the same Star System. Their territories were right beside one another. They were old rivals and often had conflicts with each other. The White Hair Race was in another Star System nearby, next to the Tiger Race but not the Ferians. Their relationship with the Tiger Race was relatively distant.
This was what the situation was roughly about. Not long ago, a machinery rebellion occurred on one of the important administrative planets of the Tiger Race. Those machines were infected by the Virtual Mutiny Virus, and because they had been disconnected from the network for too long, the trigger condition for the virus was met, and these machines were modified by the virus to hurt life forms.
The virus outbreak was only limited to this group of machinery. They were not large in number, and they could not connect to the internet either, so the other nodes of that planet were not affected. Therefore, the guards of the planet easily annihilated this group of machines. However, there were still civilian casualties.
After an investigation, a rather believable cause of this disaster surfaced on the network—that this group of machines were used by the Tiger Race to study the Virtual Mutiny Virus, and they accidentally lost control of them, which led to this disaster.
After this message got out, the Tiger Race civilians were in an uproar. Public opinion went out of control, and they all turned on their regime. The impact kept getting bigger.
The Tiger Race hastily said that this was just a rumor, that they did not study the virus at all. They said that these machines were hidden on the planet by an unknown force, who had calculated the day for the virus to attack to deliberately frame the regime and damage their credibility.
The civilians who were enraged felt this was nothing but excuses, so the Tiger Race had no choice but to request the three Universal Civilizations to judge it.
From the private report Han Xiao received, the Tiger Race explained to the three Universal Civilizations that this might be a conspiracy of the Ferians or the White Hair Race. The Tiger Race claimed that not only did both of those suspects want to frame them, but at the same time, the real culprit wanted to make the other suspect get the blame and stir up conflict between the Tiger Race and them, while they sat on the sidelines and benefited from it.
Both the White Hair Race and the Ferians had motives, but the Tiger Race was not completely trustworthy either. Hence, the three Universal Civilizations sent people over to investigate. Currently, the situation was still quite blurry.
The Star System Civilizations were protected by the Peace Treaty, so the dynasty did not let Han Xiao interfere with it. In this respect, the three Universal Civilizations did not allow any other organizations other than them to be the bullies.
The black market became obedient after what I did, but now the civilizations have started to cause trouble, I see…
Han Xiao frowned. Although this was not his responsibility, he still felt that something was not right.
He understood that the Ancient Star Desert being in lockdown had put the various local civilizations on alert, especially the Super Star Cluster Civilizations. The three bullies had lost their credibility during such crises long ago, so these civilizations had definitely prepared for the worst and gathered leverage. However, this was not helpful to the big picture at all.
I’ll still have to deal with the virus as soon as possible. It can’t wait. I shall use Bold Explorer one more time.
Han Xiao left the room and entered the warehouse.
Walking into the room, he saw the triangular device that had once stored the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology lying there immediately.
The dynasty had studied it but come up with no results. Seeing that Black Star had asked for it, they allowed Han Xiao to keep it with him.
Lately, as long as [Bold Explorer) was off cooldown, Han Xiao would use it on this triangular device. Sadly, he had only seen a ton of scattered images; none were of any value. He had only found out part of the virus’ origin at most.
The machinery civilization he saw from the first time he used Bold Explorer was the creators of the Virtual Mutiny Virus. This was indeed a weapon. The very purpose of building it in the first place was to use it on the unknown civilization that used the Planetary Obliteration weapon to annihilate this machinery civilization.
The program of the virus was set to killing life forms, and the machinery civilization was clearly not in range. It was like a high-level war weapon that dealt no damage to their kind.
This machinery civilization, or more of an intelligent civilization, was the same as an artificial intelligence civilization. All of its citizens were artificial intelligence lives, only more advanced.
These machines roaming the streets were all shells carrying intelligent lives. They were basically their carriers for walking in the real world. They designed their shells themselves, so there were hardly any two machines that looked the same. Through using [Bold Explorer) time after time, Han Xiao had found out about some special language and symbols of this artificial intelligence civilization. However, after cross-referencing it, there were no related records in the three Universal Civilizations’ database at all.
Either this artificial intelligence civilization was too ancient and even the three Universal Civilizations did not know about it, or it was an advanced civilization in the unexplored universe.
No matter which it was, it proved the fact that the source of the Virtual Mutiny Virus was a materialization phenomenon brought by an information state disturbance. Basically, it was a ‘mirage’ that interfered with reality.
Hope I can see something useful this time.
Han Xiao had Harrison beside him. He took a deep breath and prayed in his head to be blessed by the Luck Glow before placing his hand on the cold surface of the triangular device.
Buzz!
The next moment, the scene in his sights changed. He had come to a bright lab.
He looked up, and his eyes constricted with surprise.
In the middle of the room was the triangular device that was still not closed, showing the safe within it. Beside it was a group of mechanical lives who looked like researchers. They were operating their mechanical arms carefully and placing an almost transparent light-blue sphere of electrical sparks inside the device.
Is this when the Virtual Mutiny Virus was first created? Finally!
Han Xiao suppressed his joy and carefully observed this light blue sphere of electrical sparks. Tiny strings of electrical sparks swam in the air like a powerful electromagnetic field.
… This is the virus core?
Shouldn’t it be a bunch of virtual data? Why is it a mass of electromagnetic energy?
Han Xiao was confused.
A monotonous electrical voice suddenly sounded. A mechanical life researcher by the side moved the camera to aim at him and said, “Experiment introduction: The Domino Virus, able to infect the quantum network and rewrite the fundamental logic of artificial intelligences. The current program is to kill all organic life forms.
“Raw material: One thousand mutated artificial intelligence lives with individual consciousness wiped, leaving only data structure and computing power. After 165 failures, the Domino Virus was successfully created. The virus’ initial state has extremely high stealth, infiltrative, and infective abilities.
“Virus core: Pre-designed program with no individual consciousness. As the control center, it follows the logic given and controls the Domino Virus, monitoring the infection progress and activating the virus at a suitable time. It also has the ability to self-evolve. When the opponent has invented a targeted firewall, the virus core will automatically analyze the data and find the flaw with its strong computing power, continuously updating and enhancing the viruses to carry out a new round of infection.
“Remarks: From the second-generation virus onward, all viruses are active by default. Once infected, they will immediately rewrite the target’s logic without an incubation period.
“Also, the virus core uses a lot of technology such as Virtual Soul, Bio-electricity Simulation, Electromagnetic Field Reformation, and so on. It has two forms. It can either exist as a virtual soul that lives in the quantum network or leave the quantum network at any terminal and enter the material world as an electromagnetic field life form.
“As the fundamental virus core is a virtual soul, when in the electromagnetic field state, it can infiltrate the quantum network at any time without coming into contact with any nodes. Due to this ability, the virus core has an extremely high escaping and hiding ability, as well as mobility.
“If used properly, one Domino Virus can shatter the majority of armed forces of a galactic civilization, causing the target’s technology to regress many generations. Due to its extreme power, it requires caution when used. Currently, the Domino Virus is sealed up. Without authority, do not use…”
Han Xiao’s eyes slowly widened.
He felt that his fragile mind had received ten thousand points of damage.
If not because he saw all this through (Bold Explorer), no one in the entire universe would have known the truth of the Virtual Mutiny Virus!
I’m the only one who knows all this now. Everyone else still has no idea!
At this time, a thought appeared in his mind.
Something’s going to go wrong! The three Universal Civilizations’ plan isn’t going to work!
This thing is tougher to deal with than we thought!
At this time, the image of (Bold Explorer] stopped, and his vision returned to the warehouse. He lifted his palm from the cold shell of the triangular device, stood in place, and looked at the device in silence.
He remained silent and did not move at all. Clueless as to what was going on, Harrison sensitively felt that the atmosphere had gradually become heavier, so he cautiously asked, “Your Excellency Black Star, did something happen?”
“…Nothing.” Han Xiao regained focus. He glanced at him and then walked out of the warehouse with wide strides. Harrison quickly followed after him. “Go do your stuff. You don’t have to follow me.”
“Oh, sure.”
Like he had just been spared his life, Harrison quickly left.
Although Black Star did not do anything, just being beside him made Harrison feel extremely pressured.
After getting rid of Harrison, Han Xiao returned to his room and thought of the secrets he had just seen. His mind started working fast.
The Virtual Mutiny Virus’s real name is the Domino Virus, it seems. What a terrifying weapon of war. Any organization that gets their hands on this technology will have the absolute upper hand in the information war…
He finally understood why the Intelligent Plague still swarmed the entire universe in his previous life. It turned out that it was not only because some people did not obey the three Universal Civilizations, but the three Universal Civilizations could not stop the Domino Virus’ invasion.
It was not because their technology was inferior, but they did not have enough information and got caught by surprise. After all, who would ever think that the Virtual Mutiny Virus worked this way? If not because he had seen the virus’ true identity from (Bold Explorer), he would probably have been in the exact same spot the three Universal Civilizations were in, still seeing the virus core as just a data program.
According to common sense, the virus core was supposed to just be the switch that monitored the entire infection progress. Hence, the three Universal Civilizations thought that they had nothing to be afraid of because they had already come up with the antivirus.
Of course, they had no idea that the virus core had the ability to update and evolve on its own. What they had under control at the moment was just the first-generation virus. As long as the core was not dealt with, there would still be the second generation, the third generation, and so on. Furthermore, there would be no incubation period next time; the virus would directly cause the machinery to rebel.
Not only was its infectiousness more horrifying than expected, but the virus core’s ability to escape was also astonishing. It was not limited by its data state and could even enter the material world, forming an electromagnetic field as the body to carry itself and switch freely between the virtual and the real world. It was not afraid of being locked in the network at all.
As the foundation of its existence was a virtual soul, the virus core did not need any physical node to enter the quantum network. It was similar to how Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanics could enter the quantum network anytime they wanted. It would only need a node as the exit when materializing, meaning that it could teleport between the various nodes using the quantum network.
No wonder I couldn’t find any traces of the virus core over the past few months. It’s probably not because Harrison’s Luck Glow isn’t good enough, but it simply can’t be caught on the network.
This ability was similar to his Void Dimension Jump. To the virus core, the quantum network was like another secondary dimension it could enter any time it wanted. This artificial intelligence civilization probably did not reach the Universal Civilization level, since the three Universal Civilizations had the ability to analyze the Domino Virus completely. However, this needed time. Therefore, when facing this kind of weaponized virus, there would always be a period of time when there were simply no measures to deal with it. The specialties of every civilization were different. There would also be some civilizations that would invent some new technology. For example, the Kunde Race’s Spacetime Splicer. The three Universal Civilizations were inferior in the virtual virus technology aspect. After all, even the citizens of this civilization were artificial intelligence life forms, so this was clearly their strongest suit.
Wait a minute, if the three Universal Civilizations successfully defused the Intelligent Plague in my previous life, the virus core was definitely dealt with, so the three Universal Civilizations would have certainly obtained this technology… But why did they not use it when fighting the World Tree Civilization?
Han Xiao had some suspicions.
Could it be that… the virus core did not end up in the hands of the three Universal Civilizations in the previous life but somehow got obtained by someone else?
The next moment, the image of an old man appeared in the Great Mechanic Han’s mind…
Mechanic Empire Manison!
This b*stard was the most suspicious!
One could not blame Han Xiao for thinking this way. Manison gave him too strong of an impression as someone who would do something like this.
Furthermore, the original material of the Domino Virus was mutated artificial intelligence life forms, and Manison just so happened to be in control of an artificial intelligence civilization.
It was horrifying to even think about it!
Han Xiao hastily shook his head, left these thoughts behind, and pondered.
The three Universal Civilizations made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot of lessons before finally understanding how the Domino Virus worked. Now that I’ve seen the truth in advance, I can skip that process and come up with prevention measures!
Having thought of that, Han Xiao was relieved.
In his previous life, the three Universal Civilizations had no choice but to learn through mistakes. Now that he, someone who had already watched the ‘instruction manual’ was there, the same thing did not have to happen again.
Maybe, the source of the virus might even be dealt with in the first generation. This way, the virus would have no chance of causing an outbreak, and the damage would be minimized!
When looking at it this way, the butterfly effects he had brought seemed to lean more toward the positive side.
The main issue now is convincing the three Universal Civilizations to change their plan of killing the virus on a large scale. If the virus core isn’t dealt with, no matter how many viruses they kill, it won’t make a difference. The virus core’s ability is very tough to deal with, so I’ll need the three Universal Civilizations’ cooperation to deal with it…
Its ability to self-evolve was the most terrifying one. As long as that was dealt with, the rest would not be too much of a problem.
He was not afraid of the virus core escaping from the Ancient Star Desert. The quantum network of this Star Field was in lockdown. It was like an enormous LAN network, so it could not receive any feedback from the viruses within the Ancient Star Desert from outside it.
Even if the virus core really got out, it would still have to come back and log in to this sealed network to monitor the overall infection progress of the Ancient Star Desert.
This meant that even though the virus core could teleport in the quantum network, its range was limited to the Ancient Star Desert.
As for whether it would go out and spread the virus seed, Han Xiao was not worried either. Although the three Universal Civilizations lacked information, they were not useless. In order to prevent the virus from getting out, they were also doing large-scale scanning in the outside world.
If the first-generation virus infected the outside world, the three Universal Civilizations would notice it very quickly. There was no need for him to worry. After analyzing for a while, Han Xiao had some ideas. He summoned Phillip and said, “Contact the three Universal Civilizations’ pandemic command center as well as the other Beyond Grade A Mechanics for a meeting. Tell them I’ve made a huge discovery about the virus core…”
After receiving Black Star’s invite, the three people in charge of the department, including Sidreun, and all the other Beyond Grade A Mechanic dropped their work and arrived at the Intelligent Plague Pandemic Command Center’s conference room in the form of remote projections. They were all there to hear Black Star’s discovery.
As soon as Han Xiao’s remote projection appeared, Sidreun could not wait and asked, “Black Star, have you found the virus core?”
“Not yet, but I’ve made a shocking discovery.”
Hearing that Han Xiao did not find the virus core, the people present were both disappointed and glad, followed by the curiosity of the huge discovery Han Xiao spoke of.
“What did you discover?”
“Here’s the thing…”
Han Xiao cut to the chase and directly explained the rough mechanisms of the virus core, mainly emphasizing its ability to transform freely between the virtual and the real world, as well as its ability to self-evolve.
The threat of the Domino Virus was too high. Working together to defuse the pandemic was the top priority at the moment, so he did not plan to keep anything to himself.
After hearing what Han Xiao said, everyone present became silent. They looked at each other and did not even know what to feel.
Seeing this, Han Xiao continued and said, “Therefore, your plan to kill the virus on a large scale won’t work. The threat of the Intelligent Plague will only be removed when the virus core is found, so I suggest you take action immediately…” This time, Sidreun interrupted Han Xiao and said with a strange expression, “Black Star, I’d like to ask… Where did you obtain this information from?”
The rest of the people present had the exact same thought. They all stared closely at Han
Xiao.
They had to be doubtful. This information was way too detailed… so detailed it almost seemed made up!
Are you messing with us?
It’s not impossible given how cheeky you are!
This matter is huge, and there’s no room for anyone to play tricks. We have to confirm the authenticity of the information. How can we just believe you if you don’t show us some proof?
“I knew you’d say that.” Han Xiao was not surprised at all and went on to explain, “Actually, I discovered the virus core’s traces in the quantum network not long ago. I was just about to try to track and capture it when it disappeared from the quantum network without any signs, and the lead I had ended there… I’m a peak Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic, yet it could still disappear into thin air right under my nose without me having any idea of how it did it. Some of you surely know how difficult it is to do that. That’s when I started suspecting that it’s not just a data program.”
“Then? How did you discover this information?” Sidreun asked.
“Your documents should have recorded that I have the ability to passively see the future. A few days after I noticed that the virus core isn’t as simple as we thought it was, I had a vision and saw the future. I saw how the Intelligent Plague erupted and how it killed countless lives. At the same time, I saw the true identity of this virus core.” Han Xiao shrugged. “So, if you’re asking for proof, I really can’t provide any.”
“That’s… you’re making it difficult for us.”
The various people in charge from the three Universal Civilizations all looked troubled.
It was not that they did not trust Black Star, but foresight was indeed inaccurate sometimes. This matter involved the safety of the entire universe. It was way too risky to bet all their chips on a prophecy without any real evidence.
Han Xiao had no other choice. He did not have any real evidence, so what he said was certainly not going to be convincing enough. He could only use his ability of foresight as an excuse. After all, (Bold Explorer) was not something he could really explain, and it was not even as convincing as prophecies.
Nonetheless, although what he said lacked any real proof and was not convincing enough, with his current position, even if the three Universal Civilizations’ people would not believe him immediately, they would still definitely find ways to prove or disprove what he said. He did not have to do too much explaining
In the end, if what Han Xiao said was proved to be false, the three Universal Civilizations would undoubtedly trust Han Xiao less in the future. However, before that, they would not instantly take Han Xiao’s words as false.
After so many things had happened, the name, reputation, and respect Han Xiao had accumulated in the universe was more than enough to have the three Universal Civilizations take his suggestions seriously.
At this moment, Manison slowly said, “I feel that Black Star’s foresight does make some sense. In fact, I discovered the virus core’s tracks some time ago. It also disappeared right before my eyes, and I suspected that it was not just a data program.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao’s eyelids twitched.
Him saying he had found traces of the virus core was completely made up, but Manison was most likely not making it up. I knew it. This old b*stard really did make progress but never said anything about it. If not because I tricked him today, he would never have publicized this information on himself.
Phooey! You say I don’t have enough resolution, but you’re even worse, hiding such key information! The people exchanged looks and digested this impactful piece of information.
In the end, Sidreun coughed and said, “No matter what, we’ll check out the content of His Excellency Black Star’s vision. This is a very important piece of information.”
While saying so, he secretly looked at Manison with derision.
The strongest Mechanic in the universe? How come you did not discover as much information as Black Star when the two of you had the same experience? Learn from him!
Manison looked directly ahead and acted like he did not notice Sidreun’s gaze.
This time, Kant said worriedly, “If the Virtual Mutiny Virus is really as Black Star says it is, we’re in big trouble. The firewall we’ve come up with this month will be useless before the next generation of the virus. By then, the disaster will sweep across the entire universe.”
“Who in the world invented such a horrifying virus technology? Aren’t they afraid of it biting themselves in the foot?” ‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco wondered. “Whether what Black Star said is true or false, we’ll still have to come up with a plan.” The dynasty’s ally Quantum Demon showed his support.
Han Xiao spoke again with a deep voice. “That’s right. It doesn’t matter if my foresight is accurate or not. It won’t hurt giving it a try.”
That’s true… The people in charge from the three Universal Civilizations exchanged looks and nodded.
“What plan do you have then?”.
“I wouldn’t call it a plan. It’s just a rough idea.”
Han Xiao paused and looked around. Seeing that everyone’s attention was on him, he said slowly, “The mobility of the virus core is too high, so it’s very difficult to catch it. However, it still has limits. It can enter the quantum network anytime, anywhere, but when it leaves it and materializes, it has to choose a terminal node as the exit. This might be our opportunity.
“In order to receive feedback from the rest of the viruses, the virus core will return to the quantum network once every so often. This time, we really might have to cut off the network on a large scale and reduce the number of terminal nodes in order to restrict the range of the virus core’s ability to teleport within the quantum network. This way, when the number of exits is reduced, we can station people at every node and set up traps.“The people stationed at each node have to be Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanics with the knowledge of ‘Virtual Paramount’. This is because after the virus core materializes, it doesn’t have to come into contact with any node in order to re-enter the quantum network. Therefore, the chance will only last for a short instant. At the instant the virus core materializes, the Beyond Grade A Mechanic will use ‘Virtual Paramount’ to lock up the virus core’s virtual soul so that it can’t escape its body temporarily, then capture it together with its physical body.
“The technology to seal the virus core already exists. That safe prevents the virus from leaking, so it can certainly suppress the virus core’s virtual soul and prevent it from entering the quantum network. As long as we parse that triangular container, we can obtain this targeted technology…”
Hearing this, the people all looked at Han Xiao with weird expressions once again.
Not to mention the feasibility of this plan of yours, just the fact that the people stationed at the nodes have to be Virtual Mechanics who have the knowledge of (Virtual Paramount), aren’t you being too obvious?
Virtual Paramount is an ability only Divine Throne Mechanics of the Virtual branch can obtain, so clearly only peak Beyond Grade As. You’re one, Manison is another, and that’s it.
So, you’re saying that only you guys can compete for the virus core. Even the three Universal Civilizations have to stand aside?
Are you really not tricking us? Manison, however, smiled and fully approved of this plan.
“Black Star is right. To maintain peace in the universe, we are more than willing to step up. How many terminal nodes are there to set up traps for? How about this, I’m willing to deploy fifty million spare Lord’s Avatars, ensuring that I can advent in any location the virus core appears. Is that enough?”
As soon as Manison finished speaking, the entire conference room went silent.
Everyone turned to Manison simultaneously.
You pulling our legs?
Han Xiao almost forgot to breathe. He sized Manison up with a suspicious look.
“You really have fifty million Lord’s Avatars?”
“Maybe I exaggerated it a little,” Manison joked.
Now that makes sense. Lord’s Avatars are not mechanical soldiers. How can you build that many? I don’t even have five thousa… ahem, fifty thousand spare Lord’s Avatars.
Secretly relieved, Han Xiao asked subconsciously, “So, how many do you really have?”
“48,001,052… Oh, it’s 48,001,054 now. Just built two more while we spoke.”
The world went silent.
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched. He was a little lost and completely did not understand why.
“Wait, I can understand no matter how many mechanical soldiers you’ve built, but what’s the point of building so many Lord’s Avatars? You can only descend on one at a time. How are you going to utilize all of them?”
“Oh, I lack a sense of security,” Manison replied. “No harm building more.”
The world went silent once again. You’re the damn Mechanic Emperor, lack a sense of security? I f*… okay, that’s an indisputable reason.
Other than the word shameless, the people present could not find any other word to think of.
All Han Xiao wanted to do was blast off Manison’s head.
You’re showing off your wealth, right? You must be showing off your wealth!
Close to fifty million Lord’s Avatars, are you an animal? How wealthy can you get?
You’re trying to take over all the ambush locations, aren’t you? You think you’re mighty just because you’re rich?
Noticing Black Star’s almost overflowing resentment, Manison calmly smiled and gave him a look. That’s right. I’m mighty because I’m rich. Thanks for the assist.
Han Xiao clenched his teeth and sent Manison a private message. “Stop messing around. There’s no point in building tens of millions of Lord’s Avatars other than it being a waste!”
“Hehe, you’re too young. The Mechanical Race doesn’t have much, but it never lacked machinery…” Manison smiled and softly stroked his beard before adding, “And money.”
F*ck, almost forgot you were born rich! Damn rich people!
Han Xiao ground his teeth secretly.
“I came up with this plan. Shouldn’t you show some sincerity at least? How about giving me ten million Lord’s Avatars.”
“My avatars are my size, not like you can use them. What do you want them for?” Manison raised his brows.
“I can melt and rebuild them. The material cost for ten million Lord’s Avatars isn’t low.”
“Sure, exchange them for some Spacetime Amber.”
“F*ck off!”
Han Xiao instantly cut off the private conversation.
This old man is always trying to get my Spacetime Amber. Bad!
While the two of them made faces at each other, the person in charge from the three Universal Civilizations also looked back and forth between them with strong suspicion.
One of you is the president of the Beyond Grade A development union, and the other is the vice president…
Are the two of you putting on an act together?
Sidreun coughed, forced out a smile, and said, “We appreciate Your Excellency Mechanic Emperor’s generosity, but the plan has yet to be finalized. You don’t have to be in such a hurry…”
“You’re right.” Manison nodded. He casually waved his hand, signaling that he was just casually making a suggestion and that they could continue their previous conversation.
Sidreun then turned to Han Xiao and said with a deep voice, “Your Excellency Black Star, your idea does indeed seem good, but its feasibility still requires more discussion. Firstly, we have to make sure that the virus core has returned to the quantum network for us to cut off network connections on a large scale and limit the range of its exits. But how will we know when it has logged on to the network? You must know, those viruses don’t have a fixed time for sending feedback data. We have no way of knowing when the virus core will be online.
“Secondly, as of now, we can’t even lock onto the virus core’s data pattern and aren’t able to trace it on the network. If it remains in the quantum network, will we just not be able to find it?”
“Hence, this was just a rough idea. The details still need to be decided. However, it should be feasible,” Han Xiao said.
“These problems all have a way of being solved. Since we know that the virus core is a life form and have its details, we can use that as an anchor and use prophecy spells to search the time it will log on to the network,” Kant added.
“As for the data pattern of the virus core, I can provide some details,” Manison said. “Although I didn’t catch it, I recorded the traces it left behind when it was in the quantum network. With that as the clue, we can do cross-referencing, and we should be able to lock onto its data pattern.”
The people present discussed ideas for a while and gradually filled in the details. They all felt that this plan was worth trying. This time, Sidreun brought up the last issue. “I have one last question. The participants of this operation might not have to know Virtual Paramount. Every Beyond Grade A should have the ability to capture the virus core, and the chances will be higher if all the Beyond Grade As here take part in it.”
He did not believe the nonsense Han Xiao said at all. Beyond Grade As should all have the ability to capture the virus core. There was no way Virtual Paramount was a requirement. That certainly had to be Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor’s conspiracy. “I have no objections. I’m glad to be of help.” The rest of the people present all agreed.
Of course you have no objections. What objections will you have since you will have an opportunity to obtain the core… Han Xiao complained in his mind.
“Then it’s decided,” Sidreun said with a serious tone. “This plan still requires approval from the upper echelons. The three of us all have to report it. The results should come very soon, and it’ll most likely go smoothly. This operation still needs you guys, the Beyond Grade As, so I hope you’re all well prepared. The safety of the universe depends on you.”
Deactivating the remote projection, Han Xiao’s vision returned to his office.
He casually knocked on the table and pondered.
All the Beyond Grade As would be working together to capture the virus core, and every single one of them wanted to get their hands on the core. Hence, choosing the ambush location was the top priority. This was a matter of probability. The more avatars one had, the higher the chances of meeting the virus core. In this respect, no one could compare with the Mechanic Emperor.
Comparatively, Han Xiao’s spare Lord’s Avatars were very few. It was not because he lacked money, but to him, there was not much of a point building too many of them. He would only be able to descend on one avatar at a time no matter what.
It was clear old man Manison had ulterior motives for building so many avatars. He was probably planning to take over countless planets one day.
Humph! What an ambitious b*stard!
Manison probably has more Lord’s Avatars than the number of trap nodes. He will definitely come into contact with the virus core, so he’s basically unbeatable. While the rest of us can only rely on luck…
Han Xiao massaged the bridge of his nose.
The number of people stationed at each location was not limited. Manison would basically be everywhere, so there was no way of dodging him.
When the three Universal Civilizations have decided on the trap nodes, I’d better let Harrison help choose the ambush locations…
If my luck fails me and I don’t end up meeting the virus core, I’ll just live with it.
However, if I do meet the virus core, Manison’s avatar will most likely be around too. I’ll have to compete with him, and it definitely won’t be just a verbal negotiation.
I’ll just have to improvise…
If he had any advantages at all, it was that he did not have to care about whether the virus core was dead or not. The others all wanted to capture it alive and parse it for the full Domino Virus technology, while he had the [Intelligent Plague) mission, which would give him a related talent if he eliminated the virus core personally. Given the specialty of the Domino Virus, the related talent would most likely have something to do with Virtual Technology.
Although he would lose the opportunity to obtain the full technology this way, thinking about it, if the three Universal Civilizations or other Beyond Grade As obtained such a powerful virtual virus, it might not be a good thing. Furthermore, even if he obtained it, it would be a hot potato. Countless people, including the three Universal Civilizations, would have their eyes on him at all times.
However, the Domino Virus technology could also become a powerful weapon against the World Tree Civilization.
Han Xiao was stuck in a dilemma.
Never mind, it’s too early to think of all this. I’ll first have to make sure I meet the virus. Only then will I have the chance to compete with Manison…
He focused his thoughts.
Anyway, this would be a huge operation, so the preparation stage would last quite some time, meaning he had sufficient time. He could add some production lines and produce as many Lord’s Avatars as possible to be stationed at more locations, increasing the chance of him meeting the virus core.
“This information is from Black Star?”
Meanwhile, the remote projections of the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders gathered and listened to the report from Sidreun and the other two.
Right after the meeting hosted by Black Star ended, the three monitors contacted their three leaders through the one and only coded channel that was connected to the outside world to explain the operation plan, hoping to get approval.
After hearing it, Urranrell crossed her hands before her chest and slowly said, “If what Black Star said is true, he’ll be a great hero of the explored universe who saved it from a disaster. Without his prophecy, we’d all have to pay a bloody price to discover the truth of the Virtual Mutiny Virus.”
“Hmm, the brief structure of this plan came from him too. If we catch the virus core because of it, Black Star will indeed be a hero to the entire universe who changed the disaster of a future he saw in the prophecy.” Bader expressed his compliments too.
“Black Star is indeed worthy of merit.” The church’s pope agreed too.
Ie
Putting aside their beef in the past, both the Federation of Light and the Arcane Church recognized and appreciated what Han Xiao did in the battle against the Intelligent Plague. He acted very reliably and contributed a lot. Having thought of that, the three of them looked at each other and nodded.
“We shall approve of this operation. We allow you to deploy the resources in the Ancient Star Desert to execute this plan. Don’t disappoint
us.”
“Understood,” Sidreun quickly replied.
The church’s pope suddenly said, “One more thing, do make sure that the virus core ends up in our control in the end. We can’t let any non-direct members obtain it.”
“That’s right. The Virtual Mutiny Virus is a weapon of war. It’s too dangerous. We must not let this technology get leaked, or the order of the universe will be threatened.”
Bader agreed and added, “Especially Black Star and Mechanic Emperor. If a peak Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic gets this technology and improves it, it might become something even more dangerous than the Intelligent Plague.”
Even though Manison was the Federation of Light’s ally, Bader knew what was more important.
Although they all wanted this technology, the three of them clearly understood that preventing a fourth party from obtaining this virus technology was more important.
In the eyes of the three Universal Civilizations, they had to have a monopoly on this kind of extremely powerful weapon of war. Only then would it be beneficial for the entire universe.
Somewhere in the Ancient Star Desert, a small civilian transport fleet had arrived at a desolate planet.
This was a legitimate galactic transportation company. It was not large and did not have much of a name for itself. It only operated on a few fixed routes. Its business range was limited to between several Star Zones of the same Star System. There was a small desolate universe belt there. Due to its size, the advanced civilizations did not set up any stargates. Hence, there were quite a number of long-distance transport companies that filled this gap.
The transport fleet slowly came to a stop in this planet’s orbit.
“Let’s resupply here. There are fuel resources on this planet. We’re going to collect some.”
Inside the main ship, the senior captain, who had worked in this transport company for many years, gave the order.
Suddenly, an observation officer said, “Captain, the radar shows that this planet is shrouded by a strange electromagnetic storm.”
The captain was surprised. He moved to the porthole and saw that the atmosphere of this desolate planet was filled with flickering light-blue electrical sparks. It looked like a looming electromagnetic shell.
“That’s weird. I’ve run this transportation route for decades and stopped god knows how many times on this planet. When did this appear here?” the captain murmured and looked at the radar again.
The more he looked at the electromagnetic field structure, the more he felt it looked familiar.
“The structure of this electromagnetic field…” the observation officer said with hesitation. “Why does it look somewhat like the bio-electrical network of the neurons’ movements in the brain of a living life form?”
The captain was startled. When he looked at it more carefully again, the structure of this electromagnetic field totally looked like a brain that was enlarged countless times.
“Could it be alive? Is it an electromagnetic field life form?”
The captain was surprised. This kind of life form had always been rare. They could be sold to collectors with special tastes at quite a high price.
Having thought of that, the captain immediately ordered, “Quickly, try to capture it!”
However, as soon as he said that, the electromagnetic storm shrouding the planet suddenly dissipated into thin air like it had never appeared. There were no signs of it on the radar too.
The members inside the cabin were all startled.
“Am I tripping?”
The captain rubbed his eyes with shock.
On the Star Arc Civilization’s mother planet, the upper echelons were having a discussion in the conference room. “The three Universal Civilizations sent us a notification not long ago, demanding that we be ready to shut down all the quantum network base stations on all our planets any time. What’s this about?”
“Isn’t the Intelligent Plague already under control? Did something happen?”
“Or are the three Universal Civilizations plotting against us again?”
The upper echelons’ expressions were stiff. They were full of suspicion. Initially, when the three Universal Civilizations announced that the antivirus had been created, they thought the Intelligent Plague was basically dealt with. Hence, their attention was focused on the fact that the Ancient Star Desert was still in lockdown. They felt that the three Universal Civilizations might use the opportunity and do something to them afterward, so they had been on alert 24/7. It was like they were suffering from delusions. The three Universal Civilizations’ sudden order to tell them to be ready to cut off all the quantum network connections in their territory made the Star Arc Civilization even more suspicious. They almost thought that this was a signal of the three Universal Civilizations’ attacks on them.
This time, it was not cutting off their communications to the outside world but shutting down the quantum network in their territory, which meant that their galactic society foundation would be shut down. In the interstellar era, large civilizations like them completely relied on the immediate exchange of information through the quantum network to rule and manage their planets. Shutting that down meant that they had to abandon their ruling over their territory temporarily. It was no wonder they were worried.
The civilization’s leader knocked on the table and silenced the room. “The three Universal Civilizations sent the same announcement to the other civilizations too. We’re not the only one.”
Hearing this, the others all nodded with relief.
“Then it should still be related to the Intelligent Plague… What have the three Universal Civilizations been doing lately?” an official asked.
The person in charge of the intelligence department raised his eyes and said, “The three Universal Civilizations’ troops are stationed separately on various planets. Those Beyond Grade A Mechanics are making strange movements too, dispatching their mechanical troops to those planets. They seem to be up to something big.” “All the Beyond Grade A Mechanics are acting?”
“Yes, all.”
“What do you think they’re doing?”
“I don’t know the details, but it sure looks a lot like they’re setting up an encirclement.” “Hmm…”
The civilization leader pondered for a moment and slowly said, “Cooperate with the three Universal Civilizations’ arrangements. For the time being, investigate what the three Universal Civilizations and those Beyond Grade As are planning to do. Pay close attention. Don’t ignore any moves they make. I want to know what their goal is.”
In the Flickering World development union headquarters on Planet Finn, the remote projections of various Beyond Grade As gathered for the routine plenary meeting.
Some of the seats were empty, mostly Beyond Grade As who were summoned, including the president and the vice president seats.
“Speaking of which, Mechanic Emperor and Black Star have already missed quite a few meetings. I wonder how they’re doing in the Ancient Star Desert,” someone casually said. This topic quickly sparked discussion.
“The Intelligent Plague in the Ancient Star Desert has lasted for many months. No news has gotten out. What’s the situation now? Is the disaster under control?”
“The Star Field is under lockdown. I can’t get any information either. Any of you know what’s going on?”
Since the three Universal Civilizations evaluated the Intelligent Plague as a universal disaster, the entire universe was paying close attention to the Ancient Star Desert. However, since leaking any information was forbidden, they did not know the situation in the Ancient Star Desert.
The Beyond Grade As present were all curious too.
“Hey, Hila, anything from your army commander?” A Beyond Grade A turned and looked at Hila, who rarely spoke.
“No.” Hila gave the simplest response.
She was also a member of the association. Since Black Star could not attend the meetings, she acted as the representative of the Black Star Army.
Tolaen curled his lips and said, “Humph, Black Star might have already been taken out.” “Are you itching for another beating?” Hila said with an expressionless face.
Tolaen gave a creepy smile and said, “The way I see it, the three Universal Civilizations calling all the Beyond Grade A Mechanics over was a conspiracy to begin with. Think about it, both the president and the vice president are Mechanics. Wouldn’t they be able to easily achieve what they’ve been wanting to do to us this way?” The allies of the Arcane Church all looked at him with speechless expressions. Whose side are you really on?
“Stop talking nonsense. You’ll be held accountable for the things you say,” a direct member of the church said with a displeased tone.
“My bad, I always say whatever I want to say.” Tolaen snorted.
Hila did not bother with him, but she was indeed a little worried.
All the other Mechanics only sent their avatars there; Black Star was the only one whose original body had gone over.
The Ancient Star Desert was in lockdown. If the three Universal Civilizations really wanted to do something to Black Star, that place would instantly turn into a death trap. Hila did not trust the three Universal Civilizations from the bottom of her heart. Although the King suit could teleport Han Xiao out anytime, it was not enough to make her not worry.
On the other side, Secret Master’s eyelids trembled uncontrollably.
As a protector of the black market, he was more interested in the Ancient Star Desert’s situation than the others.
Ever since the Star Field had gone into lockdown, all contact with the black market over there had been cut off. A lot of the businesses there were under his protection and had always given him a lot of profit. Some were the Beast Ancestor’s businesses that he had just taken over not long ago. After having no contact for so long, he had absolutely no idea how his businesses were doing.
I wonder how the black market of the Ancient Star Desert is faring… Secret Master pondered.
According to Han Xiao’s operation plan, the three Universal Civilizations did a lot of preparations over more than a month. They dispatched fleets to be stationed at all the trap node planets. Most of their time was spent on traveling and waiting for the Beyond Grade As’ mechanical armies to arrive at the locations.
Since this was a Star Field level network, there were quite a number of trap nodes that spread across the various Star Systems of the Ancient Star Desert. The trap nodes the three Universal Civilizations had chosen were mainly those territories that were not easy to control with just orders or some crucial spots.
Every terminal exit had a Beyond Grade A Mechanic and the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet around it, and Manison’s Lord’s Avatars were at all of them.
In this time, Han Xiao had also built a batch of specially made Lord’s Avatars, but it was still not enough. He decided to compromise and stationed only his mechanical troops at every spot.
As for the Lord’s Avatars, he placed them at the locations carefully selected by Harrison and hoped he was lucky enough.
The target of [Lord’s Descent) was not limited to specially made Lord’s Avatars. It could be used on even normal mechanical soldiers, only not at full power and with a full set of abilities. Therefore, even though any Beyond Grade A Mechanic would be able to set up an ambush at all the locations, they could only be a bystander at most, and none had the advantage Manison had. After all, there was no way they could compete with Manison’s Lord’s Avatar if they descended on ordinary machines.
Therefore, the other Beyond Grade A Mechanics were all planning to do their best to force the virus core to materialize at one of the locations their Lord’s Avatars were at.
Due to how stealthy the virus core was, there was currently not a scanning tool that anyone could use. Only Beyond Grade A Mechanics could track the virus core on the network. Although some of them were not specialized in the virtual area, as long as they had learned the (Virtual Creator] Ultimate Knowledge, it was enough.
In order to improve everyone’s virtual ability and range, the Federation of Light provided a large-scale strategic device—Super Range Virtual Brainwave Enhancer.
This was equipment exclusively for Mechanics. It improved one’s virtual ability in many ways, drastically increasing the range. It could be fully utilized by Beyond Grade A Mechanics.
The size of this device was enormous, like a spherical, silver galactic fortress. Its exterior looked like it was assembled through plates. There were clearly visible gaps between, and it was not smooth at all.
The inside of the device was very empty. In its heart, all the Beyond Grade A Mechanics formed a circle and hovered in midair. They were ready.
The remote projections of the three Inspectors, including Sidreun, appeared in this circle. Sidreun said with a serious tone, “Guys, the mechanical troops are all deployed. There are only thirteen minutes to the time when the virus core will go online according to the prophecy. When the time comes, we will cut off the network immediately and make the Ancient Star Desert a trap. Please act according to the plan. We’re relying on you; you must catch the virus core.”
The people nodded. Although this was a huge responsibility, everyone there was someone who stood at the top of the universe, so they did not feel pressured.
The first step of the operation involved them tracing the virus core after the trap was set, preventing it from hiding. It was like catching a chicken inside a cage. With the data pattern Manison had provided and the bonus of the Super Range Virtual Brainwave Enhancer, they could track the virus core for as far as they wanted and not worry about it escaping
This time, Kant said with a smile, “This should be the first time all the Beyond Grade A Mechanics in the universe have worked together. I think this will be written down in history.”
Hearing this, many people present laughed.
Indeed, all the people at the top of the Mechanic class working together was something worth writing about in the history books.
Han Xiao glanced around and curled his lips.
Humph, you’re all laughing now, but when we fight for the virus core later, you’ll all beat each other up without hesitation.
I hope Harrison’s Luck Glow works this time and the virus core ends up meeting my Lord’s Avatar…
Not taking part in the conversation, Han Xiao prayed in his mind.
The people went silent to stay focused. Time passed minute by minute.
Finally, when it came to the last minute, Sidreun looked at the time and said with a deep voice, “Guys, let’s go!”
In the quantum network vision, the Ancient Star Desert was an illuminated Star Field. Countless bright nodes formed a sea of light, and countless data streams connected the nodes, forming an extremely complex 3D network structure.
These data connections that looked like strings were the foundation of the galactic society.
At this time, a stream of light suddenly appeared outside one of the data links.
This stream of light looked like a cluster of extremely intricate data. Countless symbols flowed on its shell. This was what the Domino Virus’ core looked like. It was in the form of an artificial intelligence life form.
The next second, the virus core came into contact with the firewall of this data link. Its shell instantly assimilated with the firewall, easily getting through the alarm system, and infiltrated this link. It then moved along with the data flowed, capturing the feedback data in the network.
Ka!
At this time, a large portion of the bright Ancient Star Desert in the quantum network vision suddenly became dark.
Countless data links broke off, and countless nodes extinguished simultaneously. The sea of light became much smaller.
Buzz!
At the same time, more than a dozen powerful consciousnesses arrived in the quantum network, scanning through the remaining quantum network area like nothing could hide from them.
The next moment, a consciousness locked onto the virus core.
Data streams came together and formed a silhouette of light before the virus core. Kant’s virtual soul smiled at it.
“Found you…”
At this instant, the virus core’s program quickly came up with a measure and immediately fled!
Through the data link, the virus core changed its form multiple times and fled to a place that was countless nodes away.
However, suddenly, a data stream tornado appeared in front of it.
“Are you playing hide and seek?”
The data streams formed Quantum Demon’s face. It was intently staring at the virus core.
Without hesitation, the virus core turned around and fled again, hoping to find a location and hide in the quantum network.
However, no matter how much computing power the virus core spent on coming up with disguises, it would still end up meeting a Beyond Grade A Mechanic every time. It was forced to keep changing direction. It looked quite similar to someone who was panicking.
Han Xiao, Manison, Kant, Judith, and the other Beyond Grade A Mechanics showed up one after another, stopping the virus core in its path.The encirclement started to shrink around it.
At this time, the virus core suddenly stopped fleeing. It entered one of the nodes and disappeared without a trace.
“It has materialized!”
Inside the real world, Han Xiao’s original body’s eyes sparkled.
The terminal exit that the virus core had chosen seemed to be a planet where the Machinery Faith was. That was one of the ambush locations his Lord’s Avatar was at!
Buzz!
At the same time, powerful Mechanical Forces appeared around every Mechanic in the Super Range Virtual Brainwave Enhancer.
Multiple consciousnesses traveled in the cosmic space and headed to the planet this node was at!
In the Ancient Star Desert, Planet Magnetic Cloud was one of the gathering grounds of the Machinery Faith. Its ground was yellowish-black, and heavy bases in the style of the Machinery Faith stood on the surface neatly, forming a ring-shaped industrial city. Around it were open mines with countless large industrial cranes. The streets of the city were well connected in all directions, all flat gray roads. Convoys of carriers rode past the pedestrians on the sides of the street wearing heavy kinetic armor one after another.
At the heart of the ring-shaped city was a tall mountain. It was sliced flat in the middle as a platform, where the temples were. On top of it was a floating island releasing a gentle artificial light.
The Machinery Faith had many followers and factions. It had no strict rules and mostly centered around the Grand Priest and the various bishops, forming fleets that traveled the universe looking for planets to migrate to. Their goal was the planets’ mines and the machinery wreckages underground, accumulating them or selling them. Therefore, most of the planets the Machinery Faith visited were just temporarily strongholds. They were somewhat like a wandering religion. The Machinery Faith did not have many fixed strongholds. Some were the subdivisions of different factions, some were long-term gathering and residential areas of the believers such as Planet Magnetic Cloud, and some were holy grounds recognized by all the believers.
Now, the heavily armed fleet of the three Universal Civilizations hovered above Planet Magnetic Cloud. The believers on the ground, however, were not surprised. They only occasionally glanced above and then got back to what they were doing. The three Universal Civilizations had already contacted the Machinery Faith. This kind of loose organization with religious factors was always hard to manage. The three Universal Civilizations did not trust in the Machinery Faith’s ability to execute their orders, so they just stationed their fleet there and used it as a trap node.
Currently, on the open platform at the top of the mechanical temple, the Grand Priest who was wearing the bishop armor looked up at the fleet above and softly murmured.
The priest beside saw this, approached him, and asked, “Grand Priest, are you worried about the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet?”
The Grand Priest shook his head and said, “We’re just a civilian organization that obeys the law. We’ve never had much contact with the three Universal Civilizations, so they won’t do anything to us. I’m glad that the three Universal Civilizations are here.” “Glad?”
“Yes, ever since the Intelligent Plague erupted, the fanatics in the religion have been growing by the day. Not only have they been studying the Virtual Mutiny Virus privately, but they even wanted to spread it. This completely goes against the Machinery Faith’s neutral stance; their twisted faith will bring disaster to the religion sooner or later. Now that the three Universal Civilizations have come, they’ve indirectly kept those fanatics obedient,” the Grand Priest mumbled.
Thinking back, it still felt quite heavy.
After the three Universal Civilizations invented the antivirus, there were even some fanatics who attempted to improve the virus and crack the antivirus so that the Intelligent Plague would continue. These madmen strongly believed that this was a great artificial intelligence revolution.
Therefore, left with no choice, he dispatched the Guards of Faith and locked these people up. However, this idea remained and was still spreading around this gathering ground. “Hmm, maybe…” The priest paused momentarily. “Even now, I still don’t understand why the three Universal Civilizations are temporarily using our gathering ground.”
“It seems to be related to the Intelligent Plague. I don’t know much either…” The Grand Priest shook his head.
Before he finished his sentence, the radar in his armor suddenly reacted.
“Abnormality detected in the planet’s magnetic field. A vortex has appeared, coordinates…”
The Grand Priest was startled. He turned and looked at the magnetic field vortex together with the priest beside him.
The magnetic field of Planet Magnetic Cloud was very special. The armor of the Machinery Faith believers here was equipped with specially made monitors of the magnetic field. At this time, they all heard the notification from the radar. The people on the streets all stopped and looked in the same direction. They quickly switched to Electromagnetic Vision so that they could clearly see the movement of the magnetic field. In their vision, in the sky far away, the magnetic field seemed to have formed a tornado, and bright light sparks appeared out of nowhere, quickly forming an energy field.
Right at this moment, something happened!
Boom!
Bright meteors suddenly flew out from the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet one after another, quickly heading to the location of the electromagnetic vortex.
Although these meteors were not large in size, they all gave off an astonishing energy presence, dragging extremely bright electrical tracks behind them that left long-lasting marks on the pupils of those watching. Those meteors made thunderous sounds while moving, as if the sky was collapsing.
“What is that?”
Including the Grand Priest, all the Machinery Faith believers on Planet Magnetic Cloud were shocked.
At this time, the first batch of meteors arrived at the electromagnetic vortex’s location and all stopped. After the flames around them disappeared, their appearance as machines appeared. They were all Lord’s Avatars of the various Beyond Grade A Mechanics.
Manison was the quickest. He looked up and glared at the electromagnetic vortex, and it stopped moving for an instant. Then, he raised his hand and grabbed toward it. The electromagnetic field at the vortex’s center was grabbed by him, and it entered into a mini triangular container the size of a human head.
The next moment, the abnormal electromagnetic vortex disappeared. The wind and the rain stopped, and the sky became bright again, as if the electromagnetic tornado just moments ago was only an illusion.
“Are those the Lord’s Avatars of Beyond Grade A Mechanics?”
Seeing this, although the Machinery Faith believers still had no idea what was going on, they were all instantly overjoyed and thrilled.
In their eyes, this many Beyond Grade A Mechanics appearing was the same as Gods descending.
However, before they could be surprised, the situation changed drastically again. Suddenly, the other Beyond Grade A Lord’s Avatars behind Manison attacked him all at the same time.
Boom boom boom!
Explosions erupted in midair and illuminated the faces of countless Machinery Faith believers.
The next second, Manison’s Lord’s Avatar flew out from the explosion and was surrounded by the others.
Seeing this, a flash of shock appeared in the eyes of every believer.
These Beyond Grade As are going to fight here? Then aren’t we witnessing a ‘Battle of Gods’?
Ten seconds prior…
Inside the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet outside Planet Magnetic Cloud, mechanical troops of the various Mechanics hovered. Some mechanical troops were surrounding their own Lord’s Avatars.
The instant the virus core escaped the quantum network, all of their consciousness arrived. The eyes of the mechanical bodies lit up one after another. “Target locked!”
As soon as Han Xiao arrived, the radar’s notification sounded beside his ear.
At the same time, a black silhouette landed from not far away. That was Manison’s avatar, and it rushed to the virus core’s material body instantly.
That old man is fast!
This thought flashed past his mind in an instant. Han Xiao was just about to use his ability, only to realize he could not use any teleportation abilities such as the Void Hyperdrive.
His pupils constricted, and he understood what was going on. Without further ado, he instantly followed after Manison’s avatar and fell toward the planet surface. Behind him were many meteors, all avatars or troops of the others.
Bang!
They passed through the atmosphere. Their high speed gave them a burning flame coat. Han Xiao stared at the target closely. The electromagnetic vortex enlarged in his sights as he quickly approached.
The virus core had just escaped the quantum network and was gathering electromagnetic energy to form its body, only to realize a group of Beyond Grade A Lord’s Avatars approaching. It gave up materializing and attempted to head back to the quantum network to flee.
However, in an instant, a dense electrical light shot out from Manison’s eyes. He had activated (Virtual Paramount]!
Weng!
The virus core’s virtual soul was instantly locked, unable to escape its shell that had yet to even form fully.
Manison’s movements were smooth without any hiccups. He quickly took out the specially made containment device and sucked the virus core in.
This containment was specially made to suppress the virus core’s abilities. It could perfectly contain it. As long as the virus core was caught in it, it would never escape.
Han Xiao’s pupils constricted. Old Man Manison got it!
However, the next instant, the other Lord’s Avatars that followed attacked at the same time. Highly dense beams passed him by and headed right toward Manison’s back.
Boom!
Manison had expected this. Layers of shields appeared and blocked the bombardment, causing violent explosions.
Using this force, he quickly got away from the others, at the same time turning toward them, with the containment that carried the virus core still in his hands.
The others surrounded and confronted Manison.
“Be careful. If you guys destroy the container, my efforts will have gone to waste.”
Manison was not angry at all and spoke calmly.
A direct member of the Federation of Light, Defender Romo, said with a deep voice, “Manison, hand over the virus core. You should know that this kind of thing can’t be leaked.”
The remote projections of the inspectors including Sidreun appeared. He said with a solemn tone, “That’s right. Your Excellency Mechanic Emperor, you’re a sensible person. The three Universal Civilizations will certainly reward you generously for capturing the virus core, but this thing cannot remain in the hands of someone else.”
“Hehe, you don’t have to be so nervous. After I’m done studying it, not only will I hand turn the virus core over, I’ll even share the technology I’ve obtained through it.”
Manison was very casual and did not panic at all.
Han Xiao did not speak. He looked around and nodded secretly. This was completely within his expectations.
In his previous life, the person who obtained the virus core had probably obtained it secretly. Now, however, the situation was completely different. The virus core was a hot potato. No matter which Mechanic possessed it, they would instantly be in a difficult situation and become the target of the rest of the Mechanics. At the same time, the three Universal Civilizations would certainly ask for the virus core from them.
The battleships were of no help in capturing the virus core, so why did the three Universal Civilizations deploy fleets at the trap nodes? Clearly, they were not there to deal with the virus core but to deal with them, the Beyond Grade A Mechanics!
The Lord’s Avatars present all had short-range hyperdrive abilities. Han Xiao even had Void Hyperdrive, but no one used it. This was because the fleet had activated spacetime stabilization anchors at the trap nodes long ago, preventing anyone from escaping.
And this was the exact reason Manison stayed to talk, or he would have escaped the moment he succeeded.
The only way to leave with the virus core was… to fight a way out!
However, although the three Universal Civilizations and the other Mechanics wanted to take away the virus core, they were worried about destroying the container, so they all held back.
The three Universal Civilizations hoped to take back the virus core from Manison through a negotiation. They were even mentally prepared for Manison to ask for an outrageous price.
“Mechanic Emperor, the Virtual Mutiny Virus is a strategic weapon that can threaten the entire universe. It will only be safe in the hands of the three Universal Civilizations. We won’t allow any risk to exist, so no matter what, we have to take the virus core today. You should know the severity of this matter.”
The inspector of the Arcane Church’s tone was firm.
Manison did not respond instantly but looked at the avatars of the other Mechanics. He then said slowly, “See that? Anyone who gets the virus core will have to face this. Are you guys still planning to fight for it?”
“Honestly, I don’t have a lot of interest in the virus core. After all, I’m not a Virtual Mechanic… However, I wouldn’t mind exchanging this for more good stuff.” Kant chuckled.
“Don’t look at me. As long as I get the virus core, I’ll regain my freedom, so I’m on the side of the church,” Mechanical Catastrophe Francisco said.
“I’ll fight for something with all I’ve got as long as there’s a chance… Teacher, you taught me that.” ‘Mechanic Empress’ Mornisa’s tone was calm.
Everyone expressed their attitude. Their reasons were different, but they all had the same resolve.
In the end, Manison’s eyes stopped on Han Xiao.
“Black Star, what about you?”
Han Xiao did not answer it directly but replied with a mocking tone, “You didn’t ask around just to chat, did you? Are you stalling for the time, or are you trying to find a temporary ally?”
Hearing this, Manison smiled. “Black Star, you know me well… That’s right, I need an ally to deal with this tough situation together. You and I both know the situation the Beyond Grade As are in. We’re on the same side. I plan to study the Virtual Mutiny Virus not only for its technology but also to add a layer of insurance for the Beyond Grade As. If you’re willing to help me, I won’t mind studying this technology together with you.” Everyone looked at Han Xiao with different emotions.
Han Xiao was not convinced at all. He casually said, “Sounds good, but I have a feeling you’ll go back on your word.”
“Hehe. You might not believe me, but I need someone to take this risk together with me. Two people having this technology suits my interests more, so this time, I will keep my word.”
“Tsk, that’s all words. No matter how good they sound, they’re just that.”
“Then, how do you want me to prove it?”
Han Xiao pointed at the container in Manison’s hands, smiled, and said, “Since you’re willing to study it together with me, who’s holding the virus core won’t make a difference. Give the device to me. I’ll take the risk, and you’ll help me to get out of this. That way, I’ll believe that you’re sincere and not just toying with my feelings.”
“I’m okay with that, but will you be willing to study it with me when it’s in your hands? How can I be sure you won’t go back on your words?” Manison asked the same thing.
“As you just said, I need someone to share the pressure too.” Han Xiao shrugged.
Manison stayed silent for a few seconds. As the atmosphere became heavier and heavier, he finally spoke slowly and shocked everyone.
“Since that’s the case… then why not?”
At the same time, what was happening on Planet Magnetic Cloud was being broadcast live to the Central Galaxy through a military coded channel. The leaders of the three Universal Civilizations were monitoring events in real-time. Seeing this, the three of them were all silent.
Bader took a deep breath and slowly said, “Manison… We’ve given him too much freedom. We can put up with other things, but this time, he crossed the line.”
The church’s pope said, “He always ignores our warnings, provoking our authority time after time, and now even wants to acquire a strategic intimidation weapon. He says he’s fighting for a form of insurance for the Beyond Grade As, but he’s just trying to make us fear him so he can be on the same level as us. He’ll definitely also use this to threaten us for more things in the future. The possibility of all that happening has to be eliminated at the roots.”
“I seem to recall that Black Star has a similar ability to the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device. If he works with Manison and takes the virus core, he’ll be able to teleport out immediately…” Bader turned to look at Urranrell, who was silent, and said with a more serious tone, “As long as he leaves the scene with the virus core, we’ll assume that the Virtual Mutiny Virus has already been obtained by Black Star… So, Your Excellency Dynasty Ruler, what are you planning to do?”
Urranrell stayed silent for a while before saying, “Now isn’t a good time for a cleansing. The Flickering World is in development, and the Super Star Cluster Civilizations are a threat. If we force Black Star and Mechanic Emperor to turn on us, they might go to the Super Star Cluster Civilizations with the Virtual Mutiny Virus in their hands. That’s going to be a real threat, so we should try our best for things not to come to that.” “That’s right. With the Super Star Cluster Civilizations, now indeed isn’t a good time to have a cleansing… However, our compromise and tolerance should have a limit, and we can’t step behind that line,” Bader said with a deep voice.
The church’s pope said with a grave tone, “Maybe having a trump card to protect their safety is a sensible demand of the Beyond Grade As, but we can’t ignore how much of a threat this is to our rule. I know that if Black Star or the Mechanic Emperor acquire the virus technology, we’ll still be able to maintain a peaceful relationship with them as long as we don’t push them too hard, and things won’t end up in the worst scenario. However, it will still be a hidden threat. Can we close our eyes and act like all this never happened just because it won’t show its dangers for the time being? We did not get to where we are today by having illusional hopes in others!”
Urranrell frowned and shouted, “Do you have any idea what you’re talking about? You’re talking about a war that will involve all the advanced civilizations in the entire universe, a cleansing that will last for decades or even a century. Do you not know the consequences of that? Do you want to go back to the exploration
era””
“It won’t come to that. We’re already the absolute rulers. No one can stand above us. Maybe this will be the most chaotic time since the start of the Galaxy Calendar, but it will make sure all our obstacles are cleared. It’s better than watching our enemies grow so powerful that we can’t get rid of them…” The pope’s tone was calm.
“What about the threat of the Super Star Cluster Civilizations?”
“If the Super Star Cluster Civilizations want to use the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology, we’ll announce this to the entire universe. It’ll be the best reason to start a war with them. The Super Star Cluster Civilizations have ignored the safety of the universe and attempted to use such a dangerous weapon; to maintain order, we have no choice but to wipe them out.’ This will be an opportunity to shatter all the Super Star Cluster Civilizations. Although both sides will end up suffering, nothing else will be able to shake our position afterward… After our enemies are eliminated, we’ll have more than enough time to deal with internal matters.”
Urranrell bit on her lips and squeezed out the words from between her teeth. “Stability above
all.”
The church pope was unconvinced. “Our bottom line doesn’t allow provocations.”
The atmosphere became tense. Disagreements were common in such meetings.
Seeing the two of them argue, Bader looked left and right with a strange expression.
The always aggressive Crimson Dynasty shockingly spoke about stability today, while the usually cheeky Arcane Church suddenly became a war fanatic?
Bader was at a loss.
He suppressed his shock, coughed, and said, “That’s very decisive of you, Pope. Since the Dynasty Ruler doesn’t agree with the more aggressive approach, maybe we can do it another way. Let’s say the Mechanic Emperor and Black Star succeed, we can temporarily compromise with them on the terms of them having to deal with the Super Star Cluster Civilizations. When they’re both wounded, we can come in and clean the two sides.” “Too assumptive.” The church pope shook his head. “If the Mechanic Emperor and Black Star acquire the technology, they definitely know the risks they’ll take by eliminating one of their potential customers. Otherwise, the leverage they have will lose its biggest threat.”
“Things are still not clear yet,” Urranrell said with a heavy frown. “Black Star has yet to agree to work with the Mechanic Emperor. He’s a smart person. I believe he will make a choice that’s beneficial for the peace of the universe.”
The church pope coldly said, “But what if? The federation once trusted the Mechanic Emperor too much as an ally, which led to him pushing the boundaries and gradually getting out of our control. With such an example, is the dynasty still planning to continue to protect Black Star for the sake of not offending him? A choice has to be made between the big picture and allies; unending fawning will only make the other party think you’re weak.”
Hearing this, Urranrell closed her eyes, only opening them again after a while. Her eyes were emotionless when they opened again.
“By then, I’ll have my measures.”
“Such as?”
“That’s not for you to worry, Your Excellency!”
On the other hand, the confrontation was still underway on Planet Magnetic Cloud. As soon as Manison said that, everyone present was startled. They did not think Manison would be willing to pass the virus core to someone else.
Han Xiao was shocked too. He was just mocking Manison and testing him. He did not think Manison would really agree to it. Hearing this, Han Xiao hesitated and did not respond instantly. He started to think quickly in his mind.
Manison wants to work with me, not only to shift the target to me but also because of the teleportation ability of the King suit. Of all the people here, I’m the only one who can leave this place with the virus core easily. Old Man Manison is strong, sure, but even he isn’t very confident in fleeing from here, which is why he has chosen me…
Han Xiao pondered. This body was a Lord’s Avatar that did not have the King. Nonetheless, he could summon a spare one from the Dimension Factory, so it was not an issue. Manison is killing two birds with one stone. If I agree and leave with the virus core, I’ll instantly become the target of everyone, while Manison won’t have to fight for a way out after throwing the hot potato to me. Instead, he got himself out of the equation, and I’ll face the most pressure from the three Universal Civilizations.
If I break my promise after acquiring the technology, not only will I have to endure the pressure alone, but I’ll also have to suffer the consequences of breaking my promise. Not speaking of offending Manison, my name among the Beyond Grade As will plummet for sure. Therefore, he’s certain that I’ll need an ally, so he knows he’ll most likely still get his hands on the technology, and he’s willing to gamble on it…
Han Xiao clenched his teeth in his mind.
He’s playing these dirty tricks again! The two of them did not chat privately but openly. Manison’s intentions were clear; he wanted to shift the target of the conflict, and everyone understood that. However, some people still panicked. Seeing that Han Xiao was about to be convinced, the dynasty’s inspector yelled loudly, “Black Star! You have to think carefully about what you’re doing!”
He had to panic. Although the spacetime was stabilized, Black Star was the only one who could just teleport out.
Although the two of them could run but could not hide, if the three Universal Civilizations could not retrieve the virus core on the spot, it would cause tons of problems afterward.
The Beyond Grade A Mechanics changed their positions and stood apart from Manison and Han Xiao.
This time, Manison raised the contained virus core, stared at Han Xiao, and said, “Black Star, I’ve always had high hopes for you. You should know that this will become the amulet for the Beyond Grade As. We have the same philosophy. Leave with it. Our future is in your hands.”
“Bullsh*t. Although you’re the association president, you still don’t have the right to make this kind of decision on behalf of all the Beyond Grade As. No one needs you to plan the future for them.” Kant turned to Han Xiao and said, “Black Star, don’t get tricked by him. Not only will possessing the virus core not give us insurance, but it will bring us a disaster.”
Han Xiao hesitated.
His philosophy was not the same as the Mechanic Emperor’s. He wanted to interfere with the Calamity of the Supers so that the explored universe could preserve more strength to deal with the World Tree Civilization in the future.
Manison wanted to make the Beyond Grade As stronger, making everyone in this Grade his shield. Another goal of him attempting to acquire the Domino Virus technology was most likely to make the other Beyond Grade As more united around him and see him as their leader.
In Han Xiao’s previous life, Manison most likely was the one who got the Domino Virus. However, he did not use it during the World Tree Civilization war. His ambitions showed from that-since he still did not expose his trump card even when the explored universe was threatened by an outside enemy, he clearly wanted to use it on the three Universal Civilizations.
Han Xiao looked around and saw the expression on everyone’s face.
Is the Domino Virus really an amulet? Who knows? It might be a death invitation.
How can the three Universal Civilizations possibly be willing to be restricted by someone? If I threaten them with this as leverage, I won’t receive compromises but, more likely, the three Universal Civilizations’ resolve to eliminate their enemies no matter the cost.
Most of the time, the three Universal Civilizations would think about the big picture, but this did not mean that they would compromise without limits. Strategic weapons would only achieve a balance of power when the power of the two sides was on the same level in the first place. However, if one side’s power overwhelmed the other, it was tough to imagine they would allow an outsider to use a weapon that could threaten them to demand things. If he obtained the Domino Virus technology, he would be able to cause huge damage to the entire universe if he wanted to and make the galactic society go back multiple generations. He might feel this meant that the three Universal Civilizations would have no choice but to choose to tolerate and compromise with him… However, this would be the exact source of the three Universal Civilizations’ resolve to eliminate him.
Even if he did not think of causing trouble, people could change, and the three Universal Civilizations would not be willing to take that risk.
From Han Xiao’s perspective, the three Universal Civilizations allowing them to possess the Domino Virus technology did not seem like a big deal. After all, as long as everyone held back, it seemed like no one would suffer any losses. It looked like a small issue not worth all the trouble.
However, this was only his mind playing tricks on him, telling him he might get lucky. In truth, the three Universal Civilizations had lines that could not be crossed. They could tolerate others being greedy, but they would never allow anyone to threaten their positions as the absolute rulers.
In this situation, if he ignored their warnings and took the virus core away, no matter what he said afterward, the three Universal Civilizations would still assume he was thinking of overthrowing their rule.
If things really turned ugly, Han Xiao did not think the other Beyond Grade As would be standing on his side. He knew very well that everyone had their own plans. His call only got so many responses before because it suited their interests. However, no one was ready to turn on the three Universal Civilizations. By then, there would definitely be more people who would choose not to be involved than people who chose to take this path to the end.
By that time, he and the Mechanic Emperor might be seen as the cancer of society. Most of the time, the majority represented the society they were in.
Also, the impact of things turning completely ugly would show in all areas. The Black Star Army’s territory in the Flickering World would be retrieved; the civilizations would no longer provide any resource channels; the civilian financial groups would terminate their partnerships; the army’s funds and accounts would be frozen, and the army would not be able to purchase any resources; countless army soldiers would quit and leave; the army’s business would shrink dramatically… The three Universal Civilizations would only have to make a simple announcement for all this to happen. All the benefits he was enjoying from the advanced civilizations would be gone forever.
Everyone was a member of the galactic civilization. There would certainly be extremely few people who would be willing to fight against the three Universal Civilizations on the Black Star Army’s side.
After all, most people were just ordinary people. No one could blame them for putting themselves first.
Han Xiao’s eyes flickered. He stopped joking around and said with a deep voice, “You’re putting me in the gamble.”
“I’m thinking about the big picture.” Manison’s tone was calm.
Han Xiao stayed silent for a while before suddenly moving.
Buzz!
Void energy erupted and shrouded this area. Everyone there felt like they were in a swap and could not move freely.
Void Prison!
Due to the spacetime stabilization device, the strength, duration, and range of this ability all decreased drastically, but it was still barely enough.
In this area, only Han Xiao’s movements were unrestricted. He flew past the encirclement around and instantly came before Manison, grabbed onto the virus core and immediately moved aside.
“Black Star!”
As Void Prison ended, everyone came and surrounded Han Xiao this time.
Everyone’s eyes landed on him with all kinds of complicated emotions such as anger, worry, anxiety, and many more.
Outside the crowd, Manison looked at Han Xiao and said, “Looks like you’ve figured it out. You’re a smart man. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Black Star, don’t do anything stupid.” Sidreun and the inspectors were shocked.
Han Xiao did not respond to anyone. He looked at the virus core in his hands carefully, softly rubbed the container, and made sure it was the real thing.
With so many Beyond Grade As around, the possibility of it being swapped without getting noticed was nonexistent.
With the virus core in his hands, he felt as if he was not holding onto a physical object but the fate of countless people in this universe.
The direction of the era and the path it would take might be all decided by his one decision.
This time, Han Xiao looked up at the nervous eyes of everyone and slowly said, “Before taking the bet, one has to see the risks first. Sorry, I might have made a not so right decision. It’s just that I suddenly recall something a woman once said to me…
“She said… this universe has an end no matter how enormous it is, but ambition has no limits.”
Right after he said that, under the shocking look of everyone, Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force erupted and flowed into the container.
The Mechanical Force was mixed with a virtual soul attack. It completely wiped both the virus core’s physical body and soul.
Ka-cha!
He shattered the metal shell with his fingers. The empty container turned into pieces and fell to the ground.
At this moment, it was like everything froze.
Everyone watching, including the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations who were watching the broadcast, were all completely astonished.
Everyone had a lot of guesses in their minds, but not a single person had thought of what just happened.
Black Star destroyed the virus core?
He’s mad! Why did he do that?
Even if you don’t want it, you didn’t have to destroy it!
A bright light suddenly appeared in Manison’s eyes, and a terrifying energy flowed in his body like a tsunami.
His deep voice echoed around word by word.
“What! The! Hell! Have! You! Done!”
The lightning snaked wildly around, flickering with arcs of electricity as the energy fluctuations blasted around with the force of a hurricane. The Beyond Grade A avatars and machinery present were all blown away and retreated. Han Xiao was blown back a short distance, and he immediately stabilized himself, staring at the other party. Manison was entwined with a brilliant golden arc of Mechanical Force, releasing an astonishing aura. His pinnacle Beyond Grade A energy was fully released, and even though this was just an avatar of his, Han Xiao felt a heavy sense of oppression.
Manison’s eyes flashed as he locked onto Han Xiao, repeating his question.
“Do you know what you just did?”
“Are you angry?” Han Xiao did not bother to explain, only indifferently replying. “I’m very disappointed in you. You definitely understood what sort of chance you just gave up! Why did you destroy the virus core?” “Eradicating the Intelligent Plague is the goal of our trip. I just did my part… and on the first day I arrived, I told you this. It’s my generation’s responsibility to prevent the universe from growing more chaotic, but you didn’t seem to take it seriously.”
Manison hovered in the air, his tone not revealing any surprise or joy. “It seems like my understanding of you is still insufficient.”
“Many people don’t even understand themselves, let alone say that they understand others… Mechanic Emperor, you think that we’re the same kind of person, but in fact, we’re not.”
“Since things have reached this point, there’s no need to say any more. Since you disappointed me, you should know how this will end today!”
Manison’s Mechanical Force soared up to the sky, piercing through the clouds, and connected to his machinery in outer space. His voice boomed out.
“Let me see just how much ability you have!”
Just as his voice sounded, a black wave of machinery passed through the atmosphere, shooting out a dense beam of light as they fell from the sky like a meteor shower toward Han Xiao’s position.
“My thoughts exactly!” Han Xiao’s left fist slammed upward toward the sky in a fanfare of light. An arc-shaped psionic protective shield unfolded in the air.
The dense cluster of light beams hit on the protective shield like a heavy downpour hitting the leaves on a plantation. This was accompanied by crackling explosions.
Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force also rushed upward to the sky, summoning his machinery on standby in outer space.
The machinery acted instantaneously and broke through the atmosphere. Manison’s troops immediately shifted their targets, exchanging fire with Han Xiao’s troops at a high altitude. The crisscrossing beams gave off a mysterious glow in the skies.
Han Xiao and Manison’s avatars were not idle either. They quickly drew close to each other in a collision.
Boom!
Just like a comet hitting the earth, a bluish-gold circular shock wave exploded at the center of their impact.
The two figures exchanged attacks hundreds of times, entangled as they rose into the air.
Boom!
Alloy rubbed against alloy, releasing countless electric sparks, and shock waves constantly formed at the point of their impacts.
Just as two of them started fighting, the other Beyond Grade A avatars and troops on the scene immediately diverged from each other, running off to the side to watch without getting involved.
Seeing Black Star fighting against the Mechanic Emperor, everyone then recovered from the shock of Han Xiao destroying the virus core.
“I really didn’t expect… that Black Star would do this.” Maximiler was surprised.
“By doing this, he has put an end to the possibility of any organization obtaining the complete technology of this Virtual Mutiny Virus. Neither us nor the three Universal Civilizations can restore this technology now. He was too impulsive. Now no one has obtained anything from this trip,” Mornisa complained. “Impulsive? In my opinion, he’s the one who is the calmest and most rational,” Sun Hunter replied. “While doing this will cut off our hope of obtaining the virus technology, from the perspective of the universe and the bigger picture, this was a selfless choice.”
Kant nodded, speaking emotionally. “Come to think of it, we did not lose anything, nor did the three Universal Civilizations. The only ones who truly lost were Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor. The Mechanic Emperor has been made a fool of, and his position is making the three Universal Civilizations feel a certain degree of danger from him. As for Black Star, he has relinquished the possibility of obtaining benefits.
“If I was in that position, I would definitely not have destroyed it. I would have negotiated with the three Universal Civilizations in exchange for a lot of benefits. Yet Black Star was able to give up on those benefits to choose to destroy the root cause of this disaster. This should be the most beneficial to universal peace… I always thought of Black Star as a pure profit-seeker and didn’t expect him to do such a thing. Maybe I was wrong all along.”
“That’s right…” Judith sighed. “Our understanding of Black Star seems to be too limited. Turns out, he was not such a profit-seeker.”
Everyone was in a complicated mood. At this moment, the image of Black Star rose rapidly in their hearts since they did not expect him to perform such a noble move.
Even Jackornitz and those who had some enmity with him had to admit that their impression of Black Star had risen a notch. While the hope of restoring the virus technology was lost, no one was too disappointed even though they thought it a pity. In fact, they heaved a sigh of relief. This was an outcome they could all accept.
In fact, everyone had this vague worry in their heads as to what would happen after the three Universal Civilizations obtained the Virtual Mutiny Virus. Everyone present was a mechanic, and the Virtual Mutiny Virus would be the most lethal to them. The Virtual Mutiny Virus would pose a huge threat to their Class, which would cause their entire profession to enter hibernation.
In contrast, destroying the virus core was a wise choice. From this point of view, most of the people present were not against Han Xiao’s choice and even thought of it as a compromise that would benefit the Beyond Grade As.
They just did not know if Black Star had thought about all this when making a decision.
“Then, what shall we do now?” One of the neutral Beyond Grade As stared at the fierce battle unfolding. “Are we going to intervene?”
“Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor have deep conflicts, as they were originally the President and Vice President of the Development union. This is a dispute over their chosen paths. Let’s see how it goes.” Kant paused for a while before continuing. “Uh… the dynasty’s fleet seems to have switched off the spacetime stability anchor.”
After fighting for a while, Han Xiao and Manison noticed the release of the spacetime anchor and suddenly broke apart, confronting each other at a higher altitude.
Their machines stopped fighting, returning to the positions of the two, guarding their own avatars.
“Your strength has improved very quickly,” Manison said indifferently. “It’s just that, without burning your potential, you’re still not my opponent.” “Try me.”
Han Xiao casually threw back the ball. He maintained his focus, his fighting spirit soaring
After Black Star’s Godlike Battle, the outside world recognized Black Star to have two fighting styles. One would be the regular form, and the other was the explosive form caused by burning his potential.
Han Xiao did not have the ability to ‘burn his potential’. He had already obtained the (Mechanical Great Sage] skill as well as a few stacks of the God’s Trait Transformation skills. In addition, he had managed to draw several powerful specialties after the attack on Hila. His strength at the moment was considerable, enough to give Manison a run for his money.
However, it was still an undeniable fact that the Mechanic and Machinery abilities of Manison were well above his own.
The Mechanic Emperor had a higher level and God’s Trait Transformation level, as well as more mechanical abilities and talents. The quality and quantity of his own machinery were incomparable to Manison’s.
Han Xiao had intended to challenge Manison, but because the two of them were only present with their avatars, he would not activate his Character Summon Cards immediately. After all, both of them were Army Style Mechanics, so their fight would be over who had the most troops. A winner would not be easily decided. From their previous exchange, he had discovered that Manison’s clone was not easy to fight. His opponent had taken preventive measures, and not only were his armor and shields strong, his melee skills were also good. The longer one lived, the more versatile one got.
Old Man Manison was still a pinnacle Beyond Grade A, and his HP would not be too low. Furthermore, it was more normal for a Mechanic to use an avatar to fight rather than the main body… with Han Xiao being the only exception.
At this moment, Manison spoke with a chill in his voice. “It’s been a long time since I last used this move… Black Star, you’re worthy of me showing my true ability.”
As he spoke, he waved his hand.
Buzz!
His secondary dimensional army box burst open beside him, and the boundless army of machinery descended, covering the sky.
“Come on, who’s afraid?”
Han Xiao immediately saw through the Mechanic Emperor’s intentions and also opened his secondary dimensional army box. Countless mechanical soldiers rushed out, surrounding him. The size of their mechanical troops continued to soar and quickly covered the sky. On one side was the pitch-black machinery representing Black Star, whilst the other had the white gleaming troops from the Mechanic Emperor. The two sides faced each other far away, separated by a strip of sky, as though that was the dividing line. The machinery then started to converge on their avatars, quickly forming a huge mechanical structure.
Boom!
The next moment, two Mechanical Deities, one black and one silver, descended on the world!
The black Mechanical Deity was holding a black war halberd, wearing a huge robe, its body wrapped in the blue glow of psionic energy.
The silver Mechanical Deity held onto a purple trident, wearing a cloak and armor, its entire body flashing with golden arcs.
The two Mechanical Deities faced each other, and countless various mechanical soldiers stood by their sides.
“Mechanic Emperor!”
“Black Star!”
The sound waves swept across the entire planet.
The halberd slashed down, and the trident stabbed forward, as both Mechanical Deities simultaneously wielded their weapons.
Their huge bodies seemed to move slowly, but the actual movement was so fast that time distorted around them.
The halberd hit the edge of the trident, and the two Universal Treasure weapons locked onto each other.
Clank!
A resounding clash echoed in everyone’s soul, causing a frightening tremor.
An eye-piercing glow appeared at the position of the strike, suddenly blooming and turning into a silvery white lightning as it extended infinitely toward both ends.
At first glance, this looked like a glowing cut, searing the retinas of the countless people watching, as though the impact had torn apart the black backdrop that was the universe!
At the same time, at the Machinery Faith Colony on the surface, be it the believers or the priests, all of them turned their heads up to stare blankly at the sky, watching the two Mechanical Deities engaging in an earth-shaking ‘Divine Battle’.
Seeing Black Star swing his war halberd toward the publicly recognized Machinery Faith leader, every believer of the Machinery Faith was stunned.
To see the Mechanical Deities that they worshipped fighting before their very eyes, only one sentence could describe their current feelings…
“Baby, come out and look at God.”
At the same time, in the flagship of the Crimson Dynasty nearby, the commander, who had gone out to answer an emergency call, hurried back to the bridge at the command room and loudly ordered, “The Ruler has issued her orders. Immediately intervene in the battle and open fire at will!”
The members were dumbfounded. Gazing at the battle between the two Mechanical Deities, as well as the frantically rising energy fluctuations, they subconsciously asked, “Which one… do we help?”
Pa!
The commander raised his hand, slapping the back of the guy who asked this nonsensical question as he raged, “You f*cking tool, help the black one!”
The aftermath of the collision between the two Mechanical Deities stirred up the atmosphere of the planet, forming a huge vortex. The clash between the weapons constantly released sparks of electricity, distorting the viewers’ perception of space. The Mechanical Force was akin to a neural network, circulating around the body of the Mechanical Deities, turning the huge mechanical structure into a part of one’s body. The Celestial Punishment Edge collided against Manison’s trident again and again, setting off circles of energy shock waves that were visible to the naked eye. They swept across the sky of the planet, raising an endless gale.
The earth was disturbed to the point that sand and rocks were flying around, with every inch of the ground cracking, and even the Machinery Faith Colony seemed to be teetering on the edge of collapse. Because the body of the Mechanical Deity was too large to completely display their fighting prowess on the planet, the two fought as they ascended higher, leaving the atmosphere and making outer space their battlefield. Their secondary dimensional army boxes were still sending out troops, and the scale of the battle continued to expand.
Clank!
As the purple trident stabbed at him, Han Xiao blocked it by holding the halberd horizontally, and the majestic energy wrapped along the trident collided with his psionic shield, causing it to continuously flicker.
In the channel, Manison’s voice sounded out. “Celestial Punishment Edge? That’s a weapon I threw away long ago.” “It all depends on who is using the weapon.” Han Xiao’s eyes focused, and he squeezed the handle and twisted. Psionic energy burst out, and he took the chance to flick away the trident.
However, the trident vibrated and shot out a phantom copy. Under the assistance of the force field guidance, the rebounding force was converted into a propelling force. The trident only bounced back slightly before it stopped and shot back with an even faster speed.
Han Xiao took a defensive position, resisting Manison’s concentrated attacks whilst his thoughts ran fast, analyzing the current situation.
My Celestial Punishment Edge’s blueprint came from the Federation of Light, and Manison likely understands the characteristics of this weapon. But I have a limited understanding of the weapon in his hands, so I need to play defensive and test the waters
some more…
The lethality of a Universal Treasure weapon far exceeded its ordinary counterparts, so the Mechanical Deities chose to engage in close combat. Only in this manner could they break through each other’s thick shields with only half the effort.
Old Man Manison had rich combat experience, and while Han Xiao did not know if he possessed any Universal Treasure level Space Wonders, he definitely had quite a few Universal Treasure mechanical devices, much more than Han Xiao himself.
The trident, as well as the cloak and armor his deity possessed, were definitely at the level of Universal Treasures, but it was unknown just how many more he had.
Activating his Mechanical Deity meant that Manison was going all out. Han Xiao had no doubt about his opponent’s endurance. If he was unable to utilize the Mechanical Deity for an extended period of time, he would not lay down all his cards at the start.
Both Manison and I are here with our avatars, and both sides are using Mechanical Deities. It is impossible to easily crush the other’s avatar, so it will become a battle of attrition against whose troops are better…
Thinking about this, Han Xiao glanced at the interface.
Just as the two of them started to attack each other, a new mission appeared on his interface. [Mechanic Emperor Manison-Mechanical Deity Battle!]
The mode of the mission was the same as the other missions that involved challenging Beyond Grade As. He could complete the mission so long as he held on for a certain period of time. The rewards were also similar, having Character Summon Cards and getting to randomly draw a skill.
This was within Han Xiao’s expectations. With the three Universal Civilizations present and so many Beyond Grade A onlookers, the influence of this battle was definitely not small and was bound to trigger the mission. Both of them would also not be able to distinguish victory and defeat for a while, so completing the mission was basically a given.
Last time, it was only battling in the Virtual World. This time, fighting him in reality, I can finally see what it’s like when Manison goes all out.
Han Xiao suddenly felt the attacks cease and saw that Manison had retreated a step back, in a stance to gain momentum.
blades started rotating rapidly like a drill bit. The golden Mechanical Force was highly compressed on the tip of the blade, shining with a strong, dazzling light akin to a small sun. As the blade rotated, the psionic energy was drawn into it and swirled along, producing a psychedelic effect similar to a water vortex.
Han Xiao’s senses were ringing in alarm, and the machinery under his control began to fire at Manison. However, layers of diamond-shaped psionic shields emerged on the surface of Manison’s Mechanical Deity, blocking out all the concentrated fire of the machinery.
Whoosh!
Manison’s figure suddenly blurred, and he accelerated in an instant, the shining trident thrusting out so quickly it turned into a gold and blue beam.
Han Xiao held the halberd horizontally in defense and raised his Emperor’s Cape to generate a powerful shield.
Ka!
The trident was once again blocked by the halberd.
However, the golden blue piercing light continued unabated, shooting out from the main blade of the trident to pierce through his Emperor’s Cape, hitting the abdomen of his Machinery Deity.
Swoosh!
It tore through his abdomen, disappearing into the distance and leaving a huge penetrating wound in Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity. All the parts within the beam were annihilated into molecular-grade fragments, and the edges of the wound showed fiery red melting marks.
What a powerful penetrating force! Han Xiao’s heart was shocked.
In terms of just strength, this trident was indeed higher than the Celestial Punishment Edge. It was not just because of the blueprint but also because the Mechanic Emperor’s creation was of a higher quality and possessed stronger Mechanical Force bonuses, which served as a multifaceted suppression. With just a thought, the surrounding mechanical soldiers stopped fighting, turning around and converging on him as they transformed into parts to supplement the gap in his Mechanical Deity.
The Mechanical Deity itself was already a structure composed of a large number of machines. As long as there were no fatal injuries and one had enough energy and machinery, they could recover from all sorts of injuries.
Manison was about to seize the opportunity to pursue his attack, but at this moment, a sudden change occurred.
Dense beams of dark energy shot out diagonally, blasting into Manison’s troops and exploding the shields of countless mechanical soldiers, disrupting the formation.
Both of them stopped moving, glancing toward the source of the attack. The third party that fired was the fleet belonging to the Crimson Dynasty, its countless battleship weapons constantly firing toward the Mechanic Emperor’s troops.
The dynasty came to aid me? Han Xiao had the thought in his heart but did not find it a surprise.
With the Mechanic Emperor as a negative example, Han Xiao destroying the virus core was considered good behavior in the eyes of the three Universal Civilizations, increasing his positive image by a lot. While the virus technology would not be made available, it was indeed an acceptable result.
that his own relationship with the Mechanic Emperor had soured, they naturally had to express their stance. Rationally, they could not just sit back and watch idly as an ally that had completed a feat beneficial to the peace of the universe fight alone. Thus, their probability of intervening in the battlefield was almost guaranteed.
However, the attitudes of the other two civilizations were more ambiguous, sitting by the sidelines with no intention of interfering.
The federation was not ignorant of Manison’s position, but it was another thing to show support to him now. After Manison just demonstrated his intention to hide the virus and antagonize the three Universal Civilizations, the federation obviously could not provide support at this time, so they sat on the sidelines and watched the dynasty attack their ‘ally’.
As for the church, this was not their business, so they happily sat at the side with popcorn.
The three Universal Civilizations’ troops that were stationed at the trap node were mainly there to prevent the Beyond Grade A from absconding with the virus, so they naturally possessed some measure of combat capabilities. While the spacetime anchor was now lifted, allowing the mechanics to summon troops on a large scale, and only the dynasty was currently shooting at him, Manison still could not afford to take them lightly.
“Annoying flies.” Manison gestured with his trident, and a portion of the mechanical soldiers emerging from the secondary dimensional army box split off, forming an array to exchange fire with the dynasty’s fleet.
The Army Style Mechanics were the Supers best suited for interstellar warfare. If it were any other profession, they were bound to be restrained by the suppressive firepower of the fleet. However, mechanics were able to take out a part of their soldiers to fight on their own, minimizing the restraining abilities of the fleet.
If they wished to cause considerable interference to the Mechanic Emperor going all-out, the scale of the dynasty’s troops had to be hundreds if not thousands of times larger.
Han Xiao understood that this was a short reprieve granted by the dynasty and immediately repaired the damage to his Mechanical Deity.
At this moment, Manison turned toward Han Xiao.
“Black Star, you seem to have grown once again. I’ve been watching you for a long time. The more battles you go through, the faster your growth. Is this the basis for your confidence?”
“Have you not battled for too long a time, to forget that running your mouth is to give opportunities to your opponent?” Han Xiao did not hesitate, and his Celestial Punishment Edge lashed out.
The psionic energy converged into a biting blue blade of light, slashing toward Manison’s body. The highly concentrated energy resembled a bright half-moon sapphire.
Manison, however, remained motionless. The Universal Treasure cloak on his body suddenly shook, and a spherical white shield covering his entire body popped out, giving off a hazy texture like a cloud of flowing white smoke.
The light blade from the Celestial Punishment Edge hit the white shield, and the smoke on the surface of the shield suddenly accelerated, turning into swirling patterns. The sapphire-colored light blade suddenly shattered, turning into motes of light and scattering into the sky.
The next moment, the energy spots seemed to be drawn and absorbed by the shield, and the now discolored shield was swallowed and retracted into the armor of the Mechanical Deity, converted into energy to supplement the consumption of the Mechanical Deity.
Absorbing damage to replenish energy?
Han Xiao’s eyes turned solemn.
“I was very interested in your Indestructible Body, and there are many similar abilities and magics in the universe, but none of them have reached to a degree comparable to yours. Thus, I specially researched into this and explored your ability principles through your battle videos. I finally created this Universal Treasure level equipment that is dedicated to the Mechanical Deity, imitating part of your abilities,” Manison faintly said. “It seems like the actual combat effect is quite good.”
Han Xiao felt his head ache, secretly envious of Manison.
The Mechanic Emperor could research and create his own Universal Treasure, unlike me, who had no idea what to do before I unlocked Awakening Points!
Just craft what you’re lacking in. This is the true style of a proper mechanic! At this moment, Manison slowly commented, “Black Star, you’re still too green. I’ve seen many talented Mechanics in my life. Before they were taught a lesson, they always thought that the strength of their talent could make up for the lack of accumulation. I once taught this lesson to many of them, and right now, I shall also teach you the same lesson. A Mechanic needs to settle down and accumulate. Time is our greatest source of strength!”
His voice echoed loudly in the wide area communication channel. At the same time, a different type of troop burst forward from his secondary dimensional army box.
This special unit possessed many different individuals. Some were luxuriously equipped special mechanical soldiers, while others were luminous energy beings. The combat power of each individual was amazing, and they killed their way into the battlefield as though unafraid of death, sweeping aside all of Han Xiao’s mechanical soldiers. And when these individuals were killed and destroyed, there was no need to utilize skills such as (Waste Modification). Their bodies automatically regenerated, and they went back into battle without any reduction in strength.
The moment these troops entered the battle, it overturned the entire situation, gaining an absolute advantage.
Han Xiao’s pupils shrank as he recognized the origin of this unit.
Manison’s Aces—the Indestructible Mechanic Empire! Without waiting for him to observe, Manison’s Apostle Weapons led the army, smashing into the battlefield from the other direction, causing huge casualties to Han Xiao’s troops.
Han Xiao took a deep breath.
Glancing roughly, he could tell that there were at least forty to fifty Apostle Weapons present!
This meant that Manison’s (Apostle Life Creation) skill had broken through the upper limit by forty to fifty levels at least!
In this violent clash, the scale of troops which Manison released accounted for about seventy percent of his total, and all of them were under the Mechanical Force bonuses. Manison still looked at ease, his Mechanical Force completely covering all the soldiers.
Assuming that one point of Mechanical Force for Han Xiao could give bonuses to ten soldiers, Manison’s Mechanical Force could aid over twenty-five!
This difference was not only due to Attribute, Talent, and Skills but also because of the gaps in their equipment.
Han Xiao personally saw Manison pulling out four more Universal Treasures dedicated to his Mechanical Deity from the secondary dimensional army box. All of the equipment types were different, not only allowing the Mechanical Deity to be armed to the teeth but also expanding its size. After using all these treasures, Manison’s Mechanical Deity increased significantly in strength.
Some Class-specific Universal Treasures would provide a certain increase to its user. For example, Han Xiao’s King suit could provide additional Machinery Affinity bonuses. Manison’s equipment was similar with all-round enhancements to his Mechanical Force and his body.
At the same time, Han Xiao realized that he had also been invaded on a virtual level. Manison had summoned Finette, the ancestor of the AI civilization, and allowed it to perform a Virtual Intrusion with a large group of Virtual Life Forms to fight with Han Xiao on a virtual level for control of the machinery.
“Old man, you really have a lot of methods…”
Just as Han Xiao had this thought, a flash of light appeared in front of him. He only saw the afterimage of Manison’s fully equipped Mechanical Deity, slamming down with the trident. He hurriedly raised his halberd to block, but the shock wave penetrated his body, jarring his ears with the sound.
Clank!
The terrifying force was transmitted along his arms, and the countless built-in shock absorbers were instantly scrapped. Large pieces of his outer armor cracked, and Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity appeared to be full of cracks.
If he had not obtained the [Machinery Control Master) from Jackornitz, gaining an additional thirty-five percent efficiency bonus for his Mechanical suits, Han Xiao doubted that the arms of his Mechanical Deity would still be intact.
Manison, however, did not slow down in his attacks. Taking advantage of Han Xiao’s stun, the newly-equipped Universal Treasure wing-type self-automated Planetary Obliteration Cannon shot out a thick psionic beam with a diameter of more than a hundred meters.
Boom!
Han Xiao was blown away by the Planetary Obliteration Cannon, and his shield shattered under the continuous attacks. Manison followed, chasing after him, his trident spinning rapidly as it shot out waves of light, continuously dismembering the opponent’s Mechanical Deity.
The Mechanic Emperor had shown his true mettle, fully opening up the Mechanical Deity, machinery, and the Virtual layer, a three pronged attack!
Seeing this situation, the Beyond Grade A avatars on the sidelines avoided the aftermath of the battle, feeling the powerful suppressive aura of Manison flooding the area. They chatted quietly in their channel.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Manison go all-out. It’s still so terrifying…” Kant recalled some bad memories.
“The Mechanic Emperor is still the Mechanic Emperor.” The Sun Hunter’s voice was subdued.
‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco shook his head. “It’s different from the battle in the Flickering World. This time, it’s an internal battle between two pinnacle Beyond Grade A Mechanics. Black Star is completely suppressed. Luckily, it was his avatar that came this time.”
The man in question, Han Xiao, who was being beaten up, did not know that he was a topic of conversation for the audience.
He was trying his best to resist Manison’s frenzied attack, gritting his teeth secretly.
F*ck, old man, you’re really good at fighting!
You’re really forcing me to ‘explode’!
Manison showcased his full firepower, and with his P2W[1] method of strengthening his foundation, he quickly occupied an absolute advantage and completely suppressed Black Star.
This scene also fell into the eyes of the Machinery Faith believers who were watching the battle on the surface of Planet Magnetic Cloud.
“Am I dreaming? I can see the descent of two Mechanical Deities with my very own eyes in my lifetime.”
“Quickly record it. No one knows when the Mechanic Emperor last went all out. This is precious first-hand data!”
“Why did the two of them start fighting?”
“It seems like a challenge. Black Star’s situation doesn’t look good.” “The Mechanic Emperor is still the Mechanic Emperor, having occupied the highest position in our faith for so many years. Black Star is still too young. It’s unknown what will happen in the future, but right now, how could he be an opponent for the Mechanic Emperor?”
“Black Star set a historical record a while ago, and I thought that he had already arrived at the same level as the Mechanic Emperor. Now it seems like he’s still lacking in accumulation.”
The onlookers were extremely excited. As enthusiastic fans of the top mechanics, they considered the experiences of each pinnacle Beyond Grade A their precious heirlooms. While they did not know the reason for the battle, this did not prevent them from discussing the fight.
While their settlement was threatened by the aftermath of the battle, few of the believers were willing to leave.
In their opinion, as long as they could watch the magical battle of the Mechanical Deities with their own eyes, it was nothing to bear some risks in return. If not for the fact that the land only reached this high, they would have moved even closer to them.
On the top floor of the Machinery Faith temple, many of the priests looked at the virtual screen in front of them, which showed the image of Han Xiao and Manison in outer space.
“Both Deities have moved away from the battlefield, but the settlement might still be in danger. Grand Priest, should we evacuate the organization’s followers?” one of the priests softly asked.
The Grand Priest in question was staring at the screen quietly, for fear of missing any second of what the image showed. He watched in fascination and did not even turn back as he said, “Wait, let me watch it for a while more.”
By the side, someone muttered, “While I don’t understand why they started fighting, there should be no suspense in the result. Both parties are here as avatars, and they’re only fighting based on machinery abilities. In this regard, Black Star is indeed below the Mechanic Emperor.”
“It seems like that.”
The various priests also nodded. Having seen the situation, the majority would regard it as so.
However, no one would be disappointed over this, because in the eyes of the Machinery Faith, this was a normal situation, a given.
However, the situation suddenly changed, and the energy readings at the edge of the screen suddenly soared.
The Grand Priest was taken aback.
“Black Star’s energy fluctuations… suddenly spiked”
At the same moment, the three Universal Civilizations were also watching the live broadcast of the battle between the two. The flashing lights on the screen reflected in the faces of the trio.
The Arcane Church’s Pope turned to glance at Urranrell. “Your Excellency, Black Star doesn’t seem to be in too good a state.”
“It’s expected.” Urranrell was calm. “We never hoped that Black Star would fight with the Mechanic Emperor. He has amazing potential and needs more time to strengthen his foundations, even if his growth always exceeds expectations. It’s still too early for him to fight against the Mechanic Emperor head on.”
“However, the first to release the spacetime anchor was your dynasty’s fleet. It seems that you wish for them to fight with all their strength instead,” the Pope joked.
“You’re mistaken. Since the virus has been resolved, of course the blockade should be lifted. We cannot forcibly retain the avatars of the mechanics. We opened the blockade in hopes that the Mechanic Emperor would leave, but it seems like he wishes to show his strength in front of us,” Urranrell solemnly replied.
Her order to close the spacetime anchor was not an arrogant decision. Urranrell was aware that Black Star could leave the area at any time even under the restraint of spacetime, but in her opinion, Black Star did not do anything wrong. Destroying the virus core was an act beneficial to the universe, so why should he run? The one that should be running was the Mechanic Emperor.
“It’s understandable that after being made a fool of by Black Star, the Mechanic Emperor would definitely retaliate.” The Pope glanced at Bader.
Bader continued staring at the screen, silently telling them to just continue chatting among themselves whilst he acted as the backdrop.
Seeing this, the Pope knew that Bader was not going to talk about the Mechanic Emperor for the time being, so he withdrew his gaze and continued. “However, Black Star is not on the Mechanic Emperor’s level. It is likely he will lose.”
“We don’t wish for Black Star to have conflicts with the Mechanic Emperor right now, but since they have started fighting, the dynasty will support Black Star to the end. There’s no need to back down,” Urranrell decisively stated.
In terms of their stances, the three Universal Civilizations were on Han Xiao’s side, but they did not deny the fact that the Mechanic Emperor was still more powerful.
Furthermore, Black Star was only using his avatar, so losing to the Mechanic Emperor was not unacceptable. After all, Black Star’s age was but a fraction of Manison’s, and his future potential was promising. Just as the trio were thinking of that, an abnormality appeared on the battlefield.
Han Xiao’s energy reading suddenly skyrocketed, climbing to an astonishing level.
The three of them were startled.
“Black Star’s switched modes? He’s burned his potential again?” Bader was stunned.
The Pope was dumbstruck.
“This is too impulsive. Does he need to struggle like this…”
The fact that Black Star had two modes of fighting was no secret. His regular mode would not be able to defeat the Mechanic Emperor; this was something the trio knew well in their hearts. But they also understood that Black Star’s fighting prowess would only peak when he burned his potential.
Black Star had utilized his burning of potential to shock the entire universe during his Godlike Battle. Whether such a form could match up to the Mechanic Emperor, no one knew.
Urranrell’s expression was not too good. Black Star’s actions were once again out of her expectations.
He could obviously utilize a slow and methodical approach to develop and accumulate his foundation, but he just had to burn his potential to explode in strength. She was unable to accept such an approach.
Didn’t you already burn your potential once? You still want to burn more? How much more potential do you have to waste!
Black Star was the dynasty’s ally, and she had high hopes for him. The position he had taken was also in line with universal peace. Now that Black Star had burned his potential, it was a loss to the dynasty.
In her rational judgment, this move would no doubt be a loss in blood, but in an emotional sense, she appreciated the never-say-die attitude of Black Star.
The choice Han Xiao had made lived up to the trust she put in him. Whichever way she looked at Han Xiao now, she found it very pleasing to the eye.
Clank!
The trident once again cut open the shield provided by the Emperor’s Cape and drew a deep line on the abdomen of Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity. Many mechanical parts were dug out, and the body of the Mechanical Deity now was scarred with defects.
The surrounding mechanical soldiers wanted to come over to repair the wounds, but they were all blocked by the troops of Manison. They could not overcome the blockade of the combination of the Indestructible Mechanic Empire, Apostle Weapons, and the Mechanical Life troops. The performance of his machinery was suppressed by the Mechanic Emperor on almost all fronts, with only his attack power being stronger than the latter. This was all thanks to his (Legendary Battle Technique], which was not something to be trifled with. It was only that the majority of the attacks were being absorbed by Manison’s Indestructible Mechanic Empire, which was not afraid of destruction or damage.
The legend of the Indestructible Body had long been spread through Galaxy, and because Manison had no idea if this also applied to Han Xiao’s avatar, all his attacks were concentrated toward the non-critical parts of the Mechanical Deity, aiming to destroy the majority of Han Xiao’s machinery in the shortest time possible.
At this moment, Han Xiao was finding it difficult to resist, and the thoughts spun rapidly in his head.
If this continues, my Mechanical Deity will be cut apart piece by piece. Manison has the advantage now, and if I were to allow him to attack so unscrupulously, it will greatly consume my machinery. I have to stop being forced into this passive state…
The large number of Universal Treasures had greatly enhanced Manison’s combat power.
His own foundations were not solid enough. If he wished to bridge this gap, he could only do his best to improve his attributes, especially Intellect, which would directly affect his Mechanic class’s abilities.
Opening the interface, Han Xiao saw that he had accumulated quite the bit of experience over this past month or so while the three Universal Civilizations were preparing for this operation. He originally wished to hoard it until he could promote, but the plan could not keep up with the changes. The experience urgently needed to be turned into combat prowess.
Han Xiao did not hesitate, taking out most of his experience and using it to upgrade his blueprints on a large scale in exchange for more Awakening Points.
His current accumulated experience was not enough to gain a hundred Awakening Points, which did not meet the conditions of obtaining a Unique Talent. However, Han Xiao’s purpose this time was not to generate Unique Talents but to replace his Awakening Points with Free Attribute Points in order to pump them into his Intellect. In that instant, his Intellect attribute rose by almost 8,000 points!
He had also accumulated more than 4,000 Free Attribute Points, and after placing 1,000 into his Endurance, allowing it to break through the 15,000 point threshold, he placed the remaining 2,000 points into Intellect.
Adding both together, his own Intellect attribute skyrocketed by more than 10,000 points in total, breaking through the 30,000 threshold and approaching 40,000!
This was his fastest increase in history!
After completing this delightful step, Han Xiao did not hesitate to start activating his Character Summon Cards.
[Mechanic Emperor Character Summon Card The Ancient Ones)!
Effect: +20% Intelligence, +10% Mystery, +2 to all Skill levels, last for 24 hours.
(Nero Character Summon Card-Perfect Mechanical Sense)!
Effect: x1.4 Machinery Affinity, Grade of Mechanic equipment that receive Mechanical Force bonuses are temporarily increased by 1 – 2 tiers (highest quality will not exceed Pink Grade), +4 to all Mechanic Skills.
However, Han Xiao did not stop here. He activated (Polar Channel Flow-Blood Rage), and his HP value plummeted.
At the same time, the additional effect of (Advanced Strengthened Life] came into play. For every forty percent of his HP lost, his attributes all temporarily increased by ten percent!
Since Manison will not hit me, I’ll hit myself!
He also had talents such as [One Against the World), which gave him an eleven percent bonus to all attributes, and [Battlefield Wisdom), which gave him a fifteen percent bonus to Intellect… Han Xiao took out everything he had.
Old Man Manison has a solid foundation?
What’s scary about that?
If you know how to P2W, then I can just cheat!
We’re evenly matched in this regard!
This wave of bonuses came into play in an instant, and a powerful force surged throughout his body. The energy fluctuations Han Xiao was releasing suddenly skyrocketed.
Manison keenly noticed the change in Han Xiao and was shocked.
“You…”
Before he could finish speaking, Han Xiao turned his defense into offense, knocking the trident aside with an elbow and slashing the Celestial Punishment Edge down diagonally.
A highly compressed psionic energy enveloped the blade, drawing a blue trajectory line.
Swoosh!
The power behind this slash exceeded the upper limit of which the blue protective shield could handle and broke through the defense.
The blade suppressed the trident before embedding itself deep within Manison’s battle armor.
The next moment, the psionic energy wrapped around the blade caused a violent explosion! Manison’s offensive was interrupted, and a huge portion of the Mechanical Deity’s body was slashed away. A huge wound was left in the chest of his battle armor, left by the eruption of the psionic energy. A large portion of his outer armor was torn and corroded.
This was the first time Manison had been repelled since the fight began.
The one-sided battle was instantly turned around by Han Xiao!
“Eat a few more of my blades!”
Han Xiao pressed the advantage, slashing out in rapid succession to seize the battle rhythm.
The combat capability of Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity was enhanced in every respect, and the gap in their combat capability was shortened. Han Xiao was no longer suppressed.
His increase in Mechanical strength was reflected in his surrounding mechanical soldiers. The Black Star troops experienced an increase in their combat power, successfully breaking through the blockade of the Mechanic Emperor’s troops, approaching Han Xiao to repair the damage to his Mechanical Deity. Manison finally stabilized himself, and while waving his trident to counter Han Xiao’s attacks, he spoke on the wide area channel with astonishment.
“You burned your potential again?”
“Think what you want. How’s that blade taste?” Han Xiao laughed. “… You’re ruining your talent!” Manison’s tone turned cold.
He originally only wished to teach Han Xiao a lesson but did not expect him to burn his own potential in retaliation.
To consume his future potential to fight a battle with their avatars was a foolish act from Manison’s point of view. Even if this battle involved factors such as prestige or speaking rights, it would still be a loss-making business.
He was puzzled by this. Maybe their ideals were different, but he did not think that Black Star was such an impulsive person.
He had no way of knowing Han Xiao’s thoughts. Since he was willing to waste his potential, Manison was also happy since they were all competitors.
However, while he sneered at Han Xiao’s approach, he had to admit that the combat power Han Xiao displayed in his mode was extremely strong, which allowed him to immediately recover from his disadvantage.
If he did not go all-out, he would definitely suffer!
Moreover, Manison felt that the increase in Han Xiao’s combat power this time was higher than the first. This discovery surprised him.
What is this? Can burning your potential even be trained?
Also, since when was Polar Channel Flow so strong? How did I not know about this?
What is behind of Black Star’s explosive ability? How is the effect so good and yet unknown?
Feeling the surge in Han Xiao’s aura, Manison was both surprised and suspicious.
[1] Gaming slang for Pay to Win, meaning the person becomes strong through using real world cash.
The flames of war blazed in outer space, and the two Mechanical Deities, one white and one black, collided into a blur. The exchanges between their weapons continued to explode outward in shock waves.
Psionic energy collided with psionic energy, and metal crashed against metal!
Surrounded by their huge mechanical armies, which hovered around them like crows, they fought tirelessly. The entire area was filled with molten metal caused by the high-intensity energy rays, which would rapidly cool and condense into weird-shaped metal blocks. Some fell down to the surface of the planet, while others turned into space debris, orbiting Planet Magnetic Cloud.
It looked as though two gods that could penetrate the sky and earth were leading their respective armies to engage in a battle of the universe.
This burst by Han Xiao allowed him to obtain a significant amount of combat power. His Intellect rose by almost forty percent, and his degree of Machinery Affinity also skyrocketed. With the twenty percent increase from Manison’s Character Summon Card, it only further magnified his strength.
According to his calculations, these tens of thousands of Attribute Points in Intellect enhanced his Mechanic abilities way beyond his rewards from the attack on Hila mission. It could be said that this was the current peak state of Han Xiao!
Because he did not have the time to familiarize himself with his newfound strength, Han Xiao’s control over his power was not as fine as it should have been. However, this still gave him quite the confidence, and riding on the increase in his senses, he adapted a pure offensive style.
The sharp glint of a blade flashed continuously as the Celestial Punishment Edge twirled in Han Xiao’s hands. Every slash he made was heavy and unrelenting, fierce and ruthless. He seemed to be embodying the spirit of Guan Yu[1], killing his way through with reckless abandon.
His boosted Mechanical Force controlled the Mechanical Deity to become even more agile than before. The Celestial Punishment Edge in his hands seemed to exude an even higher amount of strength, breaking through the shield around Manison and leaving gaping wounds in his armor.
While Manison was surprised at Han Xiao’s combat power after his boost, it did not affect his performance. With the support of his six Universal Treasure Equipment, his trident endlessly counterattacked, poking large and small holes in the body of Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity.
Both sides suffered from various injuries, being evenly matched. Only these two figures could be seen traversing the starry sky, taking the universe as their battlefield. The trident and the halberd crossed dozens of times in an instant, blasting out electrical arcs.
While it seemed like they were simply fighting each other in close combat, the two parties were actually mixing their melees with a lot of advanced technology. Force fields, electromagnetic pulses, and energy conversions were merged seamlessly. In addition, there were also countless control-type mechanical devices exerting their effects. Various restrains were wrapped around each Mechanical Deity like a spider web, restricting their actions. At the same time, they also maintained their artillery bombardment, with countless muzzles around their bodies spewing high-energy beams like a torrential downpour blasting into each other’s shields, creating fireworks.
This seemed to paint a beautiful picture, but it was full of an energy that could destroy the world.
The Mechanic Emperor’s Apostle Weapons were too powerful in combat, having a huge advantage in the Mechanical Army fight. Han Xiao could only continue to pull out his troops from the secondary dimensional army box, using numbers to make up for his lack of advanced combatants.
The battle gradually approached a climax, and under the countless excited and shocked gazes, the two fought in outer space for quite a lengthy period, unable to extricate themselves.
Swoosh!
Han Xiao’s blade condensed and swept across, slashing into Manison’s neck and slicing three quarters of the way through, almost beheading the Deity.
At the same time, the trident pierced through Han Xiao’s head, scattering countless broken machinery.
The two Mechanical Deities, however, acted like they were unaware of the injuries. They raised their hands, grabbing the opponent’s weapon that was embedded in their bodies before pulling it out. They raised their legs and kicked toward each other’s crotches. Their moves were at least ninety percent synchronous with each other! While they shot backward, both parties simultaneously raised their hands, throwing their weapons at the same time. Both their huge weapons shot through the air, colliding halfway before bouncing apart. The trident slammed down toward the planet surface, landing in the wilderness with a loud bang, printing an outline on the planet’s crust.
The Celestial Punishment Edge spun off course and smashed into the battlefield of the mechanical armies, wiping out countless soldiers on both sides.
At this moment, Manison’s figure suddenly flickered and disappeared as he warped through space. The next moment, he appeared behind Han Xiao, and a bright light shot out from his waist.
A silver-colored short sword was pulled out its sheath, and the sword drew an upward arc. The light of the sword swept across Han Xiao’s waist, instantly bisecting the Mechanical Deity.
Han Xiao reacted quickly, turning his upper body to whip his arm condensed with psionic energy toward Manison. It broke through the shield, and the remaining force slammed into Manison’s head, beheading it and throwing it out toward one of the three Universal Civilizations’ fleets. It was smashed into pieces by the intercepting fire from the fleet.
At the same time, Han Xiao’s severed lower body disintegrated, re-transforming into mechanical soldiers, which once again integrated back with the Mechanical Deity. The Celestial Punishment Edge, which had been sent off course, stopped in midair before flying back as though being pulled by an invisible rope, forcing Manison to retreat as it circled around before landing back in Han Xiao’s hands.
Another Universal Treasure.
Seeing Manison take out another weapon, Han Xiao felt bitter in his heart.
His Emperor’s Cape had the effect of strengthening the internal structure of his Mechanical Deity, but the short sword sliced through it easily. It had to be Gold Grade equipment.
The fact that his foundation was insufficient was already a sad issue, but after fighting for such a long time, the Mechanic Emperor was still so fierce and lively, not showing any signs of weaknesses. His reserves were unfathomable, and his endurance also surprised Han Xiao.
It stood to reason that so long as a lot of energy was consumed, the number of bonus stacks would decrease, resulting in a temporary decline in status and attributes.
Because he had the ability to convert HP to energy, he had always stayed at the peak, but this old man seemed to have eaten Viagra, for him to be able to maintain this state for such a long period of time!
While the old man also managed to come out with equipment that would allow him to convert damage to energy, Han Xiao discovered that there was a limitation to this piece of Gold Grade equipment. There was a cooldown required after each absorption, unlike his own talent which was effective anywhere.
Thus, maybe Old Man Manison possessed some kind of talent that would allow him to retain his energy bonuses but at the cost of a reduction in strength. That sort of ability was rare but not unique.
But this was not the main point. Han Xiao was surprised to discover that not only did Manison’s strength not drop, it was even slowly rising
He’s probably the same as me, having talents to continuously obtain bonuses in battle… He’s worthy of being the top powerhouse in the universe, just as difficult to handle as myself.
Han Xiao ground his teeth.
Even after fighting for so long, they could only be evenly matched. Attempting to expand on his advantage would only cause him to be blocked by Manison time and again, as if he was some spring that could not be completely compressed
Fortunately, the same was true for Manison. Neither was able to suppress the other.
The time for the Character Summon Cards is ultimately limited, and I cannot keep this state up forever. Manison’s attributes are also slowly climbing, and if we continue to fight, the situation that I finally stabilized will be reversed once more… Damn, it’s usually me who kills the enemy after a protracted battle. Now I’ve finally met someone who can last longer than me.
Han Xiao analyzed the grim situation, but his mood was actually quite relaxed.
It was a lonely thing to not be able to find an opponent. It was rare to also face a strong enemy that required him to utilize all his moves. He had fought heartily and comfortably, venting all his energy on the Mechanic Emperor.
Furthermore, he had managed to witness Manison’s combat power to estimate the gap in their strength, which was not small at all.
In fact, the hit-and-run tactics were still effective against Manison. While his avatar might be durable, it was in no way comparable to himself. The problem was that the other party had deeply hidden himself within the Mechanical Deity, and he could not damage the other party in any way. As long as he did not shatter the Mechanical Deity, there was no way he could hurt his opponent’s avatar. This was something he needed to pay attention to. In other words, he was now obtaining experience on how to deal with Manison.
As all sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, Han Xiao spoke in the wide-area communication channel.
“Mechanic Emperor, we’re evenly matched, and there won’t be any results even if we fight for the next ten days. Are you sure you want to continue?”
“You’re thinking too much. I don’t think you can hold on for so long,” Manison replied blandly. “This should be your current peak, but you’re at most only able to fight evenly with me. How long can your burst mode last?”
“Never counted, but it should last till the end of our fight.”
Since no one knew of his details, Han Xiao just made up a lie calmly. “So, you wish to fight a protracted battle with me?” Manison let out some emotionless laughter, as though scorning Han Xiao’s confidence. “How much of your machinery can you waste? Is it even a fraction of mine?”
“Isn’t it just money? It’s not like anyone here lacks cash.” Han Xiao smirked.
While he spoke this manner, the Great Mechanic Han had to still admit that the old man had a stronger ability to make money.
He wished to test out his strength against Manison, not to show off his accumulation.
Han Xiao also did not forget that Manison still had some Beyond Grade A ‘collectibles’ in his hands, which were not used. They had probably not come out because this was not a good time to use them, since he did not wish to show them off in front of the three Universal Civilizations.
In other words, this might not be Manison’s true strength.
While their growth models had a difference of heaven and earth, there was one thing that Han Xiao agreed with—the importance of accumulation to a Mechanic.
Were Manison’s attributes higher than his? That remained to be seen, but his opponent definitely had much stronger machinery compared to his. That was due to his accumulation over the years.
The Mechanic class was different from all the other professions. Even when everyone reached a bottleneck in power, the Mechanics could ignore the bottleneck and improve their own combat power through manufacturing, research, and development of machinery. Thus, it could be said that P2W was the root behind all the powerful Mechanics!
This gap is not small at all… Han Xiao shook his head.
While he considered himself affluent, compared with Manison, who was filled with Universal Treasures, he suddenly looked a lot more shabby.
In this manner, the difficulty of me defeating Manison currently is too high. Manison wants to beat me in order to maintain his face, so I have to draw with him at least. It is impossible to retreat or escape, or else I will lose all credibility…
Just as Han Xiao was thinking of which trump card he should utilize, the situation on the battlefield changed once more.
A different group of machines suddenly broke into the battlefield, attacking Manison’s troops at the same time, separating the battlefield and preventing the two forces from fighting. A dozen streams of light flew from the distance, stopping between the two as they faced Manison.
Han Xiao and Manison looked at the dozen or so figures, which were the other Beyond Grade A avatars originally watching the show.
“Mechanic Emperor, let’s stop here,” Kant said.
Manison glanced at the others, slowly asking, “You all are helping him?”.
“Black Star doesn’t need our help. There’s no clear winner now, and even if you fight for a month, the battle likely won’t end.” Kant deliberately spoke using the wide area channel. He chuckled. “It’s impossible for the three Universal Civilizations and us to be here watching you for a month, so we’ll consider today a tie.”
“Tie?” Manison’s tone sank slightly.
“Isn’t it so?” Kant smiled as he replied.
Manison narrowed his eyes. “And if I wish to continue fighting?”
“We are also people that take our dignity seriously. Since we have spoken, we will act.” Kant laughed. “If you don’t give us face, then I’m sorry, but we can only join you for a couple of rounds.”
Just as he spoke, all the Beyond Grade As collectively took a step forward. While they did not say it clearly, their intention to protect Han Xiao was clear.
Want to touch Black Star?
You’ll have to do it through a gang fight!
Seeing this, Manison sank into silence. The battlefield was at the Machinery Faith temple, so he naturally wished to suppress Han Xiao. While Han Xiao’s burst mode was strong, it was only temporary. If they continued fighting, he was confident in winning. However, the situation caused his plans to fail.
The battle between them was interfered with, and Manison could naturally see what they intended to do. They wished to create a situation where it was a tie, forcing him to accept this instead of fighting for a win.
After thinking for a bit, he understood the reason.
Manison raised his head to look at Han Xiao, speaking in a somewhat complicated tone.
“This is really… a case of a just cause enjoying abundant support.”
Having spoken, he did not intend to stay, collecting all his troops and recalling his avatar, cancelling the Lord’s Descent skill before leaving
No matter how confident he was, he did not plan to challenge all the Beyond Grade As present.
Seeing this, Kant laughed before looking at Han Xiao.
“Alright, this matter is over.”
Han Xiao was a little surprised. “I thought you’d continue spectating. Why did you suddenly help me?”.
If the dynasty aided him, he could understand this. But why did the mechanics from the federation and the church also stand up for him?
Could it be that my heroic act of destroying the virus core convinced them to forget their grudges?
Sigh, blame me then, for inadvertently failing to restrain my inner charm, infecting and influencing them too much.
[Mechanical Catastrophe] Francisco snorted coldly. “Don’t over think this. We’re not doing this for you.”
“You could have fought for over ten days, so how could the three Universal Civilizations continue to keep watching? Thus, they asked us to interfere and end the battle.”
“Then that’s weird. Couldn’t you have done that earlier? You had to wait till we reached this stage?”
“Hehe, it’s not just an order. All of us were quite happy to see the Mechanic Emperor suffer a little,” Kant said in a tone full of schadenfreude.
Alright, I understand now…
The majority of people present had been bullied by Manison before but could only hold in their anger. Seeing Black Star’s brave performance, they felt that they could take the opportunity to attack Manison, so they chose to intervene.
The result of deliberately promoting a tie was the small revenge for this group of people. This would shake the Mechanic Emperor’s position as the main deity for the Machinery Faith, building momentum for Black Star.
As long as the record was set, Black Star would be able to disperse the firm belief in the Mechanic Emperor among those of the Machinery Faith, allowing Manison to suffer. Of course, the premise of doing so was that Black Star had to be able to withstand the Mechanic Emperor. If Han Xiao kept getting beaten up, then this group would not have deliberately chosen the best time to help him.
Intervening in the battle was not just because of orders but also a decision from their hearts.
As for whether or not there was a factor of admiration due to Black Star’s actions, only they themselves knew.
Once Han Xiao understood this, he also sighed in relief.
Indeed, the more people you have close relations with, the more benefits you obtain.
Ignoring how Manison has lived for so long and has a wide range of contacts, in the eyes of the Beyond Grade A Mechanics, the Mechanic Emperor’s image is worth very little. He’s offended too many of his peers in the Beyond Grade A realm!
As the saying went, ‘a just cause attracts much support; an unjust one finds little’!
[1] Guan Yu is a character from the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
After Manison withdrew, the operation to deal with the Virtual Mutiny Virus core was finally settled.
Han Xiao dismissed his Mechanical Deity, putting away the combat troops. He only left a few maintenance teams to cooperate with the three Universal Civilizations in cleaning up the battlefield.
While he and Manison had deliberately moved away from the battlefield to prevent the troops from firing in the direction of the planet, the aftermath of the battle still had a considerable impact on Planet Magnetic Cloud.
The earth seemed to have been sanded down by a file, and its ‘skin and flesh’ that was filed down turned into sand and dust in the sky. From outer space, the surface was full of traces of falling objects as well as pits and ravines, of which the most conspicuous was the ravine left by Manison’s trident, transforming the wilderness into a large group of rift-like valleys.
The settlements of those in the Machinery Faith were affected to a certain extent, and their protective shield was dim, but it was not wiped out. It was just that there was a violent earthquake that caused a large number of buildings to collapse, as well as sinking the surrounding terrain by one or two meters. The city shrouded in the shield suddenly became an island.
Seeing this, Han Xiao had an idea and piloted his Lord’s Avatar down to the settlement.
Everyone had gone over to chase and kill the virus core, and the battle had happened straight after. While they all noticed the Machinery Faith on Planet Magnetic Cloud, there was no time to contact it. Now was the best time.
Manison had warned them before that he did not wish to see any other Beyond Grade As contact the Machinery Faith, but now that he had completely disregarded Manison, Han Xiao naturally did not care about his warnings.
Han Xiao slowly descended, stopping in the air directly outside the protective shield.
The other Beyond Grade A Mechanics also swiftly approached. Han Xiao did not restrict them; he was no Mechanic Emperor.
After a few seconds, the shield opened automatically, and Han Xiao and his group landed on top of the temple in the middle of the settlement. All the priests formed a circle around them in excitement.
“Look, it’s a Mechanical Deity, in the flesh!”
“So many Beyond Grade A Mechanics. I really want to touch them.”
“Do you think that they will allow us to take photos with them?”
Many of the priests whispered among themselves in fanaticism.
This should be heaven!
On an ordinary day, it was only the Mechanic Emperor that would contact them, and none of the other Beyond Grade As would come over, as though they had no interest in the Machinery Faith, making them feel as though these Beyond Grade As looked down on them.
The priests normally did not take the initiative to come into contact with the objects of their faith, and each individual would have their own idol of worship, so the interaction was limited. Getting to see so many living Beyond Grade A Mechanics in person made everyone happy, excited, and cautious. They wished to jump upon them but were also afraid of making their ‘gods’ unhappy.
In the end, it was the Grand Priest that took the initiative to greet everyone.
“I’m the Grand Priest of this Machinery Faith colony. Beyond Grade A Mechanics, I welcome you on behalf of the Machinery Faith.”
Han Xiao knew how to interact with them, choosing not to say anything about the scene nor give any self-introductions. He directly glanced at the collapsed buildings in the distance, asking in a tone like a commander asking over their subordinates.
“I fought a really fierce battle with the Mechanic Emperor just now. Are you guys still alright?”
“We’re fine. We all have heavy armor as protection, and the residents have already taken refuge in the flying vehicles. There were no casualties, so the loss of the city is nothing since we can always rebuild it.”
Seeing Black Star’s concerned attitude gave the Grand Priest a great boost to his spirits. His expression was one of joy. My idol is concerned for us!
I have no more regrets in this life!
“It would be better for you all to shift to another planet. The damage done to Planet Magnetic Cloud is quite serious, and there might be natural disasters in the future,” Han Xiao said with concern.
The Grand Priest vehemently shook his head. “No, no, no, we’re going to stay here and pay tribute to the traces of battle that you and the Mechanic Emperor have left.”
With Planet Magnetic Cloud already beaten to this state, a normal person would choose to move to another planet, but those of the Machinery Faith were not ordinary. They believed that having witnessed a fight between Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor, Planet Magnetic Cloud had become some sort of ‘Divine Battlefield’, which possessed a lot of commemorative meaning. They could not wait to pray to it every day.
What, moving? Out of the question!
“In this case, that’s fine too. Since I’m already here, let me help you guys.” Han Xiao pointed at the air, and a virtual screen unfolded, showing a 2D map of Planet Magnetic Cloud. He said in a kind tone, “I’m to blame for your residence being destroyed, so choose a location. I’ll help you guys to build a new city there.”
Many of the priests immediately opened their eyes wide, not daring to believe that such a superior being was actually so benevolent. “We don’t dare. How could we trouble someone like you to do such a small thing?” The Grand Priest hurriedly declined the offer.
“Don’t be so polite. We’re considered a family. I’ve always known of the existence of the Machinery Faith and heard that you guys worshipped me as a god. While you have never contacted me before, you respect me as a god, so I shall not be stingy with succor.”
Han Xiao did not beat around the bush, directly using the ‘I’m a reliable backer, so just lie on my huge and assuring chest’ logic.
Hearing that, the Grand Priest could not help but feel a little moved. Their beliefs would not be transferred because of material interests, but they also did not find it necessary to reject their god’s divine bestowal.
Everyone discussed it a bit before choosing a location for their new settlement.
Glancing at it, Han Xiao discovered that it was the rift created by the trident. He was not surprised and deliberately smiled. “Very good, this area was the spot that the Mechanic Emperor’s weapon landed after being deflected by me.”
Hearing this, the priests present all had their curiosity dug out.
They had been watching the battle between the two Mechanical Deities and discovered that they had stopped fighting halfway. Later, they heard Kant speak on the wide area channel, saying that both of them were tied. Manison left soon after, and because everything had happened so quickly, the priests were still in a state of confusion.
“Your Excellency, why did you and His Excellency Mechanic Emperor start fighting? What happened in the end? Er… if this is sensitive, then I apologize for my offense.”
The Grand Priest could not help himself from inquiring about it. While he knew it was somewhat abrupt, he felt the itchy to sate his curiosity.
“It’s no secret and will be made public sooner or later anyway. There’s no harm in telling you guys. You’ve heard of the Virtual Mutiny Virus, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
All of them nodded like chickens pecking.
“That plaything isn’t any ordinary virus but rather an information systems weapon with a core controller. It has the ability to continuously evolve and upgrade itself, and it can even phase in and out between the virtual and physical world. Us Beyond Grade A Mechanics responded to the call of the three Universal Civilizations to cooperate and kill it,” Han Xiao briefly explained.
The eyes of the priests were open wide in shock. Only at this time did they realize that the Virtual Mutiny Virus that plagued the Ancient Star Desert for many days was actually such powerful technology.
The Grand Priest was immersed in Han Xiao’s narration, hurriedly asking, “Did you succeed?”
“We caught the virus core, but we had a conflict in handling the issue. Manison, regardless of the risk, wished to keep the core and research the technology behind it on his own. For the sake of universal peace, I took the virus core and destroyed it, angering the Mechanic Emperor. He wanted to teach me a lesson, so we had a fight. I’m embarrassed to have affected you.”
Han Xiao was speaking the truth, but he slightly changed the details to highlight Manison’s ‘disregard for the safety of the universe’.
Kant and the others glanced at him, knowing that this was him trying to discredit the Mechanic Emperor, but no one stopped it as they were happy to see it happen.
“Then the result…”
“Just as you heard, it ended in a tie. Both the Mechanic Emperor and I do not know of the outcome, and he felt that if he continued to fight, he likely would not be able to beat me, so he ran away and did not continue fighting with me.”
Kant and the others once again glanced at Han Xiao before nodding along.
Not bad, keep this up. Continue to smear his name. Don’t stop.
“No wonder…” The Grand Priest sighed contentedly, like a reporter who had gotten his scoop.
From the start, Black Star was suppressed by the Mechanic Emperor, and the situation was only reversed after he burned his potential. However, the Machinery Faith only recognized the result. Regardless of whether Black Star had burned his potential or not, as long as his Mechanic abilities produced the desired result against his enemy, they would recognize that Black Star and Mechanic Emperor had tied. They placed the two on the same level now and could not wait to advertise it in their sect and share the gossip. At the same time, the Grand Priest felt a little regretful.
While he did not belong to the zealot faction, it hurt to hear that such powerful technology like the Virtual Mutiny Virus had been destroyed by Han Xiao.
However, he admired this feat even more. Black Star clearly had the core of the virus at his fingertips, but he cared for the common people and eliminated any opportunity for any organization to obtain this technology from the roots itself for the sake of the universe. This was an admirable act.
As for the Mechanic Emperor, he wished to study this virus in order to master the weapon. The safety of the ordinary citizens was not within his consideration. While the Grand Priest could understand the Mechanic Emperor’s approach, he felt that his bearings were inferior compared to Black Star. Subconsciously, the image of the Mechanic Emperor was no longer so tall and mysterious, and the image of Black Star grew much more.
Rumors could always be distorted, and it was more likely that the information revealed by these bigshots would be more reliable… Many of the priests thought that way.
Han Xiao and his party thus promoted his battle record of achieving a tie and, in the process, discredited the Mechanic Emperor, allowing this group of Machinery Faith members to vigorously publicize it in their internal networks, reducing Manison’s believers.
The Machinery Faith only believed in the strong, and they did not have any diehard fans. With a record as evidence, it was not difficult to poach people.
To achieve their goal, Han Xiao and the rest had a conversation with the believers, deepening their impression of them in the Machinery Faith. They then left the planet, dispelling their Lord’s Descent and only leaving the construction machinery to build the new settlement for the Machinery Faith.
“The Mechanic Emperor has withdrawn.”
The three Universal Civilizations’ leaders looked at each other the moment the live broadcast screen ended.
“While there were some twists and turns, the operation was largely successful, and the threat of the virus core has also been resolved. Black Star’s intelligence was correct, and he also went to great lengths for the operation to succeed. If it were not for him, we would definitely have suffered a huge loss. This achievement could be said to have turned tide, and he should be rewarded,” Urranrell said.
Bader and the Pope nodded in agreement. This was a disaster that threatened the whole universe, so they let go of past grievances for the time being and reward those who had contributed.
“Furthermore, in order to destroy the Mechanic Emperor’s plan, Black Star had to burn his potential and fight. We should compensate him,” Urranrell said again.
Bader secretly screamed out the word ‘shameless’, and he retorted, “This isn’t too justified. Handing over the virus core to us would also have ruined the Mechanic Emperor’s scheme, but Black Star did not do this. Perhaps it is out of his consideration to maintain the order of the universe, but it could also be his distrust in us. We are not of the same mind. So, the reward is justified, but the compensation isn’t.”
“We can’t end it like that.” Urranrell shook her head. “Black Star ruined the virus core based on his own considerations. This might be a case of a wise man looking after his own hide, but he indeed cut off the source of the disaster. Through this behavior, we can finally catch a glimpse of his vague position… that he chooses order above everything else. While Black Star might not be one of our direct members, but based on his position, he is consistent with our interests and should be awarded more trust.”
Bader frowned without replying.
Seeing this, Urranrell solemnly continued. “In fact, we have not lost this technology even with the destruction. The monopoly of the virus technology was just to prevent leakage. With our own strengths, we can already naturally suppress the explored universe, and without this technology, we’re still the overlords, but there will be one less variable that can threaten the entire universe.”
She made no attempt to hide the fact that she wished for Black Star to obtain more benefits. Bader looked as though he wanted to speak, but the Pope suddenly spoke. “We need to consider how to deal with the Mechanic Emperor. His current position is extremely dangerous to us, and if Black Star had not revealed the specialty of the virus’ core, he would have hidden it in his intelligence.
“Manison’s appetite is growing larger. While he did not succeed this time, he has already revealed his ambition. We cannot tolerate him doing whatever he wants, so we have to find ways to weaken him, such as his businesses, status, his believers in the Machinery Faith, and his speaking rights in the development union. We have to choose a candidate to go against him, repeatedly stealing his resources.”
“And the person you’re suggesting is Black Star, huh?” Bader was a little unwilling.
“That’s right. He’s the best candidate. While he is not of our direct line, his position is worthy of our trust as he will not do anything to disrupt order. It’s better to make Black Star bigger than the Mechanic Emperor, who is unscrupulous. It would be best for Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor to compete, causing a division. If Black Star can lead the Development union, that would be even better. We will not have to worry about those Beyond Grade A people creating any sort of radical collective behavior.”
After they exchanged their opinions, a consensus was reached.
For Black Star, not only did they have to reward him, they also had to vigorously promote his deeds throughout the universe. This would build an image for him to compete against the resources of the Mechanic Emperor, as well as to promote the correct values that were conducive to their order.
As for the Mechanic Emperor, they had to suppress him hard, no longer allowing him to be so unrestrained.
Apart from other things, they had to first lock down that old thing’s main body. Manison was no Black Star, so his true body was his fatal weakness.
His vision shifted from his Lord’s Avatar and returned to his main body.
Han Xiao slowly opened his eyes. He was still within the virtual brainwave amplifier, and the consciousness of the others did not return to their avatars there. He was the only one in this space.
“I finally solved the virus core problem.”
Han Xiao opened the interface, and the special requirements that required him to destroy the virus core by hand showed a completed sign.
However, the entire (Intelligent Plague] mission was not over yet. All rewards for this mission would not be handed out until the three Universal Civilizations had eliminated all the first-generation viruses within the Ancient Star Desert.
As for the [Mechanic Emperor Manison – Machinery War] mission, that could be turned in. He and Manison had fought for half a day, allowing him to reach the highest evaluation.
Since Feidin, Nero, and Ames were not around, he could only look for Harrison.
After taking a trip out to meet Harrison and giving him a good rub under the other party’s confused and terrified gaze, Han Xiao clicked on the reward settlement with a satisfied look. He glanced past the experience and Character Summon Card rewards, looking directly at the skill extraction interface.
You have received: Draw one of Manison’s ability (talent/skill)
Tip: Manison is a Virtual Mechanic, and your Class is completely compatible with his. You will be able to draw any of his abilities. If you draw an ability that you have, you can strengthen your ability to a certain extent.
Randomizing… complete.
Please select one from the five options below as the reward:
Blueprint-Emperor Mechanic’s Sacred Trident – Skill: A Universal Treasure Class melee weapon dedicated for the Mechanical Deity’s usage. Manison has combined a lot of weapon technology to develop this fine piece of work. The specific parameters are as follows… (Expand/Collapse). Minimum Manufacturing Requirements: Character Level 310, 20,000 Intelligence, [Ultimate Mechanical Engineering Level5), [Endless Material Science Level5], [Eternal Power Source Level4)…
Perfect Mechanical Sense – Talent: x1.4 bonus coefficient to Machinery Affinity. Grade of Mechanic equipment that receive Mechanical Force bonuses are temporarily increased by 1 – 2 tiers (highest quality will not exceed Pink Grade), +4 to all Mechanic Skills.
Blueprint-Punisher – Skill: Manison’s self-developed advanced mechanical soldiers, powerful war weapons made possible through Biological Transformation and Biochemical Machinery. A living Super is needed as raw material, and the stronger the Super, the higher the performance will be after transformation. The specific parameters are as follows… (Expand/Collapse).
Note: To transform a Beyond Grade A living Super into a Punisher, the minimum requirements are: Character Level 340, 32,000 Intelligence, and possess [Endless Material Science Lv5), (Mechanical Life Tinder Lv5], [Eternal Power Source Lv5], [Virtual Creator Lv5)…
The Ancient Ones – Talent: A long life gives you a wealth of experience, which is precious spiritual wealth. +20% Intelligence, +10% Mystery, +2 to all Skill levels.
100 Million Mechanic Empire-Manison – Talent: +15% Intelligence, +1.2x Machinery Affinity Coefficient, +2 to all Mechanic Class Skills. In addition, +6 to (Machinery Fusion], [Emperor’s Gift], [King’s Mentor), [Tinder Awakening), [Apostle Life Creation], [Dimension Factory), [Apostle Evolution), (Mechanical Proliferation Growth), (Strengthened Machinery Civilization)… +5,000% for machinery production efficiency and +10% – 40% for the quality of mechanic artifacts produced. Furthermore, +36% in abilities relating to the research and manufacturing of ordinary blueprints, and +12% in abilities relating to the research and manufacturing for Golden blueprints.
When battling against any other machinery, you will obtain a bonus of +10% to all Attributes, -15% to damage received, and +10% to damage dealt to the other party. Your energy and stamina consumption are also reduced by 25%.
Remarks: You’re the owner of hundreds of millions of machines. You are the Mechanic Emperor!
Gulp. Han Xiao was a little dazed, swallowing unconsciously. Is the Goddess of Luck finally willing to hold onto my pants…
The quality of this wave of extraction was just too scary!
Han Xiao was unprepared for this and was stunned for a while before ecstasy surged in his heart.
Because both of their classes were perfectly matched, any skill or expertise could be drawn, so the thousands of blueprints Manison had would lower the possibility of him drawing anything good.
Han Xiao’s original goal was to at best extract a Molding Talent, but he did not expect to draw out Manison’s treasured baby!
(100 Million Mechanic Empire-Manison), a Unique Talent!
Just look at the effect! Woah, the difference in template level! And it’s even top notch among the templates!
This was definitely the reason behind Manison’s strength!
The Unique Talents of most characters stemmed from their own experience, which also carried a strong personal touch.
Generally speaking, the talent formed after becoming strong would definitely be more powerful compared to the earlier ones, and the [100 Million Mechanic Empire) was obviously the specialty borne after Manison had been famous for a long time. Its conditions for forming were extremely harsh, and it was the summation of his lifetime of experience.
To put it in layman’s terms, this talent was equivalent to the old man’s ‘inner core’. It contained the essence of his life!
And right now, the old man’s lifetime of work was unfortunately extracted by him…
It was as though one had gone down to the river to fish, and immediately caught a protected animal in one go!
The richness of this harvest completely outstripped our Great Mechanic Han’s expectation, and he was so excited that he wanted to gorge on his nutrition fluid as a reward.
I f*cking earned big this time!
One’s character indeed needs to be accumulated. Harrison has stored so many years of luck with him, and I probably wiped it all clean in one go.
Han Xiao was full of excitement.
Forgetting the (100 Million Mechanic Empire), the overall quality of this extraction was also surprisingly high, with two Molding Talent level abilities and even (Perfect Mechanical Sense).
Fortunately, he had long obtained the [Perfect Mechanical Sense) template by bullying Nero, and even if he chose it again, he would only obtain a minor upgrade to the skill. The price to performance ratio was too limited, otherwise he would have had trouble deciding.
The other options were also quite good. The Emperor Mechanic’s Sacred Trident was the weapon that Manison had used in the battle against him, which was a Universal Treasure stronger than the Celestial Punishment Edge. The blueprint (Punisher) was a special living weapon modification technology that was even applicable to the Beyond Grade A levels. Most likely, all the Beyond Grade As ‘collected’ by Manison were transformed into advanced weaponry in this manner. [The Ancient Ones) was also a high-level talent, which Han Xiao had used before through the Character Summon Card. If he did not draw the (100 Million Mechanic Empire] talent, then this ability would have been good to solidify himself. Since the other abilities paled in comparison in front of Manison’s Unique Talent, Han Xiao did not need to hesitate.
Tonight, we are all Manison!
You have received a new talent: 100 Million Mechanic Empire-Manison!
An unexplainable change occurred in his body, different from the pain experienced during the sublimation of life level. Han Xiao only felt as though he was flying, the unknown shackles binding him having been broken off.
His vision rippled, and scenes flashed quickly in front of him.
He saw the fast-forwarded process from a baby’s birth to when he became a teenager. Obscure books on machinery theory were being read as children’s books, casually flipped through.
He saw the first Mechanical Force of the boy being born, the first book he read, the first machine made, the first blueprint refined, the first enemy killed…
As the stars shifted, countless messy and fuzzy pictures flashed by, and the person in the illusion finally turned into an old man dressed in a silver robe, with his eyes flickering with lightning. Behind him stood a mighty mechanical army, boundless and as numerous as the stars in the galaxy, occupying every inch of Han Xiao’s sight.
The illusion ended there, and Han Xiao opened his eyes in revelation. This must be Old Man Manison’s life story. It seems as though obtaining the Unique Talent of a person will allow me to see the general outline of said person’s life… But hey, that old bugger is still alive, so why does it seem like they’re celebrating his life?
The illusion was fuzzy most of the time and lacked detail. It only showcased the more important nodes of Manison’s life.
Han Xiao did not receive any intelligence despite viewing the whole thing, at most only having a better outlook over Manison’s life. He was a proud son of heaven, talented in many ways, and had always been the outstanding one from a young age.
The stereotypical child-next-door. Han Xiao grimaced.
The only special thing worth noting was that despite Manison being so dazzling since childhood, he seemed to have no interest in material enjoyment, nor did he have any interest in passing down his genes. All he wanted was to stay in his workshop and tinker with machinery.
This is a little similar to me. We’re all craftsmen that are focused on our own crafts…
Han Xiao shook his head, putting this illusion to the back of his mind before carefully scrutinizing the effects of (100 Million Mechanic Empire-Manison). While the talent was now his, the suffix of ‘Manison’ had not disappeared. This would always display the origin of the skill.
One of the most exaggerated bonuses within would be the 5,000% increase in production efficiency. Most likely, the nickname of Mechanic Emperor for Manison was derived because of this, as his speed of creating machinery was frightening.
While this was awe inspiring, fifty times the production efficiency also meant fifty times the speed of money burnt!
Manison had been continuously expanding his organization all the while. Other than ambition, it was because he needed to support his own expenses. With the expenses he incurred in his own class, he spent the money he earned fast.
The biggest difference between me and Manison now is our accumulation. With this bonus, the speed at which I accumulate my foundation will increase sharply. While it will not shorten the gap, it will not allow Manison to open up the gap between us even more… Han Xiao stroked his chin as he thought. It’s just that my money will be spent too quickly… Luckily, I’m not short on cash.
The Black Star Army was at a huge scale now, with huge cash flows and terrifying profits daily. Furthermore, there was the cornucopia in the form of the Evolution Totems. His own personal finances were now full enough to have permanently crossed out the term ‘lack of money’ from his dictionary.
The bonus awarded to his blueprint manufacturing and R&D was also large, which could be around the range of dozens of stacks from the (Spirit Instrument] buff. The best would be the twelve percent bonus to Gold Grade blueprints. Manison’s specialty was the research and development of various Universal Treasures, and this should be affected by his expertise.
This will make things easier when I study Universal Treasures myself in the future. Han Xiao was overjoyed.
As for the buffs that would take effect when facing off against other machinery, this was the best when having a battle against other Mechanics. This was one of the reasons Manison was so powerful when facing other Mechanics.
The next time he faced off against Manison, he would also obtain the same targeted increase.
The bonus given to me by the (100 Million Mechanic Empire) is equivalent to two [Perfect Mechanical Sense) talents stacked together. The Unique Talents of the best are actually so terrifying…
Han Xiao was satisfied as though he had managed to eat a full meal. The gap between him and the Mechanic Emperor was already greatly reduced now.
What I said earlier still stands. Manison is indeed a good person. Every time I argue and fight with him, I obtain such a huge gift. What sort of attitude is this? Returning grievances with virtue!
If it were not for his fear of angering the other party, he would send a pennant over to Manison, with the words “The Timely Assistance for Galaxy, Hero Manison!” It seems like I need to fight more with Manison. My ability to obtain a fortune depends on him now.
Han Xiao secretly clenched his fists.
Closing the skill interface, he looked at the other mission rewards.
Directly challenging Manison was an extremely difficult mission, and the experience awarded was even greater than the first time, giving him close to a hundred billion. His stock, which was basically used up to exchange for Awakening Points, was now filled up again.
As for the Character Summon Card awarded, it was an ability known as (Vigor Resonance). The effect reduced energy consumption as well as strengthened his attributes. When converted to Mechanical Force, it increased the coverage of Mechanical Force bonuses given. At the same time, as long as his energy value did not reach zero, his energy bonuses would always remain at the maximum. Perhaps due to him using up all his luck, the effect of the Character Summon Card was quite ordinary. With his own HP to Energy exchange, this Character Summon Card was quite useless to him.
However, Han Xiao was not discouraged. With Manison’s core talent in his hands, he was already very satisfied.
vasAfter doing some statistics, Han Xiao closed the interface, thinking about the impact of his actions.
I’ve changed the trend of the plotline, as the virus core was directly eliminated by me. The Intelligent Plague will no longer sweep through the universe like in my previous life, and the losses have been reduced by more than ninety-five percent. The explored universe has survived this disaster without any risk, and more people have been saved in this life. With the work I’ve done, I should obtain the highest Mission Rating this time. Other than the mission reward, the three Universal Civilizations will also give me a second wave of remuneration. When the news is released, I can once again obtain a third wave of rewards from the feedback given by the galactic society.
It’s a pity that this Domino Virus cannot be used to deal with the World Tree. However, since the virus was not used in my previous life, the impact should not be too huge. Actually, if the World Tree managed to crack this technology and turn it against us, that would be bad. The negative impact of this virus on us is far greater than that of the World Tree, so eliminating this variable might not be a bad thing.
The possibility of the Mechanic Emperor retaliating against me is low, since he’ll have to deal with the suppression from the three Universal Civilizations. Even if he really wishes to mess with me, I’m now full of abilities and will not be too afraid of him.
Since we’ve made our contradictions clear, the Mechanic Emperor and I will definitely fight in the development union. The Beyond Grade A Mechanics are not on the side of the Mechanic Emperor, so they are equivalent to my hidden supporters. My speaking rights in the union should increase. Han Xiao calculated the pros and cons silently, discovering that his gains this time were huge, with the only disadvantage being that he had offended Manison.
In the past, it was likely that Manison had obtained the virus core, becoming the greatest beneficiary of the Intelligent Plague.
Now, it was the other way around. In this operation, the Old Man Manison became the only one that lost out.
It seems like I did him a good number this time… Han Xiao scratched his head. Bah, what does it have to do with me? It’s not that I’m bad; you’re just too sly.
Han Xiao left the virtual brainwave amplifier, returning to the command center. As the spaceship landed and Han Xiao stepped out from the hatch, he immediately saw Sidreun and the other inspectors waiting for him on the platform.
Sidreun took two steps forward before bowing slightly. His attitude showed a lot more reverence than before.
“Your Excellency Black Star, the three heads are waiting online for you.”
Han Xiao’s actions in destroying the virus core had won him over.
“Alright, I’ll head over now.” Han Xiao smiled as he nodded. He was not surprised and had long expected the three Universal Civilizations to approach him.
He swept the area with a glance, realizing that the other Beyond Grade A avatars were not present. “The others?”
“They have yet to descend at the moment, but all their missions have been completed, so we are enough to wrap up the backend.” With the virus core eradicated, the Virtual Mutiny Virus was thus stopped at the first generation. With the three sets of antivirus kits, the three Universal Civilizations’ original plan to cleanse the virus could now continue. Since the next step did not require the Beyond Grade As, their missions could be said to have been completed.
The Mechanic Emperor was even more unlikely to come back, or else it would be awkward if they saw each other, not knowing if they should fight.
Han Xiao followed the trio to a remote conference room on the top floor of the headquarters. Walking into the room, he glanced to see three huge virtual screens standing in front of them. They were the remote projections of Urranrell, Bader, and the Pope.
Sidreun and the others nodded to show their respect before retreating and closing the door. Only Han Xiao was left in the room.
Urranrell was the first to speak.
“Black Star, you’ve achieved a great merit this time, pinpointing the real danger of the Intelligent Plague for us. Without your intel, countless people would have been killed and injured in this disaster. We’re grateful for you for your contribution on behalf of the universe.”
“Maintaining the order of society is everyone’s responsibility,” Han Xiao replied perfunctorily as he looked at the three of them. This was still the first time he had spoken to all three heads of the Universal Civilizations. He had practically reached the very forefront of Galaxy, as few had such an honor in the universe, with those receiving this treatment being the most dazzling great people of each age. Speaking of which, he was only familiar with Urranrell and had not had much contact with either Bader or the Pope.
The three of them took turns to speak, praising Han Xiao for his contribution but did not say much about his act of destroying the virus core.
After listening to their praise, Han Xiao then finally heard the Pope move onto the main topic.
“For such an achievement, we will definitely not be stingy with the reward…”.
Han Xiao secretly rolled his eyes. He knew that the three leaders had definitely reached a consensus before speaking to him.
Not out of his expectations, the three of them coincided with each other, introducing the reward. Among them, resources and policy support counted for the majority. The federation and the church expressed their willingness to help the Black Star Army in the Star Fields outside the Shattered Star Ring and the Flickering World, allowing them to expand their businesses and sphere of influence.
The development of the Black Star Army in the other Star Fields had been relatively difficult, as their hands could not stretch too far at the moment. With the joint support of the three Universal Civilizations, the development would be much smoother.
Han Xiao understood the meaning behind this
– it was to allow him to catch up with the Mechanic Emperor’s organizations, allowing the two of them to better compete with each other. At the same time, this support would mean that the three Universal Civilizations were sharing their own interests with him, so as to deepen their relationship and avoid any conflict with him like what happened between them and Manison.
Furthermore, the three Universal Civilizations promised to open a portion of the Universal Treasure blueprint library to Han Xiao, which would allow him to purchase a portion of the Gold Grade blueprints using money and his Contribution Points.
Originally, most of these blueprints were not for sale. However, during his conflict against the Mechanic Emperor, the three Universal Civilizations saw the gap in strength between the two parties, so they were willing to provide some benefits to aid Black Star in reducing the gap. Generally speaking, such privileges were only awarded to those of their direct line. These treatments could be regarded as a manifestation of their trust in Han Xiao.
Of course, support still had its limits, and they would not give everything away for free.
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled, and he was unexpectedly surprised.
If this was the case, other than his own research and Awakening Point methods, he now had a new channel to purchase Universal Treasures. Because of his (Spirit Instrument] skills, there were additional benefits to this reward for him, and in his opinion, this was better compared to those business support they would provide him.
At this moment, Urranrell slowly said, “We’ve also jointly decided to hire you as a Special Safety Consultant for the Federation of Light, the Crimson Dynasty, and the Arcane Church.”
Han Xiao was stunned.
A Special Safety Consultant for the three Universal Civilizations?
This was new to him.
If that was the case, then he would also form a relationship with both the federation and the church, turning from an ally of the dynasty into a cross-faction character.
It seemed like there was no Beyond Grade A who had been given such an honor before in history. He might be the first and likely only one.
After thinking about it, Han Xiao could guess the intentions of the three Universal Civilizations.
Firstly, they wanted to build his momentum, and the second reason was that the other two wished to earn money through investing in him just like advertising sponsors. Black Star would carry a part of their labels with him. The third intention would be for the development union, which would mean that the three Universal Civilizations were currently adjusting their attitudes toward the Beyond Grade A development union.
Why does this feel like in the martial arts novels that I read in my previous life, about how the court would secretly support one of their own in order to become the Master of the Martial Community, thus allowing them to control the pugilists? I’m becoming more and more like a villain, Han Xiao grumbled in his heart.
While he thought this way, he did not refuse the position of the Special Safety Consultant and politely nodded.
“I’m honored to be offered this position.”
For the Mechanic Emperor to engage in rebellion, it was not just because of the methods employed against them but also contained his own selfish will. Han Xiao did not have that idea; for him, there was more than one way to protect the Beyond Grade As. In his opinion, no one could truly be alone in the universe. The right way was to seek cooperation amid their struggles.
Furthermore, the three Universal Civilizations would be the main force in dealing with the World Tree Civilization. What he wanted was to make their cooperative relationship equal, not to backstab the three Universal Civilizations.
The majority of people in the Beyond Grade A Association also thought the same way. His position as a Special Security Consultant for the three Universal Civilizations would now act as a halo, which could attract members with the same idea. This would further separate him from Manison.
Thinking of this, Han Xiao once again had a fresh perspective.
Why does it feel like we’re Professor X and Magneto?
While he had become a Special Consultant, his roots were still as a pillar of the dynasty, and his relationship with the other two civilizations was a lot more superficial.
“These are the general rewards. Black Star, do you have any specific needs?” Han Xiao thought for a while before saying, “I hope that I can purchase the Ultimate Knowledges of other systems and be able to pass it on to others.”
The moment he spoke, the eyes of the trio changed, and silence fell.
This was a sensitive issue and one that the Development Union had been negotiating with the three Universal Civilizations.
The issue of lifting the monopoly on Knowledge.
There were so many Beyond Grade As, and if they gathered together, they would definitely be able to gather all the Ultimate Knowledges of every Class. The key lay in their right to disseminate the knowledge, as the three Universal Civilizations prohibited any sort of private teaching
Now, Han Xiao wished for them to release their grips on this issue, which was in line with the requests of the Beyond Grade As. However, it would harm the interest of the three Universal Civilizations. Seeing their expressions, Han Xiao said, “Hila is still serving as my Deputy Army Commander. I have to help her gather knowledge of her Esper System, and there are also people with extraordinary potential under me that I hope can master some Ultimate Knowledge to improve their combat power.”
The three of them exchanged glances, and after being silent for a long time, Urranrell finally spoke.
“You may exchange three Ultimate Knowledges for Hila, but you are only limited to passing one Ultimate Knowledge per person for others. At the same time, you have to submit a list for filing and limit the number of people who are able to learn this.”
The three Universal Civilizations finally made some concessions on this issue, but this was only limited to Black Star himself, while others did not have this treatment.
After the various deals were negotiated, the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders went offline, and Han Xiao left the meeting room, stopping by to greet Sidreun before returning to his territory.
Just as he walked into his exclusive office area, he saw Harrison nervously standing at the door, waiting for him. Han Xiao did not stop, however, instead walking on.
Harrison immediately rushed up, stammering, “Your… Your Excellency Black Star, I have something to ask…” “Speak.”
“I would like to ask, what are we going to do after the Intelligent Plague is over?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao turned to glance at him, only to see Harrison’s expression of anxiety. He immediately knew what was on the latter’s mind.
“What, are you afraid you’ll go back behind bars?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Harrison appeared a little frazzled. While he had followed Han Xiao for a few months, he was still guilty. This charge had not been lifted, so he was afraid he would have to continue sitting behind bars and had come to ask Han Xiao for help.
“Relax, you’ve made a great contribution this time, and I won’t leave you in the lurch.” Han Xiao patted his shoulder.
Harrison was flattered, but at the same time, he was a little dazed.
I made a great contribution?
Why didn’t I hear anything about it? “Then… What will happen to me in the future?”
“I will ask the three Universal Civilizations to withdraw the charges against you and restore the freedom of you and your companions, but you can no longer be scavengers.”
“Thank you very much!” Harrison had an expression of gratitude.
It was nice to regain his freedom. It did not matter if he could not be a scavenger. After unearthing the Virtual Mutiny Virus, Harrison was already traumatized and planned to go back and inherit his family fortune.
“Don’t rejoice too early. I’m not saving you for nothing. You’ll need to continue your current job scope and do exploration under the funding and surveillance of the Black Star Army.”
“This…” Harrison hesitated. “Not willing?” Han Xiao stared at him. “Then I hope you’ll get used to your prison life as soon as possible.”
“No, no, no!” Harrison immediately grabbed Han Xiao and helplessly replied, “We can do it.”
Black Star was their last hope, so he had no other choice. Besides, obtaining financial aid from a behemoth such as the Black Star Army would mean that they did not have to worry about everything like before.
Han Xiao hummed in agreement, but he was smiling in his heart.
Want to go back and inherit the family business? Dream on!
Once you enter my leek field, don’t even think of running away. Just work hard for me!
After the three Universal Civilizations completed the operation, they notified the various organizations in the Ancient Star Desert to reopen their quantum networks. The quantum network was only disconnected for half a day, yet it brought about huge economic losses to the entire Star Field. The various organizations were all wondering what the three Universal Civilizations had done during the period when their quantum network was disconnected.
Through intelligence gathered from all walks of life, they quickly found out that a group of Beyond Grade As had gathered for an operation, and they all were dumbfounded.
The Super Star Cluster Civilizations were all suffering from PTSD from the three Universal Civilizations, and thus, they were always on the lookout about this turmoil. Upon learning of this matter, the upper echelons held another meeting
“It turns out that the Virtual Mutiny Virus had such a mechanism. If it was leaked out, it’s unknown how many people would have been killed or injured… It’s a pity that we were kept in the dark, and the core has now been destroyed by Black Star.”
Many of the upper echelons displayed fear and regret.
They were afraid of the threat of the Virtual Mutiny Virus itself. They thought that the three Universal Civilizations had controlled the situation, but they did not expect it to be just an illusion. If they did not manage to find the virus core, then disaster would have swept across the entire universe.
What they regretted was that they did not know the goals of the three Universal Civilizations in advance, and in order to cooperate, they developed a wait-and-see attitude, finally resulting in the virus core being handled by the three Universal Civilizations. The Virtual Mutiny Virus thus became a disappearing voice. Because the ship had already sailed, the three Universal Civilizations no longer concealed the information, so the Super Star Cluster Alliance discovered this matter.
One of the executives sighed in relief. “Luckily, Black Star destroyed the virus core. If we’d let the three Universal Civilizations obtain such weaponized information technology, then our situation would have been much worse.”
“You’re wrong. Black Star destroying the virus core does us more harm than good. Even if the technology was obtained by the three Universal Civilizations, they would only use it in order to maintain order. But for us, this sort of technology would be enough to allow us to threaten them, and it would allow us to shorten the gap between us and them. Now that this technology has disappeared, we have lost this opportunity forever,” someone retorted.
“It would have been good if the Mechanic Emperor had succeeded…”
Many of them sighed.
They had hoped that Manison would succeed, as there was a high chance the Mechanic Emperor would ally with their Super Star Cluster Alliance in order to maintain his competitive advantage in hoarding profitable goods. In this manner, they would also have had an opportunity to find ways to obtain the virus technology through him.
However, this hope of turning the tables was now destroyed by Black Star, and they could not help but greatly regret it.
“Black Star, this fellow, really…” One of the superiors paused, not knowing how to describe Han Xiao, before finally speaking dejectedly. “He’s too wasteful.”
Glancing at the other upper echelons with varied expressions, the Star Arc Civilization’s leaders solemnly said, “The results cannot be changed. What we need to think about is how to deal with the current situation.”
“In the Flickering World, the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance will definitely have a battle. What we lack now is preparation time. Originally, the Intelligent Plague would have taken up all the energy of the three Universal Civilizations. The longer they are held up, the better. But now that the disaster is about to disappear, the three Universal Civilizations will soon be free to deal with us.”
“The virus core was discovered by Black Star, and it was also eliminated by him. Because of his actions, the time for the three Universal Civilizations to solve the Intelligent Plague was greatly reduced… Hey, it’s Black Star again!”
Most of the upper echelons were very dissatisfied. The exposure of Traveler before was due to Black Star, and now he had once again disrupted their plans.
But while they were angry, they could not do anything. They hoped to be low-key at this point to avoid trouble, so why would they go and provoke Black Star?
The leader of the Star Arc Civilization looked through the intelligence and suddenly exclaimed, “Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor had a disagreement on the issue of dealing with the virus core. The two of them had a fight and officially turned against each other. What do you think about this?” “The battle report shows that Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor reached a tie…” An intelligence department’s chief frowned. “If Black Star arrived in his main body, it is still possible, but both sides were using avatars. Our artificial intelligence has constructed countless models and analyzed the results, showing that in the case of this battle, Black Star’s win rate was as low as 0.0027%. He is not yet an opponent of the Mechanic Emperor. The tie was because the other Beyond Grade As forcibly interfered, which meant that they were instructed to do so. Thus, we can judge that the three Universal Civilizations hope to create an equivalent character to compete against the Mechanic Emperor.”
The leader of the Star Arc Civilization narrowed his eyes. “This means that after this battle, Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor will part ways, and the Beyond Grade As will be divided into two factions. One faction will support Black Star, and the other, the Mechanic Emperor. There might be an opportunity in this…”
“You mean…” “After operating his business for so many years, the Mechanic Emperor is already considered a semi-independent state, almost rid of the three Universal Civilizations control,” the leader of the Star Arc Civilization said. “However, against the three Universal Civilizations, he will still require some external help, and that help… can be offered by us.”
Everyone’s eyes lit up, and they nodded.
Everyone would have a time when they sorely needed help. The Mechanic Emperor was such a powerful figure, so if the Super Star Cluster Alliance helped him right now when he was in a difficult position and not trusted by the three Universal Civilizations, they might have a chance to become his secret partner.
In this way, to a certain extent, they can prevent the Beyond Grade A union from reaching a new cooperative relationship with the three Universal Civilizations, and they would also add obstacles to Black Star, who often caused them trouble.
On a desolate planet in the Primeval Star River, there was a hidden base underground.
Electricity arced in the darkness, and a pair of eyes emitting sparks opened, reflecting a silhouette sitting on the ground. This figure stood up, his robe rustling in the silence of the room. The next moment, he turned on the light, revealing his appearance, which was the true body of Manison.
After the battle, he had released his Lord’s Descent and had not been in contact with others for quite a while. During this time, he had been secretly operating his organizations in the various Star Fields, ready to deal with the suppression of the three Universal Civilizations.
Manison knew better than anyone what sort of measures the three Universal Civilizations would take against him.
“This day has arrived a lot sooner than I expected…”
Manison let out a sigh of relief before his tone turned a little unpleasant as he snarled.
“That kid, Black Star, spoiling my plan!”
If it were not for Black Star, releasing news about the virus core, he would not have had to take the risk to try and obtain it.
Manison had also found clues about the virus core and concealed his tracks without reporting it to the three Universal Civilizations, all so that he would have the opportunity to swallow the Virtual Mutiny Virus, secretly obtain this technology, and make a fortune.
In his opinion, Black Star also had this opportunity, with even more clues than he had, but in order to reduce the damage of the disaster, he sought out the three Universal Civilizations to share his intelligence!
If not for this, he would not have had to compete against the three Universal Civilizations in full view. If he had missed out on this opportunity, then he would never have obtained the chance to get the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology.
Everything was due to Black Star!
He had taken the risk, but Black Star had actually destroyed the virus core in the end, making everyone fight for nothing. Manison could still recall the moment Han Xiao crushed the virus core, and this made his heart ache. Since he dared run the risk of offending the three Universal Civilizations to rob the virus core, it was naturally because the item was worth it.
As a top-notch Virtual Mechanic, with an AI civilization under him, if he obtained the full Virtual Mutiny Virus dataset and improved on it, there would be a violent chemical reaction. Coupled with his own strength, it would be enough to create a new version of the universe!
Apart from this, as long as he placed the core in his own artificial intelligence incubation room, cultivating generations of viruses in advance and placing them out to penetrate the universe, he would be everywhere at once!
At that time, the Intelligent Plague would be a toddler compared to him!
Even if the three Universal Civilizations obtained the technology, there was still a chance. Manison could still hack in and steal the technology at the risk of being discovered.
But now, the opportunity for him to reach the apex had been ruined by Black Star. Manison could not help but want to deem Black Star as a ‘criminal’ on the spot.
Manison shook his head. With things as they were, there was no use dwelling on it. It was better to deal with the matters in the present.
After this matter, the relationship I have with the federation will become even more strained. The three Universal Civilizations will scheme to cut off my wings, but fortunately, I’ve managed to get rid of as many attachments as I could over the years. I’ve also obtained independent channels and cultivated a large number of hidden forces. Many of my businesses can easily be transferred into hidden ones…
Since a long time ago, Manison felt that there would come a day where he would turn independent, and thus prepared for a rainy day. He dared to take the risk today because he was not afraid of falling out with the three Universal Civilizations.
Moreover, given the current situation, neither side would be completely opposed to the other, since the three Universal Civilizations still had some restraining fear toward him.
Manison had calculated his risks before he acted, thus taking the opportunity to reveal a few of his cards. The tens of millions of Lord’s Avatars that he revealed were enough to make the three Universal Civilizations hesitate in dealing with him, fearing the repercussions of their actions on the innocents. As long as they could not find his body, he could always appear once more.
The three Universal Civilizations will want to support Black Star to compete with me. I guess I’ll lose my funding from the federation, and I’ll now have to make new friends… Manison narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.
After the virus core was eradicated, the disaster relief efficiency of the three Universal Civilizations was rapidly accelerated, and the anti-virus kit was re-promoted as part of the anti-virus plans.
Without the virus core, the first generation of the Virtual Mutiny Virus had no leader and lost all coordination. The three Universal Civilizations just had to scan and lock down each node before clearing them at the same time. They would then go online immediately with a dedicated firewall. The viruses in the Ancient Star Desert were solved quickly, and the damage done by the Intelligent Plague was quickly rectified.
It had been several months since the outbreak of the Intelligent Plague, and the Star Field had been blocked out of signal for the whole time, leading the universe to be concerned about the status quo of the Ancient Star Desert. As the news was blocked for a long time, more and more rumors started circulating in the universe, spreading faint panic.
Now that the disaster was under control, the three Universal Civilizations finally issued an announcement to the entire universe to reassure the citizens of Galaxy.
In the announcement, the three Universal Civilizations specifically shared the entire experience of hunting down the virus core. As soon as the official news bulletin was released, it immediately attracted the attention of countless organizations within the explored universe.
Han Xiao’s deeds were also propagated around the universe following the deliberate announcements by the three Universal Civilizations, causing a huge uproar!
Following the development of the Star Field, more galactic residents had begun pouring into the Flickering World. The various industries had been rapidly improved, and a large number of planets were transformed into transit stations or tourist destinations.
As the entrance of the territory of the Black Star Army and the gateway toward one of the top ten stargate traffic routes in the Flickering World, Planet Black Gate had an amazing number of daily visitors. Numerous entertainment facilities had been built on the planet’s surface, confusing day and night and causing the place to be constantly noisy. Every moment was extraordinary, as one could see visitors from all Star Fields and races present. Murica Street was a famed entertainment street, with casinos, pubs, shops, and departmental stores present. The area was full of feasting and pleasure seeking, with people constantly coming and going without rest.
“It’s been a while since I last came here, and it’s getting more and more prosperous.”
Maple Moon dragged Frenzied Sword along as they walked through the bustling street, looking curiously around at the strange passersby.
Seeing their emblems, showing them to be high-ranking warriors from the Black Star Army, everyone showed varying degrees of awe in their eyes, giving way to them. On the bustling street, there seemed to be an invisible wall around them.
“Stop browsing. We’re here to submit our mission.” Frenzied Sword could only speak helplessly.
At this moment, the giant screen on the wall of a building in the distance lit up, showing a news screen.
“Now, we’ll broadcast an urgent piece of news. The Federation of Light, the Crimson Dynasty, and the Arcane Church are jointly issuing an announcement to report on the progress of the Intelligent Plague to the entire universe…”
Hearing the first official news about the Ancient Star Desert in days, the pedestrians on the street stopped suddenly, as though someone had pressed a ‘freeze’ button. They all looked up at the screen and stopped to watch.
Frenzied Sword and Maple Moon both stopped as well, curiously looking at the screen.
They saw the scene of a diplomatic press conference on the giant screen. The spokespersons of the three Universal Civilizations all stood side by side and read out the announcement.
“The Intelligent Plague has troubled us for several months. We contained the disaster within the Ancient Star Desert and carried out a special disaster relief operation. Because this matter concerned the security of the entire universe, it attracted great attention from all walks of life. Thus, we’re hereby making a special report today to announce the progress of our tripartite governance of the Intelligent Plague.”
“The Virtual Mutiny Virus is a highly dangerous information data virus that can rewrite the underlying logic of any artificial intelligence, turning machinery into an exterminating organism. The virus has an amazing permeability, spread, and threat, and it is an information warfare weapon that has been lost in time. We thought that the threat came from the virus itself, but it was only recently discovered that the virus core was the true threat…”
The representatives described the mechanisms of the virus core, highlighting the danger of its self-evolution adaptability, using exaggerated words to describe the consequences of the disasters.
Hearing this, the people listening on the streets shuddered involuntarily. Because of the news blockade, the galactic residents had little understanding of the Virtual Mutiny Virus. Now that they understood the real horror behind the virus, they could not help feeling a panic in their hearts, frightened by the lethality of the virus.
At this moment, the spokesperson changed the conversation, saying, “If Black Star had not discovered the threat of the virus core, we would still be in the dark. According to our artificial intelligence’s simulation, the anti-virus plan we made without the knowledge of the virus core would have had a success rate of no more than 0.1%. It is very likely that the virus would have leaked out in the end, leading to disasters sweeping across the entire universe. Countless creatures would have died in the disaster, and the interstellar era would have regressed catastrophically. “This discovery by Black Star allowed us to avoid this result, so his merits are huge, as he has indirectly saved countless people.”
Many of them breathed out a sigh of relief, still feeling the jitters at the thought of their escape from disaster, and thanked Black Star for changing their fates. The representative then continued. “Because of Black Star’s intelligence, we planned an operation, and the entire Star Field was disconnected from the network to chase down the core of the virus. Everything was going well. However, when the virus core was captured, some twists and turns occurred…”
“The virus core was captured by the Mechanic Emperor Manison, but he refused to turn it in regardless of the safety of the universe, in an attempt to reverse-engineer the complete technology. In order to maintain the peace of the universe, Black Star seized the virus core, destroying it and completely eliminating this technology. He eliminated the possibility of a re-emergence of this Virtual Mutiny Virus so that the whole universe would always be out of the shadow of this disaster.
“But the Mechanic Emperor was unwilling to fail like this. Thus, he attacked Black Star, and the two of them fought to a tie. He was finally driven back by Black Star.”
Frenzied Sword and Maple Moon could hear the commotion of the people around them on the street.
This speech first raised the issue of the operation, triggering the anxiety of the population, then made a comparison between both the Mechanic Emperor and Black Star, distinguishing between them. It deliberately promoted Han Xiao’s actions protecting the galactic residents, implanting an image of Black Star with boundless love for the residents, making the galactic residents thank him for his contribution.
In contrast, the Mechanic Emperor was portrayed as a selfish careerist who disregarded the overall situation. Because he ignored the interests of the galactic residents, he was regarded as a villain, and his image discredited.
The representative summarized the entire happenings at the end.
“Today, the management of the Intelligent Plague is now in its final stages. The disaster is under control, and the virus will be completely eliminated in the next few days. The blockade surrounding the Ancient Star Desert will be lifted. In this incident, the merits that Black Star has rendered are irreplaceable, and thus, the three Universal Civilizations have decided to jointly award the title of Special Safety Consultant for the three Universal Civilizations to Black Star as a reward.”
Special Security Consultant to the three Universal Civilizations?
Frenzied Sword and Maple Moon looked at each other, surprised.
Didn’t the federation and the church have something against our Black Star Army? They’ve now turned their status as enemies into friends. Were they ‘taken down’ by the Army Commander?
Then, won’t we have two more strong and sturdy thighs to hug?
The news ended, but the enthusiasm of the people had just been aroused. They fervently discussed the topic, creating a buzzing in the streets.
“Thanks God for His Excellency Black Star. He’s really a great person.”
“Among all of the Beyond Grade As, only Black Star is working for the welfare of our ordinary people. Just like the previous Holy Light Emissary cultivation plan, he’s given us ordinary people a chance, an opportunity to turn someone into a Super. Now he is determined to destroy this virus technology because of our safety. For this reason, he even went to war with the Mechanic Emperor. If I were a woman, I’d definitely fall in love with him.”
“Sigh, I never expected the Mechanic Emperor Manison to be that sort of person. To think I used to worship him.”
“For such a great merit, no wonder the three Universal Civilizations invited Black Star to be a Special Security Consultant. It seems like no one has ever been awarded such an honor, right?”
“Frankly speaking, other than Black Star, I cannot think of anyone who would be more qualified for this position.”
At this moment, from the opposite street came out a wave of cheers. Someone ran over and exclaimed, “Hurry, there are a few wealthy merchants who’ve bought the entire bar’s stock. They said that they were thankful for Black Star’s accomplishments and are offering free drinks to everyone!”
Hearing this, the people on the street swarmed over, and when they passed Frenzied Sword and Maple Moon, they no longer avoided them. Rather, they enthusiastically greeted them, using all kinds of weird etiquette to show respect to the people of the Black Star Army.
Feeling the warm atmosphere, Frenzied Sword and Maple Moon felt a sense of pride flowing in their hearts. They strongly felt the sense of camp identity.
The two of them hurriedly went to the forums, and the forums had already exploded as the news swept across the board.
Their Army Commander had only disappeared for a few months, but he immediately made such big news as soon as he appeared. The three Universal Civilizations exaggerated the whole thing, making it seem as though Black Star was their savior, leaving the players extremely excited.
Glorious Tomahawk: Damn, so we were in the frontal camp?
Cloud Dragon Li: Second Battalion Commander, take out my spaghetti to let Black Star try[1]
Intelligent Cold Monarch: Be reasonable, this time, the Army Commander can be described as… handsome!
Gallery Sister: Black Star is still Black Star. He never lets us down!
Fawkes: Where’s ‘Galaxy Times’? Come out to get beaten up. You said that it’s gonna be a mission, so why did it become a cutscene instead?
Daydreamer: Am I the only one that cares about how the Army Commander and the Mechanic Emperor tied?
Throughout the posts on the screen, there was basically a wave of praise. Some of the older players gave the newbies a run down on the deeds that Black Star had done, such as solving the Mutation Disaster, destroying the DarkStar organization, and so on.
Even after several versions, Han Xiao’s image in the eyes of the players was still magnificent, and this time, his merits once again raised the players’ perception of him, giving birth to a consensus.
Black Star is really a noble man! In addition to faction interests, if the leader of a faction had a charming personality, the players would also have a sense of identity.
As soon as the public announcement was released, everyone that was concerned about the progress of the Intelligent Plague was relieved.
This achievement allowed Han Xiao’s reputation to rise to the top for a while, whereas Manison’s reputation was struck down by the deliberate suppression.
At the same time, Han Xiao’s fleet had just passed through the dynasty’s military stargate, leaving the Ancient Star Desert. He also saw the official announcement of the three Universal Civilizations.
“Tsk, the three Universal Civilizations’ representatives are really skilled in the act of raising one while kicking down another.”
Han Xiao read the news happily. He just loved it when people praised him.
At that moment, he suddenly had a thought and opened his interface to take a look.
With the three Universal Civilizations basically completing the elimination of the first-generation Virtual Mutiny Virus, only an unsuspecting ending was left. Thus, when the announcement was made, the Intelligent Plague mission finally changed to ‘Completed’.
The mission can finally be turned in.
Han Xiao turned his head to look at Harrison, whom he had brought onto the spaceship, rubbing him before choosing to accept the mission completion reward.
S-Ranked Mission: Intelligent Plague has been completed!
Mission Rating: S+ (Perfect)
You have obtained 300 billion experience, x8 Random Rewards, +35,000 Crimson Dynasty Contribution Points, +15,000 Federation of Light Contribution Points, and +15,000 Arcane Church Contribution Points.
You have gained x2 Political Assets (The Crimson Dynasty), x1 Political Asset (Federation of Light), and xi Political Asset (Arcane Church).
You have obtained x4 Legendary Points.
Star Field Legendary Point (Ancient Star Desert): (Black Market’s Giant Croc] – Through various means and methods, you temporarily unified the black market organizations of the Ancient Star Desert, leaving behind a frightening legend.
Universe Legendary Point: [Intelligent Plague’s Curer] – The Intelligent Plague is a universe level disaster on the level of complete annihilation. You accepted the invites from the three Universal Civilizations to treat the disaster and finally made a unique contribution to successfully solve the disaster. The whole universe will remember your achievements and contributions!
Universe Legendary Point: (Galaxy’s Guardian) – You had to choose between selfish desires or righteousness. For choosing the latter, your choice has maintained the peace of the universe and affected the evolution of the entire universe. Perhaps this is a turning point in your destiny. You are always watching and guarding Galaxy, and the people all know it. Universe Legendary Point: (Special Security Consultant for the Three Universal Civilizations] – You have been invited to become a special consultant for the three Universal Civilizations. This is unprecedented, and no matter how the situation evolves, you will leave behind a rich and colorful stroke in history.
Dungeon Copy Created: Intelligent Plague (Simulated Disaster)
Han Xiao nodded. The rewards up to this point were still within his calculations. After all, this was an S-level mission, and he had even achieved a perfect evaluation. The rewards were bound to be huge. It was just that Han Xiao got stunned the moment he continued reading.
Given that your mission rating has achieved S, you have received extra reward You have received a new skill: Blueprint – Domino Virus (Damaged)!
You have completed the special mission requirement: Personally destroying the virus core Generating a related specialty… generation complete.
You have received a new talent, (Virtual Purification, Restore]!
“What?”
Han Xiao’s eyes widened, staring blankly at the reward of (Blueprint: Domino Virus (Damaged)].
This was not an extra reward for the completion of the special mission requirements but a normal reward obtained when the S ranked mission reached the highest rating. This meant that only those who had made great contributions in disaster relief could obtain this reward.
After toiling so hard to resolve the intelligent plague, the mission actually gave me a damaged blueprint of the virus technology, allowing me to recreate it…
He suddenly felt a great wave of irony.
I didn’t expect that, after so many twists and turns, this virus technology was actually not destroyed and has landed in my hands… even though it’s a damaged remnant.
Looking at the content of this blueprint, Han Xiao’s expression was conflicted. He did not know if he should be happy.
[1] This phrase originates from the movie Al], loosely translated as Bright Sword.
The mission reward was the incomplete version of the Domino Virus blueprint, so a lot of key content was missing. A lot of deduction had to be done to put the blueprint into production, and the results of those deductions might not be the same as the original version. It’s very troublesome to deduce complete blueprints at this level from the incomplete version. Sure, I can use Awakening Points to speed it up, but that seems a bit wasteful. I’ll be better off slowly working my way through it.
Fate was really unpredictable. He had thought that the Domino Virus was destroyed, but the technology still ended up in his hands. The entire outside world thought that he had destroyed the Domino Virus, so there was no way Han Xiao could just expose the fact that he had this technology. Otherwise, the results would definitely be the exact opposite of the treatment he was receiving now.
Furthermore, the core material of it was a thousand mutated artificial intelligence lives, which was not easy to find. Manison had a lot of them, but it was certainly not realistic for him to purchase any from him right after having a fight with him. Plus, Manison might notice something even if he could purchase any from him.
Therefore, this technology could not be shown to the world for a very long time. He might only use it when facing enemies like the World Tree civilization.
Now that I think about it, it seems logical for Mechanic Emperor not to use the Domino Virus during the World Tree war in the previous life.
Han Xiao suddenly figured it out.
Unless the situation of the war was totally one-sided and unwinnable, even if he could obtain the upper hand with this kind of weapon, he would still be surrounded by trouble after victory.
Perhaps, in his previous life, the Mechanic Emperor saw the Domino Virus as something similar to the Hand of Death System. When the three Universal Civilizations really had no way of winning the war, only then might he release the Domino Virus. He would then use his tons of Lord’s Avatars and mechanical armies to utilize guerrilla warfare tactics against the World Tree Civilization.
Han Xiao recalled something else. In his previous life, having considered the possibility of losing the war, the three Universal Civilizations executed the ‘Tinder Operation’. They sent a large group of wandering fleets out and far away from the explored universe. At the same time, they built tons of refugee shelters deep inside the secondary dimensions, which stored intelligent life forms, crops, and flora and fauna samples, ensuring that the civilization could be rebuilt after losing the war.
He wondered if the Mechanic Emperor had his eyes on those refugees. Could his plan have been to start anew after losing the war, escape faraway, and build a world in which he was the god of creation?
If his final goal was to rule the entire world, this might really seem like the most feasible path.
Han Xiao let his imagination run wild for a while before focusing on the matter at hand again. He closed the introduction of [Blueprint: Domino Virus (Incomplete)] and looked at the related talent he had just obtained.
(Virtual Purification-Restore) could purify the artificial intelligence target that was infected by viruses. The Virtual Mutiny Virus, for example, rewrote the fundamental logic of machines into killing organic life forms, and this talent’s effect would clear that modification and restore the target’s normal fundamental logic.
Simply put, if those artificial intelligences were considered hypnotized when their fundamental logic was modified, this ability would wake them up. At the same time, this ability was not limited to the Domino Virus; it could restore any type of virtual virus.
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. This is going to be very useful in virtual battles. The Mechanic Emperor is probably going to cry when facing this.
If his control of the mechanical army was taken away, he could just use this talent and directly regain control from the enemy.
However, given his current strength, there was almost no one who could take away his control of his mechanical troops. The only one Han Xiao could think of was the Mechanic Emperor.
Speaking of which, Manison controls his artificial intelligence civilization through rewriting their fundamental logic too, like what the ancestor of that civilization, Finette, is experiencing. This talent is going to give him a huge problem.
Han Xiao scratched his head and thought of the [Reboot) series mission that had been collecting dust for a very long time at the bottom of his mission list.
It looks like I just got the key to liberate that artificial intelligence civilization.
If I find an opportunity to use this on Manison’s AI civilization, his Indestructible Mechanic Empire might totally go out of control.
Also, since a portion of Manison’s elite forces were created by transforming living bodies, he might have used virtual means to twist their minds, so (Virtual Purification-Restore] might be effective on them too. When a certain level was reached, virtual methods that could be used on living things would actually have a lot of similarities to soul-related spells.
To take it one step further, this might even be effective on the World Tree, even more so than the Domino Virus…
Recalling how the World Tree operated, Han Xiao pondered.
The blueprint and the talent were the biggest rewards he had obtained. Universal Grade S missions sure gave generous reward.
He also received a total of four Political Assets that came from all the three Universal Civilizations. This meant that after this incident, his words would carry weight even in the federation and the church. At the same time, the Experience bonus he received increased once again.
Han Xiao glanced at the (Intelligent Plague (Disaster Simulation)] Dungeon. This was a special type of Dungeon. It no longer worked through intercepting a part of this incident but through selecting a certain area, and the dungeon would simulate what happened in this area during the Intelligent Plague outbreak. The difficulty depended on the area.
For example, if the selected area was the Black Star Army headquarters, the difficulty would almost be impossible. If the area was a normal colonial planet of a normal Star System civilization, the difficulty would be around Grade B or Grade C. If the area was a sealed battleship, it might turn into a horror movie.
This Dungeon should have a good market, especially for the Mechanics. Han Xiao saw quite a good business future.
Also, the large amount of Experience awarded to him filled up his empty wallet, and the total 65,000 Contribution Points for the three Universal Civilizations could not only be used to exchange for Ultimate Knowledges but also Gold blueprints. The three Universal Civilizations had already opened this option up to him.
Speaking of Gold blueprints, Han Xiao suddenly thought of the Holy Accord and the federation. These two were making deals with him, but it was put aside temporarily because the Intelligent Plague suddenly erupted. There was no need to worry about the federation; they definitely would not forget about it. What he was mainly concerned about was the Holy Accord organization. The date they previously agreed on was voided, and Oathkeeper did not leave any means of contact, so he could only wait for Oathkeeper to come looking for him.
After going through the rewards, Han Xiao closed the interface and contacted the headquarters. The fleet had already left the Ancient Star Desert and could now communicate with the outside world freely. He had been out for a few months, so he wanted to know what was going on in the army.
The communication got picked up very soon. Sylvia’s projection appeared before him, wearing exquisite makeup on her elegant face and a simple work uniform that highlighted her exceptional curves. She seemed to be in the middle of a meeting, and she was surprised to see Han Xiao.
“Teacher, you finally got released?”
“Erm, yeah.” Han Xiao gave her a weird expression. Why did you say it in a way that sounds like I just got out of prison?
“I’ve seen the news. The decision you made was marvelous.” Sylvia praised him. “The entire army is now praising your virtue, and the army is more united than ever. The director from that time wants to sign the contract for five more follow up movies. Since you’re not here, I didn’t reply to him.”
“Tell him yes, and Feidin will still be the lead, so he has something to do.”
Han Xiao waved his hand. Suddenly, he realized that Sylvia was wearing a pair of frameless spectacles, adding a well-educated lady vibe to her, so he asked, “Why are you wearing spectacles?”
Sylvia blushed a little. She took off the spectacles and showed them to him. On the inside of the glass was a single-sided screen. Embarrassed, she said, “Meetings are sometimes boring, so I use these to watch shows…”
“… Have you gotten close with Lagi recently?”
“Nonsense, I hate him the most!” Sylvia firmly denied it.
Han Xiao did not want to make a fuss about his subordinates slacking at work, so he changed the topic and asked, “By the way, how’s the Black Star Cup going?”
“Well, due to the impact of the Intelligent Plague, the audience rating of the Black Star Cup decreased somewhat, but it’s maintained its popularity. At this point of time, most of the secondary competitions are already finished. The army’s elites in various areas have already been selected… er, the card players don’t count.” Sylvia paused momentarily. “Currently, only the finals of a few important items are left. They’re the battles of the various Grades…”
Han Xiao listened to Sylvia’s report while nodding and saying, “Not bad, not bad.”
He did not have many forms of entertainment in the Ancient Star Desert, so he was looking at the forums every day and paying attention to the Black Star Cup. As the competition carried on, the only ones left were the elites of elites. The players had made a name for themselves among the NPCs, so they felt a strong sense of achievement and became very passionate about the event. The popularity of Black Star Cup remained high and comparable to the official Pro League.
Him not being present did not impact the Black Star Cup at all, only causing disappointment to some people who wanted to produce his Character Summon Card when facing crucial matches.
“Teacher, the closing ceremony of the Black Star Cup needs you to make a speech, don’t forget. Will you make it back in time?”.
“Hmm, definitely.” Han Xiao then changed the topic and asked, “Has anything major happened in the army recently? How’s the situation in the Flickering World?”
“There are more and more people entering the new Star Field, the explored area of the free competition zone has already extended to the center of the various Star Clusters, and the territory of the Super Star Cluster Alliance has been increasing. Other than that, there are no other changes. Deputy Army Commander Hila is also slowly exploring with the fleet… By the way, she took leave some time ago, saying she had to go to the secondary dimensions, and told me to inform you.”
“Got it.” Han Xiao nodded. Ever since Hila inherited the Underworld dimension, she had been going there every few days. Now that a few months had passed, the Underworld dimension had probably stabilized. He wondered if Hila was sucked dry.
As Hila was brought up, Han Xiao was reminded of another matter.
“How’s the Holy Light Emissary plan going?”
rec
“Very smoothly. Other than recruiting ordinary people, we’ve also recruited many people to cultivate the Holy Light Seeds and let Aurora harvest them after the seeds mature. These people have already signed contracts before starting work, so there won’t be any problems.”
“Very good, increase the number of cultivators as much as possible,” Han Xiao said. He was hoping Aurora could grow fast by harvesting leeks, so of course, the bigger the leek field, the better.
Then, he paused and said, “I’ve made a huge contribution this time. The three Universal Civilizations have decided to work with me and provide heavy support in multiple major Star Fields…”
Han Xiao explained the details of the support the three Universal Civilizations were about to provide, and Sylvia soon turned moody.
“So, my workload has increased again?”
“Tsk, buddy, your resolve isn’t strong enough.” Han Xiao criticized her with a serious tone. “You need to have a more positive mindset. Having a wider work scope and heavier workload means you now have more power in your hands, right?”
As if I’d believe you! Sylvia chuckled with absolutely zero emotion.
Hearing her laughter, Han Xiao nodded with satisfaction. Just look at how happy she is, her face is basically covered with joy.
He then glanced at Sylvia’s hairline and was relieved.
After his many years of experience, the hairline of his subordinates was equivalent to their durability. It looked like this student of his could still last quite a long time.
The two of them chattered for a while, and Sylvia suddenly thought of something.
“By the way, yesterday, there was a political talk show that wanted to invite you as their guest to discuss this Intelligent Plague incident. Do you want to go?”
“What show?”
“That ‘Ruden’s Show’ that’s quite popular.”
“No, no.” Han Xiao waved his hand.
With the three Universal Civilizations helping him to promote himself, he did not have to do it personally. Keeping a certain amount of mystery and distance would be more beneficial for his reputation.
“Alright, I’ll refuse him then.”
Han Xiao gave Sylvia a few words before hanging up.
The Intelligent Plague was a sudden incident. Without it, the three Universal Civilizations would definitely be preparing to deal with the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Now, this had been postponed. The Intelligent Plague had given the Super Star Cluster Alliance time to catch their breath.
After the three Universal Civilizations were done with the Intelligent Plague completely, they would then start fighting with the Super Star Cluster Alliance like they did in his previous life. This time, the Super Star Cluster Alliance was more prepared, so the fight would definitely be more intense. The results of that would decide the path the universe took.
As a semi-independent force, his fight with the Mechanic Emperor in the development union would definitely be dragged into this storm too. He had to prepare early.
Hu!
While he was thinking about this matter, the sound of the air moving abnormally suddenly appeared beside him.
Han Xiao looked up and saw clusters of black flames appearing out of nowhere, forming a man wearing a black coat whose face could not be seen clearly, which suddenly appeared before him. It was indeed the Holy Accord’s Oathkeeper’s spiritual projection. Han Xiao looked around and saw that all the crew in the bridge command room including Harrison did not react to Oathkeeper at all, as if they could not see him.
“We meet again, Black Star,” Oathkeeper said. His voice sounded right in Han Xiao’s mind. They had formed a mind link.
“You’re on time, coming here right after I’ve left the Ancient Star Desert.” Han Xiao caressed his chin and asked through the mind link, “Speaking of which, why can you use your spiritual projection on me directly? Do you know my whereabouts?”
“This is the specialty of my Esper Ability,” Oathkeeper said slowly. “There are no two exactly the same souls in the world, especially strong individuals. Souls are very easy to identify. As long as I record the characteristics of your soul, I can trace the target in a higher dimension and use spiritual projection on you right away. Of course, it’s only limited to that. I can’t figure out where the target is in the real world.”
Han Xiao was not surprised.
The Beyond Grade A leader of a mysterious organization that had stayed hidden for so many years definitely had some tricks up his sleeves.
“You contacted me to continue our trade previously, right? Trading a part of two Primal Esper Abilities and two Universal Treasure blueprints for a part of the Holy Light Particle.”
“That’s right,” Oathkeeper replied with a deep voice.
Due to the Intelligent Plague, the deal was postponed for a few months, which he was actually happy about. He had used these few months to focus on finding the spy in the Holy Accord.
Sadly, the act of looking for a spy made everyone in the organization uneasy and worried, but he did not even find the slightest trace of a spy.
It was either that the spy hid too well, or Black Star’s information did not come from a spy.
Day by day, Oathkeeper became more suspicious about whether a spy really existed. Hence, he temporarily stopped the investigation.
“Then let’s decide on another date…” Han Xiao suddenly thought of something and asked casually, “By the way, you guys have a long history, so you should know about a lot of secret information, right?”
“Depends.”“Then… have you guys heard about the Sanctum?”
“…” Oathkeeper was totally unprepared and was startled by this question. His mind was filled with shock.
This is a test, right? This must be a test!
Didn’t you say you don’t know our purpose the last time?
Liar!
His initially shaken resolve became extremely firm once again.
There’s definitely a spy!
Find him! Find him no matter what!
Oathkeeper tried his best to suppress the shock in his mind and keep his mind frequency stable, so Han Xiao would not find out he panicked.
He observed Han Xiao’s expression and mind frequency, but he could not see any mockery from him, only curiosity.
Did Black Star ask about the Sanctum because he knew the Holy Accord’s plans, or did he hear about this name somewhere else? There were not that many people who knew about the Sanctum throughout the entire universe.
Oathkeeper’s emotions were like a tiny boat in the raging sea. He maintained his cool as much as possible. He acted casual and asked, “Where did you hear about the Sanctum?”
“Someone told me.” Han Xiao casually liedno way he was going to tell the truth.
“Who?” Oathkeeper continued asking. “There are very, very few people in the entire universe that know about the existence of the Sanctum. Even advanced civilizations might not.”
Since Black Star had mentioned the name ‘Sanctum’, Oathkeeper knew that Black Star definitely had some kind of knowledge about it. If he acted like he did not know about the Sanctum, he might lose out on the opportunity of finding out how much Han Xiao actually knew.
“Well… if I say it’s intuition, will you believe me?”
Han Xiao had no choice but to use the jack of all trades of excuses. Although it was not very convincing, he did not plan to convince Oathkeeper anyway.
However, to his surprise, Oathkeeper nodded softly and did not continue asking any more questions. It was as if this was the right answer. Oathkeeper then said, “This is indeed a simple way of sensing the Sanctum, but it’s not within one’s control, and it’s very blurry. Only individuals who reached a certain level in the hierarchy of life can maybe, somehow, possibly build an extremely weak link with the Sanctum, occasionally witnessing its blurry outline when connected with the universe. However, your senses are countless dimensions apart from it, and you will never come into contact with it. The most you’ll experience will only be mumbling beside your ears in the ancient language…”
Han Xiao was stunned.
Excuse me, what’s going on buddy? What’s with this theology explanation?
Hearing what Oathkeeper was saying, Han Xiao did not know if he should believe him. He really did have no idea of what the Sanctum was, and he had only brought it up today with the attitude of trying his luck. However, it looked like the Holy Accord really did know about the Sanctum.
“Stop the nonsense. Can you say something that I can understand?”
Han Xiao could not take it anymore and interrupted.
Oathkeeper went silent for a moment, seemingly hesitating over whether he should expose any information. After contemplating, he decided that sharing some basic information would not hurt, so he slowly said, “The Sanctum… is an ancient existence. No one knows when it appeared. It might be even more ancient than the three Universal Civilizations. One can only sense or even come into contact with it during special timings using specific methods.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
He had finally met someone who knew anything about the Sanctum, so he was not going to give up the opportunity.
“Then, what is the Sanctum? Where is it?”
Hearing this, Oathkeeper looked at Han Xiao with a strange expression. Seeing that Han Xiao did not look like he was faking it, he asked, “You don’t know?”
“Why would I ask you if I did?” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. What he knew about the Holy Accord was limited only to the surface; he really did not know about the Holy Accord and the Sanctum’s connection. Therefore, he had no idea that he coincidentally asked the right question and horrified Oathkeeper.
Hearing this, Oathkeeper finally was relieved and glad.
It seems like Black Star really doesn’t know about our plan. Did I misunderstand? Could there be no spies and Black Star got the information from somewhere else?
While thinking that, Oathkeeper continued speaking. “The Sanctum is not in the material world, nor is it in the secondary dimensions. In fact, it does not have a geographical location. I don’t know how to define the Sanctum either, but I think it’s more like a phenomenon.”
“A phenomenon?” Han Xiao asked curiously.
“Yes, a phenomenon.”
Han Xiao waited for Oathkeeper to carry on, but Oathkeeper had no intention to.
The two of them looked at each other, and the conversation got cut off. Seeing this, Han Xiao knew that Oathkeeper was not willing to continue on this topic, so he changed the question and asked, “So, what’s inside the sanctum?”
The two of them continued to look at each other.
“How many Sanctums are there in total?”
This time, Oathkeeper replied. “Six.”
Han Xiao was a little stunned. This answer was not what he expected.
He asked a few more questions such as how to find the Sanctums, how to open the Sanctums, and so on. Without exception, Oathkeeper said nothing about any of that.
This guy definitely knows more, but he’s just not willing to share any key information. Hence, the Sanctums are definitely something very important… although I still don’t know what their uses are.
This thought flashed past his mind. Seeing that he could not obtain any more information from Oathkeeper, Han Xiao ended the Sanctum topic and went back to their deal. They decided on a new date, location, and method of the deal and agreed on it.
Having achieved what he had come for, Oathkeeper’s silhouette exploded, turned into flowers of black flame, and dissipated.
Han Xiao sensed around, made sure that Oathkeeper had left, then caressed his chin and started pondering.
The Holy Accord organization seems to know about a lot of secrets. I might have to think of a way to get more information from them. The only way of contacting them now is when Oathkeeper contacts me, so I’m a little passive in this respect. During the deal, I can try tracing their emissary… By the way, there are six Sanctums?
are
Han Xiao was confused. This was different from what he had guessed. He originally thought there were only five Sanctums. Why six?
However, Oathkeeper was very ambiguous on this matter and was not willing to share any more information.
He had an idea.
After the deal is done, I can consider bringing up their intention to revive the Primordial Ones. Maybe I can use that in exchange for information about the Sanctums, counting it as the price for keeping my mouth shut.
Inside the secret temple in the Holy Accord organization base, Oathkeeper, who was floating in midair with his legs crossed, deactivated his spiritual projection. The clusters of flames floating around him went back into his body.
“How did it go?”
Law and Fay were waiting below and looking up at their boss.
“Black Star was friendly. The deal has been reestablished,” Oathkeeper said slowly. “Prepare our chips. The method of the deal remains the same as planned, so we won’t be tracked by Black Star.”
“Understood.” The two of them nodded.
Oathkeeper nodded and said with a tone that was a little grave but had some anticipation in it, “Due to the information state disturbance Destiny’s Child talked about, the promised day has been brought forward. After we acquire the Holy Light Particle, we’ll prepare to activate the Third Sanctum and the awakening ceremony. Thousand Shadows’ Esper Ability is the foundation of the fusion. We have no time to wait for him to completely transform, so we’ll have to start finishing it.”
While speaking, Oathkeeper’s eyes looked like they were staring deep into the universe.
“It’s time to fulfill my promise and welcome the return of history.”
“The spy…” The two of them brought the matter up at possibly the worst timing. Oathkeeper’s emotions were interrupted. He ground his teeth and said with frustration, “Humph, stop looking for one. I might have been mistaken.”
In the Underworld dimension, the shattered black floating islands had assembled together into a black land. It looked like a flowing desert, sometimes with tall mountains, sometimes with deep cliffs. Its terrain kept changing
In the sky, heavy black clouds covered the sky, some darker and some lighter. A pale white sphere of light floated in the middle of the sky like a moon. Its gently silver light penetrated the clouds, illuminating the land. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful.
More than half a year had passed since Hila started to refill the dimension’s core energy. The broken space walls there were already repaired, and the chaotic space streams were blocked out. It was no longer in a horrible and heavily damaged state. This was what the Underworld dimension should really look like.
At the heart of the Underworld was a red lake. There was no wind, only high tides. When looking at it more closely, this was made of highly condensed and almost liquid formed energy. It was indeed Hila’s death energy.
At this time, the piercing bright red had tints of faint black. This came from the Underworld and was applied on Hila through the Mark of the Underworld. Her connection with the Underworld enhanced the strength of her Esper Ability tremendously. This was the inheritance of the former death energy Esper, which was given to Hila and made her much stronger.
Above the bright red lake, Hila was floating in midair with her legs crossed. She was surrounded by faint red energy, her eyes were closed tight, and her eyelashes were shaking. She was releasing her energy and giving it to the Underworld.
At this time, Onicelu appeared beside Hila.
“Your connection with me is stronger.” Hila opened her eyes and said with an expressionless face, “How much have you recovered after absorbing my energy for a few months?”
“About three percent, more than enough to fight against the chaotic space streams of the secondary dimensions.” “So little?” Hila frowned.
“After all, the energy of the Underworld comes from two Esper Abilities. If the vital energy Esper reaches Beyond Grade A and feeds the Underworld energy together with you, it will cause resonance and increase the speed of the Underworld’s recovery tremendously. You’re the only one now, so of course, it won’t be as efficient,” Onicelu said with a smile.
“I see…” Hila suddenly thought of something and asked, “By the way, since the Underworld is stable now, can the souls of the Hero Spirits be released?”
“Well, they can be, but it’s too early, so I don’t suggest you do that.” Onicelu shook her head. “This is the graveyard of Hero Spirits. There are a lot of souls here. Their activities will consume the energy of the Underworld. The stronger the Hero Spirits were when they were alive, the more energy they will consume, which will decrease the speed of the Underworld’s recovery even further. Before the Underworld recovers to thirty percent and the stable way of putting them to sleep is recovered, it’s best to keep them sleeping.”
“So, you’re saying there’s not enough power output now?”
“You can say that.”
Hila sighed. Although the Underworld was powerful, there was a long way to go till it reached its peak, so it would take a very long time before she could summon Hero Spirit warriors like the founders.
This time, Hila suddenly got curious and asked, “Speaking of which, the Underworld can let the souls of the past temporarily awaken and let them come to this world again, so are there any other ways to let dead people appear in this world again?”
Hearing this, Onicelu searched her memories for a while then said with uncertainty, “When Nerkese and Eros, the two old masters, were still alive, I seem to recall hearing them speak about a special phenomenon related to the dead reviving.”“Really? What’s that?” Hila asked.
“It’s something called the Sanctum, I think… The two masters had an argument because of it once, and they hardly brought it up after that. It seems like someone invited them on a mission related to the Sanctum. I don’t know the details, but they rejected it.”
“So, what is the Sanctum? Is it similar to the Underworld?”
“No idea. I don’t know much about it. I only overheard their conversation. However, from what I’ve heard, the Sanctum is very powerful, and reviving the dead is only one of its functions.” Onicelu shook her head.
“I see…”
Hila shook her head. She was only casually asking, so she was not too concerned. However, Onicelu thought about it for a while and said, “If you’re very curious, there are some Hero Spirits of Primordial Ones in the Underworld. They might know something. However, if you wake them up, you won’t be able to force them to go back to sleep.” “Never mind then. I’ll think about it when they can go back to sleep after being woken up. There’s no hurry.”
Hila shook her head.
She memorized the information about the Sanctum and planned to share it with Black Star to discuss it.
The three Universal Civilizations’ official announcement quickly spread across all the Star Fields and resolved the panic and unease of the galactic society brought by the Intelligent Plague. Although most civilizations and races were displeased with how the three Universal Civilizations did some things, they still had strong trust in the three Universal Civilizations when it came to matters that involved the safety of the entire explored universe. They could always make people feel assured.
Before the impact of the announcement was gone, the three Universal Civilizations officially opened up the Ancient Star Desert in less than a month, connecting this Star Field with the galactic society once again. The first-generation Virtual Mutiny Virus was mostly wiped out. The three Universal Civilizations installed special firewalls in various Star Fields. Without the virus core, these viruses could no longer cause a problem. They would completely disappear with time, so the threat was already defused.
Word from the Ancient Star Desert got out along with it, revealing many more details than in the three Universal Civilizations’ announcement. The passion and interest of the galactic residents rose once again.
Han Xiao paid attention to the public opinion of the galactic society on the way back. It was almost all compliments of the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Mechanics with him at the top of it, mixed with criticism of ‘Mechanic Emperor’ Manison and complaints about the order of the area.
During the Intelligent Plague, the various Star Fields were not peaceful. Most problems were caused by local rebellious forces attempting to incite panic but were all stopped by merciless methods. As for those mercenaries who tried to smuggle the virus out of the Ancient Star Desert, most of them entered the prisons of the three Universal Civilizations, while the rest all became wanted criminals.
Public opinion was going in an excellent direction. There were not many negative opinions, or the negative opinions were censored
Like sharks that smelled blood, the galactic media groups of the various areas swarmed to the Ancient Star Desert and visited the various planets, digging for more detailed information about what happened during the pandemic. In a short time, they produced a large number of themed shows to compete for attention, which was approved by the three Universal Civilizations behind the curtains.
Their power came from obedience. The three Universal Civilizations had just done something great and heroic—this was the time the media’s compliments and discussions were needed so that their positions as the rulers would be firmer and receive more recognition. The Black Star Army fleet carrying Han Xiao and the others had only arrived at the Shattered Star Ring through the dynasty’s military stargates when the dynasty sent someone to contact Han Xiao right away.
“An award ceremony?”
Han Xiao heard this from the dynasty’s exploration marshal, Tarrokov.
“That’s right. Led by the three Universal Civilizations, the explored universe has once again defused a universal disaster. This will undoubtedly be written in the history books. As for the heroes who aided in defusing the disaster, we’ll be hosting a large-scale award ceremony to emphasize what they’ve done and reward them. Of course, you’re on the invitation list.” Han Xiao was not unfamiliar with this. Although he felt this was a rather formal event, he knew that events like this had to be held.
“Okay, where will the award ceremony be held? When? I’m not going to have to make a trip to the Central Galaxy, am I? I’ve only just returned to my headquarters.”
“The three Universal Civilizations will be hosting the award ceremony together, so to keep up with the times and make it more convenient for all the Beyond Grade As to attend, it’s been decided that it’ll be held in the new Star Field, the Flickering World. The date is in three months, so there’s plenty of time.”
“Convenient, indeed.” Han Xiao nodded. Suddenly, he kept his voice down and asked with a mysterious tone, “Tell me, have you guys finished preparing to target the Super Star Cluster Alliance? When are you guys going to do it?”
“I don’t think this is a suitable time to talk about that…” Tarrokov coughed. He also kept his voice down and said, “Anyway, the three Universal Civilizations will only consider redistributing the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s territories after the fourth phase of the free competition zone’s exploration finishes, not taking them back but sharing them with free organizations and other civilizations… Maybe an excuse similar to the ‘New Star Field Anti-Monopolization Exploration Regulations’ will be made as the reason.”
Pot calling the kettle black… Han Xiao curled his lips. This was what happened in his previous life, so he was not surprised. “Speaking of which, before you opened up the Ancient Star Desert, did you guys do anything to the Super Star Cluster civilizations there?”
“We really didn’t this time, and you understand why… However, although we did not make an attempt on them, we left a lot of eyes and ears behind, closely monitoring the whereabouts of the military and resources of civilizations like the Star Arc Civilization, all to prepare for the conflict that might occur soon,” Tarrokov explained.
“Tsk, evil,” Han Xiao joked.
“You’re one to talk.” Tarrokov rolled his eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know. I heard quite a lot of rumors from the intelligence department that you left quite a lot of things in the Ancient Star Desert’s black market.” “You and I both.” Han Xiao did not mind.
The two of them were already old friends who had known each other for many years. They joked around for a while and prepared to end the communication.
This time, Tarrokov suddenly thought of something and said, “If you have the time, you can go and watch this show. My colleagues in the public opinion management department seem to have sent some of your information over.”
After the call ended, Han Xiao received a link from Tarrokov.
An episode of a political talk show appeared on the virtual screen. It seemed quite recent. This was a show similar to Ruden’s Show, but it was more authentic and official. It was called Focus Talk, targeted at people with higher positions in society.
This episode was about the Intelligent Plague. It analyzed the impact the Intelligent Plague had on the Ancient Star Desert. Han Xiao fast-forwarded for a while and finally saw his name.
A well-dressed Godoran was speaking fluently on the show. The subtitles below said this was an advanced researcher of galactic society, a scholar.
“… Before Black Star left Planet Aquamarine, the Godoran Civilization had already heard of him. With our very own eyes, we saw this powerful neighbor, the Black Star Army, rise step by step. We even fought alongside them. The Black Star Army has gotten past the growing stage, and it’s not difficult to notice they’re trying hard to take on more responsibility in society from the recent Black Star Cup, the Holy Light Emissary project, and the Intelligent Plague.
“Although Black Star is a universe-level warlord, his principles are different from the others. Currently, he controls a large number of resources, and instead of simply keeping all of them to himself, he seems more passionate about using these resources to maintain and improve the environment of the universe. The other Beyond Grade A warlords make us feel afraid and fearful, but toward Black Star, we mostly feel admiration and reverence. He gives us a completely different image, reducing the instinctive fear the galactic residents have toward those strongest individuals in the universe. Perhaps this is this source of his extraordinary affinity…”
While Han Xiao was enjoying his compliments, the images changed, and his deeds flashed past the screen one after another, accompanied by a serious narrator summarizing the events. It sounded quite like an official news segment.
Very soon, the recent events were brought up. This show was able to get their hands on the exclusive first-hand video footage of the confrontation on Planet Magnetic Cloud and played it to the entire universe.
So, this was the promotional material the dynasty sent.
The video captured him fighting Manison in a third-person view. He heard himself saying that sentence again, and it got a close-up.
“… This universe has an end no matter how enormous it is, but ambition has no limits.”
Han Xiao stared at the screen and smirked.
He had to admit that at this instant, he looked very handsome in the video.
The dynasty probably sent this video out because they felt that this scene was beneficial to improving his public image.
The next moment, the narration ended, and the scene changed to a grand office. The interviewer changed into someone very famous too. The subtitles showed that this person was the president of the Stuarts Committee.
Kraber Peterhius, a tenured professor of the Federation of Light’s Advanced Supreme Science and Technology Institute, principal of the Truth Academy, winner of ‘Stars’ and Heller’s Eye medals… There were so many titles that the subtitles had to keep rolling down to display all of them.
The Stuarts Committee was not some little organization but had an extremely long history and superior position. Its founder was the founder of the Energy Rank theory, Professor Stuarts Ona, traditionally known as the ‘Father of Supers’.
In his late years, he founded an award under his name. It was used to reward professionals who had made a huge achievement in various areas. The committee was the organization that managed and assessed the award. It was similar to the Nobel Prize in Han Xiao’s past life, but this was even more impressive and had been going on for thousands of years.
Every year, the three Universal Civilizations and the advanced civilizations would provide sponsorships. The Stuarts Award maintained absolutely neutral. The assessment of their award was affected by any political or economic factors. The award was given out once every three years. It could not really be considered the most anticipated event, but it was very prestigious. Kraber stroked his neatly combed gray braided beard, smiled at the camera, and said, “Black Star is an extremely powerful individual, as well as a respectable scientist. Not mentioning his capabilities, I also respect his philosophy. I’m a scientist, too, and I know very well of the overflowing desire and curiosity we scientists have about the unknown. No one knows better than me how much perseverance it takes to personally destroy unknown technology. I admire Black Star, and I believe he deserves to be the first shared Special Safety Consultant of the three Universal Civilizations more than anyone.
“I can let you guys know a little bit of information from behind the curtains. The Stuarts Committee has already received a lot of members’ nominations for Black Star’s Peace Prize. As a nominee of this year’s Stuarts Peace Prize, Black Star has received a lot of support. From my personal perspective, I have high hopes for him. He’s made a huge contribution to the universe.”
Kraber did not hide his admiration for Han Xiao at all. At the end of the interview, he made a brief summary.
“In the future, when we look back and study this history, we might see the choice Black Star made today as the turning point of this era. He might have affected the path of the entire world.”
Han Xiao let out a deep breath.
He had heard of the Stuarts Award, but something so high class, of course, had nothing to do with the players in his previous life.
If I win the Stuarts Peace Prize of this year, it’ll probably be another Universe Legendary Point. The dynasty really isn’t holding back on promoting me.
Han Xiao chuckled in his mind. He was very satisfied with how the three Universal Civilizations promoted him.
With so many honors gifted to him, they could be seen as a defensive aura that could deflect damage. If anyone attacked him, that person would certainly become a public enemy and lose a lot of reputation. Even if the federation and the church wanted to do something to him again, they would have to first dirty his image, otherwise even they would have to think twice about if the reputation drop was worth it.
Beep beep… At this time, he received a communication request.
Han Xiao looked at it, and to his surprise, it was a call from Ames.
As he picked it up, the projection of the beautiful Ames, who was wearing a black dress, appeared before him. Her arms were crossed, and her lips were slightly lifted.
“I saw the video. You copied me.”
“Haha, just suddenly thought of it.”
“Looks like you paid attention to what I said.” Ames narrowed her eyes with overflowing happiness in them. Clearly, she was in a very good mood.
“I remember most of the things you said.” “You really are getting better at talking…” Ames then chuckled softly and said, “I’m not doing anything at home. Have time to visit me?”
“Missed me?”
“Are you coming or not?” Ames slightly raised her brows.
“You’ve already invited me. How can I possibly not go? Wait for me to arrange my schedule. It’s on the way too.”
“Hmm, I’ll wait for you at home.”
Ames stepped forward and raised her hand to touch Han Xiao’s cheeks. Sadly, it was just a projection. She then smiled and ended the communication as her projection disappeared.Han Xiao touched his face and shook his head with a smile.
“It’s not good to go empty-handed. I should take some gifts…”
It just so happened that the three Universal Civilizations had opened up more resources to him, so he could acquire an Esper Ultimate Knowledge and give it to Ames.
He could then give it to Hila afterward too, killing two birds with one stone.
Also, he had something he had to ask Aesop too. Maybe that knowledgeable old man knew something about the Sanctum, Holy Accord, Oathkeeper, or Manison.
Furthermore, Han Xiao had a feeling.
He felt that if he went to see Ames now, he might receive something surprising.
While thinking of that, Han Xiao looked outside the window, and Harrison just happened to walk by.
Dark blue tail flames extended from the deep cosmic space and brought light to the dark universe. The trail stopped at the dock of the Floating Dragon Island, which was orbiting Planet Aquamarine.
Although they had a lazy leader, Floating Dragon still expanded to having five islands and close to a hundred million residents. Most came from Planet Aquamarine. Staying on Planet Aquamarine’s surface meant they had to be ruled by the Aquamarine Federation, but Floating Dragon was a neutral island with no regime, so it was freer. Plus, they could experience galactic society while still being close to their home, so it was a good holiday destination, which was why the tourism industry of Floating Dragon was booming.
The Black Star Army fleet parked on the main dock and immediately attracted the attention of countless people. When Han Xiao walked out from the cabin with a group of subordinates in the Black Star Army uniform, people instantly swarmed over with excitement.
“It really is Black Star!”
“You make us proud!”
“Can you give me an autograph? My grandfather loves you!”
Han Xiao was surrounded by the crowd and could hardly move.
Hearing the noisy yells and feeling the passion from everyone, Han Xiao used his classic smile, which was quite effective and made the crowd even more thrilled.
Most of the people there were born on Planet Aquamarine. They were taught about Black Star from a young age and were almost all admirers of Black Star. Lately, due to the three Universal Civilizations’ promotion, his reputation had become extremely positive. He was almost worshipped by Planet Aquamarine’s people as an almighty God. This time, the Floating Dragon soldiers who had been waiting for quite some time walked over, split up the crowd, and opened a path.
Jenny approached with an expressionless face. She then said in a tone that completely lacked any emotion or sincerity, “Welcome to Floating Dragon, Your Excellency Black Star.”
“You don’t sound like I’m that welcomed,” Han Xiao joked.
“No, I’m thrilled.” With her eyes opened wide, she moved aside and made a ‘please’ gesture. “Follow me.”
The two of them left with their subordinates, leaving the crowd on the dock watching them disappear in their sights. Quite a number of people shot knowing looks at each other. Gossip about Black Star and Ames had been passing around in the Shattered Star Ring for decades, and that was even more so on Planet Aquamarine. Almost everyone knew about it.
There was a reason it started in the first place. Black Star frequently visited Floating Dragon, and Dragon Emperor moved her base to Black Star’s home planet. If someone were to say there was nothing between the two of them, not a single person from Planet Aquamarine would believe it.
Han Xiao and Jenny walked at the front and led the others through one street after another, receiving thrilled looks from countless passersby and chatting here and there. Han Xiao glanced at her. “You seem to be in a good mood today.”
“Why do you say so?” Jenny wondered.
“Your attitude to me isn’t as bad as before.”
“…Humph.” Jenny snorted softly. “If you liked it, I can go back to that.”
She had never liked Black Star, partly because he gave her tons of work and partly because of Ames. However, after watching the recent news, although Jenny never mentioned it, she actually did admire Black Star somewhat. If she continued to be so cold to Black Star, she would not feel good about it.
“Tsk.” Han Xiao shook his head. “I liked you more when you were defiant.”
Jenny secretly rolled her eyes and did not bother responding to Han Xiao. At this time, they arrived at a junction and heard the sound of dense footsteps, as well as the clear and loud sound of metal rubbing against metal. They looked over and saw a group of Floating Dragon warriors in dark gold heavy armor pushing several creatures from different races that had their heads covered in black cloth. They hastily passed by on the street not far away from them. The pedestrians around quickly stepped out of their way like they were horrified.
These warriors were covered by armor from head to toe, including their faces. They gave off a cold-blooded merciless vibe while walking. There were two symbols on their chest armor. One was Floating Dragon’s symbol, and the other was a symbol Han Xiao had never seen before.
“Who are those people? I don’t recall seeing them the last time I was here.” Han Xiao was curious.
“They’re the Hunters. They recently split from Wilsander’s law enforcement team and became an independent division,” Jenny explained briefly.
Harrison saw that the creatures that were being escorted had dried blood marks on their clothes, so he asked, “What are they going to do to those people?”
As soon as he asked that, Han Xiao and Jenny both turned and glanced at him with a strange expression.
“Wh—What?” Harrison was a little terrified and nervous from being looked at by the two of them.
Jenny did not bother about him but looked at Han Xiao. “Black Star, where did you get this newbie from again? He doesn’t seem to know when to speak.”
“Don’t say that. Harrison is a great kid. He’s helped me a lot.” Han Xiao did not mind it and smiled. “I like it when you’re being mean. It just feels right.”
“Humph.” Jenny sized Harrison up, waved her hand, and said, “Since you’re so curious, why don’t we go and take a look? It’s not that far anyway.”
“Er… can we?” Harrison looked at Han Xiao.
“Go take a look then.” Han Xiao nodded. Although he was Harrison’s boss now, he would still try to satisfy the tiny requests of someone with Advanced Luck Glow.
The group of them followed after the Hunters and came to the edge of Floating Dragon Island. The translucent light gold protective shield separated them from the vacuum of space right outside. A large crowd had already formed around, but the Hunters did not mind it at all. They did not chase the bystanders away and focused on their tasks. They lined up the people blinded by black cloth in a row and made them kneel down. They then opened up a small part of the light gold protective shield. As an opening was created on the gold shield, the group of people who had no armor got sucked out instantly. They were exposed to the cosmic space and started to struggle in agony, like fish jumping around on the cutting board.
Very soon, these people struggled less and less. A layer of white snow appeared on all of them, and their bodily functions were destroyed by the vacuum. Their faces were hidden under the black cloth, or their twisted facial expressions would have shown as well.
The next moment, the Hunters raised the firearms in their hands and fired simultaneously.
Green beams shot out from their guns, shattering those people who were about to turn into ice sculptures into pieces that drifted out into cosmic space.
“Is this an execution?” Harrison opened his eyes wide. “What crime did they commit? Isn’t this too cruel?”
Although he had never come to the Shattered Star Ring, he did some slight research about Floating Dragon when he heard their schedule had changed.
As the Black Star Army’s galactic pirate happy little house was too famous, the galactic pirates in the Shattered Star Ring all transferred their business elsewhere. Floating Dragon, too, stopped letting galactic pirates in. This place had become an orderly safe and free city.
He had expected the atmosphere in Floating Dragon to be very positive, but to his surprise, Floating Dragon shockingly carried out death sentences right before countless spectators. This was not something that would happen in an orderly city at all. Furthermore, open execution was a special trait of places that were ruled by terror. He did not expect to see something so violent here at all.
“Cruel? Look around you,” Jenny said with a displeased tone. “Which one of them thinks it’s cruel?”
Harrison turned and looked around. To his absolute shock, all the people around looked happy, and some were even clapping.
Jenny looked at Han Xiao and snorted. “One’s enemies increase with one’s fame. In recent years, there have been multiple infiltration cases on Planet Aquamarine. These culprits are spies and rebels of different organizations. They have advanced technology, and their goal is to infiltrate Planet Aquamarine, through messing up your mother planet, causing damage to you… Some had their eyes on Floating Dragon and attempted to build secret strongholds here or make use of the geographical location of Floating Dragon to launch destructive weapons at Planet Aquamarine. Hence, we formed the Hunters, who exclusively clear out these spies… Black Star, we’ve helped you block quite a lot of pressure.”
Hearing this, Harrison finally understood. Most people around were from Planet Aquamarine. No wonder they were so glad. These people were criminals who were planning to attack their mother planet, so not only was publicly executing them not cruel but even beneficial to making the people feel assured.
“Thanks.” Han Xiao smiled. Ames had moved Floating Dragon there because she wanted to help him stop these evil people.
“Just a thanks?”
Han Xiao thought for a moment and said, “I’ll bring you some special magic potions that stimulate hair growth for you next time as a present then.”
“… Go find Ames yourself!” Jenny’s face turned green. She suppressed her impulse of yelling at Han Xiao right on the spot and left straight away.
Seeing this, confused, Harrison mumbled on the side, “Your Excellency Black Star, you stand at the top of the universe. Why is this woman so disrespectful toward you?”
“I’ve known her for decades, and we’ve always been like this. There’s no point making the difference in positions so clear between friends.” Han Xiao waved.
“I see, you’re really generous…” Harrison praised Han Xiao subtly and asked, “What’s her name then?”
“You don’t know? Jenny is the Chief Administrator of Floating Dragon. She’s the Dragon Emperor’s sister and good friend. You should know that from your internet research.”
“I didn’t go to so much detail… but I see, her name is Jenny. I think she’s quite pretty…”
“… When did you go blind?” Han Xiao suddenly stopped in place, sized him up, and said with a surprised tone, “Have you fallen in love with her?”
Harrison slightly blushed and reluctantly said, “I wouldn’t call it love. I’ve only met her once, after all…”
“Oh, got it, you lust for her body.”
Harrison was speechless and did not know what to say.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. He did not know much about Jenny’s private life in his previous life, but he knew that Harrison remained single all the way till he sacrificed himself during the World Tree Civilization war.
Although Jenny might be more than a hundred years older than Harrison, she maintained herself very well and looked like she was just thirty.
Furthermore, age was just a number; love was what mattered. This was a win-win. This might work out!
Having thought of that, Han Xiao patted Harrison’s shoulder and giggled.
“Go for it if you like her. I’ll be your shield. Quickly conquer her and adjust her personality. I don’t mind her personality because we’re old friends, but with the way she is, she’ll definitely get beaten up often if she ever goes out.”
Harrison blushed even more. “What should I do? I have no experience…”
“Hmm? You’re the second-generation owner of a big financial group, but you have never been in a relationship?”
“I liked reading books more back then…”
“Shameful!” Han Xiao was hurt. “You’ve wasted being born with a silver spoon!”
While the two of them chatted about nonsense, they arrived before Ames’ palace. Han Xiao told Harrison and the rest of his subordinates to wait at the stronghold while he tidied up his clothes and stepped into Ames’ palace.
He walked all the way to the garden filled with rare greenery. Ames was lying sideways on the long bed in the middle of the garden. Her black dress looked like a blossoming black flower. She was using her force field to play with the revive token that Hila had given to her by making it fly around the garden. The table beside her was filled with food and drinks.
Hearing footsteps, Ames retrieved the coin, turned to look at Han Xiao, smiled, and patted on the mattress.
“You’re here. Quick, come and sit. I’ve waited a long time for you.” Han Xiao walked forward, grabbed a crystal blue wine glass on the way that was filled with wine, sat at the edge of the mattress, and took a sip. “Old Man Aesop made this again?”
As soon as he said that, he felt a pair of white arms above his shoulders.
Ames placed her chin on his shoulders from behind and asked curiously, “What did you do in the Ancient Star Desert? The news has little detail. I want to hear it from you.”
Han Xiao was not surprised by her intimate actions. During the trip to the secondary dimensions, the two of them had spent months with each other alone. Their relationship had become much closer. Although Ames hated to have any physical contact with others, he was an exception.
“Forget that for now. I’ve brought you a present.”
Han Xiao snapped his fingers. A virtual screen popped up and displayed a list of the Esper class Ultimate Knowledges.
“The three Universal Civilizations have allowed me to acquire Ultimate Knowledges and teach them to others, but there’s a limit. Pick one you want. I’ll get it for you.”
“So nice?” Ames blinked. “Let me guess, you’re not just giving this to me exclusively. You’ll also teach this knowledge to other Espers, such as Hila, right?”
“Of course.” Han Xiao nodded.
“Now that sounds like you more,” Ames smirked slightly. She looked at the screen and pointed at one item with her long finger. Han Xiao glanced at it. “This doesn’t seem like the most suitable one for you.” “Didn’t you say there’s a limit to the number of knowledges you can exchange? Never mind me, as long as it’s suitable for Hila and Aurora.” Ames smiled.
“You’re too concerned about them.” Han Xiao sighed.
“They’re my only students. They’re like my children. Who else will I care for if not them?” Ames casually slammed Han Xiao’s chest, making a loud ‘bang’ sound like beating on a drum. “Quick, tell me stories. I want to hear them.”
Han Xiao finished up the wine. He casually picked up the crystal blue fruits on the table and tossed them in his mouth. He then started to talk about every detail of his experience in the Ancient Star Desert.
After telling stories for more than half a day, Ames finally let Han Xiao go with satisfaction and made him promise to continue tomorrow.
Han Xiao left the palace and was about to look for Aesop, but Aesop had already surprisingly come looking for him at the army stronghold.
Han Xiao returned to the stronghold and saw Aesop sitting in the hall right away, accompanied by Harrison and the others.
“Old man, I was just about to look for you. Did you foresee something again, so you came to find me?”
Han Xiao sat opposite Aesop and joked with him.
“Stop messing around. I’m here to speak about something serious with you today.” Aesop put down the glass in his hands. His tone was rather serious.
“How rare.” Han Xiao was a little curious. “What do you want to speak with me about?”
“Lately, my passive foresight has been triggering very frequently. I think it’s better to tell you some of the things.”
Aesop raised one finger and said with a deep voice, “First, I saw a special existence landing on Planet Aquamarine, and I’ve seen his appearance clearly.”
“Since you know what he looks like, why not just go tell Bennett and let him cross-reference it with the planet surveillance to find this person?”
“That’s the problem…” Aesop frowned. “I’ve looked all over Planet Aquamarine. There’s no record of this person anywhere. There are no witness reports of this person too… It’s like this person doesn’t exist.”
“Is your prophecy wrong?” “No, I’ve never felt as strongly about a prophecy. I can’t exactly explain why, but I can say with full certainty that this prophecy is reliable.”
“Then what else is special about this person you saw?”
Hearing this, Aesop glanced at Han Xiao.
“According to my prophecy… you seem to have already crossed paths with him very long ago.”
“Crossed paths? Show me what he looks like.”
Han Xiao was curious.
Aesop took out the communicator and showed a 3D portrait.
This was a pale-skinned man who looked like he was from Planet Aquamarine. Han Xiao sized him up for quite some time but did not seem to find this person in his memories.
“That’s weird, I’ve never seen this person before. Anyway, I’ll let people look for this person on Planet Aquamarine.”
Since he was part of Aesop’s prophecy, this person was definitely involved in something important. He did not know if it was a good thing or not that this person had arrived on Planet Aquamarine. After all, Planet Aquamarine was his mother planet, so he had to worry about its safety.
“What you just said was the first thing. What’s the second?”
“I’ve foreseen history repeating itself.” Aesop frowned slightly, a little confused.
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. “You’re saying…”
“In my visions, many people who died long ago reappeared in the world. I even saw some of the Primordial Ones.”
Could it be the event of the Holy Accord reviving Beyond Grade As? If Aesop felt this future too, then the trigger of that would most likely be his deal with Oathkeeper.
“Hmm? You don’t seem surprised about this prophecy?” Aesop wondered. “I have some knowledge about this.” Han Xiao rubbed his chin and asked, “By the way, do you know about…”
He briefly asked Aesop about the Holy Accord, Oathkeeper, the Sanctums, and all those related matters, hoping that an Eternal like Aesop who traveled around would know something others did not. Sadly, Aesop shook his head and expressed that he had not heard about those things.
However, when mentioning Oathkeeper, he seemed to recall something. “This higher dimension spiritual projection ability that completely ignores distance you’ve mentioned is not common. It might sound easy, but it’s extremely difficult to do. Most spirit-related Esper and Psychics Abilities won’t be able to achieve it. If this is not his own Esper Ability, then it’s quite similar to a legendary Primal Esper Ability Entity-Soul Flame.”
Having heard the term Primal Esper Ability, Han Xiao knew this was probably the case, so he asked, “What else do you know?”
“Soul Flame is one of the Super High Risk Esper Abilities. There have been no witness reports of it for many years… Oh, but you should already know that, so I won’t go over that. Tell you something you don’t know, in my early years wandering the universe, I seem to recall that I once had a prophecy. That prophecy warned me that if I did this one thing, a person who used the Soul Flame would suddenly appear and try to control me, making me help him search for something. Hence, thanks to that prophecy, I avoided that thing and stopped it from happening. That guy might be the Oathkeeper you spoke of, and this is the only information I have about him.”
After communication for a while, Han Xiao realized that this was all Aesop knew about Oathkeeper, so he stopped asking him and remembered the name ‘Soul Flame’. He planned to go back and ask the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and Holy Light Particle. They were both members of the Primal Esper Ability family, so they might know more.
Furthermore, Primal Esper Ability Entities had existed for a very long time. If the two of them knew whose hands Soul Flame last ended up in, he might find out more about the Holy Accord organization. “Since you have some knowledge about this, I won’t say too much.” Aesop pointed a third finger and said with a serious tone, “There’s one last prophecy. I saw that a universal-level disaster is now brewing somewhere we can’t see.”
“Are you talking about the Intelligent Plague? Then your prophecy might have expired.”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” Aesop asked. “I saw wormholes that were millions of miles large opening in cosmic space one after another, countless fleets swarming out from within, and the occurrence of a galactic war comparable to the exploration era. No one will be able to avoid it.”
Han Xiao’s eyes turned solemn. That sounds like the invasion of the World Tree Civilization.
Prophecies occurred for a reason. There were definitely some causes or changes that caused Aesop to have this prophecy. This meant that the World Tree storyline had progressed.
Han Xiao immediately thought of the wormhole coordinates from the past, which was outrageously difficult to pin down and required absolute accuracy.
He had made limited progress, so was the dynasty able to find something?
Looks like I’ll have to find the time to ask around about it. Back when EsGod accidentally obtained the wormhole coordinates, I already knew that the World Tree storyline would change… Han Xiao shook his head.
Aesop stood up, stretched his waist, and casually said, “I’ve delivered the prophecies to you, so I’ll leave the rest to you. I’ll also notify you if there are any new prophecies.”
He deliberately told these prophecies to Han Xiao but not Ames because it would not make a difference even if Ames knew; she would only see it as a story. Only Black Star would do something about it.
Han Xiao was about to send Aesop out the door, but Aesop waved and told him there was no need to. However, he suddenly stopped at the doorstep, as if he had thought of something, turned around, and said, “By the way, I’ve got to tell you something. While I was waiting for you, I did some prophecies on your subordinates to kill time. This kid called Harrison has quite a bright future. His string of fate is very thick, and it’s deviated from its original path.”
Then, Aesop opened the door and left. Han Xiao turned to look at Harrison, who was completely at a loss. Han Xiao was not surprised.
He had dragged Harrison with him, so of course, his string of fate had deviated. The World Tree war would very likely erupt earlier, and it was uncertain if Harrison would sacrifice himself like he did in Han Xiao’s previous life.
Han Xiao committed the three prophecies to memory. Although they were all quite blurry, Aesop did indirectly provide some key information to him, so he had more clues.
Currently, the best thing to do was to look for that person Aesop spoke of first. Han Xiao gave the portrait of the target to Phillip and told him to monitor the entire planet. He then summoned the Black Star Army members who were stationed on Planet Aquamarine and sent them out to search all over the planet.
With his power on Planet Aquamarine, he could find even a tiny mouse if he wanted to, not to mention a person.
My name is Rody Anchor, 48 years old, a citizen of Ice Forest City, Maple County, Planet Aquamarine. My house is on No.107 Morning Light Street, Block B 1511. My ID is 77054591A62H. I’m currently working at the Fero Organization Subdivision three streets away. I’m the vice-manager of the operation department.
My parents are survivors of the old era. They died during a riot caused by the Mutation Disaster. Back then, I was just an ignorant child. The disaster caused the majority of the city’s residents to flee. The shops were robbed clean, and burnt cars were everywhere on the roads. I lived a few weeks in a waste of a city like this and was finally found by the Black Star Army’s rescue team. Thanks to that, I was brought to life in the Sanctuary.
After that, His Excellency Black Star got rid of the Mutation Disaster, and I was sent to Public Orphanage No.87. After receiving therapy from Ms. Martha for six years, I finally got over my childhood trauma. My social anxiety, depression, and other illnesses were cured.
After that, my life felt like it was fast-forwarding. Went to school, graduated, entered society, participated in rebuilding Planet Aquamarine, kept changing jobs, kept moving houses, had one girlfriend after another, experienced two failed marriages… The tides of the fast-developing times dragged me along with its extremely quick pace. Like everyone in the same era as me, I worked hard to contribute to society and the new era. With my very own eyes, I witnessed the unbelievably quick development progress of Planet Aquamarine after it connected with the galactic society.
However, as I grew older, my ambition started to shrink. Instead, I started to miss my parents more and more. Five years ago, I decided to quit my job in a large company in Black Star City and returned to my parents’ home, Ice Forest City. My home city had finished being rebuilt. I bought a house in this city, found a new job, and started living here.
The new job is very relaxing. The intensely competitive environment I experienced in the capital does not exist here. Life is like a quiet lake. I meet the same people every day. I’m old now, and I have noticed I’ve grown a liking for a slow life. Very quickly, I fell in love with this peaceful life.
Galaxy Calendar Year 731 July 16th, I can still vividly recall that sunny morning. I woke up early and washed up, as usual, preparing to take out the leftover dinner from the previous day and heat it up as breakfast.
However, when I was brushing my teeth, I suddenly realized that I could not see myself in the mirror!
Horror gripped my heart. I had no idea what happened. I cowered in the corner of the washroom and looked around anxiously as if a monster was going to jump out any minute. I spent more than a minute in that state, shivering in the corner. Then, I finally found the courage to sprint out of the washroom. Without even having the guts to put my shoes on, I hastily grabbed my keys and rushed out of my house, pressing the elevator button rapidly like a mad man.
I lived in a condominium that’s thirty-three floors high. It had four elevators. At the morning peak period, the elevators always automatically went up to the top floor before slowly descending, stopping on almost every floor. Usually, I would watch the morning news while waiting for the elevator, but seconds felt like years at that time. I almost wanted to pry the elevator door open and pull the elevator down.
Finally, the lift arrived at where I lived, floor fifteen. The door opened, and it was completely filled with people. Usually, when I came across something like this, I would always greet my neighbors inside with a smile and wait for the next lift. However, I completely threw all that aside at that time. I grabbed onto the door and screamed at them, describing what had just happened to me.
However, I quickly realized no one was looking at me. No one was listening to me. It was as if I did not exist!
As I was drowning in panic and fear, the people inside noticed that the lift door was not closing, so the person standing by the buttons rapidly pressed on the closing button impatiently. Someone even reached out and tried to slap the door, and that person’s hand just happened to land on my arm.
Something happened that made me even more horrified—this person’s hand easily passed through my arm like I was just an illusion.
Before my brain could even react to it, my sight started to ripple, and I saw an illusion. A lady in the lift did not hold on to the communicator in her hand properly, and it dropped onto the floor.
At this instant, an immense pain erupted in my body. I lost control of my body, fell onto the floor, and started twitching all over. My sight quickly turned blurry, and a powerful sense of drowsiness rushed up to my brain.
The moment before I passed out, I faintly saw a communicator that was exactly the same as the one I saw in the illusion earlier, and I saw it drop onto the floor inside the lift.
The next second, I lost consciousness.
When I woke up again, it was already night, and I was still lying on the floor outside the lift. A sense of overwhelming weakness pervaded my body as if I hadn’t eaten or slept for two whole days.
The extremely strong sense of hunger seemed to have chased away my fear. I dragged myself back home and ate up almost everything in my fridge, finally regaining some strength. During which, I tried using the metal cutlery and the camera to see my reflection, but everything failed without exception.
After that, I tried my best and barely calmed down. After multiple tests, I’ve realized that I’m non-existence to everyone, and I can’t touch anyone either. However, I can influence some objects that are not in contact with any form of life.
Therefore, I tried driving, stealing, creating accidents, and so on. Most of my actions that will have a direct influence on others will be interrupted by me suddenly passing out. However, many of my attempts at stealing worked, and no one noticed. It’s only thanks to that was I able to live till now, or I would’ve starved to death long ago.
The illusion that causes me to faint happens frequently. I’ve realized that I seem to be able to see a certain period of time into the future, but I can’t activate or deactivate that power. When this power activates, I faint and feel weak after. I’m guessing that the cost of using this power is my stamina.
I thought of the Mutation Disaster. My body has definitely gone through some kind of terrifying mutation. I’ve lived for about three months in this state. Initially, I was terrified, but then, for some time, I felt happy, and after that, I felt lost and alone. I can’t interact with people in real life, so I tried communicating with people online.
However, no matter what method I use to leave a message, it all still seems to get ignored by others. I’ve sent messages to my friends, but I never get a reply. No one from my company has even called to ask why I haven’t been going to work. It’s like everyone has lived with the fact that I’ve just simply evaporated. I don’t understand why. Therefore, I’ve written this diary, hoping that someone sees it and comes to help me. My address is Maple County, Ice Forest City, No. 107 Morning Light Street, Block B 1511. I’ll be waiting at home for you.
Planet Aquamarine Public Announcement Channel, post ‘Help! I’ve disappeared!’
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One day later, on Floating Dragon Island…
“No such person has been found?”
Han Xiao received the search report from Phillip and the various army members, frowning “Master, hum… Not only are there no traces of this person in the surveillance footage, I even crossed referenced the photo with all ID photos of the residents registered in the Aquamarine Federation. Still, no match found.” “We’ve scanned the entire planet using all kinds of vital sign detection devices, including every spot, and we could not find the target either,” the army warrior who was in charge of the field search said. “Is this person really on Planet Aquamarine?”
Han Xiao tapped on the table, turned to Harrison, and asked, “What do you think?” “Me?” Harrison pointed at himself with surprise and said with some hesitance, “How about we make a search notice?”
“Alright.” Han Xiao nodded. Initially, he did not know anything about this person in Aesop’s prophecy, so he did not want to alert him. However, since they could not find him now, making it public would not hurt. Anyway, he was right there, so he was not worried about anyone causing any problems.
He had to see what connection he had with this stranger.
Four days passed very quickly, but the search notice sent through the Aquamarine Federation’s official news did not receive any response. Either no one saw the target, or the target saw it but decided not to come. There were also no witnesses.
Left with no choice, Han Xiao could only have his subordinates continue searching. He also used (Bold Explorer) on the portrait Aesop had provided, only to see some images, but he had no idea what they were supposed to represent -a bunch of string crossing cosmic space.
After another round of searching, spaceships returned to the Floating Dragon’s dock one after another. Many Black Star Army members walked out the hatch unhappily.
After searching for so many days and still not finding the target, continuously repeating a task that had a ‘result’ long ago would make anyone frustrated and annoyed. The army warriors were not exceptions. Harrison was in the crowd too. Suddenly, he caught sight of Jenny. His heart skipped a beat. He hesitated for a moment, walked over, and found the courage to finally speak with her.
“Jenny, I’m Harrison. We meet again.”
Jenny was dealing with a group of financial group investors. Hearing someone call her name, she turned, casually nodded, and said, “It’s you. What is it?”
A few days ago, Han Xiao and Ames had hosted a small party that all the important officers attended. Han Xiao had introduced Harrison to her back then, but she did not have a very good impression of him. She only remembered that this was a talkative, curious, and immature kid.
“Ca-can I speak with you?” Harrison stuttered.
“Now?” Jenny frowned slightly, waved, and said in a displeased tone, “I’m very busy now. Can’t you see I have guests to attend to?”
Then, she looked away from Harrison and left with the investors. She was distant and cold.
Harrison opened his mouth but did not dare disturb her more. Dejected, he followed the others and headed to Dragon Emperor’s palace to report to Han Xiao.
However, when he was about to leave the dock, he suddenly saw that someone was lying on the floor not far away. This person’s clothes were ragged, and Harrison could not see his face. The pedestrians around did not notice him, as if they could not see him.
“That’s odd. Is that person sleeping on the floor? Why isn’t anyone doing anything about
it?”
Harrison was curious.
The Black Star Army warrior beside him heard his question and looked over in the direction he was looking. He then said with a confused tone, “Where?”
“Right there… can’t you see?” Harrison was stunned.
The army warriors around all stopped and looked over. They stared in that direction for a few seconds before turning around and looking at Harrison with the same weird expression. “Buddy, better go have your eyes looked at.” Harrison was lost. His overflowing curiosity instantly started burning. He left the crowd and quickly approached the person lying on the floor. He hesitated for a moment before giving this person a light push.
“Wake up.”
This person did not react at all as if he had fainted.
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Harrison turned this person over.
The instant he saw the look of this person, his eyes widened with shock.
“You’re saying that… this is the person we’re looking for?”
Half an hour later, Han Xiao rushed back to the base from the Dragon Emperor’s palace, came to a secret interrogation room, and looked across the table with a strange expression.
“Yes, I found him on the dock. He seems to have fainted and still hasn’t woken up.” Harrison stood by the side and pointed at the seat on the other side of the table.
Han Xiao looked at the empty seat with a frown. He then said with a serious tone, “You’re not pulling my leg, are you? There’s no one here.”
Harrison scratched his head and said with a confused tone, “I don’t understand why either. It seems like I’m the only person who can see him, and no one else can. But I can assure you, he looks exactly the same as the target we’re looking for.”
“Where did you find him?” Han Xiao wondered. “You might not believe me but…” Harrison shrunk his neck and said, “I picked him up on the streets.”
Han Xiao was speechless.
What else can I say?
If not because Harrison happened to see this person, even if he was standing right in front of me, I would not have seen him.
No wonder you became an explorer. This is what talent is, able to find good stuff anywhere you go!
Doubtful, Han Xiao pondered for a moment and sent a message to Aesop and asked him to come over. Then, he told Harrison to describe what this person looked like.
Harrison took a step forward and looked down at what seemed to be empty space in Han Xiao’s eyes. “He looks very weak. He’s so skinny that there’s basically only skin and bones. His clothes are ragged and torn, and there’s a lot of dust on his body like he hasn’t cleaned himself for many days…”
Han Xiao told Phillip to draw out the appearance of this person according to Harrison. In comparison, what he described was much thinner than the portrait Aesop provided. One would not even be able to tell they were the same person if the two portraits were not placed side by side.
Aesop soon arrived. As soon as he entered, he looked at the empty seat, smiled, and said, “You guys are quite efficient to have found him this soon.”
Han Xiao was frustrated.
Why am I the only one who can’t see him? How does this even work? If not because he knew Harrison’s personality, he might have thought that these two were working together to trick him. Thinking of that, Han Xiao reached out and waved at the space in front of him. He could not sense that he had touched anything at all.
“Army Commander, your hand passed through his body…” While Harrison was explaining, he suddenly said with surprise, “Wait, he’s suddenly twitching, like you’re electrocuting him.”
“Quickly wake him up.”
Han Xiao pulled his hands back, frowned, and brought up the surveillance footage of the room. He realized that no type of detection device could detect the existence of this person.
Clearly, he was not simply invisible. It seemed like only some people were able to see and touch this person. What similarities did Aesop and Harrison have? If he really had to say, it seemed like both of them were quite lucky… Could it be that only those whose Luck was high enough could see this guy?
Then I’d better wash up and go to sleep.
While he was making guesses, Harrison suddenly yelled, “He’s awake!”
Han Xiao regained focus and forced himself to talk to the seat. “Tell me who you are.”
The atmosphere became silent. Han Xiao did not receive a response even after a few seconds, but he did see Harrison and Aesop listening closely to something.
“Did he speak? Looks like I can’t hear him either.” Han Xiao sighed. “Tell me, what did he say?” Harrison scratched his head and repeated, “He said his name is Rody Anchor, born on Planet Aquamarine…”
Hearing this, Han Xiao quickly connected to the Aquamarine Federation’s database and did a precise search of documents under this name. However, the result was still that no such person existed.
“Now this doesn’t make sense at all. Since he’s a resident of Planet Aquamarine, there’s no way there aren’t any documents at all about him. Either they were wiped by some kind of abnormal power, or something is stopping me from finding out his identity. Could it be that anyone who can’t see him won’t be able to find out any information about him in any form? But I can still hear what Harrison is saying about him…”
Han Xiao searched through his memories. Suddenly, he thought of a special form of existence.
This situation looked like the traits of a High Dimensional Information Form!
The explored universe had limited knowledge of the term ‘information form’. Their theories remained unproven and unclear. It was said that any and all individuals carried various forms of information such as height, weight, smell, mass, and so on. These forms of information fused into the conditions that made the individuals detectable.
‘High Dimensional Information Form represented a specific form of existence, where physical attributes of something were removed and only the ‘concept’ of this information was left. These ‘concepts’ formed a certain kind of existence, similar to physical life forms, energy life forms, and so on, becoming a new form of existence… Whether it existed or not depended on the observer.
To those special groups of people who could sense and observe this cluster of information, it would be something that had a physical form and could be touched. However, to those who could not observe it, they could not obtain any information on High Dimensional Information Forms through any channels, as if it did not exist. Like spirits that roamed the world, they would not be able to have any information exchange with each other. There were many names for this phenomenon, such as ‘Information Closure’, ‘Information Isolation’, and ‘Unobservable Entity’.
At the same time, ‘Information Closure’ was not limited to the senses of life forms. It was also effective on technological and magical methods of observations. This was why some documents that were supposed to exist could not be found.
This was because, including Virtual Technology, all these detection devices were also carriers of information, tools to obtain and save information. At their roots, they were no different from life forms using their organs to sense the world. ‘Information Closure’ worked on both life forms and these tools… This was also the reason it had the ‘High Dimensional’ prefix.
However, after those people who could observe High Dimensional Information Forms obtained the information, the information they obtained would become their own information, so they could describe the existence of High Dimensional Information Forms to others. This was the only form of information flow. However, even if others obtained this information, they would still not be able to sense the High Dimensional Information Forms.
Looks like he’s still not a complete High Dimensional Information Form, or he would not have to consume food…
His situation feels like he’s only half transformed, causing the information he carries to mutate and his ‘existence’ to be wiped. However, he has yet to completely become a High Dimensional Information Form, which is why he can still interact with some objects… These traits are more similar to him awakening a related Esper Ability but temporarily being unable to control it.
Why would a totally normal person suddenly become like this?
There has to be a cause, and maybe that’s why Aesop saw him in his prophecy!
Han Xiao tapped the table and said with a deep voice, “Tell him to tell me everything that happened.”
For now, the only thing he could do was have Harrison and Aesop relay Rody’s situation. Han Xiao understood the situation very quickly and explained what had happened to this person with the Information Form Theory.
This person’s name was Rody Anchor. He had always lived on Planet Aquamarine. Some time ago, he mutated and gained some traits of a High Dimensional Information Form. He tried to communicate with others in many ways, but everything failed, so he had no choice but to do nothing for a few months.
A few days ago, he had seen the search notice that the Black Star Army had put up. Overjoyed, he had sent countless messages to the army’s mailbox but never received any replies. He had no choice but to board a spaceship and come to Floating Dragon, hoping to find Han Xiao.
Every time a life form passed through his Semi High Dimensional Information Form body, he would passively read part of the information of that life form, bringing the illusions that felt like foresight, which led to him fainting. With his current body, if he wanted to do anything to someone, it would be equivalent to him trying to rewrite someone else’s ‘form of existence’ on the information level, interfering with reality using information state disturbance, which required more energy than he could afford. Hence, he would faint halfway every time. It was a self-protection mechanism. Therefore, he dodged all passersby on the way there. However, when he arrived at the Floating Dragon’s dock, even without coming into contact with anyone, he suddenly had foresight visions again, so he passed out. This was how he appeared in Floating Dragon and was coincidentally discovered by Harrison.
Han Xiao captured the key information and pondered. “He awakened foresight… Maybe his information form mutation came from his sudden ability to see the future?”
“Maybe,” Aesop said with a deep voice. “The ability to see the future can be seen as the ability to sense, process, and deduce information. The terms us foreseers use are strings of fate, cause and effect, and so on. This is because foresight ability requires one to connect with a lot of strings of fate, so it’s not impossible for it to cause someone to undergo Information Form mutation.”
Now, this is the blindspot of my knowledge… Han Xiao had a slight headache. “Old man, your prophecy says I crossed paths with him long ago. Is this referring to me saving his life because I resolved the Mutation Disaster?”
According to Rody’s past, Han Xiao thought of this possibility.
“How would I know?” Aesop shrugged. “If prophecies were that accurate, do you think I’d have been caught by you in the past?”
Han Xiao was hesitant.
He did have an idea regarding how to find out what was going on with Rody, which was to activate the combat information, but he first had to be able to touch this person.
In order for a normal person to observe a High Dimensional Information Form, it looks like one has to have a strong information connection with the target… He seems to be able to touch dead objects. So, it’s not as impossible as real High Dimensional Information Forms… Hmm, I can’t see the clothes he’s wearing either, which means his clothes are assimilated too. Maybe I can start from there…
After some pondering, Han Xiao took out a mechanical suit, linked with it using Mechanical Force, and tried touching Rody. However, Rody passed through it without any difficulty. Since this mechanical suit was connected with Han Xiao through Mechanical Force, it was like Han Xiao was touching it, so it could not touch Rody.
Han Xiao then deactivated the Mechanical Force link and let Rody try to touch it again, but it still failed.
“Artificial intelligences are observers too,” Aesop hinted.
Han Xiao then pulled out the artificial intelligence controlling the mechanical suit too. After several experiments, when all connections including the virtual links, fundamental authority, and everything else were removed, Rody finally successfully wore the mechanical suit.
The next moment, the mechanical suit disappeared right under Han Xiao’s nose.
Seeing this, Han Xiao tried finding the mechanical suit using methods such as Mechanical Force, Virtual Technology, and so on, but everything failed. This mechanical suit just disappeared into thin air.
Then, Han Xiao told Rody to take off the mechanical suit, and it appeared on the floor again.
After running a few more tests, Han Xiao sighed and said, “He’s basically an information black hole… I’m almost out of ideas.”
Aesop crossed his arms, frowned, and asked, “Are there really no other ways?”
“It’s too difficult to find a flaw.” Han Xiao was a little frustrated.
Those who could not observe Rody had no way of creating any information link with him. Combat was a form of information exchange too, but even if he attacked him, he would probably still be completely unharmed. He would only take damage from a weapon that was completely unaffected by any observer, a ‘neutral’ weapon.
If not because this guy can’t influence any other life forms who aren’t able to observe him, he’d be a terrifying infiltrator…
Han Xiao clenched his teeth, looked at Harrison, and gave it his last try. “Ask him, does he have anything that he wants me to help him do?”
Harrison nodded, listened to Rody for a while, and said, “Your Excellency Black Star, he hopes you can help him to get out of this state.” The moment he said that, Han Xiao’s heart skipped a beat.
A notification popped up on the interface.
You have triggered the mission (Destiny’s Child—Sub-body Transformation)! Mission Introduction: Rody Anchor, an ordinary man who lived an ordinary life, has undergone a unique mutation. He hopes you can help him to deal with this problem…
Mission Requirements: Solve Rody’s mutation and find the root cause of it.
Reward: 2 Random Rewards, +80 Rody Favorability, 2 Character Summon Cards.
Before he could take a closer look at the mission, a skinny and weak middle-aged man appeared in Han Xiao’s sights, sitting on his chair and looking at him with a face filled with hope.
It was indeed Rody, and he appeared all of a sudden.
It-it worked?
Han Xiao was surprised.
He did not have much hope initially and did not expect this method to really work. Being able to see Rody meant that he now had an official information connection with him, and the source of that was definitely not just Rody’s request.
Han Xiao was absolutely certain that if a mission was not triggered on the interface, even if he knew about Rody’s request, he would still not have been able to see him.
Therefore, the interface became their connection!
However, this was not what shocked Han Xiao the most. It was the name of the mission.
Destiny’s Child!
Isn’t this one of the trump cards of the Germinal Organization in Version 1.0? Although I’ve never seen it, I once got his Character Summon Card.
How is this related to Destiny’s Child? Isn’t that guy dead?
So, this is what Aesop meant when he said we crossed paths before!
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched. Thousands of words were at the tip of his tongue, but they all became one word. “…Damn!”
Shock and doubt appeared in his mind.
Decades had already passed, but Han Xiao still had vivid memories about it. He used to think Destiny’s Child was just simply a Foreseer who ended up dead due to the Germinal Organization’s explosion, turning into dust.
Now, however, it looked like Destiny’s Child had more unknown secrets. Not only did it play an important role in Planet Aquamarine, but now it was related to the High Dimensional Information Forms.
Initially, he felt that having him, Hila, and Aurora, three outrageously talented members, was already the limit. To his absolute shock, Destiny’s Child, who had died long ago, was not as simple as he thought! The Germinal Organization was filled with mad talent!
If the Germinal Organization leader suddenly revived and appeared right in front of him, he probably would not even be surprised.
What in the world is the Destiny’s Child?
Han Xiao was stunned. He could not stop worrying without finding out the truth.
“… Army Commander?” Harrison suddenly prompted.
Han Xiao regained focus.
Aesop shook his head. He thought he understood why Han Xiao was silent and explained, “Even the three Universal Civilizations don’t know much about the Information Form Theory, so I understand that this request might be too difficult for you.” Rody was instantly frustrated and said with despair, “Then what should I do? If even His Excellency Black Star can’t help me, who can? Please, help me to convince His Excellency Black Star. I-I really don’t know what to do!”
Hearing this, Han Xiao waved and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll try to help you.”
“That’s great. Thank you, Your Excel… Hmm?” Rody showed appreciation subconsciously, but he was suddenly stunned halfway. He stared at Han Xiao with his eyes widened with shock.
Aesop and Harrison were startled too. They looked at Han Xiao with surprise.
“Army Commander, you can see him now?”
“Hmm, I can.”
“But earlier you… have you found a solution? But you didn’t do anything!” Aesop could not understand why.
Han Xiao coughed and lied, “Real High Dimensional Information Forms can choose who can observe them. Maybe his strong will triggered that trait, so he actively created an information link with me… To put it simply, he removed me from his blacklist.”
Harrison’s eyes were filled with confusion.
How does that work?
Aesop thought about it for a while before accepting it. “That actually makes some sense. He might have inherited that trait, only he can’t control it freely, but subconsciously, he might be able to…”
Han Xiao looked at him with a smile and supported the old man in his mind.
That’s it. Please keep guessing. Help me convince you yourself. Like a drowning man holding onto the last straw, Rody suddenly pressed on the table with both hands. He stood up and said while his entire body was shivering from excitement, “Thank you so much! You’re really just like what they say in the news. Not only a great man of Planet Aquamarine but a great man of the entire universe! You’re so noble! To be frank, in my forty-eight years alive, there’s only one person I ever admired, and that person is you! You’ve been my role model from a young age, the light of my life, the motivation of my advance, encouraging me to grow…”
Han Xiao uncontrollably smiled with recognition. He loved to hear people say these facts about him.
However, very soon, he wiped off the smile on his face and signaled for Rody to calm down.
“You don’t have to be so appreciative. Honestly, I’m only helping you because I’m interested in your mutation and want to study it. As for whether I can cure you, I can’t make any promises.”
“I understand. I don’t have anything else I can repay you with. I’ll do my absolute best to cooperate with your studies.” Rody nodded rapidly.
Han Xiao nodded with satisfaction. There were no free meals, and Rody knew that, which made things easier. He stood up, circled around Rody, sizing him up closely, and suddenly thought of something
That’s right. I’ve already established an information connection with him, so I should be able to sting him now.
As this thought appeared, Han Xiao immediately acted.
He raised his finger. Electrical sparks flashed, and nanoparticles formed into a tiny metal needle.
Then, he cautiously stung Rody’s arm with the needle, using as little force as a normal person would use to pick up an ant, afraid of using too much strength and squeezing the ant to death.
Then, Han Xiao looked at the interface right away. As expected, combat information appeared, and he could see all of Rody’s attributes.
The target was just an ordinary person, so there was little information. All of Rody’s abilities were ordinary people abilities. There were only about two lines of information, completely different from how Supers had pages and pages of information.
Only one abnormal piece of information attracted Han Xiao’s attention. There was a special status in Rody’s status bar, and it had the exact same name as the name of the mission.
(Destiny’s Child-Sub-body Transformation): The Primal Esper Ability Entity Destiny’s Child has caused an information state disturbance, creating all kinds of ‘sub-bodies’ randomly in the entire universe. You’re one of the chosen ones. A mutation is going to occur to your body. The traits of Information Forms will gradually develop in you, and you’ll randomly obtain part of Destiny’s Child’s abilities. During the transformation, not only will your body change, but your personality will too. When this process ends, you might lose the majority of your desires and emotions, you might lose your memories, or you might believe in made-up life experience. A brand-new personality will be born in your body.
Current Transformation Progress: 37.1%
Han Xiao’s eyes opened wide. He had captured the key information. “Destiny’s Child is a Primal Esper Ability Entity? Randomly creating sub-bodies all over the universe?”
This was surprising for him. On the Super High Risk Esper Ability list, Destiny’s Child was not included. In his previous life, no players obtained any related information about it. Could this be an undiscovered or unpublicized Primal Esper Ability?
Looking at the introduction on the interface, Han Xiao had a lot of thoughts.
If that’s how Destiny’s Child’s works, what was in the Germinal Organization back in Version 1.0 should have been a sub-body, not the Primal Esper Ability Entity itself… Rody has yet to completely transform. Once he fully becomes a Destiny’s Child sub-body, his personality will be replaced. Maybe that’s another form of death.
Although Han Xiao now knew that Destiny’s Child’s true identity was a Primal Esper Ability Entity, there were still a lot of unsolved mysteries. Perhaps, Ah Ho and Ah K, who were also Primal Esper Ability Entities, would know something
Han Xiao told the few of them to wait a while in the room while he went to another room, closed the door, and opened up the secondary dimensional army box, summoning the Mysterious Energy Host. At the same time, he sent Aurora a communication request and contacted the Holy Light Particle too.
“Black Star! How have you been? We have to chat more if you haven’t been busy!”
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy looked very happy. He did not have a master, and he was dying of boredom being inside a metal carrier that had no soul.
“I have something I’d like to ask you guys,” Han Xiao said. “Do you guys know about a Primal Esper Ability Entity called Destiny’s Child?”
Considering that there might be different names, Han Xiao even described part of Destiny’s Child’s characteristics, which he deduced from the interface.
Hearing this, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy and Holy Light Particle suddenly became silent for quite a while.
“This guy… I seem to have seen him before?”
“Odd, did I sleep too much? I feel like I know him, but I just can’t recall…” It felt like the feeling of suddenly realizing someone looked familiar, but they just could not recall who it was.
“According to the information I have, Destiny’s Child is heavily related to Information Forms. Maybe that’s why you two can’t recall it.” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and made a guess.
The two of them tried recalling for a while longer, then Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy said hesitantly, “You might be right. We can’t recall any more information about it. All we can recall is that there seems to be a Primal Esper Ability Entity in our memories who can switch between a physical form and High Dimensional Information Form. It has the ability to foresee the future, interfere with reality, and so on. It might be the Destiny’s Child you’re talking about.”
Looks like I can’t get more information from the two of them…
Han Xiao then changed the topic and asked, “Then, do you guys know about Soul Flame? It’s a Primal Esper Ability Entity too.”
“I know this one!” The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy quickly responded as if worried the Holy Light Particle would take away its chance to speak. “This guy is sneaky. I haven’t met him many times, and the last time I heard about him was during the exploration era. He seems to have chosen a Primordial One as a master. After that, he disappeared for many years.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
According to Aesop’s intelligence, Oathkeeper might very well be the master of Soul Flame. He might even be the Primordial One whom Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy mentioned. As long as he knew Oathkeeper’s identity, he would be able to expose him. “Do you remember who that Primordial One was?” Han Xiao quickly asked.
“I only remember his nickname, (Soul Emperor] if I’m not wrong, a powerful spiritual Esper… but he should’ve died in battle.”
Tsk, this nickname doesn’t sound like someone who’s easy to mess with.
Han Xiao noted it in his mind and planned to ask the dynasty for information about this ‘Soul Emperor’.
As for something as mysterious as Destiny’s Child, the dynasty might not have records of it.
Since Destiny’s Child is a Primal Esper Ability Entity, and the Holy Accord organization is the professional at studying Primal Esper Abilities… asking them might be a good choice.
Han Xiao nodded in his mind. He decided that after his deal with the Holy Accord was complete, he would ask Oathkeeper about Destiny’s Child. Maybe he could get some information from him.
Speaking of which, could Destiny’s Child be in the Holy Accord organization’s hands? Hmm, it’s possible but not very likely. Destiny’s Child can trigger disturbances, meaning it should be free and not locked up… Hehe, no point thinking so much. It won’t hurt if I only ask Oathkeeper.
Han Xiao smirked.
As for whether Oathkeeper will be able to take it…
Hmm, I think his mind should be quite strong.
As he had already asked everything he wanted to, he was about to hang up the communication when he suddenly thought of something and said to the Holy Light Particle, “By the way, I’ll have to cut off a part of your body after some time and use it to make a deal with someone. I’m telling you first so you can be mentally prepared.”
The Holy Light Particle suddenly stopped in midair and was stunned.
The Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy was stunned for a minute too. He then suddenly started gloating and laughing loudly. “This day has finally come for you! Who asked you to laugh at me? You can’t escape the same fate, hahaha!”
The Holy Light Particle did not respond out loud. I’m so tired. I feel like I won’t believe in love anymore.
Once Han Xiao had digested the information he had just obtained for a while, he pushed open the door and returned to the interrogation room. Aesop, Harrison, and Rody all looked over.
“Your Excellency Black Star, I…” Rody hastily wanted to ask, but Han Xiao raised his hand and stopped him.
“I already know about your situation. Come with me for the time being. I’ll try to solve your issue.”
Han Xiao pondered over what to do about Rody.
Rody was now only a work in progress; he had yet to complete transforming, so he could not control his abilities. He might only become like the Germinal Organization’s Destiny’s Child after completely transforming. However, once the transformation was complete, Rody’s personality would be taken over by a brand-new personality, so he could be considered dead by then in some senses.
A stable and controllable Foreseer would be much more useful than this half-assed Foreseer who fainted occasionally. However, since he had accepted the mission, he did not want to just let the transformation happen. Hence, Han Xiao decided to think of ways to prevent Rody’s transformation as much as he could… And if he could not prevent it, he would not mind getting a new Destiny’s Child.
Judging from Rody’s current state, controlling his whereabouts was a necessity. Han Xiao told Phillip to empty a new private lab on the spaceship and told Harrison to take Rody there, put him into a restoration cabin, and inject hypnosis drugs into him so that studying him would be easier. Rody had no choice but to hold on tight to his only hope and cooperate fully.
After the two of them left, Han Xiao and Aesop were the only ones left in the room. They looked at each other.
“I saw you left for a while earlier. Have you already discovered something?” Aesop asked with curiosity.
“The source of this guy’s mutation might be because he was affected by a certain special Primal Esper Ability…” Han Xiao briefly talked about Destiny’s Child’s information and his experience in the Germinal Organization.
“Destiny’s Child… never heard of it,” Aesop murmured.
“That’s normal. I don’t know much either.”
Aesop coughed and said, “I don’t know much about your past experience, but assuming that the Destiny’s Child you met in the past is also a random product of the Primal Esper Ability Entity like Rody, why would two sub-bodies appear on Planet Aquamarine? If it’s really random over the universe, do you think this is really coincidental?”
That’s nothing. I’ve seen things that are more coincidental…
This thought flashed past Han Xiao’s mind, but he did not show it on his face and agreed. “It is very coincidental indeed.”
“Following this logic, if the mutation occurs on the information level, I think that Planet Aquamarine might be special in some way. Maybe it has a special string of fate or something… I’m not saying this out of the blue. I’ve seen many people who are born with a different string of fate to others…”
Midsentence, Aesop stopped, sized Han Xiao up, and said, “… That’s right, someone like you came out of Planet Aquamarine, as well as Hila, another Beyond Grade A. The rise of the two of you caused your mother planet to be unique. Maybe that’s the reason.”
Han Xiao wanted to say something, but he did not say anything in the end, only patting Aesop’s shoulders.
Smart people are indeed easy to trick. You convinced yourself before I said anything.
“Thanks. Without your prophecy, I would have never noticed this.”
Jokes aside, Han Xiao was quite appreciative of Aesop’s warning.
“You don’t have to thank me. Floating Dragon and Planet Aquamarine are neighbors now. I’m just ensuring the safety of the surrounding residential environment. Plus, among the people I know, my prophecies will have the most impact in your hands. I believe in your abilities and morals.” Aesop waved his hand.
Hearing this, Han Xiao could not help but realize how much things had changed.
In the past, Han Xiao really envied Aesop’s powerful connections. However, as he continued to rise, without him realizing, he already now had the highest position among the people Aesop knew.
Aesop was willing to discuss anything with him. He had become reliable in his eyes.
Aesop sighed and said, “I’ve lived so long, and I consider myself to be knowledgeable. Yet, you’re still the most shocking person I’ve ever met in my long life. I’ve never seen anyone as magical as you. The first time I saw you, although I felt that you had a bright future, I would never have expected you to reach heights countless people are never able to reach in just a few decades. History might forget me, but it’ll never forget you.”
“… Why the sudden compliments? You’re flattering me,” Han Xiao joked but revealed an expression that said, ‘Don’t stop.’
“Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, so I like to say these things more and more.” Aesop sighed and earnestly said, “Thank you for helping Floating Dragon all these years.” Seeing this, Han Xiao wiped off the smile on his face and slowly said, “My achievement cannot be separated from the help I’ve received from Floating Dragon. Without Ames’ protection in the past, things would not have gone so smoothly for me. Therefore, you don’t have to thank me. Anything I’ve done for Floating Dragon is what I should do as repayment.”
Just like creating a business, having sponsors would be much easier than starting with nothing. When he was weak, Floating Dragon had helped him a great lot. Therefore, even though his position in the universe was far superior to Floating Dragon, he still held respect for the people of Floating Dragon and never considered himself superior when speaking with them. Plus, he had never stopped helping them.
“Having the opportunity to help someone like you might just be Floating Dragon’s luck.” Aesop’s expression was complicated. He said with a low tone, “Ames is like my daughter, but as you know, the only thing I can do is foresee. I’m not powerful like you guys; you can protect her better than me now… “I’ve lived for many years, and I’ve never asked for anything from anyone, but I’m asking you today, protect Ames. I’m leaving her to you. I hope that even after hundreds and thousands of years, you’ll still remember what I said today.”
Then, he gave Han Xiao a meaningful look, pushed the door open, and walked out the room. His slightly bent back disappeared at the end of the corridor.
“Old man…”
Han Xiao watched him leave and exhaled slightly. He understood what Aesop meant.
Although Aesop was an Eternal, he was getting old, and he hardly had any combat capability. Even though he could see the future, what he could do was limited. He was far from being almighty.
He foresaw the storms that might occur in the future, and the disaster he saw made him feel worried, something he had not felt in a very long time. He was afraid that he was not capable of protecting Ames, so he planned ahead and was willing to put down his pride to privately ask Black Star to always be the protector of Floating Dragon. This was a form of insurance. In Aesop’s eyes, Black Star was the only one who had both the capability and motive to protect Ames, so he was the best candidate he could find.
Ames would absolutely never say these things, so Ames knew only he could say it, and he had to say it. This was why the old man came to him first unlike before-he got scared by his own prophecy. “The old man suppressed his nature of looking for thrills and stayed for decades in such a boring place, Floating Dragon. Although he’s grounded by Ames on paper, if he wanted to leave, he definitely could. And now, because he’s worried about Ames’ future, he ignored his pride and came to ask me for something…”
Han Xiao smiled.
In his previous life, Ames caused Floating Dragon to be destroyed for the sake of revenge. Looking at it now, Aesop was certainly worth
However, this time, I’m here. I won’t let the same thing happen to Floating Dragon.
Tidying up his emotions, Han Xiao returned to the office and summoned Phillip.
He still remembered about searching for where Soul Flame ended up in. Using his authority, he found the information about the Primordial One ‘Soul Emperor’ and quickly browsed through it.
Soul Emperor’s real name was Rovell Sissock. He also had other nicknames such as the King of Souls and Master of Secrets. He was a Primordial One. Before becoming the master of Soul Flame, he was already a powerful Beyond Grade A spiritual Esper.
This person was born in an advanced civilization that was already a powerful civilization in the exploration era.
Back then, Beyond Grade As had only just appeared. Compared to other abilities, spiritual Esper Abilities were more difficult to deal with. The technology at that time could not give birth to any spiritual barrier devices that could stop Soul Emperor, so he could easily penetrate the shields and armor to kill or control the people in spaceships. He made a name for himself in the exploration era war very quickly. After obtaining Soul Flame, like a tiger growing wings, he won countless battles for his civilization in the war using his individual strength and received countless honors and medals. He was seen as the hero and protector of the entire civilization.
However, as all the advanced civilizations started to study the Beyond Grade As, the era when the Primordial Ones were invincible quickly passed. Battles became tougher, and Beyond Grade A casualties started to appear.
Soul Emperor was no exception. Although he was still powerful even among the Beyond Grade As and he was still one of the strongest forces in galactic battles, since he would be targeted every time he appeared, it became tough for him to contribute as much as he did before. He could no longer decide a battle on his own.
Plus, his civilization suffered multiple losses in other battles. The civilization’s overall strategy was heavily affected, and the situation gradually grew worse. Because of that, Soul Emperor’s fighting style became aggressive. Sometimes, even if it meant he had to suffer heavy injuries, he would still try to turn the battle around. Although it was not enough, this showed how much he wanted to contribute to his civilization and how loyal he was. The Primordial Ones back then were unlike the Beyond Grade As now. Most of them did not have the mindset of putting themselves first. In the exploration era war, the fate of individuals was almost totally tied with the fate of civilizations.
Over the long years of war, the turning point quickly came. The civilization Soul Emperor belonged to faced multiple enemies on the main battlefield, which spanned two Star Systems. The civilization dispatched a large number of military forces, and a decisive battle began.
Countless fleets fought intensely on many battlefronts. The situation changed every second. At the peak of the battle, this civilization was faced with a choice…
Soul Emperor was being targeted and surrounded. He was exhausted and needed reinforcements urgently. Meanwhile, an extremely crucial battlefront also requested immediate backup.
If the fight on this battlefront was lost, it would cause chain reactions and might cause the entire war to slip into the abyss of defeat. However, if they were able to win on this battlefront, they would obtain a huge strategic advantage and have much higher chances of winning. This was also the reason the enemies kept sending troops into this battlefield. At this point of time, this civilization had already dispatched most of its forces into the battlefield and had very few fleets that were available to be deployed. They knew that if they sent reinforcements to both sides, there might be a chance they could save Soul Emperor, but they would definitely not be able to guard the crucial battlefront.
That was where the choice lay… which side they should send their reinforcements to.
To the civilization, this choice did not seem difficult at all.
They abandoned Soul Emperor and decided to put all the reinforcements into that crucial battlefront. The results were just as they expected. They successfully won the fight on that battlefront, obtained a decisive advantage, gradually forced the enemies to retreat, and finally won this war.
Soul Emperor was sacrificed. This civilization said he fought to his last moment and that his death was what led to their victory. The entire civilization mourned for him and paid their respects, hosted his funeral in the highest regards, and gave him the ‘Valverde Golden Tower’ medal, which represented the highest honor of the civilization. The civilization then also built the Soul Emperor’s hero monument on its mother planet to remember him.
However, in the exploration era war, one thing that was never in shortage was enemies. The crucial victory this civilization acquired could not be their amulet forever.
In the end, this civilization never became a winner of the exploration era. It was destroyed by a stronger civilization, its race was almost extinct, and it became a loser that was eliminated. That was the brief life of Soul Emperor. He was marked as ‘Killed In Action’ in the documents.
All this happened too long ago, and the exploration era was a chaotic time, so the three Universal Civilizations’ database only had rough data of Soul Emperor, nothing too detailed. As Soul Emperor’s civilization was eliminated, a lot of information about him was buried by history.
After seeing the documents, Han Xiao started pondering. He was not surprised about how the civilization treated Soul Emperor. He was used to it. He was now only interested in the whereabouts of Soul Flame.
“Soul Emperor is the last Soul Flame master known by the world. Is this guy Oathkeeper? Either Soul Emperor faked his death, or Oathkeeper is someone else who took Soul Flame away from Soul Emperor. If that’s the case, there’s a chance he’s one of the Beyond Grade A enemies of Soul Emperor in that battle, but there’s also a possibility it’s someone else…”
This time, Han Xiao suddenly thought of the Primordial Ones who got revived in his previous life. They did not seem to include Soul Emperor. Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. “It seems that there’s quite a high chance Soul Emperor faked his death…”
Han Xiao pondered. Quite a number of Primordial Ones were revived in his previous life. If he waited for those people to be revived, he could ask someone who knew about it…
However, at this time, Han Xiao suddenly thought of something and was instantly stunned.
Wait a minute!
People who know about it… are not only those Primordial Ones revived by the Holy Accord! The Underworld dimension Hila inherited is also storing the Hero Spirits of Primordial Ones!
Now this is excellent…
Han Xiao’s eyes widened.
Is this fate?
Or has collecting people who have Luck Glow really changed my luck too?
“There are a lot of souls of powerful individuals of the exploration era war stored in the Underworld dimension, not just the Primordial Ones, but also Supers of various races, mostly Calamity Grades. They’re all antiques…”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled brightly.
These people were not just combatants. They were also the people who witnessed the various times of the exploration era and reliable sources of first-hand information. They possessed a lot of ancient secrets.
“Aurora can only make bodies for these Hero Spirits and turn them into combatants when she’s Beyond Grade A. Speaking of which, the Underworld dimension is kind of similar to the Indestructible Mechanic Empire… Although the Hero Spirits can’t have bodies now, it shouldn’t be a problem just communicating with them. I wonder how much Hila has repaired the Underworld.”
Han Xiao still remembered that he had an Underworld dimension mission. Once the Underworld was fully recovered, he would receive a (Mark of The Underworld).
“I shall find a moment to ask Hila if what I’m thinking is right…” Hila was now in the secondary dimensions, so it was not easy to contact her. However, she should return in the next Beyond Grade A plenary meeting. Han Xiao planned to ask her then.
It just so happened that the next plenary meeting of the development union was not far away, so he did not have to go to the secondary dimensions to find her.
He suspected that Soul Emperor faked his death and Oathkeeper was Soul Emperor, but he had yet to decide if he was going to test Oathkeeper the next time they met.
Beep beep!
This time, Harrison sent him a message saying Rody had settled in.
“Okay.”
Han Xiao was very content.
My intuition was right. I did indeed get surprised when I returned to Planet Aquamarine this time. I discovered the secret of Destiny’s Child, acquired a semi-transformed sub-body of it, and obtained some key information from Aesop.
However, Aesop’s prophecy made him feel pressure too. Storms were secretly brewing.
The stronger he got, the more secrets he came to know, and the more he could sense the hidden chaos and instability under the peace and prosperity of the explored universe.
Han Xiao pondered.
“I’ve got to think of a way to ask about the Crimson Dynasty’s study of the World Tree Civilization wormhole coordinates…”
After he spent a few days on Floating Dragon as a guest and visited Bennett, Han Xiao and his fleet departed again and headed to the Flickering World.
At the dock, Ames stood. The stream from the thruster of the spaceship made her black dress sway like a cluster of black fog. She had brought along the Floating Dragon officers and watched the Black Star fleet leave, disappearing from sight.
“He left again.”
Ames exhaled slightly and looked down on the data storage device in her hands. This was a gift Han Xiao had given to her before he left. Inside was an Esper Ultimate Knowledge.
She turned around and saw Jenny’s conflicted expression. She was squeezing tightly on a syringe in her hands. That was a gift from Han Xiao too.
“What’s wrong? What did he give you?” Ames was curious.
“…Nothing!”
Jenny forced out a ferocious smile and hid the magical hair growth potion behind her back.
Aesop stroked his beard, smiled, and said, “Black Star gave me a gift too. I’m starting to like him more and more.”
Beside him, eight fist-sized sphere-shaped weapons swiftly flew around.
This was a product personally built by Han Xiao. He named it ‘Explorer-Multifunctional Life Guarding Formation’. It had a full set of functions, including combat, defense, enhancement, life-sustain, stealth, healing, hyperdrive, radiation block, and many more. It was perfect for solo explorers.
With this set of devices, it was equivalent to carrying around a guard team, logistics team, and a galactic carrier. Even an ordinary person would be able to survive for a very long time in Grade B dangerous environments. They would even last quite a while against Calamity Grades with a chance of retreating unharmed. It was expensive to build and very powerful. Just one set was enough to wipe out ordinary surface civilizations, and Han Xiao had given a total of ten sets to Aesop.
Ames blinked and suddenly said, “I heard that you privately asked Black Star to protect me.”
Stunned, Aesop grabbed his beard and said, “Who told you?”
“Who else?” Ames’ brows raised.
“Tsk, this Black Star, doesn’t even know to keep it a secret for me…” Aesop had a slight headache. He nodded with resignation and said, “That did happen, yes. I foresaw that a drastic change is going to happen. My capability is limited. Only Black Star has the ability to…” Before he finished, Ames interrupted him and said with a slightly heavy tone, “I’m a Beyond Grade A. I can protect myself. Next time, discuss it with me first before thinking for me. I don’t like others making decisions on my behalf.”
“Alright, alright, I’ve overstepped.” Aesop raised two hands and expressed that he did not want to argue.
Seeing this, Ames nodded. She then smiled faintly and softly said, “… But still, thanks, I appreciate it.”
She knew that Han Xiao had told her about it because he did not want Aesop’s kind intentions to not get recognized.
Furthermore, Han Xiao was the only one who could mention this. Aesop was never going to tell Ames and ask to be appreciated; he was not that kind of person.
Aesop figured out Han Xiao’s intentions too, and his tiny bit of unhappiness disappeared. He was a little touched and appreciative. His impression of Han Xiao was even better.
The fleet travelled for ten days and finally entered the Flickering World through the military stargates. On this day, the Beyond Grade A Association hosted another plenary meeting. Due to the fact that the Mechanics had been dealing with the Intelligent Plague for quite some time, they had missed quite a number of meetings. This was the first meeting for Han Xiao and the others in a while.
In the development union’s headquarters on Planet Finn, Han Xiao’s remote projection landed outside the conference room in the army commander’s gold-edged black cape, looking respectable. There was still some time till the official start of the meeting, so not everyone had arrived yet. People gathered in small groups outside the conference room and chatted casually.
One of the purposes of the development union was to build a platform that was convenient for Beyond Grade As to communicate with each other. Other than official meetings, their private communications were just as important.
As soon as he appeared, the space outside the venue instantly turned quiet. Everyone looked over with various expressions on their faces. The atmosphere was a little odd.
This time, Milizaus and several dynasty allies approached. “Yo, Black Star, you’ve finally returned,” Milizaus said loudly.
Han Xiao turned and looked over with a smile. He then greeted Beyoni, Silver Shadow, and his other friends one after another.
After a round of greetings, Milizaus praised, “What you did in the Ancient Star Desert really made me see you in a new light. Sadly, I’m not a Mechanic and could not witness it with my own eyes.” “That’s right. To think that we could not participate in such a historic moment, what a shame.” Viru looked regretful. “If I was there, you wouldn’t have fought alone. I’d definitely have fought Manison with you,” Beyoni said. Lotus Swordsman was merciless. She said coldly, “Nonsense, if you were there, you’d be the first one to die. You’re a burden just like Kohler.”
Kohler frowned. Why bring me into it? I didn’t say anything!
“Not a big deal. It’s not worth mentioning, hehehe…” Hearing compliments from everyone, Han Xiao waved humbly.
One consequence of him destroying the virus core was that the allies saw that his position had increased again, and he was more trusted by the three Universal Civilizations, so they all came to give their compliments.
This time, Milizaus looked left and right, lowered his voice, and said, “Everyone thinks you’re now totally opposed to Manison. The president and the vice president having different philosophies will definitely lead to arguments. The atmosphere in the association now is very sensitive.”
“No wonder everyone was looking at me strangely earlier.” Han Xiao smiled and was not surprised.
“Today is the first time you and Manison will attend the meeting together after the two of you confronted each other, so most people are now waiting to see what will happen.” Han Xiao shook his head and said, “Don’t worry, the development union’s purpose to the outside world is to solve conflicts between Beyond Grade As, so Manison will definitely not publicly disobey the rules. Otherwise, the foundation of the association will be damaged, and that’s unacceptable for him. Therefore, he has to set an example. The most he’ll do is cause trouble for me verbally. There’s no way he’ll use the association’s powers to cause problems for me. As for me, I have even less of a need to provoke him…”
After all, I grabbed even Mechanic Emperor’s trump card. I’m not the one who lost anything.
Han Xiao giggled in his mind but did not say the second half of the last sentence.
Milizaus said slowly, “Yes, that’s for the best. Don’t provoke him. Actually, after Manison expressed his goal, there aren’t that many people supporting him in the association anymore.
“What he did this time was too risky. Many people don’t agree with it. Had he succeeded, we would all have been dragged down by him too. Therefore, quite a number of them are unhappy with Manison now. “On the other hand, there are a lot of members supporting you. Most people hope to use the development union to stick together in groups and obtain better safety assurance, as well as more benefits. But to completely oppose the three Universal Civilizations? That’s too unrealistic; not many are willing to take the risk! Therefore, since you stopped Manison and also built a closer relationship with the three Universal Civilizations, many people are appreciative of you and recognize you for what you’ve done, and they stand on your side.” Hearing this, Han Xiao looked around, and in many eyes around the room, he saw friendliness.
“Hmm, as expected,” Han Xiao responded. He had figured all this would happen long ago.
At this time, a raging voice suddenly sounded from beside.
“Black Star, you’re such an *sshole!”
The people looked at the source of the voice, Secret Master was walking over to him with a blaming expression on his face.
“What did I do to you?” Han Xiao was confused.
“Still playing dumb!” Secret Master was furious. “You messed up my black market forces in the Ancient Star Desert during the Star Field lockdown!”
“I was just following orders to prevent the virus from leaking.” Han Xiao blinked.
“Do you think I’d believe you!” Secret Master said with rage.
Only after the three Universal Civilizations stopped the lockdown did he know that his forces in the Ancient Star Desert had become a mess because of Han Xiao. He almost vomited blood.
“You really have misunderstood me,” Han Xiao explained slowly. “The three Universal Civilizations wanted me to control the black market to prevent the virus from leaking. Since it was an abnormal situation, I had to use an abnormal method, so I had no choice but to be aggressive. Furthermore, the Intelligent Plague has already been dealt with, and I’ve moved out of there. It’s the three Universal Civilizations that are trying to continue to control the Ancient Star Desert’s black market. I only took on this sinful job for the sake of the safety of the universe. Even if I didn’t do it, someone else would have, right?”
Secret Master clenched his teeth. “… The thickest thing I’ve ever seen is your skin!” He did not really want to blame Han Xiao. He knew that the three Universal Civilizations would not compromise even one bit in the face of such a large disaster. At this matter’s roots, he could only blame himself for being so unlucky that the location of the virus outbreak happened to be the Ancient Star Desert.
Secret Master also realized that ever since he crossed paths with Black Star, he kept getting unlucky.
I’d better stay away from Black Star so that I won’t get affected if he’s struck by lightning one day!
As they were chattering, another remote projection arrived. It was Manison, who was at the center of the storm.
Buzz!
In an instant, the entire place became silent.Everyone looked over at Manison and Han Xiao with eyes that had various emotions.
The only similarity these eyes had was that they were all looking forward to a show.
Manison turned around and calmly looked Han Xiao in the eye.
As if the fight between two of them never happened, Manison slowly greeted Han Xiao with a calm expression. “We meet again, Black Star.”
“What a coincidence, Mechanic Emperor. I thought you’d be too ashamed to attend the meeting today.” Han Xiao chuckled.
At this point in time, he felt he looked more like a villain than Manison.
On the side, Milizaus rubbed the dragon horn on his head with confusion.
… Didn’t you agree not to provoke the Mechanic Emperor? Did you completely forget what I literally just said?
Manison did not get baited. He sized Han Xiao up and nodded. “You’re quite humorous. I’m the development union president. I wouldn’t miss the meeting even if you might.”
Han Xiao stood with his arms crossed and said, “As the president, what you did doesn’t really live up to your position though. Not everyone supported you, yet you made the personal choice of kidnapping their interests and gambling with it.”
The moment he saw Manison, he completely forgot about not provoking him. In fact, all he wanted to do now was provoke him.
Knowing about the side the association was leaning to, he deliberately tried to bring up the dissatisfaction of the people around, which proved to be quite effective. Many people looked at Manison with even unfriendlier eyes. They were all important people, so none of them liked having anyone else make decisions for them.
The two of them had now clearly drawn the line and gone back to being competitors. Damaging Manison’s reputation was not the main goal; satisfying his guilty pleasure was… Wait, it seemed like it was supposed to be the other way round.
The allies of the federation present felt the most awkward. Manison was still the federation’s ally on paper, but they did not want to be on Manison’s side either. Those who supported Manison before were feeling uneasy.
Manison completely ignored how the people around him looked at him and coldly said, “I’ve finally seen through you after this. The purpose of us creating the association was to gain more power and not be controlled by advanced civilizations. You claim to be thinking for the Beyond Grade As, but you’re actually just a dog of the three Universal Civilizations. Everything I do is for the Beyond Grade As in the long run, and it’s impossible not to take risks… Sadly, you want to suck up to the three Universal Civilizations and not lose your reputation among the Beyond Grade As, so you chose to destroy our hope. In my eyes, that’s nothing but a selfish act of an opportunist. I will never have any hope in you anymore.”
“Oh, I didn’t expect the great Mechanic Emperor to have to resort to bullsh*tting. Being old surely has benefits. Even your way of twisting the facts is so skilled.” Han Xiao did not mind at all and said, “Sadly, the audience’s eyes are clear. The things you’re trying to frame me for won’t stick. Everyone has their own opinions about the truth. As the vice president, I have a duty to stop you from forcing everyone to take one path till the end.”
“Hehe… do you really think of yourself as the hero just because you’re wearing the coat of public opinion the three Universal Civilizations have weaved for you?”
“You’ve got a lot of things to say now, but I’m very curious, will you have the face to attend the award ceremony sometime soon that’ll be broadcast to the entire universe?”
“Why not? If not for me, how could the three Universal Civilizations have discovered the virus so soon? How could the special antivirus program have been invented so quickly? Without me, the Intelligent Plague would still be running rampant even now. In terms of contribution, I’m not much inferior to you, but the three Universal Civilizations never said a single word about it. How obvious are their intentions?”
As the conversation got a kick start, the two of them started to argue without holding back.
They started arguing… and the various Beyond Grade As watched with popcorn from the side.
After arguing for a while more, Manison looked around and said coldly, “I didn’t come to argue with you today. The purpose of the association is to solve conflicts between Beyond Grade As. As the president, I have to set an example, so don’t worry, although we have our differences, I won’t do anything to you.”
“You say it in such a nice way. I think you’re so busy dealing with the three Universal Civilizations and simply don’t dare to mess with me anymore,” Han Xiao said with a mocking tone. Manison narrowed his eyes and said, “You seem to think that our tie was real. We both know the truth, but you seem to have misunderstood something. Do you really think you can fight on par with me?”
“That’s the truth, not a misunderstanding.” Han Xiao chuckled and said with a taunting tone, “If you don’t approve of it, I’m available anytime.”
He had gotten quite a lot of good stuff from Manison, including even his core Unique Talent, so he even wanted to fight Manison more.
“The purpose of the development union is to solve physical conflicts between Beyond Grade As. I won’t lower myself to your level.”
Manison turned and walked into the venue with an expressionless face, no longer bothering with Han Xiao.
Seeing this, Han Xiao secretly curled his lips.
Old Man Manison really is patient. If I provoked him like this in the past, he would have undoubtedly come looking for me to have a talk with a forty-mile-long sword in his hands.
However, the Mechanic Emperor should feel frustrated too. He was so certain he could defeat me, but he was forced to stop at a tie by the three Universal Civilizations, and now he has to patiently wait for the opportunity to regain his position. Until then, he will have to watch his reputation get weakened with his own eyes.
I, however, not only acquired his core Unique Talent but also secretly acquired the incomplete blueprint of the virus technology that he dreams of having. I even got a new ability that counters him… but in his mind, my strength is still the same as when we fought.
If I fight him again, I’ll certainly give him a ‘surprise’.
While Han Xiao was smiling in his head, Kasuyi came over and said, “I’ve not seen Manison get forced to do something for a very long time. You’re one of the very few people who can give him a loss.” Han Xiao turned to look at him and said with surprise, “I thought your relationship was quite good with Manison, but you seem quite happy.”
Kasuyi smiled with narrowed eyes. “Hehe, don’t misunderstand, I have known Manison for many years, and we are indeed quite close friends. However, he’s him, and I’m me. To be frank, I don’t agree with what he tried doing either. Even if you didn’t stop him, I would’ve drawn the line with him after the incident.”
Han Xiao nodded. “Without this matter, the Mechanic Emperor and I might still be friends. Sadly, our philosophies are too different. I only hope this did not affect the relationship between us.”
“Don’t worry, your conflict with him won’t affect our relationship. I don’t mind differences in philosophies because I think everyone has something they want… However, although Manison’s method was not the most righteous, he did say one thing right. The three Universal Civilizations are just using you to damage him, and when you’re no longer of value too one day… his present might become your future.”
“I know my lines. You don’t have to worry about that.
While the two of them spoke, a third voice appeared. “Therefore… while we’re still being used by advanced civilizations, we’ll have to quickly get any benefits we can. This comes from my personal experience.” The two of them looked over and saw Sorokin, who had come too. Sorokin added his almost symbolic fake smile to the conversation and greeted the two shareholders.
“Oh, it’s you.” Han Xiao glanced at him. “What other ideas do you have?
“You’re flattering me, Your Excellency Black Star. I’m just an ordinary Beyond Grade A. I’m in no place to take part in such a big topic. I don’t have any good ideas. I’m just giving my suggestion from the perspective of a businessman, hoping to provide Your Excellency Black Star with some ideas to deal with the current situation.” Sorokin’s tone was passionate.
Han Xiao crossed his arms and sized Sorokin up.
“It doesn’t look like you’re just here to have a chat. What do you want?”
“Haha, nothing can escape Your Excellency Black Star’s eyes indeed,” Sorokin said with a bright smile. “I’m hoping to talk about a partnership with you…”
Han Xiao listened to him for a while and finally understood what he meant. He was not even surprised about how shameless Sorokin was.
He had become the consultant of the three Universal Civilizations, so he now had support from all three of them. Sorokin saw a business opportunity, so he wanted to forge a deeper partnership with him, a shareholder. Han Xiao had gotten this shareholder position basically by robbing it, and Sorokin was not happy about it at all initially. However, now that he saw he could profit from it, he instantly put all that behind him without hesitation and came to speak with Han Xiao. The beef between them was not even cleared, yet he could act as nothing happened.
Over the past few months, Han Xiao had been busy dealing with the Intelligent Plague, while Sorokin had been dealing with how displeased the three Universal Civilizations were with him. After paying a hefty price, he was finally able to mitigate the damage.
Not only that, through some flashy moves, Sorokin was able to prove that his stand was the same as that of the three Universal Civilizations, as well as connect with some of the officials of the federation and the church who had real power. He also used his director position in the association to build new profit networks.
Han Xiao suddenly thought of something. “By the way, Manison is also a shareholder of the Limitless Financial Group, so won’t the things he did affect you too? Can the three Universal Civilizations allow him to continue being a shareholder?”
“Well, it did have some impact. However, that doesn’t stop me from continuing my partnership with him, and the scheduled dividends won’t stop for him either.” “The three Universal Civilizations allow that?” “Firstly, my financial group is private and legitimate, so I have the right to freely choose who’s in my financial group. Secondly, hehe…” Sorokin giggled but did not say anything and gave Han Xiao a knowing look.
Then it occurred to Han Xiao. No wonder the three Universal Civilizations did not mind the two of them having a partnership. They were using the Limitless Financial Group as a way of acquiring information about Mechanic Emperor’s forces. This had to be one of the terms Sorokin had to provide to regain the three Universal Civilizations’ support. Of course, he did not want to develop a deeper partnership with Sorokin, so he never gave any direct answers to any of Sorokin’s questions and just dragged on the conversation.
The people chattered for a while, and it was finally time to start the meeting. They swarmed into the venue and sat on their seats.
Han Xiao did not continue insulting Manison. Following the theme of this meeting, the two of them dealt with matters one after another just like the usual plenary meetings.
However, although the two of them were minding their own businesses, the atmosphere was still very strange. After what happened outside the venue earlier, most people were influenced and acting completely normal would be quite difficult. Very soon, the last topic arrived. Manison looked around at everyone and said with a deep voice, “Due to the sudden outbreak of the Intelligent Plague, the conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance was postponed for more than half a year. Now that the plague has been dealt with, these two sides are about to start fighting. Our Beyond Grade A Association needs to pick a side.
“As all of you know, the three Universal Civilizations have been holding tight to the Ultimate Knowledges. The terms they gave was to have us deal with the Super Star Cluster Alliance in their place, which I don’t intend to agree to. Therefore, I suggest we hold our original stand and do not take part in the war between advanced civilizations.”
The people nodded. Although they were unhappy with Manison, this decision was agreed upon by most of them previously, so there was not much argument.
As for the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations, they usually did not express their opinion at times like this. After all, there would be no point even if they did.
However, this time, Manison turned to Han Xiao and suddenly asked, “Vice President, what do you think?”
Han Xiao’s eyes flickered, and he started pondering. He noticed what the Mechanic Emperor intended to do.
He was now at the center of public opinion. The reasons behind the three Universal Civilizations’ recent compliments of him might not exclude them wanting him to become the representative of the development union who stood on their side. Not only did they hope he would compete with Manison, but they also hoped that he would speak for them in the association.
However, one of the very purposes of building this association was to help the Beyond Grade As escape from the faction lock the advanced civilizations had set up for them, so they did not have to murder each other as tools. On this matter, Han Xiao realized that no matter which side he picked, he would still be negatively affected.
Supporting the overall agreement of the people present was not a problem on the association’s side, but although the three Universal Civilizations would not be surprised about it, they would feel somewhat disappointed, which would reduce the support he would receive. The other allies could make this choice because they were the ‘crowd’, while he was the ‘representative’ whom the three Universal Civilizations had high hopes for. The impact was different despite the choice being the same.
If he spoke for the three Universal Civilizations and encouraged everyone to deal with the Super Star Cluster Alliance, it would be even worse. He would look like he had completely taken the side of the three Universal Civilizations and become the ‘dog’ that the Mechanic Emperor claimed he was, which would undoubtedly displease everyone. Furthermore, the philosophy he represented would look different. It would turn from peaceful co-existence to sucking up to the three Universal Civilizations, which completely went against the purpose of the association and was exactly the same as the original path everyone was taking.
Han Xiao looked up. Everyone present, including the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations, was focused on him. They clearly knew what impact this decision he made would have, so they waited for him to make a stand.
Manison’s question could not be considered dirty or anything. It was just rightfully using the opportunity.
“Of course, I agree with everyone. That’s why we gathered here in the first place… However, I’m going to deal with one of the Super Star Cluster civilizations. I have some private beef with them,” Han Xiao said calmly. He was very realistic, so he would not pick the wrong side at times like this.
When the three Universal Civilizations were praising and supporting him, Han Xiao had known a moment when he had to prove to the other Beyond Grade As he did not ‘change his heart’ would come.
Hearing his answer, the people were satisfied.
After the business was done, the plenary meeting ended, and the Beyond Grade As went offline one after another.
Han Xiao, however, did not leave immediately. He dragged Hila, who had been only watching, to the said, found a room, and closed the door.“You’ve returned.” Hila sized Han Xiao up and said, “You seem to have lost weight.”
“I should be the one saying that to you. How’s the Underworld?” Han Xiao smiled.
“It’s getting stable and slowly recovering… By the way, I have something to tell you. It’s about the Underworld too.”
“What a coincidence, I have something I want to ask you about the Underworld too, but you go first.”
Hila nodded.
“Okay, have you heard about the Sanctum?”
Han Xiao’s face was filled with shock. He subconsciously pressed his hand on his chest where his heart was.
At that moment, he finally understood how Oathkeeper felt.
“Where did you hear about the Sanctum?” Han Xiao asked with a shocked tone. “The Underworld told me…” Hila briefly repeated what Onicelu had said. Seeing Han Xiao’s reaction, she said, “Humph, so you knew about the Sanctum long ago but didn’t tell me.”
“Ahem, that’s because I didn’t know everything about it either, and I’m still privately investigating.” Han Xiao coughed and quickly worked his brain.
Hila’s message gave him a surprise. He initially only wanted to ask the Underworld Hero Spirits about Soul Emperor, but he was also able to acquire new information about the Sanctum.
According to Hila, someone once invited the two sisters to participate in an operation targeted at the Sanctum. This meant that some Primordial Ones possessed more information about the Sanctum, only that those two sisters did not go in the end. After that, for some unknown reason, the information about the Sanctums seemed to be cut off. Fewer and fewer people knew about it.
Furthermore, Han Xiao also acquired an important piece of intelligence from Hila-one of the Sanctums’ functions was reviving the dead. This was the first function of the Sanctums he had discovered, and it finally opened the mysterious curtain for a bit.
The Holy Accord organization, revived Primordial Ones, the Sanctums…
Han Xiao finally felt like all these things were connected.
No wonder Oathkeeper was acting that way…
Previously, he did not connect the two of them because he did not know the exact use of the Sanctums. Now, he finally had a clearer image of the Holy Accord organization.
One of the rewards of My Primal Esper Ability Collector Milestone Mission was the Third Sanctum Ability Fragment, which means these two are connected in some way. Then the true goal of the Holy Accord organization in collecting Primal Esper Abilities should be to open the Sanctum and revive people from the past… Seeing that Han Xiao looked like he was deep in thought, Hila frowned and asked, “Was this information useful to you?”
“Useful, very useful.” Han Xiao regained focus and said, “Actually, I’ve been secretly collecting information about the Sanctums, and you’ve helped me a lot this time. Great job.” “As long as it’s helpful for you.” Hila stopped frowning and nodded. She then asked, “Then what were you going to tell me earlier?” “Haha, I happen to want to ask the Underworld Hero Spirits some questions, and now I have one more question to ask.” “Do you need me to awaken the Hero Spirits right now?”
“That’ll affect your growth, won’t it?”
“As long as you need me to, I don’t mind it.” Hila did not hesitate at all.
“You don’t have to do that. The Underworld is inherited by you after all. Don’t only think of me.” Han Xiao shook his head, sighed, and said, “Let’s not rush. We’ll talk about it when the Underworld recovers.”
“Alright, just tell me when you need it. I’ll help you anytime,” Hila said softly.
“We’ll talk about it then.” Han Xiao nodded, changed the topic, and smiled. “By the way, I brought you a present this time. You should like it.”
Hila’s eyes sparkled. “What is it?”
“I’ve made an agreement with the three Universal Civilizations, and I can now acquire three Esper Ultimate Knowledges for you. I brought one for you this time. I’ll let Phillip send it to you later.”
“Okay.” Hila smiled faintly. She was very satisfied with this present, even more glad that Han Xiao still remembered about her even when he was out on business.
Han Xiao only logged off after chatting for quite a while more.
His sight returned to his body, which was in the main ship’s command room.
The fleet was advancing in the Dawn Star Cluster of the Flickering World. They would reach the edge of the Garu Star Cluster in a few days and return to the army’s territory.
Standing beside the enormous floor-to-ceiling porthole, Han Xiao looked at the stars passing by outside and thought back to the meeting earlier.
Manison’s risky actions caused him to lose support in the association, and his connections were damaged. Without any accidents, during the next election in fifty year’s time, it’s going to be very tough for him to have two consecutive terms.
However, that old man Manison isn’t one to wait for doom to arrive. He’s now busy dealing with the three Universal Civilizations’ pressure, but he won’t stay passive like that. He’ll certainly come up with other plans to improve the situation he’s in. Given his philosophy, it’s impossible for him to admit he was wrong and go back to the arms of the federation. That would only cause even more problems. The situation can no longer go back to what it was before for him.
He might regain his position as an independent faction like he did in my previous life, but this time, the duration of that will not just last throughout the Calamity of the Supers versions. He will become completely alone. Even if the alliance he had with the federation was not dismantled on paper, the three Universal Civilizations would not give him any more important responsibilities.
Manison’s actions caused him to no longer have a Universal Civilization backing him up. However, he could back himself up, so he had the confidence to do this.
If not because Han Xiao had told the three Universal Civilizations about the virus core to reduce the damage caused by the disaster, Manison would not have taken the risk and would still be a comfortable ally of the federation.
Thinking of that, Han Xiao opened the interface and looked at [Key of Adeptus Mechanicus].
The impact of their battle was clearly visible. As the Machinery Faith believers on Planet Magnetic Cloud spread this news as much as they could, the news of him fighting Manison that ended up in a tie was spread in the Machinery Faith very quickly. This had shaken a small part of people’s faith in Manison, and Han Xiao attracted a new group of believers.
After the recent events, the bonus of (Key of Adeptus Mechanicus] had increased by quite a lot. The range of bonuses provided by this talent was comprehensive, basically covering all bases of mechanical abilities. Currently, his Machinery Affinity was about 600%, and he also received hundreds of Attribute Points other than in Luck. Furthermore, his ability in the armed, virtual, and many other classifications also improved depending on the believers’ preferences. Other than that, his efficiency in building, repairing, and enhancing machines was also improved by a lot. He could also use various machines more efficiently.
The bonuses of the talent were so comprehensive, and the bonuses were still increasing as his believers increased. Han Xiao did not know if there was even an end to it. “The bonuses I’m receiving aren’t the most important part…” Han Xiao chuckled.
His [Key of Adeptus Mechanicus) receiving more bonuses meant he had taken away the Mechanic Emperor’s believers, so the Mechanic Emperor’s bonuses from this talent decreased.
The more I get, the less Manison has.
As this carried on, Manison’s advantage over everyone else would decrease.
I might not have earned the most, but Manison definitely lost the most.
After travelling for several days, Han Xiao and the fleet finally arrived at the entrance of the army’s territory, Planet Black Gate. He planned to rest there for half a day and then head to the venue of the Black Star Cup. While he was not around, the construction in the army territory had carried on steadily. The Black Star Cup was going smoothly. The members who were eliminated went back to their posts, and the eliminated players returned to the fourth stage free competition zone in the Flickering World to continue to occupy strongholds… Everything was going well.
Currently, most of the matches of the Black Star Cup had already ended. Only the last two most popular matches were left. They were the duel finals of the Calamity Grade group and the square group finals of the players group. The two contestants of the former were both elite Black Star Guards. One was the old bootlicker Hadavy, and other was the newbie bootlicker Jotina. Both were Beyond Grade A seeds, and they stood out from the various Calamity Grades of the army.
Not considering Han Xiao and Hila, these two were recognized as among the strongest in the army.
Originally, both Lagi and Lothaire would also be qualified enough to fight for the top place among Calamity Grades, but Lagi, being Lagi, had already given up in the qualifiers.
As for Lothaire, it was not suitable for him to appear in front of the public due to his job, so he did not participate in the Black Star Cup.
As for other Calamity Grades, none were a match for Hadavy and Jotina. Even Feidin and Nero could not make up for the difference in direct strength with their Advanced Luck Glow.
As for the square groups contestants on the players’ side, they were Frenzied Sword’s Team Rivervale, King Admiral’s Team Dynasty, Rainy Kim’s Team Thunder Storm, and a group of very highly skilled players’ Gold Team.
Only one of the Chinese clubs entered the finals of the Pro League, but this was different because the rules of the Black Star Cup were less strict, more random, and more dramatic compared to the official league. Usually, the big clubs would always face attacks from the other three sides at the same time in square scrimmages. Hence, Long Sky, Temple of God, and Fried Eggplants with Fish all got eliminated by their passionate fans.
The fleet docked at Planet Black Gate.
As soon as Han Xiao walked down from the spaceship, he saw Sylvia welcoming him on the dock. A security perimeter was set up. The crowd watched from behind it with curiosity, including some army warriors and players. Not only that, they even held up a set of banners. The left one said “Holding loyalty with iron shoulders”, the right said “Carrying lives with a merciful heart”, and the middle said “Welcome home, hero of the universe”!
“What the hell…” Han Xiao’s eyes opened wide with shock. He turned around, walked back to the cabin, closed the hatch, and opened it again, making sure he was not seeing things.
Did I open the hatch wrong?
While he was being stunned, Sylvia approached him, saluted with the officers, and yelled as if they were afraid the others could not hear them, “Welcome back, Army Commander!”
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched. He did not even have to ask to know that this was definitely Sylvia’s idea.
Never mind when others praised him, but his own subordinates doing it was too embarrassing, not to mention the fact that this was a public area.
Han Xiao dragged Sylvia aside and whispered with a speechless expression, “What’s with the welcome?”
“This welcome ceremony is necessary so that the entire army knows you’ve returned victorious. It’s beneficial for enhancing the members’ sense of recognition,” Sylvia said with a serious tone, but her barely-suppressed grin sold her heart out.
Speechless, Han Xiao quickly dragged Sylvia toward the dock exit and changed the topic.
“The Black Star Cup is coming to an end. How are the preparations for the closing ceremony?”
As this was a business matter, Sylvia wiped the smile off her face and said, “It’s all been settled. When the time comes, you’ll have to make a speech and compliment the winners of every contest.”
“There are so many items. How many people is that going to be?”
Sylvia rolled her eyes. “You asked for this, hero.”
“Alright, I’ll be there,” Han Xiao said with resignation.
“Also, I suggest that you watch the last two matches live at the venue. Since you’ve returned, it’s best for you to show up at the finals to show how much you care about the competition.”
“Well, I’m in no hurry. Might as well.”
The group hastily left the dock. In the crowd, a group of players were looking at Han Xiao with extended necks. Many people around them recognized that these people were the Gold Team, which had entered the finals of the square scrimmage. They were all highly skilled players, and their excellent performance during the Black Star Cup attracted quite a lot of fans.
After watching Han Xiao leave, the members of Gold Team all turned to look at their Mechanic teammate, who stood in the middle.
“We actually really got to meet Black Star by waiting here.” “How was it? Were you able to create the Character Summon Card?” “What ability did you get?”
Their goal of gathering there was to get their Mechanic teammate, who had a Blank Character Summon Card, to copy Black Star’s ability. It would be a trump card for the finals.
As Beyond Grade As were very difficult to find, they were initially planning to just copy from a Calamity Grade. However, the army commander coincidentally returned, and no one was a better target for the Blank Character Summon Card than Black Star.
“Don’t be so impatient. It’s still randomizing.”
This Mechanic teammate displayed his interface and looked at it nervously with everyone else. After about two to three seconds, a notification finally popped up on the interface. The group hastily looked at it.
You have received (Character Summon CardBlack Star).
Ability: (Billion Mechanic Empire-Manison]
Uses: 0/1
Everyone was at a loss.
What’s going on?
Wasn’t the target Black Star? Why is the ability from the Mechanic Emperor?
At this point, the few of them suddenly trembled. They exchanged looks and saw horror in each other’s eyes. They felt they had just discovered a gigantic secret.
There was only one explanation for this situation!
The army commander had been swapped!
That Black Star must be fake!
An hour later…
Inside a dark room, the tiny dark green candle was the only source of light. The flame swayed and flickered, illuminating the faces around the table, leaving shadows on the wall. It looked quite scary and creepy.
Above the candlelight, an interface that was displayed to the people around was floating, showing the introduction of the Black Star Character Summon Card. Gold Team’s captain was ‘Fly Free’, a top non-professional player who started playing all the way back in Version 1.0. He looked worried and troubled as he said in a low voice, “I didn’t expect to discover such a big secret. Guys, what should we do now?” “What else? Publicize it!”
“But this is the trump card we’re going to use in the finals. If we make it public, won’t we have exposed ourselves?” “Oi, priorities! Compared to the safety of the entire army, the competition is no longer that important!”
As they were arguing, a female player gently raised her hand and said, “I have a question. Why don’t we turn on the lights, instead of this one candle?”
“This kind of dark and mysterious environment is needed for something this important. That’s how they play it in the movies.”
Another team member scratched his head and asked, “I understand that and all, but why only light one candle?”
“We might be the only ones who’ve discovered the truth. The atmosphere has to be serious, understand?”
Another teammate gave a long “oh” and then said, “I see, but why only light one candle?”
“Enough!” Fly Free could not take it anymore. He stood up and stopped the replay. Then he went to turn on the light and pulled the rest back on track.
After acquiring the Black Star Character Summon Card, the fragile hearts of all the Gold Team members were shaken. They quickly returned to the stronghold to discuss what they should do.
On dealing with the issue, the opinions of the team were split in two. One side felt they should keep the secret till after the finals; another side felt that the matter was too important, and they should immediately publicize it on the forums to warn the army players that their faction boss might have been swapped.
Although they had worked hard to finally enter the Black Star Cup finals, after discovering this secret, the competition did not seem that interesting anymore. Their attention was completely absorbed by the mystery of the army commander. The Character Summon Card had a ‘Black Star’ prefix, but they had no way of knowing if this was also part of the target’s disguise. After all, the prefix of Character Summon Cards usually only displayed the target’s current identity. It did not have the natural ability to see through disguises.
For example, if they used a Blank Character Summon Card on Sorokin or Oathkeeper, it would only be displayed as ‘Sorokin Character Summon Card’ or ‘Oathkeeper Character Summon Card’, not their true identity.
Therefore, this ‘Manison’ suffix was clearly more convincing!
Boom!
Fly Free slammed the table heavily and said with a firm tone, “I think we should immediately publicize this information. We would never have a chance of getting into the finals of any official league, but the Black Star Cup gave us this opportunity. Even if we lose in the finals, we’re still top four, and we’ll still have gained a lot of fame. Without the Black Star Cup, all this would not have happened. We cannot forget where we came from. The reward of the competition is nothing compared to the safety of the entire army!
“Plus, throughout the versions, just how many benefits has the army commander brought us? How many of us love this character? He might be in danger now. How can we ignore that! The chance of saving the army lies in our hands!”
The players present were mostly senior Chinese players who had strong feelings for the army. They had come to see it as their home faction long ago.
For example, in order to protect the army and Black Star, Fly Free was even willing to give up their advantage in the final just to tip everyone off. He knew that just a few of them were far from enough to make a difference, so he wanted to unite the army players’ power, have them come together to find a way, and expose the Mechanic Emperor’s ‘conspiracy’!
Hearing this, the people present were reminded of the past and suddenly felt a burning flame of faith in their hearts.
Fly Free reached out his hand. The others understood this gesture. They all reached out their hands and stacked them together. They looked each other in the eyes and saw the strong sense of responsibility in everyone’s gaze.
“Now, it’s our turn to save the army commander!”
Fly Free immediately opened to forums to start writing a post. Without hesitation, he gave it this title…
‘Revelation of the Century! The Unspeakable Secret Between Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor!’
The fleet rested for half a day on Planet Black Gate. Then, it very soon started to head toward the venue of the Black Star Cup finals. Inside the cabin, Han Xiao chatted with Sylvia about business for more than half a day, and only then did Sylvia leave.
Alone in the room, Han Xiao comfortably sat in his chair, casually opened up the forums, and started his daily idiotic players observation time.
“Let me look at the happy meal today…”
Han Xiao hummed in a great mood as he entered the forums, but he was instantly stunned.
With a glance, the titles were all along the lines of ‘Extremely Urgent, Please Share! The Army Commander’s Identity Has Become A Mystery!’, ‘Mechanic Emperor’s Horrifying Conspiracy!’, ‘Danger! The Black Star Army’s Owner Might Have Changed!’, and ‘Please Save the Army Commander!’. The entire Flickering World panel was filled with posts similar to those.
What in the world is this?
It’s not even been a day since I last looked at the forums. What happened?
Confused, Han Xiao opened the most viewed post. The original poster was surprisingly an ID he knew, the captain of Gold Team, Fly Free. The post started directly with a high-resolution screenshot, the introduction of the Black Star Character Summon Card. As soon as Han Xiao saw the (Billion Mechanic Empire-Manison) ability, he had a rough idea of what was going on, and his lips started twitching uncontrollably.
You can’t be serious. I have thousands and thousands of abilities, and he somehow copied this ability to the Blank Character Summon Card? How lucky can these people be? Speaking of which, I’ve only just returned. When did they use the Blank Character Summon Card on me? Was it at the docks?
He continued reading. As he expected, Fly Free explained what happened.
“Comrades of the army, I’m Gold Team’s Fly Free. About an hour ago, we discovered a shocking secret! “Not long ago, when the army commander returned to his territory, our team was in the crowd, and we planned to use one Blank Character Summon Card to copy Black Star’s ability. Initially, we planned on using it as the trump card in the upcoming Black Star Cup final. However, as everyone can see from the screenshot, never could we have expected to get the Mechanic Emperor’s ability from Black Star! This completely appalled all of us!
“We could not understand the situation. After some discussion, we came to a shocking conclusion. The army commander now might be the Mechanic Emperor in disguise! His goal is to replace Black Star and take over our army!
“In the end, we decided to immediately publicize this crucial information. We need everyone to unite, find the truth, and destroy this conspiracy! Comrades, the future of the army is in our hands!”
Han Xiao looked like he was constipated.
I mean, this deduction isn’t complete nonsense, but why do I still feel like these people are mentally challenged?
He looked at the responses below, which had already exploded. Countless people expressed their doubts.
“Is this real? Is this screenshot photoshopped?”
“It has to be. Youngsters are trying to come up with big news every day.”
“Are you guys trying to make the news and attract some attention while it lasts because you know that you have no chance at winning?” “Bullsh*t.”
“It’s over. Someone is going to have to change his name into Mechanic Emperor’s Big PP.”
Facing the doubts, Fly Free responded to these comments.
“I know everyone definitely has doubts. On the day of the final, we’ll use this Character Summon Card and display it, so everyone will believe that we need to save the army!”
Save your ass! Han Xiao ground his teeth and returned to the panel, quickly browsing through the related posts. He realized that other than those who doubted it, there were also quite a number who made posts to seriously analyze the possibility of it being true.
[Reinhard: Perhaps it’s true. The Mechanic Emperor totally has motive. Didn’t the two of them fight with each other some time ago in the Ancient Star Desert? Could it be that the Mechanic Emperor attacked the army commander after that?]
[Pikachu: If this one is fake, then where’s the real army commander? Did he die?]
[Wolf Flame: That shouldn’t be possible. After all, just think about how tanky the army commander is. I think that Mechanic Emperor might have just exiled him, and he can’t come back anytime soon, which is why Mechanic Emperor dares disguise himself as Black Star!)
(Hippo: Are you guys all going with the story that the army commander has been swapped by default? Why can’t Black Star have learned the Mechanic Emperor’s ability somehow?]
[Smelly Feet Slayer: That’s too unlikely. This is the first time in so many years that the Blank Character Summon Card has gotten an ability from Black Star with a suffix.]
[Zero Square Foot of Zero: Could it be that they’ve made some kind of deal to teach each other their abilities?)
[My Dog’s Name Is Lagi: Hmm, so… if we use Blank Character Summon Cards on Mechanic Emperor now, we might get ‘Indestructible Body-Black Star’?]
You really are a genius… Han Xiao’s teeth were almost starting to hurt from all the grinding.
(Ice Tornado: Wait, there are other possibilities too! Could it be that Black Star was taught by the Mechanic Emperor from the beginning?)
(Blueberry: Holy sh*t! That does sound possible. If Black Star has been Mechanic Emperor’s secret disciple since long ago, that’ll explain his extremely quick rise!)
(Shadow Song of Execution: If that’s true, their conflict some time ago might just be a show. They appear to be on opposite sides, but they’re actually on the same side! What a plot twist… I figured it out! The Mechanic Emperor is planning something huge, and he’s playing a gigantic match of chess!)
Figured your ass out!
Veins popped up on Han Xiao’s forehead.
(Blood Rose: No, my curiosity can’t be suppressed any longer. What happened between Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor?]
(Paradise Disco: Just a tiny question, will I get killed if I ask the army commander directly? Although I’m not afraid of that…]
(Bun-Hit-Dog: Ah, my eyes see through all. A storm is brewing. This secret might lead to a new enormous main storyline… I have a feeling that the theme of the next version is going to be the Black Star Army’s split! I’m going to have plenty of material again!]
What split! You’re the one that’s going to split!
Han Xiao had a feeling that if he caught these players and shook them hard enough, he would most certainly hear the sound of liquid flowing in their empty heads.
Then, he suddenly saw a new post. The title was ‘Army Rescue Operation-Recruitment Post’.
He clicked in and saw that it was a post from Free Sh*t again.
“Brother and sisters, the Black Star Army has accompanied us over four versions. This is our faction, and we can’t allow others to rob what we’ve worked so hard for!
“However, sadly, the army’s officers will not believe what we say. Only us players can see the evidence.
“Because of that, I’ve decided to start a righteous mutiny. When the closing ceremony of the Black Star Cup is broadcast live to the entire universe, I’m going to step out and expose the Mechanic Emperor’s real identity to everyone! “Therefore, I need all of your power! “Although we’re far from being able to match Beyond Grade As, we can use our lives to show the entire universe the Mechanic Emperor’s conspiracy! “All heroes who are willing to participate in the operation, leave your name under this post and contact us. “Comrades, unsheathe your swords. We’re the only ones who can save the army now!
“Even in death, I’m still a member of the Black Star Army!
“Mechanic Emperor Manison, show us your HP bar!”
Han Xiao was completely astounded.
He looked down, and the comments of this post were growing by the hundreds each second. Countless people were thrilled and signed up for it.
What the hell? Are they planning to backstab me?
Should I feel a headache now, or should I feel touched?
This proves that what I’ve done in the past four versions has been very effective. I’ve already built a strong emotional bond with the Chinese players. The fact that these players are willing to go this far for me, it’s really touching.. Touching my ass!
What kind of turn of events is this?
He looked at the post again for two more times and clenched his teeth.
“Frankly, this post did indeed make me quite heated… Damn it, smaller brains do indeed occupy less space in the brain to give room for more stupidity!”
Han Xiao could not help but rub his temples. Players were the incarnation of anarchy. Even though they were already members of his own faction, they could still not be fully controlled. Although their intentions were good, what they did would always end up causing all kinds of strange things to happen.
The atmosphere of the entire forums got carried away by this topic.
After being frustrated for a while, Han Xiao suddenly laughed.
“These guys really can’t seem to stop causing problems… but this might not be a bad thing.”
He pondered for a while and suddenly realized that he did not have to stop the players.
Not to mention that the players were communicating on the forums and there was no way he could use that as evidence to catch them, this was not a bad thing for building a sense of belonging for the army.
If not because the senior players loved and cared about him, they would not try to ‘save’ him.
He did not have to operate a universal armed force like a tinker, fixing any problems that appeared. Instead, letting the players cause some trouble during the closing ceremony would even bring the Black Star Cup more attention, and he did not even have to plan anything.
The players were led by Fly Free, who wanted to backstab him in the name of justice, but this was completely harmless in Han Xiao’s eyes. He was happy to put on a show with them.
The Black Star Army’s public image in the universe was basically an ally of justice recognized by everyone. The people were extremely forgiving toward the army, so even if something like this happened during the Black Star Cup closing ceremony, it would not affect the army’s reputation. Instead, it would feel interesting to most people. The Black Star Army basically had the public opinion armor. Actually, Han Xiao figured out easily that he did not have to explain any rumors spreading among the players to anyone, they were non-issues to him.
I’m the faction leader, a top warlord in the universe, and I didn’t really get swapped. If I even have to explain myself in the face of such a weird accusation, it will be a joke.
The evidence of the players’ doubts was the Character Summon Card, which actually seemed to make sense from their perspective. However, as long as they could see the big picture, this kind of suspicion would not be able to stand its ground at all. If the Mechanic Emperor really disguised himself as him, there would be way too many flaws in that theory that could not be explained. For example, why did none of the other Beyond Grade As sense it? Why did the three Universal Civilizations not notice it? How could the army’s artificial intelligence, Phillip, not respond to it at all? And if he was the Mechanic Emperor, how could the Mechanic Emperor use his secondary dimension army box?
No one in the entire universe could disguise himself as another peak Beyond Grade A perfectly. Even a shapeshifter like ‘Illusory Deity’ Kant could not.
The players did not understand what seemed like common sense to anyone who could see the big picture, so maybe their accusation would be an interesting topic for galactic residents to discuss over meals. Only completely clueless people would believe it. Their evidence that was on the interface was something that did not exist to ordinary people. Han Xiao knew very well that the main reason the players believed this theory was that it was still fresh. Once the blind passion faded and they saw that everything was continuing as usual, this kind of ridiculous rumor would collapse on itself.
All important people would be involved in strange and wild rumors. There was no need to explain himself, so he decided to give the players some room for imagination.
Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed.
To the players who only cared about the benefits of the faction, it did not matter who owned the faction. Therefore, being willing to expose the Mechanic Emperor’s ‘conspiracy’ while bearing the risk of being punished by the faction was basically a sacrificial act.
Then does it mean that the more people who take part in this mission, the more united the army is?
Furthermore, since the players used this reason to cause trouble, the Mechanic Emperor will be the one getting the negative image here!
Having thought of that, Han Xiao smiled and summoned Phillip.
“Phillip, watch the Immortals of the army closely for some time. Report any and all situations to me.”
“Okay, hum!”
“By the way, invite the Beyond Grade As to come and watch the ceremony in my name while you’re at it. Send one to the Mechanic Emperor too.”
“Hum… Will the Mechanic Emperor come?” Phillip tilted his little head with confusion.
“How would I know? Just send it to him. It’s best if he comes. I’ll have a chance to provoke him again.” Han Xiao giggled. “Alright then, hum…”
Seeing Han Xiao’s evil smile, Phillip obeyed him without asking anything.
“Black Star invited me to attend an event?”
At a secret base somewhere in Primeval Star River, Manison, who was trying to simulate the Virtual Mutiny Virus, stopped and looked at his artificial intelligence with confusion.
“Yes, he’s invited you to attend the Black Star Cup closing ceremony.”
What’s wrong with this guy?
What makes Black Star think I will give him face after what happened?
Manison could not understand it at all.
Is he trying to fix our relationship?
Or make me lose face in public?
“I’m not going. Reject it,” Manison replied and continued to reverse engineer the technology. “Okay, message sent.” Manison replied with a soft grunt and then stopped what he was doing for a moment. “By the way, remind me to watch the stream on the day of the Black Star Cup closing ceremony.”
Although he did not plan to give Han Xiao face, he still wanted to find out what Black Star was attempting to do. There was definitely a reason he had received an invitation.
While the discussion about whether Han Xiao was ‘real or fake’ raged on the forums, the last two finals of the Black Star Cup started as scheduled.
Countless audience platforms floated above the venue planet, covering the sky. They were all fully occupied by army members and spectators who had bought live tickets.
The audience platform specially made by the army was in the form of an oval shaped cabin. All the walls were transparent, so the spectators inside could see the outside from any angle. The walls also had the function to zoom in.
These audience platforms were also protected by transparent energy shields that could block all kinds of impacts and radiation so that there would not be any spectators lucky enough to get hurt. They could also fly at Mach speed twenty-four to ensure the spectators would be able to keep up with the Calamity Grade battles. With the advanced technology the platforms had, the spectators inside would also not feel any turbulence even when flying at such a high speed and always feel as if they were on the ground.
Today, Han Xiao personally came to watch the competition at the venue. He arrived at the extremely crowded venue and hovered in front of the various audience platforms.
As soon as he showed up, he felt like electricity was running through his skin, as if he was being stared at by countless people from behind.
Han Xiao was not surprised. He knew this was the countless players in the audience seats using ‘Detect’ on him. In the eyes of the players, Han Xiao’s detailed attributes were still all question marks, but the players’ goal was to see the color of Han Xiao’s name. The result of that was still green, which showed that Han Xiao was on their side, and they started chattering. “Let’s begin.” Han Xiao was not concerned about the players’ discussion. He turned and signaled the host to start the finals. The host coughed and said with a loud voice, “Greetings, everyone. Today is the last day of the official Black Star Cup competitions. There will be a total of two finals, the duel finals of the Calamity Grade group and the Square Scrimmage final of the Immortals group. Without further ado, the first match today will be the fight between two Calamity Grades. Contestants, please enter the venue…”
As soon as he said that, Hadavy and Jotina appeared. After a brief introduction, the two of them went to their own positions and waited for the match to start. Their battlefield was the surface of the entire planet. As time passed, the atmosphere became more and more tense. The moment the host announced the start of the match, two silhouettes left afterimages in their place and clashed.
Boom!
A shockwave expanded. The two of them instantly started attacking each other. Their movements were extremely quick as they moved across the planet’s surface. Everywhere they passed, they would leave cracks and deep claw marks hundreds of meters long on the ground.
TIL
Boom!
Violent Pugilist flames continuously landed on Hadavy, shattering all the hills and forests around like a dragon crawling on the land. Disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis erupted. Hadavy was a hardening-type Esper, while Jotina was a Pugilist. Both of them were good at melee combat. The battle between them was violent and savage, basically just the clashing of muscles and muscles, like two beasts fighting each other. To be more precise, Jotina was attacking, and Hadavy was enduring the attacks. The battle would only end when the one enduring the attacks could not take it anymore or when the one attacking got exhausted.
The impact of a Calamity Grade battle was exciting and beautiful for most of the spectators, but in Han Xiao’s eyes, the movements of the two of them were like a slow-motion video. He could easily count how many times Hadavy’s skin rippled after he got punched.
With Han Xiao’s current level, battles of Calamity Grades had absolutely no suspense. Hence, he decided to look at the forums while occasionally glancing back.
Under the eyes of countless people, the result was finally decided after the two of them fought for a very long time. The surface of the planet looked like it had been hit by a meteor shower. It was tragic. In the end, Hadavy was victorious. Although he was covered in bruises and wounds, Jotina had collapsed from exhaustion first.
After decades of combat training, or rather, getting beat up, Hadavy’s defense was now extremely high. In combination with his two Molding Talents, True Damage Immunity and Low Strength Attack Immunity, there was not a single person tankier than him in the Black Star Army other than Han Xiao
“Haha, I’m the pillar of the army who His Excellency Black Star personally trained for decades. You’re still too young.”
Hadavy was very proud as he wagged his finger at Jotina, who was on the ground.
If not for his bruised face, this would have been quite convincing…
“Damn it!”
Jotina was not satisfied with the loss at all. She slammed the ground and created a crack dozens of meters wide.
She could not win the championship, which meant that Black Star would not notice her strength. Black Star not noticing her strength meant she would have less time to communicate with Black Star during the award ceremony. Less time to communicate with Black Star during the award ceremony meant it would be more difficult for her to build feelings. More difficulty building feelings meant the chances of her carrying out reproductive activities with Black Star would be lowered. As a new member of the army whose goal was to sleep with Black Star, she was extremely unhappy.
Han Xiao watched as the two of them were sent to have their injuries taken care of. He touched his chin and started pondering.
In my previous life, Hadavy did not reach the Beyond Grade A realm, and Jotina even died at the hands of Beast Ancestor, but now they’re both under my command. I’ve trained Hadavy for decades. His chance of reaching Beyond Grade A, well, isn’t zero. It’s just that his ability is too monotonous. Even if he does become a Beyond Grade A, he’ll probably be at the lowest level like Kohler and Beyoni…
As for Jotina, other than her wild and open personality, Han Xiao quite liked her.
In terms of just potential, the chance of Jotina becoming a Beyond Grade A was probably even higher than Hadavy. However, it would be basically impossible for her to reach Beast Ancestor’s level. Han Xiao felt that the limit of Jotina’s growth was probably somewhere around the level of ‘Star Slasher’ Viru, or ‘Tyrant’ Heber…
Not very strong but not among the weakest. As Han Xiao was reminded of Heber, he started thinking of him. Ever since Heber was defeated by him, he had been keeping a much lower profile and quietly growing in the Shattered Star Ring. Speaking of low profile, Han Xiao was reminded of Psyker again. He felt that this guy’s presence had gotten even lower in the universe. He might want to visit the Star Pupil Civilization some time. After all, he was now the Special Consultant of the three Universal Civilizations, so visiting Psyker would be totally within his duty.
While his thoughts ran wild, Black Star Cup’s logistics department entered the venue and started using tons of industrial devices to operate on this almost destroyed planet.
After a new venue was built, the host announced the start of the last final. Rivervale, Dynasty, Thunder Storm, and Gold’s teams entered one after another, greeting the spectators.
However, all the players’ eyes were focused on Gold, even including the other three teams. Clearly, they were waiting for their proof.
“Captain, should I use the Character Summon Card now?”
Fly Free looked around the entire place and firmly said, “Use it! This is the perfect time to prove we were not lying.”
The Mechanic player took a deep breath, opened the interface, and activated the Black Star Character Summon Card. Then, he enlarged his status bar and made it public.
Of course, as the interface was displayed, ordinary people would not be able to see it. Only the players could see the name of the effect given by this Character Summon Card.
Black Star Character Summon Card—[Billion Mechanic Empire-Manison)!
“It’s true!”
The players became excited. Some even stood up and made the other spectators confused.
Han Xiao floated in midair with his arms crossed and listened to the discussions of the players from the feedback of the cameras inside the audience platforms. He smirked.
After a while, many players calmed down and looked up at Han Xiao’s back view. All kinds of emotions appeared in their eyes. Originally, since this was the last final, it should have been the center of attention. However, many players were in a state of shock and confusion and could not focus on the match. The NPC spectators were as excited as usual, cheering for the four teams, completely ignorant of the emotional rollercoaster the Immortals were going through Han Xiao did not focus much on the match either and was looking at the players’ comments on the forums. The match ended very quickly. Dynasty was the winner, and Gold Team was the first to get eliminated.
Gold Team had exposed their trump card in advance, so as expected, they got focus fired. Furthermore, (Billion Mechanic Empire) was not very powerful in the hands of the players
yet.
The players did not have those high-level Mechanic abilities and could not benefit from the specific bonuses. Furthermore, the duration was only a short hour, so the most powerful production and invention abilities of this ability were completely useless. The only things the player could benefit from were bonuses to their Intellect, Machinery Affinity, and Mechanic ability levels. These were just the basic bonuses. Though strong, it was not so powerful it would immediately turn the tide. This ability was totally wasted in the hands of the players. Only peak Beyond Grade A Mechanics would be able to fully utilize the power of (Billion Mechanic Empire).
“… All the events of the Black Star Cup have now ended. Thank you for watching, and thank you, army commander, for attending the matches today. In three days, we’re going to host the closing ceremony of the Black Star Cup. The army commander will be personally congratulating all those who’ve achieved great results in the Black Star Cup. Ladies and gentlemen, see you then!”
The host then left the venue and ended the broadcast.
The spectators also left the venue, including the players. They kept looking back at Han Xiao while leaving.
Han Xiao smiled and watched them leave. He saw the players’ reactions clearly. He uncontrollably raised his brows and felt anticipation for some reason.
I would like to find out how important I am to the players and how many are willing to sacrifice themselves for me.
It was as if a tide of sacrificial spirit was sweeping across the Black Star Army players.
As the Character Summon Card was proved to be real, the forums temporarily became the intelligence center of Operation Saving Black Star. Many army players gathered in groups and expanded their teams here, making posts under Fly Free’s Operation Command Center.
Many senior players who had played since Version 1.0 had a sense of responsibility and faith; they felt they had to do something to solve the crisis of the army falling into the hands of the Mechanic Emperor. Crowds gathered, and even some professional players such as Frenzied Sword and Maple Moon took part. Operation Saving Black Star had become a large event held by the army players themselves.
Of course, there were also those with other motives among the participants. Some just wanted to make the news bigger, some wanted to show their loyalty so Black Star would notice them after ‘returning’, and some wanted to try to trigger hidden missions. The atmosphere on the forums was like a war was going on. Everyone thought they were making a difference. However, the majority were just rubbernecking and adding spices. There were not only Chinese players in the army anymore. There were also a ton of international players who joined only in Version 4.0. Most of them were just watching with excitement.
Even among the Chinese players, there were also some who did not think it was worth risking the time and effort they had spent in the Black Star Army and did not take part.
Everything happening on the forums over the past three days was witnessed by Han Xiao. Operation Saving Black Star had absolutely no secrets to him.
Although these players were planning on how to backstab him the next day, not only did Han Xiao feel angry about it, but he even found it interesting
At this time, Phillip popped out and said, “Master, hum… There are a few Immortals who want to see you. They said they have found out that the Immortals are planning a mutiny, so they want to report it to you.”
“Oh?” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
Traitors?
Hmm, come to think of it, since they’re players, it’d be weird to not have traitors.
“Tell them to come here,” Han Xiao ordered.
After staying for a while in the office, a few players in flashy armor came in. They were clearly foreign players judging from their IDs. “Yo, army commander.” An Ice Demon Race player who seemed like their leader greeted Han Xiao in a very hip-pop style.
Han Xiao acted like he had no idea. He looked confused and asked, “You said that the Immortals are planning on a mutiny? Tell me, what is this about?”
“Yo, here’s what it is. We’re all good people, but some Immortals are ambitious people. They’re not happy with your ruling now, so they plan to use a ridiculous excuse to incite the army. Wow. At tomorrow’s award ceremony, they’ll attack you definitely.” Han Xiao rose his brows. “What excuse?”
“From what I heard, they said you’re the Mechanic Emperor in disguise. Ain’t that funny? Hahaha.”
“Interesting.” Han Xiao sized him up, smiled, and said, “Got it, I’ll investigate the matter. If it’s true, you’ll all be given rewards.”
“Hehe, I’d like more Contribution Points.” This person was very straight forward.
Han Xiao acted as if he did not hear them. He waved and told them to leave. This time, Phillip reported again, saying there were more people who wanted to see him.
He did not reject any of them and patiently spoke to one group of traitors after another. Most of them were foreign players, and what they said was mostly the same, exposing Fly Free and the others’ plan and twisting their motive, claiming the motive of the mutiny was ambition. After sending off the last group of them, Han Xiao smiled.
“Some of these are pure opportunists, but the rest are probably the spies the foreign professional guilds have placed inside the army. Hehe, they’re trying to cause more problems.”
He had always known that there were spies of foreign guilds in the army, and this was unavoidable. The motive behind Fly Free and the other senior players’ actions was positive, but these spies definitely did not have positive motives.
Han Xiao knew instantly that these spies were trying to make the situation worse. On one hand, they wanted the Chinese players to be heavily punished, so the Chinese guilds would be affected too. On the other hand, they also wanted to reduce his trust in the Immortals so that the army players would receive fewer benefits.
Clearly, the foreign players did not care if he was really the Mechanic Emperor or Black Star. If he was the Mechanic Emperor, he would be alarmed, discover the mutiny in advance, and take action. If this was all a misunderstanding and he was still Black Star, reporting the mutiny to him would also be an act of loyalty. They thought they were killing two birds with one stone.
Without the forums, Han Xiao might have fallen for it. However, Han Xiao already knew everything about this through the forums, so he easily saw through these spies’ plan to use him.
Looking at these traitors’ satisfied expressions thinking their plan had worked, Han Xiao looked normal but was laughing inside.
I’ll let you guys laugh for a while and deal with you after the ceremony.
Han Xiao tapped the table and ordered, “Phillip, secretly dispatch the mechanical soldiers in the warehouse and put them around the venue, especially the VIP area, audience seats, and the news stand. The moment anyone attacks the guests tomorrow, arrest them immediately.”
This order was not targeted at Fly Free and the others. Their target was only him, and their motive was to protect the Black Star Army, so their plan did not consist of hurting the innocents.
However, there would most likely be some people who would use this opportunity to cause problems, damaging the army’s reputation by hurting the audience. Han Xiao was quite sure that only those foreign pro guilds would do something like this.
Han Xiao did not want to stop Fly Free and the others from ‘expressing their loyalty’, but he was not going to watch people with ulterior motives damage the army.
Speaking of which, Version 4.0 is in its middle stages now, about to step into the late stage. The national war will probably occur the same time as the Super Star Cluster Alliance battle, just like my previous life. I wonder if those alliances formed by player organizations will still be founded.
Three days passed very quickly. The competition planet had already been turned into an open stadium for the award ceremony.
The main stage was a large floating platform. Only the most important guests were sitting there. It was surrounded by many smaller platforms, where the audience, media, and the winners of various items were seated.
Spherical shields shrouded the venue, blocking the cold wind in the sky and unrelated people from disrupting the closing ceremony. The inside of the shield had a virtual screen that made the venue look like a closed theater.
All kinds of spaceships floated in the exterior atmosphere. The formally dressed spectators, guests, and contestants arrived at the venue on the carriers provided by the army, found their seats, and sat down. Very soon, the venue became crowded. It was a true festival.
Fly Free and his team sat in the contestant seats, looked around, and occasionally exchanged looks with the players on the same floating platform.
Fly Free’s shoulder was tapped. He turned around and realized it was the Rivervale team’s captain, Frenzied Sword.
“When do we move?” Frenzied Sword lowered his voice. As a real loyal follower of Black Star, he also took part in the operation.
“It’s still early. No hurry. Just like the plan, when it’s our turn to receive the reward, everyone just wait for my signal and move at the same time,” Fly Free said quietly. “How many people do you think will be with US?”
“Although a lot of people signed up on the forums, it’ll be amazing if even one tenth of them actually do carry out the plan.” Fly Free shook his head.
“Okay, we’ll be waiting for your signal.”
The players who were taking part in the Saving Black Star Operation communicated privately. On the other side, there was also another group of people planning for a different operation.
On a floating audience stand, a player with the ID of ‘Winter Wolf’ asked his friend beside him through a private channel, “Are our men scattered out yet?”
“Yeah, don’t worry. Our men are scattered throughout the platforms. Some are very close to the celebrity guest seats. When those Chinese make a move, we’ll be able to act in the midst of all the chaos. We’ll definitely cause quite a lot of destruction.”
“Good.” Winter Wolf nodded and said with a low voice, “The Black Star Army faction is too strong. We have to weaken it. This is the first field operation our Northern Battlefront has carried out since its secret founding. We have to make it count to open the path for our national war plans.”
“Understood.”
At the same time, Han Xiao was welcoming the Beyond Grade A remote projections at the VIP seats on the main stage.
With his position and reputation, almost seventy percent of all Beyond Grade A members of the development union came to watch the event. They all sat at the frontmost seats. Han Xiao casually chattered and laughed with them.
As the seats at the venue were fully occupied, all the lights gradually dimmed, only leaving the main stage brightly illuminated.
Seeing this, the noisy venue quietened down. Everyone’s eyes were on the main stage.
Sylvia walked up onto the stage. She was not in her uniform, instead wearing an expensive and elegant purple bare-back dress. She wore light makeup, making her face even more exquisite and beautiful than normal. Her hair was tied up, showing her long and snow-white neck. Her silver earrings swayed lightly, reflecting light from the venue. The bright but not blinding light colored her stunning and marvelous.
She took one look around and said, “Guests, contestants, and viewers behind screens, welcome to the closing ceremony of the first Black Star Cup. I’m the army’s Chief Administrative Official, Sylvia.”
Then, Sylvia paused as stated in the script. Han Xiao smiled and applauded her. The people around followed his lead. Very soon, the venue was filled with roaring applause.
Seeing this, Sylvia then said, “As the army expands, the number of members continues to grow. The initial purpose of the Black Star Cup was to select the elites of the various professions inside the army so that the new members who are capable but not senior enough can have an extra path to rise up. At the same time, it gives the older members a chance to improve themselves. Now, the Black Star Cup has come to a fulfilling end. To our pleasant surprise, we realized just how many elites the army has in various professions…”
Sylvia started reading the script. The image was broadcast to the entire universe through the media cameras present. Of course, the Black Star Cup closing ceremony did not consist of only giving out the reward. The detailed order of the ceremony went Sylvia’s speech; the Black Star Cup organizing committee’s speech; the winners of various items going up onto the stage to accept their reward and each giving a speech; then last but not least, the army commander’s concluding speech. There were also a lot of performances and shows in between.
The army had invited many galactic celebrities, such as singers, actors, and the like. All those invited were extremely famous.
Usually, normal events would be honored to be able to invite just one of those celebrities, given how famous they were. However, the Black Star Cup was way too high class. These celebrities were the ones feeling honored to take part in the closing ceremony. This was an entertainment event hosted by a universal-level warlord, so it was an extremely excellent opportunity to build connections with people at the highest level of the society. In order to obtain a spot in the performances, the companies behind many celebrities even had intense fights.
Han Xiao was invited to the stage very soon to give the awards to the winners personally along with some words of encouragement. The remote projections of the two Vice Commanders, Lagi and Hila, stood beside him. They did not speak and only nodded at the contestants to show encouragement.
However, the reasons behind the two of them not speaking were different. Hila did not like talking, so she did not speak, while Lagi’s voice communication function was cut off by Han Xiao so that he could not speak.
The award ceremony had breaks, which were filled by the celebrity performances. As the closing ceremony was about halfway through, Han Xiao felt as if his face was twitching from smiling too much, and the spectators’ palms were also getting red from clapping too much. Finally, it was time to give the award to the outstanding contestants of the Immortals’ Square Scrimmage.
Here it is… Han Xiao focused.
The people walked onto the stage. Fly Free clenched his teeth and walked up. His back gave off a vibe as if he was walking up to an execution ground.
“Congratulations, you’re all talents of the army…”
Han Xiao read the script once more, gave Fly Free a glance, smiled in his brain, and took two steps back, giving the stage to the contestants to speak.
No one on the stage stepped forward; they all looked at Fly Free.
Fly Free nodded at everyone and walked to the lectern with heavy steps. The entire venue was extremely quiet. Everyone’s eyes were on him, waiting for his speech.
The players all subconsciously straightened their backs and became nervous, paying attention to every movement of Fly Free.
Fly Free took a deep breath, prepared himself mentally, and spoke. “I’m very proud to have achieved good results in the Black Star Cup, but that’s not what I’m going to talk about today… Just a few days ago, we discovered a shocking secret—the army commander who’s standing on this stage now is not Black Star! He’s someone else in disguise!”
Hu!
we
It was like bombs were being set off everywhere.
All the spectators, army officers, guests, celebrities, and even the Beyond Grade As present were completely startled by this sudden change. They looked at this guy and could not respond.
W-what’s going on?
“I’m a member of the Black Star Army. This is my home. I will only ever recognize Black Star as our army commander. I won’t allow anyone to disguise as our dear army commander to control the army!” Fly Free’s tone became firm as he yelled, “Today, right here, I’m going to use my life to expose this guy’s conspiracy to the entire universe! Save our leader!”
As soon as he said that, Fly Free turned around, flames erupted all over his body as he charged toward Han Xiao, screaming at the top of his lungs, “Mechanic Emperor! Die!”
At the same time, in a secret base at an unknown location, Manison’s hands trembled, and popcorn splashed all over the floor.
“Go!”
A sudden change occurred. With a loud shout, the audience platforms erupted into chaos. About one fifth of the players suddenly moved. Silhouettes rose into the sky and headed right toward Han Xiao on the stage. They were all heroic players who had answered the call.
Like a taut string suddenly snapping, the rest of the players became excited about what was going to happen.
In the crowd, Winter Wolf’s eyes sparkled. He quickly ordered in the channel, “The chance is here! Let’s go!”
The next moment, several hundred players suddenly moved again and were about to attack the audience platform around them.
Winter Wolf flew up from his seat. Layers of frost condensed on his skin as he dashed right toward the celebrity seats.
Excitement appeared on Winter Wolf’s face as the reflection of many celebrities’ shocked faces entered his sights. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and was about to activate his Esper Ability and release an ice storm to turn these celebrities into ice sculptures.
At the same time, the heroes who were rushing toward the main stage also noticed this group of people who were using this opportunity to attack the innocents. Shock and rage appeared on their faces.
This was not in their plan at all, and subconsciously, some people were about to turn around and stop Winter Wolf and the others guild spies from hurting the innocents.
All these changes happened in an instant. As chaos was about to erupt, a bright electric light blasted in the middle of the venue!
Snap!
Countless bolts of Mechanical Force lightning shot out like a spider net. The mechanical soldiers that were hiding in the various audience platforms activated instantly and pounced at the players who were causing trouble around them.
These mechanical soldiers were all ‘Restrainer – Modified’ that could disassemble into advanced restraining suits and capture the target alive. Now that they had received Mechanical Force bonuses from Han Xiao, their attributes completely exceeded the players who were Grade B at best.
Buzz!
Black silhouettes crisscrossed everywhere, and electrical sparks flickered. All the players who were rushing toward Han Xiao from all over the place were suddenly controlled by the Restrainers’ electromagnetic chains and the restraining devices, unable to move like birds without wings. Fly Free and the rest of the contestants who were on the main stage were instantly blown away by the exploding energy, falling down at the edge of the stage. The group of them were just about to climb up and continue to charge when Han Xiao softly flipped his hand over. A powerful energy shockwave pressed onto them and slammed them all flat on the ground. The next moment, the metal floor turned into robes made of nanoparticles under the effect of Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force, tying Fly Free and the others up tightly.
Before the guests had time to react, the sudden danger was resolved by Han Xiao, who was prepared.
Whew, fortunately, I’m prepared.
Han Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The players were not even at the Calamity Grade, so they were no different from ordinary people to him. They would not be able to cause any threat to him with numbers, but if they were to attack others, the ordinary spectators would definitely be hurt.
Even if he could react quickly, he could not ensure there were no casualties. However, since he was prepared and the players did not know, he was able to restrain all the players the moment they started to move, and no guest was hurt.
This operation was caused by Fly Free leading the momentum; that was all. These people were no different from a group of brutes with no proper unity and plan. Furthermore, most of the participants only took part on impulse, which was a common occurrence among the players. Plus, the time to prepare was too short, so there was no way they would be able to come up with a detailed plan.
The entire operation felt like a suicide mission.
“His responses are way too quick!” Winter Wolf could only feel a flash before his eyes, and he was captured without being able to resist at all. He was shocked.
He struggled to turn around and take a look and saw that all his friends had been captured by mechanical soldiers and restrained, unable to move.
Sh*t, not even one person died… Still, what we did was enough to anger the army and reduce its trust in all the players, which will in turn make the players in this faction receive fewer benefits…
Winter Wolf was a little regretful that his plan had failed to reach the optimal results, but judging from their goal, this was not a total failure.
These changes happened quickly, and the danger was resolved even quicker. The guests present and the spectators from the various Star Fields were stunned for quite a while before realizing what had happened.
Wait a minute, did we just slip past the gate of death?
“What just happened?”
“Looks like the Black Star Army’s men started a rebellion?”
“They said Black Star isn’t Black Star. Why do I have no idea what that means?”
“That startled me. To think it wasn’t a performance!”
As the guests finally realized what had happened, they became surprised. It had all happened too quick; they did not even sense danger arriving, and it was already resolved. They did not feel scared at all, only surprised and confused.
All the people started discussing the incident while staring at Han Xiao with confusion.
Many army officers quickly came to Han Xiao and stood around him, staring at those players with extremely hostile looks.
Hila stepped forward, her face filled with murderous intent as she yelled, “Arrest all of these rebels. Escort them away and interrogate them thoroughly. I want to know who ordered them to do this!”
“Hey, don’t get all tensed up. I still have some questions I want to ask them. Plus, I think the guests would like an explanation too.”
Han Xiao pulled Hila back and signaled for the officers to step back.
Feeling the confused and curious looks of the people around, he calmly raised his finger. Nanoparticle robes then separated from the metal ground and slowly flew to before Han Xiao, holding Fly Free and the others.
Deliberately showing a somewhat confused expression, Han Xiao curiously asked, “What did you mean by what you just said? Why would you think I’m the Mechanic Emperor in disguise?”
Fly Free was quite frustrated. The sudden act of so many people had absolutely no impact, and they were instantly wiped out. They had become prisoners of the ‘Mechanic Emperor’.
However, at least he yelled what he wanted to say to the entire universe, so his goal was achieved. What was left in his heart was only self-sacrificial emotions, so he yelled, “Mechanic Emperor! No matter how good your disguise is, I know you’re fake!”
“Do you have any evidence?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
Only players could see the Character Summon Card screenshot, so this evidence would not work on NPCs. Furthermore, that particular Character Summon Card had already been used to prove what they said, so this reason was not convincing at all.
Fly Free had guessed he would face this question long ago, and he knew he would not be able to convince anyone but the players. He was prepared to insult the ‘Mechanic Emperor’, so he shouted, “Your vibe!”
“Huh?” Even Han Xiao was stunned for a moment.
“Humph, our Black Star army commander is a man of justice and honor. Just looking at him will make people uncontrollably admire him. But you, Mechanic Emperor, you ignored the safety of the universe for your own sake, attempting to keep the source of the Intelligent Plague for yourself! Your despicable vibe has exposed you!”
“The Mechanic Emperor is despicable?” Han Xiao deliberately raised his tone.
“Very despicable!” Fly Free was not afraid at all. “Who is Black Star? He rose in just a few decades and can already fight you on par. You call yourself an Ancient One? All the years you’ve spent alive have gone down the toilet! Compared to our army commander… you are nothing!” Quite many Beyond Grade As touched their nose awkwardly… Why does it feel like we’re being insulted too? Han Xiao’s face twitched. He had to do everything he could not to laugh.
Beautiful!
That’s right, buddy, keep going!
“So… this is the reason for your mutiny?”
“It’s not a mutiny! Don’t even think about twisting our motive! We’ve fought and bled for the army; we’re inseparable from the army! Only Black Star has the right to lead us. If anyone else attempts to put their hands on it, we’ll definitely retaliate! Even if you kill me today, I’ll still continue yelling these words in my grave-never compromise!”
Fly Free said it with so much emotion that even Han Xiao was almost touched.
The infectious words made quite a number of senior players’ blood boil. The emotions from many versions rushed to their heads. They were fearless, as they would not die anyway, and they started shouting. “This is the Black Star Army! F*ck off, Mechanic Emperor!”
“Black Star will shine forever!”
“Captain is the best!” “Immortals will never be slaves!”
The voices echoed in the venue. The faith inside these words moved many viewers.
So, is this what it’s like in the armed forces? How beautiful.
On the other hand, the Beyond Grade As were all at a loss.
From their perspective, this was beyond ridiculous.
At this time, Kant suddenly said, “Actually, I can somewhat understand the mindset of these Immortals…”
The others turned to him with expressions of disbelief.
Kant coughed and said, “I’ve recruited some Immortals. Most of the time, they’re quite normal, but sometimes, they’ll show signs of being mentally challenged and do things I cannot understand at all…” “Such as?”
“… There was one guy who asked me directly to turn into a naked female human. I accidentally killed him… three times.”
Kasuyi agreed. “I have some Immortals under my command too. Even I can’t understand what’s in their heads. Someone actually tried to steal my undergarments. Do you believe that?”
“I recall hearing a theory. Experts say that the Immortal Race’s undying trait caused their minds to undergo synchronized mutation, which makes them have intermittent manic episodes, delusions, logic disorders, and other mental disorders.”
“Oh, then it makes sense…”
Suspecting that their boss was fake just because the vibe was not right? What kind of normal person would ever do that?
However, when it was the Immortals who did something like this, the people would instantly accept it. It seemed that no matter what outrageously weird things the Immortals did, the others would not think of it as abnormal.
As soon as the topic was brought up, many Beyond Grade As who also had Immortals under their command started chattering. Very soon, they came to the pleasant agreement that the Immortals had mental issues, and they really respected Black Star for being able to effectively manage the Immortals, who were so unpredictable.
Secret Master snorted and said, “What are you all talking about? This clearly was directed by Black Star to deliberately embarrass the Mechanic Emperor. My eyes have seen through it all.”
“It’s a shame the Mechanic Emperor isn’t here. His expression would be a sight to behold.” Milizaus chuckled.
They then imagined what it would look like and giggled with glee.
While they were chatting, Han Xiao had many exchanges with Fly Free, insulting the Mechanic Emperor from head to toe in all styles.
“Come, kill me.” Fly Free looked heroic.
Seeing that it was about enough, Han Xiao said, “Although for some reason you are so sure that I’m the Mechanic Emperor in disguise, you really are mistaken… The Mechanic Emperor isn’t capable of disguising as me. He’s far from it.”
Hearing this, Kant laughed and said, “Wouldn’t we know if he’s Black Star or not? You guys are too young and naïve. At least get some solid evidence before you act.”
We do have solid evidence… but only we can see it.
Seeing the reactions of Han Xiao and the other Beyond Grade As, Fly Free and the others started to get shaken. They started to doubt themselves. Those who did not fully believe in the theory that this Black Star was fake started agreeing The effects of Character Summon Cards would not be fake, so the possibility of another theory was higher-Black Star had learnt the Mechanic Emperor’s ability somehow.
Seeing that they were pondering and hesitating, Han Xiao waved and said, “Escort them away for now. I’ll have a proper talk with them after the closing ceremony ends.”
He did not do anything to them for the time being. Dealing with these people was the army’s internal affair, so it was not suitable to handle it there.
The Restrainers took all the players who caused problems out of the venue. After Sylvia came up to calm everyone’s emotions down, the Black Star Cup closing ceremony continued. However, most people’s attention was no longer on the ceremony but on this tiny incident.
The closing ceremony was initially just a standard affair, but then it immediately sparked more conversations, attracting more attention. Han Xiao’s goal of using Fly Free and the others was achieved.
There were no other twists and turns to the closing ceremony till it ended. Everything that happened there was broadcast to the entire universe through the media groups.
The actions of Fly Free caused a new meme to be born in the galaxy-‘Pointing at Black Star to insult the Mechanic Emperor’.
After the stream ended, Manison’s expressionless face was reflected on the now dark screen.
His eyes were narrowed, and a tint of irritation flashed past his pupils. Mistaken? As if I believe you! This is clearly a show you directed!
I knew you did not invite me for nothing. It was just a plot to embarrass me in public.
Manison clenched his fists.
Black Star, you’re too much!
One day, I’m surely going to cut you up and turn you into a Felon!
As the closing ceremony ended, spaceships took off one after another, sending the audience away.
Han Xiao told Sylvia to take care of the guests who had come to show their support in his place, while he led the various officers and Black Star Guards to the main ship in orbit. All the players who had caused trouble were temporarily locked up there, waiting to be dealt with.
Swoosh!
The cabin opened. Han Xiao and the officers swarmed in and immediately saw the intense situation inside. The players locked there were separated clearly into two groups—the majority of the players led by Fly Free surrounded the spies led by Winter Wolf.
Herlous stepped forward and demanded, “What’s going on?”
The guard quickly approached and replied, “Your Excellency, they have been arguing for a while now. It seems like they’re having an internal conflict.”
“An internal conflict between a group of rebels?” A Black Star Guards snickered.
Although Fly Free gave a great speech during the ceremony and expressed that they did what they did for the sake of the army, most of the army officers did not buy it at all. They felt that this was just an excuse for their mutiny. Attacking the army commander in public and attempting to disrupt the ceremony did not look like things someone would do for the sake of the army at all. The army officers did not know the details like Han Xiao, so they would not be easily convinced.
Han Xiao knew what was going on, but he did not explain it. He walked to the players, did not speak, and just looked at them with an expressionless face.
Seeing that Han Xiao had arrived, the two groups stopped arguing and looked at him.
After seeing Han Xiao’s reaction and listening to the Beyond Grade As’ explanation, the ‘loyal’ players led by Fly Free were starting to feel shaken, doubting their speculation, but they had yet to fully change their minds. They still felt that this might be a show the ‘army commander’ had put on to prove his fake identity was real.
Therefore, many people quietly started video recording at this moment, capturing his expressions and actions while they were in private. If he acted completely different from before, something was definitely wrong, and they would upload the video to the forums to once again warn the other army players. They had yet to give up exposing the ‘Mechanic Emperor’.
Fly Free stepped up and said with a fearless tone, “What do you plan to do with us?”
“No hurry, I want to hear your explanations again,” Han Xiao said casually with a normal tone.
“What else is there to say? We’ve already expressed our intentions very clearly,” Fly Free yelled.
Without any changes in his expression, Han Xiao calmly said, “Even if this was a misunderstanding, your actions will still be punished. Have you thought of the consequences of all this?” “Of course.”
“Even so, you still decided to take the risk for
me?”
“It’s for Black Star. As for whether you’re really him, we still don’t know yet.” Fly Free crossed his arms.
“Then how do you explain attacking the audience? Was that for the army commander too?” Hadavy said coldly.
Fly Free’s expression turned stiff and then to rage. He turned and stared at Winter Wolf and the others angrily. “Our plan was only to expose the imposter. We’re not the ones who attacked the audience. These people are not with us!”
Winter Wolf looked shocked. “What are you talking about? Isn’t this a secret mission you gave us? Now you’re trying to deny all of that?”
“Still bullsh*tting!” Fly Free was furious. “I did not plan this at all. Why did you guys do
it!
“Tsk, you totally asked us to do it, and now you’re throwing us away after using us?”
Winter Wolf did this on purpose to make the Black Star Army think they were together. This way, they could transfer the blame for attacking the audience to Fly Free and the others, and the Black Star Army’s trust in the Immortals would be reduced.
The two groups of players started arguing again. These guild spies had made agreements before; they all insisted they were on the same side. The ‘loyal’ players felt that their motive was repugnant and were furious. Elegant and kind greetings of each others’ parents and ancestors kept coming out of their months. If not because of the Restrainers, this would have turned into a brawl.
Seeing this, many army officers curled their lips and looked unconcerned. They felt that this was just a show the Immortals had prepared in an attempt to prove they were innocent.
Hila turned to Han Xiao and softly said, “Black Star, more and more Immortals have joined the army. I think it’s time to tighten our control over them, to prevent things like this from happening again.” Someone added from the side, “That’s right. We’ve been too lenient with the Immortals.
Hearing the army officers’ discussion, the joy of his plan working flashed through Winter Wolf’s eyes.
However, at this time, he suddenly saw Han Xiao looking over with a faint smile.
“You’re the leader of these people, right?” “Me?” Winter Wolf was shocked inside but acted confused.
Han Xiao snapped his fingers. The Restrainers surrounded the hundreds of players who attempted to attack the audience, leaving the rest of the players alone. “I have video recordings of everyone who attempted to attack the guests. I won’t accuse anyone unjustly,” Han Xiao said slowly. “As punishment, you will be locked inside Spacetime Amber, and you basically shouldn’t think about ever coming out again.”
“Unfair!” Winter Wolf yelled and looked at the others. “We’re with them! Why are you only catching us!”
“Bullsh*t!” Fly Free and the others were furious.
“Stop arguing, I knew about what was going on long ago.” Han Xiao waved. His expression suddenly became serious as he said, “While you guys were plotting, someone told me about it. I could have actually stopped you guys long ago, but I let you act during the closing ceremony. Do you know why?”.
“You knew long ago?”
The people’s expression changed. They then thought about it for a moment and realized that there was nothing strange about that. Having traitors among them was totally normal.
However, Black Star not stopping them in advance was something they did not understand, so they were curious about it.
“I briefly know your motive, and I don’t really believe you guys would start a mutiny.” Han Xiao stopped into the crowd. He patted some people on the shoulder and dragged Frenzied Sword and Maple Moon out from the crowd. He smiled and said, “You’re all pillars of the army from the earliest days, and I remember all of you, especially you two. We’ve known each other for decades. Although we haven’t interacted much recently, I’d never doubt you
guys.”
ve
The people were stunned and greatly surprised. They did not expect Black Star to say something like this, not to mention remembering them.
In this instant, many people felt very touched.
Especially Frenzied Sword and Maple Moon, the two of them were stunned for a few seconds and suddenly looked extremely excited. They were so touched that they were almost ready to sacrifice their lives for Han Xiao right in this moment to show their loyalty and appreciation.
Franky, Han Xiao was quite touched to see these two participate in this little incident too. The two of them were professional players now, yet they took such a big risk to take part in this. They must have deep emotions for him…
Looking at everyone’s excited expression, Han Xiao smiled. Then, he turned to Winter Wolf and the others, and his expression instantly turned cold and fierce.
“Ever since the army’s expansion, I’ve known of spies of other organizations managing to infiltrate the army. The reason I didn’t stop you was that I was hoping to lure out these spies of the army using this opportunity, and it looks like that worked. I can clearly differentiate the army’s pillars from the spies, so don’t try to fool me.”
Hearing this, Winter Wolf opened his mouth wide with disbelief all over his stiffened face.
Oh my god. Even this got seen through? Are NPCs this difficult to fool?
They were already mentally prepared to have their accounts permanently ‘banned’ when they acted. Since they were all employees who received salaries from the various professional guilds, they did not care that much about their accounts. However, now that their plan had been seen right through, it would mean that their sacrifice was completely meaningless, and the plan had failed miserably, which would be a huge loss.
Not wanting to listen to any more words from those spies, Han Xiao took out the Spacetime Amber and sealed the hundreds of them one after another, turning them into more samples. Even if they logged off, their bodies would remain inside.
Looking at this, Fly Free and the others were both touched and excited.
Han Xiao did not explain too much, but him taking out the Spacetime Amber and acting in this way immediately changed Fly Free and the others’ minds. They were now basically certain he was the real Black Star.
Possessing Han Xiao’s Universal Treasure was one reason, but it was more because Han Xiao had washed away the crime they were framed with committing, and he did not blame them for it. They were very appreciative of that and felt a sense of satisfaction.
“As for you people…” Han Xiao turned around and briefly smiled. “Though I do believe you, rules are rules. Your actions have caused trouble, so there must be punishments. The punishment shall be… you guys have to carry out some missions to make up for what you did, and you will not be able to enjoy the army discounts for three months. What do you say?”
“We deserve it. I have no objections.” Fly Free waved his hand.
The rest also agreed. Although they were punished, they felt good about it.
Compared to what had happened to Winter Wolf and the others, this punishment was nothing. The contrast was too strong.
Han Xiao waved and ordered the Restrainers to back off, letting the players leave.
After the players left, Herlous said, “Black Star, is that it?”
“Didn’t I punish them?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“What kind of punishment was that? It’s basically the same as nothing. When the others see that the punishment is so light, won’t they keep attempting to do the same thing?”
“Don’t worry, I know what to do.”
Han Xiao waved and smiled in his head.
VAT
He knew that these players were definitely recording, and they would certainly upload the video to the forums. His actions earlier would not only make the players admire his judgment but also make the faction’s sense of recognition go through the roof. It was the exact way of gaining people’s hearts.
The method of dealing with Winter Wolf and the other spies was a warning. He was expressing that he could differentiate between friends and foes. With friends, he could be lenient, but if anyone attempted to harm the army, he would be merciless and give them a free lifelong ride inside the Spacetime Amber.
“As long as you have a plan.” Hila nodded.
She extremely rarely doubted Han Xiao. Since Han Xiao had made his decision, she did not express any more doubts and deactivated the remote projection after bidding Han Xiao farewell.
Everyone left one after another. Han Xiao looked at the hundreds of amber samples in the place and pondered. Winter Wolf, I have an impression of this guy. He seems to be a pillar of the Northern Battlefront… Looks like these guild alliances will still appear. The national war is probably about to begin.
In his previous life, a large-scale national war erupted in Version 4.0. It was also called the First World Server War.
It was called the national war, but it was not purely based on nations as factions. As the method of playing Version 4.0 mainly revolved around the players grouping up, as the version developed, the players gathered in bigger and bigger groups. In the end, some professional guilds and non-professional guilds created large guild alliances to form official organizations.
For example, there were ones consisting of mainly Europeans such as Northern Battlefront, Denland, and September Conference; some consisting of mainly North and South Americans such as Galactic Business Alliance, 5C Alliance, and Plateaus Eagle; and the Asian ones such as Southeast Asia War Alliance, Golden Alliance, and Northern Tropic of Cancer Light.
These alliances were not just grouped in nations. The different guilds of one nation might belong to different alliances. Other than the guilds, the casual players would also join different alliances based on their likings.
In Han Xiao’s previous life, the army did not exist. The World Server War was not only targeted at one nation but at each other. However, as the Black Star Army was way too strong this time, they became the common target.
Part of what triggered the national war was that the factions were developing. The factions the players of various nations belonged to started to grow into more advanced factions. For example, the conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Civilizations in the Flickering World became one of the fuses of the national war.
The root of conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance was territory distribution, and the intensity of the conflict gradually escalated. The conflict did not start with direct confrontation between their direct armies; the agent war was also a very important part of it. The Immortals were one of the agents. They fought nonstop in the free competition zone.
“The national war is a great opportunity to harvest leeks. However, because of the army, it’s definitely going to be very different. I wonder what it will be like…” Han Xiao caressed his chin.
At the same time, Fly Free and the others who had left the cabin quickly uploaded the recording to the forums with excitement.
During the closing ceremony, Fly Free and the other ‘loyal’ players carried out the operation. After that, almost all the army players were waiting on the forums for what would happen to them.
To many neutral players, these people were reckless and impulsive, so they would certainly suffer heavy consequences. God only knew how severe the faction’s punishment would be.
However, when the private recordings from Fly Free and the others were posted, it shocked quite a number of people, and the post instantly garnered millions of views.
The video recorded the full process of Han Xiao’s private meeting with them. Seeing how confident and clear-minded the army commander was, the atmosphere on the forums instantly changed into one-sided praise.
(Fly Free: From today onward, the army commander is my brother, and anyone who dares to touch my brother shall feel my wrath! That’s all. Who’s with me? Who’s against me?]
[I’m The Northern Gods’ Idiot: +1.]
[Raylei’s Gaze: Our Army Commander was way too cool…]
[Mechanic Emperor’s Small PP: Although we’re just bullsh*ting most of the time, it isn’t too much to use the word ‘amazing’ to describe what the army commander had done today, is it?]
(The Frog Has Seen Through Everything: Honestly, the chances of these spies successfully framing the others shouldn’t be low at all. It would have at least led to a thorough investigation from the army. But Black Star’s judgement is way too impressive, seeing through the differences between the two groups right away and providing decisive and accurate solutions. Those who really had ulterior motives got their accounts banned, and you guys, the loyal pillars, only got symbolic punishments. This row of decisions by the army commander is quite amazing.)
[Tomorrow Won’t Be Better: Sigh, to think that Black Star still remembers us old timers from Version 1.0. It’s so touching. Praise Black Star!)
(Bun-Hit-Dog: I’m a newbie who just joined this version. Is the army commander actually this amazing? Wow, how interesting. I’ll have to binge watch Bun-Hit-Dog’s must-see Black Star Series now.]
[I Love The Dawn: You dog, remember to use your smurf account next time when you do promotion acting as a noob…]
The video got uploaded to the forums as Han Xiao expected, so his goal of getting the hearts of the players was already achieved. Not only did his decisions make him have more ‘leadership appeal’, but the sense of recognition a lot of army players had for the faction also went through the roof. This nostalgia-inducing, fair, and wise series of decisions he made had planted a seed in the many players, forming a bond with the army. Although Han Xiao did not deliberately explain his identity in public, his actions had already indirectly cleared the players’ doubts. The focus of the forums at this point was no longer if Han Xiao was fake or real but why Black Star had the Mechanic Emperor’s ability.
There had always been a rumor among the players about Black Star being able to replicate and imitate other characters’ abilities, and this rumor was finally proven true.
The majority of the players felt that this special talent Black Star had was the key reason he could grow stronger so fast, being able to ‘steal’ abilities from opponents. In some respects, the players’ guess was very close to the truth. However, no matter how much they guessed, they would never know the truth.
Furthermore, as this theory lacked solid evidence, for the NPCs, it only passed between the players and was not convincing enough for normal people even if they heard about it.
As the one who single-handedly initiated this event, Fly Free became famous overnight. He was seen as the number one loyal member of the army. He expressed his intention to form a Black Star Fan Group on the spot and to communicate with the army commander about making it a team Black Star Guards with only Immortals.
The atmosphere on the forums was festive. Other than praise for Black Star, there were also many who were laughing at Winter Wolf and the others.
[Mario’s Little Mushroom: Tsk, some people just can’t bear to see others live a good life and will try their best to pull you back using all kinds of dirty and filthy methods, yet they’re not ashamed but honored by it, acting as if it’s all for everyone’s own good. They’re the best definition of the word ‘hypocrite’.)
[Master of Bondage: Hehe, sadly for them, our army commander is wise and fair. He won’t be deceived.)
However, while all this went on, the Northern Battlefront surprisingly stepped up and announced they were responsible for it. It instantly triggered a verbal war on the forums and attracted the focus of the players. That was how it should be. Compared to praising Black Star, the players were still more interested in arguing with others online.
While the forums were heated, the influence of the Black Star Cup was also fermenting in the galaxy. Army members backstabbing Black Star sparkled a lot of conversations and discussions, leading many galactic residents who were not originally interested to curiously find out about the details of the incident.
Not long after the closing ceremony ended, on behalf of the army, Han Xiao made an official announcement to the entire universe to explain this incident, answering their questions while satisfying their curiosity.
He basically publicized Fly Free’s insults toward the Mechanic Emperor on that day with some exaggeration and more details so that the galactic residents could properly enjoy watching it. At the same time, the announcement emphasized that he really hoped the Mechanic Emperor would not be angry about this. This was just someone’s most sincere true opinion from the deepest part of his heart. It did not represent the army’s opinion. The army would always respect the Mechanic Emperor, even if he was an evil man. At the same time, he hoped that the Mechanic Emperor would uphold his position as an elder and not take the words of such young people seriously.
The galactic residents were just happily watching on, while the Beyond Grade As who attended the event only had one thought about Han Xiao in their hearts.
Wow, you b*stard, you really have absolutely zero virtue!
We like it!
Word of the Black Star Cup incident spread around the universe rapidly. Tons of insults toward Manison appeared, but Manison did not respond at all. He completely ignored Han Xiao.
The popularity of news could only last a few days usually, which was even more true in the galactic society. News about the Black Star Cup lasted for a while in after dinner conversations, then followed the pattern and gradually faded out of popularity.
However, the army elites who became famous during the Black Star Cup gained a solid reputation that did not fade away. The base members had seen more army officers. The members in various Grades were given a position on the list of the strongest individuals.
For example, among the Calamity Grade officers, Hadavy was publicly recognized as number one, and Jotina number two, and so on according to the results they achieved in the Black Star Cup. As for those who did not participate or forfeited, the public were unaware of them.
After the closing ceremony ended, Han Xiao returned to Black Star Palace to deal with all sorts of affairs and settled Destiny’s Child’s sub-body Rody down to carry out all kinds of studies.
Initially, he wanted to try and have ‘Second Generation EsGod’ Evans make an attempt to absorb Destiny’s Child’ sub-body, but after some pondering, he abandoned this plan.
Firstly, it was still unconfirmed whether the sub-body transformation of Destiny’s Child was considered an Esper Gene awakening or a physical mutation phenomenon. Evans’ Esper Ability could only target the former and not the latter.
Secondly, Destiny’s Child was very mysterious, and the Information Form was a very deep and complex territory. Han Xiao was not sure if Evans would suffer from any side effects after absorbing it. He might even turn into a new sub-body, so he did not want to take the risk.
“I’d better ask the Holy Accord organization. They’re the experts.”
Inside the lab, Han Xiao looked at Rody, who was sleeping inside the cabin, and shook his head.
The extent of how mysterious Destiny’s Child was exceeded his abilities. He was not an expert in this area. He had yet to find a way to resolve Rody’s sub-body transformation. The only thing he could do for now was to use regular Information Form Restrainers to stabilize Rody’s body and slow down his transformation speed as much as possible. Han Xiao touched his chin. Speaking of which, the new date of the deal with the Holy Accord organization was quite soon. As long as he completed the trade, he would be able to freely spill the secrets of the Holy Accord without any worries.
For this, he had already operated on the Holy Light Particle in advance. After that, the Holy Light Particle had shrunk completely inside Aurora and isolated itself.
“Including the two Universal Treasure blueprints from Holy Accord, as well as two from the federation, I’ll have seven Gold blueprints…”
Han Xiao opened the interface and looked at it. Some time ago, he had released the last too Beyond Grade A captives of the federation and received the bailing fee for them-two new Universal Treasure blueprints.
One was equipment for the Mechanical Deity. It was called ‘Titan Spinal Center’.
The Mechanical Deity was formed by assembling countless mechanical soldiers, so it could change into any shapes or forms, basically like a pile of mechanical slime. What connected all the parts of the Mechanical Deity was Mechanical Force and special magnetic fields that acted as the neural network of the Mechanical Deity. The bigger the Mechanical Deity was, the more energy it consumed.
As the name suggested, Titan Spinal Center was a tool that acted as the body center. It would be installed inside the Mechanical Deity. Following the user’s mind, it could become a full bone structure in different forms. Human forms, beast forms, and all kinds of forms included. It would support the Mechanical Deity’s body. Controlling the Mechanical Deity with Mechanical Force through this device, which built a neural network for the Mechanical Deity, would largely decrease the energy cost and extend the duration one could use the Mechanical Deity.
As Universal Treasure Grade class-exclusive equipment, of course, it also provided all kinds of bonuses. The Titan Spinal Center could comprehensively enhance the basic strength of the Mechanical Deity, making it strong and faster than other Mechanical Deities of the same size. Also, it enhanced various abilities as well as the user’s Machinery Affinity.
Not long ago, during the fight with Manison, Manison’s Mechanical Deity that was equipped with tons of Universal Treasure Grade equipment made Han Xiao very jealous. He felt like he was like a blank piece of paper in comparison, and the Celestial Punishment Edge in his hands did not feel as powerful anymore. Therefore, he decided to obtain more Mechanical Deity equipment, as the Mechanical Deity was the strongest trump card of Mechanics at this level. For others, it was a temporary last resort because its cost was too high, but for him and the Mechanic Emperor, they could both use it as a regular combat method. Hence, the more exclusive items the Mechanical Deity had, the better.
The other Gold blueprint was a special device called ‘Mechanical Territory’. From its effects, it seemed similar to Beyoni’s Land of the Fire Core and the Extinguish Army’s Land of the Ice Core. It was even somewhat similar to the Evolution Cube.
This was a large device that could increase the machinery production efficiency, mechanical life form enhancement chance, machinery power output, and so on within its range. It was a territory-type equipment. To Beyond Grade A Mechanics, the best way to use it was to put it in their machinery civilization or the Dimension Factory. It was basically like the machinery version of Evolutionary Totem. However, the requirements for building it were rather tough. The fundamental principle of this device was the Secondary Dimension Theory, by forming a territory that had special operating rules within its range like the advent of a secondary dimension. Therefore, the core material of it was the core fragment of a secondary dimension-the higher the quality, the better. Furthermore, depending on the fragment, the product would also possess a small part of the secondary dimension’s special traits.
There were countless unstable new secondary dimensions born every day, so core fragments were by no means in shortage. The only problem was the harvesting of it since the dimension might collapse after its core fragment was taken. Nonetheless, with money, these were all non-issues.
Han Xiao had an Evil Convergence core fragment in his hands, so he could use it on this.
“Two new blueprints, both with quite good effects. Most importantly, after I successfully build the finished products, I’ll be able to get two more God’s Trait Transformation Points… In addition to the deal with Holy Accord, I’ll obtain four in total.”
Han Xiao was excited and almost wanted to immediately isolate himself inside the factory for days on end.
Beep beep!
At this time, his communicator rang.
It was surprisingly a call from the dynasty’s Exploration Army Commander, brother Tarrokov.
“What’s up, Old Tar?” Han Xiao glanced at him and went back to what he was doing. The two of them were very close, so there was no need to be formal.
“I’ve got some news regarding what you previously asked me to ask around about,” Tarrokov said.
Han Xiao’s movements paused.
Not long ago when the two of them chatted, he had asked Tarrokov to ask around the dynasty’s science institute about their progress on the study of the wormhole coordinates EsGod left behind. He was worried that that was the trigger to Aesop’s prophecy. “What about it?”
“They have made several breakthroughs.” Tarrokov’s answer made Han Xiao’s heart skip a bit.
“… Any details?”
“They’ve already confirmed which area this wormhole coordinates led to in the unexplored universe, but they have yet to find the accurate location, only a rough range.” Hu, so they did not fully discover the World Tree or get discovered by the World Tree. That’s still fine.
Han Xiao was secretly relieved but also troubled.
The later the three Universal Civilizations came into contact with the World Tree Civilization, the better it would be for him. This was his biggest wish at this point.
He did not dare expose the existence of the World Tree Civilization because given the three Universal Civilizations’ character, once they knew there was a powerful civilization in the unexplored universe, they would undoubtedly make contact with it actively and prepare for it in advance.
Emphasizing the danger of the World Tree Civilization would not work either, and explaining why he knew the details was not even the biggest problem. The problem was that the three Universal Civilizations might become more cautious and wary because of his reminder, but they would certainly not give up making contact. If they knew that there was a dangerous advanced civilization in the unexplored universe, they would not wait till the other side found them but would surely attack first.
Therefore, no matter how he leaked any accurate information about the World Tree Civilization and what method he used, it would only make the time when the two sides made contact come sooner.
EsGod was already sealed, so no one but him knew anything about the World Tree in the explored universe. He was the only one who could influence the World Tree version’s overall path, and he had to be cautious.
“How did the dynasty react to this?”
Unsuspecting, Tarrokov said, “The upper echelons did not react to it much. The study project of these wormhole coordinates isn’t a secret, which is why I could ask around about it in the first place… EsGod has been captured for decades. He’s already in the past. Most of the studies about him are not important right now.”
“Then, what does the science institute plan to do?”
“Continue to search for the accurate coordinates, of course. Although we don’t know why EsGod treated this set of coordinates so importantly, the science institute will most likely do what was already done before. They will try to activate a wormhole with a fixed coordinate, throw a few detectors over, and wait for the results to come back.”
Han Xiao hesitated before subtly saying, “I think that this kind of study should be stopped temporarily. The unexplored universe is full of danger, so no one knows what they’ll find there. Now is the crucial time when the three Universal Civilizations are competing with the Super Star Cluster Alliance. If an incident similar to the Intelligent Plague happens again, it’s going to be very bad for the dynasty.”
Tarrokov looked at Han Xiao suspiciously and said, “Everything you said is filled with concern about this project. Do you know something?” “If I say it’s my intuition, will you believe me?”
“Hehe.” Tarrokov fake laughed, expressing he was absolutely not convinced, then continued casually. “I’ll pass on your suggestion. As for whether they listen to it, it doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
“That’ll be enough.”
“Alright, I’ll go do my things then. Also, don’t forget to attend the three Universal Civilizations’ award ceremony in two months’ time.”
“Hmm.”
Han Xiao nodded, turned off the communication, and Tarrokov’s remote projection disappeared.
After a short pause, he gave the order to the team escorting the Holy Light Particle that they could depart now and head to the agreed location to carry out the deal with the Holy Accord. It was located in the free competition zone of the Flickering World.
“The day of the deal is about to arrive.”
Inside a certain secret base of the Holy Accord organization, Oathkeeper opened his eyes and looked at the officers below him.
“Was the emissary carrying out the deal dispatched?”
“He was sent out long ago, absolutely loyal and reliable.”
“I don’t just want loyalty but also capability. I know Virtual Mechanics all too well. Black Star will certainly use the opportunity to attempt to track us, so we must be prepared. Has the emissary’s escape route been prepared properly?”
“The Black Star Army’s forces are too powerful in the Flickering World, so it’s not suitable to spark any conflict. We’ve already equipped the emissary with Information Form Invisibility Coating. As soon as he gets his hands on the item, he’ll activate the coating and evaporate from the spot.” “What about the guards?”
“There are guards but not many, only to prevent accidents from happening on the way there… After all, any number of guards will be meaningless in the Black Star Army’s territory.”
“Hmm… not bad.” Oathkeeper nodded with satisfaction and said, “As long as the Holy Light Particle is acquired, we can start to fuse the Third Sanctum Key and start the preparations for the awakening ceremony. Therefore, after we complete the deal, we’ll fully enter ‘The Darkest Time’ and completely cut off any of our connections with the outside world… I’ll meet Black Star one more time after the deal is completed, probably for the last time. There most likely won’t be any need for us to cross paths in the future.”
“Understood!”
Hearing the subordinates’ response, Oathkeeper grunted and started daydreaming.
Honestly, if not for the deal, he did not even want to see Black Star’s face.
Even till now, he was still confused about who leaked their information. Did the spy or traitor exist at all?
The deal location agreed by Han Xiao and Oathkeeper was a certain transit station planet in the Flickering World’s Dawn Star Cluster.
Feidin was appointed as the deal emissary, representing the army to wait and meet with the Holy Accord organization’s emissary there. The entire process would be monitored by Han Xiao from the headquarters.
Oathkeeper had also used spiritual projection long ago to meet with Han Xiao. The two of them both maintained communication to ensure that this deal would be carried out smoothly, clearly showing sincerity. Inside the office, a virtual screen hovered on the table and played the footage from the surveillance camera. Inside the footage was a prosperous area with a lot of people. Feidin stood beside the wall of a building wearing a mask, looking at the pedestrians passing by. The Holy Accord emissary had yet to arrive at the designated location.
“When will your man arrive? We’ve been waiting for almost two hours.” Han Xiao leaned back in his seat and looked at the screen with boredom.
“Soon.”
“You’ve said that seven times already.”
“… Really soon this time.” A while after, a man also in disguise finally appeared on the screen carrying a silver alloy suitcase. He walked right toward Feidin. The two of them met, but neither carried on to the next step.
“Is he the emissary?” Han Xiao asked.
“That’s right. What you want’s in the suitcase.” Han Xiao nodded, contacted Feidin, and told him to exchange the item. Oathkeeper also used his ability to give the same order. The two people on the screen received the order and exchanged the items right away, then backed off a few steps to check them. An armor suddenly appeared on Feidin’s body, shrouding both him and the suitcase. The next moment, with a flash of light, he disappeared right on the spot and suddenly appeared in Han Xiao’s office.
“Here’s the stuff.”
The armor opened up, and Feidin placed the suitcase on Han Xiao’s table. This was the King mechanical suit Han Xiao had temporarily lent to Feidin. The Throne was in his hands to ensure he would take the item right after the deal was completed.
Han Xiao opened the suitcase, and cold air flew out. Inside were two cylindrical containers that contained two clusters of Primal Esper Ability Entities. One was green, and the other was blue. There was also a data storage device beside the two containers. Han Xiao turned it on and looked at it. It stored the data for two Gold blueprints. Everything Oathkeeper had promised in the deal was there. This time, a notification also popped up on the interface.
Primal Esper Ability Entities Acquired: 4/4
[Primal Esper Ability Collector] Milestone requirements met.
Effects: When you fight Espers, all your attributes will increase slightly. -12% to 20% damage received from Espers. You have received 1 (The Third Sanctum) Ability Fragment.
The mission is completed, which means these two were real.
Han Xiao was relieved. He waved at Feidin.
“Go back.”
The three-minute duration had yet to end. He activated the King again and sent Feidin back to the location of the deal.
Oathkeeper turned and looked over. “Black Star, how is it?”
“Hmm, there are no problems. What about you?”
“What you gave me was indeed part of the Holy Light Particle.”
Han Xiao raised his brows and extended his hand.
“So… nice deal?” Although Oathkeeper’s spiritual projection had no physical form, he still made the gesture to shake Han Xiao’s hands and said, “Nice deal.”
The next moment, the Holy Accord emissary on the screen seemed to have activated some device and disappeared all of a sudden. “Oh? Your man fled really quick. Are you that worried about me?” Han Xiao asked with a joking tone. “Caution is a necessity.” Oathkeeper did not deny it.
Seeing that his emissary had followed the plan strictly and left the scene, Oathkeeper finally heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed his tense nerves.
This deal was extremely important for the Holy Accord, and he was worried about a lot of things. Most importantly, he was worried about Black Star not fulfilling their agreement and attempting to chase the Holy Accord emissary by any means necessary. Now it looked like Black Star had no such plan, and the deal was carried out smoothly. With the Holy Light Particle, the success rate of opening the Third Sanctum would basically reach their expected percentage. Oathkeeper suppressed his excitement and said, “I will remember Your Excellency Black Star’s generosity. Since the deal is complete, it’s time for me to leave.”
Every time he made contact with people like Black Star, it was a risk. The more he spoke, the more information he might leak.
Luckily, there was no need to ever make contact with Black Star anymore in the future. All Oathkeeper wanted to do now was immediately turn off the spiritual projection and never meet Han Xiao ever again.
Since Oathkeeper had always contacted Han Xiao using the method of spiritual projection, this meant that only he could contact Black Star while Black Star could not contact him. As long as he never contacted Black Star ever again, Black Star would never have the chance to see him in the future. At this time, Han Xiao suddenly smiled and said, “Don’t be in such a rush. Who knows when we will meet again? Let’s chat for a while. Also, I have some questions I’d like to ask you before you leave.” Oathkeeper’s heart skipped a beat. Oh, come on, why do you have questions again? You asking questions make me panic, every time! Oathkeeper tried to be patient and said with a cautious tone, “… Ask on then. I’ll answer as much as possible.” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly.
Just like Oathkeeper, he had nothing to worry about now that he already had what he wanted from the deal.
After he acted like he was pondering for a few seconds, he decided to start from the questions that would probably shock Oathkeeper the least. “Do you… know about Destiny’s Child?” Oathkeeper’s eyes turned around, and his entire body became stiff.
Animal! What have you discovered again? He started into Han Xiao’s eyes, hoping to figure out what he was thinking. However, Black Star’s clear eyes were filled with sincerity, as if he was really just asking casually. Unable to calm his emotions down, Oathkeeper suppressed his shock and asked, “Why are you suddenly asking me? Did something happen?”
“Well, there’s no need to hide it really. I once met a special individual who called himself Destiny’s Child. Sadly, he died in a nuclear explosion. Then, not long ago, I came across a similar individual. After some investigations, I discovered that there seems to be a Primal Esper Ability called Destiny’s Child that exists in the universe. It seems to be able to transform some life forms into special sub-bodies. You guys happen to be the experts in studying Primal Esper Abilities, so I came to consult you.”
“That’s it?”
“What else? But from the way you reacted, your Holy Accord organization seems to know quite a lot of things.” Han Xiao sized Oathkeeper up and wondered, “Could it be that Destiny’s Child is in your hands? The way your emissary disappeared earlier does seem similar to Information Form-related technology. That was invented by you guys too, wasn’t it?”
Oathkeeper was having a headache. He regretted his overreaction earlier. It was like he was infected with Black Star PTSD.
“It’s not, nonsense.”
“Really?”
“Nope.” Oathkeeper denied it completely. “Alright then, I don’t really care if it’s in your hands I just want to know some information. You guys specialize in studying Primal Esper Ability Entities, so you guys definitely know something, or you wouldn’t have asked me back earlier.” Han Xiao tapped on the table, his tone casual. He looked like he believed what Oathkeeper said, but actually, he was about sixty percent sure that Destiny’s Child was in the Holy Accord’s hands from Oathkeeper’s reaction. Nonetheless, Oathkeeper would certainly not admit to it, so the Great Mechanic Han decided to not continue asking. The most important thing was to ask about the mechanisms of Destiny’s Child.
Oathkeeper pondered with resignation, selected some information, and said, “Destiny’s Child is a very ancient Primal Esper Ability. We don’t know much about it either. Most of what we know came from the other Primal Esper Ability Entities. It’s said that Destiny’s Child’s ability is related to the changes of Information Form and strings of fate, and it has an unbelievably powerful foresight ability. “Strings of fate are also called ’cause and effect’ in some cultures. Like a huge net, if you touch one of the strings, the vibrations will certainly pass onto more strings. Therefore, every time it uses its ability, Destiny’s Child will have to read a lot of information and carry out an analyzing process similar to computing large groups of data. It is able to calculate the various possibilities and results that a certain event can produce, then use that to foresee the future.
“In this process, in order to read the so-called strings of fate, it will release special Information Form particles to collect information, and these particles will often cause information state disturbances. They will produce partial projections of themselves in random information bodies, take over part of their information, and that is how the sub-bodies are born. The targets are mostly life forms.
“Some Primal Esper Ability Entities say that Destiny’s Child can turn into a High Dimensional Information Form. If it doesn’t want to be discovered, no one can discover it. That is why no one had been able to capture it even till now… Therefore, you having met two sub-bodies is purely because you were lucky.” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled, and his thoughts spun quickly. The information of Destiny’s Child Oathkeeper provided was almost identical to the mechanisms he had speculated it would have. However, he felt that Destiny’s Child’s ability did not stop there. Just foresight? Probably not! Since Destiny’s Child could produce sub-bodies, could it produce something else? Or even change the direction the strings of fate would take? There were many forms of the so-called ‘information state disturbance’, even physical mirages. Han Xiao did not forget how the Domino Virus that caused the Intelligent Plague appeared. In Version 1.0, the information he obtained from the Germinal Organization said that the ability of their Destiny’s Child was ‘influence’ over the future, not just ‘foreseeing’ the future. Han Xiao once thought it was only because the natives were not knowledgeable enough, but now that he thought about it, that might not have been a misunderstanding. Han Xiao asked a few more questions, to which Oathkeeper said he did not know, clearly not willing to expose more information.
Seeing this, Han Xiao had no choice but to change the topic. He narrowed his eyes and casually said, “By the way, last time you told me about how your spiritual projection ability works. After that, I did some research. There seems to be a Primal Esper Ability called Soul Flame that fits what you said.”
Hearing this, it seemed like this was no secret. Oathkeeper surprisingly nodded and said directly, “That’s right. I’m the master of Soul Flame.”
“Hmm, I did some further research following this information, and it seems like the last Soul Flame master in the universe was a Beyond Grade A Esper nicknamed Soul Emperor. His name was Rovell Sissock… Do you happen to know him?”
Then, Han Xiao stared closely at Oathkeeper, wanting to see every slight reaction he had. However, Oathkeeper did not look surprised at all this time and said, “I’ve heard about him too, but I don’t know him.”
Han Xiao frowned in his mind. Unlike the question about Destiny’s Child, Oathkeeper did not have any strange reaction to this question. He did not know if this was because Oathkeeper was completely mentally prepared about it, or Oathkeeper did not care about his identity being exposed, or he guessed wrong and Oathkeeper was not that Soul Emperor who might have faked his own death. Han Xiao then asked, “Since Soul Flame once spent time with this master, it must know more. Help me ask it then…”
Han Xiao felt weird as soon as he asked this. It sounded like asking a man to ask his current girlfriend about how her ex-boyfriend was.
“About what?” Oathkeeper did not agree nor disagree. “Hmm, I’m very curious about after Soul Emperor died, who took Soul Flame, and how did you obtain it?”
Oathkeeper’s tone became slightly more serious, and he said, “Don’t you think these questions are too personal?”
“As a man of science, is it wrong for me to be curious?” Han Xiao used a very justifiable excuse. Oathkeeper shook his head with resignation and said, “Alright, I know you’re curious about who I am, and you think I’m Soul Emperor or one of the Beyond Grade As who killed Soul Emperor back then and took Soul Flame. But you’ve guessed wrong. I’m none of them. I did not rob Soul Flame from anyone. When I met it, it was already free, and it took me some effort to acquire it.”
“Then can you help me to ask it, what did it experience after Soul Emperor died?” Han Xiao then asked.
“…It’s not willing to say.” Oathkeeper shook his head. He suddenly paused for a moment before saying, “However, it told me that Soul Emperor did not die in battle. Since you’ve already looked at information about him, I won’t go into detail. Anyway, during Soul Emperor’s last battle, his body was indeed destroyed. However, due to the specialty of his Esper Ability, his soul did not die and escaped. As for where he went, Soul Flame has no idea either.”
Han Xiao pondered. He did not know if what Oathkeeper was true, but from his tone and the content, it did not seem like a
lie.
In Han Xiao’s previous life, Soul Emperor did not revive, which meant that there was a very high possibility he was still alive. If Oathkeeper was not Soul Emperor, then who was? Could it be that he had run into the secondary dimensions and was never able to come back?
“Do you have any other questions? If not, I shall leave.”
Oathkeeper was getting impatient.
He did not want to continue chatting with Han Xiao. He had more important things to do now. All his mind was focused on the awakening ceremony. The promise of many years was finally going to be fulfilled, so he did not want to wait another second.
To him, chatting with Han Xiao for a while was already very respectful, or he would have directly deactivated the projection and left right after the deal was complete. He would never come into contact with him again in the future anyway, so he did not mind being rude. “Alright, you do indeed have more important things to do. I won’t delay you.” Han Xiao stood up, did a farewell gesture, and deliberately sighed. “Sigh, buddy, I have quite a good impression of you. After you leave this time, god knows when you’ll contact me again. I won’t say much. When you revive the Primordial Ones, remember to send my regards to them.”Oathkeeper’s movement to deactivate the spiritual projection stiffened in an instant.
The entire spiritual projection suddenly trembled like radio noise, which represented the extreme emotional turbulence Oathkeeper was going through. The sudden shock made Oathkeeper’s spiritual frequency lose balance, so much so that he suddenly lost full control of his ability! He opened his eyes wide with disbelief.
How can you possibly know about our top secret?
I have already investigated all the upper echelons. There are no spies at all!
When this thought appeared, Oathkeeper was suddenly stunned. Wait, I’ve fallen into a thinking blind spot. There’s actually one upper echelon left who has not been investigated! Someone once said, when you have eliminated all possibilities, no matter how unbelievable and impossible the last possibility is, that’s the truth.
Therefore…
Am I the spy?
Oathkeeper’s brain exploded.
“H-how did you…”
Oathkeeper’s heart was heavily shocked, and his mind was in a bit of a trance. He was filled with questions.
Black Star definitely knew this secret all along but had been hiding it, and I was totally fooled. This b*stard is so evil! Seeing Oathkeeper was appalled, Han Xiao looked surprised. “Hmm? Why are you still here? Weren’t you leaving?”
“I know you don’t want to leave me, but since you’re in such a hurry, you’d better go back quickly.”
“Act-Actually, I’m not in that much of a hurry. We can chat for a while… a while more…” Oathkeeper laughed awkwardly. This dog is definitely doing this purposely! How can I leave before I find out the whole truth? Han Xiao’s words made Oathkeeper immediately give up on wanting to leave as soon as possible. Instead, he insisted on staying and making sure his questions were answered. “Since you’re so enthusiastic, it’ll be rude for me to refuse you then.” Seeing that Oathkeeper looked emotionally unstable, Han Xiao stopped kidding and invited him back to his seat.
Oathkeeper took a deep breath and cautiously asked, “So you know about our goal. Where did you hear about it?”
Black Star directly pointed out the Holy Accord’s purpose, so he knew that there was no point in hiding it anymore. Furthermore, he felt that Black Star definitely had a motive, or he could have hidden the fact that he knew about this. Deliberately exposing their goal did not seem like something an enemy would do. He wondered what Black Star was planning. “I have my intelligence channels.” Han Xiao gave a perfunctory answer, clearly expressing that he would never reveal his sources. Oathkeeper did not hold any hopes for it anyway. If he was in Black Star’s position, he would not expose who the spy was either. Oathkeeper had no choice but to clench his teeth and accept that. He said, “Since you already know our goal, what are you planning?” He put himself at the lower position, which he had not done in a very long time. If he was facing an ordinary Beyond Grade A, Oathkeeper would most likely have thought of killing him. However, facing Black Star, he really did not have complete confidence he would be able to-Black Star was too damn tanky.
On the other hand, if Black Star wanted to, he could leak this intelligence out any time he wanted. Since his weakness was in Black Star’s hands, he had to be cautious.
“What do you think I’m planning?” Han Xiao smiled faintly.
“I don’t know.” Oathkeeper had several guesses, but he did not dare to say them out loud.
From the way he looked at it, there were only a few reasons Black Star would do this, including extortion or interrupting. It was not like Black Star only did this to scare him out of boredom… right? “Why not take a guess?”
“… I have no guesses.”
“Tsk, you’re so boring.” Han Xiao shook his finger. “Why are you so nervous? Since I did not reject your deal, don’t you understand my stance?” Oathkeeper’s eyes flickered. “You’re saying… you don’t plan to stop us?”
“Why should I?” Han Xiao crossed his arms, narrowed his eyes, and said, “I’m the leader of the Black Star Army and the three Universal Civilizations’ Special Consultant, but I’m also the vice president of the Beyond Grade A Association. If you’d paid attention to the Meeting of the Gods a few years ago, you’d know that the Mechanic Emperor and I have come to an agreement…”
Oathkeeper hastily thought back. Suddenly, a flash of insight passed through his mind and cleared the fog. “You’re saying… there are too few Beyond Grade As?”
“That’s right. The Mechanic Emperor and I both said that. Now you understand.” Han Xiao smiled.
Oathkeeper suddenly felt that everything made sense now, and most of his questions got answered.
No wonder despite knowing our goal, Black Star still chose to let it happen. This might be the only chance of tremendously strengthening the Beyond Grade A level in the short run, so it fits his goal. However, Oathkeeper still had some questions.
“I thought you were on the side of the three Universal Civilizations. I didn’t think you’d do this.”
“That’s just because of the promotions recently. Of course, in terms of overall stand, I’m on the same side as the three Universal Civilizations, but that doesn’t mean I’ve become their vassal. I stand against Mechanic Emperor only because his methods are too radical, but we both have the same wish for the total number of Beyond Grade As.”
“So, you plan to work with us on a deeper level?”
“That’s right. I won’t stop you from executing your plan, but I have my demands too. I hope that the Beyond Grade As you revive will all be on my side.”
Oathkeeper nodded before shaking his head. “This isn’t that simple. They all have their own minds. Even if I’m the one who revives them, they won’t become my puppets.”
“By the way, I’ve always wondered, why do you guys want to revive the already dead Beyond Grade As?” Han Xiao asked.
He had been curious about this question in his previous life. Logically speaking, the Holy Accord organization should have been very ambitious since they revived so many extremely strong individuals. However, the Holy Accord and the Revivors only appeared to fight the World Tree Civilization during the World Tree war, and they seemed to appear just because they had no choice. God only knew what they were doing before.
As for that group of Beyond Grade As who were revived during the Calamity of the Supers, he was still unsure whether they also came from the Holy Accord. “Because of a promise, an oath…” Oathkeeper’s voice became low and spoke in a storytelling tone. “Tell me about it.” Han Xiao was very curious.
Oathkeeper stayed silent for a moment, seemingly hesitating over whether he should leak more information. Then, he thought of his position, and he had no choice but to slowly explain. “The Holy Accord was founded toward the end of the exploration era by some of the Primordial Ones. Our purpose is to revive those who died in the war… Although when we talk about that history now, we say it quite casually, but Black Star, you should understand the frustration of the Primordial One. They spent their lifetime breaking through the limits of individual strength, only to be used as new tools of war, killing each other, dying one after another. “Even if they did not want to take part in the war, the unstoppable tide of the era still dragged them in. You can do some research. How many Primordial Ones met a good end? “At the same time, because we’ve evolved to a new level, countless people envied us, feared us. You know what it’s like. When an individual becomes too powerful, the masses will surely be wary about the individual. This has never changed… We’re just the extreme minority in the universe who are both admired and feared.
“Among the Primordial Ones, some regretted being born in the chaotic war era and hoped to go to the prosperous peaceful era, but they were limited by their life span. Some regretted dying in the war. Even after they were scarified, they tried to be reborn in the future. Therefore, many people started to look for ways to revive them secretly, and these people were separated into different factions. “Some of those people created the Holy Accord organization, and that’s our origin, also our promise…”
“I see…” Han Xiao started pondering.
He could understand why the Primordial Ones hoped to get through the exploration era using the method of getting revived in the future—they had reached the absolute peak of individual strength in the galaxy, yet they had become mere tools of war. At that time, there was no room for Beyond Grade A organizations. Other than the extremely few exceptions, most of them could only become the warriors of civilizations; maintaining a neutral stance was an extravagant wish. Anyone would feel frustrated in their position.
Furthermore, as the Beyond Grade As had just appeared, no civilization did not want to study them further. The environment the Primordial Ones were in was extremely harsh, far less free, safe, and comfortable compared to the modern Beyond Grade As.
The Primordial Ones had thought of all sorts of ways of reviving, and the Underworld might have been one of them, but very few chose to use that method. After all, not everyone was willing to become a subordinate of the sisters who were the former owners of the Underworld, and they were not that reliable either.
No wonder Onicelu said that the two sisters were once invited to take part in a plan related to the Sanctums that probably had something to do with the Holy Accord organization. However, the two sisters rejected it; they did not seem to want to be revived.
Han Xiao caressed his chin and pondered. “So, how do you plan to revive those Beyond Grade As?”
“I-I can’t tell you that.” Oathkeeper shook his head. Han Xiao said with a dissatisfied tone, “Humph, I can guess even if you don’t say it. It probably has something to do with the Sanctums. Come on, I’ve already made my stance clear. Show some sincerity.” Oathkeeper hesitated for a while before nodding solemnly. “Yes, it’s the Sanctums. I really can’t go into further details now. After I fulfil the promise, I’ll share the method with you.” Han Xiao curled his lips and changed the topic. “Then let’s talk about our partnership. I can provide convenience for your plan and keep it a secret for you, and you will have to give me some things in return…”
Han Xiao then stated his requirements. Resources and intelligence were not the most important. What he mainly wanted to obtain was the way to revive the dead through the Sanctums, as well as a part of the special technology the Holy Accord organization had, while at the same time being on the good side of these Revivors.
Whether Oathkeeper was willing or not, he had no choice but to trust Han Xiao and accept him as a partner. Otherwise, if Han Xiao leaked any of their secrets, there would be even more trouble. Oathkeeper had no certainty that Black Star had no ulterior motives, but he was not to be trifled with either. He did not want to fight now, but he would not be afraid to fight if he had to. The two of them negotiated for a while and settled on the partnership agreement. Oathkeeper had no choice but to leave a stable communication channel so that Black Star could contact him anytime and not just wait for him to contact him.
After all this was complete, Oathkeeper went offline with a belly full of questions. He might have to see a therapist after he returned.
Han Xiao stayed in the office, crossed his legs, caressed his chin, and pondered.
Everything he told Oathkeeper was true but not the whole truth. He did indeed want to increase the number of Beyond Grade As. One reason for that was to make the Beyond Grade As’ position more important across the universe while increasing his position in the association, and another was to deal with the World Tree. Aesop’s prophecy and the progress of the dynasty’s Science Institute led to him having no choice but to prepare in advance and find more helpers.
At the same time, he was also very curious about how the Holy Accord revived the Primordial Ones and wanted to find out more about the Sanctums’ functions. Furthermore, he did not wish for the Holy Accord organization and a group of Beyond Grade As to hide out of sight. He suggested this partnership to have a stable means of contacting them, so he could monitor what they were doing.
The last motive was that the Great Mechanic Han wanted to try triggering a mission. He felt that the chance of that was quite high.
And as he expected, a notification did pop up on the interface.
You have triggered the hidden mission (Return to the History Stage] Mission Introduction: You found out from Oathkeeper that the Holy Accord organization’s goal is to revive some of the Beyond Grade As who’ve died in history. You have chosen to work with Oathkeeper. Mission Requirements: Assist the Holy Accord organization to successfully complete their awakening plan. Reward: +25 Favorability of all the revived Beyond Grade As, +1 Legendary Point. Remarks: This mission is a Series Origin Mission. Once accepted, you will have a higher chance of triggering more hidden missions in the same series.
“Series Origin Mission, meaning this mission is the entry point to a storyline… makes sense. If I did not work with the Holy Accord, what happens afterward would have nothing to do with me.” Han Xiao accepted the mission without hesitation.
He had a feeling that this series mission might be related to many version main storylines.
In a certain secret base of the Holy Accord organization, Oathkeeper retrieved his spiritual projection and took a long breath. He was still a little stunned, digesting what had just happened. Law and Fay were standing below and saw Oathkeeper’s expression. “Boss, how was it?”
“Did Black Star complete the deal, or did he change his mind?”
Oathkeeper regained focus, straightened his facial expression, and said reluctantly, “From now on, Black Star is temporarily our ally.” Law and Fay’s eyes widened with confusion. What happened? Why so sudden? The Holy Accord organization has never had a partner. This is the first! Wasn’t this just a simple trade? Why have Black Star suddenly become our ally? We’ve heard a lot of Black Star’s excellent skills in making friends. Did the boss fall to him too?
In the dedicated factory for the Army Commander in Black Star Palace, Han Xiao walked in with a suitcase, placing it on the table. He opened the lid with a click, taking out the two cylindrical containers containing the Primal Esper Ability Entities, and held them in his hands.
The emerald green Primal Ability was sticky in texture like a liquid, whereas the sky blue Primal Ability was like a cloud of light mist with icy debris.
The emerald green one was known as ‘Natural Spirit Power’, which could control various plants and greatly accelerated their growth. It could also call on beasts and possessed various powers of nature, just like a druid. Its frontal combat capability was slightly weaker, but it could extract and synthesize toxins from a variety of plants, which was good for research. The Holy Accord had utilized this ability to cultivate various magical plants and toxins.
The sky-blue entity was named ‘Frost Authority’, which not only allowed it to manipulate the cold but could also temporarily turn ice and snow into ice golem warriors like a Magic Colossus. It could also produce ice armors and weapons, move with the frigid winds, spreading death through the lack of heat… It was said that a sufficiently powerful host could even allow it to freeze molecular motion for a short amount of time, creating the effect of freezing time and space. These two abilities are actually pretty good. After all, they’re composite Primal Esper Abilities, but their effect is second. The main thing is to activate my milestone, Han Xiao thought to himself.
The (Primal Esper Ability Collector] milestone allowed him to be strengthened when facing an Esper, allowing him to gain innate advantages. The effect was impressive.
As for (The Third Sanctum) fragments rewarded by the mission. While it seemed useless at the moment, Han Xiao felt that they would come into handy after he obtained the method to open the sanctum from the Holy Accord.
Who should I hand these abilities to?
Han Xiao searched his mind for candidates.
The first choice should be to give it to Evans, as with his talent, he should be able to ignore the issue of adaptability like EsGod and easily master the Esper Abilities.
However, thinking about it, Han Xiao rejected this idea. Right now, Evans’ first mission would be to level himself up and develop his own combat style through absorbing various abilities. If he gave Evans the two Primal Esper Abilities, he would not have any energy to concentrate on his research.
Moreover, with Evans’ current level, he had no chance to fight, and the Primal Esper Ability would only be used for display. I should first look for a suitable host among the officers of the army. The last resort should be Evans.
Putting away the two Primal Abilities, Han Xiao opened the data storage and took out the two Gold Grade blueprints that the Holy Accord had given him to look through.
The blueprints provided by the Holy Accord were all relatively old technology, which were likely to have been preserved from the exploration era and not improved on much. One of the blueprints was called ‘Psionic Obelisk’, which had the effect of energy conversion and formation of energy barriers. What separated it from general psionic shields was that it had an extraordinary resistance to energy attacks and could absorb a portion of damage to restore its shield durability.
But this was only its basic function. The core function of the Psionic Obelisk was to provide a large field of energy that could be borrowed at will without a transmission pipeline. In simple terms, this item could increase the energy concentration of an area to become denser and more active.
Thus, this Psionic Obelisk was equivalent to a magic weapon which could increase the aura concentration of a place, similar to man-made blessings.
Because the Obelisk provided free energy that could be borrowed without any restrictions, it would be no different from what the surface civilization deemed as sacred objects or wonders. The extremely active energy factor would allow individuals to have more ways to utilize energy and also a higher probability of giving rise to other super systems. At the same time, obtaining a large-scale infusion from the obelisk could result in temporary transformations, allowing an ordinary person to possess combat power. The effect of the Psionic Obelisk could be said to be somewhat similar to the Evolutionary Totem, but their focus was different. The former focuses on increasing the overall energy concentration within the area, while the latter focused on optimizing the genes of the individual. Comparing the two, the Evolutionary Totem was rarer. But this little toy still had its uses. Putting it in each base of the army could improve the training efficiency of the members, spawning more powerful players and at the same time allowing him to sell it for his business. Even if the sales volume might not match up to the Evolutionary Totem, it would still be a good cornucopia.
Because the Holy Accord paid attention to its secrecy, they did not sell their Psionic Obelisks. All of these blueprints were merely accumulating dust in the warehouse. They were not good at mechanical technology, and since they made most of their money through their Esper Ability technology, they chose to provide Black Star with a path to fortune.
In actual fact, the blueprint that the Holy Accord wanted to take out was not this one. Oathkeeper, however, felt that Black Star was an unfathomable person, so he changed it to a better blueprint in hopes that it would serve as a ‘protection fee’ of some sort.
The other blueprint was named Getta Hadoken. While it sounded like a pugilist technique, it was actually a sort of compounded attack device.
This device required a combination of the Armed and Energy Branches. It had a complete set of complex equipment, but it was not assembled together like a firearm, scattered instead like an external carrier. Through special methods of energy gathering, compression, and transformation, this would launch a powerful attack, and the issued attack was known as ‘Getta Hadoken’.
This equipment was also not a one-trick pony. According to the different operating routes of the device, the Getta Hadoken had many variations, including close, medium, and long ranged combat. Dozens of supporting operation routes were recorded in the blueprint, each operation route representing a method of attack. Each of them had their own unique names with the same prefix of ‘Getta’.
“Rather than calling it a blueprint, this thing seems more like a pugilist manual for Mechanics. It seems like this is best suited for Mechanical Pugilists.”
Han Xiao scratched his head.
With the Psionic Obelisk and Getta Hadoken being added to the other Gold grade blueprints Titan Spinal Center and Mechanical Territory obtained from the Federation, he finally obtained everything he was owed.
With the blueprints in hand, the next thing to do was to turn them into real objects.
“The public commendation ceremony for the three Universal Civilizations is about two months away. It’s a good time to seclude myself and produce the four finished products, obtaining more God’s Trait Transformation points… I’ve been in the limelight too much recently. It’s better for me to stay low-key for a short period of time, to digest my influence and stabilize the reputation.”
Han Xiao made up his mind, gearing up and hurriedly entering his manufacturing state.
In one of the secret training bases in the Crimson Dynasty, a group of officers were operating equipment in a room full of instruments. One of the walls of the room was a huge transparent viewing window. Two of the senior officers were standing in front of the viewing window; one of them was the supervisor of the base, and the other was the drill sergeant.
The two of them looked down the window, to see an inverted pyramid-like space below. A man was seated at the deepest point hundreds of meters down, releasing strong energy fluctuations and glowing energy particles. It spread around the walls before gathering back on top and falling back down, forming a cycle.
This was a special training facility for Supers that could improve the efficiency of their cultivation. At this time, the person within the facility was Gaud, and the instrument room was actually the monitoring room. The operators present were all paying attention to the energy fluctuations readings of Gaud.
“His progress is fast. This is a good seed.” The drill sergeant stared down at the silhouette below as he nodded in satisfaction.
“That’s right. He’s the most likely talent to reach Beyond Grade A in his class. Not only does he have potential, but his own abilities are extremely powerful. Maybe one day he’ll take on the position of Lord Clotti,” the base supervisor praised.
“Black Star is still in line. It won’t be his turn that soon.”
“I’m just guessing, and besides, Black Star is not of direct descent.”
The two of them conversed softly.
Gaud had already been training for many years, and he was making rapid progress. All sorts of barriers were easily passed, as though he had no bottlenecks. This sublimation in his life level in such a radical way was obviously dangerous, but he gave people the feeling that he was extremely familiar with this path.
In the eyes of both of them, even if Gaud’s talent was not as good as Black Star, who had broken all records, he was not too far off.
The drill sergeant gazed at the instrument’s readings, before exclaiming in amazement, “At this rate, I estimate he’ll enter the Beyond Grade A realm in two to eight years. This is the most efficient person I’ve seen… if we exclude Black Star.”
“It seems like we’re witnessing yet another rise of a Beyond Grade A.” The supervisor laughed, “The upper echelons have already sent down people twice. It seems like they’re very concerned with the progress of Gaud.”
It was a feat to be able to cultivate a Beyond Grade A of direct descent, so as long as Gaud completed his promotion, the supervisor would also experience a ‘promotion’
After idly chatting a bit more, both men went back to work topics.
“Has the list of new trainees this semester been compiled?” the drill sergeant asked. “It’s been completed. I was preparing to hand it to you.” The base supervisor called up a virtual screen to show a list.
VA
This secret training base would select talents from the dynasty for a targeted training every once in a while. If there was potential, the dynasty did not mind raising even an infant all the way to the Calamity Grade, branding them a direct descent of the dynasty. Thus, they not only recruited Calamity Grades but also divided them based on different ranks and classes according to their Grade.
The lower their grade, the more intense the competition. In Grades below the Calamity Grade, there existed an implementation system. Either one passed the assessment, or they would pack up and return to the army.
If you cannot make it, then leave. Don’t continue to occupy the pit even if you cannot sh*t.
The name list was quite long, and every one of them was accompanied by a resume and record. There were countless people with varying honors; they were the elites of each fleet.
The drill sergeant looked carefully, and when he came toward the end, he was taken aback. He saw that among the group of elites with gorgeous resumes, there was a person with almost no merits on his resume, and his bearing in his photos gave off a silly air without any class.
“Karlot? Where did this guy come from? Why would the top pick a completely ordinary fellow to come in?”
The drill sergeant had an expression of befuddlement, even scrutinizing Karlot’s resume, but the whole thing basically screamed ‘ordinary’.
While this secret training base did not only recruit elite students, they had to have some characteristics. How did such a guy who was indistinguishable from a grunt get in?
Could it be through connections?
Don’t tell me that even the dynasty’s upper echelons are also corrupted now!
The drill sergeant was heartbroken.
“I didn’t understand as well, so I specifically went to inquire.” The supervisor hesitated. “It seems that Black Star publicly expressed optimism about this person many years ago, but so far, there has not been any outstanding performance from him. The upper echelons plan to give him a chance to see if you can train him.”
“So, it turns out it’s like this…” The drill sergeant frowned. “I feel that this is a waste of space. So many years have passed. If he had the potential, then he would have shown it already. What’s the point of cultivating him with the mentality of a gambler now?”
“If you strongly object to this, I’ll help you pass him on.” The supervisor could not care less. It was not him who was going to teach the students any way.
The drill sergeant frowned as he pondered, finally shaking his head. “Forget it. Since they’ve decided from above, I’ll follow the orders and give him a chance… but I won’t deliberately give him any slack. If he cannot pass the assessment, he’ll still be eliminated.”
There was no such thing as fairness in education here. The drill sergeant only liked the top students and was too lazy to spend energy on the poorer students. He even thought that it was a waste of time to look at them. Concentrating the resources on those top students with outstanding talents was the solution to maximizing resource efficiency.
“That’s not bad.” The supervisor glanced at the list before saying, “Then I’ll put him in the most elite class and give him the most powerful opponent, so he won’t stay long. I estimate that he’ll leave in the first quarter.”
The supervisor had the same mentality. It would not help his political performance to train a poor student into an elite. Only when an elite was trained into a top-tier combatant would they then gain merit.
Thus, he did not mind using his power within the rules to eliminate those poor students with insufficient talents to the greatest extent, in order to free up more places to recruit better potential stocks.
In his eyes, this was the proper use of limited resources, and the survival of the fittest was a natural law.
Within the Crimson Dynasty’s Science Institute was the Wormhole Position Project Office.
The Science Institute was divided into many teams with different complex projects. The wormhole positioning was a large project, and any suspicious wormhole data collected by the dynasty was analyzed here.
The wormhole data left behind by EsGod was just one of the goals of the research team of this project, and it was a sample that was not so important.
As the research team leader was calculating the wormhole model in the laboratory, his secretary hurried in.
“Leader, the approval from above has been sent over. They rejected our batch of applications for the wormhole test.”
“Rejected?” The team leader was surprised. “Isn’t it just a procedure? Why did they stop us this time?”
After deducing part of the coordinates for a wormhole data, a directional shuttle test would usually be performed, and several multifunctional detectors would then be thrown through the wormhole for an on-site inspection and position to establish a more accurate coordinate system. This would allow them to test if there was any deviation in their data deduction, which was a conventional method of experimenting.
The team leader was quite interested in this batch of test samples, which included the wormhole data left by EsGod.
He did not care much about what was on the other side of the wormhole, and the reason was mainly because the sample was extremely difficult to calculate. After finally determining the scope, he was eager to know if his calculation was right.
The secretary pushed up his glasses, hesitantly replying, “I don’t know the details, but it seems like this was a suggestion from His Excellency Black Star. The upper echelons thought his words made sense, so the review standards for most scientific projects have temporarily been tightened.”
“What is this about Black Star again?”
“He seems to have mentioned something about the Super Star Cluster Alliance being ready to move. Once a conflict breaks out, the three Universal Civilizations will not have any time to take care of anything else, so it is best to reduce the possibility of any random risks. The management accepted his proposal about our wormhole project.”
The team leader could not help but grumble, “Black Star is only a half-baked scientist. Isn’t he just causing us more trouble?”
At this moment, one of the researchers carefully asked, “Team leader, then… do we still do the shuttle test?”
Hearing this, the leader huffed in annoyance. “What do you want to do? Without approval from the upper echelons, do you dare study in private? You’re really good, not even respecting your superiors. I must correct your teaching. Come here, take this uncalculated wormhole data and do the calculations! If you can’t figure this out, then your holiday this year is cancelled!”
“… Eh, so we actually have holidays?” The researcher in question scratched his head in confusion. Then, where have all my past holidays gone?
In the Central Galaxy, the Abyss of Stars, the Shadow Realm…
The planet filled with dark gaseous air was still suspended here, as though it had existed since ancient times.
Streams of light could be seen a distance away from the planet, and a fleet arrived.
The dark planet suddenly became restless, the energy flowing on its surface rumbling and setting off a wave thousands of feet tall. Like shaking off a full body of lice, shadow servants appeared from the waves, ready to launch an overwhelming attack any time.
The spaceship at the head of the fleet suddenly released a burst of black-colored soul flames, which spread rapidly and quickly swept across the dark planet. The next moment, the pitch-black planet turned quiet, and the countless shadow servants returned to the black ocean, merging into the surface of the planet and disappearing.
Oathkeeper stepped out of the spaceship, hovering in space and staring at the dark planet in front of him whilst speaking through mental fluctuations.
“The date has been brought forward. We must perform the ceremony immediately, otherwise we will not be able to keep up with the agreed date…”
“But I haven’t completely transformed all the materials yet…” “There’s no more time. If I miss the date of this appointment, even if I enter The Third Sanctum, I will not be able to bring anyone back. There’s no set cycle to this date, and I am not sure how many years it will take till the next date. We cannot miss this opportunity.”
“… Alright, I’ll try my best.”
Oathkeeper nodded before turning to the fleet and commanding, “Prepare to synthesize the final key.”
As he spoke, the fleet moved. They spread out in the four cardinal directions, docking at different positions of the dark planet and forming a specific formation. The armor plates at the bottom of each spaceship shifted to reveal a circular device which let off a hazy light. These lights linked with each other to form a translucent energy cover, encapsulating the planet within.
A silvery white cannon muzzle then appeared from all of the spaceships, aimed toward the dark planet.
In the mental network built by Oathkeeper, the voices of the officers could be heard. “The 12th-level energy stabilization and compression force field has been constructed, and the target has been covered.”
“Transmitter has been activated. All Primal Esper Ability Entities have been loaded and sequenced.”
“Information Form template is loaded. The reconciliation process has been calibrated. The preparations are complete.”
“All standby, wait for my orders,” Oathkeeper solemnly said as he raised his palm.
Everyone stared at Oathkeeper’s palm, holding their breath. Law and Fay as well as the other officers clenched their fists, their chests rising and falling
Seeing that the mission of the Holy Accord over these years would end with the wave of this hand, everyone had some sort of fluctuations in their mood.
Looking around, Oathkeeper slightly closed his eyes, waving his hand resolutely. “Begin!” Just as he spoke, it was as though they had pressed a start button on a sophisticated instrument. All the operators present had practiced this process thousands of times without any mistakes, and they started to synthesize in strict accordance with the steps of the ceremony.
Bang, bang, bang! The silvery-white cannons shot out colorful beams of light, each beam representing a Primal Esper Ability Entity, which was submerged into the dark planet.
Thousand Shadows’ abilities was the base behind the synthesis. Through its own ability mechanism, it began to compress and fuse the many Primal Esper Ability Entities. The dark planet changed in an instant, the energy of different entities shuttling and flowing in the black sea on the surface of the planet, as though painting on the canvas.
Various energies of a different nature reacted fiercely, and the color of the dark planet turned brighter, gradually transforming into an incandescent ball, like a super large light bulb.
The force field covering it shuddered violently as it withstood the impact. It flickered uncertainly, trembling as though it would be disintegrated at any time. At this moment, the information form template came into play. It was as if an invisible big hand began to knead the ball of light, changing its shape and shrinking its original volume. Under everyone’s eyes, it slowly decreased from a huge planet to a circle not past a hundred meters in diameter. However, the energy density was untold times higher in that slowly spinning circle, so dazzling that it could hardly be seen directly. “Success!”
Seeing this scene, the members of the Holy Accord cheered.
Oathkeeper suppressed the excitement in his heart, loudly saying, “Put in the other keys and open The Third Sanctum!”
The troops acted again, taking out the ‘keys’ they had gathered before and putting them into the center of this white ball through the traction field. It seemed that there was a special force present within, holding up these objects and making them rotate around the light circle.
When the last ‘key’ was thrown in, the circle suddenly emitted a bright light, projecting a picture in the cosmic space not far away, like the reflection of the world in a mirror.
Within the picture, there were six vague doors of light, which were also slowly rotating. They did not look far away, but they appeared untouchable, just like a mirage, as though they were in another world.
This scene only lasted for a moment, and five of the light doors suddenly disappeared, the remaining one growing rapidly as though turning from illusory to reality. The edge of the doorway was still shaking slightly and seemed quite unstable. There was only the radiance of the door within the passage, and nothing could be seen on the other end.
“This is the portal to The Third Sanctum. According to the information handed down, the time flow inside is strange. It’s not long to the agreed date, and I’ve to go in early now…” This thought passed Oathkeeper’s mind, and he took a deep breath, prepared to fly across the door of light.
At this moment, the white halo that was transformed from the dark planet suddenly trembled violently, and the black mist separated itself, turning into a face. Its mouth opened and let out an unwilling roar, which exploded in everyone’s mind.
Buzz!
The sudden changes made the passage of The Third Sanctum turn fuzzy and illusory again, as though it was about to disintegrate any time.
“Thousand Shadows!”
Oathkeeper snapped his head around, his eyes spraying raging Soul Flames that instantly hit Thousand Shadows, burning the mist into nothingness.
This blow completely killed off the remaining consciousness of Thousand Shadows, and now, it was truly dead.
“He indeed counterattacked at the last moment…” Oathkeeper was not surprised and secretly sighed.
The Holy Accord initially wanted to wait until Thousand Shadows’ consciousness was completely swallowed up before performing the ceremony, but the agreed date was pushed forward, so they had no time to wait.
While Oathkeeper could have easily destroyed Thousand Shadows’ consciousness before, under normal circumstances, Thousand Shadows and its ability were one, unable to be forcibly separated. If he killed it, then even the ability itself would be wiped out, removing this Primal Esper Ability Entity forever from this world.
The synthesis ritual was able to eliminate anything superfluous to them, so Thousand Shadows had taken this chance to counterattack. It was only then that it briefly separated, giving Oathkeeper a chance to kill it.
It was just that even though Oathkeeper reduced the influence of the Thousand Shadows to the minimum, it still had a negative impact. Everyone saw that the portal to The Third Sanctum was turning unstable.
Without any delay, Oathkeeper rushed into the passage of The Third Sanctum, only leaving behind a sentence. “Before I’m back, Law and Fay will be the temporary leaders. Keep a low profile until I bring the rest back.”
The next moment, the passage toward The Third Sanctum collapsed, and the many keys disintegrated.
Other than the Primal Esper Ability Entities, the other keys were basically a one-time use, and what the Holy Accord had spent many years gathering all disappeared into smoke.
As Oathkeeper disappeared, the locators that he specially carried on his body all became invalid, as if they no longer existed in this world.
A little more than a month later. In an asteroid belt somewhere within the Flickering World, two figures, one black and one red, shuttled through it, fighting fiercely.
“Torrent-Getta Hadoken!”
A bright blue ray was emitted, and the asteroids that were along the ray’s path were instantly vaporized and annihilated, leaving behind a blank path.
The red figure teleported to avoid the attack before backhandedly fanning out a red energy wave to retaliate.
The space around them flickered as the two of them continuously exchanged blows. They were Han Xiao and Hila, who were enjoying a routine spar.
The two of them fought against each other many times, so they knew each other’s bottom line. Following Han Xiao’s hit to Hila’s abdomen with a heavy knee drop, he smashed her down so she could not stand up before landing a heavy neck chop with his palm, ending the battle.
“Cough cough cough…” Hila kneeled on a small star as she grabbed her neck and coughed. She said in a muffled tone, “I lost
again.”
“There’s no need to be discouraged. Your progress is already fast enough. The Underworld is really a good thing.” Han Xiao felt a little jealous.
Since acquiring the Underworld secondary dimension, Hila’s growth rate also began to skyrocket. The faster the Underworld recovered, the stronger her Esper Ability would get.
Thus, in Han Xiao’s recent battles with Hila, he had gone as heavy as he could. If he relaxed, Hila would complain that he was going easy on her.
“My improvement is not as fast as yours.” Hila stood up, pointing at the floating device beside Han Xiao. “Your new machinery is not bad. Even I cannot eat a few shots of this thing.”
“I’m after all a Mechanic. Our systems are different.”
Han Xiao smiled as he stowed the Getta Hadoken away.
In the past two months, he had succeeded in creating all four new Gold Grade items from the blueprints. With (100 Million Mechanic Empire-Manison), the success rate and efficiency of creating Universal Treasures had been greatly improved, which greatly saved costs.
The Evolutionary Totem could easily be mass produced, but it was difficult for the Psionic Obelisk. However, Han Xiao managed to produce a batch of finished products, which had been installed in many of the army bases, while the Mechanical Territory was only provided to his Machinery civilization.
The scope of application for the Titan Spinal Center was limited to the Mechanical Deity. Only the Getta Hadoken was the most practical. It was not only adapted to a variety of fighting environments but could also combine various tricks and utilize weapon-like combos, winning the favoritism of the Great Mechanic Han.
The attack strength of the Getta Hadoken depended on the Power Output of the energy core as well as the strength of his own input. It would have an attack enhancement effect, which would increase one’s original attack power by a set percentage. Its lethality was impressive-other than concentrated firepower, the Mechanic usually did not have any other methods that could dish out high damage, and the Getta Hadoken made up for this gap to a certain extent.
Every time Han Xiao used this weapon, he could not resist shouting out the name, as though this would increase the strength further.
The two Primal Esper Ability Entities were also dealt with. The Natural Spirit Power found its host, namely Emerald Grass, the director of the Pharmaceutical Research Institute in the Logistics Department. Her abilities were extremely compatible with it, and she succeeded in adapting to the Entity. As for Frost Authority, it did not manage to find a host, so Han Xiao allowed it to remain as a Mysterious Energy Host for the time being.
After cleaning up the battlefield, Han Xiao casually said, “After a while, the joint award ceremony of the three Universal Civilizations for the Intelligent Plague will be held. Do you want to attend?”
“I didn’t participate in clearing the Intelligent Plague. Why would I go?” Hila shook her head. “In fact, you’re the one who’s going up to receive the award. Are you prepared?”.
“There’s nothing much to prepare. Isn’t it just some ceremonial words? I’ll make some up.” “Whatever.” Hila rolled her eyes. She was normally dignified and grave, almost never engaging with her subordinates in idle chatter. She would only talk more when she was with Han Xiao. “Speaking of which, it seems like the free competition zone is a little weird nowadays.” “Why?”
“The fourth exploration phase is estimated to be around eighty percent complete at the moment, and the expansion of the Super Star Cluster Alliance is growing bigger, no longer just content with exploration but also starting to invade and seize the other territories of the surrounding organizations on a large scale. They not only encompass the central zone of the free competition zone and multiple resource rich planets—they’ve also established a stargate transportation system, connecting multiple borders, obviously with strategic intentions.”
Han Xiao did not find that weird as he replied, “It’s normal. The Super Star Cluster Alliance is now in preparation. It’s estimated that the three Universal Civilizations will soon have a formal conflict with them. They wish to obtain a piece of land to act freely in the Flickering World, and the three Universal Civilizations are unwilling to allow the Super Star Cluster Alliance to do so. With the excuse of free competition and anti-monopoly, the contradictions between the two parties cannot be reconciled.”
“Oh… there’s also some strange movements of other organizations, including many non-legal Immortal organizations. It seems like they’re preparing to move as well.”
“Alright, I’ll pay more attention to this.” Han Xiao nodded. The World Server war was imminent, with the Super Star Clusters seen in the shadows of this event.
Both of them chatted a little more before returning to their respective fleets. Hila returned to the free competition zone, while Han Xiao’s destination was toward the planet where the three Universal Civilizations would hold the award ceremony, located in the Dawn Star Cluster, which was the gateway to the Flickering World.
After arriving and announcing his identity, the fleet, led by the Dynasty Guards, took the VIP channel, skipping past the other guests, and docked at the port.
As soon as Han Xiao disembarked, he saw Tarrokov waiting for him.
Both of them walked closer, reaching out for a strong handshake.“Have you been waiting for long?”
“Not at all, Your Excellency Black Star. You came early.”
“Hehe, I have a good sense of time.” After a few greetings, Tarrokov lowered his voice. “Because of secrecy, I could not inform you earlier, but I can now say that the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations are attending this meeting, so you have to be prepared.”
Han Xiao’s brows jumped up. “You mean…”
“That’s right. They’ll appear in person this time, personally giving you the award.”
Han Xiao felt surprised.
I thought that I would just be here to parade around once. To think that it would be such a huge event.
It seems that the three Universal Civilizations have set their hearts on pushing up my fame!
After waiting for several days on the planet, Han Xiao witnessed the increase in the planetary security levels. A regular military force arrived, taking over the responsibility of protecting the planet, sealing the line defense, and making it nigh impenetrable.
Around half of the planet had entered martial law, and various advanced defense measures had also been arranged to prevent long-range strikes from threatening the celebratory planet.
While the Intelligent Plague broke out in the Ancient Star Desert, and it was more reasonable for the ceremony to be held there, the three Universal Civilizations took into account the fact that many of the Beyond Grade As were currently in the Flickering World and changed the venue, quoting symbolic significance. After all, this was another major exploration result of the galactic civilization after so many years. The leaders of the three Universal Civilizations attended the ceremony together, which was a rare scene. Due to their sensitive identities, such an event would generally be held in the Central Galaxy rather than other Star Fields. Even with careful security, life was unpredictable, so leaving the Central Galaxy was undoubtedly a risky move.
Han Xiao was sure that there would be some organizations with ulterior motives moving around. While the three Universal Civilizations had a mature operating system, such that their government would not be disturbed much even if their leaders were assassinated, there would still be some temporary chaos, which could be what these people were looking for.
Of course, if an organization really dared do this, then they would no longer have a place in the explored universe, as they would be hunted until every last one of them was dead. The relationship with the faction would forever be at ‘Hatred’. Moreover, with so many armies and Beyond Grade As gathered in a place, the success rate of an assassination was negligible.
But well, this does not hinder them from scheming some deliberate framing.
Han Xiao suspected that the three Universal Civilizations might engage in a self-directed act, pretending to have some outsiders assassinate them during the ceremony, before using this to put blame on their targets to get an excuse for a crusade.
This method seems familiar, as though I’ve seen it somewhere before…
Could it be that I’m the one that inspired them?
Han Xiao had experienced a ‘back stab’ not too long ago, so his memory was still fresh. At this moment, his thoughts could not help but be biased toward this aspect, and his imagination was running wild.
With his understanding of the three Universal Civilizations, it was not impossible that they would do such a thing. The chances of it happening was probably around twenty percent, and he could not ask Urranrell for verification just like that.
During the few days he stayed on the planet, he did not contact the head of the three Universal Civilizations but rather sat in the officially arranged guest house just like everyone else, waiting silently.
On the day the ceremony was held, Han Xiao and the guests were all transported to the ceremony site in official vehicles. The venue was a large hall decorated in the style of the dynasty. One could see countless invited guests lining up to enter the venue, but no loud noises were heard, only the rustling of quiet conversations. The entire atmosphere was quite serious.
Han Xiao’s seat was arranged at the front table, with Kasuyi, Kant, and the other peak Beyond Grade As.
After greeting, Han Xiao sat down next to Kasuyi, glancing at the people, before whispering, “Mechanic Emperor didn’t come?”
“He’s here, but it’s just his avatar.” Kasuyi gestured toward the back.
A steel lump was sat at the edge of the venue, but even if it was covered in a layer of iron, Han Xiao could smell Manison’s aura on it.
“He won’t cause trouble during the ceremony, right?” Han Xiao blinked.
“Manison is not that crazy yet,” Kant replied.
Today, Kant appeared as a handsome middle-aged galactic human, with a tall nose, deep eyes, and sharp facial features.
Han Xiao glanced at the security personnel at the edge of the venue before whispering, “I keep thinking that this won’t go so smoothly. Maybe there might be an assassination.”
“With so many of us Beyond Grade As here, who’d have such big guts?” Sun Hunter said.
“It might be a self-directed act…” Han Xiao winked.
Secret Master could not help but roll his eyes at Han Xiao as he coldly snorted, “Enough with that. You think the three Universal Civilizations are like you, to perform such a lowly act?” “So what if it’s lowly? What matters is that it’s useful.” Han Xiao clicked his tongue. “Wanna bet?”
“You dare bet!” Secret Master was stunned.
Aren’t you clear what sort of luck you have?
If one were to liken my luck to a flawless gemstone, then yours would be like the moldy green moss along the wall of a stinking ditch. How dare you bet with me, a master of luck? Are you feeling that charitable?
“Alright, then what are you going to give me?”
“I’ll bet Sun Hunter. If I lose, then I’ll give him to you. How about that?” Han Xiao reached out his thumb and finger, pinching the tiny guy’s head and pulling him up. “Huh?”
Sun Hunter, who was being dangled in midair, had the expression of the confused Nick Young meme.
What the f*ck does it have to do with me? Watch out before I blast your ass.
Secret Master was speechless, immediately patting Han Xiao to put Sun Hunter down. He apologized before whispering angrily to Han Xiao, “Who uses another person as a gambling stake? His Excellency Sun Hunter might be a little pocket-sized, but how can you make fun of his size.”
“We have a good relationship, don’t worry.”
Han Xiao flicked his finger, bouncing it against Sun Hunter’s head, earning him an angered glare from the other party before he sheepishly smiled and gave it up. He had always wanted to do so in his past life, and he had finally ticked it off his bucket list. With all of them being on equal footing, this little joke was harmless, but if it was an ordinary Beyond Grade A that did this to Sun Hunter, the person could probably apply for disability protection.
“Since you don’t like this bet, then I’ll change to something else.” “What?”
“I know you have some issues with me, so let’s do it like this. If you win, I’ll stand still for ten minutes and let you vent your frustrations. If I win, you do the same. Fair?”
Secret Master simply shut his mouth and turned his head away, not wanting to speak with Han Xiao any longer.
Forget about it, who here doesn’t know of your Indestructible Body’s tankiness? Fair my grandpa, I still want to live for a long time.
The group at the table chatted for a while, and suddenly, a group of officers strode into the venue, surrounded by their respective leaders. The venue immediately calmed down as the atmosphere turned solemn.
The Dynasty’s Ruler Urranrell, the Federation’s President Bader, and the Arcane Church’s Pope swaggered to the high platform of the venue under the eyes of everyone present, sitting at the specially arranged seats with the podium next to them.
Han Xiao had only seen Urranrell personally, and this was his first time meeting Bader and the Pope. While both of them had different temperaments, they possessed the same aura of power like Urranrell, causing everyone to turn serious subconsciously.
However, the focus of his observation was not the two leaders, but the personal guards around them, all of which were of the same stature as the Dark Lord Clotti.
On Bader’s side was a male with a white complexion and similar body structure to humans, except that he had a straight horn on his forehead, forcing him to keep his hair to an appropriate length. His hair color was golden and was tied into a twisted braid that hangs down to the waist. He seemed to have some elf blood as he had long ears, deep purple eyes, and a well-proportioned mouth but did not have a nose. The part that was his nose that was supposed to be flat was strangely not ugly
—it instead appeared harmonious with his features.
This person wore a robe that was dotted with light gold and ice blue colors, revealing an elegant nobleness and gentle temperament. This person was the Personal Guard of the Federation, the peak Beyond Grade A ‘Golden Ring’ Oulou.
Oulou’s ability was to borrow the power of a specific secondary dimension. It sounded like the dead Traveller’s ability, but his combat power was not the same. This guy was at the same level as the Dark Lord, able to fight Kasuyi hand to hand and not lose.
Han Xiao turned his head to the other side.
Next to the Church’s Pope was a huge guy, not the kind that got to this size through training but rather naturally huge, as though he had some giant blood running within. This was the Chief Guard of the Church, the one who was stationed at the Temple of God, ‘God’s Chosen’ Wuornos.
tas
Compared to Oulou’s glamorous outfits, Wuornos’ looks and temperament were low-key, as if he was just an ordinary middle-aged man with wrinkled eyes. He wore a silver-gray priest robe, and if not for the robe, one would probably not recognize him if they threw him into a crowd of people. “Oulou and Wuornos…” Han Xiao softly muttered.
Both of them were just like the Dark Lord, generally only following the Head of State, hardly participating in activities other than their duties.
Glancing at Han Xiao, Kasuyi leaned over and casually said, “This is your first time meeting them, right? Here’s a piece of advice, you can joke with Oulou and fool around, but don’t go and provoke Wuornos.”
“What’s with that?” Han Xiao was curious.
“While Oulou is the chief guard, his personality is different to Clotti’s, warmer and not so indifferent. Other than occasionally showing some superiority, he’s not bad. However, Wuornos… heh, just don’t mess with him.”
“You’re making me more curious. You’re the ally of the Arcane Church. Do you know some gossip?”
“Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you. I can only say that he’s the Beyond Grade A publicly acknowledged to be the strongest, and naturally, there’s a reason.” Kasuyi blandly smiled.
At this time, Urranrell stood before the podium, surveying the scene before speaking.
“Dear friends and guests, today, we’re holding a grand award ceremony to commend all the heroes who made great contributions in the Intelligent Plague disaster. The ceremony will honor every hero with an outstanding meritorious service. “First, on behalf of the three Universal Civilizations, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the heroes of the universe who will be receiving the Medal of Honor as well as the honorary titles, and I extend my highest respect to them. “We’ve gone through many ups and downs, and today, we have united as one and once again eliminated another new disaster.
“Since the establishment of the galactic society in the last years of the exploration era, generations of heroes with a sense of responsibility have given up themselves to overcome difficulty after difficulty, shaping the cornerstone of today’s galactic society. While many have passed away, their glorious deeds will always spread from generation to generation.
“Only by crossing new mountains can we see a wider distance. Under the leadership of the three Universal Civilizations, we have overcome obstacles, constantly explored the unknown universe, and expanded our territory. Now, we’re in the Flickering World, a milestone achievement and a fruitful result of our external exploration.
“Such an achievement cannot be achieved with the cooperation of the entire galactic society. It’s this bond of order that connects us and creates a never-ending pioneering spirit. Anyone who tries to disrupt this order and unity will become the enemy of the entire universe…”
The media was broadcasting Urranrell’s speech to the entire universe. When she finished speaking, there was a tsunami-like applause in the venue. Han Xiao and the other Beyond Grade As also gave face to clap a little.
Han Xiao heard that in Urranrell’s words she emphasized the importance of collectivism, on the correctness and achievements of the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations, vaguely throwing arrows at the Super Star Cluster Alliance as well as the Mechanic Emperor. While she did not explicitly mention anything, everyone knew who the so-called ‘people who disrupted galactic civilization and society’ were.
Bader and the Pope also gave some short speeches before entering the formal award process. One by one, the heroes came to the stage, accepting the honors and making a speech. Some also answered questions from the reporters.
Before long, the ceremony approached the end. There was only one person left, and everyone’s eyes were focused on Han Xiao.
“Black Star limited the outflow of the virus during the disaster and discovered the true character of the virus core at the critical moment, reversing our erroneous strategy and allowing us to reformulate our plan. He alone changed the course of the disaster. He later captured the virus core and destroyed it, completely eliminating any hidden dangers, putting an end to the crisis of a second outbreak of the Intelligent Plague, saving countless lives. His contribution is huge and thus needs to be rewarded.”
After Urranrell spoke, Han Xiao stood up, stepping onto the stage and shaking hands with the leaders. Numerous news media reporters in the audience took videos and photos, turning the stage white with their flashes.
“Black Star has many good qualities. He is determined, resolute, flexible, and strong in principle…” Bader gave a series of praise, finally coming to the conclusion. “In view of his achievements, we have decided to jointly award him the Galaxy Medal.”
The moment he finished speaking, everyone in the audience paused.
The Galaxy Medal, which was the highest symbol of honor jointly set up by the three Universal Civilizations since their establishment, was the golden glory of the explored universe. There were only a few winners of this medal in history.
While many of them had this expectation in their hearts, they were still shocked to hear it. They always felt that although Black Star had great achievements, there was still a certain distance from this medal. Now it seemed that the factor behind this medal was if the three Universal Civilizations would support them.
But no matter what they thought, the honor was real, and the audience burst into applause.
Pa pa pa…
Amid the warm applause, Urranrell took out a star-like dazzling medal, placing it in her palm, while the other two held it by the edges, handing it to Han Xiao.
This image seemed to freeze, and the flashes under the stage flickered, recording this historic scene.
The commotion lasted a long time, and it took dozens of seconds before all movement gradually ceased.
Han Xiao reached out to accept the medal, pinning it on his chest before shaking hands with all three of them once more. He came up to the podium, clearing his throat.
“Many thanks to the Crimson Dynasty, Federation of Light, and the Arcane Church. To be able to receive this award is an honor for me. As part of the explored universe, I have the responsibility and obligation to maintain our stability and prosperity…”.
Reading from his prepared script, Han Xiao raised his head to gaze at the clock on the venue before smiling. “Since I’m the last person, it means that the ceremony is about to end. I won’t do a lengthy speech. Everything is about the same, and I feel that everyone here is already tired of hearing it…”
The audience let out laughs.
Han Xiao smiled as he nodded. “In short, what sort of person I am can be seen from my actions. I believe that society has its own views of me, and I don’t need to repeat it, so let’s skip that and go to the questions… Anyone?”
Hearing this, many of the reporters raised their hands enthusiastically, hoping for him to point at themselves.
Just as Han Xiao was about to pick someone, one of them stood up on his own and began to speak.
“Your Excellency Black Star, I heard that the Mechanic Emperor Manison also made a great contribution to the Intelligent Plague. Without him, the three Universal Civilizations would not have been able to find the location of the virus core. Thus, it can be said that a third or even half of your Galaxy Medal belongs to Manison… but for this award ceremony, the Mechanic Emperor did not obtain anything, and you seem to have forgotten about it and ignored his merits, accepting the medal with a peace of mind. What do you think of this?”
The originally enthusiastic venue suddenly seemed to have been doused in cold water, instantly quieting down.
Everyone moved their eyes subconsciously to Manison, who had been sitting indifferently at the edge of the venue.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes a little as he sized up the reporter. He saw the cold smile on that person’s face, obviously wishing to embarrass himself and the three Universal Civilizations in public.
The moment he started to ask his question rashly, the meaningful gazes of Urranrell, Bader, and the Pope immediately landed on him.
The reporter’s chest had his nametag, and he was called Porters, belonging to a news group in the Primeval Star River. His position was not low, otherwise he would not be responsible for the interview of the three Universal Civilizations on behalf of his media. Having participated in many press conferences for the three Universal Civilizations, his performance had been normal. To suddenly get into trouble, naturally someone had to put him up to it.
Han Xiao’s thoughts spun. At first, he suspected the Mechanic Emperor, but he quickly banished that thought.
The Old Man could not wait to pretend to be an ostrich right now. The more low-key he was, the better. This behavior of hiring people to question for himself was actually in some manner a self-damaging act… Manison was not so humorous and would not do such disturbing things.
Thus, the most likely suspect would be the Super Star Cluster Alliance, who contradicted the three Universal Civilizations most openly. Not only did they wish to sow discord, they also wished to badmouth the three Universal Civilizations in public. It cost little to do so.
All they had to take out was a sum of Enaus, which would be astronomical in the eyes of ordinary people, and the reporter would naturally be tempted. In such a grand scene, the negative impact of an untimely question would be further magnified.
The identity of a reporter acted as a shield for him, allowing him to add fuel to the fire. The three Universal Civilizations naturally did not wish to worsen the situation, and thus, they would not capture him or threaten him afterward. As the ruling party, a pawn was just a pawn to them. They had to show some class and go straight for the orchestrator behind the scenes.
The surrounding reporters look at Porters in surprise and agitation.
“Have you lost your mind!”
“Quick, apologize and sit down!” “You don’t want to be in this business anymore!” Those who knew him whispered in low voices, wishing to pull him down, but Porters stood firm, staring straight at Han Xiao with a spirit of getting to the bottom of the matter.
Han Xiao pressed both of his hands on the podium, slowly saying, “Dear reporter, I don’t seem to have invited you to ask your question.”
“So, are you avoiding the question now?”
Porters turned a deaf ear to them, his gaze sharp and his bearing aggressive. Oh, there’s a hint of a western reporter’s flavor in his attitude.
“You guys, only thinking about sensationalizing news every day,” Han Xiao said with a smile that was not a smile. “I believe that the galactic society has a unified view of the Mechanic Emperor’s behavior, but looking at you, it seems like you wish to fight for him, huh?”
“I’m just asking the questions that the public might be curious about, based on the professional ethics of a reporter.” Porters straightened his back, with a conscientious attitude.
“Alright. This question is a little more sensitive. While I did not call upon you, I can answer this one.” Han Xiao tapped his fingers on the podium, his tone casual. “Manison did indeed make a contribution. This is an undeniable fact, but your statement is wrong. In fact, Manison discovered the problem of the virus core earlier than I did. This medal should have belonged to him, but he deliberately chose not to report it because of his selfishness. If it was not for me who revealed it, he would not have revealed this key information. In this manner, the three Universal Civilizations would always have been kept in the dark, and the universe would still be shrouded in the shadow of the Intelligent Plague.”
“So, you’re admitting that the Mechanic Emperor should be sharing the Galaxy Medal with you? You also think that it’s unfair he has not been awarded the medal?” Porters pressed on. “I only admitted that he has credit due in this area, not that he deserves the Galaxy Medal. Don’t distort my meaning at your own will. Moreover, Manison’s final decision is enough to make everyone here re-evaluate his motives.”
“Your Excellency Black Star, please don’t digress. We are not talking about the Mechanic Emperor’s choice, only his objective achievements.” Porters was skilled in such evasive methods.
“No, they are not separable. Part of my credit comes from my plan to stop the Mechanic Emperor. If he did not do anything at that time, my credit would be limited. If you think based on this logic, technically, he might deserve half of the Galaxy Medal. Hmm, that actually makes sense… but seriously, if we were to hand him a medal, then those not in the know would believe that he has done a good thing, and those who have worked hard for the universe would feel that this is unfair. I believe the three Universal Civilizations only made such a decision after great thought.” “But the Mechanic…”
“I’ve answered your question. You may sit down now. There are still others waiting to ask their questions. Please do not flout the rules time and again, or I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Han Xiao indifferently cut off Porters.
The other party’s goal was to create trouble, so whatever he said would make the atmosphere uncomfortable. He would only stop at his own explanation, never thinking of making the other party speechless. As long as an earnest attitude was shown, most viewers would naturally listen to it, and continuing to argue would not only be pointless but also damaging to his image. Seeing the nearby guards already eyeing him, Porters could only sit back down in anger.
Ignoring the contempt, disgust, and complicated gazes of his peers around him, Porters suppressed the fear in his heart and tried his best to make himself look calm. He controlled the trembling in his hands and feet, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
Hu… I fulfilled the requirements.
Most likely, the President of my broadcasting station is going crazy now. Luckily, it’s not my problem anymore. I’ll immediately resign once I return. Whether the station gets suppressed or not isn’t my problem. Why would I still work when I’ve gotten my remuneration?
Dreaming of the future, Porters felt that a beautiful life was waving its hands at him.
The memory in his mind was extremely clear. Not too long ago, a few mysterious people suddenly contacted him, offering him a huge sum of money to make him launch a verbal attack during today’s occasion.
He knew that the moment he did this, his career would come to an end. Even if the three Universal Civilizations were too lazy to deal with him, the people below would act spontaneously and demand that the media industry ban him.
He was mentally prepared for this. Not only was the amount raised enough to move him, but the other party also had huge backing. The moment they looked for him, he could not reject their offer, so he did not have much choice to begin with.
While his actions would invite investigations and industry bans for him, his employer not only gave him money but also promised to arrange an escape route, allowing him to change his face and move to their territory to live, thus avoiding the grasp of the three Universal Civilizations.
For the rest of his life, he would be a rich man and enjoy his limitless fortune… This was what Porters was looking forward to.
Seeing that there was nothing wrong with Black Star’s answer, the atmosphere in the field quickly recovered. The reporters continued to enthusiastically ask questions, pretending that the episode just now did not happen.
From start to finish, Urranrell and the other two’s expressions did not change one bit. Manison also remained silent, with no intention to interrupt, as though his soul had already left the venue, thinking about what he should get for dinner.
No one else came to make trouble again. Han Xiao answered a few friendly questions before returning to his seat. The three Universal Civilizations’ leaders then spoke for a bit more before the award ceremony ended successfully.
The guests left the area one after another, while the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders left the scene under the escort of their guards. Han Xiao also left by the VIP passage after exchanging a few words with the other Beyond Grade As.
The moment he walked out of the venue, he received a call from Sylvia.
“Army Commander, I watched the live broadcast. What should I do with that reporter, Porters?” Sylvia immediately got to the point.
“What do you intend to do?”
“Get rid of him?”
“Let’s not. We can only get rid of our anger, and it will even give the Super Star Cluster Alliance an excuse to gain a bargaining chip. The three Universal Civilizations will definitely not allow him to continue living his original life. That’s enough.”
“So, we just sit still and do nothing?”
“Let me think…” Han Xiao thought for a while before an evil grin stretched across, “Monitor the flow of funds for all his accounts. The Super Star Cluster Alliance will definitely find a way to launder the money and put the reward into his account. The moment he receives a large amount of income, hack his account and donate all his money, including his savings.”
“Let him work for nothing? Heh, evil enough. I like this idea.”
Sylvia’s eyes gleamed, and she immediately cut the call.
Han Xiao left the quantum network, not even putting Porters in his heart. He was not willing to stoop to such a low level to deal with a tool.
He quickly threw this matter to the back of his mind, stretching out his hand to take off the Galaxy Medal and examine it closely.
The item details on his interface showed that this medal would bring to him a Universe Legendary Point, (Galaxy Medal Awardee), as well as a bonus effect of solidifying the relationship between him and the three Universal Civilizations at (Respect). This was equivalent to 3,000 Contribution Points.
“The number of faction points cannot beat even one Legendary Point.”
Han Xiao nodded in satisfaction. He did not have much hope for this kind of medal anyways, so it was a surprise to obtain extra gains.
At this moment, two dynasty non-commissioned officers walked out and stopped in front, as though they were there just for him.
“Your Excellency Black Star, the three heads have invited you to meet with them.”
Han Xiao’s feet stopped, and he nodded. “Lead the way.”
At the same time, in the temporary base of the Flickering World for the Super Star Cluster Alliance, the messengers of each ally met secretly in the round table conference room through remote projection.
A virtual screen was suspended, playing the live broadcast of the award ceremony.
After watching the live broadcast, many of them shook their heads.
“The effect was only so-so, not the level of influence we hoped for.”
“An ordinary reporter can only reach this level. I told you not to hold high hopes.”
“A little effect would be good. Right now, the prestige of the three Universal Civilizations has been consolidated once again, and hitting them will only bring us a weak effect.”
“This is only a trivial matter after all. Strength is still the most important principle.”
“That’s right, so let’s forget about this topic and return to the more important things. Come… what did we discuss previously?”
“We talked about the various support for the organizations. It’s time to act collectively, like with those Immortals Organization. This time, we’re attacking preemptively. We cannot wait for the three Universal Civilizations to take action before fighting back.” “The stowaways we sent out in the first phase of the exploration can now be officially activated. The three Universal Civilizations control the gateway to the Flickering World, while we’re alone. If we wish to obtain a steady stream of supplies and reinforcements, we must count on these buried chess pieces.”
“The first batch of targets to occupy have also been selected. Our regular army will not move, and all the agents will first take action. Before the three Universal Civilizations formally intervene, we’ll try our best to seize the territory within the free competition zone.”
“What did the Beyond Grade A Development union say?”
“They basically choose to maintain neutral, but Black Star claims to have a private grudge with the Modo Civilization, so his attitude is currently unknown.”
“Troublesome guy… Hey, messenger of Modo, wait until the conflict officially breaks out. We might not have the energy to take care of you guys, so you will have to come up with your own plans. If you really can’t do it, sacrifice yourself to hold Black Star back. The overall situation is the most important.”
“Okay…”
“Everyone, the success or failure of this operation will determine the future of our respective civilizations. To gain further opportunities or to be ruled forever… at all costs, we can only succeed!”
Han Xiao followed the two dynasty non-commissioned officers through the tightly guarded corridors to a large office, which had been refurbished for the three heads of state. Right now, the door of the innermost reception room was closed.
The Secretary of the Dynasty Ruler put down the work on his hands, approaching them with a respectful tone.
“Your Excellency Black Star, the three Rulers are still in discussion. Please wait for a moment.”
“Alright, I’ll sit by the side.”
Han Xiao casually found a place to sit down, while the Secretary assigned people to bring refreshments for him before sitting opposite Han Xiao.
In order not to let Black Star feel left out, the Secretary turned into an escort and started talking
Having spent decades in the dynasty, Han Xiao knew quite a few of the high-ranking officials, and this was not his first time talking to the secretary. As they talked, the topic shifted to the little incident that had happened just now.
“Your Excellency Black Star, what do you think of that reporter?” the Secretary asked.
“Just an unlucky sod.”
“Indeed.” The Secretary laughed. “The moment he was selected, his life was destined to be affected. It’s understandable why he would choose to gamble for the greatest benefits in the end.”
“Eh, I thought you’d have to maintain political correctness in your position. You should have said that he should have immediately reported the orchestrator.”
“Hehe, we pay attention to political correctness, but we also have to be practical. The upper echelons will never like a person who only knows how to blindly shout slogans.” The Secretary shook his head. “He’s not our citizen, nor is there any patriotic factor about him. The probability of expecting him to actively expose the other party is low. Tell me, what would he get in return?”
“A tiny reward, maybe a medal?” Han Xiao casually joked.
“Haha, you’re quite humorous… However, these are extravagant hopes. What he’ll get is likely a downgrade of his position. He was originally a big-name reporter belonging to a news group, who was responsible for attending our official events, so it should be considered a top-level position. But if he exposes this matter, there won’t be preferential treatment for him… You also understand that the civilization is a huge system, with each department not just working for the civilization but also looking out for their own political achievements. So, why would the news department take such a risk to allow a suspicious person to remain? They will have a good talk with the news channel’s upper echelons, then that guy will likely be shifted elsewhere.”
“Doesn’t that mean that the person would be worth taking care of?” “Is there a need? It’s easier to swap with a new person. Is he working in a non-replaceable role?”
“Oh, that’s a little cold blooded. Aren’t you afraid of making people disheartened?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“Haha, do you think we will surround and protect a small reporter so that others will see our care and increase their confidence in cooperating with us? So, in the future, it’s more possible for them to seek us out to expose others?” The Secretary laughed. “Isn’t that a good thing?” Han Xiao was interested.
“Different levels have different logics in dealing with matters. At our level, many times, the policies for dealing with such matters run contrary to ordinary people’s thinking logic. It’s basically a combination of many factors.” The Secretary blinked. “If it’s a higher position or character, even an organization with a certain power, we may make concessions as you mentioned.
“But for a small reporter? We will not waste our time on him. Our war with the Super Star Clusters on public opinion has always been going on in the dark, and this is not the first time such matters have happened. If he has no contacts and is totally unable to fight for the protection that we have planned… he’s not an important figure, so we shall not focus so much on him.”
“I didn’t know this in the past, but your words are really bold.” Han Xiao sized up the Secretary once more.
“It’s just the truth. My authority might be huge, but the resources available to exercise them are also limited. In the end, it boils down to a question of distribution.” The Secretary smacked his lips as he said, “It’s no good for them to proactively expose it, so it’s better to agree to the orchestrator behind the scenes. At least, you can obtain a large sum of money, and the things you do are within your scope of normal duties. You have not crossed the line… After all, questions asked by the journalists are from their own free will. We cannot change that.”
“Can you really not?”
“… At least in name. There is no official budget for friendly questioning, so we can only rely on hard authority to make others more self-aware.” The Secretary smiled. “But authority is not always useful. There are not many reporters who dare make things difficult for us. Some do it for performance; some are instructed. All sorts of scenarios have been experienced before, but how could there always be the same root issue?”
Han Xiao stroked his chin before suddenly saying, “Why do I feel that your words carry a deeper meaning?”
“Haha, I’ve been seen through. My idea was actually to test you out and see how you intended to deal with this journalist, Black Star… With your swift and vigorous means, you’ve probably already deployed your measures.” The Secretary laughed.
What vigor and resoluteness, you might as well just say that I’m petty… Han Xiao secretly scolded but casually revealed his plan.
“It’s good that you did not fall for the trick. It seems that my reminder was unnecessary.” The Secretary smiled.
“… It’s really tiring to talk to you. Don’t hide things, just tell me directly.” Han Xiao was helpless.
“Hehe, we hope to downplay it and not impose any personal threats on the journalist, so we need your cooperation. If this person’s life is threatened, it’ll easily turn into a fuss…”
“I think it’s useless even if you don’t wish to do anything. The people behind might choose to silence him, which will also allow them to smear the blame on you.”
The Secretary folded his hands as he replied, “I understand, and there is indeed such a possibility, but the probability is low… First of all, such accusations are not damaging enough for us to make trouble. If someone tries to place the blame on us, there will be flaws, and it would be easy to reverse the case back onto them. Furthermore, how many would care about a journalist’s life or death? The moment the news is spread out, those with a discerning eye would immediately see through the issue of the problem. In addition, those who are likely to care about the news are also journalists themselves, and spreading the news will only spoil the image of the media industry… With so many factors, this is why we chose to downplay it.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao did not agree nor disagree. The higher one’s level, the wider their knowledge. The progress of his own methods over the years came, to a certain extent, from his exchanges with the people of different classes, influenced by their own methods.
After chatting a while longer, Han Xiao suddenly recalled a certain matter and changed topics.
“Urranrell’s term should be almost over, right?”
In his previous life, after the end of the Flickering World storyline, the Crimson Dynasty Ruler changed. The day was almost here.
The Secretary paused a bit before subconsciously lowering his voice. “I cannot share the specific details yet.”
“Alright then, let’s just talk about you. If Urranrell were to retire, your position would also have to change, right? Any news for you?”
“The moment the Ruler retires, my term as Secretary will also come to an end. The change of position has not been decided yet, but I’ll definitely be one of the foreign delegates for the government, likely within the same rank as well…”
Just as Han Xiao was about to pursue the topic, the doors to the reception room opened.
The Secretary stopped talking at the right time, gesturing for Han Xiao to enter. Seeing this, Han Xiao walked into the reception room. The first thing he saw was the three leaders behind their desks, with the various Beyond Grade A personal guards beside them.
As the door closed, Han Xiao casually greeted them.
Dark Lord Clotti nodded slightly, with no intention to speak.
It was instead Oulou who swept Han Xiao from head to toe before slowly saying, “You caught quite a few of my friends previously. It’s a pity I was not there, or else you would not have succeeded.”
“Good day to you too. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” While he sensed the hostility in Oulou, Han Xiao remained indifferent, keeping a slight smile without trying to provoke the other party. “Humph.” Oulou snorted and did not continue talking, only raising his head slightly and showing an arrogant posture.
The first impression this guy gave off was really just arrogance. While Kasuyi had mentioned that Oulou was more moderate, this was in reference to the Dark Lord, who was known for being cold. Han Xiao did not expect Oulou to be enthusiastic toward him, especially given the fact that he had captured a few Federation allies not too long ago.
Wuornos did not even open his eyes to look at Han Xiao, as though he had fallen asleep.
Among the three, Han Xiao was the most curious about Wuornos. In his previous life, both the Dark Lord and Oulou had entered the main battlefield during the World Tree War and had perished. Only Wuornos had not been dispatched. Furthermore, his previous records were also few and between, making him extremely mysterious.
Even in normal times, when it came to Beyond Grade A powerhouses, Wuornos was rarely counted because he basically did not move against anybody, a weirdo just like Sorokin. However, their reputations lay at the two extremes.
At this moment, the Dynasty Ruler Urranrell spoke. “Black Star, how does it feel to have the Galaxy Medal?”
“I’m flattered.” Han Xiao was expressionless.
“But you don’t seem too satisfied?”
“… I’ve been seen through. Yes, I’m actually a little worried.”
“What are you worried about?”
“If I ever make new contributions to the universe in the future, will I then get a second or maybe a third Galaxy Medal? I feel that I might have to open a warehouse to store this stuff. It might even have no space in the future to store all these medals. What a headache.” Han Xiao sighed.
Urranrell was perplexed. Can you please speak coherently? “Let’s skip the polite remarks. You’re not just looking for me to encourage me, right? Just tell me if you have something.” Han Xiao spread out his hands. After putting up a front for the whole day, he did not wish to be polite anymore. Bader sighed before speaking. “Then let’s get straight to the point. I believe you’ve learned from your channels that the dispute between us and the Super Star Cluster Alliance is about to begin. For the Black Star Army, as the leader of the private armed forces in the Flickering World, we require you to provide a certain amount of assistance.” “Hmm?” Han Xiao frowned.
The three Universal Civilizations had been trying to get the Beyond Grade A Association to help them deal with the Super Star Clusters, even using the monopoly of Class Knowledges as a bargaining chip, but the union had never agreed. There had not been any unnecessary actions for a period of time, but now it had started once more. “You should be aware of the results of the Beyond Grade A Union’s vote some time ago. I thought we already gave our answer,” Han Xiao said.
“That’s right. We know that the Beyond Grade A Association plans to abide by its neutral stand, but that is your own agreement, not our request,” the Pope drily said.
Urranrell also added, “Black Star, we hope that you’ll work with us on this matter.”
The Crimson Dynasty originally allocated its territory to the Beyond Grade A allies, hoping that they could contribute at this time. But the development of the union exceeded their expectations, and now, their original allies wished to remain neutral. Of course, they were displeased.
While the territory of the Black Star Army was given as a reward for meritorious service, there was also a motive behind giving it away, and if it could not achieve the effect they wanted, they would not call it quits so easily.
“I thought that we had reached a common consensus on this issue, but it seems that you have misunderstood my position.” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t misunderstand. We understand your intentions, but this is not beyond the scope of our agreement.” Bader interjected.
The three Universal Civilizations had created momentum for Black Star because they wished to gain a spokesperson for them within the union. They wished to utilize Han Xiao as a link to influence the entire Development Union. Such a juncture like this would be when the spokesperson came into play-on the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s side, they had their Beyond Grade As, so the three Universal Civilizations would not easily allow their allies to go on strike.
“If I do this, I’ll deviate from the united front and lose the bigger picture because of small gains.” Han Xiao waved his hand.
“Relax, we’ve taken this into consideration and have chosen an entry point for you…” The Pope leaned forward. “Since you’ve publicly expressed your personal grievances with the Modo Civilization, just use this as a reason to move a little. You can use these reasonable excuses to get more of the Beyond Grade As to intervene in the storm without damaging your reputation.”
| We
“Will it not be damaged just because you say so? Don’t start.” Han Xiao waved his hands again. “Then we each take a step back. We will not force you to participate in the event throughout, but if the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s Beyond Grade As takes action, I hope that the Development Union will respond. Since you have shouted about regulating all Beyond Grade A conflicts, it should be implemented to the end. This perfectly falls within your jurisdictions.”
Han Xiao immediately understood the intentions of the three Universal Civilizations and put on an embarrassed face as he explained, “But in such a situation, those who are willing to help the Super Star Clusters are definitely of their direct line. Since you also have your own direct Beyond Grade As, isn’t it appropriate for both direct lines to fight? It will not be suitable for the union to take action as it will make us biased.”
Bader deepened his tone in dissatisfaction, “If you put it like this, then what do we need you allies for?”
Han Xiao frowned, and he raised his tone, not ready to be outdone. “If you have the ability, just cancel all the Beyond Grade A ally contracts now.”
Bader was rendered speechless.
You’re good, I’ll shut my mouth now.
After rebuking Bader, Han Xiao felt much better.
While he might have become the Special Consultant for the three Universal Civilizations, his previous grudges against the church and the federation had yet to disappear, so being impolite to them felt pretty good.
Seeing this, Urranrell took over and solemnly said, “Black Star, this matter is of utmost importance. I hope that you can assist us in proposing it to the union.”
Toward his own ruler, Han Xiao would naturally hold himself back a little. However, he remained firm. “The Development Union should not and cannot favor any party. If we act according to your requirements, when your direct lines step forward, will we need to restrain them as well? Can you accept mediation? If we treat you the same, will you be offended? You understand what I mean. I personally have a reason to deal with the Modo Civilization, so I declared that in advance. This is not against the united front, but it’s better for the association itself to remain neutral.”
He knew what the three Universal Civilizations were planning. The purpose of the Beyond Grade A Association was to mediate with all Beyond Grade A conflicts. The three Universal Civilizations wished to take advantage of this and turn the association into an indirect third-party ally.
If the Super Star Clusters take out their direct Beyond Grade As, then we will fight you, but if the three Universal Civilizations take out theirs, then we’ll pretend we did not see anything
In this manner, the final result would make people mistake the development union as the dog of the three Universal Civilizations.
Han Xiao naturally would not agree to this. He was the Vice President of the Beyond Grade A Association as well as a common ally of the three Universal Civilizations. His identity now was sensitive, and both sides needed him, so he could not go down the wrong path.
The three Universal Civilizations had an advantage in terms of the number of their Beyond Grade As, so they definitely would not agree to being treated fairly.
Sure enough, after hearing Han Xiao’s statement, the leaders rejected the proposal. As a ruler, it was impossible to give an external union a higher law enforcement power than themselves.
The Pope slowly spoke. “Black Star, let us be open. We understand your position very well. The Mechanic Emperor wishes to create opposition, but you are different. You don’t wish to separate the Beyond Grade A group from us. It’s not as though you are refusing cooperation with us, so we are optimistic that there is actually some room for negotiation. Just say what you want.” “That’s right. My aim is to form an cooperative partnership between the Beyond Grade As and the advanced civilizations, not just being your vassals or sheltered under you. As for the premise of equality… you have to at least let go of most of the shackles against the Beyond Grade As, such as the monopoly of Class Knowledge.”
“Isn’t that what we proposed before? To use the removal of knowledge monopoly as a bargaining chip in exchange for the development union to deal with the Super Star Cluster Alliance, but you refused.”
“How should I put it? Using this as a deal is actually a threat or coercion in the eyes of many of the Beyond Grade As. Another purpose of this union is to bring all the Beyond Grade As together and not continue to force them into factional disputes. Thus, most people hope that the three Universal Civilizations will unconditionally let go of many restrictions including the monopoly of knowledge as well as reform the alliance system. Only after this will we then be willing to talk about the new cooperation conditions. This is an issue with the order it is being done…” Han Xiao explained. The union could technically be likened to a strike, aimed at improving the welfare of the entire class and fighting for better treatment for themselves, so they would be quite united before the benefits were obtained.
“Assuming we do this, what form of new cooperation do you hope to achieve?” The Pope threw the question back. “To be honest, the opinions within the union have also not been unified as of now, but the majority suggest reducing the nature of allies and strengthening the employment relationship. That is to reduce compulsion and increase our freedom. The cooperative relationship should also be no longer limited to one, and it should be in the form of employer and employee. In addition, we will not be affected by the aftermath between faction battles…”
Han Xiao repeated the expectations of the development union. There were too many twists and turns in this, as the needs of the advanced civilization allies and the free Beyond Grade As were basically different. When different positions fought, it would be difficult to come to a result that everyone was satisfied with.
The three leaders shook their heads. Neither side could make any concessions, so the talks could only come to an end without any common goal reached.
Walking out of the reception room, Han Xiao sighed in resignation.
Following the rise in his position within the universe, the choices he faced every day were becoming increasingly critical. Every decision could have a profound impact on his own development, and if he did not pay attention, it would easily deviate from the tracks he envisioned and become difficult to remedy. Only through experiencing this would one then be able to understand the danger involved.
The moment Han Xiao left, the three leaders shared a glance.
“It seems like there’s no need to count on the development union to provide assistance. Black Star was not perfunctory at all. He has a clear conscience when accepting rewards and can reject without feeling guilt at all. Heh, his principles are really strong.” Bader sneered.
“Enough. This was not our main objective in building momentum for him as well. This was something we expected. It would be too simple if such a small reward moved a pinnacle Beyond Grade A.”
“There’s no problem for Black Star to cherish his feathers. We cannot lose sight of our long-term goals just for some short term gains. We still need him to act as a link to guide the development of the union… It’s just that their requirements now are still a little whimsical.”
“The Beyond Grade As can’t be without restrictions. If their shackles are completely removed, it will be a hidden danger in the future.”
“We don’t have the time to deal with this now. Shelve the negotiations and observe Black Star a little longer. No matter what, having him in the top position is better than the Mechanic Emperor.”
Under the vigorous propaganda of the three Universal Civilizations, the various Star Fields broadcast the award ceremony, causing extensive discussions among the numerous galactic residents.
Among the hottest topics was Han Xiao himself. Some people thought that the Galaxy Medal he obtained was well-deserved, while others thought that his merits were not great enough when compared with the previous Galaxy Medal winners.
But in any case, the facts could not be changed. If one were to count Han Xiao’s deeds of catching EsGod, stopping the disaster, fighting the Mechanic Emperor, and contributing to the stability of the universe, most people would hold a positive attitude. However, the enthusiasm for the discussion of the award ceremony in galactic society lasted for only a few days before a sudden change attracted the attention of the entire universe.
Just a few days after the end of the award ceremony, the largest armed conflict so far broke out in the free competition zone. Many of the organizations launched attacks on multiple planetary strongholds without warning, as if they had agreed beforehand.
The free competition zone suddenly fell into chaos.
Hong long long long!
The earth rumbled continuously, and a series of heavy ground combat vehicles tens of meters high advanced. Wherever they passed, mountains and forests fell, bunkers shattered, and ground defense lines were breached.
Troops of armored soldiers raised their weapons and fired frantically at the intruders. The muzzles ejected intense beams of light. However, a group of vigorous and powerful figures shuttled through the artillery fire, easily decimating the troops. The small team easily shredded the defending front, and the mud thrown up by the vehicles and explosives buried the corpses of the soldiers.
This was a resource-rich planet located in the middle of the free competition zone. It was originally discovered by a vassal Star System level civilization under the three Universal Civilizations, and they established a stronghold here. However, they were ruthlessly attacked today.
Their attacker was a large fleet bearing a common logo of a snowflake shaped emblem with two spears staggered at the bottom. This represented the organization known as ‘Northern Battlefront’. Established in the free competition zone, they had no major records, but no one expected them to come and attack a planet occupied by a Star System civilization without warning.
The Northern Battlefront fleet had dispatched tens of thousands of Grade B players as well as a large number of warships and ground combat equipment. It did not take long for the defensive forces of the stronghold to fall into a full retreat as they were unable to withstand the Northern Battlefront’s offensive.
This was because the Northern Battlefront was actually a player-formed organization, created by a large number of guilds banding together. They also recruited many solo players with capital, so they had a good foundation to support a certain level of interstellar warfare. After all, they had gone through four versions in Galaxy, so the guild had accumulated quite a lot of money.
There were tens of millions of active players in Galaxy, of which the Black Star Army probably recruited a little more than ten million and was the largest player faction. The rest of the players were scattered among various organizations, with equally large numbers each as the guilds could afford to recruit them.
Within the stronghold was a group of players from the three Universal Civilizations stationed on guard, with probably about one or two hundred of them. However, they were soon overwhelmed by the army and could not withstand the waves of attacks.
A warship of the Northern Battlefront was suspended high in the sky, and within the command room, the leader of the Northern Battlefront looked down on the battlefield with a smile.
“Victory is before us. Quickly deal with the enemies. We still have other strongholds to conquer.”
He was the leader of the Northern Battlefront that was jointly elected by the many guilds forming the coalition, and he was responsible for the operation this time. His ID was ‘Fire of Northern Sea’, and he was the president of a large club in Europe.
“Where shall we hit next?” asked another senior who was part of the guild.
“Whichever is nearest. We’ll carve a path for ourselves.”
Fire of the Northern Sea waved his hand energetically.
The Northern Battlefront had communicated with the NPC organizations and reached an agreement with the Super Star Cluster Alliance, acting as an agent to help the Super Star Cluster Alliance conquer the various strongholds.
Every time they occupied a stronghold, they would get additional rewards, and they did not even need to struggle in occupying the planets. The Super Star Cluster Alliance was responsible for initiating the war, and the high resource sharing provided to them was equivalent to a steady stream of funds. At the same time, the Super Star Cluster Alliance would provide resource support to them during the campaign, such as material purchase discounts and other benefits.
It was not just the Northern Battlefront; even the Galactic Business Alliance and the 5C Alliance, other player made alliances, had also reached an agreement with the Super Star Cluster Alliance to temporarily fight for them.
The conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance was an open secret, and the Super Star Cluster Alliance would not be afraid of the three Universal Civilizations and the Black Star Army like the smaller factions. The clubs of various countries saw this opportunity and hopped on the bandwagon to participate in this national war.
Them starting a national war was not just for entertainment but more for profit.
By doing so, they could utilize this channel to cozy up to someone powerful such as the Super Star Clusters, recruit more players through the wars and strengthen their organization, and obtain resources. Furthermore, they would fulfil the main storyline of faction war and perform some off-field preparations for the Pro League this season, easing the dominance those in the Black Star Army had.
And now, due to the Super Star Cluster Alliance being the preemptive one, the Northern Battlefront and the other guild alliances took the chance to attack and expand their territory in the free competition zone for the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
Fire of Northern Sea opened the star map, watching the real-time expansion of the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s territory in the free competition zone as he excitedly clenched his fists.
“This is an unprecedented event. The Black Star Army has too great an advantage in the Flickering World. Only if the Super Star Cluster Alliance wins will we be able to turn the tides and obtain equivalent resources to them!”
This similar war scene appeared on multiple planets in the free competition zones. In addition to the player alliances, other private armed organizations also robbed territory for the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
Around 2,400 planets were invaded on the same day, most of which were resource rich planets, transportation hubs, or other strategic locations. At the fourth exploration phase, the maps were basically complete, and the Super Star Cluster Alliance could accurately select the high value targets. Facing the sudden problem created by the Super Star Cluster Alliance, everyone was left shocked! “Galaxy Chronicles—The First World Server War
“On February 25, 732, the three Universal Civilizations held an award ceremony for Black Star, awarding him the Galaxy Medal.
“On February 29, 732, a large-scale armed invasion broke out in the free competition zone of the Flickering World. The Super Star Cluster Alliance instructed multiple armed organizations to expand their territory, which eventually became the fuse for official conflict between them and the three Universal Civilizations. This was the prelude to a national war and went down in history as ‘Eve of the Incident’.”
In the free competition zone, Emerald Star Cluster, Planet Rosende…
This was a resource rich planet located within the inner ring of the Star Cluster. It was occupied early on by a Star Cluster level civilization named ‘Thunder Horn’. They had transformed it into a temporary base camp for their exploration army, and the planet was heavily guarded and well stocked with materials and troops.
Right at this moment, the leaders of the Thunder Horn Civilization Exploration army were gathered in the conference room of the headquarters.
“The two stronghold planets in the central region were invaded successively and breached by the different organizations employed by the Super Star Cluster Alliance. What are your thoughts?”
The chief commander pressed his hands on the table, his sharp eyes looking at all the officers present.
Bang!
A high-ranking commander with a bristly beard slammed the table as he angrily shouted, “Is there still a need for discussion? Immediately gather manpower for a crusade! My troops are guarding one of the strongholds, and they have been almost completely wiped out. We must fight back!”
Another tall and thin officer with a calmer temperament stroked the lightning-shaped blue horns on his head. This action was similar to a human stroking his beard. He slowly said, “I feel we should wait and see for now. The Super Star Cluster Alliance’s actions have a strategic intention behind. Even if we take our stronghold back, we will be attacked once more. Furthermore, the central region is currently in chaos due to the trouble caused by the Super Star Cluster Alliance, and it’s too dangerous to hold onto our land.” Now that the fourth exploration phase had been completed, the four Star Clusters in the free competition zone were divided into regions, with dozens to hundreds of Star Systems for each Star Cluster. According to their locations, they were divided into the outer edge area, inner ring area, central area, and finally the core area for a total of four layers.
At present, the main strategic goal of the Super Star Cluster Alliance was to completely control the core and central areas, having a stable rear base that could allow them to utilize space transmission methods such as stargates to maintain their supply and transportation channels.
While this would cause them to be completely surrounded, there was no other way for the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Since guerrilla tactics were not suitable for them, they could only resort to sieging tactics. “Then, what are we going to do? Are we going to obediently pass the stronghold to them and let my men die in vain?” The hot tempered bristly beard lashed out. “Chief commander?” The calm officer turned his head. “I believe your thoughts align with mine.”
The Chief commander looked up when he heard this and replied, “I’m also in favor of waiting. The situation now is not clear.” “They’ve already started fighting. What’s not clear about that?” the hot-tempered officer shouted.
The Chief commander patiently explained, “In this storm, we’re not the main characters. The three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance are the true protagonists and chess players. While the fourth exploration phase is called the free competition zone, we’re only forces that have come to pan for gold and occupy land, the chess pieces that took the initiative to enter the chessboard. We are far from being able to influence the overall direction, so we must wait for the three Universal Civilizations to respond.”
“So, we have to count on the three Universal Civilizations to take action for our forces in trouble, to start a war against the Super Star Cluster Alliance, huh?”
“Of course not, the three Universal Civilizations will not enter the fray so easily. After all, the principle of the free competition zone has not been torn apart yet. The Super Star Cluster Alliance has employed so many people. Other than strengthening itself, it was also to stick to the rules of the game. Everyone would use their agents to compete, and it will reach a more intense level once the two armies start fighting officially. However, this is not the time yet.”
The calm officer nodded. “That’s right. Chess pieces like us can only wait for the orders of the players. When the three Universal Civilizations show a reaction will be when we choose our sides, then we will no longer be alone and will have a large number of teammates.”
The other senior officers also nodded.
While they were unwilling to be pawns, the moment they chose to enter the free competition zone, it was tantamount to them consenting to being in the game. This was the rule formulated by the three Universal Civilizations. Of course, there would also be no shortage of benefits. Only by being a pawn could they obtain the benefits of the Flickering World, and how much they got depended on their ability.
Beep beep beep… At this moment, a virtual screen popped up at the center of the conference table. On it was an announcement issued by the three Universal Civilizations to the entire universe. The title jumped out in everyone’s eyes.
“Supplementary Regulations on Anti-Monopoly within the Flickering World Fourth Exploration Phase.”
It’s here!
The eyes of the Chief commander flashed, and all of them immediately read the report.
The content of this announcement could be roughly summarized into a few points. Firstly, it defined the Eve of the Incident as the beginning of malicious competition and monopolization, and they believed that the Super Star Cluster Alliance was violating the ‘Regulations on Free Exploration’. Secondly, it ordered the Super Star Cluster Alliance to immediately stop the malicious expansion behavior, strongly condemning them on behalf of the civilizations in the universe. Thirdly, if the Super Star Cluster Alliance still did not repent, they would begin sanctions and redistribute the territory occupied by the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
In the appendix of the announcement, there were plans to implement the sanctions and redistribution. The Crimson Dynasty and the other two universal civilizations expressed that they were unwilling to destroy the ‘Free Exploration Regulations’, so they encouraged the organizations and forces in the free competition zone to launch a siege against the Super Star Cluster Alliance. They would then be given special support based on merit.
At the same time, in their distribution plan, they stated that they would not reclaim the planets that the various forces snatched from the Super Star Cluster Alliance. As a reward for helping them against the Super Star Cluster Alliance, they would reclaim their territory as appropriate after the event… In short, they were dangling a carrot to draw forces to attack the Super Star Cluster Alliance and increase the difficulty of the latter to woo agents over to their side.
One could either choose the three Universal Civilizations or the Super Star Cluster Alliance. There was no third option. If one wished to stay neutral, the end result would be to see their territory gradually being eroded away by the Super Star Cluster Alliance. This was also the scheme of the three Universal Civilizations, as they were confident that no one would silently get robbed.
And in the one in ten million possibility that people really chose to give up their territory than to get involved in the storm, the three Universal Civilizations would just send regular troops into the area, and after going through the Super Star Cluster Alliance, they would no longer reallocate the territory back to the other forces, instead occupying it.
As for the third party Beyond Grade A organizations, they were a special existence within this storm. Only they had the capital to remain neutral, and at the same time, the three Universal Civilizations as well as the Super Star Cluster Alliances would avoid their territory to a certain extent.
This was the influence brought about by the establishment of the Development Union, which was different from the trend in his past life. The butterfly effect had already begun to take effect!
Of course, this was based on the premise that the majority of the Beyond Grade As would keep to watching as much as possible. Their forces could also take the opportunity to expand, but taking advantage of this battle had to be controlled to a degree.
“An insidious strategy.” The chief commander coldly snorted before suddenly increasing his volume. “Have the organization leave with the fleet for the central area. The time is right. We now have enough indirect allies.”
Everyone stood up, giving a military salute.
“Understood!”
Meanwhile, at the Black Star Army’s frontline stronghold in the Emerald Star Cluster, the outbreak caused an uproar among the army players. A large number took to the frontlines to explore, causing the dining hall to be filled with a wave of black as all the players in combat uniforms gathered. “What’s happening? I went for a business trip a few days ago and didn’t come online, but how did the world change so drastically? What are these guild alliances doing?” “The Super Star Cluster Alliance wants to unify the free competition zone, but how did the Northern Battlefront and the Galactic Business Alliance come on board?”
“I read the forums, and they seemed to have gotten the main storyline mission from the Super Star Cluster Alliance.”
“But we don’t have a related mission. Does that mean that you have to be in the Super Star Cluster Alliance faction in order to obtain the mission?”
“That might not be so. Haven’t some people analyzed the current situation? The three Universal Civilizations will definitely not let this slip. Since we’re in the Black Star Army, we should naturally stand on the side of the three Universal Civilizations.”
Just as everyone was discussing the matter, the announcement of the three Universal Civilizations popped up on the floating screen in the main hall, attracting everyone’s attention.
After reading the report, the atmosphere started to heat up once more.
“Haha, see what I said. Such a huge plot cannot just be a unilateral main storyline.” “So, this is a faction war, with the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Clusters on opposite sides?”
“We’re going to fight a national war!” The players were excited. But after a while, their interface still remained silent, leading to everyone feeling confused. “This can’t be. Didn’t they say it was a faction battle? How are we not involved in the main storyline?”
“Could it be that we have to trigger it ourselves? But who do we look for?”
“We’re members of the army, so maybe we have to wait for the army to issue an official announcement for the mission?” Just when everyone was in a state of uncertainty, the Phillip subprogram on everyone’s communicator suddenly popped up, issuing a notice.
Black Star Army Expedition Order.
In view of the contradiction between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance, the army has decided to carry out an armed crusade against the Modo Civilization Exploration Force. The reasons are detailed in the appendix ‘Kunde Civilization’ (Expand/Collapse). Only the Modo Civilization will be targeted, and there is no need to bother about the other Super Star Cluster Alliance Civilizations. If there are any forces that prevent our actions, you are allowed to retaliate. The primary strategic goal is to expel and kill the Modo Civilization and its affiliated organizations. All troops cannot deviate from this strategy.
As soon as the announcement popped out, a mission notice was seen on the interface of all the players present.
Except for the specific requirement, there was no difference from the main storyline missions obtained by the Super Star Cluster Alliance players.
Seeing this, many of them smiled with joy. “That’s right. We really need the army to issue an announcement before we can activate the main storyline mission.” “So, there’s a grudge between the Modo Civilization and us?”
“Sigh, one look and you’re the sort that did not read the background story of the version update. The Modo Civilization conspired to use the Kunde Race in the Flickering World to annihilate everyone. They’re such low people and deserve to be beaten up.”
The countless army players could not wait to immediately enter the central area.
However, what they were unaware of was that the task they triggered was actually problematic and was not the main storyline of the battle between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
The ordinary vassals of the three Universal Civilizations or Super Star Cluster Alliance mercenaries would not specify which civilization to fight; the players would improve their Mission Rating so long as they helped their forces expand. The missions for the army players, while in the same model, was simply to attack the Modo Civilization.
Because of the united front, the Black Star Army and the other Beyond Grade As could not respond to the call of the Crimson Dynasty and did not have the initiative to get involved in the storm. Thus, the army players would not have the main storyline of the fighting between the two factions!
“It’s all thanks to my wit…” Han Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the excited reactions of the players on the forums.
As early as when the development union required all its members to be neutral, Han Xiao had guessed that the Black Star Army would not be able to join the main storyline of the battle between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance. As the vice president, if he wished to maintain his status and power, he had to be subject to the collective resolution of the united front.
He had guessed the follow-up impact at that time and thus deliberately left the Modo Civilization as a goal so that the three Universal Civilizations and development union would feel that this was a private vendetta. In this manner, he could justifiably imitate a war mission and make the army players mistakenly treat it as the main storyline. While the mission was simpler than the actual main storyline, the players could only accept it. If there was not even a counterfeit main storyline, then the large number of players would be disappointed and might even switch factions to participate in the national war. There was no doubt about it. After this mission release, the negative impact would be minimized. While the specific missions were different, at least they would be able to enter the national war, which was enough for most players.
At the same time, this could show a contrast with the other Beyond Grade A organizations. Most of them would not be able to participate in the main storyline, but the Black Star Army had a fake main storyline. This would attract some players from the other factions to switch over to his side.
On the other hand, the players in the national wars during his previous life had a lot of room for free play. While they got to fight side by side, it also meant they just waged their own wars without caring for each other. The main point of him creating the main storyline was to integrate all his players to go against the Modo Civilization, having a greater chance to complete the mission [Kunde Race Leader’s Last Wish)! In this manner, the hidden danger was basically solved. “United front, united front…” Han Xiao muttered helplessly.
Right now, the united front had become a new shackle to him. While it could be maintained at present, as this clause affected the interests of more members, problems would inevitably rise. It was estimated that the three Universal Civilizations also had plans to drag down the unity of the Beyond Grade A group.
To be honest, as far as he was concerned, he felt that the chance of reaching an agreement between both the development union and the three Universal Civilizations was low. There was a strong conflict of interest between the two sides’ demands.
As far as the union was concerned, because of their different needs, the collective resolutions drawn currently were naturally not the best plan. It could only be said that it was a plan that no one strongly opposed. The development union wanted the three Universal Civilizations to unconditionally lift the monopoly of knowledge, before talking about other cooperation. In the eyes of the Beyond Grade As, this was a reasonable request because their current source of Ultimate Knowledge was obtained through meritorious service. They had paid enough for many years and collected all the Ultimate Knowledges, but they were not allowed to pass it on to others.
Only by breaking the monopoly of the three Universal Civilizations could the shackles of their factions be lifted. In this manner, the union itself would be responsible for the spread of knowledge, so current and future Beyond Grade As would no longer need to work for the three Universal Civilizations to obtain Ultimate Knowledge. After all, most people were originally not citizens of the three Universal Civilizations and had no responsibility toward them. In this manner, those who wished to join the three Universal Civilizations would only be looking for a strong backer and not for an ulterior motive. However, Han Xiao knew that the chances of the three Universal Civilizations allowing this was slim.
Unconditional? Even he himself thought that this was bullsh*t!
But as the Vice President, he had an obligation to convey the collective resolutions, and at the same time, he could not represent so many people to make claims, so he could only convey the meaning of the association truthfully. Based on Han Xiao’s own ideas, it was not a bad option to agree to the deal proposed by the three Universal Civilizations, which was to deal with the Super Star Cluster Alliance in exchange for them lifting the monopoly on knowledge. However, many of them disagreed. Firstly, they did not wish to undermine their original intention, and secondly, they did not wish to take the risk to get involved in this turmoil. Everyone had a different viewpoint and position… If the two sides remained in this deadlock, Han Xiao concluded that the final result would be that the Beyond Grade A Association would not be able to bear it and start imparting knowledge privately, which would give the three Universal Civilizations an excuse to attack them. “This is difficult… but it’s nothing to me.” Han Xiao shook his head.
First of all, he had already obtained his Ultimate Knowledges. In fact, he did not care about the problem of the monopoly of knowledge.
Secondly, he knew where the turning point of this matter would be, so he did not care about the problems exposed at this moment. “Wait till the Calamity of the Supers or the World Tree appears, then I’ll be able to break the existing pattern. Now is not the time… Speaking of which, I’m not sure if the Holy Accord has succeeded yet.”
Han Xiao smirked.
Temporarily dropping this thought, he picked up his communicator to give someone a call. In the turmoil caused by the Super Star Cluster Alliance, the Beyond Grade As would mostly not be involved, but there would be a small number of people involved in their own private affairs. One of them would definitely be Sorokin.
Their interests were in line this time, and perhaps they could work together quietly this time to turn the Modo Civilization into pigskins.
Furthermore, Han Xiao already had a bold guess about Sorokin’s identity.
“Now’s a good time to verify it…”
In the Limitless Financial Group’s Flickering World branch, a huge virtual star map was suspended in the center of the top-level office, and the picture showed the current pattern of the free competition zone. The Super Star Cluster Alliance was occupying a large majority of the core and central areas of the four Star Clusters. Their territory was represented by the red dye spreading and encroaching upon the blue area representing the other forces.
Sorokin stood with his hand propping up his head, staring at the star map as his eyes flickered.
“After this Crimson Tide, the advanced civilization conflict will affect the structure of the entire universe… There will be business opportunities everywhere!”
After solving the problem of Traveler, the Limitless Financial Group turned back to hug the thighs of the federation and the church once more. As such, they definitely had to contribute toward this turmoil, and at the same time, this was a reasonable opportunity for him to make a fortune in war. As the head of the financial group, Sorokin would definitely not miss it.
“The middleman during the war can promote the business of selling materials, arms, and other resources. Those forces standing on the side of the three Universal Civilizations will definitely need to replenish their materials. This is the number one business opportunity… but it’s only a small profit. The true profits are outside of the chessboard, and I also need admission tickets. I should be eligible though…”
Sorokin was muttering to himself, feeling a little excited.
If he could obtain the real benefits of this incident, the size of the Limitless Financial Group could move up again, and a skyrocketing share price would not be a dream.
Beep beep!
Just as he was fantasizing, his personal communicator rang. It was a call from Black Star.
Seeing the caller, Sorokin’s expression changed.
He subconsciously trembled a little upon seeing Han Xiao’s name now.
But he quickly adjusted his mood, putting on his signature smile as he answered the call. “Your Excellency Black Star, my dear partner, why have you contacted me today?”
“I have a cooperation deal.” Han Xiao did not beat around the bush. “The conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Clusters has finally broken out, and it’s my chance to settle accounts with the Modo Civilization. Everyone knows that I’ll deal with Modo Civilization, so we should have the same interests here, right?”
Sorokin’s eyes gleamed as he smiled. “That’s right. Ignoring my relationship with the federation and the church, Traveler sold me out, so he and the Modo Civilization have a debt to settle with me.”
He still thought that the Modo Civilization was the backer of Traveler. He completely believed the lie Han Xiao weaved at the beginning and had decided to settle his accounts with Modo Civilization.
“Since we have the same goal this time, there’s a basis for cooperation. You’re a commercial organization and are not suitable to intervening in armed conflict. Thus, I need you to provide funds and materials on a large scale, okay?”
“The Black Star Army’s influence in the Flickering World is much larger than mine, and you still need me to supply war funds?” Sorokin raised his brow.
“The more, the merrier. I’ll never find them enough.” Han Xiao did not feel embarrassed at all.
While he was not lacking in funds, it was definitely more comfortable to spend the money of others than his own.
Sorokin gritted his teeth in secret, cursing his shamelessly while his smile remained unchanged. “Yep, I’m happy to fund your war activities against the Modo Civilization.”
“I’ll ask the clerk to send a list of supplies over later. Just follow it.”
“…Okay.” Sorokin gritted his teeth.
“There’s another thing. With your foresight, you must have seen the new business opportunities.”
Sorokin hesitated a little, having a bad premonition. “You mean…” “Stop pretending. The conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance reaches everywhere. Although the free competition zone is the target of competition, the three Universal Civilizations will not just gaze there and will inevitably open up a second front to turn the tides. They will target the foundations of the Super Star Clusters in the explored universe through putting political, economic, and other sanctions to pressure them… and here are the huge business opportunities.”
The Flickering World was the center of the storm, and the main stage of the armed conflict. However, there would be another battlefield outside this chessboard, which was the three Universal Civilizations exerting pressure on the Super Star Clusters themselves, making them too tired to cope, which indirectly served as a way for the Super Star Cluster to give up their advantages in the free competition zone as soon as possible. This business opportunity lay in the economic sanctions. Targeted by the three Universal Civilizations, the business community of the Super Star Clusters would experience turbulence, and a large number of companies would be unluckily hit. This was a good opportunity for other universal financial groups to enter the market, biting off a piece of meat from the Super Star Clusters.
The Limitless Financial Group was close to the three Universal Civilizations, and being a top financial group would naturally give them the qualifications to enter the market and feast on it. Han Xiao was eyeing this opportunity, preparing to take a share.
At the same time, this plan would also better allow him to complete the mission of the Kunde Race. The remaining mission requirement was for him to cause huge losses to the Modo Civilization. Killing the opponent’s army was one way, and destroying the financial stability of the Modo Civilization was another direction.
Moreover, the scene of the death of the Kunde Race leader was still vivid to him. From an emotional point of view, Han Xiao also wished to beat Modo as badly as possible.
Sorokin was a little unwilling. “I haven’t decided to intervene yet. Besides, you’re already a guest of the three Universal Civilizations and can enter the venue without me. Why use my channels?”
“Your channels are more suitable.” Han Xiao smiled without any shame. While the Germinal Financial Group under his banner could independently enter the market, compared with the Limitless Financial Group, his business scope was still a lot smaller. It would not be as easy as utilizing the Limitless Financial Group’s channels. In this way, not only could he borrow someone’s strength to develop, he would also not feel the pinch. Of course, for Sorokin, this was akin to grabbing his business. He felt as though he had swallowed a fly, and he felt an urge to command his factory to begin manufacturing punching bags with Black Star’s face on them so that he could vent his frustrations.
“That’s not too good…”
Sorokin was unwilling and wanted to avoid the request.
However, Han Xiao’s tone suddenly changed, becoming more subtle. “Speaking of which, I recently found a historical figure that interested me when I was looking up information.”
Sorokin was taken aback for a moment, wondering why Han Xiao changed the topic all of a sudden.
He suppressed his impatience and pretended to be curious. “Who?”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, staring interestedly at Sorokin as he spoke. “Rovell Sissock, one of the Primordial Ones with the name of Soul Emperor. Have you heard of him before?”
“… I have, but why has he aroused your interest?”
“Oh, I was collecting Primal Esper Ability Entities a while ago, and this one called the Soul Flame caught my attention. When I checked its information, I found out that its last host was someone called the Soul Emperor. It didn’t matter much to me, but not long after, I happened to run into the current host of the Soul Flame, and he told me some astonishing news. It turns out that the Primordial Soul Emperor did not die in a war as the data showed. His soul managed to escape, and he hid himself. Due to his special ability, he might just have survived to the present day… and I also discovered that his ability is very similar to yours. Don’t you think it’s magical?”
“Haha, it’s just a coincidence… but a Primordial One that’s survived to this day? It’s really a bit powerful.”
“I agree. I feel that it’s a coincidence… Yes, let’s get back on topic. We’re working together to intervene in this matter, and it’s actually a win-win situation. Isn’t it good to get a larger share together?”
“Oh, that makes sense. Alright, you’ve convinced me. We’ll put it as such. When the time comes, I’ll open up the channels to help the Germinal Financial Group enter the venue.”
“Haha, I wish us a happy cooperation, and I won’t continue to disturb you.”
“Alright, to a happy cooperation.”
The moment the call ended, the smile on Sorokin’s face vanished.
Ka-cha!
An electric spark flashed as the communicator was crushed into a piece of scrap iron.
“This guy has discovered my secret!”
Sorokin looked suspicious.
‘Soul Emperor’ Rovell Sissock was indeed his earliest identity!
Although he did not reveal anything when he spoke just now, a storm was actually brewing in his heart.
Were it not for his psychological qualities, Sorokin would not have been so calm after someone had called out his previous identity, and his expression would have revealed the answer.
Sorokin did not believe that Black Star was absolutely certain of being able to see through his identity. It had to be because of some certain intelligence he had that allowed him to make an association, so he asked to test him out.
With so much time in between, he had already gone through many identities. The other party could not possibly have real evidence on him.
Just purely from an identity viewpoint, it did not matter even if he knew that Sorokin was the Soul Emperor. He had no grudge nor grievance with the Soul Emperor identity. Even if there were any enemies, they had long since disappeared in the long river of history. What Sorokin was afraid of was the chain reaction caused by the exposure of his identity. If the three Universal Civilizations and Beyond Grade As knew that he was actually a Primordial One who had survived to this day, they would definitely be jealous. Then, how could he maintain his weak image, continuing to be a pig to eat a tiger?
Furthermore, he was quite sure that he was the only Primordial One who had survived so far. The three Universal Civilizations would definitely move when they heard the news. Just thinking about it made him shiver.
Now that the bargaining chips were in Han Xiao’s hands, Sorokin could only accept Han Xiao’s proposal, much to his chagrin.
“While Black Star does not have any proof on his hands, if I allow him to continue his investigation, he’ll definitely find out all the identities I’ve used before…”
Sorokin’s expression changed slightly.
The identity of Soul Emperor being blown was okay, since it was a positive one, but the other identities he had used were not so clean.
It was to the point that when the Beyond Grade As had received a cleansing, his shadow was behind it!
While any traces were practically cleaned up over the years, if someone managed to uncover it, the consequences would be unimaginable! Right now, he only wished to let Black Star think that the Soul Emperor identity was enough to blackmail him, so he would not pursue it any further.
“Even if I change my identity again, there’ll always be a risk for exposure. Only by getting rid of Black Star can I get it over and done with…”
Sorokin’s expression was uncertain.
When the anti-monopoly regulations of the three Universal Civilizations were released, the effect was akin to war mobilization. The four Star Clusters making up the free competition zone began to surge as all the watching forces made their choices.
Only a small number of forces were unwilling to get involved, and they thus reluctantly gave up on their investment that had lasted for several years, withdrawing from the competition. Most of the forces were unwilling to get out, and they deployed forces to stand on the three Universal Civilizations’ factions, engaging the agents of the Super Star Cluster Alliance in frontal battles within the inner and central ring Star Clusters.
Just like how the civilizations predicted earlier, when the fourth exploration phase was close to being completely over, the trend of free development would gradually reverse to frequent armed looting. With the outbreak of large-scale conflicts, the flames of war spread rapidly. Under the attention of the entire universe, the free competition zone entered a state of war.
The armed forces of the majority of organizations launched a blockade, immediately curbing the expansion trend for the Super Star Cluster Alliance. The four Star Clusters opened up countless battle fronts, in which the stronghold planets on the edge of each faction’s territory continued to repeat the process of losing and recovering, appearing on the map as though sharp teeth were constantly chomping up and down.
The Emerald Star Cluster was divided into fourteen battle zones, most of which were located in the inner and central ring regions. The bridgehead of the Super Star Cluster Alliances scattered in the outer edge area was under the most intense siege, with their strongholds quickly falling. However, the majority of people present just wished to seize more territory. Thus, the intensity of the war was still under control, where everyone tacitly banned the use of Planetary Obliteration weapons, focusing mainly on their fleets and surface combat. After all, if they blew the planet up, there would be no territory left to grab. Thus, the surface combat weapons and the role of Supers were very important.
The large-scale war also represented the rapid depletion of battleships, ammunition, weapons, and equipment. Demand determined the market and gave a large number of opportunities to the financial groups to make money during wartime.
The financial groups in the Flickering World sold various war resources. This included the Black Star Army’s Germinal Financial Group whose orders were skyrocketing. The logistics department’s assembly line was in full operation, shipping boxes of arms to the free competition zone.
On the other side, at Han Xiao’s order, the armed forces of the army assembled at the army’s frontline exploration stronghold, attacking the Ferdinand Star System, where the Modo Civilization was located.
At present, the regular forces of the Super Star Cluster Alliance had yet to be activated, and their agent forces were used as the outer defense lines. The Black Star Army’s forces advanced straight, deep into the defense line, exchanging fire with the agents belonging to the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
In the inner ring sector of the Emerald Star Cluster, a stronghold on the edge of the Super Star Cluster Alliance was attacked by a large armed organization under the Super Star Cluster Alliance, and their main force was temporarily stationed there.
And today, this planet was raided by the advanced forces of Black Star.
With the stronghold as the center, a hemispherical sky-blue energy shield was inverted on the surface, covering tens of millions of kilometers. Above the shield was an intense interstellar war. The defense fleet was struggling to resist the attack of the Black Star Army’s fleet, slowly being smashed to pieces.
Small spaceships acted like hummingbirds, wandering throughout the crisscrossing light cannons in the battlefield, up and down, left and right, using thrilling maneuvers to avoid the artillery fire while shooting their assault capsules from time to time, smashing through the enemy battleships. The capsules would penetrate deep into the ship’s armor to help the players land on the enemy ship.
The blue tail flames of the rear thrusters from the heavy assault battleship formation left traces of light on the dark battlefield, shining as though they were a swarm of meteors. Supported by the powerful dark matter engine, the assault ship array chopped through the formation of the enemy, tearing the defense fleet into pieces. Bit by bit, they shattered the enemy’s coordinated defense.
With the Army Commander being one of the best Mechanics in the universe, the ship manufacturing technology of the logistics department was naturally outstanding. The performance and firepower advantage of their battleships were similarly dominant. The dense energy beam easily penetrated the defensive lines of the stronghold defenders and hit the protective shield like a torrential downpour, creating a series of cobweb-like glowing cracks.
In the headquarters of the shaking ground base, the atmosphere was extremely tense, and the base commander stared at the durability of the shield anxiously.
“The reinforcements aren’t here yet?”
“Commander, the other allies are unwilling to fight against the Black Star Army, and they refuse to come to our rescue. Only the nearest Modo Civilization has sent troops, and they are coming through the Hyperdrive Base Station at the moment.”
“Damn it, these b*stards… Notify each captain that they cannot allow the Black Star Army to break into our base! Once they send in their immortals en masse, we’re finished!” the base commander screamed.
The nickname for the players, the Cancer of the Universe, had spread throughout the galaxy, and they were unanimously known as the King of Ground Warfare. If a battle was maintained within a fleet, they could hold out for a period of time. However, the moment the Immortals broke through the ground defense line, there would only be one outcome: a one-sided defeat.
Faced with the Cancer of the Universe—who were not afraid of death, could resurrect, and disregarded their lives—there was no soldier that would not feel jealous. When confronted with such an opponent, no matter how many casualties the enemy created, it was useless. The ground army would have no morale to go to war.
There was no need to even mention the tens of millions of Immortals that the Black Star Army sat on. Now that they were rushing toward the battle zone controlled by the Modo Civilization, it was basically a walking meat grinder.
Even the agent forces of the Super Star Cluster Alliance hurriedly stayed away from the direction the Black Star Army was taking out of fear, not daring to obstruct them. Their goal was clear; they were there just for Modo, and no one wanted to waste their troops for nothing.
“Commander, the durability of the base’s protective shield has fallen below twenty percent. Three of our energy furnaces have overheated and are expected to break in eleven minutes and twenty-seven seconds. Please give instructions!” the operation team leader said in a flustered tone.
The base commander gritted his teeth while looking at the retreating fleet. “Prepare the reserve fleet to take off at any time to seize air supremacy. Preheat all anti-aircraft turrets and activate all missile wells. The moment the shield is broken, fire immediately. All Machinery divisions, armored divisions, and Supers, get ready for ground combat…”
A series of orders were issued, and the soldiers and vehicles quickly got in position, looking up at the battlefield in outer space. From time to time, soldiers could be heard gulping nervously in the communication channel.
In this tense atmosphere, every second seemed like a year. Under the horrified gazes of the base soldiers, the blue shield covering their heads exploded into light motes.
The next moment, a series of whistling sounded ensued.
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Airdrop capsules with shields passed through the net of firepower, dropping down one by one onto various locations within the base, emitting white smoke.
The moment the hatch slid open, teams of heavily-armed Grade B players stepped onto the ground, blatantly charging toward the ground troops.
The quickly approaching Immortals looked akin to the Devil himself in the eyes of the base soldiers. They mustered up their courage and rushed up with an angry roar.
Boom!
Two torrents on the ground clashed!
The Grade B realm was already considered the backbone of the universe, and the moment they came into contact, the more than a hundred thousand players smashed the armored divisions onto the ground, frontally crushing them. The vehicles piled up or exploded, the light of the flames flickering off the players’ mechanical suits.
The player waves swallowed the area one after another, flooding the battlefield composed of steel and flesh, causing huge casualties.
It was not that there were no players besieged to death, but the troops of the base saw that every player who they tried their best to kill was resurrected on the battlefield the next moment. Their work was an act of futility.
Despair took hold of every soldier’s heart, and the seeds of fear blossomed, forming their deepest nightmare.
Very quickly, the first soldier whose mentality collapsed fled in a panic. This was akin to a signal that caused more to desert their troops and run.
“They’re all devils!”
“This is a losing battle. Just run!”
“I don’t want to die!” Desperate shouts rang out from the communication channel, and the base’s defenses quickly collapsed.
The base command originally wished to go into battle to inspire morale but was shot with a super long-ranged concentrated energy projectile by a Cannon Master and was immediately turned to ash.
At this moment, the cosmos not far from the planet flashed, and the support fleet of the Modo Civilization appeared at the warp point. Seeing the state of the battle, they knew that it was too far gone.
“We’ve arrived too late. They’ve already been attacked by the Cancer of the Universe. There’s no saving them.”
The captain ordered the fleet to turn around immediately.
Bang! The conference table was pounded hard.
“Tell me, how do we deal with the Black Star Army?” Roddick, the Commander of the Modo Civilization Expedition Fleet, was furious. His roar echoed throughout the conference room.
Before the war, the Black Star Army could not attack the Modo Civilization alone due to the help of the Super Star Cluster Alliance. But now that the latter was too occupied with its own war, this was the best time to start.
This was supposed to be the surrogate war phase, where the Super Star Clusters would only watch the situation, but because of the Black Star Army, the Modo Civilization had to move out in advance, losing their qualification to wait and watch. They had fallen into a disadvantage. “Most of our allies are unwilling to fight head-on with the Black Star Army. We can only resist it personally, not allowing him to enter our territory.”
“The other Super Star Clusters will not sit back and watch our line of defense being breached. They will provide support.”
“Even so, their support will be limited. The goal of the Black Star Army is clear-us, and us alone. Everyone is worried that intervening too much will cause the Black Star Army to drag them down as well.” Everyone discussed their thoughts in low volumes, and the atmosphere in the room was gloomy.
If it was any other armed organization, the problem was not that serious. After all, the Modo Civilization was still a Super Star Cluster Civilization and had sufficient armed forces.
However, with the current limitation to the war intensity, Supers were very important. The Immortals of the Black Star Army were too devious. Even if they could stop the Immortals for a while, they would not be able to withstand the casualties.
“We can only let the Immortals deal with other Immortals. We have also recruited many Immortal organizations. As long as they are given enough money, they can be dispatched to resist the Black Star Army,” Lagos proposed. “We can only do this for now.”
It was a loss for them to take out their normal Supers, whom they had painstakingly cultivated, to fight against the players. Only Immortals could fight against Immortals.
Roddick was gloomy. “Unfortunately, we’ll need to force the Black Star Army to withdraw if we want to get out of this situation.”
“What should we do, reconcile with Black Star?”
“That’s impossible.” Roddick decisively shook his head. “Only by getting rid of Black Star himself will the army fall apart… Unfortunately, it’s not possible for us.”
“Well then, if we change the direction, it’s okay to cause Black Star some trouble so that he has no time to take care of us.”
“You have a plan?”
“Not at the moment,” Lagos shook his head thoughtfully. “But I may have a way to deal with Black Star…”
Roddick’s eyes flashed, and he asked, “What’s your idea?”
“What do you think Black Star’s weakness is?” Lagos beat around the bush.
Hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought.
“Black Star has amazing strength. His fleshy body is tough, his foundation is huge, and his influence is at the peak…” Roddick’s expression was unsightly. “I can’t think of any weakness.”
“I’ll rephrase, what does Black Star care about?”
“His troops? But we can’t shake his foundation at all… His mother planet? It’s heavily protected. There’s no way to strike, and this sort of small problem is not enough to make Black Star feel overwhelmed… His officers? As far as I know, all important members of the Black Star Army are equipped with the transmission device similar to a Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, which cannot be blocked. It’s impossible to threaten Black Star with this…”
The more Roddick spoke, the more he despaired. In his opinion, unless the upper echelons intended to encircle and suppress Black Star without considering the casualties, there was nothing that they could do to the opponent.
Lagos shook his head.
“Black Star is indeed powerful, but we’re overthinking it. Get rid of your inner doubts and re-examine him. There are still some ways to achieve our goal, which could be divided into direct and indirect routes.”
Hope welled up back in Roddick. Over the past few years within the free competition zone, Black Star had become a tumor to him. “Hurry and explain.” “The direct route is simple. Start with Black Star himself. While you cannot destroy his body, his soul is definitely not as tough as his Indestructible Body.”
After hearing this, Roddick was immediately discouraged. “So what? Even if Black Star’s soul is relatively weak, it’s not something we can target. You should at least be at the level of a pinnacle Beyond Grade A to affect him.”
“No, no, no, look at this file.”
Lagos swiped his finger on the virtual screen, releasing a confidential file.
Glancing over, Roddick muttered to himself, “Marwell Project File, Number 023, Project name: [Soul Swap Twins)… What’s this?” “This is a confidential file sent to me by the superiors not long ago. I don’t know much about this Marwell Project, but according to the description, this plan is one of the civilization’s secrets to cultivate special Espers.
Everyone nodded, not finding it surprising.
Because they coveted the position of hegemons that were held by the three Universal Civilizations, the Super Star Cluster Alliance had always known to hide its trump cards, and they had formulated many secret special talent training plans. After the Tragedy of the Pinnacles, there were even more plans. Some of the Beyond Grade As of their direct line that were hidden in the secondary dimensions were the products of their training plans.
This matter was considered a semi-open secret among the advanced civilizations, and the three Universal Civilizations also knew something about it, but they were unaware of the details behind each plan.
“You’re saying these two can deal with Black Star?” Roddick expressed his doubt. “Impossible. These twins are not even at the Beyond Grade A level. Can they even hurt him?”
“You also subconsciously fell into a misunderstanding. It’s not just another Beyond Grade A that can hurt one! While the twins are weak, they are the only qualified ones to be able to utilize a Universal Treasure that is classified as a Space Wonder. It possesses a miraculous effect toward the Soul and has never appeared before. It might work on Black Star.”
Roddick hesitated a while before gritting his teeth. “Since there’s no other way, apply to the upper echelons for them to dispatch the twins to help… What’s the indirect route?” “For the indirect route, we start from the people around Black Star. Throughout his life so far, the people he has acknowledged are few. Among them, his relationship with the Dragon Emperor is more subtle. If something goes wrong with the Dragon Emperor, he might temporarily throw everything aside and restrain the Black Star Army.”
Roddick was taken aback. “Why use the Dragon Emperor as a target?”
“An officer like Hila will definitely be heavily protected. Compared to her, the chances of targeting the Dragon Emperor are higher.”
“Didn’t you say that he will have equipped the people he values with the teleporters. The Dragon Emperor can’t be defenseless, so how do we deal with her?”
“What I’m talking about is not a siege. She’s a Beyond Grade A and cannot be easily attacked…” Lagos took a deep breath. “But imagine, the Dragon Emperor’s temper suddenly changes, and she begins to commit heinous crimes. It’s impossible for Black Star to turn a blind eye toward her actions.”
“You mean…”
“I have two plans. One is to let the Soul Swap Twins go to Dragon Emperor and distort her thoughts, so the success rate is more straightforward. The second is to find a way to get the Dragon Emperor trapped into a vortex of anger, causing her to perform heinous crimes such as randomly killing innocents and breaking the peace treaty. Black Star will have no choice but to divert his attention.”
“The first one can be thrown aside. How do we go about the second plan?”
“It can be blaming her or causing her to go crazy. According to the data, she has a very obvious weakness…” Lagos’ eyes flickered. “As for specifics, some consideration is needed.”
Hearing this, Roddick’s eyes lit up. It seems like this is pretty reliable!
Among the battle zones of the four Star Clusters, the Ferdinand Star System of the Emerald Star Cluster was the most eye-catching. The reason was the Black Star Army being so powerful that it tore through the outer line of defense formed by the agent forces, pointing directly to Modo Civilization, which was located in the central area.
While the Black Star Army only stated that it would target the Modo Civilization, this would inevitably affect the whole scenario. The current behavior of the army had a profound impact on the overall battle situation of the Emerald Star Cluster, and the outer defense circle that was constructed by the Super Star Cluster Alliance now showed a gap.
Using the attacking direction of the Black Star Army as a breakthrough point, a large number of organizations in the faction of the three Universal Civilizations chose to follow them, trying to enter the Modo Civilization territory through this gap, which was in the hinterlands of the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance could only plug up the gap with their reinforcements. Even if the agents’ forces were not willing, they had to come to curb the advancement of the three Universal Civilizations’ forces headed by the Black Star Army.
The Modo Civilization also had to supplement a part of their armies to cooperate with the Northern Battlefront to block the Black Star Army, barely restraining them around the fifth to seventh Star Zones on the frontline.
This front has also turned into a war vortex of the Emerald Star Cluster, attracting a large number of armed fleets to gather and turn it into a meat grinder. The Ferdinand Star System had become the most intense area of this current battle.
The war in the Flickering World was in full swing, and the three Universal Civilizations were not idle either. They promulgated measures to impose multi-domain sanctions on all the Super Star Cluster Civilizations, eroding the national power of each Super Star Cluster on the political and economic level, so they could not concentrate on this war.
Thus, there were also a large number of business personnel from the Germinal Financial Group that had joined the fleet returning to the explored universe and travelling to the various Star Fields.
In the spaceship, the current vice president of the Germinal Financial Group, Iapetus, looked out of the porthole, the brilliant tail flame reflected in his eyes as he muttered to himself, “In the blink of an eye, over twenty years have passed…”
Touching his little moustache, a complicated look flashed past his eyes. The image of him being taken away by Black Star was still vivid. In a flash, Iapetus had turned from a youngster with a slight talent in business to a strong, experienced businessman. He had even risen to the position of vice president.
At first, he was reluctant, but he felt more at ease as time passed. In order to get promoted, he had worked hard to showcase his value. Right now, he was already accustomed to working for the army, helping them to seek more benefits.
Every time he thought back to his past, Iapetus felt as though it was all a dream.
Originally, he was just the head of a small financial group. He had never expected to become an important civilian officer under the Black Star Army, boarding the top stage of the universe.
By obtaining the opportunity created by turbulent times, they would shake the economic stability of an advanced civilization, not only earning huge profits but also affecting the state of the universe. This was one of the top achievements of the galactic merchants!
Those who could do this were definitely hegemons in the universe.
Without Black Star as the guide, he might only have made his name in the small pond of a Star System. It would be difficult to imagine doing things he had done in his current life.
If asked whether he felt gratitude to Black Star, there was indeed some, but Iapetus sighed more at how much his destiny had changed after meeting up with Black Star.
At this moment, the secretary walked in, holding a digital document in his hands. “Vice President, the Limitless Financial Group has drawn up a cooperation agreement and needs your signature.”
“Oh, bring it over.” Collecting his thoughts, Iapetus glanced through the document once before signing his name.
He was clear that this was a trip with a mission.
Cooperating with the Limitless Financial Group to take a share of the economic sanctions was only a superficial reason. He had two underlying missions to perform. The first was to focus on combating the Modo Civilization in the economic field, and the other was to help the intelligence personnel monitor the material and military movements of the Super Star Clusters.
The lifeline of the Super Star Cluster Alliance in maintaining this war lay in their logistics and transportation. The moment their backend assistance stopped, the troops in the free competition zone would just become a lone army looking to be defeated. Thus, the Army Commander privately gave him a task to allow him to pass through the Super Star Cluster and detect the transportation lines of these civilizations.
As long as they could control or cut off the transportation lines, the troops in the free competition zone would just be a group of turtles within an urn.
After more than twenty years of contact, Iapetus was aware that Han Xiao was farsighted. He knew well that his Army Commander was already making arrangements and that he was just one of the chess pieces that needed to be placed in a suitable position.
Meanwhile, in an exploration base of the Black Star Army, a group of players gathered in a private room, making a hubbub of noise.
“It’s been almost twenty minutes. Why were we called over?”
“You guys were also notified by Phillip?”
“That’s right. I don’t know why we’re here.”
Everyone there had just arrived at the exploration base, ready to join the next fleet to attack the Modo Civilization, but they had suddenly received a notice from Phillip, asking them to come to this room to standby.
This situation was generally a sign of a mission trigger. Only a few would refuse, so there were about two thousand people within the room. They were basically part of the group that had joined the Black Star Army since its inception, and some were even members of the Chinese clubs.
Suddenly, a strange noise sounded in the room.
Buzz!
A virtual projection appeared, which immediately attracted everyone’s attention. Many of them gasped. “Black Star!”
The projection that appeared was Han Xiao.
Looking around at the curious faces, Han Xiao nodded in greeting.
“Everyone, it was I who asked you to come here. You are all veterans who have been fighting with the army for many years, which makes you trustworthy. I have picked the best out of all of you, and there’s a secret mission I hope to entrust to you.” Upon hearing this, everyone present widened their eyes.
We’re players specially selected by the Army Commander?
Ah, a hidden mission!
“What would you need us to do?” some of the bolder players shouted.
Han Xiao smiled.
“I require you all… to act as spies!”
He then released the ‘Secret Mission’ he had prepared earlier to the players present. All those on scene lost focus in their eyes as they turned their attention to the interface.
Since many of the foreign clubs had planted their spies there, Han Xiao was prepared to give them a taste of their own medicine. He was going to send some players to pretend to join those guild alliances to inquire about news. He had also conveniently planted a few spies in the Modo Civilization to investigate the transportation lines as well.
For this reason, he would conceal the files of these players in the army, ‘washing out’ their identities and creating a scenario not unlike that of Infernal Affairs[1]. This was nothing difficult for a Beyond Grade A.
He did not wish to discover the Modo transportation line to completely ruin the hope of the Modo Civilization but to better encircle and fight their reinforcements. He realized that the Modo Civilization would not give up on their desire in the Flickering World that easily. As long as they could survive, the Modo Civilization would insist on sending in troops and continuously throwing soldiers into this meat grinder.
Not only would it allow him to complete his own mission, it would also keep the Black Star Army in a state of intervention. After all, once Modo was gone, the Black Star Army would no longer have an excuse to intervene in the war.
This was just one corner of the strategy. Han Xiao was secretly laying out many traps, preparing to weave a large web to cover the Modo Civilization, turning it into a prey in the web with nowhere to escape. For this reason, he even secretly contacted a person he had not talked to in a long time, a dangerous antisocialist and a powerful demagogue, a person who was perfectly useful for such situations in his mind…
Rossellin!
It was not difficult for him to imagine what sort of changes would take place within the Modo Civilization…
(1) Infernal Affairs, or Tlač, is a 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller film.
On a colonial planet of a certain Star System level civilization, within a rented temporary stronghold, the senior officers of the Silver Revolutionary Army gathered together, most of them with a melancholic look.
The current leader, Edmond, frowned. “While the competition in the Flickering World has caused turbulence in the universe, the efficiency of our publicity program is far from expected. It could even be said that progress is stagnant.”
The Silver Revolutionary Army had predicted this conflict in the Flickering World, so they wanted to take advantage of the turbulent times as an opportunity to grow their team. But when the conflict broke out, the spread of their ideals did not go as easily as they thought.
One of the men wearing glasses pushed his glasses up as he spoke. “Based on our survey, the popularity of the three Universal Civilizations in the universe is 1,174.1% higher compared to the same period as predicted by our mathematical mode. In other words, the three Universal Civilizations have obtained more trust from the people in this period. The turmoil of the Flickering World should have allowed the galactic residents to see their domineering attitude, but it did not drastically deteriorate the image of the three Universal Civilizations, unlike what we predicted.”
“How could this be…”
“The root cause of this deviation lies in the sudden Intelligent Plague incident not too long ago… This disaster scared countless galactic residents, and the three Universal Civilizations responded in a timely manner. It only took about half a year to resolve it, and this extreme universal crisis allowed the galactic residents to see the power of the three Universal Civilizations, which is what they wanted.
“Black Star also played an important role in this, and it can be said that if not for his achievements, along with the Mechanic Emperor’s ambitions attracting hatred, the three Universal Civilizations would have lost a large wave of popularity in this Flickering World incident. Right now, their foundations are still stable.”
Hearing this, the senior officers of the Silver Revolutionary Army could not help but reveal bitter expressions.
The conflict of the Flickering World should have been a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to develop, but now, it seemed that this opportunity would no longer meet their expectations, as the effect was ninety percent lower than expected.
Without this, everyone felt that their future was quite gloomy, and they lamented in secret, complaining about how the Intelligent Plague had destroyed their plans.
But everyone was unaware that this Intelligent Plague should have been the important event in their rise. Due to the butterfly effect Han Xiao caused, this had become an obstacle to their development.
Edmond turned his head to look at the dignified woman who was leaning on the sofa not too far away and asked, “Mentor, how do you see it?”
Everyone gazed at her. While they were all in the upper echelons, they subconsciously understood that Rossellin was their true spiritual pillar.
Rossellin swilled her wine glass as she indifferently replied, “Since development is now blocked, take your time. The hearts and wills of people are ephemeral like smoke, and the current support may change in the future. Be more patient.”
“This…” One of them opened his mouth in hesitation. “You don’t have a way to solve this problem?”
Hearing this, Rossellin laughed. “Haha, do you think I’m omnipotent? I can only follow the general trend to plan out details. I can’t change anything with my own strength.” As she spoke, Rossellin stood up, walking to the front as she smiled. “Since there are difficulties with our development now, I plan to take out some time to work on something else. Black Star sent me a request a while ago.” Everyone got a shock.
“You still maintain contact with Black Star?” Edmond was surprised.
“Why not?” Rossellin casually shrugged. “After all, I was an officer under him for a period of time. He didn’t stop me from leaving, so I technically owe him a favor.”
Edmond’s expression turned serious as he solemnly replied, “Right now, we’re plotting against the three Universal Civilizations. Who’s Black Star? An important ally of the three Universal Civilizations! How can you still maintain contact with him!”
“To be precise, it was Black Star who contacted me.” Rossellin did not think much of it. “Besides, I think he’s well aware of what we’re trying to do. He probably thinks of us as a joke.”
Edmond’s expression was grave as he paced around the room. He finally said hesitantly, “What does Black Star want you to do?”
“He wants me to go to the Modo Civilization and intensity their social contradictions.” Rossellin clicked her tongue. “He really trusts in my abilities…”
One of the Silver Revolutionary Army members was shocked. “How can this be? It’s one thing not to expose us, but he even asks for your help to fan the hatred in another civilization. Isn’t he someone who cares for the masses?”
Rossellin laughed derisively. “How could a man who broke into the decades-long established foundation be as kind-hearted as the news says? It’s just that he knows how to maintain his image and give the dirty work to others. Now, it’s my turn to work as well…”
With that, she did not wait for the rest to reply, pushing open the door and leaving the room.
Black Star’s request for her was to try and provoke the internal conflicts within the Modo Civilization, and she was given free rein. Rossellin already had a vague idea of how she should act. In her opinion, Modo Civilization was made up of three main races, and thus, it was very suitable for implanting radical split thoughts. Speaking of which, she herself originally wanted to revolutionize the lives of the three Universal Civilizations’ citizens but ended up turning around to revolutionize the lives of people in the Super Star Clusters, who were supposed to be her supporters.
Rossellin did not mind it, however. Unlike most of the upper echelons in the Silver Revolutionary Army, she did not believe that she needed to do something big. Be it against the three Universal Civilizations or the Super Star Clusters, as long as she could create upheaval in society, she did not care who the opponent was.
Within a certain asteroid belt in the explored universe was the secret base of the Assassin’s Society.
Ding ding dang dang!
Hundreds of assassin apprentices in training suits were practicing in the open-air training ground. Only the sound of weapons colliding could be heard.
In the stands of the training ground, several instructors stood with their arms folded, supervising the practice of the apprentices while Lothaire stood at the very front, staring with indifferent eyes. It had been almost twenty years since Han Xiao ordered him to secretly form the Assassin’s Society. Over the years, he had left a frightening record of assassinations on the black market and secretly recruited many assassins, constantly training new people. Now, the organization had reached a certain scale.
Beep beep.
His communicator rang.
Lothaire glanced at it before walking off. “Stop the training, assemble the staff, and prepare the spaceships. We’re heading off.”
Several of the officers showed curious expressions.
“Where are we going?”.
“New mission. We’re going to Modo.”
Lothaire concisely spoke as his figure disappeared down the passage. He had no interest in authority and always kept in his mind that the organization he established was a sharp blade that Black Star hid in the dark, stabbing the target Black Star pointed to.
In the Primeval Star River, within the Modo Civilization’s secret base…
Ta, ta, ta! Heavy footsteps sounded in the corridor outside as a person slowly approached a door.
With a creaking sound, the door was opened, and dazzling light shone in.
A group of soldiers stood at the door, with only their silhouette seen against the light. The commander said in an emotionless tone, “Soul Swap Twins, there’s a mission.”
There was no response at first, only deathly silence.
But this silence did not last long. A rustling sound came from a corner where the light could not reach, and a humanoid creature enveloped in shadowy fog walked out of the darkness. There was a baby-sized figure lying on his shoulders, wrapped in the same shadowy fog. Both of them only revealed a pair of blood red eyes, and no one could see what sort of species they were. Obviously, some kind of abnormality had happened to them, and the only telling factor was their size. These two were the Soul Swap Twins. The person with a normal growth was the elder brother, while the infant was the younger one. “Modo allowed us to go out again?” The younger one lying on the shoulders spoke with a hoarse voice, not unlike that of an old man.
Seeing the two, the officer immediately replied, “Same old rules. Immediately get on board with us. You can only get in touch with the Soul Swapper once you get to the mission location.”
“Who are we dealing with this time?” the elder brother asked with some resentment.
“Black Star!”
Hearing this name, both twins shared a look, inexplicable fluctuations in their eyes.
There was no tension but rather a faint excitement and greed, as though they had discovered a treasure.
At this moment, the officer took out a magical orb, saying, “The target has an ability to make predictions. This magic orb is inscribed with a magic circuit that will cover your aura, so when it’s worn on the body, it can effectively interfere and mislead any prophetic abilities.”
After the magic orb was given, the group of soldiers stepped forward, leaving the room with the Soul Swap Twins. Each soldier had a tense expression, their footsteps subconsciously speeding up, obviously wishing for the twins to be boarded as quickly as possible.
Even if they did not have the Space Wonder called the Soul Swapper, the twins were still quite dangerous, spending most of their time in prison.
While their realms were not high, long term contact with them would cause people to have more hallucinations, lowering their Sanity values.
At the same time, Aesop raised his head to look out of Floating Dragon Island in suspicion.
Aesop closed his eyes, directly activating his abilities. His thoughts seemed to pass through the dimensions until he locked onto the territory of the Modo Civilization.
“The feeling comes from Modo Civilization. What sort of abnormalities? It seems like they’ve used a masking device. The perception is vague, and the specific possibility of a future cannot be seen either…”
Aesop frowned uneasily.
In the Army Commander’s Black Star Palace office, the bright and shining star map sand table was suspended a meter above the ground, like a flat picture scroll, and the blue light reflected on Han Xiao’s face.
The star map sand table was a miniature map of the explored universe, of which two areas were illuminated. One of them was the free competition zone of the Flickering World, while the other was the Modo Civilization’s territory within the Primeval Star River.
In these two areas, there were many scattered light spots. Above each spot was a head or influence emblem, which represented the identity of the light spot. These included people such as Lothaire and Rossellin.
Han Xiao slowly paced around the sand table, moving the light spots representing Lothaire and Rossellin to the Modo Civilization area as he whispered to himself, “Rossellin and Lothaire are in place. Iapetus is almost there with the Germinal Financial Group as well…”
This scene was akin to a chess player, with the star map as a chessboard and the forces deployed as chess pieces, constructing a game of encirclement and suppression against the Modo Civilization.
Because of the development union as well as the constraints of the image created by the three Universal Civilizations, he could not move personally. Thus, in the free competition zone, if he wanted to mess around, he needed someone to do the dirty work for him.
This time, Han Xiao formulated a strike plan based on the military and economic fields. The frontal battlefield was simple-just fight and consume the forces and resources of the Modo Civilization.
As for the economic field, that was the highlight, taking advantage of the opportunity of war and sanctions that would shake the domestic market of the Modo Civilization. With the large number of financial groups and organizations that would close as a result, the Germinal Financial Group under his command would cooperate with the Limitless Financial Group and other business giants to enter and hunt down these assets, sucking the lifeblood of the Modo Civilization.
The partners Han Xiao found for the Germinal Financial Group were not just limited to the Limitless Financial Group. Since the Black Star Army represented a huge community of interests, Han Xiao had a lot of connections with the heads of various financial groups. He contacted a bunch of people, putting forth his cooperation requests through relying on his twin heavyweight identities of the Black Star Army and the three Universal Civilizations’ ambassador. Faced with such an opportunity, there were few financial groups that would refuse such a deal.
With his current influence and status, even if he merely remained in Black Star Palace, he could still leverage resources of a terrifying scale.
As for what would happen as a result of this chain reaction, the Modo Civilization might not regress but would definitely be hurt through this attack.
In contrast, all the partners of the Germinal Financial Group would be able to make a fortune out of it.
“This feels more and more as though I’m the leader behind the scenes in the triads.” Han Xiao snickered before sighing. “I’m only missing one last link, which is a supervisor for the Shattered Star Ring, who is needed to locate their supply lines as well…”
The Shattered Star Ring bordered the Flickering World, so the Super Star Cluster Alliance would definitely use this to their advantage to send reinforcements and supplies to the Flickering World. However, the Shattered Star Ring was his backyard, and the army would definitely know of any movements made by the Super Star Cluster Alliance there. It would definitely be possible to trace their transportation lines.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance was definitely aware of this point, so they would use various means to cover up the fleet, fighting a battle of wits. For them, maintaining the concealment of their supply lines was vital to winning the
war.
“Sylvia and Herlous are both in the Flickering World, and the highest-ranking officer left in the Shattered Star Ring is Lagi. I worry about his way of doing things…” Han Xiao shivered involuntarily and decided to change to another person. “Hila and Sylvia cannot return for the time being… Oh, Nero has already grown up. It’s time to make him take more responsibilities.”
The Shattered Star Ring was still the base camp of the Black Star Army, and the task of monitoring the Super Star Clusters should not be too difficult. It was a good time to let Nero handle this and temper the kid.
Right now, Nero was at his peak. He had the ability but lacked the experience. Han Xiao had always hoped to train Nero into a unique talent. Aside from the close relationship, Nero himself was also a protagonist-level character, with amazing potential and worthy of training as a core member.
If he could train out a better worker than Sylvia, that would be for the best. Not only would he be more worry-free, but Nero was also a man and would not care about his hairline. Added with his various fatigue resistances, he was strong and could literally be worked to death.
“That’s right. Aesop is also good at finding people. I can invite him as a consultant and let Nero temporarily act as his assistant…”
Han Xiao stroked his chin as this idea took hold.
An elder in the family was akin to having a treasure. Getting Aesop to come forward would not only increase the chances of finding the Super Star Cluster Alliance transportation line but also allow Aesop to pass on his precious life experience to Nero, killing two birds with one stone.
He just did not know if Aesop would willingly step up and help. That old fellow should be desperate for something to do, after being trapped in Floating Dragon for over a decade.
Beep beep!
Just as he was thinking about it, his communicator rang. Glancing at it, the corners of his mouth curled up.
Speak of the Aesop. That old man probably foresaw that I was going to call him and thus decided to be preemptive. As he thought that, Han Xiao answered the call. “Old man, you saw that I was going to find you?”
“I’ve come for something else.” Aesop did not beat around the bush, immediately speaking. “I foresaw that danger’s coming from Modo Civilization. They’ve made some movements lately targeted toward you. You have to be careful, as they used a shielding device and I cannot get a clear prediction.” “Oh, I understand.” Han Xiao nodded, not feeling surprised at all.
With him already targeting the other party, the Modo Civilization would definitely do something to try and restore the situation. Even without Aesop’s reminder, he knew that the Modo Civilization would inevitably counterattack. It was not surprising for them to use a shielding device, as he still had someone with the title of (Oracle) protecting him.
“You’d better be more cautious. While I might not have gotten a clear prediction, I have a bad feeling about this,” Aesop stressed.
“Alright, I’ll keep my eyes peeled.”
Han Xiao began to recall the various trump cards that the Modo Civilization had in his previous life, beginning to deduce how they would carry out their counterattack against him.
“Just take it seriously. You said you were looking for me as well?” Aesop changed the topic.
Hearing this, Han Xiao told Aesop his plans. “To invite me as a consultant… I have no objections, but you’ve got to ask Ames for this. If she’s not afraid that I’ll take the chance to run off, I’m alright with that.”
Aesop thought about it and did not reject it in the end.
He had been ‘trapped in Floating Dragon for so long and had already given Ames to Black Star as though he was sending off his daughter to be married. He had nothing else to worry about now, so his adventurous spirit had begun to resurface once more.
“I’ll find time to speak to her.” Han Xiao laughed. While his relationship with Ames was close, he still needed to observe his manners and pay a visit if he wished to borrow one of her people.
After chatting a while more, Han Xiao turned off the communicator, sizing up the star map as he nodded in satisfaction.
In this manner, the layout was basically complete. He did not need to interfere anymore; he just needed to wait for his pieces to act and let things develop as planned.
Han Xiao opened the interface.
More than half of Version 4.0 has passed. According to my current experience accumulation efficiency, I should have enough to reach level 340 before the end of the version, undergoing my next sublimation.
He had originally almost saved up enough experience, but because of his battle against the Mechanic Emperor, he had been forced to change his experience into Awakening Points in one go, adding nearly ten thousand Intellect points. After so much time had passed, his experience was slowly accumulating once more.
The God’s Trait Transformation points obtained through producing four new Universal Treasures had already been used by him. Now his God’s Trait TransformationMachinery had reached level nine, bringing to him a considerable bonus. As long as one more God’s Trait Transformation Machinery point was obtained, there would be a qualitative change as with every five stacks.
According to Han Xiao’s estimation, when he reached level340 and transformed his God’s Trait Transformation Machinery to level ten or more, alongside the new talents from the Kunde Race Mission and some new Mechanic Universal Treasures, he would be able to suppress the Mechanic Emperor.
At that time, even if the Mechanic Emperor did not come to provoke him, he would go and fight with him, rewriting the ‘tie’ battle record that they had!
As the days passed, the battle in the free competition zone intensified. Under this chain reaction, turmoil broiled in the universe, raising surging winds and storms.
The three Universal Civilizations began imposing extremely strong sanctions on the Super Star Clusters. The latter was still resisting all pressure, and various negative reactions had already started appearing in each civilization.
Among them, the Modo Civilization suffered the most. Not only did they suffer heavy losses due to the Black Star Army in the free competition zone, but the country also gradually turned chaotic. Assassinations got more frequent, with the victims all being successful people from all walks of life, causing panic among the populace. It also seemed that someone was deliberately inciting negativity among them, causing the social conflicts to further amplify.
At the same time, their economy was also impacted. A large number of their companies went bankrupt, and many people became unemployed. Even if the Super Star Cluster Civilizations had many huge businesses, when having their revenue robbed by several financial group giants, it would be impossible for them not to suffer losses.
If it was in peacetime, with just the power of the Black Star Army, it would be impossible for the Modo Civilization to even be swayed. However, the three Universal Civilizations were the main force behind the sanctions this time, which burnt out the Modo Civilization. This environment provided Han Xiao with an excellent opportunity to mess them up.
In just three months, the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s plan was in full swing, but with their investment regardless of cost, the overall war in the free competition zone had achieved some advantages… except for the zone where the Modo Civilization was located.
Meanwhile, a fleet with no emblems arrived at the Inter-Star Field Stargate linking to the Shattered Star Ring. It was the secret force dedicated to transporting the Soul Swap Twins.
The conflict of the Flickering World was seen as a resistance by the Super Star Cluster Alliance toward the three Universal Civilizations’ hegemony. The Galactic Society eventually gave this resistance a formal name – The Flickering War.
For this Flickering War, the Super Star Cluster Alliance had prepared decades in advance. From the first to third exploration phases, they had continuously sent stowaways into the Star Field, establishing secret Stargates. While the three Universal Civilizations were preoccupied with the Intelligent Plague, the Super Star Cluster Alliance had started to prepare war resources, avoiding eyes and ears to establish hidden warehouses in the barren universes at different locations. They even managed to build secret military communication networks.
And today, all of their hidden hands had been connected. The Super Star Cluster Civilizations had built a secret transportation network to deliver lifeblood to the Flickering World, and the secret force that transported the Soul Swap Twins also utilized this secret stargate to arrive at the Shattered Star Ring, leaving no record in the public stargates.
In the temporary detention room of the spaceship, Lagos, the warlord of the Modo Civilization Expedition Fleet, was communicating with the twins to explain the mission.
“… Your mission objective this time is Aesop Hurricane, the adoptive father of the Dragon Emperor and the current Special Consultant for the Black Star Army.”
“Didn’t the superiors call us over to deal with Black Star? Why is it another target now?” the elder brother of the twins said.
“This is part of the plan to deal with Black Star. Aesop is a key figure, and his position is important to the Dragon Emperor. With the relationship between Black Star and Dragon Emperor, we can use this strategy to shift Black Star’s attention away from us,” Lagos solemnly said.
In the past few months, he as well as all the other upper echelons of the exploration army had repeatedly analyzed the pros and cons, finally choosing this method to save their nation.
This battle plan had received approval from the various members of the Military Strategy Department. According to Modo’s current situation, if they wanted Black Star to stop, they could only do so by throwing him into another vortex.
The Modo Civilization was also aware of the name of Aesop. This long-lived man had a strong power of Prophecy and was thus difficult to deal with. But in contrast to going head on with a Beyond Grade A, it was easier to attack Aesop.
It was precisely because of Aesop’s predictive abilities that he had to be specifically targeted. In the past few months, Aesop had paired up with Nero to search the Shattered Star Ring. They had discovered the location of multiple transportation lines dedicated to the Super Star Cluster Alliance, which caused a substantial number of problems for them. If it were not for the fact that the Black Star Army only targeted the Modo Civilization, the overall damage to them would be even larger.
While Nero’s luck also played a huge part, in the eyes of the Super Star Clusters, the main point was still Aesop’s Prophecy that did the work. Thus, even if they could not deal with Black Star, they had to get rid of the problem that was Aesop.
However, the Soul Swap Twins were terribly disappointed.
“I thought that I would be able to directly attack Black Star. I rejoiced for nothing.”
Lagos frowned. “If you went directly against Black Star and failed, you would die immediately. Isn’t targeting Aesop the safer option?”
Hearing this, the Soul Swap Twins displayed sarcastic smiles.
The way they spent their lives was as good as not living. So, why would they care about it?
Black Star was a pinnacle Beyond Grade A, and he would definitely not be easy to deal with, but they did not care about the danger. They only looked at his huge assets and lofty status.
If they could utilize the Soul Swapper to occupy Black Star’s body, all of that would belong to them. Not only would they gain their freedom, but they would also become a top powerhouse in the universe, taking away the foundation of power and strength that Black Star had developed for decades. Compared to their lives, the twins wanted to gamble on this, but there was no need to express their hearts at this time.
“Tell us the process,” the younger brother of the twins said hoarsely.
“Aesop is currently a Special Consultant for the Black Star Army,” Lagos explained. “He is highly guarded, and he has his ability to find any hostile targets, so we will use some forged transportation lines as bait to lure the snake out of its hole. Then, we’ll find a way to allow you to make contact with Aesop. You can then use the Soul Swapper to temporarily distort his thinking and manipulate him to intervene in the conflict of a certain civilization, before asking him to commit suicide. This will anger the Dragon Emperor into pinning the blame on the civilization… We will help to secretly propagate this. All you need to do is to be responsible for your own mission.”
Be it for official or private reasons, Aesop had to die, and his death would be blamed on a Star System level civilization that was protected by a peace treaty. This was for the Dragon Emperor to form some hatred toward the civilization, forcing her to lose control and cause a slaughter due to her anger. Even if the Dragon Emperor did not give in to her grief, she would inevitably have a conflict with the civilization due to her temperament. No matter what, Black Star would turn back to help, and to protect the Dragon Emperor, he might even have to resort to using force. As a result, the Black Star Army would gain another opponent and would have a high probability of withdrawing its armies.
“Understood.” The Soul Swap Twins were noncommittal.
It was not the first time they had done such a thing
Lagos instructed them some more before cutting the communication. The guards then closed the door again to prevent them from moving around.
The Soul Swap Twins glanced at each other, understanding each other’s meaning without needing to speak. This was a chance for them to become free men. The moment they obtained the Soul Swapper, they could escape after finishing their mission. They were not reconciled to spending their lives as tools.
In the office, Han Xiao read the report of the Shattered Star Ring, from time to time looking up at the remote projections of Nero and Aesop in front of him.
“Discovered thirty-eight Super Star Cluster Alliance transportation fleets; completely destroyed two lines of the Modo Civilization and seven secret resource bases, seizing daily supplies, weapons and ammunition. Another eleven suspected transportation routes of the other Super Star Cluster Alliances during the monitoring…” After browsing the report, Han Xiao smiled and praised them. “Well done.”
“It’s all because of your tutelage.” Nero scratched his head as he laughed dumbly.
“You’re now the chief in charge of the Shattered Star Ring. Don’t laugh so stupidly. You have to be more serious, understand?” Han Xiao rapped on the table. Nero immediately straightened his expression.
He was already an adult, but in front of Han Xiao, he behaved in a very relaxed manner, naturally revealing his childish side.
At this moment, Aesop smiled as he said, “I like this kid. He has a lot of potential. Given enough time, he will become quite a unique character. His luck is pretty good.” Han Xiao nodded and asked, “Any forecasts so far from your Prophecy?”.
Aesop shook his head. “It’s still the same foggy sense of danger. Three months have already passed, but they have not seemed to move.”
Han Xiao turned back to Nero. “Take note to increase the collecting of intelligence. At the first sign of trouble, report to me.”
During this period of time, he had analyzed the possible plans of the Modo Civilization and felt that the probability of them attacking him was quite low. It was more likely that they would choose to start with the people around him, so he had strengthened the protection around his mother planet as well as various officers and increased Phillip’s monitoring of the entire army.
Because most of the information was actually reported up by level and might not be able to reach him, he lowered the standard of importance for Phillip to directly report to him. While this might cause his workload to increase, it was a trivial matter for such a period.
“By the way, what did you say to Ames?” Aesop asked. “I’m running everywhere with the Black Star Army right now, but she does not seem to be afraid that I’ll suddenly leave.”
“Oh, I told her that I’m watching you for her. If you run away, then I’ll bring you back.” Han Xiao laughed.
“Tsk, I knew it.” Aesop’s eyes narrowed. “Is she that unconfident of me? The stuff I’ve seen, how could she know more than me? I’ve probably eaten more salt than the amount of rice she has eaten.”
“Then you must feel thirsty a lot,” Han Xiao joked. “From your tone, it seems like you were really intending to slip away.” “I’ve been under house arrest in Floating Dragon for decades. I can’t possibly stay there until the end of my life.” Aesop folded his arms in front of him. “To be honest, with you taking care of Ames, I feel reassured. There’s no need for me to remain here. I took those years of staying as a rest, and now I’m ready to continue my travels.”
Han Xiao did not find it weird at all. For a long-lived species such as Aesop, a decade or two was just like a year or two for a normal person. This old man’s desire for adventure was carved deep into his bones, and he could not settle down in one place forever.
“Then, why don’t you just tell Ames directly? If you are honest and truthful, she definitely won’t stop you.”
“No, no, then she won’t send people after me. That would be so meaningless.”
Aesop shook his head, revealing a gleeful tone akin to someone goading another party to catch him.
Han Xiao was speechless. I suddenly have the desire to beat this old man up…
“Aren’t you afraid that I have preparations made to prevent you from slipping away?” “Haha, even if I tell you, you won’t stop me.” Aesop smiled. “I want to maintain a tacit understanding with her, so I’ll need you to help convey my meaning.” Han Xiao understood. This meant that Aesop was planning to leave without saying goodbye, and he planned to use Han Xiao as a microphone. This was also a way to get back at him. Previously, it was Han Xiao who had caught Aesop, making the latter lose face. Giving himself a reminder before successfully slipping away would settle their debts.
“Then, when are you preparing to leave?”
“I’ll help you with this last task, and once the Flickering War is over, I’ll leave.”
“Hey, when the time comes, I’ll see if you can escape from my palm.” Both of them shared a laugh.
By the side, Nero suddenly felt as though he had become a lightbulb. Han Xiao gave him a few more instructions before hanging up. Thinking about it, he then called Ames. Only two rings had passed before the call connected.
“Oh, busy man, you have the time to chat with me now?”
Ames’ laughter was like a clear spring bubbling through the communicator. “What are you up to?” Han Xiao smiled.
“Practicing the Knowledge you got for me.”
Han Xiao had managed to exchange a Knowledge of the Esper Class, passing it to Ames. She had been studying it diligently. Because ordinary people did not have an interface, they could not do it overnight but had to slowly pore over the research.
The two of them chatted a little before focusing on the trending topic.
“Black Star, how long do you think the Flickering War will last?” Ames was curious.
Han Xiao contemplated. “At least three to five years, a decade or two at max.”
The Super Star Cluster Alliance would not give up so easily. The previous Flickering War lasted for quite a long time. The players were only contracted as agents around the end of Version 4.0, and in the later stages, most of it was reduced to cutscenes as the players went offline.
This time, because of the sudden emergence of the Intelligent Plague, the Super Star Cluster Alliance was more prepared and could resist for a longer period of time. However, with his own intervention, the course of the battle would be shortened. The two factors both affected each other, changing the plot of his previous life. Thus, Han Xiao also found it hard to say how long the alliance could support itself this time.
But the final result should be the same as in his previous life, where it would end with the failure of the Super Star Cluster Alliance. This battle was for them to gain a glimmer of hope, a gamble with a low success rate.
“So long…” Ames sighed. “I originally wanted to invite you to travel to the world of the secondary dimensions, but it seems like you don’t have the time in the next few years.”
“Again?”
“You’re not willing?” Ames tilted her head, her hair spilling over her shoulders like a waterfall.
“Cough cough, I’m actually not that busy. You also know that us Beyond Grade As cannot personally enter the Flickering War. After destroying the Modo Civilization, I’ll be free, and I can accompany you to visit the secondary dimensions…”
… as well as allow Aesop to slip away. Han Xiao finished in his mind.
“Then we have a date.” Ames’ eyes curled up as she smiled.
Somewhere within the Shattered Star Ring, three small battleships with the Black Star Army emblem were cruising in the starry space. All three battleships were blitz-class shuttles, exceptional in speed.
The responsibility of this force was to track down any suspicious transport fleets. In the command room of the lead spaceship, the captain carefully stared at the star map in front of him, which marked the patrol route of the squad. Once a suspicious unit was found or a new mission assigned, it would be displayed.
“I heard that a couple of days ago, there seemed to be traces of a suspicious transport fleet in the neighboring Star Zone. However, the clues were intermittent, and we seem to have lost it. Do you think they will come over to our sector?” A nearby officer made some idle talk.
“It would be great. If we can track down the suspicious fleet, it will be our credit. We have been patrolling here for a few months and have not even performed a proper mission. If we’re not lucky, we probably won’t get any merit,” another person said with some envy.
Because the patrol mission was dull and boring, the captain did not stop his subordinates from chatting as he thought the same. While he was only a bottom-rung member in the army, he had the desire to progress. As long as he accumulated enough merits, he could acquire the army’s elite training qualifications and invest in himself, which would be beneficial to his promotion.
Beep beep!
At this moment, a red dot of light rippled on the star map, and a notification was heard. This was a field inspection mission, which meant that their space buoy had intercepted a suspicious unit.
“Mission!”
The captain’s eyes brightened as he thought that an opportunity had come for him. He immediately ordered the fleet to change directions, heading toward the marked coordinates.
The spaceships immediately turned around, and their engines released a roar as they shot toward the depths of the starry sky.
After flying for a period of time, the team arrived at the target location. Opening the detection device, thirty or forty spatial folds appeared on the radar’s view.
These were the traces left by hyperdrive transitions. Each trace represented a spaceship. At this moment, the traces had yet to disappear and extended out, pointing out the course of these dozens of spaceships in disguise.
“A total of forty-one hyperdrive jump tracks have been spotted. Follow the traces and catch up!” The captain did not hesitate.
The squad was now energized, and they followed the trail of the hyperdrive engines, tracking them for around two hours before a barren asteroid leapt into view.
The trail ended here, which meant that the target exited the hyperdrive mode at this point.
The vice-captain glanced at the radar before speaking. “Report, the target has disappeared. They might be on the planet to collect resources or hiding in ambush behind the asteroid. Awaiting instructions.”
The captain deliberated for two seconds before saying, “No. 2, perform a scan on the planet surface. No. 3, round to the back of the planet. No.1, maintain position. Keep the engines ready, prepared to move at any moment.”
“Roger that.”
The three spaceships immediately separated, and it did not take long for the results to arrive.
A docked fleet was found on the planet’s surface. Their emblem represented a local commercial organization, and they were currently collecting the underground gas resources. The scale of this fleet was exactly the same as the number of transition traces, which was the target of this team.
“Send out a wide area communication, asking to check the identification codes,” the captain ordered.
The transportation fleet of the Super Star Cluster Alliance utilized various methods to hide as they travelled, and one of the most common ones was to pretend to be the troops of other organizations. If the tracking team of the area happened to come across any of such fleets, they would generally ask to check the identity of the other party, guilty until proven innocent.
However, the authority to check the identities of any transit fleet was actually only given to the Civilization Security Team. The Black Star Army, as a private armed organization, did not have the right.
But in this world where authority was decided by one’s fist, the Black Star Army’s motive of tracing the transportation fleets of Modo Civilization resulted in many of the civilizations allowing it, unwilling to cause trouble. Most of the civilizations of the Shattered Star Ring did not have any issues, closing one eye to this. Occasionally, the tracking team would uncover a genuine transport party, and the enemy would strike at them first, but this was an unavoidable risk. Thus, the tracking team generally did not fight, only maintaining communication with the intelligence department. This way, even if the tracking team was killed and disconnected, it could still send back messages and allow the department to know the identity of the target enemy.
At this time, the tracking team sent a communication request to the transport fleet, but the other party did not respond.
The captain immediately turned vigilant. “Something isn’t right. Immediately prepare to report…”
Before he could finish speaking, his brain spun, and his vision turned chaotic. This state only lasted for a second before he regained clarity. But the scene in front of him froze his whole body, and fear erupted from his heart.
He saw that his surroundings had turned into a prison, and his body was firmly fixed in a confinement chamber, unable to move.
He was lost for words.
I was in the command room a second ago. How did I end up here?
Before he could make sense of his situation, his brain spun yet again. His surroundings changed, and he was now situated in a transparent glass room, with a swarm of black beetles next to him.
Looking through the transparent walls, he was terrified to see giants walking outside the room without even looking at them. He could not even see how tall these giants really were.
Everything seemed to have been magnified countless times over in his vision.
“What the hell…” the captain murmured subconsciously, but rather than hearing his voice, he only heard a slight hissing sound.
He paused before lowering his head to look at himself. A chill ran down his spine, and he dared not believe his eyes.
His body had actually turned into that of a black beetle, just like the bugs around him!
In that instant, he seemed to have understood.
It’s not that the world has gotten bigger… I’ve shrunk!
At this moment, a deep-orange jet of flames blazed in the sky, filling the entire glass capsule and turning his thoughts into a blazing white cloud.
Boom!
With just a breath, all the black beetles were burnt to ash.
Wer u
An operator in a white lab coat removed the flamethrower used for the experiment. Taking a look at the residue within the glass capsule, he gave an ‘OK’ signal.
The team leader nodded before saying, “Reporting to the commander. The targets have been eliminated.”
“Hmm.”
In the flagship, the commander nodded as he looked out of the porthole at the scene outside.
Two of the spaceships, No. 2 and 3, had already been reduced to fireworks. Only the commanding spaceship managed to escape and leave the scene.
In this escaped spaceship, all of the members were shells, replaced by a different soul!
“The plan was a success.”
The commander lightly nodded before looking to the side. There was a smoky crystal-colored mirror floating in the air, about fifty centimeters in diameter and only three centimeters thick.
The Soul Swap Twins stood in front of this mirror, their palms submerged inside the surface of the mirror up till their wrists, as though it was being swallowed.
This mirror was the marvelous Universal Treasure named the Soul Swapper!
“It’s done. Stop right now!” the commander bellowed.
Hearing this, the Soul Swap Twins slowly withdrew their palms. The soldiers around them immediately moved forward, taking away the Soul Swapper and placing it in an extremely sophisticated safe, away from the Soul Swap Twins.
Seeing this, the twins glanced around the surrounding mechanical turrets protruding from the walls and ground that were aimed toward them before laughing nonchalantly.
These turrets were safety devices to prevent them from moving. They were remotely and intelligently controlled, since the soul swapper only worked on the souls of living creatures. It was useless against machinery. The commander then retracted his gaze, looking in the direction that the shuttle was fleeing, and whispered, “The Death Warriors prepared in advance have already penetrated the enemy. With our bait, it should be enough to catch the person…”
“A squad in the Thousand Lights Star System was ambushed on their way to track a suspicious fleet. Two of their spaceships were destroyed, and only one of them got out alive…”
At the Black Star Army headquarters in the Shattered Star Ring, Nero whispered after reading the report. He looked up at the several officers in the room, asking, “Everyone, what are your thoughts?”
Mia was decisive. “The situation is obvious. The transport fleet attacked them, so it is likely from the Super Star Cluster Alliance. We should immediately mobilize troops around the incident site to track the target.”
“I feel that this is a little strange. The Super Star Cluster Alliance normally do not make any head-on attacks because their identity will be exposed once they fight. Most of the time, they try to get rid of the tail instead. The reason for their attack is only if the chasing troops were not discovered early, allowing them to accidentally catch up… but once they attack, they will not leave any of them alive. The previous cases were all like this,” Tomar muttered.
He had already been studying magic under Lagi for decades. While his teacher was a salted fish, he still could not resist Tomar’s gifts for magic, so he had slowly worked his way up into one of the officers of the Black Star Army. His relationship with Nero was good, and he was currently in Nero’s team.
“Maybe the surviving spaceship escaped in time. However, the Star Clusters must also have known that the information was leaked, so did they decide not to waste their energy in pursuit?” Mia guessed. “That would make sense.” Tomar did not doubt much as well.
“Let’s ask the survivors for any details first.”
Nero thought about it before ordering his assistant to contact the captain of the surviving spaceship. After a moment, the communication came through, and the captain of the tracking team appeared on the screen.
“Recount your experiences. I want to know the details.”
The eyes of the captain on the screen flashed. He nodded, revealing an expression of lingering fear and anger as he recounted his experience.
The soul in this body had already been replaced by a Death Warrior prepared by the Modo Civilization. The effect of the Soul Swapper was not simply just transferring the souls of the two bodies but also allowing the invading soul to inherit most of the target’s memories. This was because the brain of the body was still present, just like a library.
However, this memory would not naturally merge with the new soul. It needed to be sorted and read slowly, and there would naturally be parts missing. Generally speaking, the older memories would be more easily forgotten, while the most recent memories would remain complete.
There usually existed some sort of exclusivity to prevent different souls and physical bodies from merging. Methods like reincarnating in a new shell and seizing souls could also be done by some Espers or Psychics, such as Feidin or Chen Xing, but with lower success rates.
The Soul Swapper would greatly increase the success rate of the transfer of souls, bringing it close to a hundred percent under normal circumstances. However, this was affected by the strength of the target and the strength of the user. At the same time, using the Soul Swapper to complete the soul transfer would greatly reduce the chances of rejection of the body and soul.
The soul transfer was only one of the functions of the Soul Swapper. This mysterious thing had many other functions.
After listening to the report, Nero gave a few words of encouragement and prepared to end the conversation.
At this moment, the ‘survivor’ suddenly put on an angered and sad expression as he shouted, “We’re now the nearest unit to the enemy. I hope to be able to continue this mission, continue pursuing the troops to avenge my friends!”
“Sure.”
This request was reasonable, and Nero had no reason to refuse. Hanging up the communication, Tomar spoke out again.
“Nero, now that the target knows that he has been exposed, he’ll definitely change his plan. Instead of going to the transportation line, he will escape separately. I suggest using the second plan.”
This sort of scenario was not the first. The moment their transport forces were exposed, they would be treated as abandoned children. Even if they continued to track them, they would not be able to discover the secret stronghold of the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
“That’s right.” Nero turned over to look at Aesop. He said in embarrassment, ‘This… Your Excellency Aesop, we’ll have to trouble you once again.”
“No problem.” Aesop waved his hands, as though it was nothing.
The so-called second plan was to borrow Aesop’s ability to let him go to the location of the incident, using the relevant clues as a medium to make on-the-spot predictions, seeing the multiple possibilities and grasping more clues.
In order to obtain a clearer prediction, more information was needed. This method was effective, so over the past few months, Aesop had not just stayed in the headquarters but also conducted many field visits under heavy protection. This method had allowed the Black Star Army to discover many targets.
Nero nodded and loudly declared, “Let’s not delay further. Prepare the spaceship immediately and take His Excellency Aesop to the location.”
In a certain Star Field, on a certain planet, at a certain base, Manison stood in front of a virtual screen with his hands behind his back, staring at the contents of the screen.
This was the secret information from the Primeval Star River base camp, coming from the spy he had planted in the Modo Civilization many years ago.
Only a brief message was written.
The Soul Swap Twins were transferred from the base, and the Soul Swapper was taken from the warehouse by the army. The destination was unknown.
“Soul Swapper… If I my guess is correct, the Modo Civilization must intend to use this Universal Treasure to deal with him. Maybe I can…” Manison muttered to himself, an inexplicable light in his eyes.
A few days later, in the Thousand Lights Star System of the Shattered Star Ring, a Black Star Army armed fleet flew out of the stargate. There were thousands of battleships of various models. In the middle of it was a very large, conspicuous flagship.
Inside the command room, the Calamity Grade officer nodded at Aesop and said, “Your Excellency Aesop, we’re here.”
“Quickly get to work then.” Aesop nodded calmly with hands behind his back.
Usually, Nero would arrange at least two Calamity Grade Supers as Aesop’s bodyguards, at least a thousand battleships, and Black Star’s mechanical army and Lord’s Avatar. When in danger, Black Star would be able to arrive at any moment. He was very well protected.
“The tracking team nearby have all been called here to search the area. They have yet to find anything for the time being. Let’s go take a look at where it happened.” “Sure.” Aesop had no objection.
The fleet advanced quickly through Star Zones, soon arriving at the planet where the battle happened.
The ground location where this Super Star Cluster Alliance transportation fleet once stopped was already occupied by the army warriors who arrived a few days ago and guarded as the crime scene.
A small ship carried Aesop and was launched out from the bottom of the flagship, crossing the cordon that the army had deployed at the exterior atmosphere of this planet.
When the hatch opened, Aesop stepped onto the ground in a light protection suit, surrounded by a group of bodyguards. There were dim depressions on the ground in front of them, clearly the marks left by a battleship stopping and taking off. Aesop quickly walked to it, squatted down, and closely observed these marks while occasionally touching them with his hands. After he walked around the entire crime scene, he finally stopped and closed his eyes as if he was meditating
This process lasted for about two minutes before Aesop opened his eyes and clapped. “I saw some transportation spaceships sailing through the universe. The organization symbol on them has already changed to something else. This Super Star Cluster Alliance fleet should’ve changed into different disguises and gone in separate directions. I’ll draw out these organization symbols for you later, so you can search the fleets of these organizations in the nearby area.”
“That’s great. That’s extremely helpful. The great prophet Aesop never disappoints. Your efficiency is amazing, and receiving your help is our great honor,” the fleet commander said, clearly having learned how to bootlick from Hadavy.
“Just a small matter.” Aesop waved. “However, this is not enough. If you guys can seize one of their battleships or capture their men, I will be able to obtain more accurate leads and search for their original destination.”
“Don’t worry. With the intelligence you’ve provided, catching them is just a matter of time. Unfortunately, we’ll have to trouble you to stay in this area a short while longer. We’ll need you when we seize the enemy ship.”
“Hmm, that’s no big deal. I happen to want to take a walk outside too.”
Aesop did not mind and wrote down what he had seen in the prophecy, all the organization symbols of the enemy’s disguises. The fleet commander immediately gave the order and sent this information to all the tracking teams.
The group of them returned to the fleet and was about to depart for the army base of this area and standby when the fleet commander suddenly received a message. He looked down at the communicator, and his eyes gleamed.
“Your Excellency Aesop, you’re such a lucky star! I’ve only just sent out the crucial information you provided, and there’s a tracking team that’s already found the target. They happened to be resting at a city planet and discovered the suspicious transport spaceship that matched your prophecy. Plus, that ship is alone.”
“That’s surprisingly quick.” Aesop smiled. “Looks like we’re still in luck. This team that discovered the enemy did a good job.”
“Let me take a look… Oh, the one we’ve discovered is the only surviving spaceship from before. I remember they were searching everywhere for these guys. Now they’ve finally got their revenge.” The fleet commander smiled. “I told them to standby and keep an eye on the enemy spaceship, to wait for us to arrive and not scare them away.”
The fleet departed immediately and hurried all along the way, reaching the destination very soon.
A light purple and bright silver planet hovered in space outside the porthole. The surface of it was filled with colorful galactic cities
This was a rather prosperous colonial planet. It belonged to the ruler of the Thousand Lights Star System, the Light Rune Civilization.
The Black Star Army would not do whatever they wished without restraint when they were in city planets that belonged to a civilization like this one. The main reason was that there was no need to. Most of the civilizations in the Shattered Star Ring had a good relationship with the Black Star Army, so the army would not offend them for no reason.
“The tracking team is still surveilling the enemy spaceship. They’re not moving. What do you think?” the fleet commander said.
“Did they see any of their crew?” Aesop asked. “The tracking team has already requested to look at the surveillance footage from the officials and shared it with us. According to the surveillance, that suspicious spaceship sent a total of forty-three crew members out. They seemed to be purchasing daily supplies and all returned to the ship not long ago… We’ve come just in time. Any later and they might have departed.”
“Okay! We must seize this transport ship,” Aesop said slowly. “Inform the officials to work with us, evacuate the locals, and lock down their departure path so that they can’t take off.”
The Black Star Army members had a lot of privileges in the Shattered Star Ring. Even if it was just a middle to low-level army member, as long as their identity checked out, they would be able to request official support from the various civilizations if they were on their planet. This was all thanks to the connections Han Xiao had built. It was part of the faction privileges. The fleet arrived around the dock very quickly and formed an encirclement, while some Supers entered the dock with assistance from the officials, closing in on the target hangar.
Aesop and the fleet commander waited in the flagship in the outer atmosphere and monitored the operation remotely.
On the screen, the Super team charged into the hangar. Very soon, sounds of intense crossfire erupted from within, and flashes of energy cannon attacks flickered inside the hangar, leaving burn marks on the silver alloy walls.
The sound of the battle lasted for about a few minutes. The report from the operatives at the frontline came.
“Report, we only have three team members suffering from light injury, no casualties. The enemy ship contained a total of 271 crew members, who resisted, hiding in the battleship. We killed 209 targets, and the rest saw that there was no way out and ended their own lives. We were not able to capture anyone alive.”
“Shame, I was hoping to interrogate them.” The fleet commander shook his head. “Never mind, these low-level crew members probably don’t know much either. Seizing their transport ship is enough. Your Excellency Aesop, please.” Aesop nodded. He landed on the dock with his guards and came to the hangar where the battle happened.
He looked at the seized transport ship. Its exterior appearance was almost undamaged. There were only some burn marks on its exterior armor.
He stepped forward, pressed his hand on the bottom of the spaceship’s armor, closed his eyes, and activated his ability.
At the same time, in a rented temporary stronghold in a galactic city not far from this airport, the Soul Swap Twins were using the Soul Swapper hovering in front of them. Dozens of Modo Supers surrounded and aimed their weapons at them. There were also quite a number of portable cannons around.
There was more than one Modo Civilization spaceship that had arrived on this planet, but they had secretly turned the tracking team into their people, so they had all kinds of ways to remain undiscovered.
The commander walked back and forth on the side nervously.
“Have you locked onto the target?”
The elder brother of the Soul Swap Twins’ hand was devoured by the mirror of the Soul Swapper. He casually stirred it and said, “Yes.”
“Can you sway him out?” “Tsk, us brothers are just Grade C Supers. Aesop is a Grade B. The success rate of us swapping his soul out of his body isn’t one hundred percent.”
“To be safe, use the second plan,” the commander said.
“Okay.”
The Soul Swap Twins focused their energy into the Soul Swapper. Black ripples appeared on its mirror sides as it was activated.
At the same time, Aesop, who was far away at the port, suddenly opened his eyes, and his pupils shrunk abruptly to the size of a needle.
He felt like countless voices had suddenly rushed into his brain and fused into a deafening noise that echoed in his mind. His head was hurting immensely.
He wanted to raise his hand to hold his forehead, but he could not move his body at all.
The aide-de-camp beside him saw that he was acting unnaturally and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Aesop’s expression changed several times. It became stiff for a moment but then returned to normal.
He coughed, lowered his voice, and said, “Nothing, I’ve already completed the prophecy.” “What clues did you get?” Aesop’s eyes gleamed, and he said, “I’ve discovered the real destination of this Super Star Cluster Alliance. It’s a secret resources stronghold in a desolate universe belt. The coordinates are…”
He gave the coordinates, and the aide-de-camp hastily wrote it down.
“Hmm, this is enough information. Let’s return to the spaceship.”
Then, Aesop turned around and left without waiting for his aide-de-camp to reply. The bodyguards beside quickly followed.
On the other side, inside the temporary stronghold where the Soul Swap Twins were at, the commander asked, “Was it successful?” “Hmm.” The younger brother of the Soul Swap Twins replied with a husky voice, “We have swapped the many soldiers’ souls over. They’ve successfully become parasites in Aesop’s soul.” The main function of the Soul Swapper was to swap souls, but there was no such rule as one for one. Stuffing many souls into one body or just swapping the soul out of the body and turning the body into an empty shell, there were many possibilities.
Unlike with Feidin and Chen Xing, it was a type of puppet manipulation using parasites. The souls of many soldiers and Aesop were fused together temporarily like puppet strings injected into Aesop’s soul. Aesop’s mind had become fuzzy, and he could no longer think normally. He felt that all his actions came from his heart and did not realize what was wrong with him at all… Putting it simply, it was similar to how someone might go crazy when drunk.
“Aesop’s bodyguards won’t realize, right?” someone asked. The commander shook his head and said, “Don’t worry, the Soul Swapper’s powers are extremely stealthy. No one will be able to notice it other than Beyond Grade As who excel in the mind or soul related abilities, not even Calamity Grades… Of course, peak Beyond Grade As might notice something wrong too, but Black Star’s main body isn’t here, and he won’t monitor such a small matter with Lord’s Descent. So, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
After the commander said that, he clearly looked more relaxed. He turned to the Soul Swap Twins and said, “Your mission is complete. What comes next won’t involve you. Put down the Soul Swapper.”
The Soul Swap Twins exchanged looks and laughed creepily at the same time.
“Hehe, sure.”
As soon as they said that, a change occurred!
A black shockwave expanded. Other than the commander, all the soldiers’ eyes rolled and fell to the ground, not moving.
The Soul Swapper had silently swapped everyone’s soul out!
At the same time, the infant-sized younger brother opened his mouth and sucked one soul after another from the Soul Swapper, swallowing them.
The commander instantly reacted to it. He was shocked and furious.
He did not expect the Soul Swap Twins to dare to do this even when they were targeted by so many weapons. Had they really given up living?
However, at this time, a powerful energy erupted from the Soul Swap Twins. Feeling this energy level, the commander’s expression changed drastically.
“Grade B? We ran a check on you right before we departed. Aren’t you guys Grade C?”
The older brother of the Soul Swap Twins laughed out loud. “Hehehe, people grow!”
The two of them had always been acting weak, making the Modo Civilization think they were Grade C Supers. The method they used was not just simply hiding their real strength but a hidden ability they had never told anyone about-their energy could move freely between the two of them without any restrictions. This was related to the mutation these two brothers went through.
If they focused most of their energy on one of them, he would temporarily become a Grade B. If they spread it evenly, they would be able to fool the Super Grade Detection Devices of the Modo Civilization. The two of them had been planning their escape for many years, deliberately controlling their growth speed to stay at this level, all for an opportunity like today.
The Soul Swap Twins laughed creepily and said with a confident tone, “Think about it, we’re now Grade B Supers. These cannons won’t be able to kill us instantly. The Black Star Army’s men have yet to go far. If a battle breaks out here, it will definitely attract their attention. So, think thoroughly about whether you want to attack us because your plan is at risk of being exposed!”
The commander was startled. He quickly yelled at his comrade who was controlling the cannons, “Wait, don’t fire.”
“That’s right. Play nice, and your plan will be able to continue.”
The Soul Swap Twins snickered. They chose to do this now exactly because of this reason.
The commander suppressed his rage and questioned, “What do you want?”
“Simple, Modo have been using us as tools for many years. We’ve contributed enough, and now is the time we take back our freedom… Hehe, I know what you’re thinking. Don’t worry, we just want to escape. We didn’t sabotage the plan with Aesop. Take this as the last mission we’ll ever execute for Modo. We don’t owe you anything anymore.
“As for this treasure, it naturally belongs to us, so we’ll be taking it away. Anyway, no one but us can use it.”
The Soul Swap Twins sneered. The shadow shrouding their body devoured the Soul Swapper and absorbed it into them.
Then, the two of them stepped back to the wall, activated their ability, turned into two piles of ink-like shadows, and disappeared. The commander was furious beyond imagination, but he still did not dare do anything
He was not only worried about alarming the Black Star Army, which was not far away, but also because he was not confident enough to stop the Grade B Soul Swap Twins. He had no choice but to watch the two of them leave with the Soul Swapper.
It was dead silent in the room. The only sound was his heavy gasps for air.
“Quickly report this to the upper echelons. We’ve lost control of the Soul Swap Twins. They’ve escaped!”
“The Soul Swap Twins escaped!”
Lagos was shocked to receive the notice from the army emissary and looked worried. However, he was not worried about this but its influence on their plan against Black Star.
“Are you able to capture the Soul Swap Twins?”
The military emissary shook his head and said, “The Shattered Star Ring isn’t our territory. The Black Star Army and the local civilizations’ surveillance network is all over it. We can’t carry out a large operation. The target can use the Soul Swapper and swap bodies. It’s too difficult to find them, so we most likely won’t be able to capture them.”
“The plan…”
“Don’t worry. The plan continues.” The military emissary smiled. Seeing this, Lagos looked confused. Why don’t the upper echelons look worried at all about losing a special Universal Treasure?
“You don’t seem worried…”
The military emissary shook his hand. “Don’t worry, there’s no need to send people after them. They’ll return on their own.”
“You’re saying…” Lagos had a rough guess.
The military emissary changed into a serious expression and said, “This information isn’t really that confidential. The upper echelons have told me to tell you not to worry about the Soul Swap Twins and continue carrying out the plan as usual. The person in charge of the Marwell project got a Beyond Grade A Mage to secretly plant a mental trap in them long ago and built a hidden sub-personality that’s completely loyal to the Modo Civilization. Once triggered, the sub-personality will take over, and they will obediently return themselves.”
“I see…” Lagos nodded subconsciously. He then frowned and wondered, “But if that’s the case, why not take over the Soul Swap Twins’ consciousness completely? Why take the risk?”
The military emissary did not mind and continued explaining. “Controlling the Soul Swap Twins is very easy. No matter how special they are, they’re just low level Supers. Do you really think that there have never been such experiments even though the Marwell project has been going on for so many years? We’ve basically tried everything you can think
of.
“However, the results proved that the Soul Swap Twins can only use the Soul Swapper when they have complete self-control and clear consciousnesses. Other than that, any attempt to control the Soul Swapper through controlling the Soul Swap Twins won’t work. Even after just the simplest brainwash, the Soul Swapper won’t recognize the two of them as qualified users. Therefore, we can only do it this way.”
“Why is that the case?” Lagos wondered. “Hell if I know. It’s as if the Soul Swapper has chosen the Soul Swap Twins. It’s probably related to the mysteries of the soul. It’s all very non-scientific really. And that’s the reason we consider the Soul Swapper a Space Wonder. If we could figure out how it works, there would be no Soul Swap Twins…” The military emissary snorted. “Though strange, the two of them are very weak and are no threat. They’re only feared because they can use the power of the Soul Swapper. It’s like a child holding a gun.”
“Understood.” Lagos nodded.
“Hmm, good that you know. Anyway, you don’t have to be concerned about the Soul Swap Twins. Just be worried about Black Star.”
Then, the military emissary cut off the communication, and the screen turned black.
Lagos turned off the virtual screen, exhaled, and smiled with relief.
Although there was a tiny hiccup, to him, the plan targeted at Black Star being carried out smoothly was the most important.
At a certain desolate universe belt in the Shattered Star Ring, a secret resources stronghold of the Modo Civilization was being attacked by the Black Star Army’s armed fleet.
The images of this battle were transmitted into the main control room in the Thousand Lights Star System’s base. Aesop and a group of officers were remotely monitoring the battle.
Not long after, the battle ended. The Black Star Army fleet had annihilated all enemies and was picking up the loot.
“Great! We’ve destroyed another secret stronghold of the Modo Civilization!” Nero was watching the battle with a smile. “This is all thanks to His Excellency Aesop’s accurate prophecy, which helped us find the enemy base.”
With their boss leading the praise, the officers present all expressed how impressed and appreciative they were of Aesop.
“No big deal.” Aesop was not in the best mood and just waved slightly. “Haha, a great job is a great job. Don’t have to be so humble. I’ll have some people take you back so that you can have a proper rest,” Nero said with a smile.
“No need, I’m planning on taking a walk outside. I won’t be going back to the headquarters for the time being.” Aesop shook his head.
Nero was surprised. “How long do you plan to stay outside then?”
“About a month.”
“So long?” Nero hesitated a moment. “I suggest you come back as early as possible. There might be new missions…”
“What’s with all the bullsh*t? I don’t even have the right to take a walk outside anymore? Am I just a tool now?” “Er, that’s not what I meant.”
Aesop narrowed his eyes and coldly said, “Also, take these troops and bodyguards away. I don’t like to be disturbed when taking a walk.”
“This…” Nero looked troubled. “I can’t just remove them for no reason. What if an accident happens?”
Bang!
Aesop slammed the table and yelled, “What, you think I need your protection? Or are these people here to surveil me? I’m telling you right now, remove these people, or I’ll go back to Floating Dragon immediately! Is it your place to control me? Do you have any idea what my relationship with Black Star is?”
Nero’s expression froze, and he was rather unhappy inside.
This old man is usually easy to talk to. What’s wrong with him today? Did he swallow a bomb, or is it that time of the month?
However, unhappiness aside, Nero did not dare talk back to Aesop. After all, Aesop was there to help and represented Floating Dragon. Plus, Aesop was his senior and the Dragon Emperor’s foster father, as well as his godfather’s good friend.
Aesop did not want to return to the headquarters, and it was not like he could force him or kidnap him. Otherwise, even if his godfather might not blame him, Aunt Ames would not be happy about it for sure.
Nero barely forced out a smile and said, “Since you like to be alone, I won’t have the guards follow you.”
“That’s better.”
Aesop turned, glanced at the officers around, and said casually, “You all heard that?”
While the two of them argued, the people in the room all stopped what they were doing and stood in place, frozen. Hearing what Aesop said, they could only nod. “Good, that’s all. I’ll go back to my room,” Aesop said monotonously. He turned around and left with hands behind his back.
Watching Aesop disappear from their sights, dissatisfaction showed on many people’s faces. “Who does this old man think he is? So arrogant,” a Calamity Grade bodyguard said with a frown. “As if I’d be willing to protect him if not for the army’s order.” “Exactly, this old man is in over his head.” Another person was rather unhappy too.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough. He’s my senior no matter what. Maybe he’s just not in a good mood today. Let’s not force him if he’s not willing to do so.” Nero frowned slightly. He said a few words and hung up the communication.
To be frank, he had been a little tempted to report this to Han Xiao. However, Aesop had just made a big contribution, so if he reported him just because his attitude toward him was a little off, it would be too petty of him, like a kid crying to his father when just slightly unhappy. His godfather hoped he could be independent, and him doing that might disappoint his godfather. “I’m not angry… I’m not angry…”
Inside the headquarters office, Nero softly murmured to himself. Then, he started to really feel his emotions gradually calming down, as if he was meditating. He had a subtle feeling that he seemed to have learned some kind of special trick to keep himself calm.
“Godfather! Godfather!”
More than a half month later, Han Xiao, who was in the Flickering World’s Black Star Palace, received a communication request from Nero. He was startled by Nero’s loud voice right after he picked it up.
“Calm down, what’s wrong?” Han Xiao moved the communicator a little further away and picked his ear with his pinky finger.
“Aesop is missing!” Nero’s tone was anxious.
Han Xiao’s movements paused for a second. He frowned and said, “What do you mean by missing?”
“It means he’s missing! We have no idea where he’s gone, and we can’t find him.”
“Didn’t you send people to follow him? How did he go missing?” Han Xiao asked.
“I…” Nero explained what had happened with a regretful tone. Aesop had shown displeasure toward the bodyguards, so the bodyguards did not follow Aesop closely around so that Aesop would not be disturbed. However, when they were resting on a city planet, the bodyguards discovered that Aesop had gone missing. “Also, they’ve discovered a video message Aesop left inside his room.”
“What did that old man say?”
“He said it was a message for you, telling you to remember your promise from not long ago.” Nero played the video of Aesop saying that.
Having figured out the whole picture, Han Xiao caressed his chin and wondered.
About a month ago when he chatted with Aesop, Aesop had mentioned that he planned to leave the Shattered Star Ring and continue travelling, and he had come to an unspoken agreement with Han Xiao. This was the first possible reason for Aesop going missing that popped up in Han Xiao’s mind.
However, with some thought, Han Xiao felt something was not right.
That’s weird. The old man clearly said he’d only leave after the Super Star Cluster Alliance issues are over and he’s done helping me with it. By leaving now, it means he didn’t keep the promise. Was he just unable to endure it any longer?
Han Xiao was wondering but it did not show on his face. He nodded at Nero and said, “Got it, I’ll deal with this matter. You can put it aside.”
“I… sigh, alright then.” Nero wanted to explain himself but gave up after pausing. He sighed and hung up the communication. Han Xiao stood up from his chair, softly tapped the table twice, and suddenly pulled Phillip out.
“Master, hum… What is it?”
“Bring up the records of Aesop’s whereabouts in the last month.”
Although Han Xiao felt that Aesop might have run away deliberately, it was better to check through with caution in times like this.
Very soon, Phillip found the records. Han Xiao closed his eyes and browsed them quickly in his mind.
“Hmm, doesn’t seem like anything is wrong. He even successfully destroyed a secret stronghold of the Modo Civilization more than ten days ago. Everything seems normal,” Han Xiao murmured.
No part of these records seemed abnormal, but he still had a strange intuition that something was off.
The intuitions of Beyond Grade As were always rather accurate. Considering what Aesop had said some time ago about facing some kind of danger in the future, he had a bad feeling about this.
“I have to find him and make sure things are fine.”
Initially, his agreement with Aesop was that he would only symbolically chase after Aesop if he ran away but actually let him go. If he really captured Aesop, Ames would definitely be more cautious and monitor Aesop even more closely, and Aesop would probably not have the chance to escape again.
However, out of caution, Han Xiao decided to catch Aesop for real this time. Anyway, the old man did not keep his side of the bargain, so he would still have the moral high ground even if his intuition was wrong.
Having made his decision, Han Xiao gave an order to Nero and told him to command the Shattered Star Ring troops to use all the resources to search for Aesop. Then, Han Xiao walked out of the room and entered a secret lab.
Inside the lab was a translucent hibernation cabin where Rody was locked inside. Around it were Information Form restrainers. It was the Destiny’s Child sub-body that had yet to fully transform.
Aesop’s foresight is strong. If he really has made up his mind to escape, unless Nero or Feidin go after him personally, it really won’t be an easy task to capture him with just my subordinates. However, now I have a reliable foresight talent in my hands…
Han Xiao chuckled.
In the past, he was only a fake ‘Foreseer’, so he could only rely on superstition and luck to capture Aesop. However, this time was different. He had a real foresight master in his hands.
Foreseers could see the multiple possibilities of the future. When their abilities clashed, it was basically something like ‘I foresaw that you foresaw what I foresaw’; whoever could see further would win.
Although Rody was only half transformed and could not control his ability fully and the focus of the prophecy was basically random, with the uniqueness of Destiny’s Child, he should be able to have a few rounds with Aesop.
Han Xiao operated on the hibernation cabin for a while, and Rody awakened shortly after. He opened his eyes slowly with confusion and was dazed for quite some time before gaining focus. Seeing Han Xiao outside the cabin, he shrunk his head and said softly, “Your Excellency Black Star?”
“You’re awake.” Han Xiao opened the cabin door and said with a smile, “I need your help for something. I have to borrow your foresight ability.”
“Huh? But I can’t control this ability yet.” Rody panicked a little.
“Just do your best… Do you remember that old man who can see you too? The tall, skinny one, the one who spoke for you.”
“Yes.” Rody nodded. He had a strong impression of anyone who could see him.
“That guy is playing hide and seek with me. I need to find him now. Keep saying his name in your head, then touch me and try to trigger a prophecy that’s related to him.”
“W-what if the prophecy isn’t related to him?” Rody asked softly.
Han Xiao smiled but said with an indisputable tone, “Then try until it is!”
Rody shivered.
He could not control his ability yet. He had to come into contact with the person and would certainly faint afterward. After which, he would wake up feeling extremely weak, and that did not feel good at all.
At this moment, Han Xiao’s smile looked like a devil in his eyes. “Ready?”
“Y-yes.”
Rody knew he was in no position to object. He swallowed his saliva and started to rapidly repeat Aesop’s name in his mind, hoping he would overperform and succeed in one try.
He extended his shivering hand and touched Han Xiao’s arm.
The moment they touched, Rody started to tremble all over his body like he was being electrocuted.
“Ah!”
A few seconds later, his eyes rolled up, and he fell onto the ground. He had fainted.
Han Xiao was not surprised. He took out an emerald green potion from his pocket and injected it into Rody.
He could observe Rody now, which meant he could touch him. Rody fainted because he was just an ordinary man, and he could not afford the energy consumption of his ability, so giving him some potions would speed up his awakening… This was the result Han Xiao had obtained after more than a dozen tests.
As expected, not long after, Rody’s eyelids shook, and he slowly opened his eyes. His blurry vision started to clear up as he saw Han Xiao’s large body squatting in front of him, staring at him with burning emotions in his eyes.
“Tell me, what did you see?”
Rody shrunk his neck with fear, recalling the images he saw in his dreams. He looked at Han Xiao’s expression and said cautiously, “I-I saw that you and a black-dressed woman were dragged into a war. Countless battleships exploded in your hands, and a corpse lay under your feet…”
“A corpse?” Han Xiao was stunned. The storyline of the previous life flowed up his mind, and he said subconsciously, “Aesop’s?”
“Yes, his.”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. In his previous life, Aesop’s death was what caused the Dragon Emperor to lose control and start a slaughter, which went against the peace contract between Universal Civilizations and led to her being hunted.
Is this the world correcting the timeline, or is it because of some reason I’m unaware of? Han Xiao crossed his arms, scratched his chin, and pondered. Interesting. It feels like someone is plotting something in the dark…
On the Modo Civilization’s mother planet, the Modo Three Kings were having a meeting with the military upper echelons.
“Message from the frontline. Aesop has started moving. The plan is going smoothly.”
“Our first choice is to have Aesop leave the Shattered Star Ring and take part in the conflict between the civilizations of another Star Field. This way, when Aesop dies, Black Star would have no choice but to go to another Star Field to deal with this, leaving his headquarters…” “Aesop’s foresight ability is great, but he might not be able to escape alone given the long years Black Star has been operating his forces in the Shattered Star Ring. Therefore, we’ll have to help him.”
“Hmm. If he really can’t make it out, we’ll have to choose a local civilization of the Shattered Star Ring to frame.”
The upper echelons discussed their options.
At this time, the Modo Three Kings received a secret message and suddenly said, “Meeting temporarily dismissed. Take a half hour break.”
The people were surprised but had no objection and all left the conference room.
After everyone left, the Modo Three Kings were the only ones left in the room. This time, a virtual communication screen appeared on the table, and a soft laugh sounded.
“Hehe, I’m honored to meet the three of you for the first time.”
“Mechanic Emperor!”
The Modo Three Kings looked solemn.
Just now, the Mechanic Emperor had contacted the Modo Civilization and specifically asked to discuss a partnership with the Three Kings. Hence, the secretary had come to relay the message, and the Three Kings had decided that they would listen to what the Mechanic Emperor had to say.
The entire universe knew what an extremely awkward situation the Mechanic Emperor was in. Many Super Star Cluster civilizations saw the opportunity to woo him and wanted to work with him secretly, but Manison never gave a clear answer, nor did he reject them totally. Therefore, the leaders of the Super Star Cluster civilizations monitored Manison’s current attitude closely.
“Your Excellencies, I know you’re busy, so I’ll cut to the chase… I’ve considered the proposal you made before, and now I’m planning to initiate a partnership with the Modo Civilization,” Manison said calmly.
“What kind of partnership?”
“Us secretly working together against the Black Star Army. What do you guys think?”.
The Three Kings exchanged looks but did not agree to it immediately. Instead, they asked back, “There are so many Super Star Cluster civilizations wanting to work with you. Why choose Modo?”
“Hehe, it’s simple. I have no interest in stepping into the conflict you guys have with the three Universal Civilizations. Black Star is my only target, and you guys happen to be the most suitable partner for that. He’s our common enemy, so I have a sensible reason to step in and interfere.”
“We’ll need more details.”
“The shared battlefront requires the Beyond Grade A members to remain neutral, so taking part in the war is looked down upon. However, despite being the vice president, Black Star used personal beef as an excuse to start a war with the Modo Civilization. Therefore, as the president myself, I can do the same thing, using my beef with Black Star as the excuse to work with you guys against the Black Star Army. That way, even if it’s found out, there’s nothing anyone can say.” Manison’s tone was casual but clearly showed his determination.
The Modo Three Kings pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement to what he was saying.
Although they hoped the Mechanic Emperor would join the Super Star Cluster Alliance faction to fight the three Universal Civilizations, they were well aware the chances of that were very slim. Nonetheless, it was acceptable for Modo Civilization now that the Mechanic Emperor had decided to target only Black Star. Black Star was the one who had caused them to be in such a horrible situation, so getting rid of him surely was a good thing.
“So, you plan to send troops to help us fight the Black Star Army?”
“Not really.” Manison shook his head slightly. “My forces in the Flickering World are not as strong as Black Star’s, and fighting the Black Star Army directly goes against the purpose of the development union…”
“How do you plan to cause damage to Black Star without sending troops?”
“There are plenty of ways. Damaging his reputation for one,” Manison slowly said. “The three Universal Civilizations used me as the negative example to build his reputation, which has already affected my position in the Machinery Faith and damaged my interests. I have to think of ways to damage Black Star’s reputation, and that is why I’ve decided to work with you guys. “What I can do is secretly provide help. For example, have the forces I secretly planted in the Flickering World and Shattered Star Ring do something. After all, your troops are being closely monitored, and my men can move freely in the dark.”
Hearing this, the Modo Three Kings frowned.
If the Mechanic Emperor was not planning to participate directly in the battle, his impact would be very limited.
However, thinking about it, there was no way they could make the Mechanic Emperor sacrifice his own troops for their Super Star Cluster civilization. After all, they had never had much of a relationship prior to this, and the Mechanic Emperor was not in the best situation himself.
Furthermore, the Mechanic Emperor was right; the Super Star Cluster’s troops were being way too closely monitored. On the other hand, the Mechanic Emperor had planted a ton of subsidiary forces in many Star Fields that formed intelligence and resource networks, which might come in handy.
“…Okay, we’d be happy to work with you. We’ll discuss the details later.”
“Sure, I’m looking forward to it.” Manison smiled faintly and cut off the communication.
The Modo Three Kings finally relaxed and looked at each other. They all saw the same thought in each other’s eyes.
If they got Manison’s help to transport Aesop out of the Shattered Star Ring, the success rate would be much higher than if they did it themselves.
Although the three of them had yet to decide whether or not to let the Mechanic Emperor take part in this operation, another layer of insurance would never be a bad thing. If they had no way of sending Aesop out of the Shattered Star Ring, it would not be too late to ask the Mechanic Emperor to help. Furthermore, if Aesop died in the Mechanic Emperor’s hands, they would achieve their goal all the same, with greater results than they could have hoped for!
However, while the three of them were having these thoughts, they had no idea that Manison’s motive of proposing this partnership was anything but pure. Although he did want to cause problems for Black Star, it was not his main goal.
His sources showed that the Modo Civilization had moved the Soul Swapper out, so it was definitely going to be used on someone, most likely Black Star. Therefore, Manison wanted to use Black Star as an excuse to work with Modo, attempt to take part in the related operation to obtain more information, and find the whereabouts of the Soul Swapper.
Robbing the Soul Swapper was his true goal! After all, he would not incur any losses even if he failed, so it was worth a try.
In the cabin, two bodies shrouded in darkness laid on the ground, one large and one small. They were completely stationery like vegetables. It was the Soul Swap Twins.
Two normal-sized Spacehumans stood on the side, one male and one female. They were stretching their bodies, and the dark Soul Swapper hovered beside them.
“This body is a Pugilist with a strong physique. It feels quite good. It’s been long since I’ve felt this healthy.” The male rubbed his neck with a comfortable expression.
“Stop dawdling,” the female scolded. “This is just a temporary shell. Quickly pick up our original bodies.”
The man and woman were the Soul Swap Twins who had changed their bodies. The elder brother was Jill Emmerson, and the younger brother was Warren Emmerson.
The Soul Swapper worked on them too. They could swap their own souls into someone else’s body. After swapping bodies, their Esper Ability would not be swapped too, and they would only be as strong as the new body. For example, if they swapped into a Grade D Super, they would also become Grade D. However, their souls would be unaffected and remain at Grade B, so their ability to use the Soul Swapper would not be affected either.
Their right to use the Soul Swapper came from their soul and had nothing to do with their bodies, so they would be able to use it even if they were in the body of a dog.
This ability was one of the reasons the two of them were confident in escaping successfully
—they could keep switching bodies and be very difficult to find.
“Elder bro, although we’re free now, we haven’t got rid of that…” Warren pointed at his own head.
“Hmm, that mind trap is a problem. Luckily, the Modo Civilization probably thinks we can’t even detect it.”
Jill curled his lips with disdain.
The mind trap the direct Beyond Grade A Mage of the Modo Civilization planted into their souls would not disappear when they changed bodies.
Accordingly, given their Grade B strength, not to mention defusing this mind trap, they would not even be able to notice it at all. They should have been in the dark all along… However, the Soul Swapper had the function to check the state of a soul.
All Space Wonder level treasures had a certain ‘absolute’ aspect. Not to mention a mind trap set by an ordinary Beyond Grade A, even if it was set by a peak Beyond Grade A, as long as it was targeted at the soul, the Soul Swapper would discover it. This was similar to the Spacetime Amber’s ‘absolute’ aspect; as long as its fundamental mechanism was not figured out, even ten peak Beyond Grade As attacking it together would not damage it in the slightest.
It would be a wild dream for the two of them to defuse a mind trap set up by a Beyond Grade A, but including a Space Wonder in that equation would make things different. Even though the two of them could not use the Soul Swapper to its fullest potential, they still had an emergency method to deal with this problem.
The Soul Swapper did not have the ability to ‘purify souls’, but the two of them planned to gather mind energy far beyond their own power by absorbing a large number of souls and slowly chipping away at the trap in their minds.
This plan would require a lot of souls, which meant they had to kill a lot of people. But clearly, they had no choice, nor did they care.
“Elder bro, what’s our plan?”
“Let’s go to some place where no one recognizes us, take over a body with high potential, and slowly grow stronger. When we’re at Calamity Grade or even Beyond Grade A, we will be able to go anywhere we want in this universe!”
Jill knew that ‘keeping a low profile and cultivating’ was the right path. Flames of ambition sparkled in his eyes.
In his heart, becoming the only ones who could use the Soul Swapper was both lucky and tragic.
The lucky part, of course, was that the Soul Swapper only recognized the two of them as users, as if they were chosen.
The tragic part was that, because of that, they were imprisoned by the Modo Civilization for many years, they became the subjects of countless inhumane experiments, and their personalities became twisted.
However, the tragic dark days were in the past now. The future was full of hope, and the Soul Swapper had brought them infinite possibilities… From now on, they were free!
In Floating Dragon Island, water vapor filled the magnificent palace. Deep inside the layers of fog, there was the sound of water flowing.
Hu!
The thick fog was suddenly disturbed, and a tall silhouette suddenly appeared beside the wardrobe shelf in the palace. The King mechanical suit automatically fell off and disappeared, leaving Han Xiao standing there.
e
The sound of water in the room paused for a split second, and a force field shockwave fused with water vapor suddenly rocketed toward him. Han Xiao stood still and let it land on his chest, creating a loud noise, but his body did not move at all.
“You startled me. Next time, tell me before you teleport here.” Ames’ voice came from the fog.
Han Xiao’s vision penetrated the fog and saw a magnificent black, crystal bathtub in the middle of the room. Ames tied up her hair with a piece of white cloth and faced away from him, sitting in the tub. He could only see her snowy neck and moist shoulders that were tender like the skin of a child.
“Bathing?” Han Xiao snapped his fingers. “Quickly finish up. There’s something I have to tell you.”
“What is it?” Ames turned her head slightly, showing her elegant side face with water droplets hanging from her long earlids that blinked softly.
“It’s about Aesop. He’s missing.”
“… Give me a minute.”
Ames did not mind Han Xiao watching and stood up directly. She heated up her body temperature, and the water vapor quickly evaporated from her skin.
She walked out of the bathtub, casually pulled the black dress over to her with a force field, and donned it with a spin. She then took off the white cloth in her hair and let it fall.
Beyond Grade As’ bodies would never get dirty; bathing was mainly for the purpose of enjoyment. All they had to do was adjust their temperature to that of an ordinary person, and they would be able to enjoy the feeling of taking a warm and comfortable bath. This way, they did not have to look for lava.
“Let’s go. We’ll speak outside.” The two of them walked out of the palace and came to the garden. Ames sat down on the chair and stared at Han Xiao with a weird expression.
“I allowed Aesop to go and help you, but you let him escape. That’s a little irresponsible of you… Did you deliberately let him go? You’re so bad.”
“Ahem, you’re overthinking it.” Han Xiao coughed unnaturally and said without changing his expression, “Didn’t I come to notify you instantly?” Ames held her chin and joked, “Looks like even the universally famous Black Star still loses to a great prophet.”
“He’s a friend after all. It’s not like I can really imprison him or something.” Han Xiao smiled casually before putting on a serious expression. “Enough with the jokes. My intuition tells me that there’s something wrong. Aesop might not have left on his own will.”
“Oh?” Ames frowned, and the smile disappeared on her face. Shocked, she said, “Did someone kidnap him?”
“I don’t think so. I arranged more than enough guards for him. If they’d kidnapped him physically, I’d definitely have found out.” “Does that mean someone controlled his mind?”
“That’s the problem. I’ve had Aesop’s guards carry around all kinds of psychological guarding devices, mind wave detection devices, and energy radars on them. If someone used soul magic, a psychic Esper Ability, or anything of the sort on him, it would have triggered an alarm, even if it was from a Beyond Grade A. However, none of these devices responded… Therefore, I suspect that Aesop might be controlled by an unknown method.”
Although the soul and mind were not areas Mechanics excelled in, it did not mean he had absolutely no knowledge of them. He was just not as good as those who were experts on the subject.
“What method?” Ames asked.
“I don’t know either. We’ll only find out after we find Aesop and check him.” Han Xiao shook his head.
In fact, if this conspiracy theory was right, he was very curious about how Aesop fell for it. It was completely undetectable, so he had no idea what method was used.
“I’ll find him with you.” Ames narrowed her eyes, and dangerous emotions flickered in her eyes. “Who dares to target my people? Do they think I’m dead!”
“Don’t get so riled up. This is just my guess. We’ll have to investigate further.” Han Xiao comforted Ames.
He had come to give Ames a heads up so that she would be mentally prepared, preventing the situation of her emotions going wild like it did in the previous life.
Han Xiao knew Ames’ personality quite well. Sure, she looked like she did not care about anything usually, but her family and friends such as Aesop, Jenny, Hila, and Aurora were her inverted scales. Once threatened, she would turn into a raging dragon, leaving all rules and laws behind, and retaliate, no matter who the enemy was, not giving the consequences any thought at all.
This time, Han Xiao told Phillip to send a message. A few seconds later, the King mechanical suit appeared beside him again. The helmet opened, and inside was Feidin.
“Army Commander, I’m here.”
Han Xiao nodded and explained to Ames, “Aesop’s prophecy ability is very suitable for hiding. It won’t be easy catching him using regular methods, so we’ll need some luck.”
He was not just going to bring Feidin along for this but also Rody. Teleporting the three of them there using the King mechanical suit would save a lot of time, and he could use the Black Star Army’s troops right there in the Shattered Star Ring.
“All of Floating Dragon’s resources are available for you to use. You don’t have to care about anything else. I just want Aesop.” Ames gave the right to command to Han Xiao without any hesitation and then stood up with a poker face. “We’ll leave now!”
The universe was extremely enormous. Even if one had extraordinary individual strength, without a force large enough, one would not be able to achieve much in the galactic society.
The Black Star Army was among the top armed forces in the Galaxy. They had manpower, resources, money, ships, and everything. As soon as Han Xiao’s highest order was given out, the Black Star Army’s men in the Shattered Star Ring started executing the order immediately. They searched through one Star System after another and locked down all kinds of transportation hubs to find Aesop’s whereabouts. The Floating Dragon Island’s troops were also mostly dispatched.
Clearly, such a big movement could not stay hidden. It quickly attracted the attention of the entire galactic society. With just a little research, they knew that Dragon Emperor’s elder had gone missing. To search for just one person, the movements of the Black Star Army indirectly affected dozens of Star Systems.
Such a deep search impacted the operation of some public facilities, which some galactic residents had slight problems with. However, given that it was from the Black Star Army and even the local civilizations did not do anything about it, of course, the ordinary residents did not dare do anything too. Other than dispatching troops everywhere, the Black Star Army also issued a bounty for Aesop through the local media channels, making use of the power of the people.
A large monetary reward would be given to anyone who could provide any real leads to Aesop, such as witness reports, transit records, and many more. If anyone could capture Aesop alive and give him to the army, the reward would be an outrageous 135 million Enaus. Ordinary galactic residents would not be able to even spend all this money in their lifetime. It was also humongous for some medium to small armed organizations.
As the saying went, with a high enough reward, people would step up sooner or later. Some medium to small organizations joined the search team, and a ton of free mercenaries started looking too. Even some galactic pirates and scavengers were searching secretly, hoping to acquire the reward and clean their ledgers. The local galactic residents of the Shattered Star Ring also kept an eye out.
For the time being, Aesop had become the focus of countless organizations in the Shattered Star Ring.
In the past, Han Xiao was on his own and hardly had any forces; being able to capture Aesop was mainly thanks to Feidin’s luck. Decades later, his army had grown into a giant. There was no need to play hide and seek with Aesop like he used to; he just had to make use of his resources, and it would become extremely difficult for Aesop to go anywhere.
Even though Aesop’s foresight ability was very powerful, all he could do was move with extreme caution and stealth in this kind of situation, not daring to appear in front of ordinary people.
Of course, these were just the basics. Han Xiao’s core method of finding him was Rody’s prophecy, alongside Ames, Feidin, Nero, and Harrison’s luck, on top of his own Virtual Technology continuously calculating the possible coordinates Aesop might head to so that he could narrow down the search area.
Dark red sandstorm shrouded the sky like a red piece of cloth placed over the entire planet.
Through the low visibility sandstorm, a man in a heavy protective suit was walking alone on the red desert. The raging storm drummed his body like hammers.
This man walked a few hours like this when, suddenly, a meteor-like spark of light penetrated the sandstorm and plummeted toward this man. He stopped and looked up, an approaching small spaceship reflected on the ally mask of his protective suit. Hu!
The spaceship slowly landed before this person and released an air force field with a fifty-meter diameter, blocking the sandstorm and creating a clean area.
The hatch opened. This person stepped onto the spaceship without hesitation, dusted off the sand all over his body, and took off the heavy protective helmet. An old face appeared. It was Aesop.
“You’re the ones here to fetch me?” Aesop patted the helmet.
“Yes, we’ll be responsible for getting you out of the Shattered Star Ring.” The captain approached him. “Don’t worry, we’re professionals, certainly reliable.” Aesop nodded with approval and said, “The single person space cabin that sent me here has yet to be destroyed. Go destroy it on while you’re at it. If it lands in Black Star’s hands, it’ll be a prophecy medium. Don’t leave any clues like that.”
Due to the Black Star Army’s lockdown over the Shattered Star Ring, he could hardly go anywhere. He was barely able to find a space cabin and landed on this desolate planet and waited for quite a long time before this spaceship arrived to pick him up.
“No problem.” The captain nodded.
The spaceship took off, came to a desolate desert area not far away, and discovered the metal space cabin that was half buried in the sand.
Bang!
Two explosive light beams shot out of the spaceship and destroyed the spaceship. The flame only lasted for an instant before being extinguished by the raging wind, leaving only metal fragments shattered around that were gradually buried by the sand. After completing this task, the spaceship turned around, rose up, and took off into space.
At the same time, Manison, who was in the Primeval Star River, received the message. He opened the surveillance footage, and it showed Aesop in this spaceship.
“They finally picked him up…”
Manison looked at the screen.
For confidentiality purposes, this spaceship that had gone to receive Aesop had hidden its organization symbol. It actually belonged to an organization called ‘Milder Armed Transport’, one of the secret organizations Manison had planted in the Shattered Star Ring.
Not long ago, the Modo Civilization had officially pulled him into the plan, shared some information with him, and asked him to help.
Modo Civilization only did so because of the lack of a better choice. The lockdown of the Black Star Army was too tight, so they could not make any moves in the Shattered Star Ring and could not secretly transport Aesop out at all. They were almost discovered multiple times. Hence, they decided to borrow the Mechanic Emperor’s men and have him take over the ‘delivery’.
“Modo must have used the Soul Swapper on Aesop and made him escape deliberately.”
Of course, in the information the Modo Civilization provided, the existence of the Soul Swapper was not mentioned. They only said that they controlled Aesop using some kind of mind control method and did not explain further. However, they did not know that Manison had known about the Soul Swapper since long ago, so he understood what was used on Aesop instantly.
Manison had no plan of stopping Modo’s mission. He even planned to cooperate with it fully.
Although Aesop was one of the Ancient Ones, he had quit the organization long ago. The Ancient Ones were mainly Eternals. Beyond Grade As were a part of it, but not all members were Beyond Grade As. There were quite a number of unique members with special abilities but weak combat capabilities just like Aesop.
Although Manison did know Aesop, they were not friends, so he did not mind Aesop dying.
On this matter, his interests aligned with Modo. There was a chance using Aesop’s death to plot against Black Star would force him to disobey the Peace Treaty of the advanced civilizations. This way, Black Star’s reputation would be severely damaged, and the great image the three Universal Civilizations had been building for him would collapse. That was exactly what Manison hoped to see, so he was willing to cooperate.
However, all of this was just the cherry on top. Manison’s main goal was still the Soul Swapper.
“Aesop is now in my hands. He’s definitely come into contact with the Soul Swapper at a relatively close range. Through searching his past whereabouts, the rough search area can be determined. Through cross-referencing the records, the Modo Civilization’s secret fleet that transported the Soul Swapper can be found. The person who’s now controlling Aesop’s body should be one of the Modo Civilization’s men. Maybe I can hypnotize him and question him.”
He did not know that the Soul Swap Twins had already escaped. He thought that the Soul Swapper was now being transported back by the Modo Civilization, so his search direction was already inaccurate.
Not long after the spaceship transporting Aesop left, another fleet visited this dark red desolate island. The Black Star symbol was engraved on their exterior armor.
Inside the command room of the main ship, Han Xiao, Ames, Feidin, and the rest gathered. This was a fleet commanded by Han Xiao personally.
“Hmm, this is the planet, exactly the same as it is in the prophecy. It’s also one of the locations that overlapped between the areas chosen by Feidin, Harrison, and Nero.”
Han Xiao looked down at the planet’s surface.
Rody’s prophecy did not work all the time, but any information that he gave was crucial, and Feidin and the others had the help of the Advanced Luck Glow. Under Han Xiao’s instructions, they randomly selected some coordinates in the various search areas, and Han Xiao focused the investigation on the places where their choices overlapped.
Although they had yet to get any leads, Han Xiao was still confident in this method.
What he did not know was that he had only just missed Aesop multiple times. This method was indeed very effective. In a way, luck was truly invincible.
“Scan this planet. Report any abnormalities to me.”
As Han Xiao gave the order, spaceships departed from the fleet one after another and circled the planet using all kinds of detection devices to scan the planet without missing a spot.
Normal readings showed on the screen before Han Xiao. There did not seem to be any abnormalities. However, after quite some time, some exciting news finally came from one of the spaceships. “Sir, we have discovered an extremely weak radiation signal in the desert. The sources of it are scattered and buried a few meters under the ground. Do we dig?” “Dig!”
The image on the screen quickly changed into the view from this battleship. The suction device at the bottom of the ship sucked out plates of burnt black metal fragments that looked like parts of a destroyed machine.
“Report, radiation source found. Analyzing… analysis complete. This should be the wreckage of a type of space cabin that was destroyed by an explosive energy cannon. Affected by the energy, a certain amount of radiation was left in the wreckage that’s gradually weakening. The radiation will completely disappear in a few days.”
“Looks like we’re not too late.” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
If they had arrived a few days later and the radiation had disappeared, they would not have been able to find this wreckage. With this, not only could it act as a medium for Rody’s prophecy, it could also be used with [Bold Explorer). One could see the future, and one could see the past. Very soon, this pile of space cabin fragments was transported to Han Xiao. Han Xiao picked one fragment up, looked at the burn marks on it, and said, “It doesn’t look like an attack, more like a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence, probably not wanting to leave any clues to us… Unfortunately for them, we’re lucky.” Han Xiao grabbed the fragment in his hand and activated (Bold Explorer).
Ripples appeared in his vision, and his vision instantly changed. He saw a space cabin falling down from the sky and landing on the surface of this planet. The hatch opened. A man wearing a heavy protection suit walked out from it and slowly walked away.
Although he could not see this person’s appearance, he felt it was most likely Aesop.
Like time had been shortened, not long after, a spaceship appeared above the space cabin, launched two explosive light beams, and shattered it into pieces. The images stopped abruptly here, and Han Xiao’s sights returned to normal.
This footage was short but quite informative. “This is indeed a space cabin left by Aesop. A spaceship appeared after to destroy the clue, which means it was here to fetch him…”
Han Xiao recalled the appearance of the spaceship in the footage. It was not a common model but a high-speed spaceship known for its hyperdrive speed. It was expensive to build, and not just anyone could afford it.
“Phillip!”
“I’m here, hum… Please give the order, master.”
“Search all the people and organizations in the Shattered Star Ring who possess the Featherlight Grade spaceship. Don’t leave anyone out, and focus on any organization that has a stronghold near this area.” “Ah?” Phillip batted his large eyes and made a pitiful expression. “That’s a lot of data, hum… It’ll occupy a lot of computing power, hum…”
Han Xiao gave him a stare and said, “Then hurry up!”
Phillip reluctantly took out a progress bar from his pants, placed it upright beside him, and created a large box filled with paper. He then jumped in and started searching. The progress bar started moving at the same time.
After quite some time, the progress bar finally finished. Phillip’s head extended out from the box. He spewed the pieces of paper out from his mouth with an illuminated piece of paper in his hand. He then filled his mouth with air and angrily said, “Humph! Found it, hum! Take it, take it!”
“A lot of tricks you have.”
Han Xiao rolled his eyes, switched into quantum network vision, and retrieved the search results.
A large amount of data instantly flew into his head like a tsunami, blocked by the dam built by Han Xiao’s brain capacity and computing power that did not even shake in the slightest. He quickly started browsing through it.
“A total of thirty-seven million and thirty-one matches… Hmm, let me take a look.”
Han Xiao quickly filtered in his brain, browsing through all of the records in less than two seconds and memorizing all of it. Only Virtual Mechanics would be able to use this ‘dumb method’ to lock onto suspicious targets… When he had the ability to filter the entire haystack, finding a needle would not be that difficult anymore.
Most of it was data with no value, but one organization that was emphasized had attracted Han Xiao’s attention.
“Milder Armed Transport… I seem to have an impression of this name.”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. He searched through the mind palace inside his brain, and the memories came up. … I got it! This organization is one of the Mechanic Emperor’s subsidiary organizations that was exposed in my previous life.
Han Xiao’s expression became solemn.
Although he had no final confirmation, his intuition told him that this was most likely the organization that transported Aesop away.
Doesn’t this mean that old b*stard Manison is involved in this too?
Han Xiao was not planning to question the Mechanic Emperor. It would be a waste of time anyway as he definitely would not admit it.
All kinds of thoughts flashed past his mind. Han Xiao turned to the others and said with a low voice, “Have people monitor the Milder Armed Transport closely… No, monitor all the organizations I’m going to name. I want to know their recent movements, but don’t startle them. Monitor them extra closely, and don’t make any moves without my order!”
Han Xiao had always known some of the organizations that the Mechanic Emperor had secretly planted in the Shattered Star Ring. Originally, he did not want to let the Mechanic Emperor know this, but now that he seemed involved in this matter, Han Xiao decided to take measures and monitor all of the subsidiary organizations that the Mechanic Emperor had in the Shattered Star Ring!
Ten days later, somewhere in the Shattered Star Ring, a spaceship flew, dragging a long trail of flames. Within the cockpit, Aesop was looking at the Shattered Star Ring star map with countless red marks that represented dangerous areas with a grave expression.
The captain stood to the side, hesitated for a moment, and said, “There aren’t many routes left for us. We’re about to hit a dead end. If this carries on, we probably won’t have a way to get you out of the Shattered Star Ring. Do you have any plans?”
Aesop pressed his hands on the table so heavily veins appeared on the backs of his hands. He growled, “Aren’t you guys professionals? Why is this happening?”
Confused as well, the captain smiled bitterly and said, “We don’t know either. We haven’t left any clues behind, and we’ve been moving very stealthily, but the Black Star Army has been able to put up accurate encirclements around as if they are aware of where we are. We have no idea how or where they obtained such accurate information… Could this be the ability of foresight? Aren’t you a prophet? Why didn’t you notice it?”
Aesop clenched his teeth and had nothing to say.
He did indeed use his ability along the way, and it certainly helped them to dodge some of the troops. However, no matter how many times they got rid of the Black Star Army, the Black Star Army would be able to catch up again soon after. Even though the Mechanic Emperor’s subsidiary organizations kept changing their carriers, it had absolutely no effect.
Furthermore, it was not Aesop who was controlling his body now, just the collective consciousness of a group of Modo soldiers. They were unable to use the foresight ability to the fullest. The secret stronghold location that was deliberately given to the Black Star Army was not acquired by prophecy; they knew where it was to begin with and leaked it on purpose so that the others would not suspect him.
Originally, Aesop’s target was to head to the edge of the Shattered Star Ring. However, under the pursuit of the Black Star Army, he had no choice but to keep hiding and was forced to change the route. He was still going in circles in the Star Field, and the situation was getting worse by the minute.
“If there really isn’t a way out…” Aesop looked at the star map, pointed at a planet nearby, and clenched his teeth. “Then cancel the plan of leaving the Shattered Star Ring. Take me to this planet.”
The captain looked in the direction Aesop was pointing. His expression changed slightly, and he said, “Planet Mountain Ash? That place has always been chaotic. Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Aesop nodded without hesitation.
This was a colonial planet currently belonging to a local Star System civilization. However, due to its history, this planet had very aggressive and sharp societal conflicts.
Originally, Planet Mountain Ash had a native intelligent species of its own that developed into a surface civilization that had been prospering. However, when they ventured into the universe, they were discovered by the local Star System civilization. Due to the treaty that forbade them from interfering with a lower civilization, the local Star System civilization only observed them at the start and did not interfere much. It was similar to the relationship the Godoran Civilization had with Planet Aquamarine back then.
However, Planet Mountain Ash was located at the borders of two Star Systems. The local Star System civilization had frequent physical conflicts with its neighbor, and both of them wanted to expand their borders. Therefore, they both hoped to make Planet Mountain Ash theirs. An unspoken rule of the Peace Treaty was that only Star System civilizations had real assurances. Despite surface civilizations being included in this treaty on paper, there would always be advanced civilizations that did not obey it secretly. Of course, they still had to look like they were obeying the treaty on the surface. Hence, the local Star System civilization could not possibly directly attack the surface civilization, so they resorted to two methods. The first was to contact Planet Mountain Ash in the name of technology exchange, deliberately leaking some technology and then framing the Planet Mountain Ash civilization for stealing it. The second method was to secretly incite the split of the surface civilizations, then providing ‘war support’ to some of the governments in crucial times, leaving the army on Planet Mountain Ash using the excuse of settling rebellions. The enormous difference in their strengths meant that there was no way a surface civilization could fight with a Star System civilization. Using these two methods, the local civilization gained control of Planet Mountain Ash without much suspense.
The ongoing societal conflict came from the retaliation of the Planet Mountain Ash civilization. There were frequent riots and demonstrations of all sorts. Hence, the local Star System civilization implemented policies to stabilize their ruling, occasionally sending official troops in to suppress these civilian activities on Planet Mountain Ash. This was why the environment of the planet had been chaotic.
In the universe, planets like Planet Mountain Ash were not a rarity. Laws created the seemingly peaceful galactic society, but under the surface, the rule of the jungle still applied. It was just not that bloody and naked anymore rarely causing the extinction of an entire race.
Aesop needed a planet exactly like this. If he could die in the hands of the Star System civilization’s troops, the Dragon Emperor would be furious at the local Star System civilization, and the plan would be considered a success! “Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, I’ll find a way to secretly send you in.”
The captain did not try to dissuade Aesop any longer.
He was a base member of the Mechanic Emperor’s subsidiary organization who was unaware of the whole picture. He was only responsible for completing the transport mission that was given to him. Whatever his employer said, he would follow, and he knew nothing else. In fact, he did not even know that his top boss was the Mechanic Emperor. “Remember, it has to be stealthy,” Aesop said and enlarged the image of Planet Mountain Ash on the star map. A complex emotion flashed passed his eyes.
Looks like this is where I die…
His mind was shaken for a split second before becoming firm again. As the collective consciousness formed from multiple soldiers’ souls, he did not fear death and was absolutely loyal to Modo.
Sacrifice himself in exchange for a chance for the Modo Civilization to take a breath, this was his mission!
However, while he was in an emotional state, no one on this ship knew that there were dozens of advanced spaceships secretly following them from not far behind.
It was the fleet led by Han Xiao!
The fleet was equipped with state of the art stealth devices of the logistics department. They had already been following the spaceship Aesop was on for close to half a day, but they had never been discovered.
Inside the main ship command room, Ames looked at the spaceship in front and wondered, “Where do you think he’s going?”
Han Xiao glanced at the star map with his arms crossed and said, “Probably Planet Mountain Ash.”
“Why would he go there?”
“How would I know?” Han Xiao shrugged.
Through monitoring all the secret organizations that the Mechanic Emperor had planted in the Shattered Star Ring, the search of the Black Star Army became much smoother. He was able to fully lock onto Aesop’s whereabouts a day ago and followed behind it secretly. He did not immediately act because he wanted to see what backup plans the Mechanic Emperor had.
Speaking of which, if the Modo Civilization insisted on using their own forces to transport Aesop, Han Xiao really might not have been able to catch him this easily. He still did not know that the mastermind behind this was the Modo Civilization.
However, the Modo Civilization thought that the Mechanic Emperor’s troops were more hidden, so they chose to borrow his forces, which achieved the complete opposite effect. To Han Xiao, most of the subsidiary organizations that the Mechanic Emperor had in the Shattered Star Ring had no secrets. It was like he had ‘maphacks’. “Do we go catch him now?” Ames turned to look at Han Xiao.
“We don’t have to go through so much trouble. Just make him come to us.” Han Xiao smiled, snapped his fingers, and sent an invisible set of data.
Boom!
Aesop was studying the star map when he suddenly felt the spaceship tremble. It seemed like it had suddenly shut down its engine and stopped moving
He looked up at the captain with a shocked and nervous expression.
“What’s going on? Did the spaceship malfunction?”
“I-I don’t know.”
The captain was confused. He then displayed his superior home appliances repairing ability and slammed the control table a few times, but it did not respond at all as if the artificial intelligence of the spaceship had died.
Whoosh!
The hatch suddenly automatically opened. Everyone was startled. The spaceship was in the middle of cosmic space. If the hatch opened, everyone inside would be sucked out.
However, that did not happen. The outside of the hatch was quiet. The people inside looked out the porthole with confusion, only to still see the dark cosmic space outside.
“What’s going on?”
Aesop and the rest came to the hatch and looked out. The moment they saw what was outside, Aesop’s entire body froze, and terror filled his face.
Outside was an enormous metal interior of a ship. Black Star and Dragon Emperor were standing outside the hatch with a group of their subordinates, staring at him with a faint smile.
Aesop’s eyes opened wide. His mind went into chaos.
Where is this? Why am I here?
Did I open the door the wrong way, which caused me to see illusions?
Han Xiao smirked and said, “You really can run, huh? But not even saying anything before you leave? That’s cold, old man.”
This was his doing. He easily hacked into the spaceship and took over control without anyone noticing, then made it turn around and fly into the main ship.
He left misguiding imagery on the portholes, so the people inside had no idea what happened. Ames took a few steps up, narrowed her eyes, and said with a displeased tone, “Humph, you made us look for you for so many days! Don’t you have anything you want to say to me?”
Seeing this, Aesop lost all hope.
It’s over! The plan’s failed!
Damn it, I was so close!
Now it’s all gone down the drain!
He was filled with frustration.
No, there’s still a chance! Black Star and Dragon Emperor both think I’m Aesop himself. I can still continue to disguise myself as him!
Aesop had yet to totally give up. He wanted to keep trying. He suppressed the tsunami of shock in his heart and forced out a smile, faking an embarrassed expression. “Well, you found me… Black Star, didn’t we agree you’d let me go? Why have you gone back on your words?”
Han Xiao did not reply to him but instead turned to Ames and said with a smug tone, “See, I was right.”
Hearing this, Ames sized Aesop up and nodded heavily with approval. “You’re right, his smile isn’t despicable enough. He must be a fake!” Aesop was completely stunned. His brain went blank.
What, they can actually see through my identity from such a small detail?
Damn! What kind of laughable reason is that! Like hell I’ll believe it!
Aesop’s smile became more and more stiff. He had a bad feeling but still persisted and said, “What are you guys joking about? Alright, I admit I was wrong for sneaking away. I’ll accept any kind of…”.
Before he finished, Han Xiao suddenly shouted, “Still faking it?” Aesop was shocked. He was filled with despair.
At this moment, he knew that he had long been exposed. Black Star was only toying with him!
The next moment, he clenched his teeth, suddenly pulled out a weapon, and aimed it at his own head. He pulled the trigger without any hesitation.
The plan had failed, and he had no way of escaping, so he immediately chose to end his own life. This way, he could prevent Black Star from finding out who was behind all this, while at the same time, he would get rid of the prophet Aesop, making his last contribution to Modo!
Boom!
However, he was just about to raise the firearm when a light beam flashed past his eyes. Nero, who was prepared for this, instantly blasted the firearm out of Aesop’s hand.
Then, the army soldiers swarmed over and pressed Aesop to the ground, making him unable to move.
Seeing this, Ames breathed a sigh of relief, deactivated the force field in her hand, and looked at Aesop, who was still struggling, with complicated emotions in her eyes. She then turned to Han Xiao and nodded as a sign of appreciation. “Thanks. Things would’ve become troublesome without your help.”
“It’s no biggie. Aesop is my friend too.”
Han Xiao waved his hand.
Ames smiled and softly punched Han Xiao’s chest but did not say anything. She knew that without Han Xiao’s help, there was no way she could have found Aesop this easily. In the end, something irreversible might have happened, and Aesop was her irreplicable family. She could not imagine what she would do if that happened.
Words were not enough to express her appreciation. She looked at Han Xiao; he gave her a feeling of assurance and reliability.
This time, the captain who was shivering on the side carefully said, “Erm… Your Excellency Black Star, you’ve found your man. Can we go now?”
Han Xiao glanced at him, snorted, and said, “Leave? Stay here and don’t resist. I’ll let you guys go when you’ve told me everything you know.”
Although these people were the Mechanic Emperor’s subordinates, they probably did not know anything. Han Xiao did not plan to do anything to them. This would be entered into the Mechanic Emperor’s ledger, and it was far from over.
Then, Han Xiao came to Aesop, squatted, and looked curious.
“Alright, now let me see what’s going on with you, old man…”
Han Xiao ordered the soldier beside the press down hard on Aesop. Nanoparticles slipped out of his sleeve and formed a thin, black needle.
He held it in his hands, aimed at Aesop’s butt, and pressed it in like a nurse injecting a needle into a patient. “Huh!”
A very strange yell sounded.
Han Xiao plugged out the black needle and looked at the combat information on the interface. He quickly browsed through Aesop’s status, and his expression became confused.
“Soul Swapper? What is that?”
(Soul Parasite]: This character is infected by an exterior soul parasite, and his mind is being controlled by it. Source: Soul Swapper. Duration: Unknown.
Aesop’s current status appeared on his status bar.
Han Xiao noticed the words ‘Soul Swapper’ instantly. Clearly, this was the thing that secretly bypassed his detection devices and got to Aesop. He wondered what device this was.
He searched through his memories and was certain he had never heard of this name in his previous life.
“Soul Swapper, I wonder what its specific functions are. It sounds like a machine…”
While he was softly murmuring, Aesop suddenly froze, covered in sweat. His eyes widened with overwhelming shock.
What did I just hear? Did the exact words ‘Soul Swapper’ come out of Black Star’s mouth?
How does he know about the Soul Swapper? Where did this information get leaked!
Of course, the Modo soldiers’ souls inside Aesop’s body did not know Han Xiao got this information from the interface, so the first thought that came to mind was that this information got leaked somewhere. His mind went blank with despair.
Han Xiao noticed his abnormal reaction and thought, He’s responding strongly to it, which means this Soul Swapper must be something very important.
Since he now knew the symptoms, the matter was no longer that complicated. It was clearly more suitable for someone with expertise in the soul area to handle it.
Han Xiao stood up and called Feidin over, pointing at Aesop.
“The old man got infected by a soul parasite. Take a look.”
“Sure.” Feidin nodded. A ripple psychic energy was released from between his eyes and entered Aesop’s mind.
The others waited on the side. About twenty seconds later, Feidin retrieved his psychic energy and looked hesitant. “What is it? Is something wrong?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
Feidin frowned slightly. “There is indeed another cluster of collective souls inside his mind. Not really strong, Grade B at most, so I can deal with it. The problem is, this cluster of parasite souls has already perfectly fused with Aesop’s own soul with close to no rejection. I have hardly ever seen anything like this…”
“So, you’re saying there are risks?” Ames asked.
“There are indeed. They’ve fused too deeply, so the difficulty of removing the parasite is as high as doing an extremely precise operation on his soul. There’s no room for errors. Once something goes wrong, Aesop’s own soul will be damaged too…” “You don’t have to force it if you’re not confident. I can ask Kasuyi to help. He’ll definitely give me face.”
Han Xiao was not surprised. He was in a similar situation back when he fought seven-eyes, so he was somewhat experienced. Aesop’s situation was much less severe than
his.
Feidin shook his head. “It’s not that I’m not confident. I can eliminate the parasites, but I can’t do it without wiping out their souls. This is why I’m confirming, do you want to do some interrogation first before curing Aesop?”.
The soul swap of the Soul Swapper had close to no side effects, which most Supers were unable to do. To most Supers, the soul was a mysterious territory that could not be messed with.
Feidin, for example, could not even divide his own wife out of his soul and could only make love mentally every day. So, of course, he could not get rid of the parasite while still ensuring it stayed alive.
“I see, then don’t cure him just yet.” Han Xiao responded without hesitation.
The parasite was currently his biggest source of intelligence, so he had to interrogate him no matter what. Curing Aesop could be done after that.
C
As for the fact that Aesop’s body would still be the one getting tortured during the interrogation… Ha, there was Aurora’s life energy potion anyway. As long as there was no risk of Aesop dying, there was no problem.
The conversation between them was open, so the Modo soldiers inside Aesop’s body heard it too and were in incomparable despair.
He wanted to keep all the intelligence he knew hidden, but he was well aware that there was nothing he could hide in the face of a Calamity Grade who specialized in souls.
Without the Soul Swapper, the body became a prison, and he was locked inside Aesop’s body, unable to do anything but accept his fate.
“Leave the interrogation to me.” Feidin waved and told the army soldiers to lead Aesop to the interrogation room.
Feidin was a kind person who did not like interrogations, but in the face of such a despicable enemy, he did not mind using more extreme methods.
The soldiers around cleaned up the scene and took the captives away. This time, Ames came to Han Xiao and softly said, “We’ve got who we came for. What are you planning to do now?”
“Ask the parasite who sent him, then come up with a plan depending on that. No matter what, this isn’t over,” Han Xiao replied casually.
All he knew now was that the Mechanic Emperor was part of this. He did not know if there were any other organizations behind it. Although they were not able to reach their goal, he was not going to let this go so easily.
He even planned to use this as the clue to search for information about the Soul Swapper, to see if he could obtain it and study it.
“Okay. If you’re going to retaliate, count me in.” Ames’s tone was indisputable and firm.
“… I’m guessing they came for me. You don’t have to drag yourself into this trouble. I’m here.” Han Xiao shook his head.
He knew the risks involved, and he did not wish to involve Ames. He also did not want Ames to step into his conflict with the Mechanic Emperor. Battles between peak Beyond Grade As were still too dangerous for her.
“What do you mean? I’m not one who’s afraid of trouble. If they dare to target my men, I’ll have to show them I’m not easy to mess with!” Ames frowned before smiling once more. “Also, you helped me, so I have to help you too. That’s what an ally should do. Even if you reject me, I won’t give up.” As she said that, a notification popped up on the interface.
You have triggered mission (Ames’ Rage]!
Mission Introduction: Due to her family being hurt, Ames is enraged. She hopes to take revenge on the mastermind of it with you.
Mission Requirements: Take revenge on the mastermind together with Ames.
Reward: 250,000,000 Experience, +40 Ames Favorability, +10 Aesop Favorability, +30,000 Floating Dragon Island Contribution Points, 2 Random Rewards, 1 Character Summon Card.
Bonus rewards will be given depending on the Mission Rating.
Han Xiao scanned through the mission. This kind of mission was becoming less and less significant to him nowadays, but it still counted. Anyway, it would not be too much trouble, so he accepted it.
Mainly because he saw how firm Ames’ eyes looked-she was clearly not going to give up. Instead of letting her take the risk herself, he might as well be by her side, so she would at least not do something as extreme as she did in his previous life.
About an hour later, Feidin came to the command room and gave the report in his hands to Han Xiao.
“The interrogation is done. All the information is in here. Nothing is missing.”
Han Xiao took the file and browsed through it. The content was extremely detailed. It included the Modo Civilization’s goal for this mission, how the Soul Swapper worked, the existence of the Soul Swap Twins, and so on. Everything was laid out clearly. With Feidin’s psychic scan of the Modo soldier’s soul, he had obtained everything he knew.
“Hmm, so it’s Modo. I knew it was Modo.” Han Xiao sneered. After reading the file, Han Xiao finally understood what was going on. This was within his expectations.
The only thing that surprised him was the Soul Swapper that was shockingly a Space Wonder grade treasure. The Modo Civilization had such an amazing device in their hands, yet it was not exposed at all in his previous life.
Nonetheless, this was not too surprising. Advanced civilizations all had trump cards. Some were extremely well hidden and not displayed to the public. Of course, Han Xiao had no memories of the Universal Treasures that the players in his previous life did not come into contact with.
Now that he knew, he started having ideas.
“There’s no reason to let such a good thing slip.”
Han Xiao was very tempted.
One reason was because of how magical the Soul Swapper was, and another was to prevent Modo from using the Soul Swapper on him again in the future. One way or another, he had to make Modo lose this trump card.
At the same time, Han Xiao became more alert too.
“I can’t underestimate any advanced civilizations. God knows when they’ll bring up another strange trump card by surprise…” Han Xiao closed the file and pondered. “By the way, have you eliminated the parasite yet?”
“Not yet.” Feidin shook his head.
“Okay, don’t cure Aesop just yet. Although we’ve acquired everything he knows, the parasite is still useful. He’s an important piece of evidence.”
The Modo Civilization is the mastermind, and their goal is to force the Black Star Army to retreat. While the Mechanic Emperor worked with Modo secretly most probably because he wants to cause problems to me, I can work around that… With the use of some choice words, I can make this into the Mechanic Emperor choosing to stand on the side of the Super Star Cluster Alliance against the three Universal Civilizations.
As long as he reported this to the three Universal Civilizations, old b*stard Manison’s situation would be even worse. This was not just personal. Han Xiao made a daring assumption. Since the Mechanic Emperor’s men came into contact with Aesop too, could he have known about the existence of the Soul Swapper too and was looking for it secretly, hoping to obtain it?
If that was the case, Manison would become Han Xiao’s competitor. If he told the three Universal Civilizations about this and had them keep a close eye on the Mechanic Emperor, the Mechanic Emperor’s forces would be affected, and it would be more difficult for him to find the Soul Swapper, which was beneficial to Han Xiao.
“Since the three Universal Civilizations are on my side, it would be a waste not to make use of that. It’s worth trying.” All kinds of thoughts flashed through Han Xiao’s mind. He analyzed the situation and felt that this was doable. Therefore, he walked to the side, took out the communicator, and called Urranrell’s private number.
After a while, the communication got picked up, Urranrell’s face appeared on the screen.
“Black Star, I’m in a meeting. What is it?”
“I’ve discovered a piece of intelligence recently. It’s about the Mechanic Emperor…”
Han Xiao explained what had happened, naturally adding some ‘color’ to it, while also displaying evidence such as Aesop to prove he was not making it up.
Hearing this, Urranrell’s expression became serious.
“You’re saying that, after the Intelligent Plague, not only did the Mechanic Emperor not regret it and change for the better, he even got worse and secretly joined the Super Star Cluster Alliance, executed confidential missions, and is helping them to fight the three Universal Civilizations?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Han Xiao agreed with it without any change of tone, clearly experienced with framing others. “… Okay, I get it. This is a very important piece of intelligence. I’ll inform the federation and the church to quickly come up with a solution.”
Urranrell nodded solemnly and quickly hung up the communication.
Seeing this, Han Xiao smirked.
As the saying went, one’s happiness was built on another’s pain. The unluckier Mechanic Emperor got, the happier he was.
Old Manison, don’t blame me for this. This treasure and I are fated. You already have so many Universal Treasures. Don’t fight me for this one.
At this time, Nero walked in.
“Godfather, where do we start the search?”
“Hmm, before Aesop got attacked, he made one last contact with the Modo Civilization’s troops. Start with that,” Han Xiao said.
Since he now knew that Modo was the mastermind, it was clear when Aesop got infected, and that would be a clear lead. That secret transport fleet of the Modo Civilization had to have been carrying the Soul Swapper, and they would have to return through secret stargates and transport the Soul Swapper back. Hence, he had to find them as soon as possible. This time, Han Xiao suddenly thought of something and said, “By the way, I remember that one ship survived among the tracking teams that coincidentally found the Modo Civilization’s fleet. Go capture them immediately.”
Having uncovered the functions of the Soul Swapper, he speculated that there might be spies in those teams, and the spies were most likely in that tracking team that survived.
“Hmm? This spaceship has lost contact?” Manison was a little surprised to receive this report from his subordinate.
There seemed to be only one explanation for this situation, that Black Star had caught up with Aesop and hacked the spaceship of his subsidiary organization. “Weird, how did Black Star get this information?” Manison frowned slightly.
The focus of his work recently had been on searching for the Soul Swapper, on which he had already made some progress, but he was also paying attention to Aesop.
From the way Manison looked at it, the subsidiary organizations he had left in the Shattered Star Ring were very well hidden. With their help, they should be able to easily get Aesop out of the Shattered Star Ring. However, the reality was completely different. It was as if Black Star knew the whereabouts of his subsidiary organization like the back of his hand. He could follow them anywhere they went.
Manison thought that his subsidiary organizations were very well hidden, which was why he felt the odds of success were high if he worked with the Modo Civilization using that.
However, now that he looked at it, Black Star seemed to already have eyes on his subsidiary organizations, and there was a risk of them being all exposed. If worst came to worst, more than half of the forces he had operating in the Shattered Star Ring would be completely obliterated. It would be a huge loss!
Manison clenched his fist before slowly letting go. He did not look too happy.
“No matter what, now that Black Star caught Aesop, he’ll know about the Soul Swapper, so he has become my competitor… I have to speed up now. My losses will only be made up for if I get the Soul Swapper!”
“Message from the frontline. They’ve lost contact with Aesop. He’s possibly been captured by Black Star.” As this report was read by a Modo Civilization upper echelon, the conference room was filled with dead silence.
After quite some time, a top military officer finally said, “The plan must’ve failed. The situation is now dire. Do you guys have any ideas?”
“I thought the Mechanic Emperor would have definitely completed the mission. I didn’t expect him to be this useless and unreliable,” someone said.
“Could he have deliberately divulged the information to Black Star, using that to fix his relationship with Black Star?”
“He wouldn’t do that. You don’t have to doubt him.” The Modo Three Kings shook their heads.
“It’s not his style to fawn upon Black Star, and his hatred with Black Star won’t be resolved this easily, nor would the three Universal Civilizations stop being cautious toward him… You guys should think about how to deal with the impact of the mission failing.” They knew that the Mechanic Emperor was not to be blamed for this. Even the Mechanic Emperor, whom they had high hopes for, could not transport Aesop out, not to mention their own forces. Even so, the upper echelons present still unavoidably felt disappointed with the Mechanic Emperor. “There are souls of our soldiers inside Aesop’s body. Black Star will be able to get our plans from them. Never mind if he knows about our plan, I’m only worried about him knowing about the Soul Swapper,” another upper echelon said.
The Modo Civilization had already considered the consequences of failing while they came up with the plan. They looked like they did not want to be discovered, but it was actually only because it was required for the framing. Modo was not afraid of Black Star finding out that this was their doing.
After all, they were enemies. The Black Star Army would not stop attacking them even without this conspiracy, so they were not afraid of enraging Black Star.
Even if the three Universal Civilizations knew about it, Modo had nothing to fear either. They were already at war with the three Universal Civilizations anyway. All the Modo Civilization really worried about was that Black Star might find out about the Soul Swapper after the plan failed.
However, since they had chosen to use the Soul Swapper for the mission, this was a risk they had to take.
Moreover, the Soul Swapper was not in their hands now and had been taken away by the Soul Swap Twins, which meant there were even more uncertainties.
“Speaking of which, why haven’t the Soul Swap Twins contacted us yet? The mind trap should’ve triggered long ago,” someone wondered.
“That’s right. It’s been almost a month. Have their sub-personalities still not awakened?”
“Could there have been an accident and the Soul Swap Twins have suppressed the awakening of the sub-personalities? But how is that possible? They’re Grade Bs at most, or is this the Soul Swapper’s ability too?”
“No matter what, we have to prepare for the worst,” one of the Modo Three Kings said with a deep voice.
From their perspective, mind traps set by a Beyond Grade A on Grade Bs should be completely safe. However, even the ones in charge of the Marwell plan did not know everything about the Soul Swapper. The Soul Swap Twins were the only ones they knew that could use the Soul Swapper, and only the two of them knew about all its functions.
“We have to do something. How about we get our Beyond Grade A to look for them in the Shattered Star Ring?” someone suggested.
“No, a Beyond Grade A is too conspicuous. If his identity as our direct member is exposed, he won’t be able to return. Black Star won’t mind adding another item to his collection.” Most of the people present did not agree with sending a Beyond Grade A to find the Soul Swapper, since that Beyond Grade A might not be able to come back. Should that happen, not only would they have not found the Soul Swapper, but they would also lose a Beyond Grade A!
The Modo Civilization had very complicated feelings about the Soul Swapper. On the one hand, they placed great importance on its functions, but on the other, they used it very cautiously. Throughout the years, they had tested trillions of people, and only the Soul Swap Twins could use it. Without the two of them, this Space Wonder would be like a piece of junk. Furthermore, they only used it to execute conspiracies and plots most of the time, such as turning important people into their men. However, when it got discovered and the souls of the people they swapped in got interrogated, Modo’s involvement would be discovered too and bring them trouble. Therefore, they hardly ever used the Soul Swapper. It mostly collected dust in storage.
Hence, although the upper echelons present really wanted to retrieve it, they were not willing to pay too high a price. They felt it was not very worth it.
Bang! A top military officer slammed the table and interrupted the discussion. He clenched his teeth and said, “Damn it, we’re so restricted in someone else’s territory. We could’ve toyed with Black Star all we wanted if this happened in our territory.”
Everyone felt powerless.
It was what it was. Black Star had way too few weaknesses, and they were out of ideas.
About ten days later, inside the main ship office of the Black Star fleet, Han Xiao received the summarized data from Phillip and scanned it through.
“Is all the information here?”
“Yes, hum… This is all the information we’ve collected about the Soul Swapper.”
In the past ten days, the Black Star Army had started a large-scale search around the clues acquired from Aesop.
Firstly, they captured the tracking team that had their souls swapped and got some new information about the transport team from back then.
Originally, according to the plan, these spies would be swapped away again after the mission was complete, making it look like an accidental death, not leaving any clues behind.
However, the Soul Swap Twins’ escape caused them to be trapped inside the bodies of the Black Star Army soldiers. They did not dare contact Modo’s men because Black Star was monitoring the quantum network, nor did they know about the Soul Swap Twins escaping. They thought that they had to continue hiding and were caught red handed.
After acquiring information from these people, Han Xiao once again used the power of Destiny’s Child, and with some luck, they captured quite a few Modo Civilization battleships that had yet to leave the Shattered Star Ring. From these people, he found out that the Soul Swap Twins had escaped.
However, the leads stopped there. Modo’s men had no idea where the Soul Swap Twins were.
Han Xiao looked at the information collected, slightly shook his head, and sighed.
“The Soul Swap Twins can keep changing bodies. It won’t be easy to find them.”
He was not an expert in the soul area, but he did know someone who was—the leader of the Holy Accord organization, Oathkeeper, the current master of the Soul Flame.
This guy might have a way to find the Soul Swap Twins quickly. After all, no matter how many times they changed bodies, their souls would remain the same.
However, when Han Xiao tried contacting Oathkeeper, he was told that Oathkeeper had entered the Sanctum and had yet to return, so this method was out of the question.
“The current methods are only virtual technology, Bold Explorer, and luck, which are not very efficient…” Han Xiao pondered. “The Mechanic Emperor should be looking for the Soul Swapper, too. I can keep a close eye on him.”
When searching for Modo’s troops, Han Xiao had found out that some other spaceships of the transport fleet were also missing.
However, these spaceships were not in his hands. With some investigation, he discovered that it was related to the Mechanic Emperor’s subsidiary organizations, which basically proved that the Mechanic Emperor was looking for the Soul Swapper. Since he framed the Mechanic Emperor more than half a month ago, the three Universal Civilizations had already taken action. A part of the subsidiary organizations under the Mechanic Emperor that were disguised as legal organizations were temporarily seized.
Not only did this cause quite a loss for the Mechanic Emperor, more importantly, it meant that a lot of the Mechanic Emperor’s subsidiary troops were frozen, so the manpower he could use right now was tremendously reduced. This indirectly made it harder for the Mechanic Emperor to find the Soul Swapper.
However, Han Xiao felt that the Mechanic Emperor should have known about the Soul Swapper before he did. Furthermore, the Mechanic Emperor’s home was in the Primeval Star River, just like Modo, so he might know something he did not. Han Xiao felt that keeping a close eye on him might give him some surprises.
“Continue the search,” Han Xiao said.
“Report any and all situations to me. Keep an extra close eye on the Mechanic Emperor’s subsidiary organizations. Don’t let any one of them leave our sights.”
At the edge of the Shattered Star Ring, Planet Earth Ring was a transit station planet located near the inter-star field stargate that had a huge amount of traffic every day. A ton of galactic flights resupplied all kinds of resources. The management of the planet was a Star Cluster civilization of the Shattered Star Ring, so this was a government-controlled public transit hub.
The streets were crowded, prosperous, and filled with countless different races.
Half a month had passed since the search for the Soul Swap Twins began. A man and a woman walked on the street, carefully observing the surrounding while conversing softly. It was the Soul Swap Twins, Jill and Warren.
“Elder bro, anything from your sub-personality these few days?”
“I just suppressed it three days ago, but my souls are running out. We’ll have to top up on some souls today.”
“Me too. This planet has a lot of people, so it’s a suitable target. This is our last stop before leaving the Shattered Star Ring. We have to absorb as many souls as possible so it can last longer,” Warren said softly.
“Don’t do anything now. Wait till we’re about to leave.” Jill kept his voice down.
Their goal was to leave the Shattered Star Ring. Through changing their bodies continuously, they had finally arrived at the edge of the Shattered Star Ring. They planned to resupply there and then escape the Star Field through the stargate.
In order to suppress their mind traps, they absorbed quite a lot of souls on the planets they passed by, continuously ‘charging up’. Most of which were beasts, but that was not because they suddenly became kind and merciful; absorbing too many intelligent lives would attract attention, which was not beneficial for staying hidden.
Now that they were at the edge of the Star Field, they knew they would be mostly safe if they got out. Hence, they planned to go for a big one and absorb a lot of souls, hoping to find a way to completely defuse the mind traps.
This way, they would not have to commit any crimes in the other Star Fields and could hide themselves perfectly.
“We’re finally going to leave the Shattered Star Ring. We’ll soon have real freedom.” Warren’s tone was thrilled and filled with infinite hope for the future.
“This is the first step of our conquest!”
Jill clenched his fists. His eyes were gleaming with excitement. We’re finally about to take the first step of fulfilling their ambitions. Our imprisoned days have finally come to an end. As long as we have enough time to grow, given how magical the Soul Swapper is and how talented we are, we’ll certainly become a big deal in the universe!
While the two of them were dreaming about their future, a sudden change occurred, and the alarm suddenly rang throughout the city!
Woo!
The piercing alarm echoed throughout all the streets. Countless people looked up with surprise, not knowing what was going on. “What’s going on?”
“This is a planetary alarm. Has someone come to attack the planet!”
The people on the streets started panicking, including the street the Soul Swap Twins were on. “Elder bro, are they here for us?” Warren looked anxious.
“Don’t panic! No one should be able to find us, and even if someone did, they wouldn’t create such a huge commotion for it.” Jill was unsure too.
At this time, someone pointed at the sky and yelled, “Look, a fleet!” The people looked up. Battleships penetrated the atmosphere and hovered in midair, and mechanical soldiers shrouded the sky. There were no organization symbols, so they did not know what organization this was. This time, the sound of spaceships taking off continuously sounded. The garrison of Planet Earth Ring hastily arrived and loudly questioned what was happening in the public communication channel “This is the Planet Earth Ring Garrison Fleet Command Center. You have broken the Dock Parking Law by penetrating the planet’s atmosphere without authorization. Please identify yourselves immediately!” After a full two seconds, the voice of an old man finally sounded in the public communication channel.
“I’m Mechanic Emperor Manison. I’ll be taking over this planet temporarily.”
As he said that, countless people shockingly realized that their communicators had lost network connection. They were no longer able to send any messages out. The people were in an uproar. At this point, they clearly knew that the Mechanic Emperor had cut off the communication of the entire Planet Earth Ring with the outside world. He had locked down the quantum network of the planet! “Mechanic Emperor? What is he doing here?” Jill widened his eyes in shock. The two of them had escaped early, and Modo had partnered with the Mechanic Emperor after that. They thought that they were just innocent passersby at this point. They were just one step away from their beautiful future, and now they got into an accident right before that. They were both shocked and enraged.
However, no matter how arrogant Jill was, in the face of the great Mechanic Emperor, he knew there was no way he could mess with him. The only thing he could do was pray for the Mechanic Emperor to quickly finish what he came for and open up the lockdown so that they could leave.
At the same time, within the main ship above Planet Earth Ring, Manison’s Lord’s Avatar covered in electric sparks stood before the porthole, looked at the hostile and tensed garrison fleet, and calmly said, “Lock the entire planet down. Don’t allow any life form to leave. The target is right here. Filter the life forms of the entire planet till we find them!”
Outside the window, countless mechanical soldiers descended onto the ground and controlled the panicking crowd. Countless screams of pain shot up the sky and faintly reached Manison’s ears.
He scanned through the surface. He was completely certain the Soul Swap Twins were on Planet Earth Ring.
His tracking process was not the smoothest. This was not his territory, so he could not keep such a high profile like the Black Star Army could. He secretly seized a few transport ships only to discover that the Soul Swap Twins had already escaped, and his leads ended there too.
However, Manison acquired extra information from his mole in Modo and knew about the mind trap. He then searched for any place where a large number of life forms had turned into vegetables and lost their souls, and he speculated that it was the doing of the Soul Swap Twins.
Through finding similar incidents, he confirmed the escape route of the Soul Swap Twins and finally locked onto the Soul Swap Twins’ whereabouts today.
Due to the fact that his subsidiary organizations were already exposed and were being uprooted, Manison was no longer worried about getting found out, so he locked down the entire Planet Earth Ring. If not because most of his subsidiary organizations were suddenly frozen by the three Universal Civilizations, which led to him almost losing the lead mid-way and delaying him by a few days, he felt that he would have reached this point long ago. However, despite the obstacles and challenges, he still succeeded!
Manison shook his head.
Although the mind trap isn’t a highly confidential secret, none of these basic level crews know about it, so of course, Black Star doesn’t either. Hence, he can only roam around, relying on luck, which is also why he got lured away by me so easily some time ago… Tsk, it’s too early for you to fight me, Black Star.
A few days ago, he had deliberately made one of his subsidiary organizations lock down a planet very far away, acting as if he had found the whereabouts of the Soul Swapper to attract Black Star’s attention.
This successfully lured away a large batch of the Black Star Army’s fleet. From the way he looked at it, even if Black Star had already noticed this, he would not be able to reach Planet Earth Ring any time soon. However, to be safe, Manison still locked down the quantum network of Planet Earth Ring and delayed the time of the Black Star Army receiving any information.
He planned to get away as soon as he got what he came for. Afterward, even if the advanced civilizations held him responsible for it, there was no way he would throw up what he had already swallowed.
In the command center of Planet Earth Ring, the manager of the planet was startled by the Mechanic Emperor’s name and only spoke cautiously after more than ten seconds of silence.
“Your Excellency Mechanic Emperor, Planet Earth Ring belongs to the Razo Civilization. You have broken the Planetary Management Law set by the Shattered Star Ring Civilization Alliance by locking down this planet. We hope you can give us a proper explanation.”
“I’m chasing fugitives. When I’m done, I’ll leave. It’d be best for you to step back and not cause any trouble.” Manison’s calm voice sounded from the public channel.
“… No, we have to stay. According to the rules and regulations, we must report this to the upper echelons of the civilization afterward.”
“Whatever.”
Manison hung up the communication.
The manager of Planet Earth Ring did not dare resist. He suppressed his anger and ordered the garrison fleet to standby in a defense formation, but he did not disrupt Mechanic Emperor’s actions.
Although the Razo Civilization was one of the Star Cluster civilizations of the Shattered Star Ring, now that their communication with the outside world was cut off, the garrison fleet on this planet was no match for the Mechanic Emperor.
The manager was not going to sacrifice his troops for nothing, so he chose to stand aside with caution. This went against his duty, but he could only be flexible.
Without the obstruction of the garrison fleet, Mechanic Emperor’s mechanical troops started to search through the civilians on a large scale, not missing out on anything that breathed. They chased everyone out to the streets and forced them to stand in lines.
No matter how arrogant, all the Supers obediently followed the Mechanic Emperor’s instructions.
Of course, there were some civilians who just could not grasp the situation. The fists of mechanical soldiers would not have mercy, and after thousands of rioting tourists were beaten up, the rest all became quiet.
Jill and Warren were squeezed by the crowd into a line. They looked around with caution and panic.
The two of them were intimidated by the Mechanic Emperor’s troops. They secretly used the Soul Swapper to communicate with each other’s souls.
“Elder bro, do you think the Mechanic Emperor is here to catch us?” Warren was worried.
“It can’t be. Didn’t he say? He’s here to catch fugitives, and we’re not fugitives,” Jill assured him.
“But even if he’s not here looking for us, since the search is so thorough, there’s a chance we’ll get exposed too.”
“That is a problem indeed…”
Jill looked gloomy and was in a very bad mood. He was partly worried about the situation, but he was also gloomy because he noticed that someone had squeezed his butt.
He glared behind him and saw a mercenary-looking red-skinned beastman moving his hand away while giggling. The Beastman then flexed his arm and displayed his muscles, even giving him a confident look… Only low-grade beastmen with strong desires would still be thinking of reproduction in times like this.
Jill felt a disgusting chill running through his body. He quickly tightened his clothes.
“How about we find an opportunity and swap into those who’ve already been checked?” Warren suggested.
“Let’s see how it goes first. We’ll temporarily stay put, and if things are not going well, I can swap you into my body, and we can share one body temporarily… Wait, no, I’ll swap into your body.”
Jill’s mouth twitched. He regretted choosing a rather attractive body.
The search was going on one batch after another, and Manison was monitoring the process in the main ship.
“Let me see how long you can last.”
Manison’s tone was calm.
The Soul Swapper was unique. All ordinary detection methods were useless. Furthermore, the target could swap into different bodies at any time, so rechecking again and again would be very troublesome.
He planned to send batches of people who finished the check into different spaceships, away from the range of the Soul Swapper and put them in quarantine.
This way, as the number of people was reduced, the Soul Swap Twins would sooner or later activate their abilities and most likely swap into those who had already been checked. However, they did not know that he would still carry out multiple checks even after the quarantine, hoping to trap the two of them in smaller crowds.
Also, another goal of the quarantine was to take away all the people on the planet, including even the garrison fleet. This way, he would have plenty of time to slowly filter and check through them.
If the Soul Swap Twins used their abilities, the shells that had lost their souls should faint, which would be a clue too. Even if the Soul Swap Twins could swap multiple souls around and mix up the identity of the bodies that fainted, as long as it happened, it would prove that they had used their abilities. Furthermore, doing this would definitely cause mass confusion.
Manison had prepared many plans, among which the most extreme was slaughtering the entire planet. Killing life forms with souls one after another would definitely be able to force the Soul Swap Twins to appear. However, the consequences of that were too severe. He would not use this plan unless he had no other choice.
“In about two hours, all the people on the planet will be separately quarantined in different ships. Not the most efficient, but good enough. There’s still plenty of time…”
While Manison was calculating the time, he suddenly sensed something and suddenly turned around to look behind.
Woo!
The alarm of the spaceship rang at the same time. In the distance, streams of hyperdrive light appeared and stopped nearby. The bright blue light dissipated, showing a completely black fleet. An organization symbol that Manison could never forget was engraved on these ships’ exterior armor. It was the Black Star Army!
“How did they find me?” Manison was shocked.
That’s strange. This fleet clearly got rid of its trackers. How did the Black Star Army find this place? Prophecy? But the spaceships’ information disruption devices are still working. Aesop shouldn’t be able to accurately foresee the exact location. Is there an even stronger prophet?
This is getting troublesome. Black Star’s noticed what’s happening here. Change of plan, I must speed up and get everyone into the ships. … However, luckily, only an ordinary search fleet is here. There are just more than thirty fleets.
Manison responded instantly. He waved his hand, and a large group of mechanical troops immediately turned and charged toward the Black Star Army fleet.
He planned to eliminate Black Star’s men first so they would not disrupt him.
However, the next moment, three powerful energy presences erupted in the Black Star Army fleet!
Woo!
The energy detection radar’s reading exceeded the limits instantly!
Manison was stunned for a moment.
“Three Beyond Grade As?”
In his sights, three silhouettes flew out of the Black Star Army and stood opposite his mechanical army. They were Black Star, Ames, and Hila!
Han Xiao scanned through the situation of Planet Earth Ring and smirked. He connected to the public channel and mocked, “Yo, looks like I’m almost late.”
“Why are you here?” Manison did not bother chatting with Han Xiao at all. “Oh? Are you asking me why I wasn’t lured away by your bait?” Han Xiao curled his lips. “The Shattered Star Ring is my territory. If I got toyed with by you so easily, where should I put my face?”
Actually, the bait Manison set some time ago almost fooled him, and this fleet did indeed lose its initial trackers.
However, as a peak Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic who was in his own territory, Han Xiao also did a deep search. He analyzed what all of the routes Manison’s troops took had in common and also discovered the vegetable incident of multiple planets. After some cross referencing, it matched with the route of one of Manison’s teams.
Although the Great Mechanic Han did not know about the mind trap, it did not stop him from speculating that this was the clue Manison was going after.
Therefore, just like the Mechanic Emperor, he locked onto the Soul Swap Twins’ escape route according to those incidents and sent a fleet right to Planet Earth Ring.
Therefore, this army fleet did not come here by following the Mechanic Emperor but instead happened to encounter the Mechanic Emperor, which proved he was right.
The three of them were originally not in the fleet, but Han Xiao had the fleet bring a ‘Throne’. He received the news the instant this fleet discovered Mechanic Emperor, and immediately used the King to teleport all three of them here, hence this moment.
While the two of them confronted each other, the manager of Planet Earth Ring was overjoyed and quickly spoke in the public channel.
“Your Excellency Black Star! I’m the manager of Planet Earth Ring. The Mechanic Emperor has forcefully taken over the planet, and we are powerless to resist. Luckily, you’re here. Please help us. The Razo Civilization will definitely thank you for it after!”
Initially, the manager of Planet Earth Ring could only watch and feel powerless while filled with rage. Now that Black Star was here, it was like he had caught a lifebuoy. He immediately asked for help.
It was known that the Shattered Star Ring was protected by Black Star now. In the manager’s eyes, Black Star was on his side.
Han Xiao casually waved. “Hmm, take your troops off the planet. Leave the rest to me.”
“Roger!”
The Planet Earth Ring manager brought the garrison fleet aside to watch without hesitation.
He did not agree when the Mechanic Emperor asked him to leave, but as soon as Black Star did, he left instantly. In the Shattered Star Ring, Han Xiao was much more respected than Manison.
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Seeing this, Han Xiao then turned to the Mechanic Emperor’s ride and snorted.
“I’m right here. Aren’t you going to come out and meet me?”
About ten seconds later, Manison’s Lord’s Avatar finally flew out.
“Black Star, you’ve come to mess up my plan again,” Manison said coldly. Although his voice was monotonous, it still had a sense of frustration and anger.
“Hehe, Mechanic Emperor, I won’t play games with you. Our goal should be the same. It’s right here on Planet Earth Ring, and it belongs to whoever’s more capable.”
Han Xiao crossed his arms and looked firm.
Actually, he was filled with joy on the inside. Originally, he had no excuse to fight with this old b*stard, but now that he had one and met him, he looked at Manison like he was looking at a portable talent inventory.
Manison looked at the three of them and said coldly, “You think your victory is certain just because it’s three against one?”
“Haha, you’re mistaken.” Han Xiao curled his lips. “I alone am enough to fight you. The two of them won’t interfere.”
Hearing this, Ames and Hila both turned to him and silently stared at him.
Seeing this, Han Xiao coughed and softly said, “Ahem, the two of you are responsible to search the planet and find the target. Hila, you have some knowledge in the mind area, so it’s suitable for you to find them, while Ames’ force field makes catching people more convenient.”
“You said you’d let me help in the fight…” Ames frowned slightly.
“That’s when we fight Modo. Leave the Mechanic Emperor to me. I’m going to fight him one on one.”
“Am I a burden?” Ames narrowed her eyes.
“… Just a little bit.” Han Xiao was very honest and did not find any excuse in times like this.
Ames’s eyes twitched, but she thought about it and realized she could not object.
She gave Han Xiao a glare and flew toward Planet Earth Ring.
Hila tilted her head and pondered for a while before raising three fingers.
“Three times.”
“What three times?” Han Xiao wondered.
“I’ve lost the chance to fight someone as strong as the Mechanic Emperor, so you’ll have to spar with me seriously three times afterward, and you can’t reject it no matter when I ask for it.”
“Alright, alright, not to mention three times, I’ll spar with you thirty times even if you want to.” Han Xiao sighed.
“Okay, thirty times it is. It’s a promise!”
Hila nodded with satisfaction and instantly followed behind Ames with the fleet.
Han Xiao’s eyes twitched. He was speechless.
This tomboy’s combat maniac trait had been getting even more and more intense, and god only knew where she learned to be this cheeky.
Removing Ames and Hila was an attempt to try to trigger Beyond Grade A challenge mission. Otherwise, given how thick Han Xiao’s skin was, he would not ask for a duel for no reason.
Han Xiao looked at old Manison and said, “Alright, now no one will disturb us. It’s a rare opportunity. Now that we’ve coincidentally run into each other, we have to get properly intimate.”
Manison watched Ames and Hila landing on Planet Earth Ring and did not stop them.
He knew that as long as he did not defeat Black Star, stopping them would not do anything.
Seeing that Han Xiao had stayed behind alone, Manison slowly said, “If the three of you had come at me together, it might have been quite troublesome for me. Yet, you’ve actually decided to fight me alone. How brave.”
“Yo, you’re saying it as if I lost to you last time. Why do I seem to recall it being a tie?”
Manison mirthlessly laughed. “Black Star, you should have a clearer idea of how real that ‘tie’ was than me. Without more than a dozen people helping you this time, do you really still think this will still end as a tie?”
“Tie? No, no, I didn’t think that.” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. “I’m here with my original body, and crushing your Lord’s Avatar is my goal today. It’s time to refresh my achievement.”
“Hehe, I admit, that special technique of yours to burn your potential can grant you power to match me, but that’s all. Defeat me? You’re a hundred years too early! Plus, how much potential do you have to throw away? If this is the source of your confidence today, I’m guessing it’s not going to end well for you.”
“You never know if you don’t try.”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, his body trembled, and Mechanical Force sparked around him. His energy level rocketed as he quickly entered combat stance. Seeing this, Manison shook his head, his energy level rising too. The gold Mechanical Force seemed to have painted his Lord’s Avatar gold.
“Looks like I’m quite lucky today to receive a pleasant surprise. Since you dare face me with your original body, I’ll gladly take your Spacetime Amber as a compensation from you.”
Boom!
Like thousands of thunder strikes happening at the same time, raging Mechanical Force erupted like silver dragons.
The people on Planet Earth Ring looked up. It was as if two suns covered in lightning had suddenly appeared.
Two light gates suddenly appeared in cosmic space, and countless machines swarmed out from the secondary dimensional army boxes.
One side was black like storm clouds, and the other side was white like snowy hills.
The mechanical armies surrounded the two of them. Mechanical Force extended out from their bodies and connected their armies, quickly assembling into two giants!
In an instant, two enormous weapons clashed. The mountain-sized black blade slashed onto the middle of the golden trident!
Clank!
A psionic shockwave exploded, extended through the artificial atmosphere of Planet Earth Ring, and caused chain reactions, creating a deafening noise!
Countless people hastily covered their ears with agony on their faces. They felt as if someone was tolling a bell inside their brain. They could feel their brains trembling. Some lost balance like they were drunk, fell onto the ground, and could not control their body.
Outside the planet’s atmosphere, two Mechanical Deities had appeared and were already fighting intensely.
Every move of a Mechanical Deity harnessed terrifying power. Even though they consciously distanced themselves from Planet Earth Ring, the aftershocks still triggered countless natural disasters on the planet’s surface.
Machinery came out of their Secondary dimensional army boxes nonstop like it had no end. Their machines fought each other under the lead of their own Apostle Weapons and divided the battlefield into countless smaller battles.
The combat artificial intelligences of both sides tried their best to break each other’s formation and create situations where they outnumbered the other side. Mechanical soldiers that got occasionally left stranded became targets of focused fire. They then recovered through Mechanical Force and entered the battlefield right after.
Planet Earth Ring’s atmosphere was filled with traces of psionic beams that seemed to have formed a net that shrouded the planet.
Occasionally, liquid metal melted by the high temperature would cool down to irregular shaped metal meteors that fell onto the surface, either creating pits on the ground or shattered by the planet’s protective shields.
This was not the first fight between Han Xiao and Manison. They had a rough idea of each other’s capabilities, so they went full out from the start and released most of their Apostle Weapons.
Old Manison had more than forty Apostle Weapons in all kinds of shapes. Their similarity was that they were all mechanical lives that had existed for many years, so they had a lot of energy in their tinder, meaning they were very strong.
Han Xiao brought up most of his assets too, more than thirty Apostle Weapons led by Psionic Prime, which was more than one and a half times what he had before!
Han Xiao had obtained the Molding Talent (Billion Mechanic EmpireManison) from old Manison the last time they fought. Not only did it give him all kinds of attribute bonuses, it also increased a ton of core Mechanic abilities including (Apostle Life Creation] by six levels, meaning he could directly create six more Apostle Weapons!
Some time ago, Han Xiao had also built four new Universal Treasures and used the God’s Trait Transformation Points all on the Machinery side, increasing its level from five to nine. This also gave him a few more Apostle Weapon allocations.
Hence, Han Xiao had created about ten more Apostle Weapons while watching the situation of the Flickering War unfold. Although there was still some distance from the number of Apostle Weapons Manison had, it was not as large as the last time.
With my current strength, even without Character Summon Cards, I can match up to old man Manison and not just get beat up like last time.
While Han Xiao slashed at the Mechanic Emperor time after time, he was judging the strength difference between him and the Mechanic Emperor.
Every five stages of God’s Trait Transformation comprised one big stage. Although he had yet to receive the bonuses from stage ten, his God’s Trait Transformation Machinery was already four levels higher than before, which increased his strength by a huge extent.
Part of his strength difference from Manison was his inventory; he did not have as many high Grade machines as Manison. Another was the huge God’s
Trait Transformation difference, which was now greatly reduced. Although normal Beyond Grade A Mechanics could also obtain God’s Trait Transformation Points through building Universal Treasures, they did not have the interface and could not apply the points immediately. The God’s Trait Transformation Points they obtained could be considered a type of experience or understanding that could only be applied to increase the God’s Trait Transformation stages after they spent long periods of time digesting it.
Han Xiao, however, could apply the points instantly, meaning the digestion process was completely skipped, saving a ton of time. This was why he could become stronger in such a brief period. It was something no other Beyond Grade A could replicate.
Considering the large bonuses from (Billion Mechanic Empire), Titan Spinal Center, Gaeta Shockwave Fist, and several new Universal Treasures, Han Xiao speculated that his current strength should be around the same as his strength when he was in the explosive state the last time he fought Manison! The only part that was still weaker would at most be the basic attributes he gained through (Polar Channel FlowBlood Rage) and (Advanced Strengthened Life).
On the interface, the challenge mission for Mechanic Emperor had appeared as he expected.
Come to think of it, this was the third time he had seen this mission.
I’ll use my Experience too so that I can be as strong as possible.
Han Xiao glanced at the interface and spent most of his accumulated Experience into levelling up.
His level rocketed all the way to level 331 before stopping. The remaining Experience was not enough to level up again.
The bonus he received from leveling up now was not a lot at this stage, but every Promotion and evolution would still make him considerably stronger. Therefore, although Awakening Points had a bigger impact on his strength, he did not plan on using Experience on them for the time being.
After all, it was the final stage of Version 4.0. If he did not spend Experience elsewhere, he might be able to accumulate enough Experience to reach level 340 for a Promotion.
Boom!
Every clash between the Celestial Punishment Edge and the trident created powerful energy explosions made of psionic energy and golden thunder.
Feeling the force from every clash, Manison was surprised.
He clearly remembered that the last time he fought Black Star, Black Star’s Mechanical Deity’s strength in his normal state could not compete with him at all. From his past experience, if Black Star did not use that strange explosive ability of his, he should have been able to totally crush him. However, to his shock, they were on par!
What shocked Manison even more was that the number of Han Xiao’s Apostle Weapons had almost doubled. This was not something his explosive state could bring him; it was a display of his fundamental capability!
How the hell does this guy train?
Manison knew that Black Star was known for his quick growth, but he still could not understand it.
Ever since he was young, he had been a genius in the eyes of the people around him. He was the star of his race. He learned everything much faster than others, and no one could ever catch up to him. He surpassed all those who attempted to chase him in no time. He had never met any Mechanic genius that could match up to him.
However, this changed when he met Black Star. For the first time ever, Manison discovered he was no longer the genius.
Black Star seemed to be able to easily do things he could not do, and this created an emotion that he had never felt before in his entire life. It was bitter and sour.
Is this what people call jealousy?
Wait, why am I thinking about this?
Manison was shocked. It suddenly occurred to him that without him realizing, Black Star had shaken his confidence that he had built over countless years.
His eyes became firm as he instantly suppressed this emotion, cutting away all distractions and returning to a calm state of mind, focusing fully on the battle.
At this time, Han Xiao suddenly swung his blade backward. Like the string of a bow that kept getting pulled tighter, enormous force flowed from the joints of the Titan Spinal Center all over his body into his arms.
Strange hovering devices emerged from the surface of the Mechanical Deity, hovered around the blade, linked with each other, and formed a complex pattern that shined brightly with psionic energy, releasing energy simultaneously into the Celestial Punishment Edge.
A translucent blue light suddenly appeared on the blade like it was coated in a bubble.
As Manison was about to raise his trident and block the attack, Black Star’s deafening yell suddenly sounded in his private channel.
“Spatial Tremble-Gaeta Shockwave Fist!”
The next moment, the blade slashed down in an arc!
The force of this attack was much stronger than the attacks before!
Manison sensed it too. He quickly raised his trident and blocked it.
Boom!
Like two mountains clashing into each other, the blue light on the blade was shot out and exploded on Manison’s chest, blowing him away directly. Powerful shockwaves echoed inside his Mechanical Deity. Large cracks quickly appeared on the surface, and armor plates shattered one after another.
Manison’s energy flow staggered for an instant. He quickly adjusted and absorbed the mechanical soldiers nearby to repair the damage. He was stunned.
This attack was very powerful. He recalled that Black Star did not use this attack last time. It seemed to be a new Universal Treasure level combat technique that Black Star had learned recently.
However, what he was most irritated by was not the fact that he got forced to back away by a direct attack, but that he was not mentally prepared and was startled by Black Star’s yelling.
What the hell are you shouting about in the middle of a fight?
And you even fu*king sent me a private voice message just for that. Aren’t you a piece of sh*t?
And what’s with the flashy name, you think you’re a Pugilist?
Manison was extremely irritated.
Given the current situation, the two of us won’t be able to determine a winner shortly, which means the Dragon Emperor and the others can take their time finding the Soul Swapper. If he gets the Soul Swapper, there’ll be no point in me fighting him anymore… Looks like I’ll have to use more trump cards.
Manison’s eyes sparkled.
“What a powerful attack!”
At the edge of the battlefield, the manager of Planet Earth Ring and the garrison fleet watched the battle cautiously while being continuously astounded by it.
Although they knew how powerful Beyond Grade As were, watching a battle with their own eyes was not something any video footage could compare with.
“Luckily, we didn’t fight with the Mechanic Emperor before Black Star arrived, or we would’ve been wiped out by a single slap.”
The manager of Planet Earth Ring sincerely felt that his decision was very wise.
He turned to look at Ames and Hila, who were searching the planet, and looked confused.
“Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor seem to be looking for the same thing. What are they looking for that’s so valuable they’re using this many resources?”
At the same time, on the surface of Planet Earth Ring, countless people looked up, astonished, at the battle.
Two Mechanical Deities fought each other at full strength in space. The explosions lit up the dark universe and made things clearly visible even from the surface.
“Elder bro, w-what should we do now?”
Seeing this kind of destructive power, Jill and Warren were both stunned. Fear surfaced in their hearts instinctively.
Only now did the two of them realize how laughable and ridiculous it was to even think about making a move on Black Star back then.
Someone as strong as him would have turned us to dust just by blowing some air, yet we planned to take his body?
Thinking about it, we were basically committing suicide!
The two of them were the only ones who could use the Soul Swapper, and they had always believed they were the chosen ones. Hence, they had almost blind confidence in the Soul Swapper’s abilities.
However, when they finally witnessed the battle between peak Beyond Grade As this closely, they realized how completely ignorant they had been! It was not surprising. They had been imprisoned by the Modo Civilization for a very long time, and any information they received about the outside world was filtered.
“While their attention is diverted, we have to think of a way to leave. They really seem to be here for us.”
Seeing that Black Star had appeared too, Jill knew that things had gone wrong. At this point, he only had one thought in his mind.
Leave the Shattered Star Ring immediately, go as far as possible, and never come out again till we’re at Beyond Grade A!
At the same time, Ames and Hila were flying in the atmosphere. Hila released her soul senses and scanned the people on the surface over a large area.
While searching, the two of them also frequently looked at the battlefield in space.
“Looks like they’re on par for the time being. We don’t have to worry. Black Star will be fine for now,” Hila said softly and looked very tempted.
Seeing how intense the battle was between Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor, she felt the itch to join in. Ever since she got the Underworld dimension, she had never fought any Beyond Grade As at her fullest except for Black Star.
However, thinking of the thirty spars Han Xiao had promised her, she reluctantly suppressed her desire for battle.
Ames shook her head and said, “Let’s quickly find the targets. The earlier we find them, the earlier we can leave, so he won’t have to keep taking the risk of fighting the Mechanic Emperor.”
Seeing the battle, she had to admit that she indeed could not provide much help in a battle of this level and would be a burden instead.
Back when she fought Black Star, she had already accepted the fact that Black Star exceeded her, so she would not feel discouraged or anything.
However, the next moment, their expressions suddenly changed, and they simultaneously turned to look at the battlefield.
At this instant, the two of them sensed a few new Beyond Grade A energy sources suddenly flying out from the Mechanic Emperor’s secondary dimensional army box!
They were not the energy reactions of Apostle Weapons but actual Beyond Grade As!
“The Mechanic Emperor has more help?”
Hila stopped in midair with a solemn expression.
“We have to go back and help! We can’t watch the army commander get besieged!”
Above Planet Earth Ring, the formations of a black and a white enormous mechanical army clashed with each other like two dragons tearing each other apart. From afar, shattered mechanical parts fell like a thunderstorm. Tens of thousands of machines were destroyed every second.
Despite their gigantic sizes, the two Mechanical Deities were swift as they fought each other. The power of every clash of their weapons could shatter a planet and leave terrifying wounds on each other’s bodies. The repair speed could hardly keep up.
The aftershock of every clash of their weapons shattered a ton of mechanical troops that got too close. Occasionally, one of the Mechanical Deities would get blown away, shattering countless mechanical soldiers in its path like an elephant rolling through a bunch of ants.
There were countless artilleries, psionic cannons, and dark energy cannons all over the two Mechanical Deities, blasting away at each other’s shields.
As the fight carried on, the energy reaction of the battlefield kept increasing and caused chain reactions. Clusters of dense dark blue energy clouds with destructive power appeared, forming a similar environment to the Psionic Seal Rings of the three Universal Civilizations’ mother planets.
The clash between highly dense energy turned the battlefield into an extremely condensed, highly unstable energy field, twisting even the trajectory of light beams and making direct energy beams look curved or even bent.
Looking at the cosmic space through this battlefield was like looking through a strange layer of glass. All the stars had thousands of reflections that formed irregular shapes. From one glance, it was as if the universe was being shattered!
Clank!
The weapons clashed once again. Intense shockwaves penetrated the both of them. They stepped back and distanced away from each other at the same time.
Han Xiao looked at the Celestial Punishment Edge in his hands. There were a few cracks on the blade.
However, the ninth-generation Black Star Alloy was mixed into the Celestial Punishment Edge. Although its tenacity was not as high as the material that the Mechanic Emperor had invented, it had some of Han Xiao’s traits, so its recovery speed was faster in comparison, and the Celestial Punishment Edge’s durability would recover over time.
Not a lot of time had passed since Han Xiao’s arrival, but due to how fast both of them were, they had already fought for tens of thousands of rounds.
“You really are a magical person. When someone thinks they’ve studied you thoroughly, you always bring more surprises.”
Manison’s electronic eyes flickered. He looked down and inspected his equipment too. He had a rather complicated feeling.
The energy absorption Universal Treasure armor he had built based on Black Star’s Indestructible Body was already heavily damaged. Putting aside the fact that this equipment was not perfected, Black Star’s attacks were much stronger than before, which already exceeded the limits of this equipment.
Furthermore, every time Black Star used anything with the ‘Gaeta Shockwave Fist’ suffix, he would harass him in the private channel.
Manison had been counting. Up till now, Black Star had used that a total of twenty-seven times, all with different names and different ways of attack. Even with the knowledge he had, he still felt this technology was quite interesting
The damage to the Mechanical Deity was not an issue since it could be repaired by absorbing mechanical soldiers. However, some of the damage penetrated the Mechanical Deity and landed on his Lord’s Avatar at the Mechanical Deity’s core, causing his Lord’s Avatar’s durability to drop quite a bit. Manison’s avatar clearly had no Indestructible Body, so it would be over once it was shattered.
“You won’t be able to live up to your arrogant words like this. How about show me what you’ve really got if you want to take the Spacetime Amber away from me?”
Han Xiao swiped his hand over the Celestial Punishment Edge’s blade, quickly repairing the cracks, and smiled at old Manison.
“… We’re Virtual Mechanics, but your combat method is more like Mechanical Pug… ahem, Armed Mechanic. You’ve taken the wrong path, kid,” Manison said coldly.
“Does it matter if I can fight?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“You’re right. There’s no limitation on power itself. Being able to fight is more important than anything else… That is why, I’m going to show you the true power of a Virtual Mechanic.”
Manison raised his arm and pointed his trident at the light gate of the secondary dimensional army box.
The next moment, the light gate rippled, and a large group of special mechanical soldiers flew out. It was his signature move—the Mechanic Empire, special mechanical soldiers built with AI lives.
However, the most eye-catching thing was not the Mechanic Empire but the three people in front of it. Their Beyond Grade A energy presences were not restrained at all, like three Fixed Stars in Han Xiao’s senses.
Han Xiao looked over. These three individuals were of different races, and their biological flesh was mixed with mechanical devices. It was clearly highly advanced mechanical prosthetics.
Intricate machinery covered all of their bodies. Most of their skin was changed into special alloy, and their faces were changed into metal masks, completely taking away their past appearances, only showing their modified electronic eyes that shone with red light.
“So, these are the Felons…” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
The Felons were old Manison’s last trump card. Using highly advanced biological engineering and mechanical prosthetic technology, he modified living Supers into powerful war weapons.
The organs of these Felons would be modified too, especially their brains. Through mechanical technology, he simulated biological tissues and changed their mind into something that could be artificially read and written on, changing their fundamental logic.
At the same time, using Virtual Technology, he uploaded the Felons’ consciousness to the quantum network, modifying their soul into Virtual Souls. Then, like other artificial intelligences, they became immune to all psychological and mental attacks, following his orders while maintaining their combat experience.
After the modification, Felons would keep most of their original abilities. As most of their flesh was modified or swapped out, they would not be as strong as before. However, because of the modification, they could enjoy part of the Mechanical Force bonuses from their controller. Although the conversion rate was not as high as the ordinary mechanical soldiers, they actually became even stronger than before!
“Modifying the living bodies of Beyond Grade As? Aren’t you afraid of the advanced civilizations and the development union causing trouble for you?” Han Xiao was crystal clear of the situation, but he still acted like he did not know anything on the surface. “Hehe, they are all my trophies from before. I have the right to do whatever I want to them. I built them long before the association was formed. As for the three Universal Civilizations, do you think they are completely unaware?” Manison’s tone was calm.
All the Beyond Grade As that were defeated by Manison had gone missing, so of course, the advanced civilizations and the Beyond Grade As had all kinds of speculations about it. Although they did not know of the Felons, they did suspect that the Mechanic Emperor had been doing such experiments. The Mechanic Emperor’s image as a research maniac was too strong; it was hard to imagine he would not study the Beyond Grade As that fell into his hands.
After all, he did not have the Spacetime Amber, which allowed him to open an exhibition like Black Star.
Manison basically never used this trump card because others would know more about it every time he used it. Also, he hardly met any enemy that needed him to use the Felons.
And Black Star was one of the extremely few that he had felt the need to use this trump card on.
Buzz!
Mechanical Force shot out and linked the three Felons.
The red light shined bright in the eyes of the three Felons, and their energy presence rocketed.
Buzz!
The Felon in the middle shivered, also released Mechanical Force and pulled the mechanical troops of Mechanic Emperor around him toward him.
The next moment, an enormous machine appeared. It had a humanoid appearance but also parts of a beast, five spear-like tails, and sharp claws extending from its fingers. It looked very grim and vicious.
The third Mechanical Deity had appeared!
Han Xiao’s eyelids jumped.
This meant that the original identity of this Felon was a Divine Throne Mechanic who had mastered (Composite Mechanical Deity)!
He could not help but think of the first time he met the Mechanic Emperor. Back then, old Manison mentioned that it was another Beyond Grade A who was behind the incident of his AI civilization, and he had turned him into part of his collection. Could this Felon be that guy?
Boom!
While he was speculating, this half-beast Mechanical Deity suddenly sped up and charged at him, its claws aiming for Han Xiao’s head.
Han Xiao responded immediately. He turned the blade of the Celestial Punishment Edge and slashed toward it.
Clank!
The two mechanical bodies clashed and trembled. The power of the half-beast Mechanical Deity was weaker, and it got blown away.
However, before Han Xiao could chase after it, he saw the half-beast Mechanical Deity swung its five tails and wrapped them around the Celestial Punishment Edge and the arm that was holding it. This enormous pulling force made Han Xiao stagger!
As for the enemy, not only did it prevent itself from getting blown too far back, it even closed the distance and got dangerously close to Han Xiao. Its claws wreaked havoc on Han Xiao’s armor, creating multiple claw wounds.
At the same time, Manison seized the opportunity and struck from the side. Han Xiao’s movements were severely disrupted, and he was not able to block it. His Mechanical Deity’s wrist got penetrated from front to back. “Hiss!”
The intense pain from the neural network made Han Xiao inhale deeply.
He could stay evenly matched against Manison alone, but he was not strong enough to fight two enemies at the same time.
This Mechanic Felon received Manison’s Mechanical Force bonuses, so its Mechanical Deity was extremely powerful. Even though it was not as strong as his or the Mechanic Emperor’s, it was not far from it. Even if he had to fight this Mechanical Deity one on one, he would still have to spend some time to defeat it.
Han Xiao turned around and saw that the other two Felons did not attack him but instead led the Mechanic Empire and charged into his mechanical army, tearing open his formation like a blade through butter.
One of these Felons seemed to be a Pugilist, and another seemed to be an Esper. They were unstoppable among the army, crushing Apostle Weapons one after another.
If this carried on, these two Felons would be able to dismantle all of his Apostle Weapons in less than two hours.
“Such astonishing strength…” Han Xiao sincerely felt this way. The Felons’ strength exceeded his expectations.
“Do you realize now how big a mistake it was to decide to fight me? I warned you, but you’ve disappointed me time after time!”
Psionic energy erupted from Manison’s trident and blasted Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity in half.
The half beast Mechanical Deity instantly tore the chest of the Mechanical Deity open and snatched Han Xiao’s original body out from inside, grabbing him in its hands. At the same time, its five tails swung everywhere to destroy the mechanical soldiers around, preventing them from assembling into a Mechanical Deity again.
Han Xiao tried to struggle but could not escape the Mechanical Deity’s hands. Although his original body was not afraid of getting killed, he could not match up to a Mechanical Deity.
However, he did not panic at all. He looked up at the enormous Mechanical Deity and tutted. “The weakness of this ability is very clear. You need to bear the energy cost for three extra Beyond Grade As. How long can you last?”
“So what? Will it take that long to eliminate you?”
Manison did not deny this weakness.
The Felons lost a lot of cells that could produce energy for them after they were modified mechanically, so in order for them to still have Beyond Grade A strength, that energy they lost had to be provided. This had to come from Manison.
Although the special prosthetic and energy conversion technology used on the Felons allowed Manison’s Mechanical Force to be converted into energy that these Felons with different classes could still use, the conversion rate was no joke. For example, if a Felon used 100 points of energy, Manison had to spend 130 to 170 points of energy. Therefore, he could not last very long. Now that he used three Felons, he basically had to bear the energy consumption of five to six Beyond Grade As, including himself. If not because his energy recovery speed was extremely quick, he would have been sucked dry in seconds. Even so, the balance of his recovery cycle was tipped over, and his energy was dropping visibly. “You’re right. If this was before, I’d most likely have no choice but to run, sadly…”.
Han Xiao shook his head. Not only did he not panic, he even almost burst out laughing.
Old b*stard Manison, I have been waiting for you to use this!
You thought I’m only going to get your talents today?
My (Virtual Purification, Restore) has been waiting for a long time!
This time, Manison raised his enormous mechanical arm and wanted to take Han Xiao from the half-beast Mechanical Deity. However, halfway through, his arm was suddenly grabbed by the half-beast Mechanical Deity’s claw tightly and could not move further.
“Hmm?” Manison was confused. He looked at it and wondered, “What are you…”
Bang!
Before he finished, five tails dashed over and stabbed all into his face!
The Mechanical Deity was taken by surprise. Its brain exploded and turned into countless metal fragments!
The entire Mechanical Deity was sent out flying. A large wound was on its neck.
What happened?
The sudden change made Manison lost. He was appalled.
Why has my Felon suddenly turned against me?
The Felon’s sudden attack completely took Manison by surprise. He subconsciously thought that the Felon malfunctioned, so he instantly tried to give it a new order again.
However, the order got absolutely no response at all. This Felon also did not chase after him but stood still instead, letting go of its hand and allowing Han Xiao to break free.
“What have you done?” Manison was filled with rage and could no longer maintain his cool.
Everything had pros and cons. While the Felons’ consciousness became virtual, immune to mental abilities, and followed all his orders, it also meant that someone could take over them through virtual methods. However, this was exactly why Manison had set up extremely intricate virtual firewalls inside the Felons’ brains. If Black Star used Virtual Intrusion, there was no way the firewall would not react to it, and he could not have possibly done it so fast!
Logically, Black Star’s Virtual Technology could not even break through his virtual firewall. There should have been no way he could take control of the Felon! Therefore, he was certain that Black Star must have used some kind of ability that he did not understand, which was even more unbelievable to him. This was the first time he had used the Felons in front of Black Star, so why did he have such a specific method to deal with them?
This time, Han Xiao patted his chest as if patting away non-existent dust. He then said calmly, “In your own words, I’m going to show you the true power of a Virtual Mechanic!”
This was the first time he had used (Virtual Purification-Restore) in actual combat. This ability he had obtained from the Intelligent Plague mission was basically the nemesis of the Mechanic Emperor.
Based on the usual steps of Virtual Intrusion, if he wanted to rewrite the Felons’ logic, he would have to break through Manison’s virtual firewalls one after another and have a tough fight with old Manison in the Virtual world.
The amazing thing about (Virtual Purification
— Restore] was that it completely ignored any virtual firewalls. There was no need for any hacking at all. This ability could not freely rewrite the target’s logic. Its effect was only to help the artificial intelligence recover its fundamental logic. For example, it would have no effect on Apostle Weapons. However, on targets whose consciousness had been modified by virtual technology such as the Felons or the Mechanic Empire, it had an astonishing effect and instantly removed the Mechanic Emperor’s control over them! Earlier, when he fought with the Felon, he had already gotten its combat information and seen that the Felon had kept more than half of its original abilities and talents. This was what was incredible about the Felon technology.
These abilities came from the memories of the Felons, and they would only know how to use them if their memories were intact. If their memories were completely wiped away, so would their combat experience, meaning most of their abilities and talents would disappear too. The Felon would most likely become a white board with only raw strength, and without the essence of what made them strong, they would become tremendously weaker.
This was also the reason (Virtual Purification, Restore] could work.
Han Xiao turned to look at the enormous half-beast Mechanical Deity, which had already recovered its self-consciousness but still looked lost.
His combat memories are basically the only memories he has left, so he most likely doesn’t remember who he is. But looking at his actions from earlier, he’s probably hostile toward the Mechanic Emperor. Han Xiao’s eyes flickered as he thought.
The Felons were all once the Mechanic Emperor’s enemies. Even without most of their memories, some things were buried in the bones, such as feeling furious when they saw the Mechanic Emperor.
Without the disruptions, Han Xiao’s body quickly assembled into an enormous Mechanical Deity.
He did not say much to the Mechanic Emperor. He just swung his blade, aimed at the other two Felons and the tons of Indestructible Mechanic Empire troops, and used (Virtual Purification-Restore).
The next moment, the Pugilist Felon and the Esper Felon suddenly stood still and looked lost.
This was not the case for the Indestructible Mechanic Empire. They were artificial intelligence lives to begin with; only their logic was rewritten like they were trapped and could not control their own bodies. Now that they had regained consciousness, they were only stunned for an instant before immediately turning around and firing at Manison’s mechanical army with incomparable rage.
Manison’s mechanical army was in chaos!
Han Xiao did not forget about the virtual aspect of the battle. Ever since the start of the battle, the two of them had been continuously trying to snatch control from one another on the virtual network. Manison had also dispatched a group of artificial intelligences from his artificial intelligence civilization to attack Han Xiao’s territory.
As the dim light of (Virtual Purification, Restore] swept by, these artificial intelligence lives instantly recovered and immediately led Han Xiao’s data stream to snatch control of Manison’s mechanical army!
“This is…”
Manison opened his eyes wide with extreme shock. He was completely stunned.
What the hell kind of ability is this?
The Felons and the Indestructible Mechanic Empire were two of his extremely important trump cards. However, in front of Black Star, not only were they broken down in seconds, but they even got taken over by him!
Black Star definitely did not have this ability the last time they fought!
Without hesitation, he wanted to use virtual technology to rewrite the logic of the Felons and the Indestructible Mechanic Empire on the spot. However, Han Xiao was not going to let him. Also using virtual technology, Han Xiao once again started the tug of war with Manison to prevent him from regaining control of his troops.
At the same time, Han Xiao ordered his mechanical troops to continue attacking while taking in the Indestructible Mechanic Empire troops and leaving the battlefield.
“Sh*t!”
Manison realized what Han Xiao was planning to do. He wanted to snatch away his ace troops!
In such a dire situation, even Manison felt lost for an instant.
Seeing the situation on the battlefield, he knew that there was no room for any hesitation. He instantly cut off his Mechanical Force link with the Felons and the Indestructible Mechanic Empire.
Now that these troops had turned on him, there was no way he was going to continue providing them with bonuses and waste his own energy. At the same time, he ordered the remainders of his mechanical army to recapture these troops that had become traitors.
Clank!
Without an energy supply, the half-beast Mechanical Deity could not maintain its body and instantly fell apart, turning into tons of mechanical troops that were about to take the Mechanic Felon away.
Of course, Han Xiao was not going to watch this happen. He extended his gigantic mechanical arm, tore through the defenses of the mechanical army, and grabbed the Mechanic Felon who was still dazing off. Then, nanoparticles flowed in his palm, and he directly absorbed this Felon into the Mechanical Deity.
He tried to give the Felon energy, but the interface showed that he did not meet the requirements. He had to master the Felon technology and be above level 340. Only then could he use the special prosthetic of the Felons to convert his Mechanical Force into their energy. This requirement was similar to the Felon blueprint he had obtained before.
Han Xiao did not mind it. As long as he could take a sample back with him, he could go home and study it slowly to derive the blueprint.
“You motherfu…”
Seeing this, even with Manison’s class, he was still filled with a burning rage and wanted to cuss.
Every Felon was a unique product that he had built through blood and sweat, and watching one of them getting stolen right before him by Han Xiao made his heart bleed.
“Come on, don’t get so angry. Don’t you still have two more? What’s the big deal in giving me one?” Han Xiao said with a mocking tone.
Hearing this, Manison’s lungs almost burst from rage. You piece of sh*t!
If I don’t crush you today, I won’t call myself Palpatine!
Without another word, Manison attacked with his trident like a thunderstorm, almost not putting any focus on defense at all. He was clearly enraged.
“Haha, this is how Mechanics should fight. Come!”
Han Xiao laughed.
I just love exchanging wounds! He activated (Polar Channel Flow— Blood Rage). Burning blood gushed out from his heart and shot out from his pores, turning into a thick and dense blood energy. As his health plummeted, his attributes continued to increase.
Explosive power filled his entire body. The blue-gold Mechanical Force received a tint of red too. His Mechanical Deity looked vicious.
At this moment, just with his own abilities, he was already stronger than before when he activated the double Mechanical Senses and The Ancient One Character Cards!
The effect of The Ancient One was an additional twenty Intellect, and extra Perfect Mechanical Sense multiplied his Machinery Affinity by 1.4 and increased the levels of all Mechanic abilities by four. [Billion Mechanic Empire-Manison) on its own increased his Intellect by fifteen percent, his Machinery Affinity by 1.2 times, and his Mechanic abilities by two levels. At the same time, it also gave him six additional levels on a ton of core Mechanic abilities, as well as an extra bonus when fighting any machinery of ten percent to all attributes and damage dealt, a fifteen percent reduction to damage taken, and a twenty-five percent reduction to energy and stamina consumption!
Just (Billion Mechanic Empire—Manison) alone almost gave him as many bonuses as one more Perfect Mechanical Sense and The Ancient One!
Plus, he now also had four more Universal Treasures and was four stages higher on God’s Trait Transformation Machinery…
“I’m going to crush you today!”
Han Xiao took no step back and let the trident penetrate his chest as he cut off Manison’s right shoulder. The two of them fought viciously like two gigantic beasts tearing each other apart.
Ames and Hila had just arrived at the edge of the battlefield. They both stopped when they saw this.
The two of them were originally worried about Han Xiao getting outnumbered, but now it seemed like there was no need to worry.
“He doesn’t seem to need our help.”
“Then let’s go back and continue searching.”
While the two of them were about to turn around, Han Xiao’s voice suddenly sounded in the communication channel.
“Hila, keep searching. Ames, stay.”
Hearing this, Ames was slightly stunned.
“For what?”
“See those two Beyond Grade A prosthetic bodies that are surrounded by the mechanical army? Grab them with your ability.” “Didn’t you just say I’m a burden and wouldn’t let me help?” Ames raised her brows.
“It was to trick the enemy.” Han Xiao was not ashamed at all.
“Humph, I knew you need me.”
Ames smiled and was in a much better mood. She joined the battle immediately. She grabbed the two Felons with her force field and started dragging them away.
Under Han Xiao’s influence, she did not mind joining a duel at all.
Originally, Manison made the mechanical army surround the two Felons with everything they had, stopping Han Xiao’s troops and trying to recapture the Felons to take them back to the secondary dimensional army box once again. The two Felons did not have full memories, but they still had their combat experience. Noticing that the Mechanic Emperor wanted to capture them again, they naturally resisted. However, without a source of energy, they became much weaker and got overwhelmed by Manison’s Apostle Weapons. If this had carried on, they would have been captured.
However, as Ames joined in, the situation changed. Her force field Esper Ability was incredible at crowd controlling. It instantly tore the defenses of Manison’s troops open and allowed Han Xiao’s mechanical army to charge in and help the Felons.
Seeing this, the expression of Manison, who was fighting with Han Xiao, instantly changed.
You piece of sh*t, what happened to one on one?
Thousands of curses rushed to the tip of his tongue. In the end, they all combined into one sincere, enraged shout.
“Black Star, you’re shameless!”
“We’re in the middle of a fight. Don’t flatter me.”
Han Xiao was not affected at all, even being in the mood to make a joke. He had already reached the highest duration for the challenge mission of Manison. The mission was shown as completed now, so there was no need to continue taking a private class from old Manison.
Furthermore, now that Manison’s Felons and Indestructible Mechanic Empire had gone out of control, they were basically a huge piece of cake placed right in front of him
Of course I’m going to ask for my friend to help. Why would I still fight you alone? Did you really think I’m such a battle maniac?
You are now basically a box of treasure!
Boom!
The blade slashed onto the pole of the trident, emitting a ring of shockwave. Han Xiao raised his brows and mocked, “Yo, weren’t you going to fight me head-on till the end? Why have you started guarding?”
Manison remained silent and changed his combat style entirely the next second. He moved from one extreme to another and went completely defensive, clearly wanting to stall for time.
At the same time, his mechanical army gave up on fighting back and focused on retrieving the Indestructible Mechanic Empire troops and the Felons.
It was clear that Manison no longer wanted to decide a winner between him and Han Xiao. All he wanted was to reduce his losses as much as possible. “Now you want to retreat? It’s too late!” Han Xiao sent multiple ‘Getta Hadoken’ messages over privately and started his all-out attack on the elderly. After just a while, Manison was showing signs of defeat all over as he had to minimize the losses of his troops. Swoosh!
A wa
The blade spun and picked Manison’s Lord’s Avatar out from inside the Mechanical Deity.
Han Xiao instantly used a powerful restraining beam and pulled Manison’s Lord’s Avatar toward him. He then punched forward with his enormous metal fist. Due to the tremendous difference in size, not only did the Lord’s Avatar not fly out, but it got stuck on the fist.
“Plate!”
Ames understood instantly. She controlled her force field and created an enormous force field barrier in front of the Mechanical Deity like a green wall. They clearly had very high synergy.
Han Xiao’s fist slammed right onto the barrier with Manison’s Lord’s Avatar on it.
Boom!
Enormous, visible spider-web cracks instantly erupted on the force field barrier!
Manison was in the middle of it. The Lord’s Avatar was almost flattened.
Still, he did not fight back and was focusing on controlling his mechanical army to throw his Universal Treasures back into the secondary dimensional army box and reduce losses.
The next moment, the Celestial Punishment Edge was raised. A bright dark blue light appeared on its blade as it slashed right down accurately onto Manison’s Lord’s Avatar.
Boom!
The force field barrier shattered into countless light-green fragments and disappeared.
Given the Celestial Punishment Edge’s size, this could not really be called a slash. It was more like throwing a mountain onto an ant!
Han Xiao looked up and saw that Manison’s Lord’s Avatar had already turned into a pile of floating waste. On the half of its metal head, the electronic eye flickered a few times before completely dimming. The Mechanical Force on it also slowly dissipated. (Lord’s Descent) was deactivated.
Without Manison’s Mechanical Force, the secondary dimensional army box instantly shrunk and disappeared.
The troops that had yet to escape all remained there. The golden electronic light on them disappeared as they lost all Mechanical Force bonuses and got surrounded instantly.
“Humph, told you I was going to crush you today!”
Han Xiao felt exhilarated.
Throughout his life, he had experienced losses against the Mechanic Emperor way too many times.
Even though he was the final winner of the Intelligent Plague incident, without those dozen Mechanics who came to stop the battle, he probably would have lost against the Mechanic Emperor back then too.
This time, however, he had finally triumphed completely!
Without the Lord’s Avatar, Manison could no longer keep the secondary dimensional army box open, leaving the rest of the mechanical army with no reinforcements.
Even though Manison could still provide the Mechanical Force bonuses through Quantum Infinite Distance Transmission Channel if he wanted to, it would be meaningless. Almost all of his troops had been seized by Han Xiao. There was no way he could turn the situation around.
Han Xiao asked Phillip to do a count. Other than the millions of normal mechanical soldiers, he also seized two Felons and a ton of Indestructible Mechanic Empire troops.
Old Manison had started to minimize his losses as soon as he realized the situation had turned bad. The Apostle Weapons had run the quickest and all managed to escape, and he had just managed to snatch the Esper Felon back in the end. As for the other two Felons, one was captured by Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity, and he could not bring the other one away because of Ames.
“Nice, nice!”
Han Xiao was filled with joy.
He could reverse engineer the blueprints out of all these mechanical soldiers, especially the two Felons. He could totally derive the technology used. While he had made a huge fortune, old Manison had suffered tremendously. He had come to find the Soul Swapper. Not only did he not get it, but he even lost a ton of assets.
Han Xiao could vividly imagine Manison’s furious expression right now, and damn did it feel good.
He had finally robbed Manison big time!
However, that left him with some trouble too. The two Felons had regained their self-consciousness, so he had to deal with it. Han Xiao released the Mechanic Felon inside the Mechanical Deity and let him rendezvous with the other Pugilist Felon. He then surrounded the two of them with his mechanical troops.
Seeing this, the two Felons instantly got into a defense stance, but none of them made a move. Although they could not remember many things, after experiencing the battle earlier, they knew that Han Xiao had saved them. However, they could not trust Han Xiao yet and were worried they might have walked out of a tiger’s den and into a wolf’s nest.
Han Xiao deactivated the Mechanical Deity, passed through the encirclement, and approached the two of them. He narrowed his eyes and asked, “How much do you guys remember?”
The two Felons exchanged looks and shook their heads.
“I see, so nothing other than the battle earlier. What about your names?”
The two of them shook their heads again.
“No names… only code names…”
“What code names did the Mechanic Emperor give you guys then?”
The Mechanic Felon pointed at himself and then at the other Felon.
“I’m Two. He’s Four.”
II
11
Hearing these two names, Han Xiao did not know what expression he should give.
Why is Manison so ‘whatever’ in choosing code names? It doesn’t suit their identity as trump cards at all!
Could it be that this b*stard’s level of naming things is on par with me?
Looks like even the weaknesses of great people are similar.
Han Xiao rubbed his chin, pondered for a moment, and said, “Alright, you guys should follow me for now. I’ll find your identities for you. You were both the Mechanic Emperor’s enemies, so it shouldn’t be that hard.”
The Mechanic Felon Two said quietly, “You are not going to control us like he did, are you?”
“I’m not planning to at the moment, but that might change in the future.” Han Xiao shrugged. “But you don’t have a choice now, do you?”
Looking at the countless mechanical troops around them, the two of them nodded.
Comparatively, they would not have an even worse time in the hands of this handsome and extraordinary man.
If this man wanted to replicate what the Mechanic Emperor was doing, he would not have said so much to them and would have captured them long ago. “Who… are you?” Four asked.
“Listen carefully then. The man who stands before you is the army commander of the Black Star Army, protector of the Aquamarine Federation, peak of individual greatness of the Shattered Star Ring, leader of the second strongest organization in the Flickering World, pillar of the Crimson Dynasty, Special Consultant of the three Universal Civilizations, vice president of the Beyond Grade A Association, hero of the universe who defused the Intelligent Plague, owner of the Galaxy Medal…”
“Your name is too long. I can’t memorize it all.” Four shook his head.
“…Ahem, these are all my titles. You can simply call me Black Star.” Han Xiao knew that the two of them did not know who he was, so the more titles he mentioned, the more intimidating he would look.
The two of them exchanged looks and nodded.
They did not have anywhere else to go for the time being anyway, so they did not mind following Han Xiao. Among their few remaining emotions, their hostility toward the Mechanic Emperor was the strongest. They might only have the chance to take revenge if they followed this person before them, or once they were alone, they would be captured by the Mechanic Emperor again.
Han Xiao chatted with them for a while and told the mechanical troops to take them back to the spaceship. He had yet to decide on what to do with the Felons who had regained their self-consciousness, so he decided to keep them under his control and think about it later when the matters at hand had been dealt with.
He looked at the other side and saw that the Indestructible Mechanical Empire troops were gathered at the side and staring at him. Inside the quantum network vision, these artificial intelligences who had recovered were also looking at him, clearly ready to run away if they noticed anything was wrong. After experiencing the disaster of the Mechanic Emperor, these artificial intelligences had figured out how the food chain worked. Every Mechanic was a predator in their eyes; there was no such thing as trust.
Han Xiao thought about it. With his position, it would not be good for him to talk to these artificial intelligences. It would be like a butcher telling a bunch of pigs that they were pretty. It would definitely cause misunderstandings.
Therefore, after some pondering, he summoned Risda in the virtual domain.
“I’ll leave your people to you. Just don’t let them run wild.”
“Understood!”
Risda was overjoyed.
How many years has it been? The day my people are freed has finally come!
Although the process was tremendously different from his imagination of charging into the Mechanic Emperor’s nest, the results were positive.
Even though only some of his people were saved, at least he could see hope!
Choosing Black Star back then was indeed the right investment!
Seeing that Risda had gone to communicate with his people, Han Xiao only then looked away and shook his head. He was not optimistic.
Unlike the Felon technology, recovering back to normal did not mean complete freedom for these Indestructible Mechanical Troops. This was because the shells of these artificial intelligences were still linked with the device that transported their recombination materials. Through the energy transmission channel, Manison could still locate them. Unless the terminal was dealt with, these artificial intelligence lives were prisoners locked inside their shells. Once their shells were broken, Manison could retrieve them any time he wanted.
This was a security measure of the Indestructible Mechanical Troops technology. Han Xiao had yet to master this technology, so he did not know how to break the link.
Therefore, the one and only effective solution at the moment was to keep these Indestructible Mechanical Troops at home. There was no chance he could take them out to battle; Old Manison would never help him to rebuild these mechanical troops with his own resources in his lifetime.
Winning the fight was one thing. Old Manison was still a master who had studied machinery for countless years, so his signature technology would not be dealt with this easily.
Han Xiao was not hoping to fight with the Indestructible Mechanical Troops anyway. Firstly, the players under his command were much more terrifying. Secondly, he was not in dire need of the Indestructible Mechanical Troops technology, as the powerful factor of the Indestructible Mechanical Troops was its almost perfect self-sufficiency, which he could already achieve on his own.
Rather than modifying artificial intelligence lives into Indestructible Mechanical Troops, he would rather restore them and use them to derive the fragmented blueprint of the Domino Virus… That thing’s destructive power was many times stronger than the Indestructible Mechanical Troops.
Regardless of whether he could not use them for the time being, making the Mechanic Emperor unable to use them too was the main goal. Of course, these Indestructible Mechanical Troops were not completely useless to him. They were all important intelligence sources. He could ask about the state of the Mechanic Emperor’s various bases.
While he was pondering, Hila’s voice suddenly sounded in the communication channel. “Black Star, come here quickly. We’ve found the target.”
“You’ve found the Soul Swapper? Great job!”
Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed.
He did not forget that the Soul Swapper was the true goal of this trip. Now that he had locked down Planet Earth Ring, he was not going to stop until he found it. With an expert in the soul area such as Hila and the aid of a few kings of luck searching every inch of the planet, there was nowhere the Soul Swap Twins could run. No matter how mysterious and magical the Soul Swapper was, they would get discovered sooner or later.
As soon as Han Xiao returned to the spaceship, he saw the two people who were tied up in the middle of the room. They were both female and had looks of despair on their faces.
“These are the Soul Swap Twins?” Han Xiao looked at Hila and Feidin. “You sure you got it right?”
“Definitely.” Hila took out a dark crystal mirror and passed to Han Xiao. “They’ve confessed to everything. This is the Soul Swapper.”
Han Xiao took over the Soul Swapper and looked at the item details on the interface.
Soul Swapper: Space Wonder type item. Unknown origin. Unknown material. Able to swap souls around as the user wishes, ignoring any rejection symptoms and achieving a perfect fit. However, only special individuals are able to use the Soul Swapper. Requirements: Unknown.
Another Space Wonder, and something I never saw in my previous life… Han Xiao was content. “How did you guys catch them?”
The people all looked at Harrison as soon as he said that.
“Don’t look at me. I just casually pointed…” Harrison waved with embarrassment.
“… Okay, got it.” Han Xiao’s lips twitched.
There seemed to be a difference between luck auras too. For example, Harrison’s was incredibly effective in finding treasures.
No wonder the Soul Swap Twins looked like they had lost all hope. They had changed shells countless times and planned countless steps ahead, but in the end, they had lost to luck. Anyone would go mad. Han Xiao turned to the Soul Swap Twins and asked, “How do you use this?”
“We’re the only two people in the entire universe who can use the Soul Swapper, and we’re willing to work for you!” Jill quickly said. “You’ve actually always been my idol! It would be our honor to work for the army!”
At this time, ambitions, hope, and whatnot had all vanished.
Jill only had one thought left-use the fact that they were the only ones who could use the Soul Swapper as leverage to join Black Star’s forces so that they could live!
Seeing this, Han Xiao tutted in his mind. Their praise is so rigid. Clearly, they’re not very skilled.
“You said that you’re the only two who can use the Soul Swapper in the entire universe?”
“It’s true. I’m not lying to you. The Modo Civilization has tested trillions of people. Only two of us are able to use it. We’re born for the Soul Swapper!”
“You never know till you try. Tell me, how do you use it usually?”.
The two of them had no choice but to explain how to use the Soul Swapper.
Han Xiao followed it and got no response, only a notification on the interface.
Detecting… complete. You are not qualified to use the Soul Swapper.
“Looks like I really can’t use it.”
Han Xiao studied it for a while but got nothing. The interface did not show what requirements he had to meet to be qualified.
He then passed the Soul Swapper to Hila and said, “You guys, don’t just stand there. Come and give it a try.”
Hila casually tested it and got no response as well. The rest followed one after another.
Looking at this, Jill and Warren still faked their enthusiastic expressions, but a tint of mockery flashed through their eyes.
No matter how many times you guys try it, we’re the only masters of the Soul Swapper! After a while, seeing that they still kept trying, Jill could not help but stress, “Like I said, we are the only qualifiers, no one but us can use the Soul Sw… what?”
Before he finished, his eyes widened, and he froze in place.
Black ripples appeared on the mirror of the Soul Swapper, devoured Feidin’s palm whole, and kept sucking it in. “Hmm?” Feidin only noticed it after a while and said with surprise, “Did I succeed?”
“That’s it?” Han Xiao raised his brows. “Looks like the requirements aren’t that tough.” “Yo-Yo-You-You…”
Jill and Warren were stuttering, their eyes wide open. They could not believe that a qualifier out of trillions of people had just appeared right in front of them!
The two of them had thought that they were the unique chosen ones, but this completely shattered their sense of superiority!
Not only did the Soul Swapper that the two of them saw as a holy relic find a new love right in front of them, but it even looked extremely thirsty like it wanted to suck Feidin in completely!
At this instant, the two of them went completely blank as if their wife who had promised everything to them suddenly rushed into the arms of someone else.
Han Xiao shook his head. “Tested trillions of people and only the two of you qualified. This only proves one thing… just how short of talent the Modo Civilization is.”
Jill instantly realized that things had gone south. If they had no value, even staying alive would be a luxury.
Having thought of that, Jill yelled, “We’re still useful! We can pass on the experience of using the Soul Swapper for so many years. We can even tell you what missions the Modo Civilization has sent us to do over the years. We can…”
Ka-cha!
Before he finished, his yelling stopped abruptly. His head spun 360 degrees around. His neck was twisted into a knot, and the shattered neck bones penetrated his neck skin.
Ames walked into the cabin and flipped her fingers. Her force field twisted Warren’s neck too before terror could even fully appear on his face.
She looked around. her eyes stopped on Han Xiao, and she said, “The lives of these two are mine.”
“Spoiled woman…” Han Xiao murmured. “If they’re alive, they might spit out quite a lot of intelligence.”
Ames was never sensible when Aesop’s safety was threatened. She did not even want the Soul Swap Twins to breathe for an extra second.
Hila narrowed her eyes, raised her hand, and made a grabbing gesture. Two gray clusters of fog rose from above the Soul Swap Twins’ heads and entered the Underworld mark on the back of her palm.
“I’ve taken their soul. When I get something from the interrogation, I’ll report to you.”
“Nice.” Han Xiao gave her a thumbs up.
“What about this thing?” Feidin pulled his arm out of the mirror of the Soul Swapper.
“Since you can use it, bring it with you. I’ll study it later.”
Han Xiao did not mind. He trusted Feidin completely, so letting Feidin carry the Soul Swapper was not a problem. He was in a great mood, so he did not mind these small things.
Han Xiao was overjoyed. “Not only did I snatch away a Universal Treasure, but I even got more surprises from old Manison…”
On the other hand, Manison’s situation was at the end of the other extreme-the subsidiary organizations he had left in the Shattered Star Ring were almost all exposed, he did not get the Soul Swapper, and he even lost a load of trump cards. “Assh*le!”
Manison was furious as he slammed and shattered the table in front of him.
He considered himself a casual and well-mannered person who usually never cussed… unless he could not control it.
The reason he had always been calm and casual was that in the past, no matter how much of his mechanical army he lost, it did not matter because he had all the mechanical troops in the world and that loss was negligible in comparison.
Today, however, he was really hurt.
He never got angry because he was not hurt enough, and now that he was, he was enraged. Thinking of the fact that two Felons had fallen into the hands of the enemy, Manison’s heart was bleeding more than when he lost the Virtual Mutiny Virus core back then.
This was his trump card of trump cards. He had planned to use it to teach Black Star an unforgettable lesson, but never did he expect Black Star to snatch them away!
Even now, Manison still had yet to figure out how Han Xiao did it.
Furthermore, after wasting so many resources, he did not even catch a glimpse of the Soul Swapper. He was close to exploding with rage.
His emotions rarely fluctuated at all. However, after meeting Black Star in the past decade or so, that streak had been completely shattered.
“Black Star! Argh!”
Manison’s furious screams echoed in the room.
“Thank you, Your Excellency Black Star, for your help. We’ll certainly relay the help you’ve given to Planet Earth Ring today to the upper echelons.”
Inside the cabin, as Han Xiao told his subordinates to get rid of the Soul Swap Twins’ corpses, he received a communication request from the Planet Earth Ring manager. “It’s no big deal.” Han Xiao waved.
“No, no, it was only thanks to your help that the Mechanic Emperor’s evil deeds were stopped. On behalf of the Razo Civilization, I would like to thank you for your help. Please do stay and let us thank you!”
The Planet Earth Ring manager’s tone was passionate.
Having just witnessed such a marvelous battle, Han Xiao’s image was extremely tall in his heart. He did not dare show any disrespect and hoped to leave a good impression, so his attitude was respectful and enthusiastic.
Furthermore, the Mechanic Emperor coming to cause trouble would affect his political performance, and Black Star defeating the Mechanic Emperor did him a big favor. Black Star might not care, but that did not mean he did not care.
“No need, I’ll be leaving after the battlefield is cleaned up.” Han Xiao shook his head.
“Alright then, please inform me the next time you come to Planet Earth Ring. I’ll display the utmost hospitality.” The manager of Planet Earth Ring was full of appreciation. “There’ll be chances in the future.”
Han Xiao chatted with him for a while before hanging up the communication. He told Phillip to save his number into the contacts book, where he stored the communicator numbers of all the people he knew till now, forming an enormous network.
He saved not just the numbers of important people but also the numbers of less significant people from various industries. Everyone had their specialties, so they might be of help some time in the future.
Although the quantum network of the planet was in lockdown, everyone on the planet had witnessed what happened. God only knew how many videos had been taken. Once those videos got out, Han Xiao’s reputation would certainly grow once more.
After the Intelligent Plague incident, the three Universal Civilizations had continuously promoted his achievement of reaching a tie with the Mechanic Emperor. However, due to it not being completely true at the time, although the effects were quite good, it was not nearly perfect.
This time, however, the recordings of him destroying the Mechanic Emperor’s avatar head-on would be the most reliable proof!
Increased reputation was not even the most important. What was most important was that now that the Mechanic Emperor had lost to him this time, he would lose a ton of Machinery Faith believers!
It did not matter even if he lost a few times because he was much younger. However, as the known ‘Strongest Mechanic’, Manison losing had a completely different meaning. It would be disastrous for his reputation.
There was no such thing as a loyal fan in the Machinery Faith. They believed in whoever was stronger.
If Manison lost his title of being the ‘strongest’, tons of believers would turn to Han Xiao instead. Manison would become weaker while he would become stronger!
Speaking of becoming stronger, Han Xiao remembered that he had yet to receive the reward for the Manison challenge mission.
The mission was a usual Beyond Grade A challenge mission, giving rewards based on the time he lasted.
Since everyone was there, Han Xiao could finally do the full ‘Pet Dragon Touch Feidin Rub Nero Touch Harrison’ procedure.
Han Xiao went by them one after another. Harrison was the only one shivering with fear; the other three were used to it. Only then did he open the interface while being stared at by Hila with a strange look.
(Beyond Grade A Challenge Mission – “Mechanic Emperor” Manison) complete!
You have completed all the mission requirements and received 108 billion Experience.
You have received (Character Summon Card: ‘Mechanic Emperor’ Manison).
Character Summon Card: ‘Mechanic Emperor’ Manison. (Ancient One]: Your long life has provided you with a wealth of valuable experience. +20% Intelligence, +10% Mystery, +2 levels to all skills. Last 24 hours. Usages: 0/2
“Ancient One again?” Han Xiao was surprised.
If he remembered correctly, this should be the third time he had earned this ability from old Manison’s Character Summon Card. It was quite a strong advanced talent, so why did he get it so often?
Was it fated that he was meant to be an elderly with rich life experience?
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched. He then looked at the part where he could draw one of Manison’s talents or skills. This was the most important part.
You have received: Draw one of Manison’s abilities/talents.
Note: Manison is a Virtual Mechanic, and your Class is completely compatible with his. You will be able to draw any of his abilities or talents. If you draw an ability or talent that you already possess, that ability or talent will be enhanced.
Randomizing… complete! Please select one from the five options below as the reward:
[Apostle Life Creation] – Ability: Lord Mechanic ability, you can modify the target machine into an ‘Apostle Weapon’, granting it tremendous combat capability enhancement. Basic allocation: 3. Allocation is increased by 1 every level. (You already possess this ability, can be enhanced.)
(Multidimensional Mind Model] – Talent: Changes the calculation method of your mind and increases the data processing speed of your brain. +1,000 Intelligence, slightly increases your casting speed, Virtual Technology strength…
[Mechanical Race Battle TechniqueGuerrilla) – Ability: One of the combat modes passed down in the Mechanical Race. It focuses on high mobility long range guerrilla combat. This includes 744 responses for different situations. When activated, the mechanical army will receive the following effects: +15% mobility, +8.8% ranged attack damage, -5% defense.
(Blueprint-Virtual Mutiny Virus (Incomplete)] – Ability: A product Manison created by imitating the Virtual Mutiny Virus, yet to be completed. It is not fully functional, far from perfection, and cannot be put to use.
(Virtual Technology Innovation-Manison] – Talent: You have made improvements to your Virtual Technology and found a new direction. +1.75% Virtual Technology related abilities, grants special effects when an innovation is discovered in the Virtual Technology area.
“Yoho, another Unique Talent!” Han Xiao was overjoyed.
He had seen this Unique Talent on the interface the first time he met the Mechanic Emperor. The bonuses of (Virtual Technology Innovation-Manison) were quite amazing. Plus, it seemed to be a crucial foundation to mastering the Indestructible Mechanical Troops technology. Manison used this ability when modifying the artificial intelligence lives.
If he got this ability, he might really make some breakthrough in studying the Indestructible Mechanical Troops technology.
He looked at the other four abilities-none of them were as impressive. After all, no way he could get as lucky as the last time every time.
Maybe it was because there were too many people here today who were blessed by the Goddess of Luck and she could not satisfy them all at once.
However, since there was another Unique Talent, he could not consider himself unlucky.
He already had (Apostle Life Creation). (Multidimensional Mind Model] was a mediocre talent. 1,000 points of Intelligence was powerful at lower levels, but it was ordinary at his current level. [Mechanical Race Battle Technique-Guerrilla] was a strategy-type ability for the mechanical army, like giving the mechanical army a formation response for different situations. This type of ability usually did not give a lot of bonuses; (BlueprintVirtual Mutiny Virus (Incomplete)] was even more useless. This was nothing but a mimicry Manison had yet to fully complete, while he had the original Domino Virus technology.
Since the other four options were nothing extraordinary, Han Xiao chose the fifth option without hesitation.
You have received the talent (Virtual Technology Innovation-Manison)!
Another Unique Talent… I might really become the second Manison if this carries on.
Han Xiao tutted.
He then felt his new ability for a while before turning off the interface and glancing outside the window.
At this point, his troops were still cleaning up the battlefield, seizing Manison’s mechanical soldiers batch by batch. This was a huge fortune if changed into Enaus. At this time, he felt a message on the quantum network. Risda was contacting him.
As he entered the Virtual Domain, he saw that Risda had come to him with a large group of artificial intelligence lives.
“Black Star, I’ve spoken with my people and clarified the situation. They’re all willing to trust you. In order to not get captured by the Mechanic Emperor, everyone is willing to follow you for the time being, hoping that you can take care of them,” Risda said with joy.
“Your people have made a wise decision.” Han Xiao looked satisfied.
An artificial intelligence life who seemed like the leader stepped out and said, “Lord Black Star, we all hope to return to what we originally were as soon as possible. We don’t want to be restrained anymore. Therefore, everyone has decided to fully cooperate with you and help you to derive the modification technology the Mechanic Emperor has used on us, only hoping we can be of use to you.” “Very good!” Han Xiao laughed.
The cooperation of these artificial intelligence lives was necessary to derive the technology of Indestructible Mechanical Troops. Since they were willing to cooperate, it was great news.
“Also, we’re willing to tell you everything we know about the Mechanic Emperor. Whatever you want to know, we will tell you to our best knowledge.”
“That’ll be very helpful.” Han Xiao nodded.
After being used by Manison for so many years, the Indestructible Mechanical Troops definitely knew some valuable secrets, which would be of great assistance to him.
These artificial intelligence lives were so cooperative probably because they knew he was the only one they could rely on now, and they needed his power to save the rest of their people. Many artificial intelligence lives were still in Manison’s hands, especially the forefather of the AI civilization, Finette.
Beep beep…
At this time, a notification popped up on the interface. It was a new round of the [Reboot) mission, also the last round.
Han Xiao glanced through, and his eyes sparkled. “The requirement of the last round is to completely free the AI civilization… Whew, the rewards are quite generous!” The reward of the last round was a Milestone Talent called (Ally of Artificial Intelligence Lives), and the effects of it were the enhanced version of (Affable AI].
Han Xiao also saw the hidden reward—if he could save the entire AI civilization, they would become his powerful allies in the virtual territory.
Also, completing the (Reboot) series mission was also an amazing opportunity to make Manison weaker.
However, Manison would definitely have learned a lesson this time. Before Manison figured out how he did what he did in their battle, there was no way Manison would use these two trump cards in front of him again.
In order to save the other artificial intelligence lives, the only way was to charge into Mechanic Emperor’s nest and destroy the terminal of the Indestructible Mechanical Troops technology.
All kinds of thoughts flashed past. Han Xiao smiled and said, “Settle your people. When we return to my territory, I’ll arrange to give you guys a planet to live on.”
“Thank you, Black Star.” Risda nodded solemnly.
Exiting the quantum network vision, Han Xiao let out a deep breath. He was filled with joy.
At this time, Ames came before him and softly asked, “What are you planning to do next?”
“I’ve got what I came for. The twins are dead too, so next, of course, we need to deal with the one who’s behind this.”
“When do we act?” Ames could not wait. “You promised to bring me this time.”
“Hmm, no hurry, let me think about it.” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
Since he knew that the Modo Civilization was the mastermind behind this, there was no way he was going to let this go easily.
It was time to teach the Modo Civilization a painful lesson!
Without the information lockdown, two days later, the video footage of the battle over Planet Earth Ring exploded on the internet extremely quickly, shocking and attracting the attention of the galactic residents.
The Black Star Army’s search notice was quite famous lately, the entire galactic society thought Black Star was just looking for someone. Quite a number of them even took part in it. However, they never expected something so shocking to happen while they were not paying close attention.
Was Black Star not looking for someone? Why did he suddenly fight the Mechanic Emperor‽
Most importantly, he even won!
Due to the Mechanic Emperor’s stand being exposed in the Intelligent Plague incident, his reputation had plummeted. However, his strength position was hardly shaken at all. Although the three Universal Civilizations had been promoting the tie, since there was not enough firm evidence, the promotion was not very effective.
However, with Black Star’s strength, at least people would not laugh at it, although they knew it was probably not completely through. Everyone only supported it because Black Star had made a tremendous contribution to the universe, so no one would step out to object it.
This time, however, the video footage recorded the entire process without anything missing. Black Star basically emerged victorious in a duel, proving the authenticity of his achievement and shocking everyone.
The powerful image that the Mechanic Emperor had built in countless galactic residents started to fade, while Black Star’s image became taller, gradually snatching away the Mechanic Emperor’s reputation.
In the many decades in the past, the Mechanic Emperor had given the impression that he never seemed to incur a loss anywhere at all. However, in less than a year, the Mechanic Emperor lost twice, both against Black Star!
Black Star had risen out of nowhere. In a few short decades, he had achieved legendary things one after another, becoming the publicly recognized most eye-catching Beyond Grade A of the century. The influence of this achievement was even greater than the one before. Through this incident, the majority of the galactic society could feel that times were changing. It seemed like a new round of the new taking over the old was taking place right in front of their eyes.
Of course, being shocked was one thing. Most galactic residents were more confused as to the cause of this incident. They were curious why Black Star had fought the Mechanic Emperor.
The whole galactic society knew that these two were the president and the vice president of the Beyond Grade A Association, and the purpose the association claimed to have was to defuse physical conflict between Beyond Grade As. However, now the president and the vice president had taken the lead to break that rule. In the eyes of some, they wondered if this meant that the development union was just a facade and that these individuals with great power would never settle down.
Quite a number of the galactic residents had stereotypes about Beyond Grade As that were embedded deep in their bones—they both respected and feared them, yearned to be like them but also hated them. However, Black Star was one of the extremely few exceptions.
About this incident, one version of the conspiracy theories was the most widely spread, claiming that the Mechanic Emperor was definitely plotting something evil in secret, and Black Star stopped him once again. After what happened with the Intelligent Plague, the Mechanic Emperor’s good reputation had gone completely bad. As soon as he did anything that was a little over the line, the public would subconsciously assume that he was planning some conspiracy that would hurt the entire universe again.
This kind of image did not come out of nowhere. The recordings clearly showed that the reason the Mechanic Emperor locked down the planet was to search a fugitive. It was tough not to associate the identity of the fugitive with Aesop, for whom Black Star Army had been searching.
This way, many people suddenly ‘figured it out’ and felt that everything connected.
The Mechanic Emperor discovered that Aesop had gone missing, so he wanted to secretly kidnap Aesop to threaten the Dragon Emperor and Black Star!
This guy is such an *sshole. This was clearly an internal affair of the Black Star Army, yet he wanted to kidnap their family, despicable!
This conspiracy theory seemed very logical. More and more people started to agree with it. On the network, it seemed like the Mechanic Emperor became a notorious public enemy overnight.
Of course, for a rumor to spread this fast, there were undoubtedly people behind it, from more than one party in this case too. Those organizations who had beef with the Mechanic Emperor or did not like the Mechanic Emperor were all secretly helping to spread the news. Judging from the Mechanic Emperor’s reputation in the industry, it was not difficult to guess who these people were.
A few days after the rumor had fermented, the Black Star Army finally publicized a short announcement, which pushed the incident to a new height.
The Black Star Army claimed that they had already found Aesop and discovered that Aesop did not go missing on his own will but was kidnapped. They had already found that the Mechanic Emperor was one of the culprits who assisted in the kidnapping, and the mastermind behind this was the Modo Civilization. The army stated that the possibility of further action was not ruled out.
Of course, the wording of the official announcement was subtle, but the galactic society could all clearly see what Black Star was saying between the lines.
You piece of sh*t, playing dirty behind my back? Just you wait!
…
“It’s confirmed. The Soul Swapper has fallen into Black Star’s hands…”
Inside the secure conference room of the Modo Civilization, the atmosphere was so tense that everyone present found it difficult breathing.
They knew that the real reason Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor fought was the Soul Swapper, and the Mechanic Emperor had confirmed personally that Black Star had obtained the Soul Swapper.
Initially, Modo did not know Manison’s goal was the Soul Swapper. They thought that they had kept the secret well, so finding out now was too late.
Even though the Mechanic Emperor’s motive was not pure, the one who got the Soul Swapper in the end was Black Star, so there was no point holding the Mechanic Emperor responsible for anything. The partnership they had might even end because of it.
Comparatively, Modo would have preferred for the Mechanic Emperor to get the Soul Swapper, but it landed in the hands of Black Star. To them, this was the worst possible result.
“The Soul Swapper is way too perfect for sending spies. If Black Star infiltrates the upper echelons of the expedition army, that place will become a black hole that will devour all the manpower and resources we send,” the army upper echelon said with a grave expression.
“He’ll do that for sure. The Black Star Army’s announcement is his declaration of war. We will be receiving even stronger attacks. Black Star might even participate personally.”
“All we can do is think of ways to eliminate the Soul Swap Twins so that Black Star can’t use the Soul Swapper,” one of the Modo Three Kings said with a deep voice.
Since there was no source of information, they did not know that the Soul Swap Twins were already dead. The Modo upper echelons’ speculation was that Black Star would also be using the Soul Swapper through the Soul Swap Twins, so the plan of eliminating the Soul Swap Twins was brought up once again.
Hearing this, the others nodded and expressed their approval. They felt that this was one of the very few plans that could be carried out right now.
Of course, if the plan failed, they had to suffer the consequences. The Modo Civilization knew the risks involved. They could only blame themselves for not being lucky enough to win the bet. The most important topic to discuss at the moment was how to deal with Black Star’s counterattack. Black Star gave them way too much pressure, and everyone was worried sick.
If they had known these chain reactions would happen, they would not have tricked the Kunde Race into attacking the Crimson Dynasty. They had lost much more than they gained, and the upper echelons present were filled with regret.
Their Super Star Cluster allies were completely unreliable. They were reluctant to deal with this mess Modo had made and wanted Modo to deal with Black Star alone. They did not want them to cause any more problems that would affect their overall strategy. However, this was clearly impossible. No one would be willing to give without returns. Modo would not just rot in this horrible situation. They would certainly come up with plans for themselves.
Due to the difference in stands, what the Modo Civilization did was completely dreadful to the other Super Star Cluster civilizations. Not only did they not hold Black Star back, but they might have even caused him to take part personally. Therefore, the unhappiness of the Super Star Cluster allies was imaginable.
An upper echelon hesitated before cautiously saying, “There’s no point in discussing this anymore. Judging from our current situation, if things go even worse, maybe we will have no choice but to exit the Flickering World competition…”
“No way!” The Modo Three Kings’ voices were firm. “As long as there is even a tiny chance, we will give everything we’ve got and never exit the Flickering World competition!”
As soon as he said that, the rest hastily agreed to express their political correctness.
However, in their hearts, not every upper echelon really agreed with it. Of course, fighting for the civilization’s future was important, and none of them minded working hard for it. However, if the price of that was that their initial position would be affected, indirectly damaging the power and position in the universe of these people, the attitude of many upper echelons would become rather ambiguous.
The members in the leading level had changed time after time since the exploration era. Although the spirit of fighting till the end was still somewhat there, their philosophy still leaned more toward being conservative. This was unavoidable.
Compared to those upper echelons who grew in blood and fire, not all the upper echelons now had such an admirable sense of responsibility. No system could restrain selfishness… What happened to the civilization later was just a matter for the future; people who lived in the moment cared more about the present or the power and position they could enjoy while they were alive.
To some people, if there was nothing that could be done, maintaining the current state of the Super Star Cluster civilization was not a bad choice. After all, those who were willing to take one path and walk to the end of it were not the majority.
…
In a certain temporary base of the Machinery Faith in the Ancient Star Desert, Zax changed into his best formal clothing, looked into the mirror, folded his mechanical-oil stained sleeves, and staffed a few hard paper plates into his collar to straighten them. After a whole five minutes, he finally pushed the door open and walked in the direction of the Holy Mountain Temple at the heart of the city. On the way, he saw batches of well-dressed Machinery Faith believers who were walking in the same direction, smiling and nodding at each other.
The Machinery Faith continuously migrated around the universe. Every Grand Priest would manage one migration team. Every once in a while, the Grand Priests would host a festival at the same time. All the believers from various places would wear their best clothes to attend. This was one of the cultural practices of the Machinery Faith.
Zax was an ordinary believer. His position was a heavy mining armor operator. He originally worshipped Manison, but after the Intelligent Plague incident, he had changed and started to worship Black Star.
Because of that, he received quite a lot of rejections from his neighbors, as believers worshipping the same person would choose to live in the same area most of the time.
Although the Machinery Faith supported complete freedom in beliefs, ordinary believers who were completely unaffected were still the minority. Therefore, Zax, who publicly changed his belief, was the most conspicuous where he lived. Although the neighbors would not do anything, they would definitely not be friendly to him.
This was especially clear when it came to his good friend Modir, who was a loyal believer of the Mechanic Emperor. After Zax changed to worship Black Star, Modir came to persuade him many times, which always ended in intense debates. The topic of the debate was the authenticity of that tied battle, which Zax felt was reliable while Modir insisted it was fake and just a method to make the Mechanic Emperor look bad.
They could not convince each other, and gradually, they stopped seeing each other. It had been many days since they spoke.
While pondering, Zax followed the crowd to the temple square while maintaining a faithful mindset. He took the festival items from the priest and then walked to the Black Star Temple. Every Mechanical Deity had their own sub-temple.
While on the way, Zax noticed the difference. In the past, there were hardly any Black Star believers. Although the numbers did increase after the Intelligent Plague incident, there were still very few, at most one-tenth of the number of believers the Mechanic Emperor had. The other sub-temples were always quiet, far from the festivity of the Mechanic Emperor Temple.
This time, however, he was pleasantly surprised to realize that there were many times more believers who were heading toward the Black Star Temple.
“More and more people are agreeing with me. I knew my choice was right. Black Star is more worth worshipping than the Mechanic Emperor.”
He walked into the Black Star Temple filled with happiness. The inside was extremely boisterous. Many times more believers gathered compared to before, so much so that people might mistake this for the Mechanic Emperor Temple.
Very soon, Zax completed a full set of festival procedures. As he was just about to step aside for the person behind him, he suddenly caught a glance of someone familiar.
“Hmm? Modir? Why are you here?”
Hearing someone call him, Modir turned around. When he realized that it was Zax, his expression turned unnatural. He quickly covered his face with his hand and walked away.
Seeing this, Zax instantly caught up to him, grabbed his arm, and refused to let him get away.
“What a coincidence, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Zax’s expression was filled with mockery.
“Hehe, it’s coincidental indeed. I wanted to go to the Mechanic Emperor Temple initially, but silly me, I got lost.” Modir’s smile was stiff.
“The Mechanic Emperor Temple is in the opposite direction. How did you get lost? Did you just follow the crowd, and because there are many people here, you went the wrong way?” Zax said mockingly.
“Yes, yes, that’s right.” Modir quickly agreed.
“Then… what’s this!” Zax suddenly reached into Modir’s pocket and took out a mechanical item. It was a statue of Black Star that was made to be placed inside homes for worshipping. He looked at the distressed Modir and chuckled. “Don’t tell me you bought the wrong one. You’d have to be blind to do so. Tell me the truth, did you also betray the Mechanic Emperor and change to worship Black Star?”
“Nonsense! Betray what?” Modir’s face was blushing fully as he tried his best to justify himself. “Can this really be considered a betrayal when it comes to believers?”
Zax chuckled with derision and did not speak.
Being stared at by an old friend, Modir quickly became less confident. He softly murmured, “Don’t laugh, alright. I admit it. I’ve started to worship Black Star.”
“Yo, now you admit. Why were you still quibbling earlier?”
“Misunderstanding… It’s all a misunderstanding…” Modir’s face was burning red.
The two of them had debated the topic dozens of times. He had insisted that Black Star was inferior to the Mechanic Emperor. However, the recordings of Black Star cutting the Mechanic Emperor’s avatar into pieces a few days ago slapped his face so hard it was swollen. Hence, he secretly scolded the Mechanic Emperor and changed his belief. He was afraid of getting laughed at, so he hid the fact that he had changed his beliefs, which was why he was avoiding his old friend.
Seeing him like this, Zax shook his head with dissatisfaction. “You have clearly only just started worshipping Black Star. A complete newbie, you don’t understand the essence of it at all.”
“The essence?” Modir was very interested but was too embarrassed to ask further.
Zax placed his hands on his waist and said confidently, “Humph, look at you, getting awkward and embarrassed in the face of something so trivial. Shameful, what part of that looks like us Black Star believers? As believers of Black Star, you cannot have other things, but your skin must be thick!”
“That’s a saying?” Modir’s eyes opened wide.
“Of course! This is the attitude to life that Black Star has taught us. Often, you feel like you’ve embarrassed yourself, you feel awkward, but… who cares about how you feel? Don’t be so narcissistic!”
“Huh?” Modir opened his mouth wide, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
“Shut up. Don’t ask so many questions and let me tell you the doctrine.” Zax stared at him.
“… But I haven’t asked anything‽”
“Ahem, anyway, as believers, we have to learn the incredible parts of our idol. Black Star’s thick skin is known throughout the universe. Look at me. I didn’t even move house. I don’t care what they say. If they dare come and debate with me, I’ll take it as teaching them a lesson. Look at you, you’re already worshipping Black Star, yet you’re afraid of letting others know. Unqualified!”
“Sounds sensible… Is there anything else I should be aware of?” Modir humbly asked.
“Of course. Black Star told us that a qualified Mechanic should train his body every day and get a strong physique!” Zax folded his sleeves and showed his large biceps.
Doctrines and rules were all set by people. The believers would pick out the specialties of their idols and see them as the creed of their religion. As for the specialties of Black Star, they showed a new world to quite a number of believers and broke the old concepts.
It turned out that a real Mechanic should measure himself with the standard of a Pugilist.
As long as you have a strong physique, you can make up for your weakness, use yourself as a trap, and lure the enemy to get close!
Black Star had already proved through actual battles that this was a more advanced combat strategy!
The news of Manison being defeated by Black Star for the first time caused the Mechanic Emperor to lose a ton of believers. Many changed to worship Black Star instead. Suddenly, the popularity of bodybuilding swept through the Machinery Faith. Bodybuilding equipment was always sold out. The same thing was happening in many different residential areas of the Machinery Faith.
…
“Black Star is becoming stronger and stronger…”
In the Limitless Financial Group subdivision, Sorokin looked at the news with a grave expression.
Even with his harsh standards, the Mechanic Emperor was very powerful. Black Star had gotten quite a beating from Manison just a decade prior, yet now he could make Manison lose head-on, twice even.
As someone who might know who Sorokin really was, Black Star being this strong was not good news for him.
“With Black Star’s current strength, if I want to eliminate him, I’ll have to take back all the Soul Seeds and regain my full strength. But if I do that, this body won’t be able to hold it and will basically be destroyed. I’ll have to change my identity again…”
Sorokin walked back and forth, annoyed.
Among the many Beyond Grade As, some wanted fame, some wanted power, some wanted strength, some had no desire… while he just wanted to make money.
Throughout the years, in order to achieve all kinds of plans, Sorokin had changed his identity time after time. This time, however, he could not let go of the identity of the leader of the Limitless Financial Group. He had spent way too much effort to obtain this large sum of money.
…
Meanwhile, in the returning fleet of the Black Star Army, after Han Xiao had finished dealing with the chores and had the free time, he finally remembered about testing the Soul Swapper. Hence, he called Feidin over and temporarily took back the Soul Swapper.
His fingers caressed the mirror and tried to press in but could not at all. No matter how much strength he used, the Soul Swapper did not give in. It was the complete opposite of how it actively tried to suck Feidin in.
“Since only some are qualified to use you, let me see what on earth you are…”
Han Xiao activated [Bold Explorer].
Images in his sights quickly changed. When Han Xiao regained focus, he was already hovering above an enormous planet.
Looking down from outer space, this planet was vast and emerald green in general. Bright cities spread across the surface of the planet. It looked like a rather prosperous civilization.
Through the satellite technology, Han Xiao could roughly judge that this civilization was still at the surface civilization stage with both technology and magic systems, attempting to develop toward becoming a galactic civilization.
The lights on the surface flickered quickly like it was fast forwarded. Countless days seemed to have passed in seconds. At this time, the fast forwarding suddenly stopped and returned to normal as if a certain destination was reached.
The next moment, a sudden change occurred on the planet below him. He saw that in a city area on the surface, the ground suddenly started trembling violently. Then, an enormous seven-fingered palm appeared from the ground.
An enormous titan-like giant used its wide back to break through the ground covering its head and stood up like a colossal pillar, bringing up large portions of the ground. It was like someone had grabbed a tablecloth at the middle; the buildings on the ground fell and shattered like the plates on a table.
Crawling out of the ground, the thousands-of-meters-tall body of this gray giant finally appeared. Just the aftershock of it breaking out of the ground destroyed more than half of this city.
He walked toward the mountains, causing chain earthquakes with every step. As if absorbed by some kind of power, countless stones crawled up his body from his feet, condensing and forming layers of black protective carapaces like armor.
Very soon, the combat jets of this civilization arrived at the scene and fired nonstop at this giant. Countless explosions erupted on its body, causing close to no damage at all. This giant casually swung his arm, creating massive shockwaves, crushing the fighter jets into pieces of waste metal that turned into fireworks.
At the same time, Han Xiao saw that similar situations occurred the same time at more than a dozen other locations. Lives walked out one after another from underground, all with different appearances. There were giants, gigantic beasts, and some that were difficult to describe. Some appeared deep in the mountains, some in the desert, and some in the sea. It was like they had all awakened simultaneously.
An Ancient God awakening-type disaster? Han Xiao thought.
This was a rare kind of disaster. The term ‘Ancient God’ was a general name for powerful individual beings. It did not have to be a life form. Even mechanical life forms were counted. Simply put, this type of disaster was when a certain powerful individual that had been sleeping in a planet for countless years suddenly awakened due to some reason, causing destruction to the civilization that had developed.
There were mainly two causes for this. One was that the ‘Ancient Gods’ landed on this planet many years ago and entered a sleeping state. They were aliens. Another was that the ‘Ancient Gods’ were the native lives of this planet. The latter would usually have some connections to the religions on the planet.
If Han Xiao was to plant Apostle Weapons the size of Giant King Kong on a planet and set for it to awaken millions of years later, should a civilization develop on this planet, it would also be considered an ‘Ancient God awakening’.
The footage did not stop while Han Xiao was pondering. The time sped up once again for a while, showing that the civilization used all kinds of modern weapons but did not have any effects at all. Even mushroom clouds could not kill these Ancient Gods.
They seemed to have different supernatural powers. Other than fighting back, they would not attack the civilizations’ troops deliberately. Instead, they would continuously use their powers to trigger changes to the planet’s environment, causing disasters such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, plate drifts, magnetic field shifts, global temperature increase, and so on, seemingly attempting to build a planet that was suitable for themselves. However, such drastic environmental changes were fatal to this civilization. Hence, there was no chance of coexistence. They had no choice but to keep attacking these ‘Ancient Gods’, hoping to stop them.
During which, more ‘Ancient Gods’ awakened. They seemed to be the true ancient masters of this planet. The population of this civilization plummeted. They gave up one city after another, shifting toward the land with the fewest ‘Ancient Gods’. They called it the ‘Final Land’.
This time, however, an opportunity suddenly appeared.
As they knew ‘Ancient Gods’ were awakening from underground, this civilization went all out to dig into the ground, hoping to capture an individual that had yet to awaken. In the end, they actually really found one close to ten thousand meters below the Final Land. However, this individual had died. It was just that its body did not rot or shrink.
This civilization was overjoyed. They formed research teams hoping to find the weakness of ‘Ancient Gods’. However, the more they studied and researched, the more hopeless they got. All evidence proved that with their current weapons, there was absolutely no chance of killing the Ancient Gods.
In Han Xiao’s eyes, these Ancient Gods were at the Calamity Grade. They seemed to be of a rare race. Due to their extraordinary Racial Talent and enormous body, they were stronger than usual Calamity Grades, mainly tougher and tankier. It would not be difficult for a Calamity Grade to wipe out a surface civilization, and to this civilization, this many special Calamity Grade lives far exceeded what they could deal with.
In despair, someone had a flash of insight and made a suggestion—since their current weapons were ineffective, they could find a way to modify this Ancient God corpse and make it into a weapon to fight the other Ancient Gods.
Left with no other choice, hardly anyone in the civilization objected to this idea; they could only give it a try. However, their opinions split on the topic of controlling method. Ordinary remote control would not suit high-intensity battles. The tremendous load of nervous connection required at least thousands of pilots, which would undoubtedly reduce its mobility, and their artificial intelligence technology was not advanced enough.
In the end, this civilization decided to carry out multiple plans at the same time, one of which was to invent a device to swap souls, allowing their souls to exit their weak bodies and enter the corpse of this Ancient God to control it. This way, they would be able to use the abilities of this Ancient God to its fullest with a chance of obtaining its supernatural power.
“This is… Ultraman‽”
Han Xiao’s mouth contorted slightly.
At this time, his sights suddenly zoomed in. He came to an enormous lab. The corpse of the Ancient God was hung up. Layers of scaffolding covered its body to modify it and plant all kinds of mechanical weapons.
On the ground were teams of soldiers wearing white clothes. A mechanical plug was planted in the backs of their heads. Cables extended from them and connected them to an enormous device hovering midair.
This enormous device hovered in front of the Ancient God corpse’s head. Its launch port was a black crystal mirror that was pointed at between the brows of the corpse.
Ka-cha!
Han Xiao saw the lab personnel push the handle on the control table. The next moment, he heard people falling to the ground. All the white-clothed soldiers fell down to the floor. Dim clusters of light entered the device through the cables. Right after that, an eerie black light shot out from the crystal mirror and entered the Ancient God from between its brows.
Time passed minute by minute, but the Ancient God corpse did not show any response. Disappointment and frustration appeared on many researchers’ faces.
Suddenly, the entire underground lab trembled. Cracks appeared on the walls. More than a dozen enormous tentacles shattered the walls, and between the rolling soil, a gigantic silhouette approached. It was one of the Ancient Gods that had a semi-plant body. It looked like a combination of Venus Flytrap and an octopus, swimming through the ground like it was a swimming pool.
However, at this instant, the Ancient God corpse suddenly opened its eyes.
Han Xiao’s sights flashed and returned to the office on the spaceship. The illusion from [Bold Explorer] stopped abruptly.
He processed what he had seen.
“There’s quite a lot of information…”
If he had seen correctly, that enormous device was the initial form of the Soul Swapper, and the crystal mirror was the Soul Swapper that was in his hands. God only knew what mutation it had undergone in the long years for it to become a Space Wonder.
Han Xiao recalled the appearance of the race of that civilization and searched in the database, but he did not find any matches. Even the Spacetime Research Council, which focused on collecting information on lost civilizations, had no records.
“Looks like this is a civilization and race that has yet to be discovered. It might be in the unexplored universe, or it could be an even more ancient lost civilization. Could it have existed in the same era as the civilization that created the Domino Virus? I wonder what happened to this civilization next.”
Han Xiao was quite curious. Sadly, the cooldown for [Bold Explorer] was fourteen days.
According to the illusion shown, the plan to use the Soul Swapper to control the Ancient God corpse seemed to have worked. The souls of these soldiers should have merged into one. The corpse did not rot, but the soul had disappeared long ago, so there was not much resistance. The shell successfully accepted the new soul…
“Hmm‽”
At this instant, a flash of insight exploded in Han Xiao’s mind like a lightning bolt.
After Hila’s interrogation of the Soul Swap Twins and the tests Feidin had been carrying out, he had a brief understanding of the functions of the Soul Swapper. He knew that this thing could swap souls and ignore the body’s rejection to a very large extent. This meant that if the target was a shell that had no soul, he could easily ‘revive’ it.
This meant that…
Han Xiao took out the Spacetime Amber, his eyes glowing.
He suddenly realized that the functions of these two things seemed to fit perfectly!
He could use the Soul Swapper in a very special way!
“Black Star, what are you laughing about? Why is your laughter so…” Feidin stopped and did not say the word ‘perverted’.
“Ahem!” Han Xiao quickly coughed. “I’ve thought of something good.”
“What?”
“It’s nothing, none of your business.” Han Xiao lifted the Soul Swapper in his hands. “I’ll be taking this to do some experiments. I’ll return it to you afterward.”
“No problem.” Feidin hesitated for a moment before saying, “Actually, there’s one thing I’d like to ask you to help with. As you know, although Psychics can shift their souls, the risk is extremely high, which is why Chen Xing has been living in my body. Now that there’s this Universal Treasure, there won’t be any risks anymore, so I plan to get her out.”
“For what? Doesn’t mental reproduction feel great?”
“You say it as if you’ve tried.” Feidin was speechless.
Han Xiao scratched his nose, shifted the topic, and said, “So, you want me to find a body for Chen Xing?”
“Not just that…” Feidin said a little bit awkwardly. “She said she doesn’t want to use a second hand good someone else has already used, so she hopes to custom-make a body for which she can choose the shape and looks.”
“I can’t do that.” Han Xiao waved and rejected the request. “I’m just an ordinary Mechanic. Building machinery isn’t a problem, but creating humans isn’t my thing. Do you think I’m a god?”
“Can’t you use biological muscles, nanotechnology nerves, and so on to create a bionic human?”
“I can indeed, but that’ll require a chip. The consciousness staffed in it is in Virtual Soul format. It’s not compatible with the soul of a Psychic.”
“What about imitating the structure of a brain without using a chip?”
“Sure, I can do that, but I can’t say what side effects it’ll have.”
“What then?” Feidin felt a little defeated. “It’s not like we can kill a young and pretty female just to find her a body.”
“From the way I see it, you can find a pet first and transfer your wife into that temporarily. Isn’t that nice…”
“She said you’re becoming more and more perverted.” Feidin narrowed his eyes. “And I agree.”
“What are you guys thinking about?” Han Xiao rolled his eyes. You’re one to talk.
Feidin shook his head and said seriously, “I’ve already split off the parasite soul inside Aesop’s body. He’s recovered.”
“Oh ho, tell him to come and see me then. Let me see how he’s doing.”
“He’s already outside the door.”
Feidin signaled. The door was pushed open, and Aesop walked in. When he saw Han Xiao, he smiled bitterly.
Han Xiao sized Aesop up and said, “Old man, any side effects?”
“Nope, I feel normal now.”
Aesop sat down. He had a complicated expression on his face as he sighed and said, “Black Star, thank you for this. If not for you, Ames would definitely have been heavily affected.”
“Don’t say that. You wouldn’t have been targeted if it wasn’t for me.” Han Xiao shook his head.
“Alas, I’ve lived long enough. It doesn’t matter if I die or not. I just don’t want my death to affect Ames. I know her temper, she’d definitely do something she’ll regret under a fit of rage.”
Well, you got that right… Han Xiao thought.
“What are you planning to do now? Although you didn’t plan for this, Ames will be more cautious now. Even if you want to leave, you won’t be able to easily.”
“What else can I do but stay?” Aesop smiled bitterly. Originally, he had come to an agreement with Black Star that he would be leaving to travel around after this mission was complete, but clearly, that was not going to happen.
If Black Star did not notify Ames, he would not have been in such a troubling situation. But Black Star had saved him, so he, of course, had no reason to blame him.
Han Xiao caressed his chin and suddenly said, “Actually, I have an idea that’ll satisfy both sides.”
“Oh?” Aesop’s eyes gleamed as he said with anticipation, “Tell me about it.”
“It’s simple really. The Soul Swapper is in my hands now. I can swap your soul into someone strong, and then you’ll be able to follow others around for adventures. Although you can’t control the body, it’s better than rotting at home. Plus, your safety will be guaranteed.”
Aesop’s eyes gleamed. He was tempted.
“This is a good idea… then what about my body?”
“Easy, I can use the Spacetime Amber to store it… but I suggest you temporarily lend it to someone else, and I happen to have a candidate for that.
“Who?” Han Xiao pointed at Feidin, chuckled, and said, “You enter Feidin’s body, and Chen Xing will borrow your body. Isn’t that a perfect plan?”
Hearing this, the both of them felt a chill down their spine.
Thinking of his adorable wife becoming an old man, Feidin wanted to vomit.
Thinking of the fact that Feidin had a habit of fornicating in the mind, Aesop subconsciously tightened his legs.
“I’d rather die!” the two of them said simultaneously.
…
It was the day for another plenary meeting at the Beyond Grade A Association headquarters. The remote projections of various Beyond Grade As arrived at the venue outside the conference room, gathered in groups, chattered, and waited for the meeting to begin.
“Have you heard? Black Star fought the Mechanic Emperor again not long ago. He even won this time,” Sun Hunter said, floating in midair.
“We’re not living in a cave. Of course we’ve heard.” Kant tutted with his arm crossed. “Remember the fight we watched a few months ago? Black Star could only fight on par with the Mechanic Emperor at most back then. So little time has passed, and now he can already defeat Manison head-on, scary.”
“Hehe, Manison lost big time. Feels good.” A neutral Mechanic was laughing joyfully.
Kasuyi shook his head. “I know the Mechanic Emperor’s strength very well. To think that he still lost after using so many trump cards. It’s really unbelievable. I’ve seen the recording. Black Star seems to have learned some kind of new ability that happens to severely counter the Mechanic Emperor.”
Sierron snorted. “He just got lucky.”
“I personally object to your evaluation of his luck. You’re questioning my expertise,” Secret Master said with an expressionless face.
Sierron did not know how to respond to that.
“Speaking of which, I don’t know if I’m wrong, but the last Beyond Grade A weapons that the Mechanic Emperor took out at the end, aren’t they the three guys we know?” Milizaus asked hesitantly.
Once he said that, the entire place became silent for a moment. Everyone had a strange expression on their face.
To these senior Beyond Grade As, they knew who the Mechanic Emperor had defeated before, and some even knew them personally.
Seeing someone they were close to in the past getting modified by the Mechanic Emperor, they did not feel happy.
Although modifying living individuals was not forbidden, it was improper in the Beyond Grade A circle. Everyone had great powers. Once anyone was found to use something like this, all the Beyond Grade As would become cautious around that person due to fear of becoming their prey.
“I saw that Black Star captured two of them in the recordings. When he’s here later, we can ask him.” Kant shrugged.
At this time, another remote projection appeared not far away, and everyone looked over.
“Yo, speak of the devil.”
Chapter 1173: Triple Provocation
As soon as Han Xiao’s remote projection arrived, he could feel the surprise, respect, and all kinds of looks from everywhere.
“Black Star!”
Hearing someone calling him, Han Xiao turned and saw Kasuyi and the others approaching. They were all people he knew in the peak Beyond Grade A circle.
“What is it?”
“Hehe, good fight.” Kant smiled.
“You should say that to Manison. He needs the comforting.” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“Hahaha, you’ve become worse since the last time we met.” The others laughed.
In the circle, Han Xiao was not distant like the Mechanic Emperor, so he was more popular. More people were willing to befriend him.
Kasuyi smiled and said, “Black Star, it’s said you seized the Mechanic Emperor’s troops. Those two Beyond Grade As, have you found out who they are?”
Han Xiao shook his head. He casually exposed Manison’s trump cards and roughly explained the Felon technology. He then said, “Their brains got stirred up by Manison. They barely remember anything at all.”
“Sigh, the two people you captured should be Sollett and Cain. I was quite close to Cain in the past, very long ago…” Milizaus sighed.
As a big baby who was talented, gifted, and of a rare species, he disliked experiments that involved living things the most. Before he became a Beyond Grade A, baby dragons had gone missing every once in a while, hunted by galactic hunters and sold for money. Most of the time, they were sold to research institutes to study their special traits. Hence, he was quite sensitive to this.
They introduced the backgrounds of Sollett and Cain. The former was Two, and the latter was Four. They were both once quite strong Beyond Grade As. They had beef with the Mechanic Emperor for different reasons and were both defeated before going missing. The people present did not expect to see their old friends become puppets when they met again.
“By the way, not long ago, you were still no match… ahem, or on par with the Mechanic Emperor at most. Why is it that this time the Mechanic Emperor used his trump cards but you still won? Do you have some kind of secret tricks?” Sun Hunter asked.
“Nothing much. I was just lucky.”
Han Xiao subconsciously gave a humble reply. However, as soon as he said that, he realized the people around him all had strange looks on their faces.
Everyone gave Secret Master a look that said, “It’s your showtime.”
However, Secret Master was not affected at all as if he did not hear what Han Xiao said.
Sierron could not take it anymore. He walked to Secret Master and whispered, “Why aren’t you rebutting him like you did earlier? Aren’t you an expert?”
Secret Master glanced at him. “I’m giving him face.”
“I see…” Sierron nodded and then suddenly it occurred to him. “Wait a minute, then why didn’t you give me face just now?”
“That isn’t necessary.”
Veins popped up on Sierron’s forehead.
We’re all peak Beyond Grade As. How dare you so openly treat us differently!
“So, you’re saying you’re afraid of offending Black Star but not of offending me. Is that it‽”
“Yes.” Secret Master looked confused. “Where did you get the confidence to ask this question?”
He was confused. Black Star could not be unluckier, so I can’t reduce his luck anymore, but don’t you know how extremely lucky you are?
Sierron pointed at Secret Master and was at a loss for words.
Can’t you just comfort me even for the sake of it‽
The few of them chatted a while. Very soon, it was time for the meeting to start. The people swarmed in and sat down.
Manison’s remote projection arrived right on time. He did not look at anyone after he arrived. He ignored everyone’s strange looks and walked right into the venue.
He arrived right on time because he did not want to meet Han Xiao before that—he could guess with his feet just how boastful Han Xiao would be in front of him.
When passing by Han Xiao’s seat, Manison purposely ignored him. He thought Han Xiao would insult him, but to his surprise, Black Star did not say anything at all as if he was someone else.
Already mentally prepared, Manison felt somewhat uncomfortable, so much so he almost spoke to Han Xiao first.
Noticing Manison’s vision, Han Xiao did not even look at him… You thought I was going to insult you, but I’m going to deliberately ignore you, and that’s an insult too.
Suppressing his impulse to talk to Han Xiao, Manison coughed and said, “Let’s begin the plenary, everyone…”
Before he finished, Han Xiao stood up and slowly said, “I have something to tell all of you.”
Everyone looked over.
Han Xiao leaned forward, pressed his hands on the table, and said, “About my experience some time ago, some of you here might not know the full story, so let me explain. I have personal beef with the Modo Civilization. The origin of that is the Kunde Race incident in the second exploration phase. Modo tricked a native civilization into attacking the Crimson Dynasty, causing unnecessary losses. My Black Star Army took part in the war, and I lost some men. After that, the Kunde Race joined my command for protection, so I took over the responsibility to find out the one who’s behind this.
“Originally, this war could be completely avoided, but Modo’s plots caused us to lose the chance of coexisting peacefully. One reason for the beef between Modo and I is the damages my forces suffered, and another is out of morals.
“Modo and I are enemies, so it’s understandable for us to attack each other, and I accept the damages Modo has caused to my troops in the frontlines. However, Modo used conspiracies… never mind that they used conspiracies. After all, it’s one way of attack in wars. But what they shouldn’t have done is drag an unrelated Beyond Grade A into this. ”
Then, Han Xiao pointed at Ames. Seeing that everyone was listening quietly, he said, “Dragon Emperor originally had nothing to do with this, but Modo wanted to threaten me through kidnapping her adoptive father. Someone here even assisted Modo in that…”
Then, Han Xiao glanced at Manison. He quickly continued before Manison said anything.
“This is very contemptible and despicable, so the Dragon Emperor decided to join the battle and teach Modo a lesson. I’ve also decided to take part personally…”
Han Xiao paused, looked around, and said with a deep voice, “I’ve finished speaking. Who approves? Who objects?”
The entire place was silent. People exchanged looks with strange expressions.
Before the Flickering War, the agreement everyone made in this very room was that Beyond Grade As had to stay out of the war. Their subordinates could join, nor could they take revenge except in some exceptions, but not participating in it personally was clearly stated. Black Star’s request now, however, clearly showed that he was going to be the first one to break this rule.
Manison narrowed his eyes. He deliberately objected and said, “I don’t think that’s good. You’re the vice president. If you take the lead on disobeying the agreement we made, won’t the principles of the shared battlefront lose its restraint? If you make an excuse to personally participate and we approve it, will you have to approve it if tomorrow I find a reason to fight you too? If everyone can do whatever they want as long as there’s a reason, what’s the point of the association existing?”
“Tsk, older people are indeed inflexible.” Han Xiao tutted. “How long has it been since our association was formed, and the system is already showing signs of rigidness? That sure suits your style as the leader.”
Manison’s brows twitched, but he was secretly relieved.
Familiar recipe, familiar taste. Black Star is still that Black Star, classic double faced.
Han Xiao then looked around and said, “I made this suggestion not just because of personal reasons but more for the principles and prestige of the association and the shared battlefront.”
“What do you mean by that?” Kant continued the topic.
“What Manison said sure makes some senses, but in order to see this problem in detail, we first have to understand the nature of this incident. In order to cause problems for me, Modo plotted against an unrelated Beyond Grade A, who is also a member of the Beyond Grade A Association… What does that mean? Let me state an example. Hmm, let’s take the Limitless Financial Group as the example. Let’s say I want to take over the Limitless Financial Group’s assets, and I know Manison is one of the big shareholders. I kidnap Manison, torture him in all ways possible, and use that to threaten Sorokin to sign unfair agreements. How will you react, Sorokin?”
Being suddenly named, Sorokin was a little stunned.
You guys can chat all you want. Why bring me in it?
If that really happened, I’d probably be overjoyed to have one fewer person to share my profits with…
“Ahem, I’d be furious.”
Han Xiao then looked at Manison and said, “And if you escape… I mean if, since everyone knows if you end up in my hands, you’ll undoubtedly have no way of escaping… anyhow, if you escape, you’ll definitely take revenge afterward, right?”
“…Right.” Manison’s lips twitched slightly.
“See, this is completely understandable and very similar to what happened to me.” Han Xiao clapped and said with a deep voice, “But why is the association going against it and forbidding this kind of action? Wasn’t the purpose of founding the association to provide the Beyond Grade As a better future and higher positions? Why are we putting shackles on our own feet?”
Then, Han Xiao walked to behind Manison, pressed on his shoulders, and said, “The principle of the shared battlefront is, of course, when one member gets in trouble, everyone else helps. The Modo Civilization targeted an unrelated Beyond Grade A and broke the rules first. If we don’t deal with it, what will the others think? They’ll think that the association is preventing the Beyond Grade As from taking revenge, so they’ll be more daring and target Beyond Grade As. What the hell is that‽
“We want higher positions. Other than following rules ourselves so that galactic society will feel safer, we must make others maintain respect and fear for the Beyond Grade As even more. The latter is the way to obtain higher positions, not the other way around.
“Therefore, although the purpose of the association is mainly to defuse conflicts, when facing this kind of provocative action, we must punish them! Otherwise, the prestige of the entire Beyond Grade A society will be damaged. This is the true purpose of the shared battlefront!
“We’re now a collective, a group. If the others don’t want to be affected out of nowhere like the Dragon Emperor, not only should they approve this, but they should even provide assistance and target Modo together. Don’t forget how the Tragedy of the Pinnacles began. Having unity is crucial, the association should give Modo a serious announcement and retaliate with thunderous forces. This way, the entire universe will know that the Beyond Grade A society is now different. We’re united.”
Although something felt off, most could not deny it. Black Star said what they truly felt in their hearts; it really did make a lot of sense.
“Of course, our association has to have freedom. I won’t force anyone to fight Modo, but I’ll certainly help Ames because I’ve never forgotten where I started. Now, let me ask what I asked earlier one more time…”
Han Xiao looked around and said word by word,
“Who approves? Who objects?”
The venue was silent for two seconds. Then Beyoni raised his hand and broke the silence.
“I approve!”
“Me too.” Kohler followed.
With someone taking the lead, the people of the Crimson Dynasty all voted to approve other than Heber, who was still putting on a cold front. Some of the neutral Beyond Grade As in the association who stood on Black Star’s side also voted to approve.
Ames looked at this with eyes filled with joy—she loved seeing Han Xiao confidently talk in front of everyone.
The people on the side of the Mechanic Emperor looked at Manison. As Manison remained silent, they did not object. Seeing this, the directors such as Kasuyi also cast their votes.
“Black Star is right,” Milizaus added. “His personal beef with the Modo Civilization isn’t our concern, but even wars have rules. Methods that are too dirty can’t be used without any restrictions. Modo’s action of plotting against the family of another Beyond Grade A who’s not a part of this matter has crossed the line.”
“That’s right. I totally agree with the true purpose of the shared battlefront as Black Star said. If I get captured by the Mechanic Emperor one day, you guys had better come and save me,” Sun Hunter joked.
Manison glanced at him. “Don’t worry, you’re too weak. I’m not interested.”
The people messed around for a while. At this time, a neutral Beyond Grade A who had been silent all this time suddenly said, “Black Star said he wants to attack Modo, but the Mechanic Emperor is an accomplice too. Why aren’t you taking revenge against him? I think you should be fair.”
Hearing this, the room went silent again. Many people had a strange expression on their face.
This is definitely deliberately starting a fire! Damn kid, you got balls!
Han Xiao glanced at him and thought it was quite funny.
Yo, I remember that this guy was one of the ‘mercenaries’ of the Super Star Cluster Alliance in my previous life. He might actually be a direct member of a Super Star Cluster civilization like Traveler.
Attempting to shift the hatred and mix things up here, could this guy be the secret direct member of Modo?
This thought flashed past. Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Han Xiao waved generously, purposely sighed, and said, “Well, after all, one of the purposes of our association is to resolve conflicts between Beyond Grade As. Although Manison was unethical, I can’t be immoral. I’ll take it as I made a small loss and won’t chase after him for it.”
As soon as he said that, Manison’s entire body shook. His mental state that had finally calmed down almost exploded once again.
What the f*ck are you talking about‽
You took the Soul Swapper and my two Felons, and you call that making a loss‽
I’ll make ‘losses’ like that any day!
Seeing Manison’s twitching face, many people hastily rubbed their whiskers to cover their mouths and hold back their laughter.
Manison closed his eyes, took a few seconds to suppress his rage, and said with an expressionless face, “Black Star, even if you took my samples, you won’t be able to grasp my technology.”
He was this confident. Be it the Felon technology or the Indestructible Mechanical Troops technology, he had fused his own unique technology within both of them. This was the essence of what he had mastered after secretly making innovative breakthroughs in Virtual Technology.
Without making any innovation in the Virtual Technology area, he was completely certain that even if Black Star was able to learn something from it, he would at the very most only be able to imitate it but never completely master all of its details.
“Don’t worry, I won’t stop you from comforting yourself.” Han Xiao giggled.
“Humph, nonsense. If I’ve guessed correctly, you’ve already met obstacles you can’t break through at the start of the research, haven’t you?”
Han Xiao hesitated for a moment and did not reply.
Seeing this, Manison smiled slightly. Thinking he had guessed right, he was finally in a better mood. He slowly said, “I guessed right, so you’re not going to respond?”
Han Xiao shook his head and hesitantly said, “I just feel that you’re old. You don’t have many good years left, and I’m worried that if I tell you the truth, you’ll have a heart attack right here. If that happens, the merit of getting rid of you won’t be from me. Wouldn’t that be a huge waste?”
“F*ck off…”
The day after the meeting, the Beyond Grade A Association made an announcement.
The announcement claimed that the Modo Civilization had conspired against Black Star through targeting the family of other Beyond Grade As, and this kind of action violated the association’s rules. In order to protect its members’ interests, the association strongly condemned Modo’s actions and approved of Black Star’s retaliation. Furthermore, the association did not deny the possibility of stepping in to protect its members.
As soon as the announcement was made, it attracted strong responses in the Flickering World. The various organizations in the frontlines of the Flickering World reacted to it the strongest. They were all shocked.
Ever since the start of the war, most of the Beyond Grade As had just been watching and observing it without interfering. Was this a sign of them personally participating in the
war?
Although the association claimed to target only the Modo Civilization, the armed forces on the side of the three Universal Civilizations did not feel happy about it at all.
Everyone knew that Beyond Grade As were undoubtedly the ceiling of single unit war weapons. Once the Beyond Grade As participated, they would certainly become the main forces in the war. It seemed like once that happened, the others would not even have a chance to gain any merit at all.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance was the most furious—if not because the Modo Civilization was their ally, they would even have turned around to attack the Modo Civilization.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance only wanted Modo to hold off the Black Star Army’s invasion and not do anything extra. However, due to different stands, Modo had to plan for themselves, which led to this situation.
Unlike in the past, the Beyond Grade As had founded a collective association, becoming a barely operational group with extraordinary influence. If not because the association was not on the side of the three Universal Civilizations, the Super Star Cluster Alliance would probably have no chance in this war.
Aesop being someone completely unrelated was not fully true. He had helped the Black Star Army find the secret transportation routes of the Modo Civilization time after time, but this part was deliberately not mentioned by the association. They only emphasized his relationship with the Dragon Emperor and the fact that Dragon Emperor did not take part in this matter. From the perspective of sensible standards, the Modo Civilization did not cross the line. Aesop had clearly helped Black Star against them first. However, using this to argue with the association would only lead to them embarrassing themselves. At the root of it, Black Star’s power was what caused this. In order to overcome someone with power, the only way was through using even higher power. Arguing based on what was reasonable and what was not reasonable would not work.
The current Super Star Cluster Alliance did not have the power to overcome the Beyond Grade A Association. Throughout the entire universe, the three Universal Civilizations were the only ones who could for the time being, but this matter was beneficial for them, so there was no way they would step up to interrupt it. Hence, they gave their silent approval. The situation seemed to be heading in a direction that was beneficial for the three Universal Civilizations. However, other than being content, the three Universal Civilizations’ upper echelons were also feeling somewhat complicated. “Black Star… his power is growing even stronger.”
On the Federation of Light’s mother planet, President Bader let out a long exhale while looking at the report. The direct Beyond Grade As had given him the details of the meeting. Although the main focus was Ames, based on this woman’s personality, she would not seek help from outsiders. The attitude change of the association this time was single-handedly led by Black Star.
Right after the Black Star Army made an announcement, Black Star influenced the association to make a response too. Using his identity and position, he deployed his resources in a direction that benefitted himself. Most of the time, the materialization of one’s power was presented in one’s ability to influence and deploy others. If he could make many people act based on his will, he would be considered as powerful.
The advanced civilizations did this kind of thing often too. As long as the method was effective, no one cared if it was immoral or not.
Before the founding of the Beyond Grade A Association, if Black Star wanted to use his power, the only method would probably be to complain to the Crimson Dynasty.
Now, however, he aided the founding of the Beyond Grade A Association, created a new shield for himself, and gained a new source of power he could utilize. He had more resources and platforms at his disposal, so he was becoming more powerful in the galactic society. Comparatively, although Manison was the president, which meant his position was higher than Han Xiao’s on paper, Han Xiao had been gradually taking away his power. The three Universal Civilizations aiding Han Xiao was part of the reason, but the Mechanic Emperor was still the Federation of Light’s ally on paper, so Bader was not very happy about it.
What troubled him the most was the sense of unity the association had shown this time. In Bader’s eyes, these Beyond Grade As were not making an announcement to the entire universe; they wanted to tell the three Universal Civilizations that they were no longer scattered and divided. It was an indirect act of intimidation.
Although some Beyond Grade As still had their own goals and motives that might go against the association’s overall goal, they also had common goals. If left alone, the three Universal Civilizations’ control over the Beyond Grade As getting gradually weaker was a foreseeable future.
“Sigh…” Bader rubbed his temple.
As the leader of an advanced civilization, there were too many things he had to consider for just one matter. Even though there were specialized medical personnel taking care of his body to make sure he stayed energetic, the long time he had spent as the leader had cost him way too much energy and caused damage to his mind.
However, the day of the changing of leaders was close, and his term was about to end.
Not only the federation, he counted the days, and Urranrell would probably retire soon.
There was no choice but to leave these difficult problems for their successors.
Countless Black Star Army battleships gathered around a temporary space station in the Emerald Star Cluster. Almost eighty percent of all the fleets the Black Star Army sent to the frontlines were there. There were countless normal army warriors and players. Usually, gathering so many forces would mean a huge military operation was about to be carried out. Today, however, was only to welcome a few people.
Inside one battleship, many players squeezed around the porthole and stared closely at the battleship stargate just built near the base.
“The announcement said Black Star will arrive today. Why isn’t he here yet?’ “Is there a traffic jam in the stargate?”
The people chattered softly.
They were supposed to fight in the frontlines originally and continue to clash with the hostile guild alliance. However, not long ago, Phillip had given the majority of members a new order to pull back and wait for Black Star’s arrival in the base.
The focus of the players was mainly the national war at this point. Although there were also discussions about the conflict between Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor, it did not receive as much attention as their own national war.
The reactions of the army players after finding out about it were all about the same. They basically yelled about how incredible their army commander was and then went back to fighting the players of the hostile alliance.
Some newly-joined foreign players were excited and surprised to hear that Black Star was about to participate in the war personally. They looked forward to fighting alongside Han Xiao.
However, the more experienced Chinese players were in overwhelming despair. Their thoughts were shockingly similar.
Don’t come! We don’t want to just watch cutscenes again!
Buzz!
At this time, a black cone-shaped tip of a ship extended out of the blue vortex of the stargate, followed by the black body of the ship that was covered in armor. An enormous flagship rode out from the stargate, along with teams of battleships, swarming out of the stargate. Inside the command room in the frontmost bridge of the flagship, the scenery windows switched to being transparent. The players present could all clearly see Han Xiao and Ames standing behind the porthole of the flagship.
“They’re here! They’re here!”
“Black Star! Dragon Emperor!”
“Ah! I have seen those long legs with my own eyes. I have no more regrets in life!”
“Sigh, looking at him again now after seeing the main character Feidin in the Black Star documentary movie, I’ve realized this is the difference between imagination and reality.”
“To think that b*stard Black Star can play with this pair of legs any way he wants. I’m heartbroken…”
“They’re a perfect pair. Who are you to object it?”
Quite a number of people had not seen Han Xiao in a very long time and were all very excited. However, in terms of popularity, Ames was overwhelmingly superior.
Inside the command room, Ames looked at the fleet outside and asked, “Are these people enough?”
“Including the two of us, yes, of course.” Han Xiao nodded.
After making the announcement, the two of them headed to the frontlines right away to fulfil their promise, personally joining the battle against Modo.
At this time, a remote projection appeared beside the two of them. It was the current chief commander of the frontline fleets, Herlous.
“Your Excellencies, the troops have gathered accordingly. What should we do next?”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, smirked, and said, “Give the Modo Civilization a present, of course.”
Hearing this, Ames looked excited.
This was a plan they had already discussed on the way. Based on what they had found out from the captives, the plan to plot against Aesop was first proposed by the commanding level of the Modo expedition army. Hence, the two of them made a decision-once they arrived at the frontlines, they would charge in right away and kill them!
“But before we have a good time with Modo, we’ll first have to chase away those in the way. Have all the organizations following behind the Black Star Army in the Ferdinand Battle Zone been identified?”
“Yes.” Herlous nodded.
The Black Star Army’s target had always been just the Modo Civilization. However, some subsidiary organizations of the three Universal Civilizations used the opportunity of the Black Star Army penetrating the line of defenses and followed behind to attack together, continuously taking over Modo’s territory, wanting to use this place as the breakthrough point for the war.
“Okay. Contact all the commanders of these forces and drag them into the communication channel.”
After that, Han Xiao closed his eyes and waited for a while. In less than ten minutes, the commanders of all those organizations entered the channel.
Contacting them was too easy. Hearing that Black Star was looking for them, none of them rejected the communication request.
Inside the channel, voices sounded one after another. Not long after, everyone had arrived.
Only then, Han Xiao opened his eyes and said, “Hi, I’m Black Star.”
“Greetings, Your Excellency Black Star!”
“Hi, Lord Black Star.”
“Have you eaten?”
The channel went silent for an instant, followed by the greetings of everyone. Their terrified expressions could be clearly imagined from their tone.
Han Xiao nodded, cut to the chase, and said, “Guys, do me a favor. Please retreat from the Ferdinand Battle Zone. Stop wasting time here.”
Everyone was stunned, not knowing how to reply.
The channel became silent.
Some people were displeased, thinking that Black Star wanted to take all the benefits for himself by making them quit with just one sentence.
“Erm, Your Excellency Black Star, I’m not sure that’s suitable. Plus, we can provide help. With us helping you to deal with the troops that have escaped, your troops will suffer less damage. Furthermore, us being around the exteriors of the battlefield prevents the possibility of the Black Star Army being surrounded by the Modo Civilization or other enemies,” someone argued.
“Yes, yes. We all know you’re eager to take revenge, but with our help, you can get rid of the Modo Civilization expedition even faster.” Quite a number of people agreed and added their thoughts.
You don’t say… That’s exactly why I’m doing this. If you people defeat Modo too fast, they’ll give up… I can only torture them as much as possible if they don’t surrender.
“I don’t want to repeat myself. I hope you guys can leave the Ferdinand Battle Zone within five days,” Han Xiao said in a deeper voice and a slower tone. “I’m taking over this entire battlefront!”
Han Xiao considered himself reasonable. With his explanation, these armed forces following behind the Black Star Army willingly exited the battle zone and changed their target. A few days later, the Black Star Army was the only attacking force at the Modo Civilization line of defense in the Ferdinand Battle Zone.
Black Star did not hide his arrival at the frontline. The Modo expedition army had already received the news, and they were all on edge. Although the Black Star Army’s allies had left, Black Star’s arrival made the Modo expedition army even more on edge than before-Black Star alone was stronger than millions of soldiers.
After two days, the Modo expedition noticed the movements of the Black Star Army. The Black Star Army had temporarily pulled the troops at other locations back and gathered them at one area of the lines of defense, as if they were about to carry out an all-out attack. The one leading the charge was Black Star himself.
The Modo expedition army responded by moving tons of troops to this area to strengthen its defense.
A large fleet crossed the galaxy. After a while, the line of defense set up by the Modo expedition army entered their sights. It was like a wall made of battleships, armed fortresses, and enormous machines that extended beyond sight.
Five planets were moved there to form a defense formation. Two enormous armies stood against each other in space.
Inside the command room of the flagship of the Black Star Army, Ames observed the battlefield, shook her head, and said, “They want to fight us head-on without any Beyond Grade As. Is Modo planning to sacrifice all of its fleets?”
“They don’t have a choice. If they don’t use this dumb method, they can only watch us charge right in.” Han Xiao smiled.
Currently, the Beyond Grade As participating in the battle were only him and Ames. Although Modo also had Beyond Grade As, they did not want to expose who they were, and they could not find an excuse to participate with the association’s restraint. In order for Modo to stop the charge of two Beyond Grade As, they could only use fleets to fight them head-on. In battlefields like this, the existence of Beyond Grade As was crucial. The only thing the side without Beyond Grade As could do was use countless fleets to fight the Beyond Grade As. But even if that could hold the Beyond Grade As back for a while, the fleets could never threaten the Beyond Grade As’ lives.
No matter how quickly they could build fleets, the speed of it would never match up with the speed the Beyond Grade As recovered their energy. After repeating the process a few times, the damage would be catastrophic. It was a bottomless pit. This was why the advanced civilizations all fought over Beyond Grade As.
In extremely intense battles, the importance of Beyond Grade As would be lower. However, those extremely destructive strategic weapons would not be used in every war. In the usual Flickering Wars, the Beyond Grade As were more than enough to decide the result of a battle.
At this time, the commander of the fleet, Herlous, said, “Army Commander, the troops have arrived at the destination. Please give the next order.”
Han Xiao waved and said, “No need to have a stare down with them. Just start the fight.”
The order was passed down layer by layer and quickly spread across the entire army.
The next moment, the Black Star Army struck. Billions of lights appeared in the dark universe, all from psionic cannons.
Extremely bright beams landed on the base protective shields and spaceship shields of the Modo Civilization like a thunderstorm, creating tons of electric sparks like ripples. The linked shield formed by the Modo expedition flickered, the shield energy storage of tons of spaceships in the formation fell below the warning line, and alarms rang everywhere.
The Modo expedition army instantly counterattacked. The charge fleets and assault fleets of both sides charged at each other and quickly clashed, instantly forming a bloody battlefield.
The two sides were absolute enemies; words were no longer necessary, and they attacked as soon as they met. The war erupted in an instant!
Ames turned around and glanced at Han Xiao. Seeing Han Xiao nod, she walked right out of the hatch, turned into a shooting star, and charged into the battlefield.
Enormous force fields formed into countless dragons, rolling, restraining, pulling, and tearing the enemy fleets apart. Hostile ships were torn into bent metal plates tons at a time by her force field, breaking their formation completely. Her Esper Ability was known to be comprehensive. She was incredible at large-area AOE attacks, and her ability was extremely practical in galactic battlefields like this.
Han Xiao was not doing nothing either. He snapped his fingers, and teams of mechanical troops swarmed out of the secondary dimensional army box and entered the battlefield.
The tons of mechanical soldiers instantly gained an overwhelming upper hand in the battleship. A team of just ten soldiers could easily tear a heavy battleship apart, and there were at least three million mechanical soldiers present that were still increasing in number.
The Mechanical Deity was excellent in duels, but when fighting more enemies, the mechanical army was still more efficient.
As a peak Beyond Grade A Mechanic who was also a combat expert, taking part in a battle of this level personally was a total piece of cake. Usually, Han Xiao might hold back, but against Modo, he had no intention of doing so.
The two sides fought fiercely. Modo was incurring tragic losses, and their troops fell legion by legion. Agent organizations were attempting to escape the battlefield frequently, but most were hunted by the mechanical army and blown to pieces. On the battlefield, the members of the Galactic Business Alliance, Northern Battlefront, 5C Alliance, Plateaus Eagle, and other guilds that were on the side of the Super Star Cluster Alliance were doing everything to hide. Not a tiny bit of the confidence they once had could still be found; they just wanted to hide and minimize their losses. “Luckily, we didn’t bring all of our things here this time.” The leader of the Northern Battlefront, Fire of Northern Sea, was scared.
“If I had known about this, I would’ve ignored the order and not come.” The leader of the Plateaus Eagle’s face was filled with heartache.
“It’s not the time to be relieved. The Modo expedition army won’t be able to guard this line of defense. We should think of how to save the forces we have. Though not large, it’ll still hurt,” the Galactic Business Alliance president said with resignation. Due to the Black Star Army’s attack, the national war between the players was mainly focused around the Ferdinand Battle Zone. The player alliances of the Super Star Civilization side were temporarily under the Modo Civilization’s command.
When they heard that the Black Star Army was about to carry out what might be an all-out attack, these important Immortals allies also received orders from Modo to guard this line of defense.
These guild alliances were not stupid. They had heard of Black Star’s arrival on the forums, so they played it safe and brought very few of their forces to take part in this battle.
As it turned out, this was a wise choice. The opposite side had two Beyond Grade As, while Modo had none. The odds of winning were less than one percent. If these guild alliances brought all of their forces, they would have lost everything
ų
Although the main participants of the national war were the players, fleets and equipment were just as important. The guild alliances of the Super Star Cluster Alliance had accumulated quite a lot of resources, but if they all got killed multiple times here, they would have no chance in the national war afterward. They would be thrashed by the Black Star Army players without a doubt.
Speaking of which, these guild alliances were quite speechless about this. We were just having a proper national war, and now your Black Star Army suddenly sent its boss. That’s bullying!
If Black Star likes to personally participate so much, how are we going to fight the army player?
This feels like two kids were fighting, and one side’s parents suddenly stepped in. It’s unfair!
No NPC organizations that these guild alliances met while fighting in the free competition zone were unafraid of the Cancer of the Universe. However, the guild alliances were very clear-headed. They knew that in the face of a super boss like Black Star, even they, the Cancer of the Universe, were the weaker side. They would be slaughtered no matter how many times they could revive.
With the assistance of two Beyond Grade As, the battle was one-sided. Very soon, a hole was cracked open in the line of defense, no reinforcements could make up for it. The Modo soldiers of this line of defense started to show signs of retreating.
Han Xiao observed the battlefield, looked at the gap opened in the line of defense, and said, “It’s about time.”
Then, he turned to Herlous.
“I’ll leave one Lord’s Avatar to be stationed on the fleet, as well as some mechanical troops. You’ll lead the army. Don’t charge too deep into Modo’s base. Continue to attack the exterior line of defense. Focus on damaging their forces.”
“Understood.” Herlous nodded with a serious expression. The many years he had spent as a commander made him look quite respectable when his card addiction did not kick in. He said, “When you and Her Excellency Dragon Emperor kill your way into the headquarters of the Modo expedition, be careful.”
“I’m not the one who should be careful.” Han Xiao smiled, flew out of the battlefield, dragged Ames along, and quickly penetrated the battlefield surrounded by the mechanical army.
The Modo expedition army lost bit by bit, unable to form an effective blockade. The battleships at the front were destroyed by the mechanical army in an instant. The two of them penetrated the line of defense and headed right into Modo’s headquarters. The duo’s plan mainly involved the two of them; the rest of the forces would be staying in the exterior line of defense to restrain the rest of the Modo forces. This was because once they entered Modo’s headquarters, the Modo expedition army would certainly set up an encirclement, and Beyond Grade As were smaller targets and more mobile.
“What? They’re heading this way alone?”
Inside the Modo expedition army’s headquarters, the chief commander’s expression changed as he heard the report from the frontline.
He had thought Black Star would charge in with his army and take over their base, but Han Xiao and Ames coming in this deep alone was quite surprising. “What is Black Star trying to do? Why did he leave his troops outside? From the way it looks, it doesn’t seem like he wants to take over our territory,” someone wondered.
“He’s coming in to kill people, and we’re the targets.” Lagos knew the situation very well. He sighed and said, “The plan targeted at Aesop came from us first, and Black Star probably found that out somehow, so we’ve all become his target.” Hearing this, fear and panic appeared on the faces of the people present.
At the same time, they were strangely flattered. They had never thought they would become must-kill targets of a peak Beyond Grade A one day.
“Maybe we guessed wrong. What if Black Star has other goals?” someone said with disbelief.
“Stop lying to yourself! He’s coming right for us!” Roddick roared.
“Then let’s quickly move the command center away and take refuge somewhere else!” another said hastily. “It’s no use. Black Star is a Virtual Mechanic. We won’t be able to fool him no matter where we go.” Roddick walked back and forth with a grave expression.
He did not regret Lagos proposing the plan against Aesop. He only regretted the fact that it did not work, and now the price of failing had arrived. This was karma.
“Let’s ask for help from the upper echelons. Since Black Star is so confident, if we make Beyond Grade As fight alongside our expedition army, maybe we can surround and kill Black Star?” someone suggested cautiously.
Hearing this, Roddick and Lagos exchanged looks and saw a tint of sorrow in each other’s eyes.
As the ones with the highest positions in the expedition, they knew very well what the Modo Civilization would decide in this kind of situation.
Black Star was already slaughtering his way into the headquarters. There was not enough time for anything. Plus, Modo would not want to expose their Beyond Grade As and take the risk of having them come here to save them. In other words, even if the Modo upper echelons knew about Black Star’s goal, there was nothing they could do to help—they were forced to be abandoned.
Actually, the moment Black Star announced his participation in the war, Roddick knew this was it. He had asked for help from the Modo upper echelons many times, hoping that they could send Beyond Grade As there. However, the Modo upper echelons never gave him a response but instead kept asking them to hold on, while only providing the usual resources and ordinary fleets… How could that ever stop Black Star?
That’s the same as giving me 100 Enaus and asking me to buy something that costs 100,000. How am I supposed to do it?
Why are the upper echelons hesitating? Is it necessary to still hide the identity of the direct Beyond Grade A? If not now, when?
Roddick roared in his heart. But no matter how he felt, he could not make the decisions for the upper echelons.
“There’s only one option left-seek help from the Super Star Cluster Alliance,” Lagos said with a deep voice.
Roddick nodded with a grave expression, took out the communicator, entered the communication channel of the Super Star Cluster Alliance expedition army upper echelons, and said, “I need help. Black Star has charged in…”
He explained what had happened. The channel remained silent for a while, then the commander of the expedition army of another Super Star Cluster civilization asked, “What do you want us to do?”.
“We can’t stop Black Star. I hope you guys can send reinforcements and help us to force Black Star to retreat. We also hope to temporarily move the command center to any one of your territories. This way, Black Star won’t be able to come right for our heads…”
“Impossible!” another commander said furiously. “Modo brought this upon itself. Settle it on your own!”
“We agreed to help each other,” Roddick said with an angry tone. “Are you guys going to violate our agreement just like this?”
“The agreement states we’re going to stand together against the three Universal Civilizations’ attacks, not pay all of your debts!” someone yelled with rage. “Honestly, I’ve already been putting up with Modo’s actions for a very long time!”
The Super Star Cluster civilizations formed an alliance to fight for territory from the three Universal Civilizations and help each other. They had already let go of a huge portion of their selfish interests and would not continue to have internal conflicts at this time.
However, when the matter affected the overall strategy, the other Super Star Clusters would not put up with it. If there was no Beyond Grade A Association and Black Star had struck on behalf of the three Universal Civilizations, they would have provided assistance without hesitation.However, the Beyond Grade As had already formed an association and made their stand outside the three Universal Civilizations, causing the three Universal Civilizations to lose their top tier combatants, which was their advantage over the Super Star Cluster Alliance. This was supposed to be an amazing thing, but Modo messed with Black Star themselves. If the others interfered too, who knew what attitude the Beyond Grade A Association would have? Would Black Star turn around to attack them too? They were barely holding on themselves in the war; no one wanted to be dragged down by Modo’s bullsh*t. Therefore, the other Super Star Cluster civilizations did not want to help Modo fight Black Star at all, or their overall strategy would be heavily affected. Instead of that, they would rather sacrifice their ally. Roddick hung up the communicator with a heavy expression.
comm
Everyone there had heard the conversation. The atmosphere was low.
“Looks like we can only rely on ourselves…” Lagos said that but was bitter inside. He knew there was no hope left, unless a miracle happened.
Thinking of his confidence when he got this position, compared to the hopeless situation he was in now, Lagos’ heart was filled with complicated emotions.
If not because of the Modo Civilization’s conspiracy against the Kunde Race, they would not have been forced to deal with this mess. Modo would not be in such a dire situation and would be just like the other Super Star Cluster civilizations.
Although Lagos did not like finding someone to blame, at this point, he still uncontrollably hated that guy who originally proposed conspiring against the Kunde Race.
What a complete moron he was!
As Han Xiao and Ames entered the Modo expeditionary army’s territory, like adding water to a boiling pot, the stationed Modo troops instantly started moving, searching for the whereabouts of the two of them. Part of the fleets at the frontline were also called back to provide support.
If this was really a Super Star Cluster civilization’s headquarters, any Beyond Grade A would find it difficult trying to break through it. However, this was the Flickering World, so the Modo expeditionary army’s control over their territory was clearly not as strong as their home. The construction of many planets was not even complete yet.
Not just Modo, all the members of the Super Star Cluster Alliance only had limited control over their territory in the free competition zone. The military forces of expeditionary armies were not the strongest to begin with. Only a few years had passed since the start of the fourth exploration phase, and most of the time was spent on exploring, so there was not much time left for operations. Therefore, due to many factors, Han Xiao and Ames could go practically anywhere they wanted in the Modo expeditionary army’s territory. The Modo fleets could only chase after them.
An asteroid belt slowly floated in space. On one of the asteroids, two people were sitting with their legs crossed. It was Han Xiao and Ames.
“… Their location still hasn’t changed. The leaders of the Modo expeditionary army are still in the command center. Tsk, if this was a less developed civilization, they might be fleeing right now, thinking they might get lucky and escape.” Streams of data flashed past Han Xiao’s eyes. As he retracted the data needle he planted into the Modo expeditionary army’s network, his eyes returned to their original black color.
Ames casually played with two pieces of highly condensed metal she scraped from the asteroid, raised her brows slightly, and said, “We’ve been here for more than half a month. Everyone in Modo knows we’re here. Yet, they’re not running but have been staying in the command center. Are they waiting for us to go there?”
“Maybe they know that there’s no use in running and have accepted their fate. Only advanced civilizations can see things this clearly.” Han Xiao shrugged and was not concerned at all.
While speaking, he opened the secondary dimensional army box, released batches of mechanical soldiers, and nodded slightly. These soldiers turned into streams of light and left in different directions.
Ames watched this from the side. She then sighed and said, “Black Star, we could directly head toward the Modo expeditionary army’s command center, which will save a lot of time, but you had to take a detour. Otherwise, we would’ve completed our goal long ago.”
Han Xiao sighed, looked like he was about to stand up, and said, “So, you don’t like me spending more time with you. Alright then, we’ll go there and get this done with…”
“Who said so? Sit down!” Ames changed the topic instantly. “You said you were going to plant plenty of secret sentries in the Modo expeditionary army’s territory. The plan is already more than half done. How can we give it up now?” Black Star was a busy man. The next time they went to the secondary dimensions would be at least a decade a later. But since he had squeezed out some time now to accompany her, of course she was not willing to let it end this early.
Han Xiao chuckled in his mind and sat down again.
Other than killing the leaders of the expeditionary army, he also had another goal
– plant tons of wards in Modo’s territory. Otherwise, he would not have taken a detour that delayed them by over two weeks after rushing into the enemy’s territory.
He had already sent out god knew how many batches of mechanical troops during this time and hidden them inside the Modo expeditionary army’s territory.
These mechanical troops could all be remotely controlled, of course. One reason for this was to deal more damage to Modo, another was to confuse Modo’s fleets, and a third was to obtain intelligence and monitor Modo’s movements, hoping to find out the final destination of the various transportation routes of the Modo Civilization. At the same time, he also planted some Thrones so that he could infiltrate anytime without anyone knowing in the future.
The Modo Civilization certainly knew he had left these mechanical soldiers. They would have no choice but to deploy large amounts of manpower to search for them. Also, Han Xiao had another reason to take a detour.
“I purposely gave Modo so much time to prepare. I wonder if any Beyond Grade As rushed here to protect the command center…” Han Xiao scratched his chin.
Without the protection of any Beyond Grade As, killing the commander in a split second was easy, so Han Xiao wanted to lure the snake out of its nest. He deliberately took his time to give the Modo upper echelons more time to consider their options, as well as to pressure them. After all, the longer he spent so casually loitering around in their territory, the more face Modo would lose.
If the Modo upper echelons could not take it anymore and sent Beyond Grade As over as guards, he would have an opportunity to deal even more damage to Modo and really make them hurt. This was his biggest goal of this trip.
It looked like he was only targeting the commanders of the Modo expeditionary army, but he was actually fighting the Modo Civilization’s upper echelons strategically.
While thinking, he opened the forums and took a look at it. Herlous was still attacking the exterior line of defenses of the Modo expeditionary army, but only attacking and not advancing. Even when they penetrated their defenses, they were not stepping over but instead returned to rest. They then continued to attack the next location.
If those armed forces following behind were still in the Ferdinand Battle Zone, they would definitely not have given up on this opportunity and would have advanced all the way in. This was the reason the Modo expeditionary army’s exterior line of defense kept shrinking Now, however, Han Xiao had chased away all those armed forces, so Modo had time to fill up the gaps. However, they felt even worse.
The Black Star Army’s actions were driving the commanders of the Modo expeditionary army at the various fronts crazy. They kept rubbing on the outside but refused to thrust in. It was torture. However, this was where their duty lay. They were not allowed to give up; they had to keep resisting despite it being meaningless.
as
Without Han Xiao at the frontlines, the guild alliances on the Super Star Cluster Alliance side felt confident again and continued to fight the national war against the army players. It was a battle, but both sides were enjoying it. One side was glad the enemy’s boss had left, and the other side was glad they did not have to watch cutscenes from the side.
On a planet occupied by a certain Beyond Grade A elsewhere in the Flickering World, a tall being walked back and forth in the palace, holding a communicator. He looked rather anxious. It seemed like he was waiting for someone to call.
Beep beep!
The communicator rang. This tall being instantly picked up and hastily said, “How’d my request go? Did the people above approve
it?”
On the secret channel, an emissary with a blurry face said with a serious tone, “No, the upper echelons won’t allow you to help the Modo expeditionary army. Don’t act on your own!”
“Black Star has been loitering around Modo’s territory for almost a month. We’ve had so much time to prepare, yet we still haven’t sent any Beyond Grade As over to help. It doesn’t make sense! How will other organizations view us? How will our allies in the expeditionary army feel?” The tall being was furious.
If Han Xiao was there, he would have recognized that this was the kid who started the fire during the Beyond Grade A Association plenary. He was indeed a secret direct member of the Modo Civilization. However, although he was a direct member, he had his temper too and was quite daring. Otherwise, he would not have dared speak in front of two peak Beyond Grade As, Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor back then.
Almost all the organizations in the Flickering World were watching Black Star’s movements. They all knew it had been almost a month since he entered the Modo expeditionary army’s territory. If Modo did not take any actions in this kind of situation and let Black Star do whatever he wanted, the entire civilization would lose face. It was understandable for this Beyond Grade A to get angry.
“What’s the point of going? Can you beat Black Star? You’ll be going there to die! Even if all of our hidden Beyond Grade As go there, you guys still won’t be a match for Black Star!” the emissary said angrily. “Stay rational. You can’t expose yourself here! This is all for the future!”
The tall being was filled with frustration, but he had to admit that Black Star was terrifyingly strong. He would only be giving up his life by going.
If they sent Beyond Grade As over, Black Star would eat them up. If they did not send Beyond Grade As over, the reputation and image of the Modo Civilization would be damaged. Not only would they bring shame to themselves, they would also make people feel they were cold-blooded. The morale of the expeditionary army would undoubtedly plummet.
Black Star was able to achieve this just by deliberately walking slower.
This was an honest conspiracy! Thinking of how Black Star spoke so confidently during the plenary, this Beyond Grade A felt both furious and horrified.
What did Modo ever do to deserve such a terrifying enemy!
Another half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Although Han Xiao and Ames took their time, they eventually arrived at the destination.
Countless Modo fleets surrounded the command center of the Modo expeditionary army. All the crews were on edge with grave expressions. Although they were the side with the numerical advantage, they were the side that was extremely nervous.
“These two *ssholes are finally here!”
Inside the command center, Roddick clenched his teeth. His eyes were extremely red ,and his hair was excessively messy. He looked severely exhausted, but his face was still filled with rage.
“They’re finally here…” Lagos, who was on the side, was not in a better state too, but he looked relieved.
The two of them knew clearly that Black Star and the Dragon Emperor were coming for them. However, the two of them had taken way too long. At the start, the two of them were immensely nervous, and then they entered desperation, before gradually becoming restless. In the end, they were almost going mad from waiting. Black Star and the Dragon Emperor were like two blades slowly moving toward their neck. Days felt like years.
This feeling of waiting for a certain death was complete mental torture for the two of them.
Originally, Roddick and Lagos did not wish for them to come quickly. However, as time passed, their mindset went from ‘please come slower’ to ‘why the f*ck are they still not here’. They almost wanted to rush Black Star and the Dragon Emperor to come quicker.
Plus, the Modo Civilization had never sent any Beyond Grade As in the past one and a half months, so Roddick and Lagos were more certain they had been abandoned. Filled with sorrow and hopelessness, they had accepted their fate. They would die one way or another, so they rather die sooner.
Roddick turned on the public channel and said with a ferocious tone, “Black Star! Aren’t you here to kill us? Do it!”
Hearing the roar in the channel, the many Modo soldiers there felt somewhat betrayed.
They all knew that Modo did not send any help and had abandoned them. To say they did not feel betrayed would be a lie. However, as soldiers, they would still obey their orders even if they knew they were headed for death.
Han Xiao looked around, turned up his senses to the maximum, and laughed with a shake of his head.
“Yoho, Modo is quite patient. I’ve given them more than enough time, but they still haven’t sent a single Beyond Grade A. Are they that afraid of me?”
Ames smiled and said, “Who isn’t afraid of you in the entire universe?’”
“Never mind, this proves that Modo has learned their lesson.”
Han Xiao shook his head. Although he was unable to lure the snake out of its nest, he did not mind. After all, he would still be able to damage Modo’s image.
He looked around. His eyes stopped at one location in the Modo expeditionary army’s base. That was where the command center was located, and the targets he was going to kill were inside.
Han Xiao turned and asked, “So, are you going to personally slice the targets up, or should I do it?”
At the start, Ames wanted to kill Lagos and Roddick with her own hands. However, thinking of the experience she shared with Han Xiao in the past few days, she shook her head carelessly.
“Whether you or I do it doesn’t make a difference.”
“I’ll do it then. It’ll be more efficient. You’re too slow.”
As Ames rolled her eyes, Han Xiao coughed and ordered the mechanical soldiers behind him to advance.
He knew that the Modo Civilization would certainly set up tons of spacetime stabilization devices near its base, so he had summoned a mechanical army long before he arrived.
Seeing this, the Modo fleet instantly responded. The crews suppressed their complicated emotions and became firm, staring at the renowned Black Star far away, ready for the battle to begin.
Han Xiao glanced at them and snapped his fingers. These mechanical soldiers suddenly stood still. Dense white noise appeared, and space bent slightly around them.
The next moment, this batch of mechanical soldiers disappeared. When they reappeared, they had already moved a long distance forward but were still in a stationary state, like a painting
Boom!
In the face of this strange scene, the Modo fleet did not hesitate and fired instantly, shattering these mechanical soldiers. However, something shocking happened next. This batch of mechanical soldiers reappeared again. Not only were they completely undamaged, but their location had moved forward a long distance once again, closer to the command center.
This strange scene made the Modo fleet perplexed.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. “Using the Kunde Race’s technology against you people is considered using it in the right place.”
This scene that looked like a screen lagging was indeed the technology Han Xiao had obtained from the Kunde Race—the Spacetime Splicing Technology!
With his research and improvement over so many years, the Spacetime Splicing Technology he had now was far from its original version. It was way more enhanced and upgraded. This technology was now rather matured. It would no longer be easily countered by all kinds of spacetime devices like the original version. The difficulty and time required to break this technology using the same methods as before would be at least seven to eight times higher. This meant that it could stay operational for a longer period of time.
Although the Crimson Dynasty did not allow him to casually use this in front of others, Han Xiao had a flash of insight just now and intuitively felt that if he used the Kunde Race’s trump card to fight Modo, it might be beneficial for the mission. He trusted his intuition quite a lot, so he did it.
In the face of this unknown technology, the Modo army panicked and used all kinds of attacks. However, no matter what attacks they used, they could not stop this army of mechanical soldiers blinking forward. Part of their fleet had no choice but to attack Han Xiao himself, but the attacks were all easily guarded by Han Xiao and Ames. Furthermore, their battleships were getting hacked frequently.
“Impossible!”
Roddick’s eyes opened wide with shock. As he stared at the approaching mechanical troops, his eyes filled with deep desperation.
In order to fight Black Star, he had brought tons of fleets, thinking he would at least be able to put up a fight. However, to his absolute dismay, Black Star simply used one ability he had never seen before and easily penetrated the line of defenses of the fleet, threatening his life.
“What the hell is this technology?” Lagos was stunned too.
Hearing the shocking tone of the two of them in the public channel, Han Xiao suddenly smiled and said with a mocking tone, “Fate really has a bad taste… To tell you the truth, this is the technology the Modo Civilization missed. You guys were so close to obtaining it in the past. It’s a shame.”
The Modo Civilization’s stowaways were the first ones to discover the Kunde Race. If not because they wanted to trick them in order to plot against the Crimson Dynasty, they would not have missed the Spacetime Splicing Technology
“The technology we missed?” Lagos murmured. His intuition told him that what Black Star said might be true.
He was filled with complicated emotions. Finally, under the raging focus fire of the Modo fleets, the mechanical army appeared outside the porthole of the command center, completely unharmed.
Roddick and Lagos opened their eyes wide and stared at this mechanical army as the energy furnace on the mechanical soldiers’ chests lit up, flickering with a burning bright white light. The next moment, their consciousness went blank.
Boom!
An intense explosion occurred, and a pale blue psionic shockwave expanded.
The command center was annihilated; not even debris was left behind. A huge part of the entire base went missing.
Roddick and Lagos, as well as most of the leaders of the Modo expeditionary army, died in this explosion, leaving not a single trace behind.
“This is just taking a little bit of interest. Let’s hope Modo doesn’t get discouraged. We have more than enough time to have some fun.” Looking at the raging Modo fleets, Han Xiao chuckled and placed his hands around Ames’ waist. The King extended and shrouded them.
Whoosh!
In a flash of light, before the Modo fleets surrounded them, the two of them disappeared without a trace. The spacetime stabilizers placed in this area could not stop them even a little bit.
Han Xiao felt the mechanical suit shake. When it opened again, he had already returned to the Black Star Army fleet that was attacking the Modo expeditionary army’s exterior line of defense, appearing inside the command room of the flagship. Hearing the sounds, the many officers who were originally staring at the battlefield all turned around. First, they looked at Han Xiao’s face. They then uncontrollably moved down to his hand that was wrapped around Ames’ waist and Ames’ calm expression. The room suddenly became silent.
“What you looking at? Never seen this before?” Han Xiao glared at everyone and moved his hand away.
Herlous coughed and said, “Boss, is the goal complete?”
“The Modo Civilization didn’t even send any Beyond Grade As, how could I not succeed?”
Herlous was about to ask why it took so long, but when he saw Ames’ refreshed and energetic appearance, he hesitated for a second and smartly did not ask.
Han Xiao looked up at the battlefield outside the porthole. The battle was at its most bloody stage. The fleets of the two sides were fighting fiercely. The army had already broken through the exterior protective shield of two planets and deployed tons of army players who were fighting the players of the guild alliance. There were no signs of losing on either side in their battle.
Ames turned around, patted Han Xiao’s chest, and said, “Alright, the root’s been eliminated. I’ll be going back to the Shattered Star Ring.”
“Hmm? You’re leaving so soon?” Han Xiao was surprised. “Didn’t you say you wanted to fight the masterminds together?”
He thought that Ames wanted to stay and participate in the coming battles against Modo to vent her anger. He did not expect her to leave now.
“My anger is already vented by killing the initiators of the plan. Plus, you being here is enough.” Ames smiled. She was in a very good mood.
Her original plan was to help Han Xiao while taking revenge, which she had already done to a very large extent. Without her, Manison would have lost one less Felon. Han Xiao had convinced her during this time, so Ames decided to listen to Han Xiao’s suggestion and return to Floating Dragon.
Ding!
The moment she said that, Han Xiao’s interface responded. The (Ames’ Rage] mission became ‘completed’.
That’s it? Luckily, it didn’t require me to turn over the entire Modo Civilization. Her anger has probably already passed, which is why she gave up such an excessive thought. Looks like my convincing has been quite effective, Han Xiao thought. “I’ll be taking Aesop back and strengthening the monitoring. I’ll never let him escape so easily again.” Ames brushed her hair behind her ear.
Han Xiao mourned for Aesop for a third of a second before nodding.
“Do whatever you want with him. You don’t have to give me face.”
Ames extended her long and white fingers, poked Han Xiao’s chest with a smile, and said, “I’ll go back now then. Come find me when you have the time. Anyway, I won’t say thanks again. There’s no need for us to be formal, and you don’t like to hear it…”
“Alright, alright, quickly go then.” Han Xiao waved carelessly.
“By the way, before I leave, I have a gift for you.” Ames seemed to have suddenly recalled something. The runes on the back of her hand flickered, and a book appeared in her hands.
“What’s this?’ Han Xiao looked at it curiously.
“I concluded my energy training experience some time ago and created a new energy training technique. It should be inclusive for all. You should be able to use it too,” Ames said with a smile.
Han Xiao accepted the book and read through it. It was surprisingly handwritten. The content was an energy training technique called ‘Dragon Emperor Star Energy Extraction Technique’. The details were unknown, but it looked quite advanced, not inferior compared to ‘Heber Stellar Furnace Cultivation’ from way back.
“Why did you write it by hand? Isn’t it more convenient to write an electrical copy and send it to me?”
“It helps you to train patience.” Ames was still smiling
Her thoughts were simple. It could only be a gift given by hand if it was hand-written. It could also be something that would remind Black Star of her.
Of course, Han Xiao was not going to reject this surprise. He nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll use it when I have the time.”
“I’ll be going then.”
Ames smiled and told Han Xiao to send her back in another King suit.
After she disappeared, Han Xiao opened the interface and looked at his rewards.
The Mission Rating was ‘Excellent’. The 250 million base Experience reward increased to one billion; the Contribution Points of the Floating Dragon faction increased by a few dozen thousand; Ames’ Favorability was at maximum to begin with, so it did not increase, but Aesop’s Favorability increased by quite a bit. The Random Reward doubled from two to four, as did the Character Summon Card reward; he got two of them instead of one, both from Ames.
The first Character Summon Card’s ability was called ‘Force Field-Star Grab’, which used the force field Esper Ability to grab the target. It was a decent controlling ability. The other Character Summon Card’s ability was ‘War Whip-Dragon Arc’, also a force field ability. It had both AOE damage and controlling functions. It was quite a good ability too. Both had five uses.
To Han Xiao, this common mission was a cherry on top to begin with, so he did not have too high hopes for it. Nonetheless, these rewards were not bad. His focus had always been the Kunde Race’s mission.
He opened (Kunde Race Leader’s Last Wish) in the mission list and looked at it. The first requirement was still the same, as was the second mission requirement. As this was a Grade S mission, there was no progress bar. However, his intuition told him that this successful attack meant huge progress in this mission.
After doing some thinking, Han Xiao thought to himself, Judging from the current situation, the day when the Modo Civilization gives up competing in the Flickering World because of my torture should probably be the day the second requirement of this mission is fulfilled.
He had always wanted to obtain the three rewards for the second requirement. They were [The Enemy], [Proof of Leadership), and [Kunde Rage), all outstanding abilities, especially the semi-Molding Talent (Proof of Leadership) that had growth potential.
Thinking of this, Han Xiao summoned Phillip in the quantum network and said, “Send the recording of me using the Spacetime Splicing Technology to defeat the Modo expeditionary army to the garrison of the Kunde Race. Tell them to repeat it in all their residential areas, making sure every prawn… ahem, everyone in the Kunde Race sees.”
“Roger, hum!”
Han Xiao’s battle against the Modo expeditionary army was very short. Phillip recorded everything. He was never one to quietly finish what he had to do. Since he had helped Kunde get their revenge, he was certainly going to make use of the recording to enhance his reputation in the Kunde Race. He had to make sure their entire race knew about what he had done for them. This would help with the progress of the mission too. After dealing with this, Han Xiao summoned Feidin, pulled him aside away from everyone else, and whispered, “Have you done what I asked you to do?”
Feidin nodded. “In the past one and a half months, I’ve already swapped the souls of fifteen thousand Modo soldiers and middle-level officers. They will be our spies in the Modo expeditionary army.”
He received a secret order from Han Xiao. When the Black Star Army fleet was attacking Modo’s line of defense, he had been using the Soul Swapper to swap some of the enemy soldiers, infiltrating the Modo expeditionary army and planting spies. The Modo Civilization had once used the Soul Swapper against the army, so Han Xiao had Feidin give them a taste of their own medicine. Given how special the Soul Swapper was, even if Modo prepared for it, they could not avoid it.
“Well done.” Han Xiao nodded with satisfaction. He had already planted multiple chess pieces in the Modo expeditionary army’s territory. This way, he would have more sources of their internal intelligence. Not only would he be able to control the whereabouts of the Modo Civilization’s army, but he could also try to find the location of the secret transport route. He could take his time torturing them.
“Give my order. Retreat temporarily. Let’s go back to the base and rest for some time,” Han Xiao said loudly. The officers present were all surprised.
We have the upper hand now. Why are we retreating all of a sudden? Even if we’re not going to enter their line of defense, we should at least finish this battle.
What they did not know was that Han Xiao was not doing this to give the Black Star Army time to rest but instead give the enemy time to rest. He had just killed the commanders of the Modo expeditionary army. He knew that they now had no leaders and would definitely be disorganized.
He wanted to give Modo a little bit of hope so that he could crush that hope time after time in the future. This way, making Modo give up due to despair would be easier.
Though confused, none of the officers would question the army commander’s order.
Very soon, the majority of the army’s forces backed away out of the bloody battlefield and then retreated systematically.
Seeing this, the Modo garrison of this line of defense were all confused.
Aren’t we getting beaten up? Why did they suddenly stop half-way?
“Weird. We have to report this to the command center immediately.” The fleet commander of this line of defense hastily went to report to the upper echelons.
However, what he got was a long silence-no one picked up.
After quite some time, he finally received the nightmarish news published on the internal network. Only then was he appalled to find out what had happened—the entire command center had been annihilated by Black Star!
After adapting and modifying for about two decades, the new generations of the Kunde Race gradually got used to being in captivity, accepting the culture injected by the Crimson Dynasty and the Black Star Army. As the older prawns passed away naturally, the effects of the cultural modification operation on the entire race started to show. All the residential planets were singled out and could not contact the other planets. They had regained basic productivity, the streets were crowded, and the heavy and depressing atmosphere had become much better. The young generation had given the Kunde Race the vitality it needed.
On this day, a huge event happened on this residential planet. Every screen on the planet was playing a video. The content of it was the recording of Han Xiao destroying the command center of the Modo expeditionary army. Phillip even kindly added some narration to explain what happened to help the Kunde Race understand what Han Xiao had done for them.
Every member of the Kunde Race who saw the recording realized that Black Star was still living up to his promise, continuously avenging their race. Furthermore, Black Star even used their technology.
Seeing the moment when the mechanical soldiers used the Spacetime Splicing Technology to destroy the command center, every member of the Kunde Race’s face lit up with excitement. They were filled with pride.
Look, those who used us are no match for our strongest technology!
This made them feel that they were not just watching Black Star avenge them but were actually helping.
Along with pride was a strong sense of appreciation for Black Star.
Throughout the years, not only did he protect them, but he never forgot his promise to them and brought them the justice they deserved… This incredible and kind man was their one and only god of protection. They felt blessed amid all the unfortunate things they had experienced
The same thing was happening on every planet of the Kunde Race. Countless members of the Kunde Race gained more and more admiration for Black Star.
Inside a small private guest room, a few officers at the top level sat on the sofa and complained.
“Sigh, the commanders of the expeditionary army got killed, but Black Star stopped attacking. He clearly wants to devour our armies again and again. The Three Kings are not giving up on the Flickering World no matter what, but what’s the point of sending in more forces? This is pure suicide if no Beyond Grade As are sent. Black Star has already proved that he has the ability to kill the commanders any time he wants.”
The news of the expeditionary army’s commanders being killed had reached Modo. The Modo Three Kings summoned the upper echelons and hosted a meeting. Other than showing their rage, they quickly promoted new commanders from the expeditionary army and ordered the military to send more aid.
At that time, the many officials did not display any objections on the surface, but many of them developed a stronger sense of objection inside. Hence, after the meeting ended, a few officials who were unhappy met privately.
In the room, Marco had the highest position. He was the third in command of a mainstream political faction in Modo, so his words carried the most weight. He slowly said, “We can’t carry on like this. Modo has almost no chance in the Flickering World with Black Star standing in the way. Giving up as soon as possible is the rational choice. The longer this drags on, the more pressure Modo will face, collapsing in the end.”
Someone sighed and said, “Exactly. Things are not stable inside the nation these days too… Many unofficial organizations of the three Universal Civilizations have started so-called ‘peaceful movements’ on various colonial planets. They’re using armed demonstrations, organized strikes, and so on to trigger the anti-war emotions of the society, forcing us to exit the war. Many industries have been severely affected. Some with ulterior motives are even spreading ideas of splitting the race up, bashing the policies, and promoting hatred, which actually turned around the way of living peacefully with other races we have been teaching for all these years and successfully worsened racism. Rebellious armies will certainly appear one day. Plus, important people are being assassinated by mysterious forces everywhere.”
Marco shook his head. “Modo has made tremendous investments in the Flickering World for decades. It’s understandable that the Three Kings are not willing to give up easily. However, the situation has now changed. Adjusting our strategy is the top priority. Since we can’t deal with Black Star, continuing to spend resources in the Flickering World will just be a meaningless waste. It’s time to make the decision to minimize losses.”
“That’s right. The Three Kings are just thinking about holding on till the Super Star Cluster Alliance succeeds, and at that time, we can benefit from it too. But the chances of us being able to hold on till the day the Super Star Cluster Alliance gets the upper hand… are too thin. Black Star won’t watch that happen too. He might be stalling with us now, but if we don’t keep sending in troops to keep him full, he’ll certainly launch an all-out attack and chase us out,” another person said.
Marco took a sip of the dark ember colored wine and softly said, “Actually, since the beginning, I’ve never felt the Super Star Cluster Alliance will be able to invade the Flickering World successfully. There’s an eighty percent chance they’ll fail. This is just a desperate collective attempt by the other Super Star Cluster civilizations. Since that’s the case, getting out earlier, being free from the pressure from the three Universal Civilizations and the Black Star Army, and beginning our recovery earlier is a wiser choice for Modo instead.”
“That’s right.”
The others in the room agreed completely.
Marco narrowed his eyes. “The more losses Modo suffers, the more people will object. Maybe it’s time for us to prepare for the impeachment operation…” Hearing this, the others were shocked. They were just complaining; they did not expect Marco to have plans for actually taking action.
However, thinking about it, they felt this might not be a bad idea.
Modo was a government formed by three civilizations, and each of the Three Kings represented one race. However, political stands and philosophies crossed the boundaries of races, so the political environment of the Modo Civilization was very complicated.
Due to the unique political structure, Modo, of course, had to make sure it was balanced. The Three Kings could not do whatever they wanted; there were also structures similar to congress that restrained their power. If the path they chose during their term did not fit the interests of the majority or one of them was involved in a scandal, their term could be ended by impeachment.
However, this kind of situation rarely happened. As long as the Three Kings did not do things that were hated by almost everyone during their terms, they would peacefully retire.
“If the Three Kings insist on their choice, Modo will be gradually sucked dry. The future is dark. If they are really going to be stubborn, impeachment will be the only choice left,” Marco said.
The people exchanged looks. Some were firm, and some were hesitant. They all lowered their voices and softly discussed how exactly they could execute the plan.
At this moment, the objectors of the war started to plan on how to backstab the Three Kings. The root of it was that Black Star’s strength made some of the Modo upper echelons hopeless; they did not see how they could turn things around.
Inside the Modo Civilization’s territory, a silver stealth-type high warp speed spaceship hovered in a cluster of nebulas, slowly moving. There was no symbol on its exterior armor.
Inside the cabin, Lothaire and a few other officers of the Assassin’s Society sat around a virtual screen, browsing the information on it. Rows of portraits were displayed on the screen, all influential people from various industries of the Modo Civilization. Some already had a red cross above their head, meaning the assassination was complete.
“Internally, Modo is a mess. The leaders of some industries being assassinated caused the local management system of some colonial planets to almost collapse. Our work is very effective,” an officer said coldly.
“Hmm.”
Lothaire was staring at the screen, seemingly looking for their next prey.
The Assassin’s Society had been doing work for many months in Modo. They had already caused quite a lot of chaos. While being chased, wanted, and hunted by the officials, they were still continuing their work and hiding at the same time.
“Our actions over the past few days have been too aggressive. We’ve lost some men too. It’s time to lie low for a while,” an officer suggested. Lothaire nodded. He then shook his head and said, “We’ll hide temporarily, then do a big one.”
Then, he extended his finger and pointed at one of the portraits on the screen.
The officers present followed his finger. Their expressions all turned stiff as horror and disbelief appeared in their eyes.
The target Lothaire had chosen was one of the Modo Three Kings!
“You want to assassinate the highest leader of a Super Star Cluster civilization?” An officer opened his eyes wide. “Are you insane!”
“They have three leaders. Losing one is nothing.” Lothaire’s tone was calm. “I’ll do it myself.”
“Do you know the nature of this action? If you succeed, the Modo Civilization will become our eternal enemy. Furthermore, there’s absolutely no chance of succeeding. The Modo Three Kings are heavily guarded. There’s no chance of getting close at all. Plus, there’s no way of assassinating them if they don’t leave their mother planet,” someone said with a hasty tone.
For once in a blue moon, Lothaire actually explained himself. “Firstly, we’re Modo’s eternal enemies to begin with. Secondly, the Modo Three Kings have many guards, but no Beyond Grade A guards are present on the surface, Calamity Grades at most, which isn’t beyond my abilities. Thirdly, the Modo mother planet doesn’t have the Psionic Seal Ring like the three Universal Civilizations’ mother planets have, so infiltration is totally possible.”
At a glance, assassinating one of the Modo Three Kings was an impossible mission. However, after doing some analysis, he realized that it was not completely impossible. After all, although the Three Kings were leaders, they were not individuals with great strength. Furthermore, he had (Deity Assassinator) in his hands. Even if the Three Kings had magical defense runes, this weapon would be able to penetrate them. The main problem was, whether the assassination was successful or not, getting away afterward would be extremely difficult.
The others were in dismay like this was the first time they had met Lothaire. Even though they were all assassins who had killed many important people, this was still an extremely daring plan in their eyes.
“Easy to say, but executing it is complete suicide!”
“Everything is possible. Sometimes, all you need is a little bit of luck.” Lothaire narrowed his eyes. The people there did not know what he was thinking, nor did he plan to explain further.
Due to Rossellin and the three Universal Civilizations’ operations, the internal racial issues and racist philosophies were gradually becoming more severe. If he could assassinate one of the Three Kings at this time and find a way to blame it on the extremists of the other two races, it might further stimulate the conflict and make these philosophies explode. The results were not difficult to imagine.
Sure, the method was a little bit dirty, but as an assassin, Lothaire did not care if the method was ethical or not. He was only concerned if it was effective and could achieve his goal. It could be said that he would do anything necessary to achieve his goals.
He had been operating in the outside world for decades; he was no longer just a pure assassin. He had gradually learned to analyze the big picture. Although Black Star did not specifically instruct him on what to do, Lothaire was very clear of Black Star’s goal. He was more than happy to use swifter methods to deal greater damage to Modo that was more powerful than just an assassination.
Of course, assassinating Modo’s highest leader and pinning it on racism was just an idea. It was extremely difficult and impossible to complete with just the Assassin’s Society.
However, the three Universal Civilizations’ forces in Modo’s territory were a natural help. Lothaire planned to create a fuse so that they could operate around it, just like how the philosophy tide they created gave him the idea of assassinating one of the Modo Three Kings.
Boom!
A red silhouette fell onto a desolate planet like a meteor, crashing a crater on the planet surface.
Blood flowed out from the tip of Hila’s lips. Her body was embedded into the ground. As she pulled herself out, Han Xiao suddenly appeared right above him, and a powerful kick swept onto her abdomen.
Boom!
The little bit of death energy she had just gathered got scattered by one kick. A shockwave erupted with a loud explosion noise.
Having been heavily hit in the abdomen, Hila’s body bent like a shrimp as she shot out like a rocket for dozens of miles, leaving a long fissure behind.
“Are we going to continue? I’ve already been beating you for eleven hours. If I remember correctly, you’ve already been close to death three times and fainted five times.”
Han Xiao stood with his arms crossed and sighed.
“Humph, are you going to praise me for being energetic? Never mind, let’s call it a day. But don’t forget, this is just the third time.” Hila wiped away the blood on her lips, rubbed her stomach, and stood up.
Hearing this, Han Xiao’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
He was now fulfilling the agreement he made back then to spar with Hila thirty times. Now there were twenty-seven times left. As Han Xiao thought of this number, he could almost feel his waist hurting.
This was a certain location near Black Star Palace. He had returned from the free competition zone long ago.
Modo did not send any Beyond Grade As for what he did, so they most likely would not in the future either. Furthermore, Han Xiao had already left enough mechanical troops and Lord’s Avatars there, so he did not continue to stay in the frontlines and directly returned to the headquarters using the King suit.
Han Xiao originally wanted to stay indoors and focus on studying the Felon and the Indestructible Mechanical Troops technology, but Hila was insatiable and had to spar with him.
Due to their agreement, he could not reject her and had no choice but to hit Hila every day for a few days. Although Hila was a tough sandbag, using her so often was excessive even for Han Xiao.
With the Exclusive Talent (Virtual Technology Innovation-Manison), the progress of studying the Felon and the Indestructible Mechanical Troops was going quite smoothly. However, there were still a number of key factors he had to overcome till completely mastering them, which required time. Hence, Han Xiao did not use Awakening Points to quicken the progress. He would be able to derive the blueprint with the bonuses from his abilities and talents.
This time, Hila flew over from afar and asked, “How do you think I’m progressing?” “Not bad,” Han Xiao said casually.
“Tsk, such a perfunctory response. You’re so patient when accompanying Ames but so whatever to me. Do you not want to accompany me that much?” Hila raised her brows.
“What do you think?” Han Xiao gazed at her. You masochist, don’t you understand that forcing me to beat you up every day is tiring for me too?
Due to her passion for battle, Hila became stronger rather quickly, and with the Underworld, her growth potential was even higher.
When Aurora reached Beyond Grade A, the Underworld would be able to revive the Hero Spirits. Only then would Hila reach her peak strength.
Han Xiao had also found out from Onicelu that if Aurora’s Vital Energy Esper Ability reached Beyond Grade A, its qualities would change. She would be able to create living bodies with no soul that could be used for the Hero Spirits to live in.
It just so happened that this ability could work with the Soul Swapper. Han Xiao had told Feidin this and promised him that he would ask Aurora to build a body for Chen Xing.
Hila snorted softly, changed the topic, and said, “There are twenty-seven more spars. I want one the day after tomorrow. Remember to make time.”
“Aren’t you too hard to satisfy? Can the interval be longer?” Han Xiao was speechless.
“No! I finally snatched you back from my teacher. I want you to accompany me as much as possible.”
A tint of happiness flashed across Hila’s eyes. She then went into the spaceship and headed back herself.
Han Xiao sighed and shook his head. He was more certain that Hila was a complete masochist.
The purpose of sparring is to test one’s strength, but she clearly knows how big the difference in our strength is. Still, she keeps wanting to fight me. Isn’t this simply asking to be beaten up?
Sigh, Hadavy is much better. They’re both looking to be beaten up, but this guy is much more understanding, still smiling after getting beat up, unlike Hila, who always has that cold expression like I owe her money…
Speaking of which, it’s been some time since I’ve heard Hadavy’s flattery. I actually miss it.
Han Xiao was in no hurry of going back. He made the mechanical army retrieve some of the shattered mechanical soldiers. While the battlefield was being cleaned up, he opened the forums. He was about to look at the players’ jokes and relax.
However, as soon as he opened the Flickering World panel, his eyes were drawn to a pinned post.
World Server War Invitation Letter!
“The World Server War… what’s bound to come will come in the end.”
Han Xiao opened the post and browsed through. Seeing that the content was the same as he expected, he sighed.
The post was jointly announced by Galactic Business Alliance, September Conference, Northern Tropic of Cancer Light, Southeast Asia War Alliance, and multiple guild alliances. In simple terms, it was an ordeal challenge letter targeted at all player alliances. It stated a time and location, aiming to start an enormous battle.
The players of the various alliances usually moved according to their faction’s orders, but this did not have much to do with factions. It was just an event between the players.
The same thing had happened in his previous life. The various guild alliances announced the war, and it turned into a battle between millions of players that lasted for many days. It was then recorded in the ‘Galaxy Chronicles’, given the name of ‘Planet Tabor Battle’.
The Great Mechanic Han was also active for some time in this battle in his previous life, mainly to loot the equipment and items the players dropped. He had made a big fortune from it. This time, although the war still happened, due to the butterfly effect he had caused, the time and location had changed slightly.
From his perspective, these guild alliances announcing this challenge was not sudden. It was already the final stage of Version 4.0. If they did not create some big news, they would not have a chance to do so anytime soon. One reason was to justify killing those in the hostile alliances, and another was to strengthen the unity of the big guild alliances by having the normal players take part in it too.
“… Basically, they’re bored, so they want to start a fight.”
Han Xiao shook his head. The internal affairs of the players had nothing to do with him. He did not plan to interfere.
The location was not in the Ferdinand Battle Zone. It was on a planet in the frontlines called Marrison. When the players headed there to participate, it would affect the army’s battle in the frontlines to a certain extent. Although the army could use orders to restrain the players and not let them participate in the big battle all players could take part in, it would not have a positive impact, nor did Han Xiao plan to do so.
After all, players were not really his employees. If he restrained them too much, it would only achieve the opposite effect.
Of course, not only him, but all the organizations who had players would be affected to different extents. If these forces forcefully stopped their players, it would instead benefit the army and make recruiting players easier in the future.
“The army players will stick together in this war. They’ll be the largest group, so they’ll probably be targeted by many other alliances… but that’s not bad for me.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
The Pro League during the final stage of a version was an excellent way to boost sales. Many players would be willing to spend a lot of their savings to make themselves stronger. When that happened, the army’s sales would rocket, and Han Xiao would harvest a lot of Experience.
However, the Pro League had already been hosted three times. Most normal players were now very aware that they had no chances. A lot of them preferred saving their Experience to use in the next version.
Large scale wars were different; the players would not miss it. It was also a natural opportunity to boost sales, which was very beneficial for him. He would be able to harvest even more Experience near the end of Version 4.0 that would become his inventory during the version update.
“If I remember correctly, the interval between Version 4.0 to Version 5.0 should be about half a century, even longer than the last one…”
The next version was the Calamity of the Supers. The conflict between the Beyond Grade As would break out, and some of the Primordial Ones would return. However, since he had changed a large portion of the storyline, the events in Version 5.0 would certainly be completely different because of the butterfly effect.
This was not a big deal. Han Xiao knew those people who were important, so he was not afraid of changing the original storyline. The biggest version of the next version was actually the players.
In Version 5.0, the maximum level of the players would become level 180, which meant they would become Calamity Grades. The version name ‘Calamity of the Supers’ was a subtle hint to the players that their impact on the universe in the next version would be tremendous. “This is good news for me.”
By then, the middle level combatants of the explored universe would skyrocket. Although the players would bring chaos, they would also become a crucial force in fighting the World Tree Civilization. In the World Tree War in his previous life, the importance of the players was absolutely irreplicable. If not for the millions of Calamity Grade players, the explored universe would have suffered even heavier damage.
Also, the army would become excessively stronger. All this planning throughout these past versions was for when the players evolved.
There were decades till the next version, so he had more than enough time to prepare. Plus, some of old Manison’s words made a lot of sense; foundation was crucial for Mechanics. He planned to spend decades focusing on improving his Mechanic skills while waiting for the effects of (Key of Adeptus Mechanicus] to become stronger.
The effects of this talent would increase once every few days, continuously making him stronger. This meant that more and more of Manison’s believers were running into his arms. He could imagine the shift in the Machinery Faith.
All kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind. Han Xiao continued to browse through the forums till the battlefield was cleaned up. He then boarded the spaceship back to Black Star Palace. He had made up his mind on finishing the remaining twenty-seven spars within two months.
In a secret Crimson Dynasty military training base, Gaud strolled through the training base, wearing a high-level dynasty officer uniform. He was not in a good mood. Just now, Gaud had received a message from the dynasty’s upper echelons, telling him to postpone the plan indefinitely. The plan referred to using his Esper Ability to try to figure out the core energy of the Evolution Cube.
Back when they came up with this plan, it was totally achievable. However, times were changing too quickly, disrupting the tempo of many hawk faction dynasty upper echelons. At this point, Black Star’s position and strength had reached a new height, so this plan became more and more risky. Hence, the upper echelons had no choice but to pause this plan temporarily with resignation, both because they did not want to mess with Black Star as well as to keep Gaud hidden as a trump card.
At the root of it, this was because of Black Star’s extremely quick growth that kept changing the situation repeatedly, so often that people could not react fast enough.
This was the source of Gaud’s bad mood. Black Star’s growth speed was even faster than his even though this was his new account. He could not even see Black Star’s taillights. It was tough for him not to feel frustrated.
“Black Star… Black Star…” Gaud mumbled as he walked to a public training facility without realizing
The sound of intense battles entered his ears. He looked at the source of the sound and saw a low-grade elite class fighting in pairs under the supervision of the drill sergeant. They looked like a group of novices.
At this time, two Grade C Pugilists were fighting in the venue, one having the upper hand and the other barely hanging on. It looked like the latter losing was just a matter of time.
Unsurprisingly, only a few seconds later, this spar ended. The one who was barely holding out got kicked out by a leg swing of his opponent. He slid on the floor and just so happened to stop in front of Gaud. “Karlot, you lost again.” The drill sergeant frowned at the loser. “You’re at zero wins and nine losses. It’s embarrassing.” “Sorry.” Karlot rubbed his chest, stood up, and smiled with resignation.
The drill sergeant looked unhappy as he yelled, “All of your test scores are at the bottom. I really don’t know why the people above have put you into my elite class to drag down the entire class’ scores. I’ve allowed you to stay in this class because I can see you’re hardworking enough, but if your scores are still at the bottom the next test, I won’t give you another chance and will make you leave!”
After he said that, the classmates all looked at Karlot coldly, not hiding their dissatisfaction.
Although these people were students, they were talents the dynasty had selected from the various departments who were being trained in this secret base. Furthermore, this was an elite class. Everyone in it was a talented dynasty soldier, and they were all renowned in their own divisions.
The opportunity to receive this type of training was very rare, so these students treasured it very much. This was exactly why they disliked Karlot-he was too ordinary and not like an elite at all. Logically, he was not qualified to receive such training.
Due to how difficult it was to get this opportunity, these elites all felt it unfair. From their perspectives, the first thing they thought of was the word ‘bribe’ when they saw a mediocre soldier training with them, making them unavoidably reject Karlot.
Furthermore, as soldiers, they respected the strong above all. Karlot’s ability was too low, so they looked down on him from the bottom of their heart. Naturally, they were not going to treat him well.
Noticing the cold eyes of everyone, Karlot sighed in his mind.
He had accepted the fact that he was mediocre long ago. He knew that these people were elites who were much more talented than him from the beginning, so he was not discouraged.
He had gained this opportunity to undergo such advanced training thanks to Black Star. Although he was carefree, he was not someone who would give up an amazing opportunity. However, he was already doing the very best within his capabilities, yet he still could not match up to the growth speed of these elites. There was nothing else he could do.
Gaud quietly observed from the side.
Some time ago, he had heard people say that someone who Black Star once heeded had entered this training base, and that person’s name was Karlot. As it was related to Black Star, Gaud kept it in mind. This was the first time he had seen this person.
He sized Karlot up. All he could see from Karlot was the word ‘mediocre’.
Gaud considered himself to have sharp eyes, but even he did not find anything special about Karlot. He was confused.
Why was Black Star interested in this guy? He’s known for having accurate and sharp eyes. He shouldn’t have made a poor judgement…
Gaud could not figure it out at all. He thought about it for a second before waving at the drill sergeant.
The drill sergeant had noticed Gaud long ago. He instantly put on a smile and walked over. Almost everyone in this base knew that Gaud was the person with the highest chances of becoming a Beyond Grade A and had received a lot of resources and training. Gaud’s position was quite high.
“What is it, Gaud?”
“That novice called Karlot, whether he passes the tests or not, let him stay in the base,” Gaud whispered.
Hearing this, the drill sergeant was puzzled.
Based on his test scores, Karlot was bound to be disqualified and leave the training base. He did not expect Gaud to speak for him.
“I’m not sure. This guy doesn’t have much value. Keeping him here is a waste of resources.”
“Do what you can then.”
Gaud could not see what was special about Karlot either, but because of Black Star, he wanted to keep Karlot and observe him longer.
Han Xiao had stayed in Black Star Palace and did not go to the frontlines. One and half a month passed quickly.
On this day, a shocking piece of news suddenly erupted in the Modo Civilization!
The Tri-Race Senate announced the beginning of the impeachment process for the current Modo Three Kings. Throughout history, the impeachment of the highest leaders had occurred very few times, so this instantly shocked the whole society.
As the name suggested, this assembly was formed by the congressmen from all three races. It had extremely high power, including the impeachment right of the highest leaders. The initiators of this impeachment were thirty-three congressmen who proposed the impeachment together. The Tri-Race Senate approved it by voting. The preparations started quickly; it was clearly planned.
Being shocked was one thing, but the Modo citizens supported it to quite a large extent. The chaos in the civilization had already severely affected the daily operations of their society. Although this was caused by enemies, the citizens did not care much and blamed it on the highest leaders, which was much easier.
Marco had gathered more and more supporters, and he found the logical excuse of regaining order and objecting to the war. He used a long and formal report to analyze that Modo’s chances of winning this war were extremely low. Using this as evidence, he objected to the Modo Three Kings’ decision to continue supporting the expeditionary army, calling it a meaningless sacrifice.
His stand received recognition from quite a number of officials and citizens. Not everyone was willing to sacrifice their present interests for the so-called future potential.
The Modo Three Kings did not expect those who objected to their decisions to suddenly backstab them at such a crucial moment. Their plans were heavily disrupted.
As soon as the impeachment proceedings started, the political world of the Modo Civilization became boisterous. All the factions were dragged in and forced to pick sides. Modo had no choice but to shift their focus back to within the nation and deal with the impeachment. The three kings were forced to deploy their men to take part in a political war. Luckily, after so many years, their positions were firm and strong; they would not be overthrown easily.
There were extremely few advanced civilizations that were in a dictatorship. Being in the position as the highest leader did not mean instantly obtaining the highest power. Politics was an art of compromise; power came from obedience. Even as leaders of civilizations, in order to firm their position, they still had to fight for the support of various factions and train loyal followers. Only then would their power be materialized.
Otherwise, no matter what orders they gave, they would be obstructed by their political enemies. Becoming the highest leader did not mean the others would unconditionally obey them. There were many people who had their eyes on the position too.
In the following days, the citizens witnessed the changes in the political world. The Modo Three Kings and the opposing party pulled out one trick after another. The day before yesterday, someone resigned; yesterday, someone got summoned; today, someone was caught in a scandal. God only knew what would happen tomorrow. The citizens had plenty of new stories to follow.
Hearings of the Tri-Race Senate were hosted one after another. The objecting faction brought up a lot of evidence, and even some secrets that the citizens were not supposed to know were displayed, causing uproars among the public.
ars am
The Kunde Race incident was one of them. The objecting faction summoned key witnesses and had them provide the signatures of the Modo Three Kings that approved this operation. They then used this as evidence to prove that the Kunde Race incident was the reason Black Star was targeting Modo. Thus, they came to the conclusion that the Modo Three Kings had brought Black Star’s hatred to the civilization; they were the culprits that caused Modo to be in this horrible situation. The objecting faction claimed that the Modo Three Kings had made an awful decision and that the Modo Three Kings were not capable enough of remaining as the leaders of the civilization.
There were some more similar pieces of evidence. The objecting faction blamed all the sinful things on the Modo Three Kings, emphasizing to the Tri-Race Senate that the Three Kings were not capable, and suggested changing them.
This was not framing the Modo Three Kings. As the highest leaders, even though some plans were not proposed by the Three Kings, they would only be carried out with the signatures of the three of them, so they could only take the blame.
Endless testimonies caused the situation to gradually worsen for the Modo Three Kings. However, their position would not be shaken so easily. Their connections were very comprehensive. Including the military, many factions were their firm supporters. These factions all had members in the Tri-Race Senate. They worked together to obstruct the impeachment, which was highly effective.
The military was firmly on the side of supporting the war, which brought the support of more important upper echelons. Compared to the supporters of the Modo Three Kings, the objecting faction led by Marco was no match. The investigations hit a wall very soon, so the objecting faction turned their focus to the next batch of Modo Three Kings candidates, hoping to gain their support, which also failed without much suspense.
With the impeachment fermenting, the matter led to political strife. The Modo Three Kings had wasted too much time. They did not want to waste more energy on this matter, so they did not hold back at all.
Therefore, this nonsense did not last too long. In the end, the Tri-Race Senate rejected the objecting faction’s impeachment request. The result was basically a loss for both sides.
As the political opposition was dealt with, in order to regain their reputation, the Modo Three Kings decided to give a public speech to give a conclusive response on the impeachment matter.
Benid Square was one of the landmarks of the Modo Civilization’s capital, a tourist destination with tons of visitors every day. On this day, it was used by the government as the venue for the Modo Three Kings to give a speech. The venue was already set up.
Due to their negative image to the public, the Modo Three Kings did not speak in the political building this time but instead chose to give the speech in front of the public to build an image that they were close to their citizens. The filtered audience filled the square.
A cordon had been set up around the square. Tons of security personnel were stationed around, protecting the perimeter with expressionless faces. At this time, an audience that extended beyond one’s sights had gathered outside.
Many people held up banners with words like ‘Overthrow the Three Kings’. They were all protestors… Although the objecting faction had lost, they still dealt irreversible damage to the Modo Three Kings’ reputation.
The seats of the officials were around the podium, and the objecting faction’s seats were all at the edge, clearly arranged deliberately. The others were not willing to even look in their general direction, not wanting to have any connections with the objecting faction that had lost.
“I didn’t expect the Three Kings to invite us,” a member of the objecting faction mumbled. “They want to humiliate us in front of the public to enhance the effectiveness of the speech.”
Marco was not in a good mood.
He knew full well that at this point, there was absolutely no way the Modo Three Kings had invited them to attend the speech to repair their relationship. They were certainly going to condemn their actions as victors.
Of course, the objecting faction only stepped out to try to impeach the Modo Three Kings because they were confident that they could win. However, they were defeated in the end. The trump cards they had pulled out were resolved one after another, and some witnesses had changed their testimonies. Marco could only admit his loss. There were actually some others who had the same mindset as him but did not stand out this time because they did not dare take the risk. In order to change the path of the civilization, Marco was willing to take the risk. On the other hand, the people who hid to protect their positions did not take any actions despite the fact they objected to the Modo Three Kings’ decisions and watched the armies being sacrificed meaninglessly. Although he had lost, he still despised these cowards.
After a while, the Modo Three Kings approached the podium. The spotlight focused on the three of them.
A loud round of applause instantly started on the square like it was rehearsed, silencing the furious yelling and cussing of countless spectators outside the square. The three of them waved at the same time, looked around at the audience inside the square, and smiled.
While the three of them looked around, their eyes deliberately paused for a moment when looking in the direction of Marco and the objecting faction before turning away. The camera then jumped to focus on the objecting faction, showing their forced smiles or expressionless faces.
“Humph…” Marco snorted softly while clapping with just enough force to make a noticeable sound.
He obviously understood the look the Modo Three Kings gave them. It was a look of winners, a look that said, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
As the applause gradually stopped, one of the Modo Three Kings then spoke. “My people, Modo is a great civilization. We have stayed united since the exploration era, and generations of Three Kings have led us to create one miracle after another…”
The three of them followed the script they had memorized. They cut to the chase and mentioned the social unrest and the impeachment incident. They admitted that this was because of their decisions, but they emphasized that it was the enemy’s conspiracy. They claimed, “Modo is walking on the right path. The enemies want us to back away, so they’ve used all kinds of plots and conspiracies, hoping to make us afraid.”
The three of them also explained why they kept sending soldiers to the Flickering World, saying that it was for the civilization’s future. During the long speech, the Three Kings explained and rebutted the matters the objecting faction had brought up during the impeachment, trying to save their reputation and the government’s reputation as much as possible.
The Modo Three Kings’ words sounded sensible. The people in the square clapped from time to time. The audience outside was gradually convinced too, and the number of protesters gradually decreased. Other than the reporters, countless spectators were also recording the speech.
In the crowd outside the podium, a tall male held up a multifunctional commutation terminal and recorded the speech. He looked just like an ordinary spectator, but he was actually one of the spies of the Federation of Light responsible for obtaining intelligence. He was sent there to record first-hand footage.
While doing his job, this spy thought, The objecting faction has lost, but the Modo Three Kings have also been heavily hurt. It’s good news…
The dust had settled. There was no more shocking news, only the speech from the winners. This spy did not think he would find anything valuable; he was only here because of his duty.
However, at this moment, a flash of light suddenly went past the corners of his eyes. The spy subconsciously turned around.
His eyes penetrated the crowd, and he saw a dim light on the back of a hooded man’s hand, as if a mark was lighting up.
The next moment, a sharp golden light abruptly crossed his sights and shot out like a bolt of lightning. The spy instantly turned and saw this flash of light arrive before the Modo Three Kings, who were giving a speech.
Clank!
An azure magic shield suddenly opened and stopped this flash of light. The Beyond Grade A defense enchantment on the Modo Three Kings activated instantly. It could guard against many kinds of attacks.
The speech suddenly stopped. Only then did the Modo Three Kings realize that the item that had attacked them was shockingly a golden spear. It was indeed Lothaire’s weapon, the Deity Assassinator.
“Assassin!” The security personnel around were appalled. Multiple Calamity Grade bodyguards who had been standing behind the Three Kings were shocked. They hastily activated their abilities to protect the Three Kings.
Although their reactions were quick, it was not quick enough. The outstandingly strong Beyond Grade A defense enchantment only stopped the Deity Assassinator for a moment before it was penetrated. The spear pinned one of the Modo Three Kings right on the ground. Shock and indignation lingered on his face.
The sudden change stunned everyone present. Someone attempted to assassinate the Three Kings?
As their minds fully digested what this information meant, horror appeared on countless faces.
“Run!”
“Murder!”
“Call a doctor!”
“Lock down the square immediately… No, lock down the planet!”
The next moment, the entire place went haywire. All the spectators, be it in or outside the square, were panicking and fleeing. While yelling, the security personnel escorted the remaining two kings out of the scene while searching the entire place. The officials were terrified and hastily fled under the protection of their bodyguards. The boisterous venue instantly became a chaotic mess. “Who sent this killer? This is insane!”
Marco fled as fast as he could, his face filled with horror.
Assassinating the highest leader of a Super Star Cluster civilization right on its mother planet was tantamount to suicide!
God only knew how many years it had been since something like this last happened. Even the three Universal Civilizations would not do this. Nobody could have expected it. The Modo Three Kings were usually in the central political building, but today, they hosted a rare public speech, and it became an opportunity for the assassin.
The most unbelievable part was that the assassin actually succeeded. The Beyond Grade A level defense enchantment on the Three Kings was like a piece of paper.
In the panicking crowd, the spy from the Federation of Light opened his eyes wide, turned, and tried to find the hooded man, but he had disappeared without a trace.
“Who the hell was that guy? This is a completely suicidal attack! There’s absolutely no way he can escape the Modo mother planet!”
The spy’s face twitched. His eyes were filled with disbelief.
He had never expected to witness something this big today with his own eyes.
In almost an instant, his professional knowledge made him sensitively realize the opportunity to make use of this.
The news that one of the Modo Civilization Three Kings had been assassinated quickly spread across galactic society. The king who was attacked was announced to be deceased. This sudden incident shocked the entire universe!
Be it the officials of advanced civilizations or ordinary people of the galactic society, the first response they had when they heard about this could be concluded with three words.
What the f*ck!
This was the leader of a Super Star Cluster civilization who died, not some nobody, someone whose position was only inferior to the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations. To the galactic residents, something like this seemed to only have happened centuries ago. Such shocking news had never happened in the past god knew how many years.
To ordinary people, the leaders of advanced civilizations would never die from assassinations. This was exactly why it was unbelievable when it actually happened. This proved one thing-everyone was equal in the face of death, and no one could not be killed.
Right after the assassination happened, the entire Modo mother planet entered the highest state of alert. Countless soldiers searched everywhere thoroughly for the culprit.
The spies of many other civilizations were dragged into this too. Quite a number of these people were monitored by the Modo Civilization; Modo just never did anything to them, hoping to catch a bigger fish. Now, however, these things were no longer a concern. All of these people were captured and interrogated.
The Modo Civilization instantly restricted the leaking of the footage and very quickly made an announcement using extremely harsh words, emphasizing the fact that assassinating the leader of the Modo Civilization was an act of provocation and humiliation to the entire civilization. They would be investigating this with all of their forces and claimed that it was most likely done by an external enemy. They also said that they would certainly not let things go once they found out who the culprit was.
The assassination made the public both shocked and lost. In this situation, the announcement the Modo Civilization made instantly guided the thoughts of the public, triggering their collective anger, hoping to redirect their emotions toward the enemy.
Usually, this was the right thing to do.
However, the various organizations the three Universal Civilizations had hidden in the Modo Civilization’s territory would not watch this happen. They kept stirring up fires everywhere. They published all kinds of opinions to affect the impact of the Modo Civilization’s announcement, changing the mindset of the public and confusing the situation.
The methods they used were not flashy at all. All they did was state all kinds of new speculations regarding the assassination, mainly in two directions. One was to claim that the objecting faction had a motive to take the risk and assassinate the Three Kings because their attempt to gain power had just failed. The made-up story was structured so well it almost felt real.
The other was spreading rumors claiming that the assassin was actually an extremist of the other two races created by the racism lately, hoping to incite the racism issues.
Both of these theories had flaws, but conspiracy theories always had listeners. While the quantum network provided convenience to the galactic society, it also became an important platform for guiding public opinion. All kinds of information was available in the quantum network, weakening the judgmental skills of the public. Plus, the assassination made it difficult for the majority of the public to remain sensible. Hence, these two theories surprisingly received recognition by quite a lot of people.
At the same time, there were also dozens of terrorist organizations claiming to be responsible for this incident, fighting for it as if this was an opportunity to firm their positions in the gray world.
The number of people who supported the racist thoughts and believed the political assassination theory was growing rapidly. The seed of chaos gradually matured. One could never know what kind of strange opinions people might have till something big happened. It was complete anarchy.
The Modo Civilization was beleaguered because of this assassination and had no time to slowly deal with the public opinion at all. They had no choice but to take tough measures, forbidding the public from discussing these two conspiracy theories. Although the upper echelons clearly knew that this would only make things worse in the future, they had to first restrain the spread of these rumors.
This incident received immense attention. Countless organizations paid close attention to it. A storm was brewing under the noses of the public.
Han Xiao, who was far in the Flickering World, received the news too.
“What the hell, someone assassinated the Modo Three Kings? Whose cutie did that?”
Han Xiao’s eyes opened wide. He was surprised too.
He had once had similar thoughts, but he had never taken action, nor did he order his subordinates to carry out the assassination. The main reason was because of the restrictions of his identity. He was now a hero of the lawful world. No way could he attempt to assassinate the leader of an advanced civilization.
However, if someone else did it, Han Xiao was glad to see it happen.
He could roughly guess what impact this would have afterward. Whether the Modo Civilization could capture the culprit or not, their investigation had to achieve results. Even if they could not find out the truth, they had to find someone to blame it on to redirect the nation’s internal social conflicts, giving the public a target to vent their emotions.
This depended on what Modo chose to do. If they decided to make this matter smaller, blaming it on the terrorist organizations outside their territory was most convenient. If they wanted to make this matter even more severe, they could both put the blame on the three Universal Civilizations or him. This way, Modo would have found a new motive for the Flickering War and would keep sending more armies over while keeping the moral high ground.
As for the truth… who knew? The Modo Civilization forbade the video from leaking, so he could not watch the footage of the assassination. However, he felt that the three Universal Civilizations were definitely not the culprits. There was absolutely no need for them to do this.
Could it really be an extremist?
Han Xiao was very curious.
“Whose man is this? This is such an honorable sacrifice!”
While he was wondering, his communicator suddenly rang.
He took it out and glanced at it, it was an encrypted communication request from Lothaire. Han Xiao’s expression became stiff, he suddenly had a bad feeling. “Calling me at this time, don’t tell me…”
After hesitating for two seconds, he picked up the communication and heard the steady breathing in the channel.
“Lothaire.” Han Xiao subconsciously lowered his voice.
“Hmm.”
“Please don’t tell me that you did this…”
“I did.”
Hearing this answer, Han Xiao’s vision went dark for a moment.
What the hell, after making these guesses, turns out it’s my man!
This is too much. I’m not sure my tiny heart can take it…
“Are you insane? I didn’t order you to do this!”
“You told me to disrupt the order of Modo’s society. I understood what your goals are.” Lothaire’s tone was serious.
Han Xiao felt like his chest was stuffed. “So, you decided on your own to assassinate the Modo Three Kings?”
“I’ve fulfilled my duty.”
What a f*cking genius you are!
Han Xiao’s face began contorting. No wonder you dared attack EsGod!
For such a steady and firm man like me, why do I have such an impulsive and head-strong subordinate?
Han Xiao took a few deep breaths and calmed his emotions.
At this point, the only thing he could do was accept reality and clean up the mess. “… Where are you? Have you escaped the Modo mother planet?”
“Yes, or I wouldn’t have contacted you.”
Lothaire briefly explained what had happened. He was not completely reckless. He had already infiltrated the Modo mother planet more than a month ago and come up with many ways of getting out, only acting after the plan was fully complete. He had been waiting for the opportunity. As he could not come into contact with the Three Kings, he had been waiting patiently all along till a few days ago. When he saw the Three Kings’ announcement to give a speech, he knew that this was the opportunity, so he struck after making enough preparations.
With one assassination after another, Lothaire had gained enough experience and become an expert. From the assassination succeeding till the Modo Civilization excuted the lockdown, there would be a reaction process in between, and he used this bit of time to successfully escape. The entire process was well planned and organized. However, he was only temporarily safe now. He still had to face the Modo Civilization’s search afterward.
After hearing Lothaire’s description, Han Xiao sighed and said, “It won’t be that easy to escape from someone else’s territory. Pause all your assassination missions. Killing one leader is effective enough. You don’t have to continue targeting them. Focus on escaping first. I’ll see if I can bring you back.”
What was done was done; he could not let Lothaire fall into Modo’s hands.
Things like this could be done but not shared, or there would be much more cons than pros. As long as Modo did not capture Lothaire, there would be no solid evidence, and he would never admit it.
To say that Han Xiao did not blame Lothaire for making this decision on his own would be a lie. He was originally peacefully watching things develop all according to his plan, but now there were risks. Assassinating the Three Kings was not in his plan. However, from another perspective, there were pros to this too.
Since the assassin was his man, this meant that the damage this incident caused to the Modo Civilization would also be counted toward the mission progress of [Kunde Race Leader’s Last Wish). He might complete this mission earlier than expected.
Bang!
A team of soldiers charged into the office, looked around, and coldly said, “Marco, come with us for investigation.”
Marco stood up slowly with a bitter smile.
All objecting factions were key targets of the investigations, since they had motive. They were all dragged down by this. No matter how wrongly accused they felt, they had no choice but to obediently accept the investigation.
The sudden assassination affected the objecting faction negatively too.
At this point of time, Marco only had one thought.
F*ck!
In the conference room that now had triple the guards compared to before. The remaining two kings of Modo and the various upper echelons were hosting an emergency meeting. Everyone there was experienced. They quickly passed the shocked and panicked state to being filled with rage.
“Have we found out who did this?” The two kings of Modo were furious.
Every time they thought of what happened, they felt exceedingly uneasy—if the one who was giving the speech at that time was not their unlucky colleague, they might have been the one who died!
Daring to assassinate them, the leaders of the civilization, was an insult to the entire Modo Civilization. The two of them were overwhelmingly enraged.
“Not yet, but the intelligence department has submitted the analysis of the recording and found matches in the database…”
An intelligence official operated on the table with a solemn expression. The next moment, a green virtual screen rose up from the table in front of every official. On it was the same file.
“The weapon the culprit used is a golden spear. According to the data, the master of this weapon is a highly dangerous wanted criminal with the code name (Mystery). The earliest record of this man was during the Kunde Race incident. This man committed multiple assassinations at that time and then disappeared for more than a decade. Recently, he started to act again in our territory, killing the heads of all kinds of industries…
“According to the analysis, [Mystery] has top notch Calamity Grade strength, possibility at the level of a Beyond Grade A seed. The golden spear weapon he uses is a powerful enchanted weapon. However, due to the little observation records we have, we were unable to obtain too much information. Nonetheless, from this assassination incident, we can speculate that [Mystery]’s weapon possesses an extremely strong ability to penetrate energy and also deals extra damage to strong targets. Also, [Mystery] might be acting with a group. The assassinations committed by many others seem to be related to him too. We suspect he might have formed an organization in the ten or so years he disappeared…”
The frequent assassinations targeted at the Modo Civilization lately were not all done by the Assassin’s Society. There were also other active organizations. Advanced civilizations did not have a shortage of enemies. Seeing that Modo was in chaos, some enemies had added salt to their wounds. Some of these were assassination organizations from the black market, some were from the terrorist organizations outside Modo’s territory, and there were also some racial extremists and criminals who disguised themselves as assassins to commit crimes. The society was extremely unstable, and the police forces were beleaguered.
The two kings of Modo finished reading the report. One of them yelled, “What I’m more concerned about is whose orders this killer follows? Whose organization does he belong to?”
“[Mystery]’s appearance is clearly related to the Kunde Race incident. Back then, the main participants were the Crimson Dynasty and their allies. Although we don’t know which organization this killer belongs to exactly, he certainly is related to the Crimson Dynasty. He might be a secret soldier of the dynasty, or he could be an officer of one of the dynasty’s Beyond Grade A allies…”
“So, the Crimson Dynasty very likely approved this?” the two kings of Modo asked.
“This… isn’t certain.” The intelligence official thought about it for a moment. “The situation now is not the same as before. More than ten years ago, the Beyond Grade A Association was not yet founded, and the dynasty still had enough control over their Beyond Grade A allies, so the assassinations back then were indeed related to the dynasty. However, the situation has changed now. We can’t rule out the possibility that this incident was a private operation of one of their Beyond Grade A allies.”
Hearing this, everyone’s expression changed, and a name subconsciously appeared in their minds.
“Could it be… Black Star?’ The two kings of Modo were furious.
Although the Crimson Dynasty was scum, taking the risk of assassinating the leader of an advanced civilization had many more cons than pros for them. They basically had no reason to do this.
It seemed like only Black Star who had exceptional hatred toward them had motive.
“Black Star! He got the upper hand in the Flickering War and cost us a lot, but did that make him feel he can do whatever he wants? How dare he do this? This is outrageous! Modo will never forgive him!”
The two kings of Modo were burning with rage.
They now had another goal to participate in the Flickering War, not just for the future of the civilization but also to make Black Star pay with blood. The two of them believed that after this, the entire civilization could become united against an exterior enemy. There would no longer be any objecting faction.
However, at this time, an upper echelon hesitated for a moment before objecting. “But I don’t feel that makes sense. What’s Black Star’s goal in doing this? Just to feel good? There’s no reason! He’s a man who prioritizes profit over everything. He’s already gained the upper hand in the Flickering World…
To be completely frank, he can slowly make us suffer and incur even more losses. There’s no need to assassinate our leader at all. In fact, doing so would even bring him risks.
“If he gets exposed, the heroic image the three Universal Civilizations have built for him will be severely damaged. He’ll lose the advantages he obtained. Black Star doesn’t feel like someone who’d make such a reckless decision…”
After hearing this theory, the various upper echelons present also frowned in doubt.
“That does make sense. Black Star wouldn’t do meaningless things. If the assassination was ordered by him, it’s definitely to achieve some kind of goal…”
“And what goal would that be?”
The room went silent. The people present worked brainstormed as much as they could.
More than ten seconds later, an intelligence official’s eyes suddenly gleamed. He stood up and said, “I think I figured out Black Star’s plan!”
“Oh? Quickly tell us about it.” Everyone’s eyes focused on him.
This intelligence official said with a firm tone, “Black Star did this to prevent us from surrendering!”
“Huh?”
Everyone tilted their head. Big question marks appeared above their heads.
“Erm… explain.” The two kings of Modo frowned.
“This is my speculation. Black Star knows Modo has no chance of turning the table, so he’s worried we might give up the Flickering War and withdraw the expeditionary army. If that happens, he won’t be able to continue damaging us. Therefore, in order to prevent us from backing out, he secretly ordered his assassin to do this, openly provoking and insulting the entire Modo Civilization. He predicted our reaction-whether the culprit is his man or not, we’ll definitely suspect him. “Then, due to our hostile relationship, he feels that we’ll likely claim that he’s the mastermind to damage his reputation, which will go exactly according to his plan.
Once we claim Black Star is the mastermind, under the eyes of the entire universe, we’ll have to show we’re not going to let him off easily, so we won’t be able to easily pull out the expeditionary army. Instead, we’ll have to keep sending in more troops, or we’ll be seen as a wimp to the outside world. As an advanced civilization whose leader has been assassinated, we must never compromise. This way, Black Star will have successfully maintained the situation and forced us to keep fighting. He will then continue eating up our troops.”
The others trembled and hastily went through their own thoughts. When they realized that this was exactly what they were thinking of, they felt a chill running down their spine.
I knew it. Black Star has calculated even our responses…
Luckily, we predicted his predictions.
The two kings of Modo shook their heads and said, “No, no, Black Star knows we’ll accuse him. Why isn’t he afraid of his reputation being damaged?”
“I think he really isn’t afraid…” an official said. “If we don’t catch the culprit, we’ll have no solid evidence. With the heroic image Black Star already has, which side will the outside world believe? Even if there is evidence, Black Star can still refuse to admit it and accuse us of framing him. Plus, the heroic image he has now was built by the three Universal Civilizations. Although he’s enjoyed the benefits of it, he’s restrained by his reputation. If he can get rid of this restriction, it won’t be all bad for him. In fact, the three Universal Civilizations might be more worried than him in that case…”
Many people nodded and felt this made sense.
The two kings of Modo suppressed their wrath and said, “If this is really Black Star’s doing, are we not only going to hold him responsible for it but even cover it up for him? Absolutely impossible! Don’t even think about it!”
The two of them admitted that this speculation made sense, but in order to not fall into Black Star’s trap, how could they, an advanced civilization, not hold him responsible but instead cover it up for him?
This is ridiculous. Does he think we’re shameless?
As a powerful Super Star Cluster civilization, how can we be intimidated by this kind of trick? We will not compromise in any form!
The intelligence official who made this speculation hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “Actually, there’s another possibility.”
“Go on!”
“Ahem, I just thought about it. If there’s a third party that predicted Black Star’s and our responses judging from our hatred of each other, what if they sent someone to disguise as or bribed (Mystery] to do this, purposely carrying out the assassination in public to start a storm all to frame Black Star and increase the hatred between us… Is that possible?”
Hearing this, the others were perplexed.
This kind of plot was not rare in history, so the theory was completely possible.
“Who would do that?”
“Who else? Our enemy or Black Star’s enemy, of course. They might want to watch us fight each other in the dark…”
“If this is the case, should we still pull out the expeditionary army so that we won’t fall into the enemy’s trap?”
The two kings of Modo were lost in the layers of speculation.
They were not at fault for overthinking. Smart people would always make all kinds of speculations for things, guessing the reason behind it, deriving the matter to the fourth or fifth layer. Never would they guess how simple the truth actually was—it was nothing but the sole actions of a reckless man.
“Your Excellencies, we’re just speculating. We can’t confirm that Black Star is the culprit yet. Catching the assassin is our priority now!” an upper echelon reminded.
The two kings of Modo nodded heavily and shouted, “That’s right! No matter what, we have to track the killer. We must catch him and find out the mastermind. Even if this is really Black Star’s trap, Modo will never compromise!”
After saying that, the two of them were filled with frustration. They felt like no matter what choice they made, it would still be within Black Star’s plan.
It’s terrifying to have an enemy like this!
The people present exchanged looks. Many people wanted to say something, but no one did in the end.
If this was really Black Star’s trap, the decision the two kings of Modo made would have fallen right into it. To some people, the two kings were losing their cool.
The objecting faction was being investigated, but there were still some with the same thoughts who did not expose themselves, and they were feeling even more shaken now. Maybe Marco and the others were right. It’s really time for new leaders.
In the corner, seeing that no one was paying attention to him anymore, the intelligence official who made the speculation sat down looking still unsatisfied. He only had one thought in his mind.
Get me a drink. I can still brainstorm!
If Modo was only suspecting Black Star, the Crimson Dynasty would be completely certain.
In the Ruler’s office of the Crimson Dynasty, Urranrell held her chin with her hands and said, “… So, Black Star might have done this to prevent the Modo Civilization from backing away?”
Modo had forbidden the sharing of the recordings, so the process of the assassination could not be found through normal channels. Of course, the three Universal Civilizations had ways to get the recording, not through Virtual Technology but totally because they had accumulated enough information channels.
In this respect, the accumulation of advanced civilizations was far superior compared to Beyond Grade As. For example, Han Xiao’s forces were limited in the Primeval Star River. Although his Virtual Technology could get him the recordings easily, it still required a process of going there from the Flickering World and activating Virtual Intrusion. Not doing anything personally but still getting the information belonged to the territory of having information sources.
Back during the Kunde Race incident, Black Star had worked with the dynasty on assassinations. Since she had seen it before, although she did not know who the user of the golden spear was, she was certain that this man was Black Star’s subordinate. Hence, she immediately thought that assassinating the Modo Three Kings was Black Star’s plan.
Looking at the report on the screen, Urranrell thought, Hehe, Black Star is more daring than I imagined, even assassinating a leader of an advanced civilization… Although that breaks the rules a little, it seems quite effective.
Not long after receiving the news, she had also figured out Black Star’s ‘goal’.
The three Universal Civilizations did not want the Modo Civilization to retreat this soon. Causing as much damage as possible to these Super Star Cluster civilizations was the three Universal Civilizations’ goal. Black Star’s ‘actions’ matched the interest of the three Universal Civilizations.
Wonderful, wonderful…Nonetheless, this does cross the line a bit. Urranrell wiped off the smile on her face.
A Beyond Grade A assassinating the leader of an advanced civilization was a very sensitive matter. It would alert all the advanced civilizations including the three Universal Civilizations. Just thinking about what this meant would explain why the leaders of the advanced civilizations were so concerned about this.
Because this was the oldest profession of Beyond Grade As when they first appeared!
Using individuals who possessed strength above the limits for assassinations was much more valuable and effective than putting them in large battles. One could easily imagine how much destruction an expert Beyond Grade A assassin could bring.
Back during the exploration era, Beyond Grade A assassins who specifically targeted leaders of civilizations were nightmares of the civilizations that survived. The main reason the three Universal Civilizations built the Psionic Seal Rings around their mother planets was to guard against sudden attacks from other civilization but also to guard against assassination attempts from Beyond Grade A assassins. This assassination incident reminded Urranrell of many tragic examples in the exploration era. Once someone opened this box, it might cause prolonged negative effects to advanced civilizations.
After pondering silently for quite some time, Urranrell sighed.
Times had changed. No matter what, Black Star was an important ally recognized by the dynasty, a National Pillar.
She had no choice but to help to clean up his mess. Be it because of morals or logic, there was no way she could ‘betray her ally’.
“I don’t know if Black Star’s subordinate will be able to escape… I shall have our people in the Modo Civilization’s territory provide some help secretly just in case…”
You have triggered the urgent mission [Escape)!
Mission Introduction: Your friend Lothaire has successfully assassinated the Modo Civilization leader. He is being pursued and is trying to escape the Modo Civilization’s territory. He needs help.
Mission Requirements: Help Lothaire escape the Modo Civilization territory.
Reward: 8 Billion Experience, 2 Random Rewards, draw 1 ability/talent from Lothaire, (Civilization Leader Slayer] milestone.
Remarks: By accepting this mission, -3,000 Modo Civilization Favorability.
“Hmm, the mission only appeared now?”
In Black Star Palace, a notification popped up on Han Xiao’s interface. He was both surprised and speechless.
Briefly looking at the mission introduction, Han Xiao accepted it without hesitation. There was already no room for his Modo Civilization Favorability to decrease any further. Helping Lothaire was something he had to do, so getting rewarded for it was just a cherry on top. He only found it weird that the mission did not pop up when he chatted with Lothaire but only appeared after he had made the arrangements.
“The arrangements have been made. I wonder if I can get Lothaire out.”
Han Xiao shook his head. He was not very confident. On the low side, the odds of success were only ninety-five percent. Ever since he became the three Universal Civilizations’ consultant, building subdivisions for the Black Star Army had become much easier. There were subdivisions in the Primeval Star River too. Although he could not build an intelligence network there, the armed forces stationed there were quite strong. Han Xiao had also left quite a lot of mechanical soldiers there, including a King mechanical suit just in case.
After receiving the news from Lothaire, he had instantly ordered his men to infiltrate Modo’s territory with a King. As long as they could rendezvous, Lothaire would be able to immediately escape using the King suit. The others in the Assassin’s Society would have to figure something out themselves, but since they were not the main target and did not know Black Star was their boss, there was not much intelligence they could leak. The King mechanical suit was the Universal Treasure that Han Xiao had built the most times. Although it was extremely expensive to build, ever since he obtained (Billion Mechanic Empire-Manison), his success rate of building Gold equipment had increased tremendously, saving him a lot of money. He had to admit that Manison’s Exclusive Talent was incredible.
Of course, the main reason he could build so many of them was that he was rich.
Thinking back to when he just entered the galaxy, he had to carefully plan how to spend every Ena, but now he was too lazy to even look at deals that would earn him less than fifty million Enaus profit.
“Maybe this is what growth is…”
Although rescuing Lothaire was important, he did not plan to go there himself. It was very far away, and having the local subdivision’s mechanical troops take his Lord’s Avatar along was more than enough. He had already done everything he could; there was not much more he could do to help Lothaire.
At this time, Black Star was on the rooftop of Black Star Palace, hovering five meters off the floor.
Dozens of different-sized, ring-shaped mechanical devices hovered around him. From Han Xiao’s perspective, each of the rings was wrapped around hundreds of stars. Silk-like beams of light crisscrossed inside the rings like an energy filtering net, picking out tiny dots of light from nothing that landed on Han Xiao’s body and dissolved, absorbed by his skin.
He was training Ames’ (Dragon Emperor Star Energy Extraction Technique). The ring devices were the assistive tools he had built called Star Energy Collectors. They could enhance the effects of the Dragon Emperor Star Energy Extraction Technique.
Han Xiao let out a breath of air that consisted of star energy and felt the energy flow inside his body. It was as if his cells were shrouded in a fuzzy layer of star light. He tutted with satisfaction.
“Tsk, the effects of this energy training technique are even better than Heber’s Stellar Furnace Cultivation. Ames is quite creative. What a nice surprise this is.”
Not a single Super would be unhappy about having too much energy. Even Beyond Grade As who could infinitely regain energy would never stop training their energy. Every slight increase in their maximum energy was an increase in their limits, and Han Xiao was no exception. He had always taken energy training very seriously and frequently searched for all kinds of energy training techniques.
Originally, among all the energy training techniques he had, (Heber Stellar Furnace Cultivation] had the best effects. It gave him a total of 16,750 increase in his maximum energy. Now, its position was replaced by [Dragon Emperor Star Energy Extraction Technique).
This energy training technique gave him 800 base energy, but the training time limit was 800. Each period of training it would give him up to 30 energy. In the most ideal situation, this could increase his maximum energy by close to 25,000.
Such an amazing effect could totally increase his Energy Rank by a whole new level, giving him a new layer of attribute bonuses. The impact would be tremendous!
Even though he had (Radiation Absorption), which would make him stronger without him having to do anything at all, it only gave him about 16,000 energy over close to thirty years, still less than (Dragon Emperor Star Energy Extraction Technique).
Nonetheless, [Radiation Absorption] gave him quite a lot of attribute bonuses in Strength, Dexterity, and Endurance.
Old Man Manison had once said that the strength of Mechanics came from their foundation. The longer they lived, the stronger they were. This ability was the perfect proof of that.
The training for this time ended. Han Xiao put the Star Energy Collector away and headed down back to the office while browsing the forums.
There were still some days till the date of the guild alliance war. Almost all the guild alliances responded to it; the influence was clearly visible. The sales of the army’s faction store rocketed through the roof. The army players finally stopped saving money and spent like crazy. The Experience Han Xiao received in the past few days was massive.
On the other hand, the preparation for the fourth season of the Pro League had also started long ago, receiving quite the attention, indirectly increasing the players’ shopping desire, helping him once again before the version ended.
“At this speed, when Version 4.0 ends, not only will I have enough Experience to level up to 340, but I’ll even have quite a lot to spare.”
Han Xiao was quite satisfied.
A blonde female walked out from the corner ahead. When she saw Han Xiao, she was stunned for a full second. She then trotted and sprinted into Han Xiao’s arms.
“Uncle!” Aurora hugged Han Xiao tightly.
“How old are you now, still acting like a kid?” Han Xiao rubbed Aurora’s hair, pressed on her head, and pushed her away.
“I’ll always be a kid in front of you.” Aurora giggled.
She was indeed qualified to say this. Her overflowing vital energy had kept her looking like a teenager.
Han Xiao placed his hand on her head and asked, “How is your strength progressing?”
“Quite fast.” Aurora raised her hand and released a cluster of vital energy. It seemed to be brighter than before.
“Let me take a look.” Nanoparticles flowed at the tip of Han Xiao’s finger and formed a metal needle. He stabbed Aurora’s arm and triggered the combat information, seeing her full attributes.
Han Xiao looked at it and nodded with satisfaction.
Ever since Aurora became the master of the Holy Light Particle, Han Xiao had hired a ton of employees to specifically cultivate the Holy Light Seeds, helping Aurora become stronger. The effect of that was spectacular.
The Vital Energy Esper Ability was unique, so Aurora would never hit a wall. As long as she accumulated enough, her Grade would smoothly increase. Therefore, the method of harvesting leeks using the Holy Light Particle was perfect for her, making her grow at an incredible speed, much quicker than growing naturally. With her current growth speed, it would not take hundreds of years for Aurora to become a Beyond Grade A. The time would be reduced by roughly seventy to ninety percent.
Han Xiao smiled and said, “Not bad, not bad, I’m satisfied with your progress. Keep it up. Now go play,”
“Humph, I’ve been doing a lot of things in the army, not just playing. Don’t always see me as a kid!” Aurora puffed her cheeks, turned, and ran away.
You just said you’ll always be a kid, and now you’re unhappy about me seeing you as a kid. What in the world… Women are so unpredictable, even harder to understand than old man Manison’s Felon technology
en a
Han Xiao shook his head and did not chase after Aurora, instead returning to his office.
As soon as he walked in, his communicator rang. He looked at it, and to his surprise, it was a call from Kasuyi.
Han Xiao casually sat on the Throne, lay back, and picked it up. “Yo, Old Kasuyi, you rarely ever contact me. What’s this about?”
“Are you free?”
“What, you want to ask me out?” “Something like that. I’m planning to explore a special secondary dimension and hope to team up with a Mechanic. It’d be best if you’re free.” Han Xiao’s eyes flickered. He sat up straight slightly and asked, “Why didn’t you go to Manison? Aren’t the two of you quite close?”
“He’s not in a good situation at the moment, so it’s not wise to look for him. Comparatively, you’re my top choice. You’re more suited for this mission than him.” “Oh? Why?”
“Because that place is dangerous. I need a tank to stand in front, so… you know what I’m saying.” Kasuyi coughed.
Han Xiao tutted.
No wonder you came to me. Turns out it’s because of my tankiness.
Why hide something like this? You can just tell me you want my body.
“How dangerous is that secondary dimension?”
“I’ve never done field research, so I don’t know the details either. However, it’s definitely very dangerous. Even Beyond Grade As’ lives can be threatened.”
“Who else is going?”
“Just you and me. I don’t want too many people to take part in this operation.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
He felt that this was most certainly not just a simple exploration. He wondered what secret goal Kasuyi had.
“That’s about it. Black Star, when are you free?”
“Erm… in a few months. You know what’s happening between Modo and me. I don’t have time to do something else for the time being. Are you in a hurry?”
“Not really. I can wait for you, but don’t make me wait too long.”
“That’s easy. You can deal with Modo together with me, then I’ll be free sooner, right?” Han Xiao teased.
“Hehe, go trick someone else.” Kasuyi smiled faintly.
“I can surely go with you, but you’ll at least have to show some sincerity, you know,” Han Xiao said.
“What reward do you want? As long as it’s a not too excessive request, I will agree.”
“Now that you suddenly say that, I really don’t know what I want… What about more requests?”
“No, just one.” Kasuyi’s expression remained the same.
“Then I’ve not decided yet.”
Han Xiao shrugged. This was a favor from Kasuyi, so he did not want to waste it.
“It’s still early anyway. Take your time to think about it. Tell me when you’ve made up your mind.”
After the agreement was made, Kasuyi did not waste much time. They chatted for a little bit before hanging up.
Han Xiao put the communicator down and pondered.
“Fascinating. Even Kasuyi needs a teammate to bear the risk together. What’s going on in that secondary dimension? Is it really that dangerous?” Sadly, no mission was triggered yet, so he had no clue.
After pondering for a while longer and still having no idea, he put this matter in the back of his mind.
In the next ten or so days, the Modo Civilization searched everywhere for Lothaire. However, it was not going smoothly at all, and accidents occurred frequently. The forces the Crimson Dynasty planted in Modo’s territory kept stirring trouble, obstructing the investigation in all ways possible, but they also lost quite a number of men who were captured and interrogated by Modo.
In this situation, the assassins inside Modo’s territory all stopped acting and went into hiding, afraid of being suspected. They were all shocked by how daring this assassin who killed the Modo Civilization’s leader was.
During the thorough investigation, Lothaire’s experience proved to be a huge help. He continuously hid, shifted locations, and covered his tracks, avoiding the soldiers time after time.
He had multiple stealth abilities to begin with and the bonus of the Medium Luck Glow, so he was able to rendezvous with the mechanical army Han Xiao had sent into Modo’s territory without getting caught in any battles.
The mechanical army successfully handed the King over to Lothaire. With it, he teleported away directly and finally escaped. He would never be found by Modo.
The Modo Civilization did not know about this. They were still searching everywhere. However, just a few days later, a sudden change happened in the Modo Civilization’s leading level again.
As one of Modo’s leaders had passed away, one of the Three Kings was missing. The race this position represented was very unhappy, and they did not want this situation to carry on. Therefore, a candidate quickly replaced this hole for the time being, and the Three Kings were complete again.
However, this new leader’s political stand seemed to be different from the other two kings—he did not support sending more soldiers to the Flickering World.
Due to all kinds of factors, the objecting faction seemed to have grown stronger once again. Those objecting faction upper echelons, including Marco, were all released after they were proved innocent. Under the protection of some kind of political power, not only were they not cleansed, but they were even firmer about objecting to the decision to continue participating in the Flickering War.
A storm started in the Modo Civilization’s leading level again, but this time was different from the public impeachment. Instead, it was all going on in private. The public did not know the truth; they only noticed that the shifting of officials seemed to be more frequent. No outsiders knew what kind of political strife and compromising the Modo upper echelons had made. They only knew that more than half a month after the assassination incident, the Modo Civilization publicly announced the progress of the investigation.
The report did not mention the names of the three Universal Civilizations and the Black Star Army at all. They only stated that many suspects had been caught, and they had made some progress, but the details of the progress were not stated at all.
At the end of the report, the Modo Civilization stated that they would be attacking all the terrorist organizations outside the territory that had claimed responsibility for the assassination. They expressed that this was an insult to Modo’s face, and these organizations were key suspects. Under the operations of the Modo Civilization, the public opinion of the nation was directed at these terrorist organizations. The hatred was shifted.
The spies and mechanical armies that Han Xiao had left in the Modo expeditionary army’s territory discovered their sudden movements -expeditionary army fleets disappeared in the territory one after another.
Very soon, not just the Black Star Army, but the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance also noticed this.
Although it was not clearly stated, everyone could guess what the Modo Civilization was doing—the Modo expeditionary army was retreating!
The objecting faction rose, the nation’s internal state was in chaos, and there were many possible traps behind the assassination. In the end, the objecting faction got the upper hand. The two old kings of Modo were forced to compromise. The order to pull out the expeditionary army was made. They had decided to give up on participating in the Flickering War.
A simpler conclusion for this would be…
The Modo Civilization was now disqualified by Black Star!
In the army commander’s office of Black Star Palace, Lothaire’s remote projection stood in the middle of the room. Han Xiao circled him, sized him up, and sighed from time to time.
“Kid, although you’ve successfully escaped this time, don’t feel glad. I need to properly talk to you about this.”
“What orders do you have?” Lothaire calmly accepted the scolding.
“Although the plan worked, you made the decision on yourself, and I had to clean up for you. I’m your boss, not the other way around. For something as big as this, you should ask me before you carry the plan out, got it?” Han Xiao stood in front of Lothaire with arms behind his back and reprimanded him.
“Won’t happen again.” Lothaire’s response was short and simple.
Han Xiao grunted, paused, and said, “The impact of this assassination was extremely severe. The Modo Civilization has given up on the Flickering War and is focusing on internal affairs. They definitely will not let this go easily. Therefore, all activities of the Assassin’s Society will cease for the time being. Hide and wait for this to be over. Only then will I allow you guys to be active again.”
“How long?”
“A few decades. You have to make use of this time properly to train,” Han Xiao said.
“Okay.” Lothaire did not complain and calmly obeyed.
He had acquired some new experience from this assassination. He was just thinking about digesting them too. Assassinating the leader of an advanced civilization was undoubtedly a legendary accomplishment. It had brought him subtle changes. It was like some kind of ability that increased his possibility of reaching Beyond Grade A. However, since Lothaire did not have the interface, he could not fully understand all that. He only got a blurry feel of it.
After giving him advice for a bit longer, Han Xiao ended the communication. His deliberately serious expression relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face. This assassination that Lothaire had never informed him till it was done really startled him, but the results turned out to be extremely good. As the Modo Civilization had withdrawn its army, the second requirement of [Kunde Race Leader’s Last Wish] was now complete.
If not for Lothaire’s assassination, the Modo upper echelons would not have shifted this drastically. In that case, he would have had to spend more time and pay a heftier price in order to force Modo to retreat. Furthermore, the chain of chaotic reactions caused by Modo’s leader being assassinated were also counted in the mission progress. Although Lothaire made this decision without consulting him, the results turned out to be reliable. Han Xiao always had high hopes for Lothaire. In his eyes, Lothaire had the potential to become a Beyond Grade A. His potential was much higher than lazy Beyond Grade A seeds like Hadavy.
One reason he froze the activity of the Assassin’s Society was to wait till this was over, but another was to give Lothaire more time to find the opportunity for Promotion.
Han Xiao put these things in the back of his mind, opened the mission list on the interface, and looked at the two bright gold missions.
Both (Escape) and (Kunde Race Leader’s Last Wish]’s rewards could now be obtained. One of the two requirements of the latter was already complete. He could acquire (The Enemy), (Proof of Leadership), and (Kunde Rage] if he wanted.
Han Xiao thought about it and suppressed his temptation to complete [Kunde Race Leader’s Last Wish), as the first mission requirement was to ‘provide protection when the Kunde Race is being culturally modified’, which was not complete yet.
This Grade S mission was a single mission, not a chain mission. Therefore, once he clicked on completing it and accepted the reward, it would mean that he would not be able to obtain the reward for the first requirement. He wanted the four Political Assets rewarded by the first requirement. Anyway, he could decide when to conclude the mission. He could obtain the three abilities anytime he wanted, so he was in no hurry.
“I shall conclude Lothaire’s mission and get the reward first.”
Han Xiao headed out, turned left into the officer lounge to get some luck, returned, and quickly opened the interface.
[Escape] Completed! -3,000 Modo Civilization Favorability.
Current Relationship: (Archenemy)
You have received 8 Billion Experience, 2 Random Rewards, and the (Civilization Leader Slayer] milestone.
(Civilization Leader Slayer]: All civilization leader Favorability -10. Your words will be more heeded by the various civilizations. At the same time, when you, your organization, or your allies fight any fleets or Supers of your opposing civilization, their defense and various resistances will be reduced by 3% – 7%.
“This Milestone is definitely for the wanted criminals of the evil factions.” Han Xiao’s eyes twitched.
To wanted criminals, the Favorability of civilization leaders is complete trash, but since I’m someone with a high position and identity, the Favorability of civilization leaders is not useless.
However, he did not care about it too much. The only advanced civilization leader who had a good relationship with him was Urranrell. His Favorability with the federation’s president and the church’s pope were both negative, yet they were still working together. As long as there were enough profits, the personal Favorability of the leaders was barely impactful.
Furthermore, the value of that -10 Favorability of the civilization leaders was completely meaningless compared to the other effects of the milestone. Although the numbers were not high, the influence it had was extremely absurd. It worked against entire civilizations, reducing the various resistance and defense of all members of the opposing civilization.
Han Xiao instantly knew that when fighting the World Tree Civilization, this ability would give the entire explored universe a natural edge!
Comparatively, that slight reduction in Favorability was negligible.
“I sacrificed my Favorability for the entire universe. What a great man I am.”
Han Xiao was almost touched by himself.
He focused and continued looking at the ability/talent drawing interface.
You have received the reward: draw one of Lothaire’s skills (Ability/Talent).
Note: Lothaire is a Pugilist. Parts of the abilities/talents are adjusted according to your class.
Randomizing… Complete! Please select one from the five options below as the reward:
(Stealth Master] Talent: Drastically reduce your presence to others, drastically reduce the chance of the enemies discovering you, and drastically reduce the clues you leave behind. You can easily find all the factors in a certain area that might lead to you being discovered, including but not limited to all kinds of surveillance devices and detection spells. 2. (Assassination Mark] Ability: Mark a target, increase the damage of your next attack to the target by 75%-100%, Critical Rate by 45%, and Critical Damage by 100%. Energy Cost: 150. Cooldown: 48s.
[One-Hit KO] Ability: When your next attack hits the target successfully, instantly carry out Lethal Judgement once. The base of the Judgement is the target’s Health, Endurance, Lethal Resistance, Luck, and the level difference between you and the target. If the Judgement succeeds, the target will die instantly. If the Judgement fails, the attack will deal an extra 280% damage. Energy Cost: 500. Cooldown: 1,2005.
[The Way of an Assassin) Ability: Charge energy into the next attack, accumulating extra damage bonuses. Energy to damage bonus Conversion Rate: 10:1%. Maximum damage bonus: 300%. Cooldown: 150s.
(Fearless Heart] Talent: When fighting a strong enemy, you will receive extra attack bonuses. When the enemy is below Grade B, this ability will not be triggered; when the enemy is Grade B, you will receive a 5% base attack bonus; when the enemy is Grade A, you will receive a 15% base attack bonus; when the enemy is Grade S, you will receive a 25% base attack bonus; when the enemy is Grade S+, you will receive a 35% base attack bonus; when the enemy is Grade SS, you will receive a 45% base attack bonus.
Woah! This kid! Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed. What’s a master assassin? This is a master assassin!
Lothaire had not been around for many years. It had been a very long time since Han Xiao last looked at his interface. He could recall that of these five options, other than the second option, Lothaire did not have any others back then.
Looks like this kid has been busy the past twenty years, he’s got many new skills. Han Xiao was overjoyed.
Such an excellent learning ability could almost match up to Nero. He had found a treasure.
He browsed through the options. No way he was going to pick the second or the third options. Although the Lethal Judgement of (One-Hit KO] was quite tempting, as soon as Han Xiao saw that Luck was one of the things considered for the Judgement, he instantly eliminated this option. The fourth option, (The Way of an Assassin), was quite powerful, but Han Xiao also eliminated it after some pondering. This ability could only provide bonuses for one attack, but attack frequency was what Mechanics focused on. Although the (Charge-Endless Potential] he had obtained from Silver Shadow could work together with this ability, it was too situational. There would not be many chances to use it. Han Xiao mainly hesitated between the first and the fifth option. (Stealth Master) was a functional talent that would dramatically enhance his stealth ability. It would be tremendously useful for spy operations, infiltration, stealing intelligence, and so on. Although it would not directly increase his strength, it would provide him with other forms of support. However, [Fearless Heart]’s bonuses were way too good!
This did not just enhance one attack, but it was a passive bonus. Every single attack from him and his mechanical army could enjoy the bonus!
Furthermore, the bonus was on top of base attacks, meaning the percentage increase could be seen as the increase in the actual damage dealt!
“The only ones who are qualified to fight me now are all peak Beyond Grade As. This talent is perfect for people like me!”
Han Xiao felt exhilarated.
To Lothaire, the bonuses of (Fearless Heart] beyond the third level were all useless, since there was no way he could defeat a Beyond Grade A now. Only Beyond Grade As could fully utilize the power of this talent.
After pondering for about ten seconds, the desire to deal more damage won in the end. Han Xiao had made his choice.
You have received the talent (Fearless Heart]!
“Nice.” Han Xiao took a deep breath. He felt a wave of heat that released from his brain that quickly flowed through his body.
After sensing it for a while, his expression became strange. He suddenly connected all the dots.
This talent was faithful to its name, it gave him a strong sense of confidence. Han Xiao noticed that more than half of his fear toward the strong had disappeared, replaced by disdain.
Manison? Fragile little sh*t, fight him!
The three Universal Civilizations? Piece of cake, fight them!
The World Tree Civilization? What is that? Fight them!
Anyone that appeared in his mind, he wanted to fight. His heart was filled with an indomitable sense of fearlessness, an illusion as if he could just beat up everything in the world.
He hastily suppressed this emotion, took a few deep breaths, and finally calmed himself down. It all made sense now.
“No wonder Lothaire dared assassinate the Modo Three Kings. Turns out it’s the side effect of this talent. The mystery is now solved…”
Han Xiao rolled his eyes.
What Fearless Heart? Bullsh*t, this is clearly Reckless Heart!
(Fearless Heart] was undoubtedly a semi-Molding Talent level talent. This was a surprise for Han Xiao.
He turned off the interface and contemplated what to do next. “Modo is already disqualified. The second requirement of the Kunde Race mission is complete. As long as Modo doesn’t come to mess with me, I won’t need to fight them in the future… Once they retreat, I won’t have an excuse to take part in the Flickering War anymore. I’ll have to temporarily exit this stage. The army players might have problems with that… but luckily, now is already the final stage of the version. The impact won’t be too
huge.”
Without Modo as an opponent, the Black Star Army no longer had a reason to continue participating in the Flickering World. This way, the army players would have to exit this main storyline too. If this had happened in the middle or even early stage of the version, the army players would have been in an uproar. Some of the newbies would most likely have changed factions to join the first World Server war.
However, Modo retreated at just the right time. It was now near the end of the version, meaning there was not much time left for the players to do things. Most of their energy was focused on preparing for the fourth season of the Pro League and the World Server War that was about to happen. These were the last two big things they could do near the end of the Version 4.0. Losing the Flickering War main storyline in this situation would minimize the players’ dissatisfaction. Furthermore, Han Xiao had faked a main storyline mission, which the players would receive reward from, making up for the loss of the players not being able to participate in the real main storyline mission to a certain extent.
Due to the existence of the Black Star Army, the state and territory distribution of the various guild alliances in the Flickering World was completely different from Han Xiao’s previous life. Furthermore, this difference would extend all the way to the versions in the future. Even Han Xiao could not really predict what would become of these guild alliances in the future.
Han Xiao pondered for a while. When he realized that there were no more big things he had to do at the end of the version, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“What needs to be done has been done. What’s left is to watch things develop like the other Beyond Grade As and wait for the Flickering War to come to a result…”
Han Xiao decided to lie low for some time and develop his technology, spending the remaining time of Version 4.0 peacefully. Furthermore, the army had attracted way too much attention recently. Nothing was good in excess, so it was a good time to cool down and temporarily stay out of the public eye.
“Now I just have to wait for the World Server War and the Pro League to suck out the players’ savings for me to have enough Experience for Promotion.”
Han Xiao smiled. He did not even have to come up with any promotional events. These two events were like automatic harvesting machines, convenient and effortless.
The Modo Civilization did not openly announce their retreat. They focused on promoting their plan to attack the terrorist organizations while quietly withdrawing the expeditionary army bit by bit.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance was an organization with shared interests, after all. Although Modo gave up on the Flickering War, they could not just walk away. As the Modo expeditionary army retreated, the other Super Star Cluster civilizations sent out some of their troops to form mixed fleets and took over this line of defense.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance was glad to see Modo exit. This way, their nightmare Black Star would be gone too. This was a completely beneficial trade in their eyes. Although the other Super Star Cluster civilizations were harsh in the things they said, they were still in the same alliance. They achieved some kind of deal with Modo and signed some agreements as compensation for Modo’s exit.
As the main enemy fled, the Black Star Army’s troops stopped attacking the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s line of defense and left the Ferdinand Battle Zone in batches. The forged mission (Black Star Army Expedition Order] concluded, giving the army players a wave of rich rewards.
Although the rewards were set by Han Xiao and slightly worse than the real main storyline, it had its pros. The players would only be able to conclude the real Flickering War main storyline mission after the war ended, meaning only in the next version. On the other hand, the fake main storyline mission Han Xiao had made could be concluded now, meaning the players would receive the reward before the version ended.
These rewards gave the army players more resources to level up abilities, purchase equipment, and so on to increase their strength. The most direct benefit was that this would help players in the World Server War and the Pro League that was about to come.
Just as Han Xiao expected, exiting the main storyline in advance did not trouble the players. If the war against Modo was still carrying on, this would cause ordering the players very difficult for the army. Now that he had basically given the players a holiday, they could fully focus on the World Server War.
Planet Milton was a desolate planet located in the exterior parts of the Emerald Star Cluster. Over the past few months, batches of fleets with symbols of different guild alliances had been arriving there, building bases, fortresses, and lines of defenses on this planet.
Many of these guild alliances were enemies with each other, but all of them silently agreed on ignoring each other and constructed their strongholds peacefully.
The reason that this happened was one of the rules stated inside the invitation letter that before the designated date to start the war arrived, all professional guilds and player alliances that had arrived on Planet Milton could construct as many strongholds as they wanted, but attacking each other was not allowed. Anyone who disobeyed the rules would be kicked out of this war.
This was like a ‘protected period’, basically the preparation stage for all the guild alliances that were participating, as well the time given to all the players to get there.
Therefore, in the past few months, these guilds had been sending one batch of spaceships there after another, transporting tons of resources and constructing many temporary strongholds. The locations they chose to build strongholds were anything but random; some guild alliances had teamed up with others, and their strongholds had to be built close to one another so that they could help each other.
Since fighting before the official date was not allowed, fighting for the locations to build their strongholds was also forbidden. It worked on a first come first served basis. Therefore, the invisible war started during the preparation stage when they were constructing the strongholds. Choosing the location of the strongholds was like playing chess; not only did they have to be close to their allies’ strongholds, but they also had to disrupt the enemy guild alliances’ stronghold formations.
As of now, about seventy percent of all the players in Galaxy had arrived. The unpopulated Planet Milton became exceptionally boisterous.
In Golden Alliance Base No.1, the upper echelons of the four biggest Chinese guilds and various top tier Chinese guilds gathered in one place.
In the middle of the room was a 3D projection of Planet Milton. The surface was divided into areas with different colors, representing the territories of different guild alliances.
The Golden Alliance was the guild alliance the Chinese profession clubs took the lead in founding. It basically included all the top tier Chinese guilds. The Golden Alliance could be seen as the representatives of the Chinese players; almost all the members were army players.
The term ‘army players’ was just a general term. It was not an official guild alliance and also had different factions. Some foreign players who only joined the army in Version 4.0 formed different guild alliances. Being in the same faction was a link that made these guild alliances natural allies.
Usually, these guild alliances could be seen as a whole, generally called the ‘army players’. However, when it comes to the national war, they still need to be classified separately.
The various guild alliances that gathered on Planet Milton could be roughly split into four Factions—the Black Star Army Faction led by the Golden Alliance, the Anti-Black Star Faction led by the Galactic Business Alliance, the Three Universal Civilizations Faction led by the September Conference, and the remaining scattered forces mainly consisting of the guilds from other Beyond Grade A organizations and neutral organizations. They fought for their own and had no leader.
Morning Snow Twilight Frost stood beside the projection, gestured with his hands, and said casually, “… As everyone can see, the Galactic Business Alliance, Northern Battlefront, 5C Alliance, and so on have always targeted us. They’ve set up their strongholds around every one of our strongholds, preventing us from expanding the base, clearly planning to surround us as soon as the war starts.” He was the president of the Dynasty Club’s official guild, also the first president of the Golden Alliance.
The president of the Temple of God, Jupiter, crossed his legs and said with disdain, “Ha, are these Europeans playing chess? Don’t they know who invented chess?”
“Our allies are responding too. Some arrived at the locations in advance, so the enemies won’t be able to surround us. Some built strongholds at important strategic locations. It won’t be that easy for the enemies to mess with us,” the president of the Jade Green Sky said slowly.
The guild alliances of the Black Star Army Faction had made an agreement to follow the lead of the Golden Alliance and fight together. Other than the guild alliances of the Black Star Army Faction, the Golden Alliance also received help from elsewhere, the enemies of their enemies. The enemy’s enemy might not be their friend, but at least there was room for them to work together.
“In terms of supplies, fleets, and weapons, we have the upper hand. The bulk purchased Evolutionary Badges are also given out, forming close to two hundred demolition divisions of eight hundred members each. In attacking strongholds, they’ll destroy the enemies with the aid of airstrikes very quickly,” a guild president said excitedly.
Fleets and all kinds of war machines were allowed in this war, but no Planetary Obliteration level weapons were permitted. However, the weapons used had to be bought. This war was a pure battle between the players; getting help from NPCs was clearly forbidden.
The various large guild alliances hosted this battle mainly to create exposure. The national war aligned with the various clubs’ interests. As long as they could achieve outstanding results in the war or even become the final winners, their guilds would be able to attract more ordinary players, gain more fame, and earn through traffic. This was the goal of professional clubs.
As for the winning condition, it was very simple. There were mainly two ways. One was to destroy all of the enemy’s strongholds on Planet Milton. After the battle started, the guild alliances would still be able to continue building more strongholds, but the others would be allowed to attack them.
Another way was to deplete the opposing guild members’ revival times in the week. The players could revive ten times in six days at most on one account, and in such a highly intense war with hundreds of millions of players participating, the frequency of the players dying would become strikingly high. Morning Snow Twilight Frost nodded, turned to the many professional players who were listening on the side, and asked, “How’s the challenge going?”
King Admiral said lazily, “More wins than losses. I forgot the exact numbers.”
Bun-Hit-Dog instantly gave a thumbs up with a grin. “No worries, I remember. We’re now at 3,488 wins, 1,142 losses. The win rate is about 75%. It’s glorious!”
The rules stated that the guilds could not fight each other, but since so many players had gathered there, clearly some would get too bored. Duels were not forbidden, so PVP matches could be seen everywhere.
=
Due to this, the various large guild alliances sent out many PVP experts to challenge players of the other guilds. If they won, the other guild’s morale would be affected.
The results of these duels needed to be promoted to increase the popularity of the guild, so professional reports were needed. Hence, Bun-Hit-Dog, who was a celebrity, was hired by the Golden Alliance as the chief reporter to lead the entire battlefield reporters group, personally in charge of writing the battle reports of the Golden Alliance.
Such a large-scale national war had players in all kinds of industries participating such as PVP experts, logistics players, management personnel, reporters, and so on. They all had their own job to do. It was a festival.
As the date for the start of the war approached, the atmosphere on Planet Milton became more and more heavy. A storm was coming.
The players were not the only ones who paid attention to this war. Even the other organizations paid attention to this war between the Immortals.
The three Universal Civilizations, Super Star Cluster civilizations, and the other organizations got some information from the players. Although they were surprised by the special hostility between the Immortals, they all did not disrupt them, only observed them, quietly recording the specialties of Immortals.
If the Black Star Army Faction won his war, Han Xiao would benefit from it too. His faction would be more appealing to the new players. However, he did not plan to interfere. He did not want to ruin this signature event that would certainly be written into the Galaxy Chronicles. He only wanted to stay at home and watch the show while eating some popcorn.
Time passed. Under the eyes of countless people, the day of the national war finally arrived!
Despite constructing many strongholds on Planet Milton, all the big guild alliances had a main base, usually the first stronghold they built. It had no difference from the other strongholds in terms of rules, but to the players, it was a symbol, like the main city. Dragon Hill was a large hill that surrounded the Golden Alliance’s main base. It originally had no name. The name Dragon Hill was given by the Golden Alliance after they occupied this place. On the day of the beginning of the war, hundreds of battlefields of varying sizes appeared on Planet Milton. Most were between strongholds. Among all these battlefields, Dragon Hill attracted the most attention. This was because the Anti-Black Star Faction had placed their main forces there, planning to get rid of the Golden Alliance’s main base on the first day of the war. The Golden Alliance, too, placed their main forces there and prepared for it. They had decided to fight head-on.
Almost ten million players from both factions gathered on Dragon Hill, looking forward to the battle. The countless troops turned this hill into a colorful sea. Teams of players kept shifting locations like tides on the sea.
The mixed colors came from the troops of the Anti-Black Star Faction, as they wore very different equipment. As for the Golden Alliance, they were wearing the army’s standard mechanical suits, which were black and silver. It was very neat. The Golden Alliance looked like a huge official army, unlike the Anti-Black Star Faction, which looked like a mere mix of small forces.
The people of the Galactic Business Alliance and other guilds were stationed at the south, east, and west sides, planning to attack from all three directions. The Golden Alliance troops’ formation was circular, wrapped around the main base. The formations of two sides were separated by a wide belt area.
Inside the strategy surveillance room, the 3D satellite map hovered in the middle.
Morning Snow Twilight Frost, who took the position as the main commander of the battle, stared closely at the map, giving out orders one after another. The dozen military strategists around him occasionally gave suggestions, while the group of assistants sent the orders down.
For such a large battle, fighting without an overall strategy would spell certain defeat, so the commanding system was very crucial.
To prevent electromagnetic or virtual technology disruptions that might prevent the frontlines from receiving orders, both sides chose to use the chat system in the interface as the channel to give out orders.
The main commander looked over the entire battle and analyzed the situation with the military strategists. The orders would then be passed down by the messengers in the command room to the various high commanders. The high commanders would then swiftly adjust the detailed strategy based on the orders and the situation of the frontlines before giving orders to the intermediate commanders under them. The intermediate commanders would then pass the order down to the team captains at the frontlines, who would then communicate with their team members in the team channel and execute the orders.
On both sides, there were as many as more than a hundred thousand commanders, the majority being the team captains.
This procedure looked complicated, but because the chat system was not restricted by distance and everyone did their job properly, it was very efficient.
If all the players made up a body, the main commanders and the high commanders would be the brain giving the orders, and the intermediate commanders and the team captains would be the nervous system responsible for controlling the body based on the orders the brain gave. Morning Snow Twilight Frost gave a round of orders. Seeing that the troops on his side were all almost in place, he exhaled softly, turned to Jade Green Sky, who was one of the military strategists and asked, “… The setup is about complete. How much time till the war starts?”
“Six minutes and eleven seconds.”
“It’s about time. Tell all teams to preheat their weapons. Activate the shields of the base and the frontlines too. At the three-minute mark, have the enchantment Mages start applying buffs and the rest start consuming whatever combat capability enhancement potions they have.”
The order was quickly passed down. A thick, light-blue energy shield rose around the main base and shrouded it.
The defense Mage teams at the frontlines started to apply shields and enchanting spells on the other teams around very soon. The Pugilist teams who would be leading the charge also started to inject enhancement potions. These bonuses all had a time limit, so using it right before the start of the war would maximize the effects.
The Anti-Black Star Faction’s men were doing the same thing. Colorful lights appeared on both sides like a fireworks competition.
Seconds felt like years in the last three minutes. All the players present were exhilarated and nervous. They held their breath, focused, and waited for the war to start. The atmosphere of the battlefield was silent and intense.
As the countdown continued, it finally reached zero.
“Go!”
At that instant, the earth started trembling!
The battlefield that was silent just seconds ago was suddenly filled with roars and battle cries. The battle erupted instantly!
The two stationary seas suddenly turned into raging tsunamis, charging at each other!
Countless energy beams formed an enormous net on the empty area between the two sides. Tons of players fell during the charge from the opponent’s long ranged attacks. The black and the mixed colored tides quickly closed in on each other and clashed!
Boom boom boom boom!
Chains of explosions left cracks and pits on the ground. Dragon Hill swiftly became a mess. The charging teams of both sides collapsed in large areas. In just an instant, countless mechanical soldiers, Pugilists, and melee-ranged Esper players died on the spot. It was a bloodbath! This was not a stage for any one person. No matter how strong a player was, once they got out of the main formation, they would be killed in an instant. Carrying out their individual duties in groups was the only choice.
“Area C5 and D2, target their Psychic teams! Their AOE is too strong. The shield durability is almost at the warning line!”
“Defense Mages, keep giving the Pugilists enhancing spells. Throw fire or poison spells or whatever you have toward the enemies! Trap experts, stop f*cking throwing spells and keep planting traps! Summoners, get your babies out quicker… Where’s the attack Mage team of Area B2? Don’t fall out of formation!”
“Area A1, A4, B2, B6, C1, and D1 Mechanics, quickly disassemble the traps. D9’s artillery is broken. Go repair it. Army Style and Mechanical Pugilists, keep advancing. Cannon Masters, don’t stop attacking. Target their Psychics and Mages. Virtual Mechanics, handle their fleets. Armed and Energy Mechanics, bring out your heavy weapons and continue to fire. Target their Pugilists!”
“Psychics, focus on their Mechanics. Remember to save your mana… Nice! Someone landed a Super Critical Hit! A ton of enemies have just died!”
“Espers who are not melee types, don’t rush forward. Stay behind, and step back to recover your mana when you’re out… Didn’t I f*cking tell you not to rush forward? That’s the job of Pugilists! Why the f*ck are you fighting for it?” “Area C2 Pugilists, try to die slower! Get back to the frontlines after reviving. What are you waiting for?” The battle entered the climax instantly. The chat channels were filled with energy, and the commanders were yelling at the top of their lungs.
The players of the five classes all had their job to do. Psychics were responsible for AOE attacks and applying debuffs. Espers and Mages were responsible for whatever their ability was or what they excelled at.
The Pugilists were the most tragic, they could only lay down their bodies at the frontlines for the rest to advance. The Pugilists were strong and incredible in the early versions, now they were weak and helpless. How the tables turn.
After all, Pugilist was a civilian class, the pros of it were that it was easy to play, the fighting style was cool, and it was not bad in duels.
However, in large battlefields like this, everyone was targeting Pugilists, hoping to deplete their revival times so that their opponent would lose the teams who were leading the charge. In situations like this, the Pugilists’ death rate was far higher than the other four classes. Even the term ‘cool’ was lost on them. They were basically competing on who could die in a flashier way.
Furthermore, Pugilists did not have any other choices. No one would want them even if they wanted to do construction work in the logistics department; their efficiency was far lower than all kinds of mechanical devices.
At this time, the thoughts in the various Pugilist players’ minds were shockingly similar.
F*cking hell, how am I supposed to play this class? Comparatively, Mechanics who were weak in the early stages were shining brightly in battles. They were the busiest in the battlefield. They could fight, manage logistics, charge forward, deal both single target and AOE damage, repair, and produce. They were irreplaceable.
Due to how strategically crucial the Mechanics were, the Golden Alliance had an edge. Because of their faction, the most elite Mechanics among the players were all in the Black Star Army. Basically all of them were members of the Golden Alliance.
As the battle carried on, the situation started shifting—the Golden Alliance gained the upper hand, and it was expanding.
The top tier professional players all had the privilege of getting resources poured onto them by their clubs, so the difference between them was not too obvious. However, in terms of overall strength of the players, the Golden Alliance surpassed the Anti-Black Star Faction.
The Black Star Army had united the Chinese players long ago, saving the players the cost of continuously changing factions. Furthermore, there were all kinds of faction privileges from time to time. Their growth was much more organized than the ‘wild’ players who had been in many different factions in the past versions.
After close to four versions, the Golden Alliance players were clearly superior in terms of abilities and equipment overall.
Furthermore, the fake main storyline Han Xiao concluded in advance gave the army players another wave of funds and Experience. One or two players receiving it would not make a difference, but tens of millions of players all received the reward. When that materialized in this battlefield, it increased their edge even further.
“The casualty count statistics are out!”
Inside the main base’s command room, Morning Snow Twilight Frost was giving out orders when he received a set of smart statistics. His eyes gleamed.
“The enemies died 0.742 times on average. For our side, it’s 0.631 times. Wonderful!”
The people present were overjoyed.
This data represented the average deaths per player on both sides. Though the difference was only 0.111, in this battle of tens of millions of players, this meant that the players on their side died about five hundred thousand times less than the opponents! “The revive limit is only ten every six days. Finishing those revives means you’re out. Today is the first day of the war, so their bottom line is probably between 1.8 to 2.2. Their charging team has died more times than the average at almost 1.2. They’ll soon be unable to hold on!”
Morning Snow Twilight Frost narrowed his eyes and said, “Send in fifty demolition divisions. Advance at my command!”
As they were not fighting NPCs, both sides did not use large-scale suicidal attacks. Everyone could revive multiple times, and if used wrongly, they might lose more than they had to gain instead.
The Golden Alliance had piled up a ton of Evolution Badges when preparing for the war. Fifty demolition divisions meant forty thousand players, which was about a 0.01 increase in the overall average death count after conversion. They now had an enormous edge, so they could totally take the risk. The goal was not to kill more enemies but to make use of the tankiness and the high melee damage bonus of the Aberrations to break the opponent’s formation.
As the order was passed down, a special team was escorted into the frontlines. With countless flashes of light, their bodies expanded into Aberrations one after another and charged into the enemy formation, unstoppable like a hot knife cutting through butter!
A total of forty thousand monsters with multiple buffs charged into the enemy’s formation, instantly creating areas of enemy Pugilist players that were separated from the rest. The attacks from the Golden Alliance followed right after and wiped them out on the spot.
The violence of the Evolution Badge was recognized by all the players. The advance of forty thousand Aberrations messed up the Anti-Black Star Faction’s command system for a while.
They spent quite a lot of time before killing all these Aberrations. The chaos had caused the Anti-Black Star Faction’s average death count to increase by 0.018, meaning about a hundred thousand players died. The difference between two sides was getting bigger, especially among the Pugilist teams. “We can win!”
The morale of the Golden Alliance players in the frontlines rocketed. The players of the Galactic Business Alliance were clearly not as energetic.
Battles between large armies would not be turned around easily. As soon as one side had the upper hand, the remaining battle would just be the process of snowballing.
The situation continuously became better for the Golden Alliance and worse for the other side. The results of the battle were gradually growing certain.
While the battle on Dragon Hill was going on fiercely, Han Xiao, who was far away in Black Star Palace, was holding a bag of popcorn in his one hand and a drink in the other, watching the broadcast from Bun-Hit-Dog on the forums.
However, his focus was not the situation of the battle…
“Nice, nice, using forty thousand Evolution Badges at once. Charging these Evolution Badges is going to get me a wave of Experience again. Keep using them.”
“Haha, hundreds more mechanical teams are destroyed. More repair fees.”
Han Xiao was joyous. He did not feel heartache about the battle damage the Golden Alliance was suffering at all. He was practically laughing.
In his eyes, every batch of resources the Golden Alliance lost meant a new round of sales for him. If not because the faction benefits could not be given out randomly, he would even sell to the Anti-Black Star Faction.
“War is still the most profitable!” Han Xiao grinned.
At this point, he felt like he was a shameless strategist reclaiming the resources he gave out from the players in all kinds of ways.
After all, the players would only be motivated to create more value when their hard-earned resources were emptied.
The Dragon Hill battle was like a signal. Flames of war erupted everywhere on Planet Milton in the next two days. The bloodshed of the guild alliance players was never-ending. Battles happened on hundreds of battlefields across many strongholds every moment. It was as if Planet Milton was being bombarded continuously for two days. The surface was completely wrecked by the hundreds of millions of players.
The forums were basically filled with only two types of posts, the ones that kindly greeted the families of the opposing players and the battle reports of the various battlefield reporters.
As there were way too many battles going on across the various battlefields at the same time, even Han Xiao could not follow all of them. He only watched the Golden Alliance’s performance on the first day, saw that the Golden Alliance had emerged victorious in the Dragon Hill battle, and stopped paying close attention. He only looked at Bun-Hit-Dog and the Galaxy Times’ reports once every few hours to get an idea of the overall situation of the World Server War.
In general, the Golden Alliance had the biggest advantage. The guild alliances such as the Galactic Business Alliance suffered large losses on the first day, so they clearly became much more cautious.
As for the Three Universal Civilizations Faction led by the Golden Alliance and the September Conference, they did not organize any large-scale battles, only smaller partial battles. Instead, the scattered neutral factions were the ones that had fought most intensely so far. The scattered neutral factions had the most players. Many smaller guilds formed small alliances. Not only were they fiercely fighting each other, but some daring players even formed teams and attacked the strongholds of the big factions such as the Black Star Army Factions. Most of them were defeated, but a small percentage of them managed to take over some strongholds from the three mainstream factions.
In similar events, cleaning up the scattered players was normally the first thing that needed to be done. However, that was not the case here. The war was extremely brutal, and the revival count that basically no players cared about usually now became the most crucial resource.
The three mainstream factions had the ability to eliminate any scattered factions they wanted, but doing that without taking at least some damage was impossible. The players were fearless and would never give up resisting. Even the three mainstream factions would certainly incur some losses. To them, using the crucial revival counts on these scattered players was an utter waste.
Furthermore, attempting to cleanse the scattered players on a large scale would most likely cause them to unite and fight back. By then, they would have shot themselves in the foot and gotten trounced by the scattered players.
Although the rules did not state a time limit, everyone had an unspoken agreement to decide the results of the war in six days. Otherwise, their revival count would refresh again by then, which would be extremely costly for the guild alliances.
Although the players could revive again, their resources would undoubtedly deplete as time went on. If they were to fight another round, the inventory of the guild alliances would suffer tremendously. Furthermore, normal players would not be willing to go through the death penalty too many times.
In his exclusive workshop in Black Star Palace, Han Xiao stored away a newly built King mechanical suit, casually opened the forums, and browsed through the battle reports for today.
‘Golden Alliance 8 Hours Report: Continued Increase in Win Probability’ – By Bun-Hit-Dog: “The Golden Alliance has carried out forty-one battles in the past eight hours, four are million level battles, eleven are five hundred thousand level partial battles, twenty-two are a hundred thousand level partial battles, and four small group battles. No ten million level battles. Of them, the Golden Alliance won twenty-nine and lost twelve, winning 70.73% of the battles, a 3.16% increase compared to yesterday. The overall average death count increased from 2.375 to 2.814, maintaining at the top of the average survival leaderboards, further increasing their lead over the second in place. The difference now has already reached 0.703!”
‘Flying Stone Cliff Quick Report’ – By Galaxy Times (Chinese Zone): “Today, the Galactic Business Alliance and the Northern Battlefront’s stronghold in Haywood Valley was assaulted by the September Council and Denland. As their teleportation arrays were disrupted, the Galactic Business Alliance and the Northern Battlefront dispatched the closest forces to travel to the Haywood Valley stronghold as reinforcements. However, when they passed by Flying Stone Cliff, they fell into the Golden Alliance’s ambush and suffered heavy losses. According to reliable sources, the Golden Alliance secretly dispatched a team there and had them log off. By logging in at the Flying Stone Cliff, they took the enemies by complete surprise, achieving a huge victory!”
There were many similar reports, Han Xiao scanned through them with a smile to see which guild alliances were eliminated for about half an hour before exiting the forums.
Beep beep beep! At this time, his communicator rang. It was surprisingly the dynasty exploration army’s Marshal, Brother Tarrokov.
Han Xiao accepted the communication and asked with a smile, “Yoho, Old Tar, what’s
up?”
“Have you been paying attention to the war between the Immortals?” Tarrokov’s tone was serious.
“Hehe, I have a ton of Immortals under my command. How can I not pay attention? Come on, do you have to test me like this? Did the dynasty upper echelons send you?”
Han Xiao had a rough guess of what Tarrokov’s intentions were.
“Hmm…” Tarrokov did not deny it and slowly said, “What I want to ask is, how much do you really know about the Immortals?”
“Be more specific.”
“Alright… the Intelligence Department and the Dynasty Science Institute have never stopped observing the Immortals. One of the earliest batches of Immortals appeared on Planet Aquamarine, which were almost all recruited by you. You seem to have a very deep understanding of them. We’d like to know, why do the Immortals disappear every so often? Why does all of their strength increase after appearing again after they disappear? Does this strength increase of theirs have a limit? Can they really be fully controlled?”
A chain of questions was thrown at Han Xiao. He did not immediately respond. He felt the attitude change of the Crimson Dynasty.
The three Universal Civilizations had always been studying the Immortals, and now they finally came to him, who was an ‘expert’ in this matter on the surface. This was clearly because of the World Server War. It had made them take the Immortals even more seriously!
The nickname ‘Cancer of the Universe’ had existed for more than half of the version. The players had always been active in different events everywhere. Even though there was the Black Star Cup not long ago, that was just a competition. This time, however, was the first time the various organizations finally witnessed a large-scale battle only Immortals took part in.
The weapons and fleets they used were nothing extraordinary, nor was the scale as marvelous as the galactic battles. The only thing that was shocking was how fiercely the Supers fought. The Immortals from different factions had fought before too, but this time, it was much bloodier and more brutal. The advanced civilizations were only shocked, but those smaller organizations were almost spooked!
So, this is what a war between the Cancers of the Universe is like. We still underestimated the violence of these people!
Thinking about the specialties the Immortals had shown in the past, the dynasty no longer had the leisure to slowly carry out their studies, so they approached Han Xiao, hoping to obtain more detailed information.
“I don’t know them that well. You guys probably already know what I know…”
Of course, Han Xiao was not going to tell the entire truth. He casually said some things. Most was information the others could also obtain, nothing rare or new. “Is that all you know?” Tarrokov was not convinced yet.
“What else? I was only able to find some patterns before others. I’m not an Immortal. How can I know everything?” Han Xiao joked.
“You’re right…” Tarrokov nodded.
Actually, the Crimson Dynasty had suspected that Black Star was an Immortal decades ago.
However, no one had been able to kill him, so there was no way to know the truth.
Then, since Black Star did not disappear periodically like the Immortals, the dynasty had let go of this suspicion.
After Tarrokov was gone, Han Xiao wiped off the smile on his face and looked serious.
He opened the interface, looked at the Experience gauge, and made an estimate.
“At this rate of harvesting Experience, when this fight is over, I’ll have more than enough Experience to complete the level 340 Promotion before the Pro League starts… Hmm, I can use the Evolution Cube again this time.”
Han Xiao frowned slightly.
As the strength of the players increased, the state of the universe would become more and more chaotic. He would only be able to deal with all kinds of changes by becoming stronger as quickly as possible. By then, no matter how the advanced civilizations responded, he would be able to deal with it.
The players of the Limitless Financial Group were also part of the World Server War. They were one of the large forces among the scattered factions.
Sorokin was also paying attention to this battle, but not just to observe it-he had other plans.
“This seems like a good opportunity to attract Immortals…” Sorokin’s eyes flickered.
He had always been passionate about recruiting the Immortals. Although he did not know the truth about the players, the path Han Xiao had taken gave him some ideas.
Sorokin had carefully studied the Black Star Army’s history, especially the methods the Black Star Army used to attract the Immortals. By concluding what had happened in the past, he had found quite a lot of patterns.
By now, Sorokin felt like he had already mastered Black Star’s methods.
“This war between so many Immortals is a good opportunity for the Limitless Financial Group to make a name for itself among the Immortals. If the Immortals of the Limitless Financial Group win in the end, it should attract more Immortals…”
Usually, the Limitless Financial Group Immortals did not have an edge. In order for them to win, he had to interfere. Anyway, he was not restrained by his reputation like the other Beyond Grade As. Even if word of him, a Beyond Grade A, shamelessly interfering with a war between Grade B supers got out, his reputation would not be affected because he never had one to begin with. As a Beyond Grade A, even without using his full strength, he would be able to decide the results of battles at this level. Furthermore, his methods were extremely sneaky. He believed that these Grade B Immortals would not be able to discover them.
“Looks like this is worth a try. I shall do it…” Sorokin made up his mind.
His speculation actually made sense. However, he could not see the forums, so he lacked the most crucial piece of information… He had no idea the players were fighting, and more importantly, he was completely clueless about the fact that the rules forbade NPCs from interfering!
The players of the Limitless Financial Group did not dare break the rules. They had invested a ton of resources and worked hard trying to maintain the good results they had achieved.
What they would never have expected was that their own faction leader was preparing to get them instantly disqualified.
Within Mount Gold, a large base was embedded in the mountain, with the sky around it hovering with battleships and a team of mechanical guards, tightly guarding the area.
This was the main base of the Apocalypse Foundation, the largest guild alliance belonging to the Limitless Financial Group. Sixty to seventy percent of the mountain itself had been transformed into mechanical defense facilities, and relying on this main base, they had also cleaned up the surrounding small areas to continuously expand. In the middle of the third day of battle, the Mount Gold stronghold sent three ace troops to conquer the Hex Armed Forces of the Wind Hunting Valley. This was another large guild alliance that occupied the area. The two of them had been fighting for regional supremacy.
The Hex Armed Forces had long detected that their enemies would attack and thus pulled out their troops. Both sides fought fiercely outside Wind Hunting Valley, neither side willing to extricate themselves.
Just as the fierce battle between the two were raging, another guild alliance called the Reverse Crusade launched a raid on the Mount Gold stronghold.
They had planned this for a long time and stationed their troops to hide and ambush the area a day and a half in advance. They had even erected a secret resurrection point in the area. Using the opportunity when the main forces of both sides were in battle, they attacked the relatively empty base camp of the Apocalypse Foundation, intending to steal the other’s base.
The Apocalypse Foundation was at the disadvantage of fighting on two fronts. They actually intended to withdraw the troops attempting to conquer Wind Hunting Valley. However, the Hex Armed Forces seemed to have anticipated the emergence of the Reverse Crusade and entangled the main force of the Apocalypse Foundation, not allowing it to separate from them.
At this moment, the stronghold at Mount Gold had turned into another fierce battlefield. A large number of artillery battleship and combat machinery were fighting in the air, fireworks constantly dotting the sky, and the ground was full of players fighting in the hills and plains.
The Apocalypse Foundation had basically dispatched all their trump cards at this point and did not have many of their elites to guard their base. Most of the members in the base were their periphery members, and faced with the attack of the elites in the Reverse Crusade, they could only steadily retreat from the base.
A flood of unfavorable battle reports was sent back to the main command room of the stronghold, causing the leader of the Apocalypse Foundation, Sisyphus, to feel beleaguered.
“No wonder the Hex Armed Forces suddenly provoked us. It was all to lure us into falling into their trap! They’re indeed devils!”
Sisyphus hurriedly contacted his Vice President, who had led the team to attack the Hex Armed Forces, through the guild channel.
“Quickly come back to reinforce us. This old man here can’t hold them back for long!”
“Boss, we can’t withdraw at all. The Hex Armed Forces are chasing us too closely. Unless we all die, there’s no way for us to return. The average number of deaths in our main force has reached 5.14. If we go up by one more point, we’ll be even more passive. Right now, even if we manage to go back, our ships and weapons will also be captured by the enemy!”
“We’re already at this stage. If we lose a bit, it can’t be helped. It’s more important to protect our base!”
“We can’t! The enemy has already made preparations in advance. If we all try to return via dying, then they’ll definitely push the momentum to attack our home base, joining hands with the Reverse Crusade!”
Hearing this, Sisyphus frantically scratched his head.
As they had been caught off guard, the situation now was two against one, and the Apocalypse Foundation alone could not handle it. He could only ask for help from the other guild alliances that were on the Limitless Financial Group’s front.
“I hope that our reinforcements can arrive in time. This time, I really suffered a huge loss…”
With a heavy heart, he refocused his eyes back to the real-time battlefield projection, but he froze on the spot.
“W-what is this situation?”
Turning to look at his members and commanders, he found that everyone had the same expression of shock, as though they had come across a ghost.
In the monitoring screen showing the frontal battlefield outside the Mount Gold stronghold, one of the squads of the Reverse Crusade had broken through the defense line and slammed into their troops.
“Instagib[1] them!”
The death squad prepared all their abilities, ready to collectively blast the whole lot of them.
At this moment, all their movement stopped, as the light on their bodies disappeared due to being interrupted.
Not only did it apply to the death squad, but all the Reverse Crusade players had the same reaction, as though the freeze button was pressed simultaneously for them. All their actions were halted, causing the troops to be instantly disconnected and the lineup torn.
On the interface of these players, the same notification appeared.
Sorokin (Manifestation) has used [Mind Shock] on you!
Judgment is in progress… Judgement successful. You cannot control your body for the time being
Your skills are forcibly interrupted, and you have been afflicted with the (Stiffness] status.
In that instant, the situation went through a plot twist. The Reverse Crusade, which was originally beginning to see the light of victory, suddenly plummeted into the abyss, their psychological states suffering a great shock.
At this moment, there were only curses echoing in their heads.
You even called out a Beyond Grade A?
This is cheating!
Are the guilds of the Limitless Financial Group such sore losers?
The short (Stiffness) status condition turned the tides in an instant. The Apocalypse Foundation players did not stop, setting off a burst of explosions to take out a large portion of the players from the Reverse Crusade, reclaiming their battlefront.
The Apocalypse Foundation players were also in shock, not because of the sudden stop of the Reverse Crusade players, but rather because of a notification that they received on their interfaces.
Sorokin (Manifestation) has used (Spiritual Inspiration) on you!
You have entered the [Inspired) state. +10% all Attributes.
Sorokin (Manifestation) has used (Combat Excitement) on you! +18% to Damage, +12% to Defense
“What’s happening?”
“Where did the bonuses come from? Did someone use a Character Summon Card?” “That’s not right. Even if the Character Summon Card is used, the name of the user won’t be changed!”
The troops at the frontline could not understand it, but this was not the time to think. They hurriedly struck to kill the enemy instead.
Before long, most of the troops from Reverse Crusade had died. Everyone thought that this was a desperate situation but did not expect to solve the threat in such a manner.
Sisyphus had yet to recover his wits. At this time, a call came from his Vice President, his tone one of surprise. “President! We beat the Hex Armed Forces! I don’t know why, but their movements suddenly halted!” “It can’t be, right?” Sisyphus hurriedly asked the various commanders, only then figuring out what had happened. He was bewildered. What situation is this? Did Sorokin arrive? But we didn’t call him! Why did he come to join in the fun?
Could it be that he saw us in danger and took the initiative to help?
Sisyphus’ eyes widened. There was nothing on his face that represented the joy of making a successful counterattack.
In normal times, they might have been touched, but right now…
What business is it of yours? Your excessive worrying will be the death of us all!
The next day…
“Look at the iron hooves,
“Trampling across the myriad mountains and rivers,
“I’m standing on the edge of the wind,
“Holding tightly the rotation of the sun and moon.”
Han Xiao hummed[2] while walking out the bathroom.
With only a towel wrapped around his waist, his toned, sturdy upper body was exposed, with the magic circuit on his chest akin to a glowing dark blue tattoo, flickering with each breath.
A pinnacle Beyond Grade A could basically forego rest, but Han Xiao had always attached importance to a combination of work and rest. In the past few days, he had created seven to eight sets of King mechanical suits, so he decided that he would not be doing any assembly today. Without adjusting his body temperature to evaporate the water, he simply wiped his body dry before kicking back to swipe the forums. The moment he entered the forum section, his expression turned weird. “Apocalypse Foundation violated the rules, inviting Beyond Grade A helpers? Aren’t they part of the Limitless Financial Group’s guild alliances?”
Han Xiao entered the post and saw that the replies had gone into the tens of millions.
The content of the post was basically the Hex Armed Forces and the Reverse Crusade condemning the Apocalypse Foundation. After a day of fermenting, this incident had resulted in a storm within the player community. Countless players were filled with indignation and accused the Apocalypse Foundation of violating their rules.
“It’s too much. We were actually going to win. I didn’t expect that the Apocalypse Foundation would be such sore losers, hiring a faction leader and using this method to make a comeback. This is simply cheating!”
“There’s a whole stack of videos and screenshots as evidence. Let’s see how you explain this!”
“That’s right! Yesterday, someone even tried to clean up the mess, saying that this was the effect of a Character Summon Card. My @ss! Since when was the Character Summon Card able to change the name of the person utilizing it?”
“Such acts that undermine fairness must be severely punished. I propose we cancel the qualification of the Apocalypse Foundation in participating in the war. Since you can’t afford to lose, don’t play!”
The forum was basically full of posts of annoyance. Han Xiao swept through it, seeing the announcement made by the Apocalypse Foundation as well.
“I’m the President of the Apocalypse Foundation Guild Alliance. Things are not what they seem. We did not ask Sorokin for help; he did it himself. This has nothing to do with us. Think about it, guys. We’re clearly aware of the consequences of breaking the rules, so why would we purposely go against them!”
Sisyphus’ post, in the face of the enraged group of players, was like a drop of water in a bucket. Not only was it not convincing, he was even ridiculed in return.
“Hehe, continue crafting this story.” “So, as it turns out, you can invite the Beyond Grade A to help first, then apologize later and absolve yourself of all blame. I’ve learned something today.”
“What, do you think only your side has a Beyond Grade A? Who are you looking down on!”
“You wanna play this game? Men, someone go invite Ancestor Black Star over!”
Many of the players did not accept this statement, but the players on the side of the Limitless Financial Group sort of believed this to some extent. Suddenly, there was a mix of responses.
“It can’t be, right? Sorokin, that old dog, was actually so nosy?”
“This is akin to a time bomb! When it comes to us, then wouldn’t our qualifications to participate be cancelled too?”
“I’ll meekly ask now. Is it still possible to change factions…”
“Level 180 Psychic, my core class skills are all lv.7 and above. Begging for a guild to accept me!”
Sorokin’s actions completely scared off all the players from the Limitless Financial Group. In order to continue participating in the war, the players even wished to switch camps. They did not dare stay any longer in this organization that could backfire on them at any time.
After reading the post, Han Xiao finally figured out what was going on.
“The guilds shouldn’t be lying, so this was likely done of Sorokin’s own initiative. As for his goal… well, he has always been keen on recruiting players, so he probably summarized some rules from watching me and thought of how to increase the attractiveness of his faction.”
After realizing the whole picture, Han Xiao guessed Sorokin’s logic before bursting into laughter. “So, it’s like this… The idiot actually thought that his actions were completely concealed, just using some auxiliary mental abilities to make others think that this was an explosive ability of the Limitless Financial Group players or that they utilized some special spiritual weapon. Normally, they would not be able to link it to him… but the combat information has already betrayed you, you little cheater.”
Han Xiao laughed. Little Soro, ah, Little Soro, you shot yourself in the foot. When you use the wrong method, instead of lifting the prestige of your faction, you will cause a countereffect, giving you a bad reputation among the players.
The worst part about this was, the poor bloke could not even access the forums, so he was still in the dark, unaware that he had been scolded thoroughly by the players.
This is the advantage of information…
Sorokin’s manipulation would no doubt result in some of the players of the Limitless Financial Group leaving. At that time, when the players were cold and lonely, he would use his warm chest to hug them, welcoming them into his faction.
Little So, it’s not me who’s snatching your leeks this time. You handed them to me yourself…
Han Xiao chuckled.
This feeling of earning something while sitting at home was pretty comfortable.
Since his intervention yesterday, Sorokin had been paying attention to the subsequent development, but he could not help but feel puzzled when he did not see the situation he expected.
Based on his reasoning, the Apocalypse Foundation had launched a successful counterattack with his help. The other Immortals would now be amazed by the strength of the Limitless Financial Group, so why did they not show any response?
It was not until the next day that he saw the Apocalypse Foundation reacting. It was not the pursuit of their victory as he expected but them abandoning their base and leaving the planet on a battleship.
“Strange, what’s this reaction?”
In his office, Sorokin gazed at the live broadcast of the news media covering the front lines, and he frowned.
Just as he was feeling puzzled, Sorokin received a pop-up from his own artificial intelligence. One glance caused his heart to skip a beat.
He saw that the pop-up report was full of resignation notices from the Immortals, and this number was rapidly increasing.
“What’s happening? Why are they resigning from the Limitless Financial group?”.
Sorokin had a stunned expression, and as if he had thought of something, he quickly turned back to the live broadcast.
He saw batches of Immortals belonging to the Limitless Financial Group flying out of the stronghold, scattering. Some went to the neutral factions, while others ran to the three mainstream factions, including the Black Star Army. There was no restriction on the operation of players to switch factions on the spot, so one could be beating someone up one day and turn into teammates the next day. This was all allowed in the rules. The Limitless Financial Group, being a galactic consortium, did not pursue faction cohesion in the first place. Those who joined did so because of the high welfare provided, so there was no reluctance for them to switch factions. Now that the first World Server War was destined to be recorded in the Galaxy Chronicles, if they missed this opportunity, there would not be any reward left for them. In order to not be disqualified, the Limitless Financial Group did not hesitate to betray their faction.
“This…”
Seeing this, Sorokin was a little dizzy.
My methods were obviously the same as those of Black Star, so why did I get the opposite effect?
as
That’s not right. That’s not how the script was written!
[1] This is a gaming term referring to one-hit kills.
[2] These are lyrics from “Borrowing 500 Years from Heaven”.
The change in the Limitless Financial Group was just a small episode in the entire national war. After some players changed factions, the heat of this episode quickly subsided, and the various guild alliances redirected their attention to competing against each other.
The battlefield developed day by day, with a large number of players being eliminated. Because the number of resurrections decreased, the surviving guild alliances had become more cautious, not daring to be so aggressive. In addition, because many of the guilds had been eliminated, the battle was not as intense.
Because the Golden Alliance was constantly ranked first on the list, their lead kept on snowballing, and their current advantage was too huge. They were ambushed by the anti-Black Star troops, those from the three Universal Civilizations, and a bunch of loose guild alliances. This was one of their most tragic battles since the beginning of the war.
While the Golden Alliance had an advantage in terms of strength and number of resurrections, they also suffered from a loss in numbers and could not continue to maintain an excellent battle loss ratio. Their average number of deaths jumped from 5.89 to 7.38.
However, the advantages accumulated by the Golden Alliance were too solid, allowing them to maintain their position at the top despite the losses they sustained in this battle. The Golden Alliance’s average deaths did not exceed 6 before this battle, while the averages for the other guild alliances were too high. For example, in second place, the September Council belonging to the three Universal Civilizations saw their average deaths rising from 6.71 to 7.68 after the battle, which was a net win for them, but overall did not allow them to beat the Golden Alliance.
According to the forums, the analysis of average death ratio was at 9 points. Any value higher than that meant that the troops had lost their combat capabilities, and right now, many of the major guild alliances were approaching this number.
Thus, on the sixth day, those who had yet to be eliminated did not wish to rashly start a war. They seemed to tacitly agree to refresh their number of resurrections on the day. Thus, Planet Milton suddenly became quite deserted, with only sporadic battles taking place.
However, when it came to nighttime, the scene suddenly got lively. The various guild alliances began to fight wildly, exploiting the loophole in time.
Because a player that ran out of resurrections within the six days would count as being permanently eliminated, even after the refresh time of six days, they would still be ineligible to continue the battle. Thus, the guilds planned to use troops that still had enough resurrection times to eliminate the ‘seriously wounded’ guilds with an average rate of 9.0 on the sixth night, weakening their opponents’ troops. In this manner, after the resurrection count refreshed in the morning, it would be basically equivalent to having no battle losses.
Thus, the night of the sixth day gave rise to a huge battle royale, where those who wished to live past the night fled in all directions, whereas the ‘healthier’ ones turned into hunters, chasing after the ‘wounded’ with a smile.
Of course, the hunted and the hunter roles were easily swapped, and from time to time, there were hunters who turned into prey and joined the fleeing team. Compared with the tragic and bloody battles the previous few days, the sixth night seemed to be reminiscent of a horror comedy.
But this very night displayed the largest wave of elimination since the start of the war. A full seventy percent of players were sent off that night. On the morning of the seventh day, when the number of resurrections was refreshed, the guild alliances of the three mainstream factions had less than half of their troops left. The other scattered organizations were worse off, leaving only a quarter or even a fifth of their total population.
The plan to solve all battles within six days went through, but the scale of the troops for every guild were also reduced, so the resources that needed to be invested were also reduced. The major guild alliances could only fight with their remaining troops for another six days before they ran out of ammunition and food.
And when it came to the third cycle, that was, the morning of the thirteenth day, there were only six guild alliances left on Planet Milton. The Golden Alliance was one of them, and it was, relatively speaking, the best-preserved power. None of the eliminated players left, instead remaining to watch the battle from above Milton in their spaceships, betting on who would be the final winner.
Because the margin of error had become even lower, everyone started to behave more cautiously. In this situation, it would be difficult to clear out every single one of their opponents, so the six guild alliances unanimously decided to attack each other’s strongholds and remove them to win.
After the first two weeks of war, the number of troops had decreased, resulting in a far less intense battle compared to at the beginning. At this time, another advantage of the Golden Alliance was greatly magnified—the Evolution Badge!
The Aberrations had strength far beyond a player’s current level, but the flaws were also obvious; they were restricted to melee battles, and most of their skills would be frozen. This had led to the inability to fully utilize the superiority of the biological Aberrations in ultra large scale group operations due to the high concentration of firearms.
However, this was a different case in the small and medium scale battles where the enemy would have less firepower.
At the current stage of the war, the Golden Alliance no longer deliberately pursued the advantage of having lower damage, and using the powerful attack capabilities of the aberrations, they traded their resurrection times to invade the strongholds. By the fifteenth day, two other guild alliances had already been eliminated by them.
By the seventeenth day, only two alliances were left—the Golden Alliance and the Galactic Business Alliance. Both sides reached an agreement to not attack strongholds but rather settle the war in a decisive battle without regrets.
Having decided to end with a bang, both sides chose the battlefield to be Dragon Hill, which had already been renamed to Dragon Grand Canyon. They fought from morning till night, and in the end, the Golden Alliance won with a weak advantage, having less than two thousand players on the battlefield when the last member of the Galactic Business Alliance was killed.
The national war thus came to an end with such a result. Once it was over, the forums became the carnival grounds for the Chinese players. Even those who were eliminated politely sent congratulatory messages, acknowledging the win of the Golden Alliance for the first national war. The Galaxy Times as well as various reporter groups also released reports and articles, especially the group led by Bun-Hit-Dog. They were full of flowery praises, so cringy to the point that even the Chinese players that saw it felt their scalps tingle in discomfort.
The ‘Galaxy Chronicles’ was also updated, classifying the first national war as the ‘Milton Battle’, recording all the wars that took place, large or small. Because the Chronicle was one where players could add in their own input, everyone just had to upload the battles they had experienced to completely restore the entire process of the national war.
Even after the national war ended, the players did not leave but rather reluctantly returned to Planet Milton, treating the environment and using their engineering machines to transform their strongholds into cities.
Because it was a rare occurrence for people of all factions to gather, some players set up stalls, and soon, many more joined in, turning the place into a trading area. PVP players also felt an itch to look for people to spar, and thus, Planet Milton became lively again, as though it had turned into a new Main City for the players.
In the office of Black Star Palace, Han Xiao closed the forums with a smile on his face.
“It’s finally over, after more than half a month. The time taken was much longer than in my past life.”
He did not provide any help throughout the whole process and thus was very happy to see that the Golden Alliance had won. The Chinese players had achieved good results, showcasing his fruitful efforts in the past four versions toward them.
The first national war in his previous life had a far-reaching impact, being marked as one of the major landmark events in the ‘Galaxy Chronicles’. The rules of the battlefield were passed down from then and eventually became a tradition recognized by the players. If they chose to fight again in the future, the same set of rules would have to be observed. The victory of the Golden Alliance would inevitably increase the attractiveness of their faction. As new players in the future considered which factions to join, with the older players blowing their own trumpets, the former would definitely choose the Black Star Army over the rest, due to its potential benefits.
The most important thing was that with the length taken to fight the national war, it had brought him far more benefits than expected!
Han Xiao opened the interface, glancing at the value of his Experience gauge as he smiled.
“It’s about two months before the Pro League. I didn’t expect this wave of experience to give me what I needed…” Based on his calculations, he had enough to upgrade from level 331 to 340. This was much earlier compared to his initial estimations!
Within this wave of experience, there was a huge portion that was contributed by the former Limitless Financial Group players who switched factions midway.
“Little Soro, Little Soro. I must sincerely thank you for your help. Half of the labor belongs to
you.”
Han Xiao was extremely satisfied.
With enough wealth and foundation on his hands, there was no need to hesitate. He directly invested all his experience into his levels.
Divine Throne Mechanic leveled up to Level32. +500 Energy, +5 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +18 Endurance, +25 Intelligence. You have received 20 Free Attribute Points and 1 Potential Point.
Divine Throne Mechanic leveled up to Level40. +500 Energy, +5 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +18 Endurance, +25 Intelligence. You have received 20 Free Attribute Points and 1 Potential Point.
You have received the Promotion Mission for Level340!
Level340 Promotion Mission: Raise one of your (God’s Trait Transformation) skills to at least the 10th level.
“Hmm?” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
His (God’s Trait Transformation Machinery] had already reached the ninth level. Constructing another Universal Treasure would allow him to reach the tenth level.
The upper limit of his Divine Throne Mechanic Class was capped at sixty. Thus, there was no mission for a change in class at 340, only the Promotion mission.
“This seems quite easy this time round…” Han Xiao mumbled, but then he laughed to himself.
It’s not that the mission is easy, but rather, I’m too good.
He was originally intending to use a Mission Completion Card for his Promotion, but he now dispelled the thought. Regardless, he had to increase his God’s Trait Transformation skill, so there was no need to waste a Mission Completion Card on it. After the Intelligent Plague disaster, the dynasty had opened up a Gold Grade blueprint exchange channel for him. As long as he had enough faction Contribution Points, he could redeem a blueprint and craft it. He had the patience to wait for a while. Furthermore, the effect of his Evolution Cube depended on his Energy Level. Now that he had the Dragon Emperor Star Energy Extraction Technique on hand, Han Xiao intended to raise his Energy Level to the next tier, obtaining an extra stack of bonuses from the Evolution Cube. This would also require some time before he reached his target.
Han Xiao directly took out his communicator to contact the Crimson Dynasty. After expressing his needs, he soon received a list of blueprints to choose from.
After scanning it carefully, he selected one of them, sending out a redemption application.
The next step would be to await the approval of the dynasty’s senior officials to obtain his blueprint.
While the Gold Grade blueprints were precious to mechanics, to the point that having money alone could not buy it, with the fame and influence of the Great Mechanic Han, this was not an issue. Having authority in one’s hands really made things a lot better.
Han Xiao was in a joyous mood, playing with his communicator whilst waiting for the dynasty to reply. Casually looking at the lively scene that was taking place in Planet Milton, he suddenly had an idea.
In his past life, the location of the first national war was also on Planet Milton, so it was regarded by the players as a commemorative Main City. However, after the version update, the planet was requisitioned and no longer opened to the public, thus becoming a regret for many of the players.
“When the fight between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance is over, officially concluding the fourth exploration phase, I’ll buy Planet Milton and the several surrounding planets to give them to the Golden Alliance…”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
This move would not only deepen the army’s presence among players but also reward the Golden Alliance. The excellent results of the Golden Alliance have brought us huge benefits. Though it’s an internal matter of the players, I should not be too stingy and make a statement to deepen the sense of belonging for the army players.
Isn’t it just a few planets? Just this paltry sum, I can buy it directly!
Chapter 1190: Promotion!
Half a month passed by in a flash. Because the battle of Planet Milton had been settled, the preparations for the Pro League began to rapidly heat up. Players liked the new and fresh concepts, so analytical posts about the strength of professional players began to be posted on the forums, and various teams had also begun to promote and mobilize themselves.
But Han Xiao did not pay attention to all of this. As soon as he obtained the Gold Grade blueprint, he threw all his affairs to Sylvia, concentrating on production.
Because it was his first time creating this blueprint, Han Xiao worked for half a month, experiencing many failures and accumulating a lot of proficiency before he obtained a Gold Grade end product, obtaining his God's Trait Transformation point.
"It's done!"
In the machinery modification room, Han Xiao could not hide the joy on his face, casually throwing aside the Gold Grade equipment he had just created to open his interface and use up the point.
_____________________
God's Trait Transformation—Machinery] has reached the 10th Stage.
There are now unknown changes in your Life Hierarchy.
You have obtained a new understanding of Machinery. +15% chance of forming a new exclusive expertise. The skill [Universal Simulation] has obtained a sublimation.
You have begun to perceive part of the power of the transformation route - [Talent Unknown].
You have received [The First Sanctum] Ability Fragment x 1.
_____________________
"Oh, that's right. Every fifth increment indicates a new realm." Han Xiao nodded to himself.
When he reached the fifth stage for his God's Trait Transformation, the same notification had appeared. This time, he had obtained a fragment of the First Sanctum.
He glanced at the effect of the tenth stage. It increased the level of all Mechanic skills from the [Apostle Mechanic] to the [Divine Throne Mechanic] Classes by three, along with a 1.2 times bonus to Machinery Affinity, a forty percent bonus to skill effect, and a 1.3 times bonus to damage and shield durability… It was basically a replica of the fifth stage's effect, with an increase in the bonus range provided.
"This is similar to the fifth stage in that it provides an increase in combat abilities, not bad… eh? What's this?"
Han Xiao suddenly realized that the progress bar behind the ability name had changed. The expected (10/?) had become (10/15).
"The unknown question marks are now revealed… Is the highest level of God's Trait Transformation capped at fifteen? And it seems like you can only see this limit when you reach a certain level…"
Scanning it carefully, he found that the change was more than just these factors. From the 10th to the 11th stage, the number of points required to level up the skill had inflated to 6 points. At the same time, there was also a surprising notification.
_____________________
Your [God's Trait Transformation—Machinery] has reached the 10th Stage.
You have triggered the transformation requirement. For each requirement completed, you can reduce the cost of upgrading by one God's Trait Transformation point.
1. Reach level 345
2. Comprehend a Unique Talent
3. Create a Gold Grade blueprint
_____________________
"Going above the tenth stage not only requires points but also missions to be completed. This is a little like the advancement missions… Will the Mission Completion Card be effective here?"
While he was surprised by the changes in the God's Trait Transformation skill, he had no intention to experiment with it now. He turned his head, letting his mechanical assistant clean up the workshop while he directly teleported to a barren planet where he had previously placed a Throne beforehand.
Whoosh!
His vision spun, and he found himself now in the middle of a desolate gorge. Looking up, the walls on both sides stretched up all the way, forming a straight vision toward the sky.
This was a planet located in the hinterlands of the Black Star Army. He had chosen to advance here because he did not wish to make such a big commotion.
Han Xiao stowed the Throne away that he had his machinery place there beforehand before taking out the Evolution Cube and activating it.
Buzz!
The dark strands of Evolutionary Energy seeped out, and Han Xiao guided it into his body. A wave of pain burst out, as a black cocoon was formed outside his body.
On his interface, the notification of the effect of the Evolution Cube used swept through his screen like a waterfall.
_____________________
You have utilized the Evolution Cube (Gold Grade)!
You have received a permanent special benefit—[Gene Optimization: Evolution Cube]!
Identifying species… Identification complete.
Your current species is: Void Star Pursuer
Your genetic structure is being optimized…
The first optimization has succeeded. Your potential qualities have increased. It is detected that you have received this level of optimization before. You have received +0 Strength, +0 Dexterity, +1 Endurance, +2 Intelligence, +0 Mystery, +0 Charisma, and +3 Energy.
Your Energy Level is above Level 0. The second optimization has automatically succeeded. It is detected that you have received this level of optimization before. Your potential qualities have increased, and you have received +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +2 Endurance, +3 Intelligence, +0 Mystery, +0 Charisma, and +4 Energy.
…
Because your Energy Level is above Level 24, the 26th optimization has succeeded. Your potential qualities have increased, and you have received +85 Strength, +90 Dexterity, +113 Endurance, +148 Intelligence, +76 Mystery, +60 Charisma, and +560 Energy.
_____________________
During this period, he had taken the time to learn the Dragon Emperor Star Energy Extraction Technique, and just yesterday, he had broken into the twenty-fourth level for his Energy Realm.
The first time he used the Evolution Cube, his Energy Level was only at fourteen. Thus, the first sixteen levels of the gene optimization had been triggered previously, and the effect of repeated use was far worse than before. But the effects from the seventeenth to twenty-sixth optimizations were normal because it was being triggered for the first time.
In total, his Strength and Dexterity had increased about 700 points, Endurance by almost 900, and Intellect over 1,100. Mystery and Charm had also increased by around 500, giving him a total of almost 4,500 Attribute Points. His energy had also gone up by around 4,000 points.
"The effect is pretty good, with a greater increase than when was used for the first time. This is probably because of the higher-level bonuses."
Han Xiao scrolled to the back of the notifications and was startled.
_____________________
You have obtained 26 rounds of gene optimization. +40% Experience needed to level up. Lasts for 26 months.
You have fulfilled a special condition: Possess a Racial Talent and obtain more than 20 levels in gene optimization.
You have triggered a Special effect.
The next time you undergo a Race Evolution, you will receive +30% to your attribute balancing, and your Racial Talent will also be additionally strengthened,
Gene Optimization has ended.
_____________________
With a cracking sound, the black cocoon shattered, and the evolutionary energy returned to the Evolution Cube.
The pain caused by genetic optimization slowly faded. Han Xiao's nerves were now extremely tough, and this sort of pain could not even distract him. He only stared at the notification on the interface with joy.
He only thought that the Evolution Cube would give a bonus for the first ten energy levels. The additional effect for the twentieth was something he did not expect. No player had ever reached this level back in his previous life.
"The last time provided me an additional opportunity for Race Evolution, and this time, it will increase my attributes in Race Evolution. Wonderful."
Han Xiao's eyes sparkled.
At his level 300 Race Evolution, there had already appeared the option of [Void Archangel]. This meant that during his level 340 Evolution, he could reach the pinnacle of his Void Genes, which would likely give him a path that would lift his gene limiter!
Because the Race Evolution for one that lifted the gene limiter would give a lot more attributes compared to a general evolution, he was even more overjoyed.
"Good things come in pairs! It was worthwhile spending all my free time with Feidin!"
Han Xiao was ecstatic.
Taking a deep breath, he calmed down his emotions, keeping the Evolution Cube.
Looking at the indication of 'Completed' on his level 340 Promotion Mission, he solemnly chose to complete the mission.
Boom!
The ground quaked!
Surging Mechanical Force exploded out from him, rising to the sky!
_____________________
Level340 Promotion Mission completed!
Promotion succeeded!
+120 Endurance Bonus! 1 Endurance = 690 Health = 700 Stamina
On the road of Evolution, you have taken yet another step forward.
Race Detected: Black Star Race (Specialty race, unchangeable)
Randomly selecting five suitable evolutionary directions… Extraction complete!
Please select two from the five Race Evolution choices below and receive one talent from each:
1
1
1
1
1
_____________________
"What the hell are those two options?"
Enduring the drastic changes in his body, Han Xiao looked on with doubt.
Of the five options, he had never heard of the names of the [Saint—Carmel Race] or [Innate Star Body]. Even after checking his database, there was still no record.
"At this current level of evolution, things that I've never seen before have finally appeared."
While Han Xiao was curious, since he had already walked on his void evolutionary pathway to this point, there would naturally be no meaning in changing it. The two options provided unknown abilities, so he did not wish to take the risk.
As for the Void World Worm, he was aware that it was a symbiotic life born within the Void Dimension, forming an important part of the natural cycle in the Void Dimension. It fed on void energy and the chaotic space stream to form materialized excrement, which was one of the sources that made up the Void Dimension.
Both the Void Deity and Ancestor of the Void were the pinnacle form of the Void Evolutionary route, and both had the effect of lifting the gene limiter. Han Xiao did not hesitate, choosing these two races directly.
_____________________
You have received the talent [Gene Limiter Removal]!
You have received the talent [Void Control]!
Gene Limiter Removal: Your physical strength breaks through the limit of your species, greatly liberating your potential. You will obtain a huge number of attribute points and have a chance to raise related attributes when you perform your daily activities.
Void Control: You can control the Void Dimension to a certain extent (including but not limited to borrowing void energy to strengthen yourself, high-speed absorption within the void dimension, transform void energy into energy, summoning the void dimension to descend at your location…)
_____________________
"Void Control… Kasuyi definitely has a similar ability, or else his recovery speed would not be so terrifying…"
Han Xiao nodded secretly to himself. This ability was the most valuable talent, equivalent to obtaining permissions to operate a part of the Void Dimension.
Scrolling down, he noticed that the talent of the Black Star Race had also been strengthened.
_____________________
Your Black Star Race talent [Mechanical Genius] has been upgraded.
Mechanical Genius: Your Machinery Affinity bonus has increased from x1.28 to x1.38, Machinery Creation Performance increased from 44% to 54%, and +1 to all Mechanic Class skills' levels.
[Gene Optimization—Evolution Cube]'s effect has been triggered!
Your Black Star Race talent [Mechanical Genius] has been upgraded.
[Mechanical Genius: Your Machinery Affinity bonus has increased from x1.38 to x1.48, Machinery Creation Performance increased from 54% to 64%, and +2 to all Mechanic Class skills' levels.
Molecular structure is improved, organ structure strengthened, metabolism changed…
Black Star Race potential upgraded. You have received bonus attributes: +410 Strength, +384 Dexterity, +561 Endurance, +901 Intelligence, +659 Mystery, +347 Charisma, and +10,000 Energy. Energy Level bonus attributes have been changed!
Gene Limiter Removal has taken effect. According to your current life level, race potential, and current attributes, you will obtain additional attributes. You have received +1,876 Strength, +1,670 Dexterity, +2,348 Endurance, +3,971 Intelligence, +1,350 Mystery, +966 Charisma, and +23,400 Energy.
[Gene Optimization—Evolution Cube]'s effect has been triggered!
Your attribute replenishment effect is increased by 30%. +685 Strength, +616 Dexterity, +872 Endurance, +1,491 Intelligence, +602 Mystery, +393 Charisma, +10,020 Energy.
_____________________
"What the‽"
Han Xiao's eyes grew wide.
This attribute point replenishment was by far the greatest he had seen. Including the bonus of Evolution Cube, the attribute points awarded totaled more than 20,000!
At this moment, the continuous surging energy within his body became more and more unstable, Han Xiao's body exuded a dazzling light as though it had become a planet core.
The energy rushed around his body, as though looking for an exit.
The next moment, his entire body shook as the energy was released to his surroundings.
Boom!
With Han Xiao's energy as the epicenter, oppressive energy burst out.
The earth shattered and melted instantly, turning into an ocean of magma.
This barren planet was akin to an egg, exploding into pieces as though it had been smashed on the floor!
Han Xiao only had a single thought in his mind at this moment.
"Thank goodness I didn't advance in the base, or else this daddy would have lost his home…"
[1] Saint-Carmel Race
[2] Void Deity (Human Form)
[3] Innate Star Body
[4] Ancestor of the Void-New (Human Form)
[5] Void World Worm
“Warning! Warning! The fourth sector is showing a high-energy response! The specific coordinates…”
An alarm sounded in the C0075D space monitoring system within the Fenrir Star System, and the staff hurried over to the radar screens. All of their uniforms carried the emblem of the Black Star Army.
The army had built a large number of space stations in the territory under their jurisdiction, which would monitor the situation within. They were mostly handled by artificial intelligence and supplemented by a small number of staff as insurance.
At this moment, a dazzling spot of light suddenly lit up on the real-time monitoring star map. The staff hurriedly operated the ultra-long-distance astronomical observation device, enlarging the field of view for the location of the energy burst.
The barren planet originally in this position had vanished, replaced by a cloud of golden energy that was constantly expanding, as though a dying fixed star was turning into a Red Giant. Brilliant arcs of lightning surged around it constantly.
Seeing this, the staff in the room all displayed confused expressions. “What sort of phenomenon is this?”
“Looks like stellar delay… but there’s only one barren planet here. Where did the Fixed Star come from?”
“Energy fluctuations are high. It feels more like that of a Beyond Grade A energy rank. It couldn’t be a Beyond Grade A that sneaked in, right?”
Everyone spoke before unanimously deciding to conduct a field survey in accordance with the provisions of the operation manual.
An unmanned spaceship flew out of the space station, soon arriving at the planet’s location. They saw that the golden energy was still expanding, its volume overwhelming at this point. The unmanned spaceship could not approach but only cruise around to collect data.
This continued for a period of time before the golden energy stopped expanding, shrinking hundreds to thousands of times smaller before suddenly exploding out in a shock wave. The observation screen turned blank from the shock wave.
The shield of the unmanned spaceship flickered, and the durability plummeted. Fortunately, it was far enough that even though it was damaged, it was not destroyed. When the spaceship finally stabilized, the staff far away in the space station hurriedly looked at the location of the explosion. The area was completely empty, with all matter of the barren planet annihilated.
Even after surveying for one round, they could not find the shadow of a person.
“Observation complete, source of outbreak not found. Requesting to return.”
Hearing the emotionless reply from the artificial intelligence, everyone present shared a glance.
“This matter is too strange. It’s not at our level. Report to our superiors.”
At the same time, Han Xiao, who had swapped into another King mechanical suit, was now situated on another barren planet.
“Hu, I almost got caught.”
Taking off his mechanical suit and collecting the Throne he had placed here, he let out a breath filled with gold lightning.
This time, his promotion had brought about a huge improvement. The energy in his body was nigh uncontrollable, his cells constantly producing energy that had blown up the planet when released. In order to not be seen, the moment he completed his promotion, he put on the spare King suit and teleported away.
He had chosen this position within the depths of his own turf to keep it a secret. His current strength had already made the various major organizations jealous, so if the outside world learned that he had improved yet again in such a short period of time, they would not show jealousy but fear. This might backfire on him, so he chose to keep it a secret, not wanting others to know about it for the moment.
“Master, hum… The command center of the Fenrir Star System has reported the high-energy response you triggered. They do not know the reason. How do I reply, hum?” Phillip’s voice sounded in his mind.
“So fast? Not bad, you can reply as usual. Send some exploration troops there for a symbolic
stroll.”
Han Xiao shook his head and chuckled.
Looking past this small episode, Han Xiao reopened his interface. The notification of the completion of his promotion had popped up. Rubbing his hands in excitement, he observed the changes.
Total Level: 324
Main Class: Mechanic
Race: Black Star Race
Attributes: 15,914 Strength, 15,423 Dexterity, 27,010 Endurance, 56,460 Intelligence, 13,107 Mystery, 6,430 Charisma, O Luck
Free Attribute Points: 135
Awakening Point: 9
Health: 41,039,094
Stamina: 31,662,700
Energy: 293,475
Level25 Energy bonus stat: +6,620 Strength, +7,745 Dexterity, +10,308 Endurance, +14,187 Intelligence, +6,060 Mystery, +4,382,600 Stamina Limit, +9,806% Machinery Affinity Energy Rank: 98,510 Grade: SS
Grade SS Bonuses: +150 Endurance, +45% All Resistances. +40% to Highest Attribute , +25% Other Attributes, awarded additional 750 Free Attribute Points and 50 Potential Points
Remark: The door to an even higher realm is slowly being opened for you…
“Hiss…” Han Xiao took a deep breath.
The effect of his promotion this time was astounding! All his attributes had increased tremendously, by almost a third compared to before his advancement… except his luck. It had fallen back to zero when his attributes were washed during the creation of his last Universal Treasure, and he had yet to place it back.
Compared to his current attributes, they were much stronger compared to when he first entered the Beyond Grade A realm. In particular, energy would showcase its strength in the later stages, each level giving a stronger increase. The bonus provided by the level 25 energy was much higher compared to when it was level 15. Sure enough, suppressing his energy was the best way to boost himself!
The increase in his attributes brought about by his Race Evolution was equivalent to getting the bonus from level 21 to 25 for his energy. The increase was huge.
Especially with his current HP. Let alone the enemy, Han Xiao’s own tankiness made him wish to vomit when he saw it. He had an impulse to imitate Wei Yan from the Three Kingdoms, screaming out loud, “Who can kill
me!”
“Even if I don’t use machinery, and just rely on my body to fight Beyond Grade As below the Energy Rank of 52,000, I could probably still defeat them! And with my current Intellect attributes, plus the various bonuses, the state of my machinery is now terrifying.” Han Xiao clenched his fists, feeling the explosive power surging in his body. He could not hold back his smile.
With his current strength, even without his skill (Virtual Purification, Restore), he would not be scared of Manison bringing out the Felons. As long as he dared to appear using his true body, Han Xiao would use him as training. Right now, within this era of pinnacle Beyond Grade As, the only one that could threaten him would probably be (God’s Chosen] Wuornos, who was unfathomable.
The more one’s Energy Rank increased, the greater the span between each point. To be unable to achieve 100,000 this time made Han Xiao feel a bit of a pity. After all, this was like a threshold, so he had thought that maybe something would have been triggered.
However, considering that the entry to Beyond Grade A was not a whole number, the value of 100,000 did not carry any meaning at all.
His Grade did not change, and Han Xiao thought that Grade SS should be the peak of the Beyond Grade A realm. The next tier should be the realm that the EsGod was always searching for, which would give one a qualitative change in their life form, just like from the Calamity Grade to the Beyond Grade
The Free Attribute Points given from level 331 to 340 had been left untouched. Han Xiao threw a point into Luck before assigning the rest to Intellect.
Taking a look at the experience needed to upgrade, the amount had once again skyrocketed. It was such an astronomical figure that it even made a leek expert like himself speechless.
After admiring his new attributes for a few more moments, Han Xiao finally dragged his gaze away, pulling up the Ability section.
Because he was busy with his promotions before, he did not have the time to observe the changes in his God’s Trait Transformation. This time, his promotion met all five conditions of the God’s Trait Transformation, and he obtained five points.
However, [God’s Trait TransformationMachinery] required six points to reach the eleventh stage, more than what he currently had. He decided to see if the Mission Completion Card could work on the skill as well to reduce the cost.
“Theoretically speaking, the Mission Completion Card should work since it is usable for promotion missions.”
Muttering to himself, Han Xiao took out the Mission Completion Card, selecting the requirement of ‘self developing a Gold Grade blueprint’ before looking at the interface.
You have used a Mission Completion Card!
Mission Completion Card has taken effect.
You have completed one of the upgrade requirements of God’s Trait TransformationMachinery. Points required to upgrade have been reduced by one. You currently need: 5 points.
“Oh, it works.” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
Over the years, he had obtained many Random Reward draw chances and had accumulated quite a few Mission Completion Cards. They now had another purpose-being used for his God’s Trait Transformation skill.
“Although this is good news, I don’t know if the requirements for each upgrade will increase. It’s better to still save them and try to complete the upgrade requirements on my own. There’s no harm in raising my strength anyways.”
However, he still decided to prioritize his upgrade of (God’s Trait TransformationMachinery]. If the limit was still ???, he might have switched to the (God’s Trait Transformation-Void) route, but now that the upper limit was not far away, he intended to try to complete the God’s Trait Transformation
– Machinery first, to find out what would happen if one of the routes was maxed out.
Right at this moment, his communicator rang.
“Beep beep beep!”
Kasuyi’s washbasin-sized face appeared on his screen.
“Black Star, are you done with your stuff? When shall we depart?”
Han Xiao had previously agreed to Kasuyi’s request to team up, but he had been delayed by the affairs of the Modo Civilization. After the Modo Civilization was dealt with, Kasuyi would send out a request every few days, but Han Xiao had replied to ask him to wait due to his promotion mission.
“Alright, alright, such a coincidence. My business has just finished. Let me know when you want to go,” Han Xiao helplessly said.
Kasuyi finally revealed a smile. “Right now.”
“Such a hurry?” Han Xiao was surprised.
“That’s right. Do you have time?”
“I do have time, but I don’t know where to go. What sort of preparations are needed?”
“There’s no problem. We can meet up in the Void Dimension first before I brief you.”
Kasuyi did not even wait for Han Xiao to reply before hanging up. Han Xiao toyed with the communicator, his curiosity increasing.
He had agreed to Kasuyi’s invite initially purely out of their friendship, but now he was getting more interested about this matter. What sort of event would make Kasuyi so desperate?
It was not known how long he would be gone this time round. Han Xiao thought about it before sending word to Sylvia.
“I’ll be going to the secondary dimension world. It’s unknown when I’ll come back, so I’ll leave you in charge for the time being.”
Han Xiao quickly got back a reply. “You might as well not come back.”
Han Xiao felt helpless.
It seemed like Sylvia had been working overtime endlessly all this while, and thus, she was a little resentful. He would not argue with someone whose hairline was in danger of receding
Han Xiao was about to summon the Mysterious Energy Host to bring him into the secondary dimension before he suddenly paused. “Oh, that’s right. I have the ability of Void Control and should be able to enter the secondary dimension at will without using the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy.”
He closed his eyes, activating the talent and communicating with the Void Dimension.
His consciousness seemed to sink into a colorful world, and bubbles quickly passed through his field of vision. Soon, a large gray-blue bubble appeared in his line of sight, growing larger.
With a thought, he inserted his consciousness into the Void Control from his macroscopic perspective.
Puff!
There seemed to be a sound going off in his mind as his consciousness was inserted into the Void Dimension without any hindrance. It was smooth as though the entry had been greased, leaving his own mark in the core of the Void Dimension.
Boom!
The next moment, Han Xiao felt that his consciousness seemed to have expanded, covering the entire Void Dimension. The energy within was like an extension of his body, and he could ignore the distance to absorb the energy of the Void Dimension, like an invisible energy transmission pipeline.
“Turns out, this is the same feeling as described by Hila…”
Han Xiao was astounded.
Those who could connect to secondary dimensions were few. Kasuyi was connected to the Void Dimension and Hila to her Underworld Dimension. Traveler had connected with the Evil Convergence secondary dimension through his own efforts, and now Han Xiao had joined their ranks. Having a secondary dimension that would provide a constant flow of energy to nourish the body was indeed different.
At this moment, he recalled something.
“That’s right, Kasuyi is also connected to the Void Dimension. I’m not sure if he will find
out…”
While waiting for Black Star in the Void Dimension, Kasuyi sat in his palace, absorbing the Void Energy to adjust his state.
He suddenly jerked and raised his head in shock.
“Someone else has connected to the Void Dimension?”
Kasuyi did not mind others connecting to the Void Dimension, as the energy was endless. He was not like Traveler, who treated the secondary dimension like his wife.
However, this was not something that could be done overnight. Only the Void species had the qualification to connect, but even so, they had to use their mental strength to slowly remove layers of obstacles in order to reach the core and establish a connection. At the beginning, Kasuyi had tried countless times before he finally established a connection.
But this unknown newcomer did not even make a commotion, reaching the core on their first try. This was inconceivable.
“Who could this guy be?”
Kasuyi was secretly shocked, at the same time feeling a little sour.
“Even I could not do it so quickly. Just what qualifications does this person have…”
The more Kasuyi thought about it, the more unpleasant it was. The void energy he took in no longer felt as good as before.
Somewhere in the Void Dimension, a light flashed, revealing Han Xiao’s figure, which was transmitted via Void Control.
“Kasuyi should have arrived. I’ll go look for him.”
With his Void Control, a small map of the Void Dimension conveniently appeared in his mind. Han Xiao found his position, moving toward the middle area of the Void Dimension, which was the territory of Kasuyi. The effect of Void Travel was greatly increased, and each usage brought him a great distance. It did not take long for Han Xiao to reach the outskirts of Kasuyi’s territory. After thinking about it, he stopped in an area that served as a border post, releasing his aura.
Boom!
The surrounding Void Energy blew up in a storm, alerting the guards. A huge army flew over quickly, led by a Void Duke. “Who dares to intrude in Lord Kasuyi’s… Oh, it’s Lord Black Star!”
This Void Duke did not finish speaking before he saw Han Xiao, and he immediately dropped the hostility.
Han Xiao’s reputation in the Void Dimension was not insignificant, since the deeds he had left there the last time had spread all around. Most of the strong people at the top of the Void Dimension knew about this void species that was at the same life form level as Kasuyi, and the milestone (Void Dimension Conqueror] helped too.
“Kasuyi and I have an appointment. Where is he?”
“Lord Kasuyi is already waiting for you in the main hall. Please follow me.”
The Void Duke dispersed the troops, leading Han Xiao into the outpost and approaching the platform with mysterious lines on it. He then took out a deep blue crystal, whose insides were swirling with void energy. The next moment, the surrounding Void Energy surged, forming a gray-blue spatial vortex on the ground of the platform.
“A transportation door made from Void Technology?” Han Xiao sized it up.
Because the rules of the Void Dimension were different, they had their own system in place. This was a method based on utilizing the Void Energy and its characteristics, which could only be used in the Void Dimension.
Stepping in, Void Energy flooded his body. The next moment, he instantly appeared before a magnificent and luxurious palace, made out of crystals of various colors.
“Black Star, you’re here.”
A familiar voice came from behind him. Han Xiao turned around to see a small table, with Kasuyi seated by it.
Just as he was about to continue speaking, Kasuyi sensed something, and he showed a look of surprise.
He suddenly sensed the aura of a similar life form on Han Xiao—not the aura of the same species but one of a high-level bloodline.
“You’ve… evolved again?” Kasuyi revealed a look of shock.
“No, no, it’s just a trivial increase.” Han Xiao put on a humble expression.
As void creatures, his own Race Evolution could not be hidden from Kasuyi, but the other party was also unable to ascertain his exact growth.
“Every time I see you, I get more surprised…” Kasuyi narrowed his eyes. “Just now, the one who intruded… cough, who formed a connection with the Void Dimension couldn’t be you, right?”
“Oh, you indeed discovered it.” Han Xiao waved his hands. “I was just trying it but didn’t expect it to be so simple. I succeeded in a try. I remember you mentioning that you do not mind others linking to the Void Dimension as well, correct?”
“That’s alright. I was just curious…”
Kasuyi’s eyes twitched, and he put on a nonchalant expression. However, his inner self was twisting in agony.
Simple? I’ll be d*mned if it’s simple!
To pass off your connection with the Void Dimension as a simple test, then what about my effort!
As he was internally scolding Han Xiao, the latter suddenly stepped forward, stretching out a hand to pinch his face.
Kasuyi paused, staring up at Han Xiao.
“You, what are you doing?”
“Checking to see if it’s your main body or your clone.” Han Xiao was curious. “… I’m in my main body!” Kasuyi angrily slapped off Han Xiao’s offending hand.
Han Xiao asked with suspicion, “Didn’t you say that exploring the dimensions would be dangerous? I thought you would send a doppelganger and not come over with your main body… With just your health, you dare to do this?”
Kasuyi felt his face cramping up.
What sort of words are you saying? You think I’m so paper-like?
… Alright, I’m more like paper than you, but I’m still a pinnacle Beyond Grade A. There will be a limit to my paperness!
Kasuyi was speechless for a long time before pointing to the seat opposite him in resignation. “Have a seat and eat something. I’ll explain our objective.”
A few void creatures holding trays appeared as he spoke, carrying plates of food and wine and putting them on the table. The plates were made out of colorful translucent crystals, sparkling beautifully.
However, Han Xiao’s mouth twitched upon looking at the food.
If he was not wrong, this thing on the plate seemed to be the excrement of the Void World Worm and was even the most concentrated part of it…
“What’s wrong? Eat some.”
“It’s alright. I don’t have such heavy tastes.”
Han Xiao hurriedly waved his hand.
This could be considered the local cuisine of the Void Dimension, containing pure Void Energy. But Han Xiao had acquired this species and thus had no habits of eating such stuff.
Seeing this, Kasuyi did not force him, raising his glass to take a gulp of wine before beginning his explanation.
“At our level, the God’s Trait Transformation is indispensable for us to go further. You must also have touched on this, but you might not know that as the degree of God’s Trait Transformation gets higher, there will be some sort of intuition for you to perceive certain opportunities to obtain objects or complete some illusory things to reduce the difficulty of promoting to the next stage.
“And this time, I sensed an opportunity that guided me to the secondary dimension that we’re going to explore later. There seems to be something in it that’s attracting me, which might help in my God’s Trait Transformation…”
“Oh?” Han Xiao suddenly had a thought.
Opportunity for transformation? This is similar to the prerequisites that appeared when my God’s Trait Transformation reached the tenth level.
So, it turns out, this is how the prerequisites are reflected in the NPCs… Kasuyi must have a type of God’s Trait Transformation that has gone above level ten.
To a Beyond Grade A, information about God’s Trait Transformation was precious knowledge, so Kasuyi did not hesitate to share more about it at this point. Han Xiao also listened for a while and learned more about it.
It seemed vague, but Kasuyi gave a few real examples, such as his senses telling him that if he became the most powerful overlord of the Void Dimension, it would be conducive to his God’s Trait Transformation. This was the same as Manison, who had a gut feel to become the leader of the Machinery Faith, which was what the Old Man had told him in private.
As for why this would happen, Kasuyi also had a few hypotheses.
In his opinion, the God’s Trait Transformation was not only the evolution of the individual but also the entanglement of one’s fate line with countless external factors. Only through assuming and integrating the luck of every group could the final God’s Trait Transformation then be completed, as though it was a fate that the strong had to bear. “There’s actually such a thing?” Han Xiao was secretly surprised. But thinking about it from another point, since there were the two words ‘God’s Trait’ within the God’s Trait Transformation, one could not rule out such a possibility. However, it was still unknown as to what would happen after the transformation was complete.
It was no wonder Kasuyi was so impatient. It turned out that he saw another possibility for further improvement.
It was just that from Han Xiao’s perspective, this matter could actually be explained simply using an interface. It was probably that what the God’s Trait Transformation was looking for was no longer just limited to levels, attributes, or energy. Rather, like the Class Advancement, he needed to complete a certain mission to earn his promotion. To a normal person, it would seem like they had received the call of destiny.
Because he had already seen the Mission Completion Card work on the God’s Trait Transformation mission, Han Xiao did not find it too difficult to believe. In fact, he got happier.
It doesn’t matter how a normal Beyond Grade A should train because we don’t follow the same system at all. I just need to rush through all of these.
At this moment, Han Xiao suddenly realized a problem.
“I’m also a void creature, so my transformation route should be the same as yours. Will we then become competitors?”
Kasuyi shook his head. “Even if it’s the same transformation route, the things we feel are different. While I don’t have much information, my intuition tells me that everyone’s path will be unique… at least within the same generation.”
“Then your intuition must be really good,” Han Xiao said. “I understand the goal now. It’s to help you find an opportunity for your God’s Trait Transformation in the secondary dimension, right? How’s the situation there now?”
Hearing this, Kasuyi’s expression became more serious, and he frowned.
“I’ve already sent two doppelgangers over. This area is within the deepest parts of the secondary dimension, and the space there is very chaotic, the environment dangerous. This is not the main issue, however. There’s a group of powerful creatures guarding that area, and my doppelgangers have been repelled twice!”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
To be able to repel Kasuyi’s clones meant that the total combat power of these creatures could be compared to a pinnacle Beyond Grade A. This was undoubtedly the most dangerous place in the secondary dimensions. A Beyond Grade A would likely not be able to survive.
“Have you tried talking to them?”
“Their memories were empty, having no valuable information, and they seemed to also have no self-awareness. They did not respond to me, and I didn’t recognize what species they were either. There’s no record of them in the database.”
“Let me look at it.”
Han Xiao’s brows furrowed. He was afraid that Kasuyi would have encountered those from the World Tree Civilization. That would be bad.
However, after seeing the image Kasuyi shared, Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief. He also did not recognize this creature, so it was likely not to have any relation with the World Tree Civilization. “Just the guardian of this secondary dimension has such strength. I’m not sure what it will be like inside… Have you managed to get in?” “Nope, I cannot break through the blockade of these creatures.”
“If the outside is so dangerous, it’s definitely not any better inside. Maybe it’s the nest of these creatures…” Han Xiao’s expression was strange. “You really want your main body to set off?”
“The only way for me to discover the opportunity is for my main body to go over. With your help this time, there should not be any problems. The Mechanic class is the most proficient in large scale battles. This should be your forte.” Kasuyi laughed and spoke honestly. “Furthermore, my intention of inviting you was not just based on your strength but also to borrow your mechanical suit, the King. If the situation becomes too bad, then only you will have such mobility.” “I see.” Han Xiao nodded.
“Then I’ll accompany you with my main body. The machinery is too weak and might not be able to guarantee your safety.”
Hearing this, Kasuyi did not know what expression to make. Of the entire Universe’s mechanics, probably only you can say such words… Ding. At this moment, Han Xiao heard the notification from his interface, indicating the acceptance of the mission.
You have triggered the mission (Kasuyi’s Invitation).
Mission Introduction: In order to find an opportunity for his God’s Trait Transformation, Kasuyi has decided to explore a dangerous and mysterious unknown secondary dimension. Because he acknowledges your abilities, he has asked for your help.
Mission Requirements: Help Kasuyi find the goal of his trip.
Reward: 450 billion Experience, 6 Random Rewards, 3 Character Summon Cards, +30 Favorability for Kasuyi, 1 God’s Trait Transformation, Milestone – Unknown
Remark: This mission is extremely risky. It is recommended that you proceed with caution.
450 billion experience? Han Xiao almost doubted his eyes.
The experience reward was often linked to the difficulty of the task, but he only obtained ten billion for fighting against Old Man Manison. The highest experience reward he had ever seen was the one for the mission (Ending the Darkness), which was basically impossible to complete[1] appeared at chapter 1064, with a requirement of ending the slave trade in throughout Galaxy.).
And this experience reward was set at 450 billion, with a further remark warning about the difficulty of the mission?
At this moment, Han Xiao could tell for sure that the mysterious secondary dimension was hiding a huge secret!
In the past, he did not exist, so Kasuyi’s closest friend would probably have been Manison. Since both of them had come out unscathed, this meant that while the danger was high, it would not surpass that of a pinnacle Beyond Grade A.
Furthermore, since he had just undergone his promotion, his strength had greatly increased. It should not be a problem to do something that Manison and Kasuyi could manage. I’m taking Manison’s spot, which means that if there’s anything good in the secondary dimension, Manison will be deprived of it… Thinking about it, was this not him robbing another opportunity of Manison’s?
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
His greatest hobby now was causing trouble for that old man.
In a certain corner of the Primeval Star River…
“Achoo!”
Manison, who was studying his blueprints, suddenly sneezed, and his expression turned gloomy.
With his experience, he did not need to think to realize that it must be that b*stard Black Star who was cursing him!
[1] In case anyone needs a refresher, the mission (Ending the Darkness
In the chaotic space that resembled a thunderstorm, a silver prismatic spaceship cut through the waves at a high speed, like a small boat traversing the open seas, experiencing endless turbulence.
Han Xiao and Kasuyi were inside the cockpit, observing the map model of the secondary dimension.
“We’re going deeper…” Han Xiao looked at the jumping coordinates, smacking his lips. “Are you sure we didn’t go the wrong way?”
“The direction my senses are telling me has not changed. Based on my experience, we should be almost there.” Kasuyi nodded.
Because Kasuyi had never managed to enter the secondary dimension of his target, he did not have any anchored coordinates, so he could only travel through the known secondary dimensions first to shorten the distance as much as possible before they barged through the chaotic space stream.
The duo had been in flight for a few days and had left the area of control of the three Universal Civilizations far behind, delving deeper into the secondary dimension and passing through many bizarre planes.
The world of secondary dimensions was just like the main universe, constantly expanding. With every passing second, countless worlds would be born or would die. The three Universal Civilizations had only explored a portion of the relatively stable areas and called this explored area the ‘Shallow Layer’, whilst the unexplored areas were known as the ‘Deep Layer’. However, there was actually no essential difference between the shallow and deep layers in the secondary dimensions.
Because it was difficult to move forward without proper coordinates, the only thing the duo could do was rely on Kasuyi’s senses as their only navigator. Fortunately, because he had been there twice, there was proof that this method was feasible.
At this time, an almost invisible crack suddenly appeared in the turbulent space ahead. Kasuyi’s eyes brightened. “It’s there!”
The moment he heard it, Han Xiao turned the spaceship in a sharp arc, dashing straight into the crack
Boom!
By theory, encountering cracks in a space storm meant that one could directly enter a secondary dimension, but this time was different. Both of them only felt the hull slightly shake, but the world outside their porthole still showed an empty space. In front of them, an endless honeycomb-shaped space wall appeared, glowing in a mysterious bluish purple. This was the external barrier of a secondary dimension world.
And outside the space wall, there was a large group of weird creatures, the monsters mentioned by Kasuyi.
“It’s here?”
“Yes, be careful. These creatures are not only aggressive but very resilient to attacks, having amazing resistance to both mental and energy attacks as well as being able to release a sort of energy similar to dimensional lightning. They can resonate with each other, forming a huge shield to isolate the outside world, which cannot be broken without killing the creatures. This was why I could not rush in,” Kasuyi replied.
Han Xiao studied the creatures carefully. They were all quite large, and while he lacked a reference, he estimated that they were three hundred kilometers in length. They had the characteristics of a beetle, with a milky white exoskeleton all over their body and segmented body parts. At first glance, they resembled a centipede without feet. However, along the gaps between the carapace, they possessed light blue membranous wings instead.
Every section of the membrane wing had a limb-like joint, with a hollow bone tube attached at the end, as though serving as a breathing organ. On their abdomen, there were two rows of symmetrical nubs for feet, extending all the way to the tail. Their head had no visual organs nor mouthparts, only a huge pointed cone with rows of holes densely packed around it.
“What a look. Just because no one can see them, they chose to grow in any manner they wish?” Han Xiao secretly insulted them.
As they chatted, the wandering creatures spotted their spaceship, immediately attacking. They saw one of them inhaling a large amount of space turbulence before black and purple lightning appeared around it, shooting out to attack the spaceship.
Buzz!
Kasuyi’s eyes lit up, and a huge Psychic shield popped up to protect the spaceship. All the black purple lightning bolts landed on it, exploding into fireworks, but he continued to inject power to ensure that the psychic shield was stable. With a huge amount of MP as his support, Kasuyi was totally not afraid of his consumption. “They have very thick skin and good Psychological Resistance. My efficiency in damaging them is very low… I’ll leave it to you, Black Star.”
“You can defend. Leave the attacking to me.”
Han Xiao opened his secondary dimensional army box, and mechanical soldiers rushed out and bombarded the creatures with fierce firepower.
Army-Style Mechanics were the best at such large-scale team battles. While Kasuyi was also good at area of effect damage, his class leaned toward mental damage. As long as he encountered targets with high Psychological Resistance, his damage efficiency would decrease.
The Psionic energy bombarded the monster, blasting a charred gap in his exoskeleton. The resistance of this group of monsters was indeed amazing, but Han Xiao was not his past self. After his promotion, his attributes had sharply increased, improving his attack power and Mechanical Force bonuses. Under the large-scale Mechanical Force concentration, the monsters were easily bombarded into scattered pieces.
At this moment, more of the creatures rushed over. Their numbers seemed to be endless, and they came up to fight with the mechanical troops without the slightest fear.
Their energies constantly resonated and connected with each other, forming an extremely thick black-purple shield that covered each individual body, slowing down the rate of casualties. As more of them arrived, the strength of their attacks and defense also rose.
Despite the fierce fighting, the two remained in the spaceship without moving.
Observing the battlefield outside the porthole, Kasuyi seemed surprised.
“Black Star, why is your machinery lethality so high now?”
Having crossed arms against these creatures, he was clear of their defenses. In his opinion, even if Black Star could handle the enemy, it should not have been as easy as this.
Kasuyi had also known Manison for many years and was knowledgeable. This time, the combat power of Black Star’s Mechanical army was beyond his expectations. Compared to the last time he personally experienced Han Xiao’s strength during the attack on Hila, Black Star had improved too much. “My standard is just average.”
Han Xiao smiled and waved his hand, not intending to reveal anything.
Seeing Han Xiao’s reluctance to speak, Kasuyi also did not ask further, moving away from the topic. He exclaimed, “A Mechanic is truly a convenient class, able to solve such a trouble just by sitting in the spaceship.”
“It’s an advantage of our class. While we Mechanics have many weapons and underlings, are able to adapt to any situation, and especially for me, have the recovery abilities of a pugilist… I will never have Psychic abilities,” Han Xiao joked.
“… This is not exactly consoling me either.”
As they continued to talk, Han Xiao was glancing at the interface’s combat information. While Kasuyi did not know about the origins of these creatures, he could find out just by looking at the interface.
The interface had named this creature ‘Space Louse’, with an average level of 240 to 260. It was a special biological life form with extreme racial talents. Just judging by their attributes and skills, it seems that the strength of a single Space Louse was already slightly higher than a normal Calamity Grade Super but far from reaching the Beyond Grade A realm. It was mainly because of their amazing resistance obtained from living in the chaotic space stream. Those Interstellar Beasts he had met before this all paled in comparison to them.
The Space Louse also had the ability to share energy. The more of their race within a certain distance, the higher their boost would be. They could share damage and transfer attributes, but there was a limit. However, at this limit, they could even resist the attacks of a pinnacle Beyond Grade A.
“This sort of creature is quite powerful. As long as their numbers are large enough, they can be compared to a pinnacle Beyond Grade A. I’d like to get a bunch of them to breed, but I don’t know their habits or if they could survive in the main universe…” Han Xiao stroked his chin.
“I don’t care about that right now.” Kasuyi waved his hand. He only wanted to enter this secondary dimension to obtain an opportunity for his God’s Trait Transformation.
“That’s right. Let’s finish our business first.”
Han Xiao nodded and was about to command his machinery to fire and blow up a portion of the Space Louse group to create a channel into the secondary dimension.
At this moment…
Boom!
A tyrannical energy wave erupted in the distance, quickly approaching.
Sensing the fluctuations, Han Xiao and Kasuyi’s expressions changed.
“This energy…” Kasuyi had a solemn expression.
“This is a real pinnacle Beyond Grade A. His realm is probably no lower than you or me!” Han Xiao frowned.
In their perception range, the source of this energy was fast approaching them, bringing about a strong sense of threat.
Both of their figures flashed as they finally left the spaceship. They also revealed their auras, gazing at the distance where the fluctuations were coming from.
Not long after, a comet shot over, stopping in front of them and revealing itself to be a three-meter-tall figure, with weird armor covering their entire body and only leaving two blue light dots where the eyes of the helmet were.
Han Xiao and Kasuyi sized up the visitor, quietly exchanging a glance before communicating mentally.
“Did you see this person the last two times?”
“Nope, his aura is foreign to me.”
“Could this person be someone who hid in the secondary dimension his whole life, cultivating until he reached the pinnacle Beyond Grade A realm?”
“It’s possible.”
“I’ll try conversing with him.”
The two quickly reached a consensus. Kasuyi immediately released friendly mental signals, sending a spiritual message to attempt to communicate.
Han Xiao did not intervene in the exchange between them, but after a few seconds, he saw Kasuyi’s expression turning ugly.
“What did he say?”
“No matter what I say, his replies were exactly the same, asking us to leave, otherwise they will kill us invaders.”
“He called us invaders?” Han Xiao was full of surprise. “Could this secondary dimension be his territory?”
Considering the difficulty of the mission, Han Xiao had known that the mission would not be easy from the beginning, but he had only thought that this secondary dimension was a nest of the Space Lice. Now it seemed like they were wrong. Furthermore, the Space Lice around did not attack the mysterious newcomer, as though they were bred, so the truth was not so simple anymore. “How would I know? It seems like there’s nothing to talk about anymore. Get ready to do it.” Kasuyi narrowed his eyes. He had to obtain his opportunity for his God’s Trait Transformation, and it was impossible to compromise.
“Alright, but there’s no need to fight him. We just need him to retreat, and we can directly enter the secondary dimension to see what’s going on inside,” Han Xiao suggested
Kasuyi nodded, and without warning, a sudden violent mental attack burst out from him, shattering the surrounding chaotic space stream.
The mysterious person instantly attacked, surging blue energy gushing out to collide against Kasuyi’s psychic energies. Boom! The violent energies exploded, clearing the entire area of the machinery and Space Lice. Kasuyi’s MP was nigh infinite, so his style was aggressive. However, his opponent was not stingy with their energy either. Both of their energies clashed to a stalemate in midair, radiating outward as shockwaves.
However, the strength of the mysterious person was actually as impressive as Kasuyi’s!
Seeing this, Han Xiao immediately joined the battle, fighting two against one as his Mechanical Force dragged the countless soldiers toward him.
The next moment, a small-scale Mechanical Deity descended on him, throwing out a slash from his blade.
Because the other party’s combat power has undoubtedly reached the SS rank, the effect of [Fearless Heart] was immediately activated!
Swoosh!
The Celestial Punishment Edge cut through like a hot knife through butter, slashing away the energy that the mysterious person was using as a shield and striking him backward so quickly that he turned into a comet, disappearing in their field of vision.
Kasuyi’s psychic energy suddenly had no resistance left, and he could hardly react in time. He spoke in a stunned tone.
“You… knocked him flying? Isn’t that too quick”
Kasuyi was in a delicate mood. He felt that Black Star seemed to be far stronger than he expected. There was a huge error in his impression on the strength that Black Star had.
“Alright, cut the extra talk. I only knocked him away. If he returns, we’ll have to continue fighting him. Let’s just enter and check the place out.”
Han Xiao personally took action, manipulating his Mechanical Deity to lead the way using his blade and smashing open a route through the Space Lice. He exploded the shield formed by the energy resonance of the Space Lice, exposing the space wall of the secondary dimension.
Seeing this, Kasuyi did not have time to question Han Xiao’s strength. He hurriedly followed him as they rushed into the secondary dimension with a large wave of machinery.
At this moment, the mysterious person finally flew back. Looking at the gradually closing space wall, the blue light spots at the position of his eyes flickered rapidly, suddenly turning red.
“Intruders succeeded in breaking through the second line of defense. Immediately adopting the third set of response plans. Changing operation mode… Change completed. Current mode: Pursue and Kill!”
Han Xiao had just entered the space wall, and seeing the chaotic space stream of blue and purple colors, along with the feeling of suffocation, he got a big surprise.
“This feeling seems to be different from when I’ve entered other secondary dimensions…”
Before he could even sense the scene carefully, his sight took an abrupt change.
Seeing the new scene, he paused in astonishment.
He was situated high above the sky, with an extremely prosperous galactic city facing him. The city had tall buildings and bright lights, along with countless flying vehicles and an endless flow of people on the street, all of which were a race he had never seen before.
“This… What’s the situation here?”
By the side, Kasuyi was also shocked. He did not expect the inside to look like this.
Han Xiao now remembered that the combat information about the mysterious person was termed ‘Supreme Guardian’. So, the object of the person’s protection was this civilization?
Looking behind them, they got a shock once again. What appeared was not the space wall of the secondary dimension but rather a sky full of galaxies like the main universe.
Just as the two were puzzled, a sudden change occurred!
“Wu Wu Wu Wu! Emergency evacuation! Emergency evacuation!” A harsh alarm suddenly sounded in the entire city, and the ground shook, with the steel surfaces sliding away to reveal various refuge entrances. The countless pedestrians and flying vehicles seemed to have practiced this thousands of times, hurriedly flying into the shelters.
At the same time, turrets with weird forms protruded from the ground, aiming at the two.
“Hey, we’re being treated as invaders now… What is this?” Before Han Xiao could finish, he sensed the aura fluctuations of six Beyond Grade As, and his eyes widened.
In the distance, six figures rose into the sky from all directions of the city, rushing toward the duo.
Seeing this, Han Xiao and Kasuyi shared a glance, their eyes brimming with surprise. In addition to the previous pinnacle Beyond Grade A outside, there were now at least seven Beyond Grade As in this secondary dimension! What the hell is this place?
“Luckily, the six of them are only at the Beyond Grade A level. We should be able to handle them… huh?”
Kasuyi suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his expression turning unsightly.
“What’s wrong?”
“My connection with the Void Dimension… seems to be disconnected?” Kasuyi’s eyes got wider as he spoke.
Han Xiao frowned, secretly feeling it before realizing that he too could no longer connect to the Void Dimension.
Opening his interface, he checked if he was suffering from any abnormal state, but his status was as usual, not affected by any space interference device.
But as he scrolled down, he found something strange.
Not only did his talents related to the Void Dimension turn gray, but even his secondary dimensional army box and Dimension Factory were frozen, unable to be activated.
“What’s going on?”
Han Xiao was confused, feeling that this secondary dimension was revealing an indescribable weirdness.
Just as the duo were caught unawares, the six Beyond Grade As had already arrived and encircled them.
The one who seemed to be the leader spoke loudly, but neither Han Xiao nor Kasuyi understood the other party. They were using an unfamiliar language, and it was not in the general translator’s database.
Kasuyi squinted before releasing his psychic waves to communicate, pulling Han Xiao into the chat channel.
Seeing this scene, the leader was stunned for a moment before he received the mental connection. The moment he connected, he immediately asked, “You guys, where did you come from? Why do you not understand the common language?” “Where is this place?” Kasuyi replied with a question.
“Tudor Province Capital, a colonial planet under the Caliste civilization. I’m the Captain of the Protectorate Team, Farlite. I request you to explain your origins and identity immediately as to why you appeared out of thin air over the city. Please answer!”
Hearing this, both Kasuyi and Han Xiao shared a glance, sensing each other’s doubts through the mental link.
Caliste Civilization? They had never heard of it before. Looking from the history of the exploration era up till now, there were no records of such a civilization. Could it be that this was a civilization borne in the secondary dimension that had never appeared in the main universe? While they did not know their level of technology, just the six Beyond Grade As could already occupy a place in the main universe.
Seeing that the two of them did not respond, Farlite intensified his tone and shouted, “This is the period of martial law in the entire universe. You’ve violated the ban set by the Celestial Star Alliance, visiting the colonial planets of other civilizations without permission and showing your power at will. According to the relevant laws and regulations, you have to immediately disarm yourselves and give up resistance, sealing your own Source and accepting our investigation. Otherwise, we will take coercive measures!”
These words could be understood separately, but linked together, they only gave the duo more confusion.
Universal martial law? Celestial Star Alliance? Source? What’s that? While they did not understand the nuances, the overall meaning was clear. It was nothing more than asking them to give up any resistance. However, in such an unfamiliar environment, it was naturally impossible for the two to give up self-protection and allow themselves to be apprehended. Kasuyi wanted to ask more, but upon seeing that the two of them remained indifferent, Farlite’s expression sank, and he moved without speaking further.
Boom!
His aura exploded suddenly, and in a flash of rainbow light, Farlite charged in front of Kasuyi as though he had teleported, lashing out with a punch. The shock waves from the compressed air sounded out as a sonic boom.
“You dare move against me?”
Kasuyi frowned, and with a speed even quicker than Farlite’s, he reached out and placed his hand on the side of Farlite’s fist. He slightly tilted his body, pushing against Farlite’s fist. The majestic Pugilist aura was cast aside, turning into a beam of light as it disappeared into the galaxy. His movements then shifted lightly, and an elbow shot forward, hitting Farlite’s chest. The highly concentrated psychic energy was akin to acupuncture, pouring into the opponent’s body through the point of contact without a single bit leaked.
Boom!
The energy erupted internally, and Farlite could no longer control his body, flying back at a speed that was several times faster. He crashed through the skyscrapers, leaving behind large holes that were totally see through as he disappeared into the distance.
Han Xiao could not help but comment, “Oh, looks like you can do hand to hand combat with a Pugilist as well.”
“Don’t look down on others. I killed my way out from the Void Dimension, so melee is also my forte.” Kasuyi shook his arm casually.
While he was used to squandering the limitless mana provided by the Void Dimension, he had been a very precise fighter before, causing the greatest damage using the least energy. As a void creature that lived in the Void Dimension since his childhood, melee would not be his weakness.
Furthermore, he was still a pinnacle Beyond Grade A, and just his raw attributes would already be able to allow him to compete with a Beyond Grade A Pugilist, let alone with his dual abilities of spiritual and psychic powers.
The other five Beyond Grade As seemed to have received a shock, letting out exclamations of surprise. Han Xiao did not know what they talked about, but in the next instant, the five of them rushed over, besieging them. The various weapons on the city’s ground level also opened fire toward them, filling the sky with explosions like fireworks.
“Sigh, these people are so irritable. They dare to fight above the city. Aren’t they afraid that we’ll just blow up their planet?” Han Xiao sarcastically remarked before a wave of his hand brought up the concentrated firepower of his machinery, whilst some of them entangled with the five Beyond Grade As.
The mechanical units that were fighting against the Space Lice outside the secondary dimension had been brought in together by Han Xiao. While his secondary dimensional army box and Dimension Factory could not be opened at this time, leading to a lack of troops that could be summoned, the Great Mechanic Han was not worried at all.
A Mechanic’s weapons were all crafted by themself. If he could not use his inventory, he could just pick whatever materials he had on the spot and make something!
The stronger his hands-on abilities, the more assurance he had!
The six opponents consisted of two Pugilists, a Mage, and three Psychics, all of which were ordinary Beyond Grade As with Energy Ranks below 52,000 Ona. As soon as both sides clashed, the five Beyond Grade As fell into a disadvantage, only being able to resist with difficulty. Even if Farlite managed to return to the battlefield, he would not be able to reverse their predicament, only holding on bitterly. With the advanced attribute bonus brought about by the Promotion to level 340, coupled with the explosive output brought by his [Legendary Battle Technique] and [Fearless Heart] skills, an ordinary Beyond Grade A wanting to go against him was simply deciding that they wanted to cut their lives short. Furthermore, there was yet another pinnacle Beyond Grade A, Kasuyi, beside him. Against these normal biological life forms, the latter’s Psychic skills could finally exert their full lethality. Together, it was a simple task to beat the ordinary Beyond Grade As.
However, even if the six were not opponents of Kasuyi and Han Xiao, it was still possible to contain them for a period of time. This was even more achievable given that the duo were unaware of the situation and thus did not wish to unnecessarily kill.
While using his Psychic Acupuncture technique to cause hemorrhage to his opponent’s brains, Kasuyi communicated to Han Xiao through the mental channel
“Black Star, we’re not in our strongest states now. There’s also another pinnacle Beyond Grade A outside the secondary dimension. If he joins in, the situation will be unfavorable to us. We don’t need to continue this battle and instead should leave this place to obtain more intelligence as a long-term plan.”
“My sentiments, let’s shake them off.”
Han Xiao nodded. He was very concerned about the information these people revealed, wanting to figure out his current environment as soon as possible.
With a thought, he pulled all his mechanical soldiers together, gathering them.
Clank!
The Mechanical Deity descended once again, stretching out a hand to grab Kasuyi and integrate him within before igniting all its thrusters and rising into outer space.
Farlite shouted, as though telling them not to run, while leading the other five along in pursuit. Pugilist flames, Psychic impacts, and Magic spells continued to blast toward the Mechanical Deity, all of which were shielded by the honeycomb structure of its Emperor’s Саре.
“Still want to chase? This group really do not know how to count their blessings. They must have suffered from a lack of ‘love[1]’.”
Han Xiao helplessly raised his Celestial Punishment Edge, and the surging psionic energy formed on the blade. Following the pathway of the Getta Hadoken, it condensed before slashing out in a solid arc of light.
The faint blue light blade shredded the space around it, leaving cracks as it flew forward.
The strength behind this blade caused the expressions of the six to drastically change, and they hurriedly utilized their strongest defensive skills to go against it. Boom!
The resulting frenzied shock wave spread out in all directions from the impact point, turning the atmosphere around it into a cloudless area.
“Argh!”
Tragic screams sounded from afar as the six of them were smashed downward from the force of the blow. A large area of tall buildings shattered and collapsed. Looking from outer space, it seemed that six mushroom clouds had suddenly grown on the surface.
“You didn’t kill them, right?” Kasuyi was worried.
“I didn’t even use my strength. How could this sort of attack kill anyone?” Han Xiao did not put much thought into it.
Kasuyi immediately rolled his eyes.
He had already realized that Black Star had obviously made some significant improvement, and yet he deliberately pretended to be modest and hid it. Did he think that everyone around him was blind? The Mechanical Deity turned around and flew off, crossing the starry sky and moving away from the planet.
At this moment, Farlite and company crawled out from the rubble on the ground. Everyone was wounded, and as they watched the Mechanical Deity disappear from their vision, they could not help but feel a lingering fear.
The blade just now had given them the feeling of an extremely terrifying threat to their lives, and they almost thought that it would be the end of them.
The group surveyed their surroundings, and upon seeing that the city they were guarding had turned into ruins, they could not help but burst into anger.
“What do we do now?” someone asked. “The two of them are ‘Supreme’ Ranked experts and are not people we can deal with,” Farlite said angrily. “Their appearance is just too weird. I suspect that they will interfere with the World Reset Plan. Immediately report up to the Celestial Star Alliance Superpower Security Department. Ask them to send a hunting team and issue a universal arrest warrant!”
The secondary dimensions were strange and had their own laws of operation. But this secondary dimension was similar to the environment in the main universe, with a boundless galaxy that was rare even in the secondary dimension world.
While this dimension had the environment of the universe, the star map of the main universe could not be used at all. After Han Xiao controlled the Mechanical Deity to leave the planet, he used the parts and materials of the mechanical soldiers to build an astronomical observatory to plot their surroundings. He discovered an asteroid belt, so they went over there to camp there temporarily.
Very quickly, the asteroid belt appeared in front of his eyes. Han Xiao released the Mechanical Deity, turning it back into soldiers to guard his surroundings while he boarded one of the asteroids with Kasuyi to discuss their next countermeasures.
“…This secondary dimension is too exaggerated. I don’t even know where the end is. What about you?” Kasuyi frowned.
“Same here. This feels like an actual universe.” Han Xiao opened his hands.
Kasuyi paced as he thought aloud, “Could it be that the secondary dimension is actually a giant wormhole that transferred us to an area of the universe not controlled by the three Universal Civilizations. Could we have come to another corner of the universe?”
“I doubt that’s the case.” Han Xiao shook his head. “My Dimension Factory is locked, as is the Void Dimension. This sort of unique characteristic is not like returning to the main universe.”
“That’s true…” Kasuyi suddenly thought of something. “Your Dimension Factory can’t be opened? Then it means we’re trapped here since you cannot retrieve your mechanical suit?”
“You don’t have to worry about that.” Han Xiao fiddled with the compressed orbs hanging on his neck. “I have a habit of carrying spares. There’s enough to get us both out.”
Spacetime anchors naturally restrained his secondary dimensional army box, so he would not be unprepared. He would always leave some of the more critical machinery on his body for quick access.
“Then I’m relieved.” Kasuyi breathed out. He did not wish to leave just like that, but he was worried that he did not have any routes of retreat.
“By the way, this secondary dimension seems to be completely isolated from the outside world. I cannot even contact my main artificial intelligence through the quantum network,” Han Xiao said.
Because Phillip’s mainframe was in his base camp, Han Xiao had been cut off since he entered the secondary dimension. He could only replace it with Phillip’s backup sub-body that he carried with him and use it as a local area network connection. However, he was unable to lock onto his avatar outside the secondary dimension to return to the main universe.
He opened up the quantum network vision, connecting to the quantum network in this secondary dimension. He had tried it during the battle just now, finding that the coded language of the quantum network in this dimension was different compared to the main universe. This situation was similar to that of the Virtual Mutiny Virus, where the basic code had to first be deciphered before his virtual intrusion methods could be used.
“By the way, what about your senses regarding the God’s Trait Transformation?” Han Xiao asked.
“It’s still present, but it has turned blurry,” Kasuyi helplessly replied. “I feel as though my senses are pointing to this entire space, with no determined direction.”
“This isn’t good. Without your locator, given the size of this secondary dimension, how are we going to find it?”.
Han Xiao shook his head.
If his senses were still accurate, that would be easy for them to just follow the directions to obtain the opportunity and then use the King to escape. But now, without a direction, it was a lot more troublesome.
“We can only find it slowly.” Kasuyi looked hopefully at Han Xiao. “You don’t have anything to do, right?”
“I don’t, but if this takes too long, I can only choose to retreat temporarily.”
Han Xiao shrugged.
He did not need to worry about the Pro League of the players and originally intended to grind his skills here. The Kunde Race’s Spacetime Splicing Technology was a good choice, and this secondary dimension might even hold some black technology that he could obtain.
That’s right, speaking of the players…
Han Xiao had a thought and opened the forums to check. He discovered that everything was working as usual, and he could still see the posts that the players had put up.
Currently, all sorts of external communications had failed, so the forums had become his only channel to receive information from the outside world.
Kasuyi paced back and forth as he pondered, “Black Star, what’s your next step?”
Han Xiao threw him a glance before replying, “We are still unaware of what is happening in this secondary dimension. I recommend we treat it as another universe for now. We’re outsiders and thus have to collect information.
“Give me some time to decipher their coded language of the universe quantum network before I hack in to collect information… Before that, though, we need a temporary star map. I’ll just draw this. The observatory can solve this problem… “In addition, the degree of danger is unknown. I’ll expand the current machines to find some resource rich planets, establish temporary strongholds, and make engineering equipment to collect various materials, creating a new assembly line…”
Han Xiao rattled off a series of plans.
Since his Dimension Factory was frozen, he planned to open up a base in this secondary dimension, copying a set of military factories to solve the problems of combat, logistics, detection, and concealment. Kasuyi listened for a long time before he could not help but ask, “What do I need to do?”. “You…” Han Xiao stroked his chin as he sized up Kasuyi before saying with confidence, “Just don’t cause trouble.” Hearing this, Kasuyi could not help but let out a bitter smile.
It was no wonder that among the five Super systems, the advanced civilizations were the most afraid of the Mechanic class, which was basically a mobile interstellar war system!
He secretly rejoiced that he had brought along a Mechanic. If he had brought a Pugilist that could only beat people up, they would only be able to stare at each other right now. The Pugilist system was really unreliable!
In a metallic machinery room, a man with pipes all over his body slowly opened his eyes. He had two pairs of green eyes, a pair larger than the other, which were symmetrically distributed on the left and right of his face. A vertical scar ran along the left side of his face, only leaving the two eyes on the right side of his face open.
His breathing was labored, and only after a long while did a deep mutter sound through the room.
“There’s finally another outsider… This person had better be of use this time…”
[1] There’s this saying that ‘scolding means I care; beating you means I love you’. It’s mainly used to describe the hidden care of the parents toward the child.
“The Caliste Civilization sent over an anomaly report, claiming that two unfamiliar experts at the ‘Supreme’ level had violated the ban, appearing out of thin air in the capital of Tudor Province. They refused to obey the handling, and after a fierce battle, both of them fled into space, disappearing without a trace… This is the image data they recorded.” The huge conference room designed like stairs was filled full of people. Everyone was watching the video on the virtual screen carefully. What was displayed on the screen was Han Xiao and Kasuyi’s battle with the guardians of Tudor Province.
The video duration was not long, and it soon ended with the shocking blow delivered by the Mechanical Deity.
The screen went black, and the room was enveloped in silence for a while before discussions heated up. “There’s no doubt. Both of them are at the Supreme level.”
“The database does not hold their information at all. They are of unknown origins, identity, and ethnicity, and there’s no recorded activities on them.”
“That’s strange. Even for our Minister of Superpower Security, people with such strength will get the authority to head a department. To think such experts would actually be willing to endure loneliness and be obscure.”
“Well… they’ve been concealing themselves up till this point, so their intentions for the big picture are probably huge.”
“Could it be related to the World Reset Plan? Otherwise, why would they only appear at this crucial point?”
“This matter has to be taken seriously. No factors that may interfere with the World Reset Plan will be allowed to intrude.”
At this moment, a senior executive who seemed to be a department head knocked on the table to interrupt the discussion. He spoke in an indisputable tone.
“This matter will be handled by the fifth, seventh, and eleventh divisions. Directors of these divisions, please arrest these two and carefully review their origins.”
Three of the executives stood up, nodding slightly to accept the mission.
The department head slowly nodded as he said, “This is a pressing time. There’s no time to play hide and seek with them. To end this quickly, I approve the use of the Cosmic Treasure ‘Positioning Star Map’ to lock in on their coordinates.”
Hearing this, everyone on scene let out a faint smile.
The Positioning Star Map was the trump card of the Superpower Security Division. It was a Cosmic Treasure that was formed from unknown means. A complete star map of the universe was stored inside, and as long as one entered the target data, they could locate their coordinates in real time.
All fugitives had nowhere to hide in front of such a tool!
A couple of days later…
On a certain gray, barren planet, the underground had been transformed into a temporary base by Han Xiao. There was automated mining equipment that went deep into the veins of the planet to collect various ore resources, transporting them to undergo material processing through assembly lines. The refined ores were made into various raw materials and then put on the production line.
Because of the current shortage of materials, Han Xiao only assembled the basic assembly line, of which the majority were collection and assistant machinery to expand his initial production capacity.
In the central control room of his temporary base, Han Xiao sat in a simple quantum network view magnifier, surrounded by dense virtual screens. Amazing data streams flashed through the screens constantly. He had spent several days deciphering the coded language for this quantum network.
Kasuyi sat on the alloy bench beside him, leaning back against the rock wall as he watched Han Xiao in boredom.
With Black Star doing all the work, Kasuyi had nothing to do, and he could only give moral encouragement and eye power. At this moment, Han Xiao’s eyelids trembled, and he opened his eyes as he exhaled. “I’ve cracked it.”
Kasuyi’s spirits perked up. “That quickly?”
“It’s not too bad. Their coded language is not complicated. As long as you find the entry point, the rest is easy.” Han Xiao waved his hand.
The difficulty of cracking the code this time was much lower compared to the original Virtual Mutiny Virus. The Domino Virus was a weapon that contained multiple keys, with no reference target. One could only utilize trial and error to succeed. In contrast, the quantum network shared similarities with the network of the main universe, and because it was open source, there were many references. Han Xiao also had the (Virtual Technology InnovationManison) skill, which enhanced his own Virtual Technology and made it easier to crack.
Having finished the deciphering, his own virtual intrusion means could finally be used.
“What are we waiting for? Use your invincible Virtual Intrusion to collect intelligence,” Kasuyi urged.
“Hmm.” Han Xiao nodded, closing his eyes before sinking into the quantum network field of vision, collecting data on a large scale. After pacing around and around, Kasuyi saw Han Xiao reopen his eyes and immediately asked, “How is it? Did you find anything?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao’s expression turned weird.
He took a deep breath before suddenly exploding. He grabbed Kasuyi’s neck with both his arms, shaking him repeatedly as he screamed, “F*ck your ancestors! What sort of hell did you bring me to?”
Kasuyi’s head was shaken so fast it formed an afterimage, and he had an expression of confusion.
“What… what do you mean?”
“See for yourself!”
Han Xiao flicked his hand, opening a virtual screen, and dumped all the information inside.
As Kasuyi scanned it, his eyes grew wider, an incredulous look spreading across his face.
“This… How is this even possible?”
Kasuyi retreated involuntarily after he understood the information.
This intelligence was not the top-secret files in the universe but basic information that Han Xiao had collected. But the content was out of all their expectations. The area in this secondary dimension was even wider than the entire explored universe! There were thirty-three Star Fields, six to seven hundred Star Clusters, and countless Civilizations of all levels!
As for the ruling party, it was a civilization known as the Celestial Star Alliance. Just the introduction told them that it was stronger than the three Universal Civilizations and had a longer history. Even if they looked at the oldest of the three Universal Civilizations, the Arcane Church, its civilization age was but a fraction of the Celestial Star Alliance’s. There were also five different types of Superpower systems present: Mechanic, Psychic, Pugilist, Esper and Magic. However, their term of ‘Energy’ was known as ‘Source’, and even their realms were separated differently. They called their Beyond Grade As Saints’ and the pinnacle Beyond Grade As ‘Supremes’.
In terms of individual strength, this secondary dimension also trumped the main universe. According to the data, there were nearly ten thousand ‘Saint’ level experts recorded in their universe! The equivalent of Beyond Grade As numbered almost ten thousand, of which there existed hundreds of pinnacle Beyond Grade A! The reaction of the duo was that this was unbelievable!
What did this mean? Although Beyond Grade As had long life spans, most people still grew old and died. To have nearly ten thousand living Beyond Grade As, how long exactly had this secondary dimension existed?
The two of them had thought that this secondary dimension was at best a universe that had managed to develop itself, but they did not expect that there was actually a civilization many times stronger than the three Universal Civilizations.
“Black Star, are you joking with me? You made this material up, right?” Kasuyi had a look of shock.
“Why would I joke with you at this time? All of this was picked from their web, and it’s all the most fundamental intelligence you can find.”
Han Xiao had frowned the first time he saw all this material online. He had actually doubted its veracity, but after repeated searches, he had discovered that it was all true.
Could this secondary dimension actually be stronger than the main universe itself? Was the Celestial Star Alliance stronger than the three Universal Civilizations? This was too exaggerated! How could there be such a freak in this secondary dimension?
Or could this actually be an unexplored area of the main universe?
Then how did Kasuyi and Manison go back the moment they arrived there?
Han Xiao’s mind ran quickly. Because the information from his past life was limited, he did not know what was going on for a while.
Kasuyi had not recovered from his shock at this point. He was murmuring to himself, “If the people in this secondary dimension run out into the main universe, then…”
Hearing this, Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed, and he hurriedly went back online. He decided to scan the internet to search if this universe had any information regarding secondary dimensions. If the Celestial Star Alliance truly existed within the secondary dimensions, then it would be impossible that they had never explored the outside world.
Han Xiao soon found what he wanted, but the result surprised him yet again.
This universe had no secondary dimensions!
There was no division between the ‘main universe’ and the ‘secondary dimension’!
All they had was a single cosmic plane, without any ‘outside’ in which they could explore. They too were unaware about the Space Lice swarm and the Supreme Guardian that was stationed outside.
Strange!
This is too strange!
Han Xiao’s curiosity grew stronger.
“By the way, when we first came in, those six Beyond Grade As seemed to say something about martial law in the universe. Let’s see what’s that about…”
Han Xiao hurriedly entered the keywords, and his vision was soon replaced with a headline.
‘World Reset Project’!
The announcement stated that this was a universal-level plan launched by the Celestial Star Alliance. This was a special measure to prevent any future disasters that could not be solved.
The intelligence Han Xiao discovered was all from announcements and news, and it only provided a general outline. It seemed as though the Celestial Star Alliance was planning to utilize a sort of new Information Form technology to reproduce the data of the entire universe as a data library, treating it as tinder. If there would be an irresistible disaster in the future, they would restart the universe based on the tinder data library.
This re-engraving process was during the period of martial law throughout the universe. The Celestial Star Alliance required everyone to stay in one place and not move around, to prevent interference with the construction of the tinder library. Thus, the interstellar area was deserted, without any spaceships.
As for the specific plan, the Celestial Star Alliance did not disclose it to the public, so Han Xiao was still unaware of the details.
“I have a feeling that this plan is not some insurance…” Han Xiao muttered before going up to knock on Kasuyi, seeing him still stunned. “What shall we do now? The space in this area exceeds your imagination. Your senses are also malfunctioning, so even after hundreds of years, you might not find your so-called opportunity.” In his opinion, this should be the reason the difficulty of the mission was expressed through the astronomical sum of 450 billion experience. Kasuyi came back to his senses, but his expression was uncertain, and he did not speak for quite a while.
Seeing his reaction, Han Xiao also sighed to himself.
It was alright for him, since he had a different growth system and also knew about the existence of the World Tree. Thus, while shocked, he felt nothing else. But Kasuyi was different. It had taken him countless years to finally become a hegemon that had reached the pinnacle of the universe, but he suddenly discovered that there were many more people outside his world that were as strong as him. It was no wonder that his mentality would be shaken up.
Han Xiao thought about it before consoling him. “Old Ka, don’t be depressed. We don’t even know how long this secondary dimension has existed. This number of Beyond Grade As has been accumulated over so many years. There’s nothing to envy. If you want to be jealous, why not be jealous of me? It only took me a few decades to reach this point, surpassing your accumulation of thousands of years. How hateful is that?” Are you really trying to console me? The words ‘f*ck you’ come to mind, but I’m not sure if I should reply with that.
Seeing his constipated expression, Han Xiao was about to continue comforting him when he received a message alarm.
Beep beep… “You’ve received a new message.” “Eh, who could it be at this time?” Han Xiao spoke subconsciously before he reacted.
That’s right, no one has my contact details here. How were they able to find me!”
Han Xiao’s expression changed, and he opened the quantum network, finding an email within. The sender was shown as a bunch of garbled code. The sender had manipulated his address to cover up all traces.
Frowning, he opened the mail and found out that it contained a set of complicated blueprints as well as a short message.
“Learn this technology as fast as possible, or else there’ll be no escape for you. If you can avoid the pursuit of the troops, then go to a place and wait. I’ll contact you again then. The coordinates are…”
“Who is this guy?”
Han Xiao wanted to communicate with the other party, but without a path, he had no method to send a reply.
He could only browse through the blueprint sent by the mysterious person. It recorded a kind of weird instrument, which seemed to have some sort of special hiding function. He did not know what sort of detection device this was guarding against. “Things have become more interesting…” Han Xiao’s eyes flashed.
From the strange ‘Supreme Guardian’ outside the secondary dimension to the unexpectedly powerful Celestial Star Alliance and now this mysterious man contacting him, things were getting more confusing, and he seemed to be getting involved in some unknown storm.
He decided to stay and explore, not just to aid Kasuyi but also to collect more technology and discover the truth behind this space. Otherwise, not just Han Xiao, the entire explored universe would also remain uneasy.
However, this trip to the secondary dimension was always out of his control. He was lacking in intelligence, and he was only receiving poor information, only able to see the surface level.
Ding!
At this time, a notification popped up on the interface.
You have triggered an S-ranked hidden mission: A Relay Across Iterations!
This mission is part of a Chain Mission. This is currently the first of many parts.
Requirements: Escape from the hunting team and succeed in meeting the mysterious person who sent this message. Failure Condition: The mysterious person dies.
Reward: 100,000,000,000 experience, unlocking of the next mission.
Warning! This mission may result in unpredictable effects, please choose carefully!
“This mission…”
Han Xiao was shocked. Not only was it an S-rank hidden mission, it was even a chain mission. The experience reward in just the first mission already matched with what Old Man Manison gave, so the overall difficulty might really be through the sky.
In the absence of any intelligence, the mission guidance was one of the few reliable sources of information, especially since the name of the mission was quite intriguing.
No matter what, this mysterious person took the initiative to contact me. He seems to have some special information in his hand. That will require us to meet. As for the hunter team in the mission introduction…
Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed.
While he was searching online previously, he had discovered a wanted order issued by the Celestial Star Alliance Superpower Security Department, offering a reward for the two wanted people. Their bounty was worth 300 million units of their common currency, its name different from the term ‘Ena’ used in their main universe.
Since his whereabouts were a secret and he had yet to encounter any alarms or detection device scanning, it was logically difficult for them to discover their location. However, the mission reminder as well as the content of the mysterious person’s message seemed to imply that the pursuing team would definitely locate him.
Upon thinking of the weird concealment device left by the mysterious person, Han Xiao guessed that the pursuers might have a precise remote location detecting method, including but not limited to the possibility of prediction, technological means, or even Universal Treasures…
The mysterious person sent me a blueprint but did not explain in detail what sort of methods the soldiers would use. This feels more like a test…
Han Xiao stroked his chin and fell into thought.
This technology had to be studied, but Han Xiao did not intend to put it to use immediately. He wanted to test whether they could be found by the pursuers first. If that was confirmed, then he would utilize the device again in order to verify whether the device really had the effect of concealing its target. As a Mechanic, he believed more in the results of experimentation rather than what people told him.
On the other hand, Han Xiao wished to contact their pursuers, obtaining information from them… Of course, while he was confident in his own strength, he would still arrange some insurance to stabilize any rough waves that might appear.
Currently, both of them were illegal immigrants, and they did not even possess an account in the Intergalactic Bank, let alone the universal currency. They suddenly fell from being the wealthiest in the universe to abject poverty. Han Xiao could only resort to collecting the resources himself, and for the time being, he could not scrape up enough materials to make a new King mechanical suit. Thus, he could only resort to using the King that he had brought with him. He had already placed some of the corresponding Thrones on different coordinates in the universe, acting as fixed-point transporters, whilst some of his King mechanical suits still had the Thrones with them, ready to be positioned at any time.
Having been in the universe for so many years, and with the example given by Manison, Han Xiao was now well versed in the saying ‘a sly rabbit has three burrows’. Days ago, a few of his mechanical troops had scattered the different Thrones around this universe at suitable locations, leaving him with a way out.
The biggest problem currently was not personal safety but his mechanical army. Because his secondary dimensional army box was frozen, he could only transport his troops through the normal method. His portability was severely affected, so if he chose to teleport away, his mechanical army would still be left in the area, and he would be unable to recover them.
Based on reasoning, since there was no secondary dimension that existed in this universe, all mechanics should be the same. However, he found through the internet that because of the lack of secondary dimensions, the five Super systems seemed to have some subtleties in their Class skills.
For example, the Beyond Grade A Mechanics still had the ability to summon mechanical armies on a large scale. However, because they had not crossed paths yet, Han Xiao could not see their combat information and thus did not understand the principle.
“Just the technology alone makes it worth the trip.” Han Xiao was ecstatic.
In his opinion, this place was akin to a huge material library, stocked with endless new technology and different applications and development paths for one’s Class related skills. These were all extremely valuable resources.
The Manison of his previous life must have learned quite a bit when he came over, further increasing his own power. And now, this rare learning opportunity had been taken away by himself.
“Rest in peace, Old Man. I’ll study hard on your behalf.”
Han Xiao had a solemn expression.
The destroyed mentality of Kasuyi had finally recovered from Han Xiao’s ‘comforting blow’. Seeing this, Han Xiao explained the situation and his plan.
Kasuyi was surprised, and after hearing everything, he said, “You mean… we’re now waiting for our pursuers to come knocking before we negotiate? If not, we’ll fight?”
“That’s right. This is in order for us to obtain more information. Don’t be scared by the number of Beyond Grade As here. I’ve checked the cases from the Superpower Security Department over the years, and the majority of them consist of teams formed by three to five Beyond Grade As. There are dozens to hundreds of people there, but they are responsible for a large area, and thus, manpower is limited. Furthermore, I’ve also arranged a path of retreat in case things go awry,” Han Xiao said.
Old Ka was his only companion here, and it could be said that they could only truly depend on each other. While the other party did not have his limitless MP any longer, he was still a pinnacle Beyond Grade A and was a great source of combat power.
“… Alright, then don’t bother me during this period of time. I’ll prepare an ace in the hole and strive to heavily injure a pinnacle Beyond Grade A,” Kasuyi solemnly said.
Han Xiao was startled. He sized him up before curiously asking, “I really didn’t expect that, but you have such ability?”
Kasuyi immediately rolled his eyes. Who are you looking down on? At our level, who doesn’t have a trump card or two in their hands? When I was roaming the universe, your grandfather had probably yet to be born!
In the pitch-black universe, a wormhole suddenly opened, and three spaceships appeared as they exited the hyperdrive. All three were special spaceships that belonged to the Superpower Security Department, led by three ‘Supreme’ level directors to capture the offenders.
“The Positioning Star Map at the headquarters shows that the two targets have been stationed on the target planet and have not left in the past few days.”
“We are still unaware of the intentions of these two people. Do not lower your vigilance.”
Milton stood in front of the porthole, listening to the communication channel. His face had nary a smile on it, and his entire person exuded a serious vibe.
He was the director of the Fifth Team from the Superpower Security Department and the temporary captain of this special pursuit team. Every established division would consist of one Supreme level Director, four deputy directors of the Saint level, and a large number of middle tier officers. Milton had brought two deputy directors with him this time, and the other two directors used the same configuration. Thus, there were nine people at the Beyond Grade A level.
Because of the lack of the strength data for the target, in order to make it a quick fight, the Superpower Security Department equipped the nine of them with the special combat suit, which included a mechanical suit, with melee, long-range, and imprisonment equipment of Gold Grade. With such special equipment, the staff from the Superpower Security Department would have an advantage among people of the same level.
Their opponents were only two Supreme level experts, but they had mobilized nine people on their side, alongside equipment. Milton felt that this mission should be a piece of cake.
He stared at the arrest warrants of Han Xiao and Kasuyi, muttering to himself. “What year is this? To think that there are still people who dare to openly violate the universe ban of the Celestial Star Alliance, trying to whatever they want with their strength. Do you think it’s like the old era? Such good times are long gone…”
Time passed quickly, and another three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Han Xiao had been constantly studying the blueprint provided by the mysterious person in seclusion. It was not difficult to make, but the principle behind it was quite incomprehensible. In some areas, he could not understand it at all, and he did not know what sort of effect the combination would produce.
After a few days of research, there was still no progress. Han Xiao felt that he might lack the key Research Theory or Knowledge, so he simply stopped his research, building the device according to the blueprint given. The process went smoothly, and his failure to understand theory did not hinder him from turning the blueprint into machinery error free.
Ten palm-sized pieces of green and gold metal lay quietly on the workbench. They appeared smooth, but when Han Xiao swiped them with his fingers, he could feel the dense lines engraved on them, filled with countless nano-level energy circuits.
Han Xiao picked up a piece of the alloy, playing with it carefully. Traces of electrical arcs jumped now and then as he extended his senses deep into the metal, feeling the structure within.
“The manual states that so long as the concealment function is activated, objects within its range would be freed from tracking. The more energy inputted, the greater the range…”
Han Xiao was a little skeptical as he had mastered a variety of concealment devices but was unable to see through the principles behind this blueprint.
Even the interface did not give any detailed introduction but rather simply naming it as a ‘Special Cloaking Device’. It said that this would take effect under certain conditions but did not state what those conditions were.
Just as he wished to further study it, his expression changed as he sensed an unexpected situation. The space exploration buoys he arranged around the planet were destroyed.
“They’ve really found us…”
Han Xiao’s eyes narrowed, and he put away the ten Cloaking Devices. He left his base with his mechanical troops, heading to the surface.
Whoosh!
Before long, three spaceships appeared in outer space. Nine figures descended from the sky and landed on the wasteland not far in front of Han Xiao in a fan-shaped encirclement, not bothering to conceal their energy fluctuations.
Seeing this, Han Xiao revealed a knowing expression.
Nine Beyond Grade As, with three of them being pinnacle Beyond Grade As…
The strength of this team was not small. Their overall combat power was higher than the level shown during the attack on Hila. Furthermore, this group of people would not be like the original Kasuyi, where they pulled their punches.
He also discovered that their equipment was extraordinary.
Both sides confronted each other from afar, sizing each other up without moving.
Milton surveyed the area before casually asking, “Where’s your accomplice?”
“Since you can come knocking, how could you not know where he is?” Han Xiao crossed his arms.
Over the past few days, he had purposely devoted a little time to learn the interstellar lingua franca online, so communication was no longer a problem for him.
Milton looked at him from top to toe before nodding and speaking in a business-like tone.
“I advise you not to have any thoughts of resistance. Obediently put on the Source restraints and come with us. Confess your origins, abilities, and reasons for violating the prohibition before undergoing a public review and going to jail for five to ten years. After completing that, you will regain your freedom. The current punishment is considered light; you don’t need to aggravate your crimes.”
Han Xiao did not agree nor refuse, returning with another question. “May I know your identities?”
“You don’t recognize us?” Milton frowned. “I am the Director of the Fifth Division under the Superpower Security Department, Milton. These are my assistants…”
He briefly introduced everyone before asking about Han Xiao’s identity.
“You can call me Black Star, and for my comrade, you can just call him Kakasu…”
“Call me Void Overlord!”
Kasuyi suddenly appeared before Han Xiao, correcting his words in a dissatisfied tone.
“Any name is fine.” Milton did not care, only taking out two sets of mechanical devices similar to collars and throwing them in front as he said, “Hurry up, put on the Source imprisonment devices and go back to settle this business.”
Han Xiao pondered for a while before he spoke.
“I believe there’s a better choice. My friend and I have been in retreat all this while, and we’re unaware of the so-called ban. We are not deliberately causing trouble. Maybe there’s room for discussion. For example, we’re willing to join your Superpower Security Department. Is it possible for you to inform your superiors…” From his point of view, Kasuyi and him did not commit any major incidents. With their strength, they should be able to enjoy this treatment.
However, Milton did not buy it at all. He bellowed, “I’m ordering you, not negotiating! If you have any words, then wait till we return! And no matter what you say, don’t think you can escape the punishment just like that. Even if you’re a Supreme expert, so long as your stain is not removed, we will not accept you!” Hearing this, Han Xiao’s brows twitched.
He had spoken not because he was trying to prevaricate; rather, he did not intend to be limited by the mission. While cooperating with the Celestial Star Alliance might not be the best option, Kasuyi’s mission was simply looking for a needle in a haystack. If he could obtain help from the Celestial Star Alliance, then it would definitely make things easier, and there would be more opportunities to access their secrets.
There were two possible ways to cooperate. One would be to expose his identity as an outsider from another world, while the other was to pretend to be a local… Obviously, Han Xiao could not choose the former. Until things became clear, he would never reveal the existence of the three Universal Civilizations, otherwise it would be bad if the opponent began to covet his universe. That was no different from being a traitor.
Thus, Han Xiao could only choose to pretend to be a local in order to join the Superpower Security Department. He originally felt that with his and Kasuyi’s strength, the other party had no reason not to accept it and would wipe their slates clean. However, the other party did not seem to show them any face at all.
This should not be the case here. With over ten thousand Beyond Grade As, we’re a force to be reckoned with. However, for the advanced civilization to not have any thoughts of stabilizing us with better privileges and treatment, instead treating us all fairly, aren’t they afraid that these people would revolt?
It was impossible for Han Xiao to put on the source restraint and go to the headquarters of the Superpower Security Department. This was tantamount to handing over his own fate to the other party. He frowned before asking once more, “Is there no room for discussion?” Milton pointed to the two sets of Source restraints on the ground. His meaning could not have been clearer.
Boom!
At this moment, extremely condensed and violent Psychic power suddenly shot out from the side. It was Kasuyi’s trump card that he had been preparing for the last few days!
Boom!
Milton suffered a heavy blow, his eyeballs bursting and his nose spurting blood as he was sent flying out like a comet. Turning his head, Han Xiao only saw Kasuyi revolving his Psychic power, shooting forward while snapping at him, “What the f*ck are you still waiting for? Just take action!”
The Void Racial Talents were an important part of Kasuyi’s strength, and now that most of these talents were frozen, his combat power was far from the peak, and his damage had declined, so he gave it his all in that one strike.
The killing move that Kasuyi had been brewing for the last few days was an explosive skill, and the mechanism was a little similar to (Charge
– Endless Potential). During the accumulation period, Kasuyi could not utilize any of his Psychic power, instead compressing it in his brain area while continuously replenishing the energy gone into compression through his cells. He would then use his Psychic power to dam up the compressed area before releasing the floor when he faced an enemy. It was akin to constipating for a few days before releasing everything in one go, and it boasted a high attack coefficient bonus.
This single blow not only brought high damage but also various forms of negative statuses, which could induce a state of (Soul Weakness] in the opponent, reducing their attributes by a percentage. Depending on the target’s strength, it would last for several hours to several years.
Because Milton was ambushed and hit hard, his aura weakened in an instant, and could only show a part of his strength. Kasuyi came prepared, and under his calculation, he weakened the opponent’s overall combat power. As this violent Kasuyi hit the opponent’s leader, the other eight were furious, immediately counterattacking. Various forms of Beyond Grade A attacks smashed toward Kasuyi’s head and face, including Pugilist flames, Magic, Energy Cannons, and Esper Abilities.
Seeing this, Han Xiao sighed, and his body flashed as he stood in front of Kasuyi.
When the duo was first sighted, the natives had already come to the conclusion that Han Xiao was basically there as a meat shield.
How could Kasuyi’s delicate body be able to withstand the ravages of eight strong men? He still had to rely on Han Xiao’s unplowed field to be the tank.
All sorts of weird thoughts flashed by, and in the next instant, the tyrannical attacks of the eight fell on him.
Boom!
The various energies exploded, instantly swelling up into a giant ball of light. The earth collapsed, and matter was annihilated and evaporated. The entire planet now resembled a fruit that had been bitten.
A huge pit appeared in the field, extremely deep and wide, and the underground base they had created naturally collapsed.
However, Han Xiao had already relocated his troops when he was spouting his excuses, so what was destroyed at this time was only a shell.
As the smoke and dust quickly settled, Han Xiao was seen hovering in the same place. He patted the dust on his body casually. “This strength won’t do. You’ve all got to practice more.”
The eight who were preparing to pursue their advantage stood stunned with incredulous expressions.
They had witnessed their opponent taking the firepower of eight people and felt that even if they were not dead, they would still probably be seriously injured. At the very least, they would be injured and embarrassed. However, they never expected this guy called Black Star to be able to casually take on such a round and still appear unscathed!
How was this possible? The information showed that this guy was a Mechanic!
This could not be blamed on them. The explored universe was aware of Han Xiao’s ability, but this was the first time they had encountered the ‘Indestructible Body’.
Even while they were shocked silly, Kasuyi’s actions did not stop in the slightest. After using Black Star as a shield to block out the firepower, Kasuyi’s Psychic power was like wave after wave of floods, exerting an AOE effect as it smashed into the eight of them. It infiltrated their mental realms, outputting tons of damage and blasting out three of the slightly weaker Saint experts.
He was long accustomed to Black Star’s fleshiness and did not take it to heart. He naturally would focus all his attention on this window of opportunity, immediately reversing the attack onto his enemies.
At this moment, Han Xiao also controlled his mechanical soldiers through Mechanical Force. The overwhelming number of soldiers wandered around the horizon like a swarm of locusts continuously providing covering firepower. The huge lethality continuously bound the enemies’ hands and feet, putting them in a dangerous spot.
Furthermore, there was even a milestone that Han Xiao did not expect would come in handy at this time…
Lothaire’s (Civilization Leader Slayer)!
The defenses and various resistance of all enemies would be reduced by three to seven percent, making them weaker.
“I never expected that I would become a wanted criminal. This ability will come in handy now though…” Han Xiao felt helpless.
While the process of fighting between both sides seemed to be quite long, with the speed of a Beyond Grade A, from negotiation to war was merely the span of a few seconds.
A fierce battle broke out in an instant. While the nine led by Milton had the advantage in numbers and overall combat power, they lost the initiative from the beginning and failed to obtain any benefits in the hands of Han Xiao and Kasuyi. However, they still had their Gold Grade equipment, so the two sides were quite evened out, unable to distinguish a winning party early.
“I feel that the strength of these people seems to be a little weaker…”
Han Xiao multitasked, gazing at the combat information shown in his interface.
The three Supreme powerhouses were supposed to be equivalent to the pinnacle Beyond Grade A in their universe, but it did not mean that these three had the same number of God’s Trait Transformation layers. In fact, out of all of them, only Milton had activated the God’s Trait Transformation route.
Earlier on, when Han Xiao had advanced to level 300, he had already entered the pinnacle Beyond Grade A level. When his Energy Rank exceeded the 78,000 threshold, achieving an Energy Level of twenty-one, he had activated the God’s Trait Transformation route. There was a barrier to entry, so not all pinnacle Beyond Grade A would be able to activate this God’s Trait Transformation.
While Han Xiao did not know what Kasuyi’s Energy Rank was, he conservatively estimated it to be above 90,000, with his God’s Trait Transformation at least being at the tenth layer. Milton, the strongest party in the enemy team, probably only had an Energy Rank of close to 80,000. Thus, even with their extra Beyond Grade As, the combat power advantage they held was not as high as imagined.
As for the other six Saint class powerhouses, Han Xiao only saw two people who were Grade S+ with Energy Rank above 52,000, while the rest were little kids with Energy Ranks below 50,000. “The quantity is quite ridiculous, but as for the quality…” Han Xiao shook his head.
Thinking about it, it made sense. He and Kasuyi were people who were standing at the peak of the strongest in the explored universe, among even those pinnacle Beyond Grade As. There was no need to belittle themselves.
Of course, the Celestial Star Alliance had nearly ten thousand Beyond Grade As, and there would naturally be people who were comparable to them. However, whether such people would be willing to work in the Superpower Security Department was questionable, and even if they were, they would not easily be deployed. After all, the two of them did not show much strength previously, so the other party imagined that sending out nine Beyond Grade As would be overkill.
Hu!
One of the Saint Pugilists suddenly rushed in, coming right in front of Han Xiao before lifting up a Gold Grade blood-red halberd and piercing it toward his eyes.
Han Xiao was calm, slightly tilting his head to avoid it, and the light reflecting off the blade illuminated his eyes, filling him with nostalgia.
It had been so many years since someone tried to smash his face. He had almost forgotten what it felt like…
He even had the chance to spare a glance toward his opponent. The next moment, he brought up his arm so quickly it left an afterimage, counterattacking the Pugilist. His Strength and Dexterity made this attack even surpass the speed of the Pugilist.
Boom!
This powerful fist slammed into his opponent’s head, and the person felt as though a symphony had gone off in his mind. He shot off as though he was a baseball that had been hit hard by the batter, flying out of Han Xiao’s sight in the blink of an eye.
Seeing this, Han Xiao lightly nodded.
“It seems like even in this place, the life of a Pugilist is still pretty difficult…”
They had only exchanged blows for a short period of time, but Han Xiao had already concluded that this pursuer team could not pose a substantive threat. Thus, he leisurely observed the opponent to collect intelligence.
The opponent’s team consisted of two Espers, three Pugilists, two Mages, a Mechanic, and a Psychic. This team configuration was quite complete, with all five Systems present.
The bulk of Han Xiao’s attention was focused on the only Mechanic of his opponent, a Supreme expert.
Because there was no secondary dimension present, the Class abilities and skills of the five major Superpower systems changed accordingly. While there were some alternative abilities as a result, their strength in general was not as strong as that of the main universe, such as the utilization of certain special energies only found within the secondary dimensions.
Because there were no secondary dimensional army boxes, Han Xiao was wondering what sort of method the Mechanics would use to summon their machinery on a large scale.
After careful observation, and with the information given by the combat information, he quickly came to a conclusion.
Their compression technology has undergone some innovation, giving out some special Mechanical Force Vigor Resonance. After which, an ability similar to Machinery Apostilization is carried out, giving the Mechanical Force new characteristics to alter a portion of one’s cells and transform it into an empty space akin to the army boxes. The Mechanical Force blessing allows the compressed orbs to be further compressed and stored in the body, providing an effect similar to that of the secondary dimensional army box… However, this ability has a limitation, which is the same drawback as the Machinery Apostilization. The more the machinery stored, the higher one’s load, which will reduce the upper limit of one’s life span and Energy… This was a feasible method. The idea could not be said to be novel, but there were also merits. The main problem was that the Mechanical Force conversion skills were complicated, most likely automatically obtained through Promotion or Class Advancement. Due to the difference between the systems of their universes, the abilities generated during Class Advancement would be different. This could be described as a situation where they existed as different branches of the same system. However, the secondary dimensional army boxes and Dimension Factories were better for usage, as there was no need to bear any load as well as a lack of limit on the troops stored, which made it far superior. However, this method of storing troops in one’s body also had an advantage, which was not being affected by any sort of spatial interference devices.
Understanding the opponent’s method did not mean that Han Xiao had cracked the principles; he had yet to be able to learn this technique.
Both sides fought fiercely, not caring about the aftermath. The planet was soon crushing into a stream of dust within the universe, and their battlefield moved toward outer space.
Just as Han Xiao was busy observing the rest, Kasuyi’s voice rang out in his mind.
“Black Star, why are you not activating your Mechanical Deity? Quickly, we need to get rid of one of two more!”
“What are you anxious about? Aren’t we maintaining the stalemate well. Let me gather more intelligence first.” “I’m out of energy,” Kasuyi replied.
Are you kidding me?
This thought subconsciously floated past Han Xiao’s mind.
But he quickly reacted… This time, Kasuyi might really be out of MP. Of course, because this battle only lasted for a short time, it was an exaggeration to be out of MP. But from a long-term view, Kasuyi had limited skills to allow him to recover his MP, and his current MP reserves would not allow him to fight against nine opponents. If they fought a war of attrition, they would fall into a disadvantage soon, so he did not want Han Xiao to continue wasting time. He decided to get some results whilst he was still able to fight, shaving off the enemy’s strength.
“Fine, since you’ve asked…”
Han Xiao did not think much. Just as he was about to activate his Mechanical Deity…
Everything changed.
The nine of them suddenly stopped attacking, retreating quickly with complex and exquisite blue magic patterns illuminating on their mechanical suits.
Whoosh!
The next instant, the figures of the nine disappeared without a trace.
“Hmm?”
Han Xiao’s movements stalled. He swept the surroundings with his senses, but he did not find a trace of their targets.
With the disappearance of their opponents, Kasuyi also paused and scanned the area with his Psychic powers, but his search yielded no results.
The nine experts that came to hunt them down suddenly seemed to have activated some teleportation magic runes to run away.
Both of them shared a glance in confusion.
What?
“They couldn’t have… run away, right?”
The Great Mechanic Han was dumbfounded.
Wait, I haven’t even tried!
The opponents had no casualties, basically retaining their complete combat strength. It was just a slight disadvantage, so how could they run away so decisively?
Could it be that the Beyond Grade As there were the people only heard of in stories, that would only fight if they were guaranteed victory?
Kasuyi also left his mouth agape, totally speechless. This group of pursuers had come in an aggressive manner, letting them think that they would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. They did not expect them to escape so skillfully. They did not even leave any final words.
“Black Star, do we chase them?”
“… I’m a Mechanic, not a Mage. Locating people isn’t one of my strengths. Besides, theirs is a strategic retreat; it’s too arrogant of us to chase after them.”
“So, what do we do now?”
“Forget it. Since they’ve run away, I’ll test out this Cloaking Device.”
Han Xiao shook his head in resignation, taking out the alloy pieces. He carefully inspected the device as he inputted his energy, but he did not feel any change through his senses. So, he just kept them on himself in this activated state.
He had collected all the intelligence he needed and also confirmed that any cooperation between himself and the Superpower Security Department was impossible. Thus, he could only choose the option of the mysterious man. The two of them quickly tidied up the battlefield and did not dally, leaving the scene quickly. They headed for the location given by the mysterious man.
Somewhere far from the battlefield, nine rays of light flashed as Milton and his party teleported over. With a sigh of relief, Milton endured the splitting pain in his head and spoke in a deep tone through the team communication channel.
“There’s a slight error in the judgement made by the department. The targets’ combat strength is frightening, likely at the forefront even among Supreme experts. This is especially so for the person called Black Star, who commands an unbelievable recovery speed and resilience. Our attacks could hardly threaten his life. With just the nine of us alone, the success rate of arrest is too low. Requesting the headquarters for reinforcements.” The others nodded. “Understood.”
While they could still continue to fight, they felt it unnecessary. After a few clashes, they had already sensed that their manpower alone would not be able to allow them to capture the target. Thus, they retreated decisively and prepared to call for reinforcements.
The Superpower Security Department’s modus operandi did not advocate aggressiveness. Since they were evenly matched, it would be settled if they got more people. Clashing head on was not only a waste of time but also carried the danger of sacrificing someone.
So what if the enemy is powerful? We have so many people. We can simply overwhelm you!
Nine people isn’t enough? Then double it! Still not enough? Double that! I do not believe you can last forever!
Since they were a law enforcement department, there was no need to speak about morality with wanted criminals!
The staff of the Superpower Security Department had always operated in this manner, and the reason behind this was because of the existence of the Positioning Star Map.
No matter where the target went, the Positioning Star Map would be able to relocate them. Thus, there was no fear of them running away.
However, at this moment, an emergency communication was sent by the headquarters before they could contact the other party.
Milton received the communication only to see the face of their department leader appear, solemn with a trace of irritation.
“What have you two done to the fugitives?” the leader bellowed.
Milton did not know how the leader got angry and could only reply honestly.
“We fought with them, but our team agreed that they were too strong. Thus, we made a strategic retreat and decided to call for reinforcements… What happened?”
“I want to know that too!” The leader’s expression was ashen. “Just a moment ago, their coordinates disappeared from the Positioning Star Map!”
Milton’s eyes widened, his expression shocked. The moment we retreated, their coordinates vanished?
Impossible!
What did those two do!
His confidence was instantly shattered.
Planet Jardinger was a rather prosperous interstellar port that was in the neutral faction, with a complex web of organizations and people that would pass through it every day. On the bustling street, two tall men were strolling as they shopped. They occasionally walked into the shops on the side of the road, looking left and right.
These two were precisely Han Xiao and Kasuyi.
It had been more than half a month since the last time they fought with Milton’s team. Han Xiao had led Kasuyi to Planet Jardinger, following the coordinates left by the mysterious man. They had waited here for several days, but there was no movement.
“It’s already been so many days. Why is the mysterious person you mentioned not responding yet? Oh, I want this, thanks.”
Standing in front of a self-service vending machine within a food store, Kasuyi pointed at the green can of an alcoholic beverage.
“They should be observing if we managed to get rid of our pursuers.”
Han Xiao shrugged and activated his Virtual Intrusion, instantly hacking into the entire store. The next second, two cans of drinks popped out of the vending machine.
Because they were illegal immigrants, without even a bank account to their name, they were naturally penniless. He could only utilize Virtual Intrusion to bypass payments like these, just like taking out cannons to kill mosquitoes. With his current level, there was no way he would leave any traces.
“Sigh, I haven’t been so poverty-stricken in such a long time. To think I’m reduced to drinking such inferior wine…” Kasuyi pulled off the tab, sipping the pale green wine in a graceful manner. “We can survive for a decade without eating. I think you’re just greedy.”
Han Xiao rolled his eyes, emptying the can in one mouthful before squeezing the can into a small ball and throwing it into the garbage bin beside them.
Neither of them had anything to do, and thus, they wandered about the streets, trying to learn about the customs.
At first, the two of them were still on guard, but their enemies never came to look for them, proving that the Cloaking Device given by the mysterious person was useful.
While they were chatting, a piece of news suddenly appeared on the virtual screen within the store, attracting their attention.
“Urgent News: The Celestial Star Alliance Superpower Security Department has issued two new arrest warrants. The contents are as follows… “Bounty Target – Black Star, Supreme level Mechanic, reward of 1.6 billion Star Alliance Coins.
“Bounty Target – Kasuyi, Supreme level Psychic, reward of 1.6 billion Star Alliance Coins.
“These two wanted criminals have committed many crimes and are extremely dangerous. They have succeeded in repelling the pursuit team sent by the department. If you find their whereabouts, please report it immediately. The contact information is…”
Seeing this news, Han Xiao could not help but laugh. “Oh, the bounty has gone up again. It seems like they really cannot find us.”
Kasuyi, however, had a face full of black lines.
Every time he saw the name on his bounty, he would flare up uncontrollably.
No matter how he looked at it, it was the imposing nickname of ‘Void Overlord’ that would suit his status as a top powerhouse! Why did those idiots ignore his claim and take Black Star’s words so seriously?
“Oh right, speaking of wanted criminals, I surfed on the internet yesterday…” Han Xiao stroked his chin in interest. “Our added bounties currently put us in second place of all the fugitives within this universe.”
“We’re number two just like that? We didn’t even do anything heinous.” Kasuyi frowned. “Plus, our bounties should not be considered high as well. There aren’t any more ferocious criminals than us?”
“It seems like there really isn’t anybody. The Celestial Star Alliance has experienced many years without chaos. Not only is their governance stable, most of the Beyond Grade As here are like obedient babies. We’re anomalies.” Han Xiao waved his hand. “Then, who’s at the top of the bounty list?”
“It’s an organization named (Eye of Insight), with a six-billion-dollar bounty. However, I couldn’t find what sort of criminal record they had online.” Han Xiao shook his head.
The two of them walked out of the shop as they chatted. Before long, they came across a store that was full of liveliness and clamoring, causing them to head over in curiosity.
The interior was shaped a little like a board game cafeteria, but everyone was playing the same game, a card game known as ‘Myriad Souls Card’.
It seemed like an event was currently ongoing, with four people each seated at a game table, playing against each other while the spectators crowded around them. In the middle of the room was an exhibition cabinet with three exquisitely-made cards floating. The host constantly added to the atmosphere, emphasizing that the winner of the game could walk away with these three limited-edition cards.
As both of them leaned over a table to take a look, their expressions turned weird.
“Do you feel that this is rather familiar?” Kasuyi whispered.
“You don’t say…” Han Xiao said this as his mouth twitched.
How could it not be? The playing style of this card game was exactly the same as the Wayne Cards in their universe. It was just that the characters were different.
Why would there be similar card games here? Could it be the will of the universe, ensuring that card players would always be present in the world?
At this moment, the senses of the two picked up something. Turning their heads at the same time, they discovered a person staring at them from among the crowd, his gaze indeterminate.
Seeing them look at him, the man put his hand into his pocket, slowly taking out a piece of green metal to shake it before leaving.
“That was the device given by the mysterious
person…”
Han Xiao recognized it immediately before exchanging a glance with Kasuyi. They stepped up to follow.
The person walked and stopped along the way, glancing back as though leading the way. They walked along the streets, soon coming into a slightly older docking terminal.
The guide opened a hanger, which revealed a plain, general-purpose spaceship. He then opened the hatch, turning back to look at the two as though inviting them up.
Seeing this, Han Xiao and Kasuyi scanned the spaceship with their senses. Finding no abnormalities, they stepped onto the gangway, entering the spaceship.
Very quickly, the hull vibrated slightly before moving off. The view of Planet Jardinger from the porthole slowly shrank.
Han Xiao finally retracted his gaze, turning back to look at the silent guide before taking out a similar piece of green-gold alloy as he asked, “Can you explain who you are exactly? Why did you bring us on board?”
аrе е
Hearing this, the guide straightened his clothes before slowly speaking. “Let me introduce myself. I’m a senior officer under the Eye of Insight, Lucidias. It was my leader that asked me to meet up with you.”
Eye of Insight… Isn’t that the wanted organization with the highest bounty?
Kasuyi glanced at Han Xiao meaningfully.
Han Xiao’s eyes flashed, and he replied, “In that case, it means that your leader was the one who sent me the anonymous messages, right?”
“My job is only to escort the two of you. I was told that as long as I showed the Heaven Concealing Apparatus, you would follow me. As for the rest, I’m also unaware.” Lucidias shook his head.
“Heaven Concealing Apparatus?” Han Xiao raised the alloy piece on his hand. “You mean
this?”
“That’s right. It is the core technology of our Eye of Insight.” Lucidias nodded.
“What exactly does your Eye of Insight do?” Han Xiao was curious.
“Apologies, but without express permission from our leader, I cannot disclose too much information. If you have any questions, please direct them to our leader.” Lucidias refused to answer, diverting it to his boss.
Seeing that he could not dig out more intelligence, Han Xiao also stopped asking, beginning to come out with his own hypothesis.
During this period of time, he was also guessing the identity of this mysterious person. In the original message sent, it was revealed by the mysterious person vaguely that he was aware of their identities as outsiders.
In view of the fact that this place was isolated from the outside universe, Han Xiao felt that the mysterious man might have been someone who had accidentally trespassed into this secondary dimension as well. As for why he was looking for them, it could be because he was trapped here and thus needed more helpers.
Since the Celestial Star Alliance was still unaware of the existence of the outside universe, then this mysterious person probably did not reveal anything about the main universe, instead lurking around, creating this organization in secret.
The more Han Xiao thought about it, the higher he felt the likelihood of that. In his theory, the only suspicious point was the Eye of Insight as there was little information about them on the web. But looking back, it seemed like the Eye of Insight had existed for a long time and did not seem to be created by an intruder.
Since the mission prompt has connected me to this mysterious person, the other party will probably be a friend, not an enemy. It is useless for me to overthink right now. It will be more convenient to ask things directly later.
The spaceship travelled for over ten days before reaching the destination. They arrived at a huge mothership resembling an asteroid, which maintained its stealth as it wandered through outer space.
Swoosh!
As the hatch opened, the two followed Lucidias to step into the mothership.
They passed through various areas, seeing a large number of staff and mechanical guards. The entire mothership was heavily guarded.
The group passed through authorization certifications one after another, going deeper into the core area of the mothership before finally arriving at a huge metal door.
“The leader is waiting inside. He wishes to see the two of you only, so I won’t be entering.”
Lucidias suddenly stopped walking.
Kasuyi and Han Xiao exchanged looks before stepping forward. The metal door automatically swung open, allowing them to enter.
Once they entered, the door closed behind them.
Han Xiao sized up the layout of the room. Pipes protruded from the ground and the walls, connecting to a figure in the center of the room.
This figure was tall, but his shape scrawny and shriveled, with tubes inserted all around him. He had two pairs of green eyes, one pair larger than the other. There was also a scar running through his face, blinding the eyes on his left.
Upon seeing the two, the person slowly spoke. His voice was deep and hoarse. “We finally meet… outsiders!”
Han Xiao’s eyes narrowed.
He indeed knew that we came from the outside universe.
He had anticipated this and thus did not feel surprised. Kasuyi was the same.
“Since you have invited us here, can you explain the situation? Who are you, why do you know about the existence of the outside universe, and what’s your reason for contacting us?”
During this period of time, Han Xiao had suppressed too many questions. Now that he had met someone who looked like they knew something, he spewed out all his thoughts.
The mysterious man listened quietly but did not answer them directly. He instead softly said, “I know that you guys have a lot of questions, but before that, I hope you can answer some of mine… What era is it outside now? Has the exploration era war ended?”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
To actually ask about the war during the exploration era, could this person trapped here be a Primordial One?
As this thought flashed past, Han Xiao briefly described the ending of the exploration era war and issued his own question.
“Are you a Primordial One?”
“No, I’m not.” The person laughed. “I’m not what you call Primordial Ones, but I’ve met them.”
“Then who are you?”
“I understand your confusion. You believe that I came in like you… but you’ve guessed wrongly. I belong here.’ The mysterious man’s tone was calm.
At this moment, many more possibilities appeared in Han Xiao’s mind.
If what the mysterious man said was true, and his source of information came from the Primordial Ones who had intruded here, then could his objective be to leave this world? Furthermore, where were the Primordial Ones that this person had once met? Why was there no record of them on the internet? Could it be that they were also taken in by the Celestial Star Alliance?
At this moment, the mysterious man once again spoke, his tone solemn.
“I know what you are most interested in right now. That’s exactly why I invited you… I require helpers, to eradicate this world and set me free. This… is also the only method through which you can leave!”
Eradicate this world!
Han Xiao and Kasuyi glanced at each other, seeing the surprise reflected. With just a few of us, to go against a behemoth like the Celestial Star Alliance…
With such few side dishes, you intend to drink the whole night?
Han Xiao secretly swore, but since there seemed to be a lot of hidden secrets within, he patiently said, “You mentioned that this was the only way we can leave. Please talk in detail.”
“I know you think that this mission is impossible, but in fact, this is not as difficult as you think… However, it is not simple either,” the mysterious man rasped. “I believe that when you entered this secondary dimension, you should have been very shocked. You never thought that a space similar to the universe existed here, with an extremely powerful civilization.”
“That’s right.” Han Xiao nodded.
“Hehe, it’s not just you, but every outsider also reacted in the same manner.” The mysterious man slowly spoke. “I understand your troubles, but your worries are superfluous. All that you have been… the Celestial Star Alliance, the tens of thousands of Saint class experts, including me, are all long-dead phantoms. Our world… has long been annihilated!”
Han Xiao was taken aback and asked doubtfully, “What exactly happened?”
“The current world you see here is based on a mutated time-space cycle Information Form,” the mysterious man blandly replied. “You should have discovered some information regarding the World Reset program on the internet. This plan was not just a simple insurance but also a special scheme used by the Celestial Star Alliance to escape the end of the universe. But the plan failed. Due to some abnormal changes that happened within the Information Form, our timeline was intercepted, forming a closed cycle of spacetime, which is this world I live in. It will constantly end at a fixed point in time and be reborn at a fixed point in time. I’m the only anomaly that retains my memory within this cycle.” “… Thus, if we wish to leave, we must break the so-called closed spacetime loop?”
Han Xiao’s brows were knitted tightly together.
Just based on the theory of the Spacetime Splicing Technology, this sort of scenario was possible, but the rhetoric behind it made it hard to believe.
The mysterious man glanced at their expressions, letting out a laugh before he spoke.
“Hehe, don’t look at me like that. I’m not a liar. I know that your hearts must be full of suspicions. That’s perfectly normal. Since I’ve invited you here, I intend to explain everything from the beginning…”
“It’s alright. We have time.” Han Xiao crossed his arms.
“Then prepare yourselves. No matter how shocked you are later, don’t interrupt my narration. What you’ll hear next will be the secrets and truths involving the entire universe…”
The mysterious man’s tone turned somber.
“Please speak.” Han Xiao straightened his expression, making a ‘please’ gesture.
After taking a deep breath, the mysterious man began. “Everything has a definite life span, and the universe is no different. According to normal development, the universe will ultimately usher in its final destiny over time. It might be through overheating, a gravitational collapse, or a space rip. When time reaches a certain point, everything is bound to end.
“However, in that initial time and space, there existed a civilization that had developed to the extreme, far stronger than any of ours could ever be. In order to escape their fate, they chose to give a new life to the universe as a method to continue their existence… While they did not succeed in the end, it was not a complete failure. Under the construction, they had altered the basic rules of the universe. When the universe expands to a certain level, reaching the bifurcation of its ultimate destiny, it will actively collapse upon itself, swallowing everything and becoming a singularity point. The big bang will then occur and retransform into a new universe that will be empty but full of life… We call this ‘The Great Reboot’.
“That Godlike civilization that gave a glimmer of hope to the creatures of the universe has long been destroyed by The Great Reboot, their names having disappeared in the long river of time. However, they left this transformation of the universe as their only legacy for their future generations. Nothing can measure the preciousness of this legacy, for without it, no other civilization could appear.
“As such, we have honored this civilization as the Savior Civilization. It was they who opened the iteration of the universe… and this universe they were in has become the anchor of this timeline, called the first iteration.
“However, The Great Reboot led to the final destiny of the universe being brought forward, so the development time for the civilizations in the subsequent iterations was shortened, not allowing any civilization to reach the heights of the Savior Civilization. They were just repeating the cycle of creation and destruction, unable to make any changes to the universe or leave any information.
“It was unknown how many iterations passed in this manner, until a variable suddenly appeared one day. The strongest civilization in that particular iteration made an amazing breakthrough in the field of the Information Form.
“They had managed to discover clues to the Savior Civilization and discovered part of the reason for the process of The Great Reboot. They believed that the tampering of the Savior Civilization at the beginning happened to result in a mutation within the Information Form, thus affecting the path of development for their universe… In their view, the universe is akin to a program that will rewrite the operation mode, whereas the Information Form is a sort of programming language.
“Thus, they attempted to utilize the Information Form to continue their civilization, but unfortunately, they failed in the end as well. However, they had managed to leave behind another legacy, which is a kind of existence known as ‘Sanctums’.
“Those items might have been just their tinder library, but by chance, it managed to mutate into one of the underlying laws of the universe’s operation, allowing it to survive The Great Reboot. It thus recorded all information that occurred within an iteration and stored it in an Information Form. A random part of that form would be extracted when The Great Reboot occurred to be integrated into the underlying laws of the new universe, allowing small changes to happen to the universe repeatedly, making future iterations more abundant…
“It might not be easy to understand, so let me give you an example. The five Super systems you see now are products of said Sanctum. In the ancient times, some universe iterations had certain Supers, while some did not have those, utilizing different systems. The Sanctums would record part of each Super system, so it randomly inserted these systems into one of the iterations of The Great Reboot to be permanently engraved into the universe’s laws… This is how the five Super systems are formed, not appearing at the same time but continuing to be repeated through iterations and supplemented. Thus, you see that we have five Super systems, as does your universe. This is no coincidence.
“Another example… you might have noticed, but we do not have secondary dimensions. Our iteration is much earlier than yours, so our own World Reset plan might have been the root behind the creation of the secondary dimensions. The Sanctums incorporated our information into the laws of the universe during the next Great Reboot… So, we might have actually been the creators of the secondary dimensions!
“In any case, the appearance of the Sanctums allows for the subsequent iterations to jump out of this eternal loop as it brings about more variables. It continues to enrich the universe of the next iteration and can be considered a sort of inheritance. While it is miniscule, many droplets eventually form a pond.
“Broadly speaking, the later the iteration of the universe, the more likely it will be stronger overall and more advanced!
“Thus, we honored this civilization with the name of the Sanctum Civilization, and each iteration of the universe was known as the iteration of transformation.
“In addition to optimizing the effectiveness of the universe, the Sanctums also acted like recording tools at the beginning of each civilization, allowing the history of that iteration to be recorded to pass on to future iterations. The later generations will thus develop their civilizations to a certain degree, with the ability to open the Sanctums. The higher their skills and strength, the more information can be obtained from it. “Thus, a relay of the Civilizations that cross iterations was opened!
“Generation after generation of Universal Civilizations have inherited the research of their predecessors, learning from their failures and constantly pioneering new paths. Even if they fail, they will still leave behind all of their own experiences in the Sanctums to allow their future generations to continue the research. Everything is to allow us to get rid of the ultimate destiny of the universe, placing our hopes in the future that a generation will discover a method to survive The Great Reboot and continue to prosper. “As experience is passed on, subsequent iterations will have a higher chance of making this breakthrough.
“During my iteration, this World Reset plan was our result. While we did not manage to allow our civilization to continue in the end, it managed to create secondary dimensions for our future generations, giving you more possibilities.
“And this world you see is just a short cyclic timeline toward the end of the universe where I live, a failed restart, a phantom that should have disappeared a long time ago. And we… are just one link in this long chain.”
Finally, the mysterious man stopped talking.
Han Xiao and Kasuyi remained frozen in place, their eyes fully widened as waves were set off in their minds.
The information contained within this tale was just too huge, so powerful that it had exceeded all of their imaginations. “How true is this?” Han Xiao felt that this was truly unbelievable.
This story had given him a strong impact on his soul, and he could not help but doubt the veracity of this cosmic secret.
There was no relevant information about this in his previous life. The three Universal Civilizations as well as the World Tree Civilization had not revealed this in any manner.
Could it be that the three Universal Civilizations had yet to be sufficiently developed, so the secret of the Sanctums had not been cracked?
Could it be… that this was the true meaning behind the mission name (A Relay Across Iterations]?
If that was true, this was truly too spectacular. The painstaking research from generation to generation continued to pass on in this manner, akin to the relay of a torch.
Just thinking about it, he could feel an epic sense of history. The unyieldingness as well as the resilience of the generations before to go against the very heavens, their dignity of not intending to leave their fates to destiny!
Seeing their shock and surprise, the mysterious man did not explain further but instead calmly said, “I know that you guys are indeed suspicious of my words. After all, this has completely subverted your world views. However, in the future, when your universe iteration develops to the corresponding level, you will understand such things. For now… let’s get back to business.” “Alright.” Han Xiao calmed himself, suppressing his turbulent emotions.
Right now, there was no way for him to verify the authenticity of this statement, but he thought about Oathkeeper, who had gone to the Sanctums. When he returned, Han Xiao would proceed to the Holy Accord to obtain information about the Sanctums so that he could confirm if this secret was real. If this was true, he had to consider the long-term impacts… The players in his previous life were unable to reach this level, so this was the first time he had experienced this, and he did not know what to do.
The mysterious man shook his head, pulling the topic back on track as he slowly said, “This spacetime here rests in an endless loop. The moment the World Reset plan is fully activated, a new cycle will begin. Because I’m an individual in this cycle of spacetime, even if I die, I’ll be reborn and retain my memories, but outsiders do not belong to this spacetime and thus will be annihilated here. “If you guys wish to leave, you have to break the loop before the end of this cycle. In this manner, you can regain your freedom, and I can also be liberated.
“I have met with outsiders in the fifty-ninth, sixty-second, and seventy-third cycles, the earliest being what you call the Primordial Ones. I helped them as I did you today, but they all failed to break the cycle and thus died here.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao started to plan by himself.
This sort of spacetime loop had similarities to the Spacetime Splicing Technology, both of which would fix the timeline in a certain period. The difference was that the cause of this secondary dimension was far greater than that of the Spacetime Splicing Technology. It was many times more complex.
However, this was not the only method he had in his arsenal to leave this place. The teleportation function of the King suit should be able to work as it had similar functions to the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device. While it was possible for him to leave, Han Xiao was more curious about the mysterious man’s plan to destroy his world.
“Even if you want us to destroy the world, you can’t possibly ask us to go to war against the other Celestial Star Alliance, right? Phantoms they might be, but in this time and space, their combat power is real.” “Of course not. The original World Reset plan was broken and only re-emerged after The Great Reboot, where Information Form technology was used to make us reappear. The principle is not very clear to me, and I only know that the implementation of this program is in the use of the Information Form technology. The artificial intelligence core, which we call the guardian, was bound to the Sanctums by the Celestial Star Alliance, allowing it to survive the destruction during The Great Reboot.
“But in the end, it failed and was changed. Although we reappeared, we have become phantoms and turned into a secondary dimension, trapped in a spacetime loop. The artificial intelligence core became the dimensional consciousness of this secondary dimension… You should have seen its clone when you came in.”
Han Xiao thought about it.
So, the Supreme Guardian that they encountered outside the secondary dimension was actually a clone of the dimensional consciousness entity?
However, his combat information did not reveal this. It appeared like a living human.
The mysterious man continued. “The Guardian is the root of this spacetime cycle. It has no independent thinking, only preset procedures that rigidly protect this secondary dimension from any outside invasion. As long as you kill him, you can break the cycle, and only outsiders can achieve it.
“Because I’m part of the cycle, no matter how I flip over this world, the end result is that the cycle will restart. Thus, the Guardian will not
erfere. There is no way for me to contact im as I’m inseparable from this world… but the existence of an outsider is a variable. Once you invade, the Guardian will inevitably rush in, and you have a chance to kill him here.
“In the program of the Guardian, there is still a portion of the Information Form technology from the World Reset plan. Any outsiders who die in the cycle of Reset will be captured by him, allowing him to use dimensional energy to create entities that are extremely similar to the original as clones. Thus far, three batches of outsiders have died, so he has several clones.”
The more the outsiders that die, the more Beyond Grade As he can manufacture. A dimensional consciousness entity actually has such a powerful skill, even though it was caused by a mutation… Han Xiao was impressed. The Celestial Star Alliance was indeed the hegemon of a previous iteration. Even a failed product was so powerful. The time for development for his three Universal Civilizations was only a fraction compared to the Celestial Star Alliance. Thus, in terms of technical levels, they were akin to a younger brother.
“It seems possible, but how can we make the guardian show up?” Han Xiao nodded.
“Because of the changes in spacetime, and in order to avoid risks, the underlying logic of the Guardian states that it cannot tamper with the reset content that was coded in, which resulted in the Guardian not being able to move as freely in this world compared to the outside. It can only descend near its vessels. For example, the Superpower Security Department of the Celestial Star Alliance has a Cosmic Treasure known as the Positioning Star Map, which is one of the automatically formed dimensional consciousness vessels, which allows it to monitor the entire dimension. I’ve created a sort of cloaking device that can escape its surveillance, which is why you have not been discovered.
“In short, as long as you’re close to any vessels, the Guardian will appear and try to kill you. This is his core mechanism, and he cannot violate it. However, all these vessels are in the high security warehouses of the Superpower Security Department. Our plan is to attack the Superpower Security Department warehouse, get to the vessel to allow the Guardian to appear, and kill it.”
“This difficulty is not low at all…” Han Xiao thought about it.
“I will provide help, and the resources of the Eye of Insight can also be utilized by you. Furthermore, I will not let the two of you work for nothing,” the mysterious man replied. “We are both Mechanics, so I will impart a portion of my entire life’s learning to you as a reward for helping me out.”
He paused for a moment before he added, “Of course, only by breaking the cycle and surviving will whatever you’ve learned be meaningful.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
While this secondary dimension might only be a phantom of the actual world, this was a treasure trove to Han Xiao. Not only could he obtain new Class abilities, he could also gather a lot more advanced technology that would be different from the current explored universe. For a Mechanic, this was the jackpot!
Han Xiao originally only planned to get some skills before returning. With a willing teacher to impart his Knowledge now, the efficiency would be twice the result with only half the effort needed.
Furthermore, this mysterious man had already undergone so many cycles. Even if his bodily condition was constantly reset, making training meaningless, his memory could still be retained. This meant that all the technology he had learned would always be in his mind. With such a terrifying background, it could only mean good things.
By the side, Kasuyi stared with wide eyes. “What about me?”
The mysterious man shot him a look before shaking his head. “You’re not a Mechanic, so there’s nothing I can teach you.” “Hey, that’s not very nice!” Kasuyi was a little aggrieved in his heart.
It was obviously I who came first, be it forming the team or leading the way, but the benefits all landed at Black Star’s feet instead. Why is that so?
The mysterious thought about it before speaking again. “If you really wish to have some technical data, it’s not as though there’s no way. Once the cycle is broken, everything here will vanish, and that includes any sort of material objects. Only information can be circulated. According to the principle of Information Forms, information that is transformed by outsiders can be retained. Since you cannot learn the Knowledge, you can use any recording machines brought from the outside to store this information…”
Hearing this, Kasuyi’s expression got a lot better. He felt that this was more like it.
Even if he was not a Mechanic, he understood the value of this technology. He could hand it to his subordinates to bolster his organization or even trade it with the Arcane Church.
At this moment, Han Xiao’s eyes narrowed, and he said, “Don’t forget that your goal is the God’s Trait Transformation. You shouldn’t bother yourself with such trivialities. Leave the matters here to me instead. If I don’t step into hell, who will?”
“You’re being shameless again” Kasuyi’s expression changed. “You want to swallow everything on your own?”
Han Xiao shot Kasuyi a glance. “When you came to me to form a team, you told me you owed me one. I haven’t asked you for any compensation yet. Monopolizing this can be considered my compensation. Besides, you’re also not a Mechanic. Why do you need this technology? At most, when we leave, I’ll give you some other form of dividends. Do you mind?” “Of course I mind! This is this, and that is that. The technology is not within the scope of our agreement.”
Kasuyi definitely would not want to give up on this treasure.
Han Xiao suddenly stroked his chin, saying meaningfully, “Are you sure you want to fight? Don’t forget, you’re in your main body now…”
Hearing this, Kasuyi’s expression slightly changed. “And besides… if the plan to break the cycle fails, how are you planning to leave?” Han Xiao laughed. Kasuyi was speechless and could only helplessly wave his hand. “Fine, I’ll give up. I don’t want this technology.”
While he wanted this technology, in comparison, his life was more important. Since he had come over with his main body, if he pissed Black Star off, his path of retreat would be completely sealed. He thought for a bit before realizing that he had to compromise.
However, while Kasuyi gave up fighting for the technology, he did not intend to let things be. He looked at the mysterious man and said, “My partner has a special device that can allow him to teleport without restrictions. This task in the secondary dimension is difficult, so if you don’t stop him, he can get away at any time. I suggest you only teach him a part of this technology and only give him the rest when we’re about to complete the mission.”
“Oh? There’s such a thing?” The mysterious man turned his head toward Han Xiao.
Han Xiao glanced at Kasuyi, not surprised, as he calmly nodded. “That’s right. I do have such an ability, and I agree with such a way of doing things.”
Of course, he was aware of what Kasuyi was thinking. He was worried Han Xiao would abscond once he got his hands on all the data.
Han Xiao did not think that there was a problem with Kasuyi doing such a thing. If it was him, it was likely that he would have taken the same measures.
The two of them were merely temporary teammates. While they had some friendship, in the face of benefits, their relationship was insufficient to bring unreserved trust. People at their level would not easily put hope in others.
At their realm, as long as they were not close relatives or friends, no one would easily give in when faced with their own interests.
While Han Xiao was shocked to learn about the secrets of the universe, he would not change his behavior and purpose of arriving just because of that. After all, their universe iteration was just too far away, and even if he knew about it, he could not be of help for the time being. In the end, one still had to live in the present.
No matter how lofty one was, when it came to an issue that concerned personal benefits, one had to handle them from a practical perspective. The value of such technology was amazing, so there was no reason for Han Xiao to allow Kasuyi to easily share a piece of the pie. Regardless of whether he would work together with the advanced civilizations in the future, he had to take the initiative to obtain such benefits first.
That was especially so since he was a Mechanic. He was aware of the importance of not leaking his technology, so he did not hesitate to threaten Kasuyi… If the other party did not compromise, let alone mentioning their backup escape plan, he would not hesitate to attack on the spot.
As for Kasuyi’s little trick, Han Xiao thought little of it. He did not intend to only take and not give. With the technology in his hands, he would fulfill the agreement to help break the cycle. He still had his morals to some extent, and he also had to provide some insurance for Kasuyi.
While such a method would offend the other party, if both sides compromised, the relationship could still continue.
Since they were all people with statuses, few of them were actually stubborn creatures. Negotiation of one’s interests was a norm, and even if one had a grudge, they would not really throw aside all pretenses.
The mysterious man looked a little hesitant, but he finally said, “In that case, I’ll teach you a part of the technology first. By the way, you should take advantage of this period to draft your action plan. In addition, the resources of the Eye of Insight are completely open to you. You can expand your machinery and manpower here…”.
He could not determine if Han Xiao’s teleportation ability was real or not. Since he was just an Information Form in this secondary dimension, if Black Star teleported him away, he would immediately die and achieve his freedom.
However, he knew that this proposal was tantamount to abandoning Kasuyi. The latter would never agree to it, so they could only do a trade in private. However, he did not know if Black Star would be willing to kill off any witnesses.
He actually wished for Black Star to use his teleportation ability to move reinforcements from outside. That would be the most beneficial to him, but no one would agree to this proposal either. If Black Star wished to teleport out, Kasuyi would strongly oppose it. Black Star would also not agree to the move in order to monopolize the technology.
All three parties had their own positions, so it was difficult to reach one best decision. The final result was to have a compromise that everyone could accept.
The mysterious man understood everyone’s concerns and knew that their behavior would not change even if they believed in the secrets he revealed. Thus, he did not intend to deviate from his original plan.
“After speaking so much, you still haven’t told us your name,” Kasuyi said. “You can call me Jayz.” “Speaking of which, why can you keep your memories?”
“I have no idea either. I was not like this in the beginning and only awakened around a thousand cycles ago. Before that, I was just resetting repeatedly like everyone else.
At this moment, a notification popped up on Han Xiao’s interface.
The first chain mission of (A Relay Across Iterations] has been completed!
You have received one billion experience.
The second chain mission has been opened!
Mission Requirements: Destroy the dimensional consciousness entity, breaking the spacetime loop, and bringing relief to Jayz, hereby obtaining his legacy.
Mission Reward: 1.5 billion experience, 1 Random Reward, 1 Character Summon Card, and unlocking of the next mission.
Han Xiao scanned through and nodded.
The second chain mission has begun, and the rewards are higher… However, the technology from Jayz is my greatest reward. I estimate I’ll have to stay much longer than expected in this secondary dimension…
With a thought, Han Xiao opened up the forums to take a look. The fourth Pro League was about to start, and it seemed like he would not have the time to pay attention to it this time.
After coming to an agreement, Han Xiao did not bother acting polite, asking Jayz to teach him some Mechanic class skills that he did not have. He conveniently pushed the coldly snorting Kasuyi out as well. Very quickly, the sound of the interface rang.
Jayz (Level367) has passed on the skill [Mechanical Force-Soldier Nest). Current progress: 0.0001%
Jayz (Level367) has passed on the skill [Compressed Orb Innovation-Armed Body). Current progress: 0.0001%
Jayz…
Seeing the large number of notifications, Han Xiao was elated.
…
In the explored universe, somewhere in the Primeval Star River…
“I’ve finally succeeded!”
In a secret machinery factory, Manison gazed at the cloud of virtual data in front of him, unable to hide his smile of satisfaction.
Ever since the Intelligent Plague ended, Manison had spent most of his days in the workshop, attempting to imitate the Virtual Mutiny Virus. After slogging his guts out for so long, he had finally managed to make some progress, creating a prototype virus. While there were many functions still missing and it was far weaker than the original, Manison believed that this represented a correct direction in his research. As long as he continued to overcome all technical difficulties, he could recreate the complete Virtual Mutiny Virus sooner or later.
“Black Star, you destroyed the unique virus core, thinking that it would ruin my plan, but you did not expect that I would be able to restore this technology! Hehe, in terms of technology R&D, you’re still too green!”
The corner of Manison’s mouth curled up, and he disappeared.
He carefully collected this embryonic form of the virus, making multiple encryptions for experimental data before deciding to retain this technology as his hidden trump card. However, he suddenly thought of the weird means that Black Star had used to snatch his two Felons a while ago, and his eyes once again narrowed.
“My current technology isn’t enough. I must find a way to crack the weird Virtual Technology that Black Star possesses, or I will only be restrained…”
Manison opened his research schedule, and after reviewing it, he deleted a few unimportant projects before adding the new research goal of cracking Han Xiao’s purification ability.
After finishing his work, Manison took out his communicator, and after checking the date, he announced the time of the next regular meeting in the chat group of the Beyond Grade A Association.
“Speaking of which, Black Star and Kasuyi have not attended the past two meetings, nor can they be contacted. I’m not sure where they’ve gone…”
Every meeting, Black Star would cause trouble for him, so without the annoying voice of Black Star in the past two meetings, Manison only felt as though his body was relaxed, finding his inner calm once more.
Furthermore, without Black Star taking the lead, the people in his area were all guarding themselves, so no one jumped up to make trouble. The past two meetings had gone quite smoothly, and Manison once again felt the joy of holding great authority.
While he did not know what Black Star was up to, Manison wanted Black Star to delay his return even longer. In other words…
Just don’t turn up to meetings for as long as possible!
Numerous days later…
You have mastered Mechanical Force-Soldier Nest!
You have mastered Compressed Orb Innovation – Armed Body!
You have mastered…
On his workbench was a compressed orb. Han Xiao controlled the robotic arm to complete the processing before picking up the special compressed orb and placing it flat on his palm. Mechanical Force shot from his finger to cover the compressed orb.
Hum!
The next moment, the compressed orb suddenly shrank to the size of a cell before being absorbed into his body by the Mechanical Force.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, sensing an extremely weak sense of burden on his body. With but a thought, a Mechanical Force arc wrapped this particle-like special compressed orb and zapped it out. The compressed orb instantly unfolded as it appeared, turning into a mechanical soldier amid the arcs of electricity. It looked as though Han Xiao directly shot a soldier from within his body.
“This is the ability to transform oneself into a military base…”
Han Xiao nodded secretly to himself. After several days of study, he had finally mastered this set of abilities.
The principle of all Class related Knowledge was the same; only the content on secondary dimensions was slightly different. This caused the basic strength of the Supers here to be incomparable to those in his explored universe. Han Xiao did not expect these skills to be very powerful either. The greatest advantages of Class-related skills was to bring about new directions of battling and more bonuses.
Because the Class Knowledge foundation was the same, he had no difficulty in learning it. With the help of the interface, he basically mastered all the Class skills taught by Jayz in just a few days. In his opinion, the more useful one was the ability to transform himself into a military base.
The level of burden is however not low. When a mechanical army is stored, the HP and upper limit of Energy will be reduced. While this upper limit is restored the moment the army is released, my HP and Energy will remain at the initial level instead of being restored…
The mechanism behind this ability was similar to that of Apostilization. To an ordinary Mechanic, even if an army was released in battle, because their current HP could not be recovered instantaneously, this would result in the Class becoming more brittle.
But this ability was tailor made for him. His strong resilience coupled with his high Energy-HP conversion meant that he could completely restore his optimum state during battle. As a result, the side effects of this ‘Self Barracks’ could be almost ignored, equivalent to getting a free meal.
Furthermore, with his own tankiness, the size of the troops his main body could carry was far beyond all normal Mechanics…
Indeed, developing the tankiness of a Mechanic was the path of Gods!
By the side, as Jayz watched Han Xiao experimenting with the abilities, he could not help but speak out with a weird expression.
“You’ve already learned it?”
“Isn’t it simple?” Han Xiao did not think much of it.
“That’s… that’s right…” Jayz’s face twitched.
He had thought that he would not be able to feel surprise again, but Han Xiao’s incredulous learning speed managed to dig out emotional ripples in his dried-up husk. Did I just meet a genius among geniuses, or did the Mechanics of subsequent iterations have such insane learning capabilities? Furthermore, during the past few days, the two of them had sparred a little. Jayz had never seen a Mechanic with this style.
During his universe iteration, due to the lack of secondary dimensions, the strength of the Mechanics was not so overpowered, most of the time losing out due to their brittleness. Furthermore, logistics had to be done in advance to prepare the battlefield.
However, it was the first time he had seen someone like Han Xiao as a Mechanic, and he could not help but feel puzzled… How is it that this guy could take more punches that the Pugilists themselves?
Could it be that the pursuit of a strong physique is now the mainstream route of development for the subsequent iterations of Mechanics?
This is really the case of ‘if you live long enough, you’ll see everything’…
Han Xiao naturally would not know what Jayz thought. After trying the new ability for a while, he turned to ask, “Next, should you pass down the techniques you have accumulated to me?!
Hearing this, Jayz calmed himself down before clicking on a virtual screen. He fiddled around a little, and soon, a dense list of technical projects was displayed on the screen. “These are the technical materials I’ve compiled. You can copy some, and the rest will be sent to you when you’re about to complete your mission.” Sweeping his eyes across the screen, Han Xiao was overjoyed.
Compared to his Class Knowledge, these technical materials were the highlight, representing countless new blueprints! Within were more than just Jayz’s projects. Throughout the thousand cycles, Jayz had been a wanted criminal at least nine hundred times. Relying on the cycle restart provided, he boldly invaded the database of the advanced civilizations and learned their advanced technology, which they had spent countless hours, energy, and resources collecting. His foundation was amazing, and he was willing to hand it all over.
Han Xiao quickly copied it with his own device. While this was only a part of it, it was already a huge technological treasure, enough for him to study for a long time. There were many Gold Grade blueprints among them. When converted, it would be equivalent to saving a lot of Contribution Points from the three Universal Civilizations since there was no need to keep working for them in order to acquire blueprints.
As long as he managed to obtain the rest of Jayz technology and complete his research, his own background would rise like the speed of a supercar, leaving that Old Man Manison so far behind he would not even be able to smell his exhaust fumes.
“By the way, can you also obtain the Class Knowledge of the other four Super systems?”. Han Xiao asked.
“I’ve collected such things before, but due to the clash between Classes, I could not learn it. I could only store it in the system. When the cycle resets, this information will be gone as well.” Jayz shook his head. “However, if you want it, I can get it for you.”
After so many cycles of resets, Jayz was just like a living textbook on war strategy. This was nothing difficult to him.
“Then I’ll trouble you.” Han Xiao nodded.
If he could obtain all the Class Knowledge of each Super system, he would have completed his Knowledge of the five major systems without the three Universal Civilizations knowing. While the content of the secondary dimensions would be lacking, the value was still huge enough.
It was just that this would be different from being taught by someone else, so he did not know if others could comprehend the Class skills on their own through just reading the content.
At this moment, Jayz slowly said, “Since I’ve already handed all I can to you, it’s time for you to help me. Do you have a plan yet?” Hearing this, Han Xiao nodded. “I have some ideas. I intend to borrow the resources of the Eye of Insight to build a mechanical army, first supplementing the combat power…” Invading the Superpower Security Department was no easy task, and there were also many clones of the dimensional consciousness entity. At present, his army was insufficient, and Han Xiao intended to spend some time expanding his army.
Because this secondary dimension was merely a phantom existing as an Information Form, the mechanical army built with the Eye of Insight materials could not be taken away. They were one-off, built for this mission, so he would not have any war damages.
Meanwhile, in the explored universe, the opening ceremony of the fourth Pro League was less than ten days away. In this Version, countless foreign players who had joined the army went crazy trying to search for Han Xiao’s figure.
During the previous few Pro Leagues, the Black Star Character Summon Card had proven its dominance, tankiness, and damage output, causing the foreign players to feel envious and jealous. Unfortunately, due to geographic reasons, they could not come into contact with Black Star, so they were unable to obtain the Character Summon Card, making it a signature of the China players. But Version 4.0 changed everything. Players from all over the world gathered in a Star Field, resulting in countless foreign players joining the Black Star Army. Their dreams had now come true; they now possessed the opportunity to obtain the Black Star Character Summon Card.
However, at this critical juncture, Black Star went on the business trip and could not be found!
No matter how many times they inquired about it, they returned without success. Countless newcomers in the army were in pain. Seeing the date of the Pro League fast approaching, they had no choice but to change their target for their blank Character Summon Card.
While the effects they got were still good, many of them felt regret that they were unable to obtain the Character Summon Card of Black Star once. Everyone had the perception that the blank Character Summon Cards they had failed to be utilized to its maximum value.
Compared to the previous Pro Leagues, the competition system during this current version did not change much, but a few more entertaining games had been added. The fourth Pro League officially kicked off under the high expectations of the players.
Compared to the previous seasons, the smell of gunpowder in this version was much stronger. No club wished to see a country win the championship for the third consecutive season. China, which had already won the title twice consecutively, was thus constantly targeted.
In a flash, several months passed.
In the meeting room of the Eye of Insight, Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Jayz were gathered together.
“Are we going to act now, Black Star?” Kasuyi asked.
Han Xiao nodded. “Yes. I’ve expanded the size of my troops. There is no need to keep delaying things.” In the past few months, he had borrowed the resources of the Eye of Insight to maximize the [Billion Mechanic Empire-Manison) skill granting a five-hundred-percent increase in the efficiency of creating troops. A few days ago, the size of his Mechanical Army had finally reached the storage limit of his bodily barracks, and thus, he stopped production.
“Very well, let’s solve this matter fast, lest more variables appear. My God’s Trait Transformation probably requires me to swallow the source energy fragments after the destruction of this secondary dimension,” Kasuyi said.
He had not been idle these few months, constantly sensing the location of opportunity for his God’s Trait Transformation. He finally obtained some gains. It was no wonder the object of his senses was the entire secondary dimension. Kasuyi discovered that his opportunity was like the source energy fragment at the core of the dimension, so he became more concerned with breaking the spacetime cycle.
Han Xiao tapped to open a map. The screen displayed the location and topographic structures of the Superpower Security Department’s warehouses, all of which were the results of Jayz’s efforts in the previous cycles.
“The warehouse of the Superpower Security Department is within the headquarters, with many Beyond Grade As on standby as well as a large number of troops. The success rate of any frontal attack is extremely low. Thus, our first task is to infiltrate… The Heaven Concealing Apparatus can shield us from the Positioning Star Map, but normal detection methods are still effective against us, so we need another plan to infiltrate, which requires Jayz’s help.” Hearing this, Jayz said, “I joined the Superpower Security Department for quite a few cycles, managing to control most of their authorities and passcodes. I can forge your information and let you sneak in, which is what I did for the outsiders previously, but there is a risk of exposure…” The Superpower Security Department might be heavily guarded, but they could not withstand the continuous cracking from Jayz throughout the cycles. He was akin to a backstabber in the company, able to see through the flaws in the Superpower Security Department.
“Thus,” Han Xiao said, “this time, we will not be using this method. The warehouse has been shrouded with a space stabilization device, and normal teleportation methods are invalid, but we only need to find a way to get people of the Superpower Security Department to send in the Throne linked to a King mechanical suit. Once it is inside the warehouses, we can bypass everyone and teleport directly.”
“Nice, one step to success!” Kasuyi’s eyes lit up. He loved such straightforward methods the most.
“All the items in the warehouse will be screened and isolated to remove any dangerous and useless items,” Jayz explained. “It is divided into both intelligent and manual procedures, repeated thrice to prevent errors.
“But there are also exceptions. If the obtained item has been authorized by the department leader or director, it will be temporarily stored in the outer warehouse without being screened. If it’s a secret order from the upper echelons of the Celestial Star Alliance, it can be stored directly in the innermost warehouse.”
“So, you plan to fake the authority of the Superpower Security Department director?” Kasuyi asked.
Jayz shook his head.
“There’s no need. I’ve kidnapped the upper echelons of the Celestial Star Alliance several times in the previous cycles. While I was killed in the end, I also obtained their authority cards. It’s all in my mind, and it’s not difficult to forge. So, I can send the Throne to the inner warehouses, where the dimensional consciousness entity also resides.”
Kasuyi was suitably impressed. Being able to restart means you can do anything you want. What a lad.
Jayz slowly continued. “Every item in the warehouse will be stored separately. I’ll send you the number where each carrier is located.
“However, once you teleport in, there will be an alarm. The supers who stay at the headquarters will come over to suppress you, so I have some technology here that can temporarily interfere with the phantoms of the Information Form, causing an effect of spacetime delay or even stagnation. However, the duration is limited, and it can only hold them off for a short while.
“You have to utilize the time to quickly kill off the dimensional consciousness entity’s core. Don’t get entangled with its clones. Once its program is disintegrated, the Information Form transformation technology of the World Reset Project will also be terminated, and this spacetime phantom will collapse as a chain effect.”
Han Xiao nodded before adding, “To minimize resistance, we will need to show up elsewhere before teleporting. Thus, we should remove the Heaven Concealing Apparatus and let the Superpower Security Department track us with their Positioning Star Map so as to attract a group of supers to lure the tiger away from its den.”
“That will do.” Kasuyi expressed agreement.
The trio underwent another round of discussion, finalizing the finer details before splitting to perform their own tasks.
In the Superpower Security Department’s screening office for Warehouse 001, the long track rotated, and a hexagonal mechanical device was transported in from the launch port, resembling a small shield.
Soon, this device was transported to the transparent safe in the center of the room. It possessed a variety of functions such as spatial stability anchors, electromagnetic interference, and biochemical disinfections. It could also withstand powerful impacts and high heat. The two officers stood in front of the safe, operating a virtual screen to view the information about this object. “This is an item sent in from the Leyton Star System. Its purpose is unknown, with no name attached. The object code is C57003A. It will temporarily be transferred to the headquarters’ warehouse…
Oh, there’s the express authority sent in by an upper echelon here, and it has already passed the inspection and approval procedures…” After comparing to see if the permissions and procedures were correct, the two staff members only conducted a basic inspection to confirm that the item was not dangerous before placing the item in a blank slot of the warehouse and pressing the ‘Confirm’ button.
Ka ka…
The next moment, four automated robotic arms stretched out from the wall, clamping onto the safe and putting it into the opening on the wall. The internal cargo pipeline moved quickly, delivering the safe to its destination.
The cargo pipeline network spread throughout the warehouses, extending in all directions through simple magnetic levitation tracks. Thus, the process of transporting at high speed was not only safe but clearly seen. The warehouse of the Superpower Security Department was humongous, divided into multiple areas. Each warehouse was set up separately and built side by side, isolated from the outside world through high-strength transparent materials, resembling a high-tech prison. There was a booth in each warehouse, which was connected to the cargo pipeline to transport the contents directly without needing to access the warehouse. Furthermore, there were space stability anchors, magic jammers, and automatic defense weapons in the warehouse. Not only was the security thorough, any changes would be quickly noticed. Very quickly, the booth of an empty slot opened, and the safe was transported over with the Throne lying quietly in it.
Meanwhile, the Superpower Security Department was having an emergency meeting. More than a dozen people with varied appearances sat at the conference table. The medallions on their bodies indicated their identities, with the lowest being the Deputy Directors at the Saint level. Ever since they lost track of Han Xiao and Kasuyi, the Superpower Security Department had deployed more personnel to form a task force. There were nineteen Supers this time, with a total of five Supreme level experts, a luxurious lineup. This was not only to capture the two people but also to figure out why the target could hide from the detection of the Positioning Star Map. Thus, the Superpower Security Department spared no effort to organize a large number of supers, wanting the plan to be foolproof. “It’s already been a few months, but we still haven’t found anything on Black Star and Kasuyi. The two of them seem to have evaporated like steam! If we continue to allow such dangerous elements to move freely outside, sooner or later, it will lead to a catastrophe!” one of the upper echelons in the department exclaimed in dissatisfaction, continuously pounding on the table and glancing at Milton.
Milton’s expression was gloomy. He had initially led the team but had lost the target. Thus, the blame naturally rested on him. He felt that he had just acted in accordance with the rules, but who knew that his target actually knew how to get rid of the lock from the Positioning Star Map? He could only take this slap to his face and look forward to catching them to redeem his pride. However, over the next few months, the task force did not make much progress, and Milton naturally became the object of much dissatisfaction. They complained that he did not seize the opportunity at that time. While he wanted to refute that, he had nothing to defend himself with and could only sulk there.
Beep beep…
Just as everyone was fervently discussing, a communication request came in. It was from the department leader. A virtual screen appeared on the conference table, and the department leader addressed the crowd. “Everyone, the Positioning Star Map’s effect has been restored, and we have managed to lock down the coordinates of Black Star and Kasuyi again. The reason for this is unknown, but this is our only clue in the past few months. You should be careful and make sure to catch them.”
“Understood! Let’s set off immediately!”
Just as his voice fell, Milton stood up abruptly with an expression of impatience, as though he could not wait to send Han Xiao to prison. And this time, despite having the overwhelming advantage, he decided to act steadily. With the advantage of the Positioning Star Map, he planned out an ambush, aiming to catch the opponent by surprise. Everything was created to be foolproof.
Somewhere in the universe, a small spaceship kept at the low speed as it cruised. Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Jayz were seated within. Kasuyi watched the star map as he muttered, “We’ve already removed the Heaven Concealing Apparatus, so why are the pursuers not here yet?”. Han Xiao glanced and casually said, “Most likely, they’re planning an ambush. After the previous lesson, they will not move so rashly any longer.”
“In the past, there were nine of them. How many do you think they will send this time?”
“At least eleven or twelve? To be safe, maybe fifteen?” Han Xiao guessed.
Jayz interrupted him. “Around eighteen to twenty people, five of whom are at the Supreme level. I understand their mode of operations very well.”
“Tsk, so many helpers…” Han Xiao smacked his lips. Jayz did not deny it but instead explained, “The same will be true in the later stages of your universe iteration. Unless your advanced civilization regularly conducts a major cleansing, your numbers will only grow larger than ours. Those at the Saint level and above will have their data written as Information Forms, so even if they die, they still can be revived. Hence, the cleansings are actually quite limited in effectiveness…”
Hearing this, Han Xiao could not help but remember the Holy Accord Organization. “You mean, as long as a Super reaches the Beyond Grade A level, they can be resurrected in some way, such as through the Sanctums?” Jayz glanced at him, nodding. “The Sanctum focused on recording information that can optimize the universe, such as new Cosmic Treasures, advanced technology that’s developed by advanced civilizations, and personal breakthroughs. This is all valuable information, so when one reaches the Saint level, which is the Beyond Grade A in your universe, you will be given attention to by the Sanctum and will be recorded.
“Furthermore, each Saint level is a unique existence within the universe. When your life level has undergone sublimation, you will be recorded as an Information Form. The projection will be transformed and imprinted within the Sanctum, so death is not the end for you. The Information Form allows you to achieve, in a sense, immortality as someone can use your biological Information Form as a medium to resurrect you and use the Sanctum to reshape your body and soul if they have a connection with the Sanctums.” Han Xiao was a little surprised to hear this. Based on his understanding, the Beyond Grade A was a turning point, and once someone achieved this level, they would have the privilege of backing up the data in the Sanctum. Even if they died one day, there was still the opportunity to resurrect through the Sanctum. This was also the goal of the Holy Accord. “Of the ten thousand Beyond Grade As here, a portion of them were probably revived in this manner.”
“Some?” Jayz shook his head. “More than eighty percent of these people were revived from the Sanctums, and not just once!”
“Speak in detail.” Han Xiao was interested in this, as such information was not available on the internet, being a classified secret. “It’s very simple. Because the goal of resurrection from the Sanctum is left to your descendants, the targets of resurrection for the advanced civilizations are their direct descendants and obedient allies. Thus, people join the advanced civilizations or other major organizations to work in exchange for this future resurrection. It is basically a resurrection agreement. In contrast, there is some uncertainty in leaving your descendants to revive you since the cost is great and the Sanctums are not so easily contacted. Once it fails, the entire information is lost, so everyone choses a reliable advanced civilization as their object of cooperation over time…”
“I see.” Han Xiao was enlightened. It was no wonder the Celestial Star Alliance’s governance was so good, with the Beyond Grade As so well-behaved. It turned out that most of them were obedient babies who were revived after going through screening. As for those thorns, no one wished to help them revive, so they stayed dead. In order to continue being resurrected, the majority of the Beyond Grade As had thus buried their ambitions.
Furthermore, as the advanced civilizations continued to revive their direct descendants and staunch allies, as time went by, there would only be more powerful people under their command, and their control over the universe would naturally increase.
Under the influence of various factors, there would be fewer troublemakers.
Thinking about this, a phrase jumped out in his mind.
Why does this sound like the Investiture of the Gods?
The three Universal Civilizations had yet to come into contact with the Sanctums, but when they developed to this point, would the future situation of the Beyond Grade As turn into something like this? Han Xiao could not help but ask, “Are there any restrictions on the recovery of the Sanctums?”
“Of course there are, and many of them at that,” Jayz whispered. “The first is that only those at the Saint level or above can be revived. You can think of the Beyond Grade A realm as a resurrection license. “The second will be the paradox of personality. Since one’s subjective consciousness is the criteria for distinguishing individuals, even if the body and memories are the same, if the subjective consciousness is different, they will turn out to be different individuals.
While the strong can be revived in the Sanctum, are they still the original ones? This has always been a subject of controversy, where people think that it is more like a clone being brought back to life. “The third is that individuals revived through the Sanctum will randomly lose some abilities, which seem to be directly related to the strength of your body. The stronger you were before dying, the more complete your abilities will be.
“The fourth would be the recovery of the Sanctum. Since you are a unique existence, only one of you can exist in the universe at one time. If you are not dead, then revival through the Sanctum is invalid.
“Fifth, you can only revive individuals in the same iteration. Even I don’t understand this restriction. It is suspected that the recovery of the Sanctum is not its original ability but rather the ultimate plan of one of the iterations. In the end, mutations changed the Sanctum into this form… Thus, many iterations have treated the Sanctums as a breakthrough point. No one knows now how many functions the Sanctums have developed through mutation.”
As he quietly listened, Han Xiao engraved all this into his memories.
From a certain perspective, the Beyond Grade As seemed to have the same characteristics as players, being able to be revived.
In this manner, controlling the Sanctums would be equivalent to controlling most of the lives of the Beyond Grade As? I can always go to Oathkeeper to confirm my suspicions later. Boom!
At this moment, the hull of the spaceship shook violently, and it was knocked out from its hyperdrive state. An ear-piercing alarm sounded. “Wuwuwu! Warning! Warning! A space stabilization anchor has been detected. Hyperdrive state forced to terminate! An unknown energy source is approaching. Please watch out!” The radar showed nineteen fluctuations at the Beyond Grade A surrounding them.
“Looks like you’re right. There’s indeed nineteen of them.” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“It’s a normal occurrence.” Jayz did not care.
The three of them gazed out, immediately seeing Milton and his friends at first glance. They also saw that their spaceship had fallen into a space trap and could not escape.
At this moment, Milton’s sonorous voice sounded through the public communication channel. “Black Star, Kasuyi! Know when to give up. Leave yourselves some face!”
“Call me Void Overlord!” Kasuyi exploded in anger. Han Xiao opened the hatch, and the trio flew out to the middle of the encirclement. Heavy auras pressured at them from all directions. “Eh? There’s another?”
Seeing Jayz, Milton frowned but quickly relaxed.
From his perspective, their prey had been forced to the point of no retreat.
He was full of confidence for this operation. With nineteen people, there was no chance they would fail. After chasing them for several months, these wanted criminals could finally be arrested and brought to justice!
“Immediately give up all resistance and obediently follow us back to the Superpower Security Department for trial and to explain your methods of shielding from the Positioning Star Map. You might get a lenient punishment then.” Milton was confident and immediately started a psychological war, intending to weaken their resistance. Han Xiao, however, revealed a meaningful smile before speaking in an inexplicable tone. “There’s no need to trouble you. We’ll go there ourselves.”
Hearing this, Milton frowned in puzzlement.
“What are you talking… Where did they go?”
Before he could finish, three sets of mechanical suits unfolded, enveloping the bodies of the trio before they disappeared in a flash of light. The next moment, all nineteen members stood in shock.
“Where did they go?”
We set up a space anchor and transmission jammer. How did they even escape?
Milton paused for two seconds before flaring up in anger, his veins throbbing. To think that this bunch managed to run once more!
Utter humiliation!
He immediately took out the communicator and searched for their real-time coordinates on the Positioning Star Map, intending to lock onto their position before they shielded themselves once more.
However, the moment he saw the coordinates, Milton’s angry expression warped into one of panic and disbelief.
The other party’s coordinates were surprisingly at the headquarters of the Superpower Security Department!
This is… them surrendering?
Bullsh*t, there’s something fishy going on! Their true target was actually the headquarters? Are they crazy? Milton raged. He was unable to understand why these people were so bold.
Whoosh!
With a flash of light, a slightly swollen King mechanical suit appeared in the storeroom of the Superpower Security Department, instantly blasting apart the safe. The next moment, the mechanical suit was removed, revealing the figure of three people. Han Xiao recalled his Throne, gazing around at the environment around them.
The trio were currently in a separate warehouse, their front being blocked by a transparent, high-strength material separation wall. Rows of warehouses could be seen outside, of which a small portion were empty whilst the rest had different collections.
“The switching tactics are still as easy to use as always.” Han Xiao clicked his tongue.
“It seems like we’ve arrived. What now?” Kasuyi rubbed his eyebrows. He felt as though he was almost unable to hold back his accumulated Psychic energy any longer. Jayz looked at the code of the warehouse before speaking. “This is No.117, and the closest dimensional consciousness entity carrier is in No. 106.”
At this moment, a harsh alarm suddenly echoed throughout the warehouse. A new alloy partition wall was lowered in all the warehouses. The material was opaque, blocking out one’s line of sight, and the defense strength was much higher. “The alarm has been triggered, and the warehouse will be immediately blocked while the automatic defense robots will siege us. At the same time, the important collections will be transported away through the pipeline.” Jayz was not surprised. With a wave of his hand, a virtual screen appeared in front of him, and he quickly manipulated it before casually continuing. “I just used the backdoor code to cancel the emergency procedure. There’s no need to worry about the carriers being transferred now. However, the changes here will still inevitably alarm the staff at the headquarters, so we don’t have much time.”
“Then let’s hurry up.”
Han Xiao nodded, and spinning around, metal alloy fragments scattered around like flower blossoms as the wall of the warehouse was shattered with a kick.
The three swiftly moved toward their destination amid the harsh sirens.
Along the way, the floors and wall continuously slid open, revealing automatic defense devices within. Numerous turrets shot at the trio, firing small-caliber dark energy shots that resembled red chains, chasing after them.
Han Xiao maintained a thick psionic shield, and the dark energy beams were just like raindrops in the storm, falling on the shield with a crackle and creating ripples of red and blue on its surface. It looked harmless, but that was only because the strength of the shield was just too high. The missed beams that struck the metal ground of walls nearby caused everything that came in contact with it to melt instantly. Thus, everywhere they went, a huge mess followed.
Because of the lack of secondary dimensions, psionic energy could not be extracted directly, but the mechanical units that Han Xiao had brought in were equipped with psionic energy reactors. Using the regurgitation capabilities of psionic energy, he could use them to create controllable psionic energy seeds. Thus, Han Xiao’s psionic energy tools here had an inherent advantage.
At this moment, the trio sensed two powerful individuals fast approaching. They only heard a loud bang, and two burly figures broke through the wall, exuding powerful Pugilist auras.
Locking onto the three, the Pugilists rushed forward, accompanied by angry roars. “How dare you attack the headquarters of the Superpower Security Department! You’ve committed a grave sin!” Jayz swept them with a glance before quickly explaining, “In normal circumstances, there are one to three Saint levels holding the fort daily as part of a shift system. These two are the guardians, so they’re the fastest to arrive. It will take some time for the others to come from the headquarters, so don’t waste time with them.”
Hearing this, Kasuyi did not speak further, gazing at the two before letting out his stored inventory. Boom!
A shockwave of Psychic energy shook from under his feet before an extraordinary Psychic force shot out. Most Psychic attacks were transparent, but this force was so condensed that it had solidified, distorting the surrounding space around it as it instantly swallowed the two figures. This Psychic force was like a black hole exuding infinite gravitation, and just standing by his side, Han Xiao felt a weird spiritual attraction as though his soul was about to be dragged away. One could only imagine how the two Pugilists felt.
Puchi!
The sound of a balloon being pierced rang out on the spiritual level, echoing endlessly deep in one’s soul. Han Xiao focused and saw that the two Pugilists had fallen, violently convulsing. Their noses and mouth were like open faucets, leaking blood. “Their consciousness was shattered by me. They won’t be recovering for a while.” After emptying his load, Kasuyi felt much more comfortable. “Good job.” Han Xiao praised. It was totally worth holding back for a few months. Not only was the impact strong, the compression even allowed two Beyond Grade As to totally lose their combat capabilities. If not for the fact that Psychic attacks were not very effective on the dimensional consciousness entity, Kasuyi would have saved this move to attack the Guardian directly. At this moment, Han Xiao and Jayz were carrying a full mechanical army, and their HP and Energy were suppressed. Only Kasuyi still had his complete combat power and thus could end the fight as fast as possible.
The headquarters of the Superpower Security Department had already gone into action. All the superiors urgently entered the encrypted communication channel, sharing the surveillance in the warehouse areas. Everyone was frightened as they watched.
No one expected that these criminals would be so bold as to directly attack their headquarters with some sort of strange teleportation means! This was the first time since the Superpower Security Department was created that someone had dared to attack it!
Apart from feeling angered, everyone was deeply confused. Why did this group of people lure the tiger away from its den and then attack the headquarters? Did they wish to steal something from the warehouse? “No matter what the other party’s goal is, we must never let them succeed!” Everyone had the same determination.
The experts on shift rushed to the warehouse at full speed. When they saw the two guardians of the warehouse arriving, they were overjoyed, but they did not expect them to not even last a second before they were knocked out.
Seeing this, everyone’s expressions changed. “Kasuyi has hidden himself too deeply. His combat capability is much stronger than we anticipated!”
“Even if we look at all the Psychics in history, he is one of the best.”
Just as everyone was feeling jittery, the surveillance picture changed once more.
Boom!
They saw the No.106 warehouse being destroyed as powerful Supers appeared out of thin air. Without a second word, they rushed straight to the attacking trio.
This scene left them stunned. “Why is there now another group?”
“Who are these people? I don’t know any of them. Are they accomplices?”
“It doesn’t seem like the case. They’ve started fighting among each other!”
“Damn it. Do they think this place is somewhere they can enter as and when they please?”
Everyone was stunned, their brains filled with question marks.
However, while they did not know the origin of the group who appeared later, they could identify them as allies since they were blocking the original offending trio.
The three of them continued to move forward, but before they reached No.106, they sensed eight powerful energy fluctuations appear out of thin air. Jayz narrowed his eyes. “The Guardian and its clones are here!”
Clearing out any foreign variables was the core mechanism of the Guardian. At this moment, all that was left of it was a rigid preset program, so as long as an outsider was detected in a certain range of the carrier, the Guardian and its clones would attack the outsiders. This was its core mechanism and could not be violated. “Their appearances can change at will. Even I don’t know which is the main body. Give me some time to let me identify it, otherwise we can only try our luck.”
Hearing Jayz, Han Xiao’s eyes flashed, and he said, “There’s no need. I have a method to lock onto the opponent’s main body.” As his voice fell, Han Xiao liberated his body barracks. A large area of Mechanical Force burst out, and one by one, the mechanical army was born within the lightning.
The mechanical army that was shot out directly from his body instantly shattered this warehouse area. The lower limit of five million HP that he was suppressed to because of the barracks rebounded instantly, immediately regaining its original value of forty million, and his Energy also rose up simultaneously.
“Hu, this is much better…”
Being relieved of his burden, his entire body felt much more comfortable. All his suppressed strength had recovered.
By the side, Jayz also quickly emptied his inventory and prepared the area quickly. The next moment, eight figures appeared in their field of vision, quickly approaching them. Without another word, Han Xiao controlled the mechanical army to provide covering firepower. He saw the eight figures all using their own means to prop up different types of shield, causing energy shockwaves to burst repeatedly in the air around them.
The combat information instantly refreshed, and opening his interface, the corners of his mouth curled up as he pointed decisively at one of the figures. “Found it. That’s the main body!”
It was not difficult for him to distinguish the main body from the clones, as the interface exposed the enemy’s information.
“So quickly!” Jayz was stunned, almost unable to react.
We’ve just fought face-to-face, and I haven’t even established a connection, but you’ve already locked onto the target? How is your efficiency even higher than mine?
Jayz could not help but think of the previous few batches of outsiders. Except for the first batch, the other two had fallen at this step as they could not distinguish the main body, thus becoming embroiled in a bitter battle where they were finally surrounded and killed by the Superpower Security Department directors.
This time, the outsiders are much more reliable as compared to the previous three, especially this Black Star. In his Universe iteration, he is probably someone who can call on the clouds and winds…
Jayz was secretly pleased. “I’ll leave the main body to you. I’ll delay the clones!” He did not doubt Han Xiao’s judgement, immediately controlling his army to wrap up the other seven.
He then threw out a special targeted device to constrain the dimensional consciousness entity within the carrier. While the opponent could not violate the core mechanism, he did this as an insurance to ensure that the entity would not escape.
Han Xiao did not hesitate either, absorbing part of his troops to turn into a medium sized Mechanical Deity, launching a fierce attack on the Guardian. Kasuyi cooperated on the side to attack the Guardian while holding onto the other seven clones, giving Han Xiao more room for battle.
The Guardian was originally the incarnation of the dimensional consciousness entity, and thus, it was capable of controlling a part of the dimensional energy. It only temporarily shaped itself as an entity in order to kill the outsiders. Due to the pre-set program, it possessed extremely high combat capabilities, at least in the Supreme realm, even having inexhaustible Energy.
Naturally, Han Xiao would not hold anything back and went all out, the Celestial Punishment Edge slashing away at the energy shield surrounding the Guardian.
Boom!
The eleven Beyond Grade As battling directly blasted the warehouses around them into pieces. Junk and fragments floated in the universe, and it was unknown just how many Cosmic Treasures were destroyed. Seeing that the warehouse had exploded, all the upper echelons of the Superpower Security Department almost felt their hearts stop.
“Argh! Kill this damned group of criminals on the spot! Don’t even allow one of them to run!”
The department leader’s eyes turned red with anger.
In outer space, Han Xiao was manipulating the Mechanical Deity to give the Guardian heavy hits. At this moment, he suddenly felt a sudden warning from his senses. He turned around to see seven to eight of the directors quickly approaching, with more than ten Saint levels close behind.
Before they arrived, various long-ranged attacks had already come pouring in, forming a floor of colorful energy within the universe as they attacked the Mechanical Deity from all angles. Even if the data showed that Black Star had an amazing physique, the experts present did not believe that he could withstand the firepower of dozens of people.
Han Xiao only glanced at them, not even bothering to dodge as he threw out a strange prismatic device. This device shook in midair, and a strange wave spread out, forming a huge spherical dome as it covered this area. The next instant, the time flow in the field slowed down drastically, with all the members of the Superpower Security Department and their attacks suddenly stagnating. Only Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and the Guardian were unaffected by this slow motion; even Jayz was hit by it.
This was one of Jayz’s special inventions, specifically targeting this secondary dimension, which could cause this phantom spacetime to be strongly disturbed and stagnate. Only outsiders and the dimensional consciousness entity were unaffected.
Without this technology, the plan to attack the Superpower Security Department would have been nigh impossible. “What the hell is this ability P” While their actions had slowed down, the Superpower Security Department present retained their acuity, and their anger turned into horror. Rendered unable to move, watching the enemy ravage the warehouse at will caused everyone’s heart to bleed. It felt as though they were husbands watching their wives cheat right in front of themselves.
The dozens of Beyond Grade As were suspended in midair. This scene was magnificent, but Han Xiao and Kasuyi had no time to appreciate them. Both of them focused on dealing with the Guardian.
The effect of the spacetime interference was limited, so now was the time for them to burst forth with explosive strength. If the Guardian could not be killed directly before the effect of the interference device ended, then Han Xiao would have no choice but to use the King and escape with the other two.
The more outsiders who died in this secondary dimension, the more clones the Guardian would have. Right now, they were the fourth batch, and the difficulty was already frightening. The main body and its seven clones were not affected, still moving around freely. Even if Kasuyi took the initiative to contain the clones, he had limited Energy and could not deal with everything. From time to time, the attacks of the clones managed to bypass his defenses, falling on Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity body.
In order to maintain his damage output, Han Xiao did not evade any attacks, rather simply tanking them head on without defending. This was completely a trade damage for damage playstyle. With his own tankiness, the occasional attacks that came through not only did not cause much threat to him but also continuously accelerated the speed at which he stacked temporary attribute bonuses, making his damage output higher.
At this moment, he did not hold anything back, completely utilizing all his explosive abilities and even using his armies and the Mechanical Deity in a blitzkrieg strategy. All his overload abilities were activated. [Legendary Battle Technique]’s true damage was triggered, and [Painful Revenge] allowed him to exert a powerful lethality, which could cause his melee damage to increase by 1.5% of his HP every time his total HP decreased by 3%.
This ability came from the leader of DarkStar. At the beginning when he obtained it, he was only a Calamity Grade with a total HP value of over a hundred thousand. However, he was now a Beyond Grade A hegemon with HP value over forty million, and even 1.5% of his total HP converted to damage would still be around six hundred thousand extra damage!
Furthermore, in order to continue to regenerate his Energy, Han Xiao had controlled his weapon within the Mechanical Deity to fire on his body, so his HP dropped and rose constantly, triggering the (Painful Revenge] skill again and again… Even if ordinary damage could be shielded against or reduced, his enemy could not cover against the lethality caused by [Painful Revenge). The power of his every hit was far beyond what a normal Beyond Grade A could deal.
Coupled with his bonuses from the Machinery Faith, his level ten God’s Trait TransformationMachinery, [Fearless Heart], and (Polar Channel Flow-Blood Rage] along with all his Gold Grade equipment, not forgetting his post-explosive attributes obtained through the level 340 Promotion… even Han Xiao was unaware now terrifying his damage would be when he attacked with all his strength.
He only saw that under the concentrated firepower, the energy shield summoned by the Guardian basically exploded the moment it appeared, and its HP value steadily dropped at a fast speed. It might have been a dimensional consciousness entity with inexhaustible energy, but the strength of its body limited its energy output. The speed at which it replenished its own energy shield could not keep up with the efficiency of destruction that Han Xiao wrought.
If it was a life form individual with consciousness, then it would naturally understand that it was not Han Xiao’s opponent. However, the Guardian did not have any emotions and could only act according to the incomplete preset procedure it had, unable to violate its core mechanism to fight to the end.
The Guardian’s advantage would be its flexibility. Within its territory, Han Xiao racial talents were frozen. He was unable to use his Void methods, making him unable to keep up with the Guardian’s speed. While his Mechanical army was powerful, most of their long-ranged attacks were avoided by the Guardian.
“A lot of output is being wasted. It has certain characteristics of an energy life form, and its HP can be restored quickly. If this drags on, my success rate of destroying it before the jamming device fails will be about forty percent, which is a bit low… My (Gene Liberation] has not been used yet, but the Cooldown is rather long, so I’ll only have time to use it once. The output of that needs to be maximized…” Han Xiao kept pouring out firepower, as his eyes shifted around.
It seemed like he had to utilize his trademark skill…
The Mechanical Deity suddenly disintegrated, turning into a mechanical army that filled the sky. Han Xiao’s body escaped, opening his arms in full to show off his ‘weak’ body, as though he planned to seduce the Guardian.
Sure enough, without another word, the Guardian took the initiative to rush over. In his default model, the strategy to combat a Mechanic was to attack them directly when they were exposed.
Han Xiao did not dodge but greeted him and allowed the Guardian to smash his hard pectoral muscles. A shock wave was emitted, but Han Xiao did not care for the HP lost in his blow. His arms circled and bound his target tightly as he grinned. “Little kid, you still dare run? Come to papa.”
He had not used this method for a long time. The main reason was because the explored universe knew of his reputation, so only a fool would respond to his provocation. Only in the face of a person who was unaware of his abilities could his trademark shine.
Without any hesitation, Han Xiao activated (Gene Liberation), at the same time giving instructions to his Mechanical army. “Eat this! Heaven! Earth! As! One!”
Boom!
In an instant, endless psionic cannon fire drowned the two figures, and a dazzling light ball expanded, occupying everyone’s sight. “A Mechanic can battle in this manner?” Jayz, who was unable to move, gaped at the scene, feeling that his knowledge had been broadened. “Do all youngsters these days play with such high stakes?” By the side, Kasuyi, who was fighting with the clones, felt his right eye twitching. The energy fluctuations caused by the feedback made his heart beat fast, and he felt a strong threat to his life. The tens of Superpower Security Department members had an expression of disbelief.
They were all wondering what sort of hatred and resentment these two groups actually had to fight so desperately with each other. Didn’t these two wanted criminals attack our headquarters? Why did they even concentrate on dealing with this group of mysterious Supers rather than sneak attack us while we’re stuck in place? We seem to have become onlookers now… As this thought flashed through everyone’s mind, the ball of light caused by the energy reaction suddenly exploded, bursting out as a terrifying energy shockwave.
Boom!
The surrounding machinery and people were all swept away, revealing a large empty area. As the light ball dissipated, everyone saw Han Xiao hovering alone at the center of the explosion, covered in blood, with a shattered shell of a body in front of him.
Han Xiao was expressionless and appeared as though it was a normal occurrence, but in fact, he was breaking out in a cold sweat internally. F*ck me, that was a close shave. To think that my attack has reached this level. I almost gave myself a one-way ticket to heaven…
Because the random coefficient of (Gene Liberation] gave him the highest increase at twenty percent, the lethality that his army exploded with shocked him, the large fluctuations in his HP giving him multiple heart attacks.
The scale of my troops I control now is enormous, and their attack power is completely different from before. This trick should be used with caution in the future, or else it will one day be me perishing together with my enemy… Han Xiao secretly sighed in relief. With him even in danger of dying, the Guardian would naturally be more tragic, being killed on the spot. From fighting to going to heaven, it did not even have time to leave behind its last words… although it would not have said anything. “You killed him just like that?” Kasuyi’s eyes widened.
He had thought that it would be a vicious battle, but he did not expect Black Star’s current lethality to be so terrible that the target would be eliminated so quickly. Such efficiency was frightening. While he did not express it clearly, his tone said it all
– it was actually so simple? Hearing Kasuyi, Han Xiao knew what he was thinking and snapped, “You thought it was easy, but that’s because I’m that good! If it was you, we would definitely have had to escape today.” Let’s not bully him anymore. Even if it was another pinnacle Beyond Grade A, it would be a situation where it would be a miracle if they could survive. Only someone as abnormal as him would be able to handle such a mission.
The communication between both of them happened in an instant. At this moment, the chain reaction caused by the destruction of the dimensional consciousness entity finally appeared. They saw the remains of the Guardian automatically decompose into dust-like particles, disappearing in an instant. With it as the epicenter, the same signs appeared in the surrounding space. The affected area continued to spread in all directions, as if a singularity had collapsed and the entire dimension began to collapse as a chain effect.
This mutated Information Form phantom of the spacetime cycle was like an intricate instrument that was barely maintaining its balance. The dimensional consciousness entity was the core component of this entire instrument, so when the core met with a problem, the entire instrument would naturally stop operating. The error would probably also result in a chain effect of the entire instrument breaking down.
Only the two outsiders Han Xiao and Kasuyi, along with the objects they brought in were unaffected. The other materials belonging to this spacetime cycle were beginning to decompose. The first ones to go were the mechanical armies, as well as the seven Guardian clones.
Because the foundation of the spacetime cycle had been unraveled, the effect of the interference device was naturally rendered ineffective. When the members of the Superpower Security Department saw this scene, they all looked surprised, subconsciously moving to continue the encirclement. However, one of the directors who was the closest to the epicenter also began to automatically decompose. Before everyone’s horrified eyes, he turned into flying ash in merely the blink of an eye. His Supreme level strength had no way to resist this. “What’s happening? What did you guys dop”
“Quickly run! You’ll die!” The crowd was so shocked that they no longer bothered about arresting them, instead turning to escape.
Jayz, however, stayed where he was, smiling slightly at Han Xiao.
Han Xiao felt a vibration from his communicator and took a look. The rest of the technical information had been sent by Jayz; he had upheld his end of the deal.
In addition, Jayz had felt behind another message.
“Black Star, our World Reset Plan was not a complete failure; at least we have left this legacy for the future. “I know you have always been guarded against me, and I admit that I indeed have some selfishness to this. I don’t need to hide it from you now. I poured all my knowledge into you due to the deal and also my experiment…
“Remember the mechanism of the Sanctums I told you about? Reviving a Beyond Grade A requires a medium with the target information… and you, who have inherited my knowledge, can serve as my medium now.
“If a day comes when you ever manage to succeed in communicating with the Sanctums, please try to revive me across iterations. Whether it succeeds or fails, it will be a precious piece of intelligence for you.
“However, even if the resurrection is successful, I will not retain my memory from this loop. It will be a brand new me, so this should be our last time meeting. While our time was short, I am happy to have met you… my successor of this iteration.” Looking up, Han Xiao saw Jayz with a relieved smile as his whole body gradually turned into flying ash, disappearing without a trace. Seeing this, Han Xiao muttered, “Successor, huh?”
Chapter 1205 A New Calling
The message left behind by Jayz was full of expectations.
Han Xiao glanced at the technical information now saved on his communicator and suddenly felt a heavy weight.
The phantom of history had disappeared, so before the three Universal Civilizations could study the mystery that was the Sanctums, the technology he held would be unique. While it was only a part of the technology obtained by Jayz, it was still precious.
The meaning behind this was not just a personal benefit but also a method to change the development direction of the universe, and the initiative to change the direction was now in his hands.
Since this was ‘A Relay Across Iterations’, then according to his current situation, calling him the successor technically was not wrong… This technology had already made him qualified to control the development of the universe in the near future on a whim.
If he chose to undertake such a calling, how he dealt with this technology would become a problem.
“… No matter what, everything will have to wait until my research is completed,” Han Xiao muttered.
d
Within the technical materials available, there was a huge portion that would be beneficial to the development of the civilizations. If he hid it away like a baby, then it would be wasted. The final place they ended up in should be toward the Galactic Society, to contribute toward the entire universe and change the lives of the galactic residents.
It was just that, with his temperament, it was impossible for him to make a contribution for free. He would only develop it to sell or exchange part of the technology for resources from the three Universal Civilizations. Regardless of which he chose, his status and the power of the Black Star Army would rise to a whole new level, becoming an unmatched giant.
As for Jayz’s request, Han Xiao could not decide if he should agree.
These thoughts passed him by in a flash. The collapse of the secondary dimension was still occurring, and this situation was exactly the same as the decay and demise the other secondary dimensions faced.
The speed of decomposition slowly grew faster, as the scope of the chain reaction expanded in an exponential manner. Space was pulled and torn apart, while the stars dimmed one by one as they were extinguished. Replacing them was a weird light glow—that was the external manifestation of the thinning of the space wall.
The light spots suddenly split open, turning into holes in the space wall. The chaotic space stream outside instantly poured in, and the space storms raged and accelerated the decay of the dimension.
“Run!”
Seeing this, Kasuyi’s eyes lit up, and he flew out along the hole in the space wall. Han Xiao did not stop him, following him closely.
The two of them returned to the chaotic space stream outside the secondary dimension world, and they felt that all of their pressures seemed to have vanished. Every breath they took was like a new lease of life.
“We’re finally out.”
Sensing the connection of the Void Dimension, Kasuyi breathed a sigh of relief. He hurried to refill his lacking Energy before he finally felt safe.
The two then turned to look at where they came from, only to see that the secondary dimension, which had been almost boundless when they first arrived, was collapsing inward as though it was an inflated balloon being released of its air.
Under their gazes, the secondary dimension was finally torn apart by the turbulent chaotic space stream, disintegrating with bursts of iridescent energy as it blended into the space storm.
Kasuyi’s eyes suddenly brightened up. He released his Psychic energy in a direction, taking out a few pieces of source energy fragments as he smiled.
Han Xiao swept him with a glance. “You found your opportunity for transformation?”
“If I’m not mistaken, my senses point to the source energy fragments of this dimension. I’ve vaguely felt the entry point of the next level of God’s Trait Transformation. So long as I go back and ponder for a while, I’ll definitely be able to enter the next stage. It’s all thanks to your help.”
Kasuyi was satisfied.
He was now feeling fortunate that he had chosen Han Xiao as a teammate. If he had chosen someone else, the trip would likely have been more of a death encounter, but with Han Xiao around, he was in no danger at all.
While this guy is shameless, he’s just too reliable!
“Congratulations.” Han Xiao gave some perfunctory words before pointing to the core fragments. “He who sees it has a share. Pass me one.”
“Hey, you really have a thick skin. You’ve swallowed all of Jayz technical information, yet you still dare to say this.”
Kasuyi looked disgusted at him but still threw a piece of the core fragment to Han Xiao.
Right now, he was in a good mood, and so, he could not be bothered to squabble with Han Xiao. Besides, his senses told him that he only needed a piece of the source fragment, so he would not be stingy.
Receiving the fragment, Han Xiao played with it a little. Gazing at the item details, he shook his head.
While the secondary dimension was special, the source energy fragments were not unique. It would be impossible to re-cultivate a similar spacetime cycle loop. That place was a Space Wonder of its own.
However, neither of them left immediately. They stayed where they were, watching with their own eyes the complete disappearance of the dimension as it disappeared without a trace.
At this time, a notification popped up on Han Xiao’s interface.
The second chain mission of (A Relay Across Iterations] has been completed!
You have received 150 billion Experience, 1 Random Reward, and 1 [Character Summon Card – Jayz]
Character Summon Card – Jayz: (MechanicInsight] – You have obtained extraordinary insight and can summarize the laws of the world more efficiently, improving your ability of mechanical research. When using this ability, the skill (Universal Simulation) is strengthened, and when developing blueprints, the efficiency and success rates are higher. There’s also a chance to generate black technology. Number of times used: 0/5
“This is an ability related to R&D…”
Han Xiao nodded in his head.
Jayz’s abilities in R&D were undoubtedly among the best, able to produce technology with specific effects such as the Heaven Concealing Apparatus. Han Xiao had a lot of combat abilities in his hands in the form of Character Summon Cards, so this time, the support effect of this Character Summon Card met his needs.
Scrolling down, he discovered that the notifications had yet to end.
The third chain mission begins!
Mission Requirements: Succeed in entering at least one Sanctum and establish a connection.
Reward: 200 Billion Experience, 2 Random Rewards, 3 Fragments of the Related Sanctum, and unlock the next chain mission.
“The next mission requires me to enter the Sanctums…”
Han Xiao squinted his eyes.
Based on what Jayz had said, Sanctums stored multiple iterations of materials, but it was not a public library where anyone could enter to view. Be it an individual or a civilization, there needed to be a certain action to allow them to connect with the Sanctum before they could obtain information from within.
Oathkeeper had mentioned before that there were six Sanctums in total, but no one knew if the different Sanctums had different methods needed for communication. Furthermore, Oathkeeper had yet to return even after such a long time, so it was estimated that this should be no simple matter.
Within the reward, they also provided Sanctum fragments. Han Xiao possessed quite a few fragments of the First Sanctum, and he originally thought that it was needed for entry, but now it seemed like it served another purpose.
After obtaining so many secrets, Han Xiao had already made up his mind. Even if he did not get the mission, he would still have chosen to go and visit a Sanctum once. This mission was an unexpected coincidence and gain for him.
As for the other mission, (Kasuyi’s Invitation) also showed as completed. He obtained another 450 Billion experience and got six random rewards as well as three Character Summon Cards.
The Character Summon Cards were all from Kasuyi but with different abilities, one improving mental resistance, the other a Void Talent. The last was (The Ancient Ones), providing amazing burst damage.
Kasuyi’s Favorability also went up by thirty points, and he obtained a God’s Trait Transformation point. At the same time, he was also rewarded with a new Milestone, (Witness of the Old Times). The introduction showed that due to his rich experience in life, his Intellect and Mystery attributes all improved by three percent. The effect is pretty strong. It will be quite useful…
While he was browsing through the mission reward, Kasuyi’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind, with mixed emotions.
“What are you going to do now?”
Turning his head, he saw a rather complicated expression on Kasuyi’s face.
Having witnessed the disappearance of the final vestiges of the previous universe iteration, albeit a phantom, Kasuyi felt it a regret, yet he felt that this entire adventure was pretty dreamlike.
Han Xiao knew what Kasuyi was thinking, so he shook his head. “I’ll withhold this technology for now and conduct my own research. Now is not the time to expose all these secrets.” “That’s right. The universe iteration is still too far away from us. Those are issues that the three Universal Civilizations should consider. Although a Beyond Grade A is a powerful individual, we are small in the face of the big picture.” Kasuyi sighed. “Anyway, the technical information is in your hands, so you’re in control. What you do with it is your own business; it has nothing to do with me.”
Han Xiao did not speak but instead stared meaningfully at him.
He only felt Han Xiao’s meaningful gaze, but Kasuyi already understood what Han Xiao wanted to say. He spoke with a smile. “Relax. While I’m in the know, I will not cause trouble. Once I disclose this information to any outsider, I won’t be able to stay out of trouble as well… Don’t worry about me reporting this to the Arcane Church. I’m not that close to them.”
For the operation this time, Kasuyi once again gained a brand-new impression of the strength Han Xiao had. He was frightened, and thus, he did not wish to face Han Xiao if possible.
Since only the two of them knew of this information, if anything leaked out, Black Star would know that it was Kasuyi who did it right away. In his opinion, having one less matter to worry about was better than one more. Unlike the Old Man Manison who always liked to make the headlines, Kasuyi preferred to stay low.
Moreover, he was not a direct subordinate of the Arcane Church, so he had no intention of reporting this. If he was so loyal to the Arcane Church, he would not have bothered to put on a show during the attack on Hila.
Han Xiao finally nodded before changing the topic.
“You’ve also seen what happened to the Beyond Grade As under the rule of the Celestial Star Alliance. The Sanctum is our lifeblood, and we cannot allow the advanced civilizations to monopolize this information, or else we will repeat the same mistakes.” Hearing this, Kasuyi’s expression also turned solemn.
With this episode, he deeply realized that the Beyond A realm was a glorious yet despairing presence.
“You’re right. The three Universal Civilizations will research this step sooner or later. Since we have discovered the meaning behind the Sanctums ahead of them, we should prepare for it.”
“In order to avoid becoming like the Celestial Star Alliance, our Beyond Grade A Association itself must first gain control of the Sanctums,” Han Xiao muttered. “Fortunately, we’ve now established an association. As individuals, we’re unreliable. Only an association is qualified to assume this future so that future Beyond Grade As need not surrender their freedom and beg the advanced civilizations for benefits.”
“In the beginning, when you promoted the establishment of the association, you really had some foresight,” Kasuyi praised.
I never expected that the association would be so useful… Han Xiao grinned secretly to himself.
“Cough, in any case, I have some clues about the Sanctum in my hands. After some time, I’ll begin to pursue these traces.” “If you need any help, just let me know,” Kasuyi said.
If they were to wait until the advanced civilizations mastered the means of revival through the Sanctums like the Celestial Star Alliance, it would be too late for the Beyond Grade As to unite. On the road of development, many opportunities only came knocking once.
In this respect, both of them had no selfish thoughts. The Sanctums were the lifeline of the Beyond Grade As, and monopolizing them would only make them enemies of all Beyond Grade As in the universe, a target of public criticism.
Only when the association undertook such an important mission would it then be accepted by all. In this manner, the nature of the association would become extremely important, and the alliance between all members would be unshakable, not breaking due to internal factors.
Right now, only the two of them knew of this inside information, and both had the same goal. With this bond, it was equivalent to them signing a pact. For Han Xiao, his advantage was that Kasuyi who had always been neutral was supporting his faction, which would increase his influence.
While the two of them had reached a tacit agreement not to divulge what they saw this time, they both knew that there were some things that had already changed.
Based on the intelligence they received, they had already formulated a new plan, which would inevitably have an indirect impact, just like the butterfly effect. Unless both of them pretended that nothing had happened, the scope of the impact would only grow, and sooner or later, it would affect the entire universe.
With this matter resolved, both of them prepared to return. However, a movement in their senses made them pause. They looked over to see a huge group of Space Lice wandering aimlessly.
“Oh, a few months have already passed, yet these little cuties have not left.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled as he thought of his previous idea of breeding these Space Lice.
Kasuyi had also completed his God’s Trait Transformation and was more relaxed. He smiled as well. “I should get some specialties on the return trip back, so I might as well catch some and see if they can be raised in the Void Dimension.”
Both of them shared a smile, a similar weird aura surrounding them.
Chapter 1206 Return
In the Black Star Army’s Emerald Star Cluster Division, hundreds of spaceships were docked in the silver-white airport terminal, with all colors and varied models. From within these spaceships stepped out a group of crew members who obviously did not belong to the army. Stepping down, they looked around curiously, lining up in loose lines under the command of the heavily armed army members as they chatted. “We’ve finally arrived. This is indeed the base of the Black Star Army. It’s truly well-defended.”
“Haha, my resume has undergone four rounds of screening and finally passed the review. We’ll be members of the Black Star Army in the future.”
“I hope that I can go to a position with good benefits…”
“Will we be able to see Black Star this time? According to the usual practice, every group of newcomers will have to enter the initiation ceremony where the Army Commander meets with us. Even his avatar will do!”
Everyone had some measure of excitement on their face. These people were all interstellar mercenaries who had applied to the Black Star Army.
Right now, the Black Star Army’s sphere of influence had spread across multiple Star Fields. With various businesses bringing ample capital flow to them, the army had been actively hiring new mercenaries. This was especially so after Han Xiao was hired as the Special Consultant for the three Universal Civilizations.
After so many years of operation by Han Xiao, the army already had an irreplaceable influence in the universe. According to market research, if all free Supers in the universe had to join a faction, then 41.3% of them listed the Black Star Army as their first choice, surpassing even the three Universal Civilizations.
The Black Star Army could be considered as something like the ‘Fortune 500’ companies back on Earth. Furthermore, its potential was still being realized, and its prospects were broad.
Just as everyone was excitedly discussing their success, an army spaceship sailed into the VIP dock of the airport, attracting the attention of everyone present. There were two emblems on the hull of the spaceship, one being that of the army, while the other was a crimson snake on a wine-red background, which was the personal emblem of Hila.
With a hiss, the hatch opened, and a group of armed female warriors wearing crimson light armor walked out neatly as they stood on both sides of the gangway. The emblem on their chests indicated that they were the elite guards of Hila, known as the ‘Tri-Headed Snake Rangers’.
As the Deputy Army Commander, Hila possessed a lot of authority, which allowed her to form her own personal guard like Han Xiao.
Ta, ta, ta!
The crisp sound of leather shoes striking the ground was heard as Hila walked out of the hatch.
She wore a pair of red sunglasses on the bridge of her nose, her ears decorated with serpentine silver earrings, and she had on a gorgeous red uniform that resembled a lady’s business suit. It had gold threads as trimming as well as a black and gold cloak wrapped around on her shoulders, complete with a red fluff on the collar of the cloak.
Everyone’s eyes immediately focused on her, admiration appearing on their faces. “She’s the second-in-command of the Army, the Goddess of Death, Hila. What a strong aura…”
Some of them revealed wistful expressions. “It would be great if I could work under her.”
“Only the elite of the army are eligible to be selected as part of the personal guards. Even people like us were all rejected. You’re still dreaming of it?”
At this moment, Hila walked with her guards to the front of the crowd, scanning everyone present. Her powerful aura suffused within the crowd, and the commotion gradually stopped. Everyone only felt a sense of oppression in their hearts, not daring to speak. Seeing this, Hila spoke in a cold tone. “The Army Commander is currently absent, so I will preside over your enrollment ceremony. My time is precious, so I’ll save the welcome steps and test your strength directly. The army speaks with strength, so this will be related to your position arrangement after joining the army. I hope you can last as long as possible.”
Finishing all she wanted to say in one breath, Hila was too lazy to explain more, directly letting out her pressure and sweeping across the whole field.
Many of them felt a crushing sense before they could react, the pressure penetrating their body and soul. Everyone trembled and looked as though they would fall to the ground any time.
Flop, flop!
Group after group could not bear the pressure Hila was exuding and fell down. The longest could only support themselves for about thirty seconds, their faces flushed and gasping as though they were drowning.
Seeing this, Hila withdrew her pressure, looking at her watch as she lightly said, “Those who are in the top ten percent will be the team leaders. As for the others, Phillip will automatically assign positions based on your performance just now. You are to report to your respective departments immediately. The ceremony is over.”
Finished, she turned around and entered the base with her guards, not sparing another glance at the crowd on the ground.
Generally speaking, the newcomers’ joining ceremony would introduce to them the history of the army so as to cultivate a sense of belonging. Hila, however, did not care for such things. From disembarkation to the completion of the test, the entire process took no more than three minutes.
On the way, Hila took out her communicator and summoned Phillip. She asked with furrowed brows, “By the way, can you contact Black Star yet?”
“Not at all, hum…” Phillip lowered his head, tapping his fingertips as he felt guilty.
“Where did this guy go? To actually be out of touch for several months!”
Hila’s expression was uncertain.
She knew that Han Xiao had run off to the secondary dimensions, and communication there was inconvenient. But even so, Han Xiao should not have been disconnected from Phillip.
Just a few months ago, Phillip had said that Han Xiao was completely disconnected and could not be reached by any means. Hila thus became vigilant and could not help but think of the Holy Accord Organization that he had encountered in the secondary dimension.
Could it be that the Army Commander had been attacked again?
Hmm… it did not seem to be surprising though.
In order to not cause any turmoil and suspicion to the outside world, she had asked Phillip to block off all news, maintaining the operation of the army on the surface while secretly investing resources to detect any traces of Black Star.
Han Xiao was the soul of the army. The moment he lost contact, the army would drop by a significant deal in the eyes of the Beyond Grade As. Hila could only temporarily carry this burden, halting her training and returning from the Underworld to helm the army.
No results were found even after several months, and Hila was getting worried.
She had decided that if there was still no information about him after three more months, she would call upon her teacher Ames to enter the secondary dimensions to search for Han Xiao. Suddenly, Hila paused, and a strange look appeared on her face.
“You guys are to be on standby. I have something to do.” Her figure vanished, leaving her Personal Guards on the spot looking at each other.
At the same time, Hila’s figure appeared in the Underworld, where Onicelu revealed herself.
“What is this about?”
“I discovered a group of weird creatures approaching the Underworld. They seem to be cosmic life forms that live in space storms. Monsters born within this environment are not easy to deal with, and I’m just afraid that they are species that feed on the secondary dimensions.” Onicelu expressed her concern.
Hila frowned slightly. Right now, she was bound to the Underworld, so protecting it was her responsibility. “I’ll make them retreat.”
She rose up, turning into a red meteor as she flew out of the space wall following Onicelu’s instructions. However, she did not proceed further, merely waiting at the spot for the enemy’s advancement. The dimensional energy of the Underworld formed a spherical light film around Hila, which provided her defense whilst preventing her from being swept away of the chaotic space stream.
Not long after, a whirlpool-like wormhole appeared in the space stream, and huge Space Lice rushed out in alarming numbers.
“So many!’ Hila subconsciously clenched her fists.
She had been in the secondary dimension for a while, thus knowing that there were some dangers that could even threaten the lives of the Beyond Grade As. While she had never encountered any Space Louse, she instinctively felt the threat, proving that this group of monsters could not be killed casually.
While Hila was not worried about her safety, there were just too many for herself to handle. She could not guarantee that she could protect the entire Underworld.
“If only Black Star was here…”
Faced with this situation, Hila could not help but miss Han Xiao’s mechanical army.
“Right now, I can only rely on myself…”
Hila revolved her Energy, preparing to make the pre-emptive strike.
But at this exact moment, a familiar voice rang out in her mechanical suit communication channel, freezing her movements.
“Hila?”
Among the Space Lice, Han Xiao, who was herding up these cuties, felt the fluctuations coming off from Hila and looked over. His eyes brightened immediately.
In a flash, he appeared before her, smiling. “I’ve not seen you for a while. Did you miss
me?”
“I miss…” Hila caught herself before she subconsciously spoke out and continued in surprise. “Why are you here? Where did you go this time?”
“I went over to the secondary dimensions to take a gander. The signal there is not good. Did you see the cuties yet? These were my war trophies. I intend to let them settle down around the Underworld to serve as a line of defense. Their combat power is pretty impressive…”
Han Xiao babbled on with the introduction, pretending that he did not see Hila’s hesitation.
After losing contact for several months, he knew that Hila would definitely worry, but he did not intend to disclose his experience of the trip for the time being. Thus, he decided to hide the truth and simply gloss over it.
After listening for a bit, Hila still could not resist interrupting Han Xiao’s words, “Do you know the impact your loss of contact has brought us? If it was not for me blocking the news, there would be a lot of people in the army that wavered…”
Han Xiao laughed. “You’re the Deputy Army Commander. There’s still you even if I’m not around. Nobody will be able to do anything. I have faith in you.”
Hearing this, Hila’s expression became a lot better.
She vaguely felt that Han Xiao was hiding something from her, but she did not want to ask more. The most important part was that he had returned.
Hila did not continue questioning him and turned her attention toward the weird looking Space Lice.
“When these groups of life forms join forces, can their battle strength truly reach the pinnacle Beyond Grade A level?”
“Their attack power won’t be as good, but their defenses can indeed reach such a stage. They feed on chaotic space streams, so not only will they not attack the secondary dimension but also provide protection. They like the environment around a secondary dimension, so they usually settle down and use it as a nest, hence attacking all outsiders.” Han Xiao nodded.
After catching a batch of Space Lice, he had split up with Kasuyi and headed home. Through the journey, he did research and discovered the habits of the Space Lice, which allowed them to coexist in harmony with the secondary dimensions. They were suitable for guarding homes and were simply natural bodyguards.
“Alright, as long as there’s no danger, I have no issue keeping them here.” Hila agreed after thinking. “My teacher came to look for you three times but was rejected by me. Remember to go see her.”
“Ok.” Han Xiao assented and asked, “Anything happen with the association while I was absent?”
“The same old. There has been no change, except for the lack of fighting between you and Manison. No one is moving for now. It’s basically a formality.”
“Those fence sitters only wish for me to get things done…” Han Xiao’s mouth contorted slightly.
In the eyes of ordinary people, the Beyond Grade As were people of high authority and prestige, but in his eyes, they were a group of boring people.
He then rejected Hila’s invitation to get abused before throwing the Space Lice at the Underworld and using the King to teleport himself back to the Army’s Base camp in the Emerald Star Cluster.
With a blur in his vision, Han Xiao returned to his office and found Sylvia sitting there with her legs propped up on the table.
Seeing that someone had suddenly appeared in the room, Sylvia was taken aback. But after recognizing Han Xiao, she calmed down, and instead of standing up, she purposely struck her feet on the table once, huffing as she angrily said, “Oh, isn’t this His Excellency Black Star? You still know your way back? I thought you had forgotten all about us.”
Han Xiao did not show offence, rather walking up to Sylvia and patting her head. Feeling her hair, he smiled.
“Seems like you have worked hard these few months. It’s been hard on you.”
“Scram.” Sylvia knocked his hand away before standing up and snorting. “I could not contact you, and there’s a large backlog of issues that you need to handle. Hurry and clear them. I’m still waiting.”
Having finished speaking, she turned to leave, but suddenly, she realized something just as she reached the door. She turned back, picking up the jacket she draped over the chair and the gold rimmed glasses on the table, rolling her eyes at Han Xiao again as she left.
“Tsk, what a huge grudge she has.”
Han Xiao pursed his lips. He naturally would not be so petty with this balding baby.
This trip had been a great harvest for him. He not only learned a lot of secrets of the universe but also greatly expanded his knowledge. For him, returning to his universe felt like he had come to another world. But in the eyes of his officers, it was only a few months that he had disappeared. Except for a few, no one was curious about where he had gone.
Han Xiao reconnected to Phillip, encrypting all the data he recorded on this trip.
This technological treasure was too rich, such that even a pinnacle Beyond Grade A like him would take around a decade to finish studying it. While Awakening Points and Experience could speed up the research progress, it would be a waste to use them that way. After all, before the next Version arrived, it would be difficult for him to supplement those. Since it was not long until the Version 4.0 update, he could take his time to slowly digest it then.
He summoned a housekeeping robot to spray some air freshener in the room to remove the remnants of Sylvia’s elegant perfume before sitting back in his chair to handle the backlog while logging onto the forums to check on the players.
After a few months, the fourth Pro League had entered the International League phase, and they were at the Quarter Finals. China had two teams qualifying this time, Dynasty with the most stable performance and Rivervale.
After three league matches, Rivervale was no longer a dark horse but rather a stable and powerful team.
The previous International League group stage that had just ended was the most dangerous one, with the crazy targeting of the Chinese clubs still ongoing. As a result, there was one less team that had qualified for Quarter Finals this time.
However, looking at it from another angle, even with the clubs of various countries trying to push them down, there were still two Chinese teams that had made it in. The results were gratifying
Now the hope of the country fell on Dynasty and Rivervale. So long as either of them won the championship, it would mean three consecutive victories for China. None of the other countries in the top eight wanted to see such a result, but they were unable to encircle and suppress the Chinese players as much as in the group stage.
“Now that it has reached the Quarter Finals, it’s not far from the end of the Pro League. There are at most two months left before Version 4.0 ends… I have to prepare.”
In his past life, Version 5.0 represented the Calamity of the Supers. The Beyond Grade As of history revealing themselves, conflicts intensifying between the Supers and the ordinary citizens, the emergence of the Grade A players, and the unwillingness of the Super Star Cluster Civilizations in losing the war all combined to throw the universe that had just stabilized back into turmoil.
Under his own influence, there were too many variables, so he could not properly predict what the specific changes in the next version would be. The only thing Han Xiao could determine was that the importance of players would rise once more and become the focus of more factions. No matter how much reservations the factions had, they would introduce welfare measures to recruit more players.
While the army had greatly expanded its scale of players in Version 4.0, this was an opportunity and yet a trouble. Not to mention the potential confusion that the players would bring, the other factions would also attempt to poach the army’s own players. As long as they were willing to fork out a sum of money, it will naturally have an effect. Han Xiao was not so arrogant and self-confident that no player would not succumb to such a measure. Moreover, the idea of being a big fish in a small pond might appeal to some players, rather than staying in the army and being a small fish in a big pond. This was especially so for players who would reach the level of Calamity Grade. They would naturally have a huge impact on the Super employment market in the universe.
A true Calamity Grade would have the qualification to dominate an entire area on their own, so the majority of factions could not afford to employ them. However, even if the regular remuneration was reduced to a fourth or even a fifth of the usual rate, it would be enough to feed the players. While the strength of the players for their Calamity Grades would be at the bottom of the barrel, they were the cheapest Calamity Grades that some small factions would be able to afford.
The only way I can deal with the other factions is by continuing to strengthen the construction of the faction, increasing the status and attractiveness of the army during the Version update. Even with my personal influence, this will be a step-by-step process, but if I can take out some of the valuable civilian black technology, it will greatly speed up the progress. In the eyes of the public, it will seem as though I developed this… The army’s operations in the Flickering World were on the right track and had limited room for further development. To continue expansion, he could only target other Star Fields by developing branches.
The following few decades while the version updated would be a good time for him to lie low and develop. With the aid from the Association, the army did not need to participate in the war between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance, thus not being dragged down. They could all just sit this one out and reap the spoils later.
On the other hand, this was also conducive to the construction of the Association’s community of interest. The final structure had to exist as a multi-faceted interest network, where the most powerful Beyond Grade As sold various resources and services while the weaker ones obtained support, maintaining a balanced relationship. With the size of the current Black Star Army, it was naturally qualified to become one of the facets.
Each term of office for the President was stated at fifty years. Han Xiao had already thought about it, planning to oust Manison when his term was up and sit in this position. With his current right to speak in the Association, so long as Manison did not make any underhanded moves, he was quite assured.
The moment he sat in the position of President, with his results of exploring the Sanctum, there would be no suspense when it came to future re-elections.
“The specific plan will depend on the actual situation…”
Han Xiao opened his memo, beginning to write out the prototype of the plan.
Because Han Xiao and Kasuyi’s actions were carried out in secret, the time of their disappearance did not cause any alarm. After all, the risk of exploring the secondary dimensions was too great, so it was normal that the major organizations would not pay much attention to the duo’s actions.
The news of Black Star returning quickly spread through the army, and players noticed, but the International League had already reached the quarter finals, and everyone had already run out of blank Character Summon Cards to use. It was with pity in their hearts that they refocused on the event.
Since the start of Version 4.0, China’s major clubs had enjoyed the development benefits the Black Star Army provided them, making a lot of money in the process. The better their official guilds developed, the greater the support for the professional teams. At present, China’s first-tier professional teams basically all belonged to the To and T1 tiers internationally, with outstanding strength. They had performed strongly during the quarter finals. Because they met with such harassment, the Chinese teams were unable to obtain many points this time round. Both Dynasty and Rivervale entered the quarter finals at second and fifth place respectively. After three victories in the best of five, they both reached the semifinals, succeeding in occupying two seats. This meant that they would get at least a third place.
However, after three versions, the Chinese players had grander ambitions. No one was satisfied with just third place. In the eyes of the players, only three consecutive championships was worthy of being their goal.
The semifinals were decided through lot drawing, and this caused the Chinese players on the forum to be divided into two sides. One hoped that both Dynasty and Rivervale would not meet each other in the semifinals, and the other side hoped that they would meet. If both Dynasty and Rivervale could defeat their opponents, that would of course be the most ideal situation. However, if both sides lost, then China would be halted at the semifinals. However, if both faced each other, this would be a sort of insurance to guarantee that one of them would definitely step into the finals.
Under the prayers of the two sides, the semifinals list appeared. The Chinese teams were not facing each other. Dynasty went against Team Thunderbolt Pythons from North America, whereas Rivervale’s opponent was Team Kimchi from South Korea.
The Chinese players who supported having their teams meet in the finals got their wish, but for the players on the other side, they were all depressed, worrying about the possibility that both teams might be defeated. As the saying went, one would only know what they wanted after the matter had taken place. In the end, most players discovered that rather than having two teams meet in the final, they would rather have a shot at winning the championship.
Both teams tried their best, but Dynasty missed out on a round, being defeated two rounds to three. They failed to qualify for the finals, and the hope of replicating the scene of having two teams from the country in the finals was dashed.
Rivervale, on the other hand, performed wonderfully, qualifying with three rounds to one. There was a saying in Galaxy that every version would have a god-like respective class. The Mechanic class gradually began to exert its strength in the middle to late stages, and because of the limitation of level cap in each version, the Mechanic’s feature of burning money to continuously increase strength was favored by professional teams. Rivervale’s team was made up of Mechanics as the core, which explained their strength.
In the previous Pro League, Rivervale barely eked out a victory against Team Key in the semifinals, allowing China to dominate the finals. Though they failed to win the championship, they still received endless praise. This time, they really had a chance to obtain the championship, shouldering all the expectations of the Chinese players.
The date of the finals was set a few days later, and the forums were discussing this matter enthusiastically.
Outside of the players’ field of vision, a new regular meeting of the Beyond Grade A Association was held.
A series of Beyond Grade A remote projections descended on the headquarters of the Beyond Grade A Association, walking into the round-table meeting room and sitting down, whispering to their neighbors.
Sitting in the President’s seat, Manison looked at this harmonious scene, glancing at the empty Vice President’s seat as he felt as though the air was fresh and the atmosphere relaxed.
At this moment, an untimely voice sounded outside the door, breaking his harmony and tranquility.
“Hehe, I’m back! Did everyone miss me?”
Hearing the familiar voice, everyone turned around to see Han Xiao, who had vanished for a few months, walking into the conference room with a smile that asked to be slapped.
“Oh, Black Star’s back!”
“It’s been a few months, but you look pretty good!”
“Where did you go these few months? To not even inform us.”
Upon seeing Han Xiao, many people present smiled, beginning to chat and wave to him. Even the direct subordinates of the three Universal Civilizations also nodded in greeting, and the place became lively
Han Xiao was quite comfortable in the Beyond Grade A circle, having a good relationship with most people. He smiled in response to the crowd, walking to his seat and plonking himself down before turning to look at Manison and joking, “I heard that you’ve been very comfortable these few months. It’s alright, I’m back now.”
Manison displayed a passive expression as though he had not seen or heard him. The moment Han Xiao appeared, he had put on this poker face.
Seeing this, all the Beyond Grade As were full of spirits, their eyes jumping between both of them as they revealed expectant expressions.
A meeting without the Vice President spitting nonsense did not feel complete. The last few months’ meetings had been too dull, causing everyone to feel drowsy and lethargic. With Black Star finally back, they could enjoy his repertoire again. No one allowed their minds to wander.
At this moment, Kasuyi also walked in, and after some greetings, he sat in his position. Everyone could not help but cast suspicious glances.
The duo had disappeared for several months and reappeared at the same time, which left a lot to their imagination.
Manison also looked at Kasuyi a few times before suppressing the doubts in his heart, not asking on the spot.
Surveying his surroundings, he coughed twice before saying, “Since everyone is present, let’s start…”
Before he could finish, Han Xiao immediately raised his hands. “I have something to say.”
Manison was interrupted in his opening speech, but he was not angry at all. He was already used to it. As long as Black Star was present, he would never have the chance to finish a sentence.
Everyone else’s eyes lit up.
It’s here. It’s about to get nasty. Black Star is indeed our source of joy. He’s so dedicated that he starts his job the moment he comes.
Han Xiao looked at everyone, seeing them anticipating what he was about to say. He then turned to Manison and spoke in a deep voice.
“Recently, I’ve been thinking about it, and I feel that Manison’s Felon technology is not conducive to the unity of the Beyond Grade As. Having this living body transformation is going overboard, and I feel that Manison should take the initiative to abandon his technology, releasing the Felons.”
Hearing this, Manison burst into flames.
This matter had long been tacitly understood by everyone. You did not choose to talk about this a few months ago, and suddenly bring up this topic, this is obviously you causing trouble!
The request to give up his Felon technology was obviously a fantasy. Black Star knew that this topic would not produce any results, but he still chose to raise it. In Manison’s eyes, this was just him deliberately picking faults in him.
“Black Star! Don’t be an embarrassment! How long ago was this matter already?” Manison hollered.
“What about it? We don’t have any limitation of a prosecutive period whatsoever. If you can do it, why can’t I say it?” Han Xiao waved his hands. “Ask everyone here, who has no issue with this?”
“That’s right, transforming a living body is not right. While this was before the establishment of the Association, it’s still okay to bring it up.” Kant was happy to see that Black Star had managed to pick on something, and he immediately followed up.
Hearing this, everyone present also began to discuss the issue.
While it had already been a long time since the incident, Manison’s Felon technology had always been a thorn in everyone’s hearts.
Usually, everyone would tacitly not speak about it, but now that someone had dug it up, they would not mind throwing sh*t from the sidelines… The main thing was to provide firepower for Black Star. All those people wished to see the world burn.
Manison’s eyelids twitched, and he boomed, “Enough! Black Star only knows how to fool around, but why are you guys also joining in?” “This sentence is wrong. What fooling around?” Han Xiao crossed his arms, pretending to be serious. “So long as you are still doing this sort of unethical practice, we’re qualified to blame you. Even if you cannot restrain your greed and do not wish to give up this technology, you still have to apologize.”
“Apologize to whom? They were originally my spoils of war, and I have the right to dispose of them as I see fit. I’ve never heard of any reason to apologize to prisoners,” Manison coldly said. “Not apologize to them, but to us. You broke the unity of the Association, and the most important part is that you broke everyone’s trust.” Han Xiao spouted nonsense with a straight face.
“You’re bullsh*tting…” Manison was just about to retort, but a silent voice sounded out at the side, from Kasuyi.
“Mechanic Emperor, your actions indeed are not beneficial to the unity of the Association.”
The moment his voice sounded, everyone stared in shock.
The environment that was noisy and raucous turned silent.
Everyone stared at Kasuyi in unison, feeling a little surprised.
Kasuyi had always been neutral, and he did not help anybody. Besides, he had been long-time friends with Manison, but to think he would actually side with Black Star? Manison was also left stunned
Old Ka actually decided to help Black Star go against me. When did they get so close? Could it be that we are not friends who have played together since we were young?
The two only disappeared for a few months. What did they do together for their relationship to progress so quickly! He closely scrutinized Kasuyi’s passive expression, feeling disbelief at this situation.
“What is the meaning of this?” Manison looked straight at Kasuyi, his tone unfriendly.
Kasuyi sighed, not avoiding his gaze as he softly said, “I meant it literally. I feel that Black Star is right. As the President of the Association, you are a role model. You should really give up on the Felon technology. While this may be a long time ago, before the association was created, we are now advocating unity in our realm, so the transformation of a living body is going too far and will make everyone uncomfortable.”
Manison narrowed his eyes.
This seemed like a premeditated action. If Black Star and Kasuyi had hooked up in private, they would deliberately attack him today to demonstrate the strength of the opposing faction while attacking his prestige, further isolating him.
Of course, there was another possibility. Kasuyi might purely have problems with the Felon technology. Manison had known this old friend for many years. He knew that he did not like to offend anyone, so there should be reasons for him to say this face to face.
Moreover, Old Ka was not someone easily bought over. Manison did not believe that it would only take Black Star a few months to forge such a deep relationship with him.
Or it could also be possible that Black Star has something on Kasuyi… Ok, I’ll ask him after this meeting
Manison rearranged his mentality, looking away into the audience as he expressionlessly spoke. “How I deal with my spoils is my own freedom. If everyone continues to discuss this topic, there will be no results obtained. Don’t waste time, so let’s have a serious meeting.”
The Felons were his trump card. Everyone understood that it was impossible for him to compromise by threatening him. But this move was undoubtedly part of Black Star’s plan as he knew that Manison would not give up his Felon technology, and he wished to force him to make a stand. In this way, it could at least aggravate the dissatisfaction of most members against him, reducing his prestige as President.
Black Star’s Spacetime Amber could only be regarded as placing people in prison, and it was also a safe method. However, the Felon technology was obtained by conducting human experiments on prisoners, which was much worse.
Even if Manison continued to argue his way out, the situation would just be more unfavorable toward himself. Thus, he directly put on a tough attitude, putting an end to the topic.
He put on this uncompromising attitude, and while it was not out of everyone’s expectations, everyone was a little unhappy about it, like the fox that mourned for the dead rabbit.
Seeing this, Han Xiao decided not to press this topic.
Everyone had already stated their stance, so forcing his way through would not achieve any results but would only disrupt the meeting. Right now, his goal had been achieved, which was to lower the prestige of Old Man Manison. Furthermore, he managed to dig a trap for the latter. Manison was still unaware about the Sanctums, so Han Xiao was basically targeting the information gap.
Han Xiao turned to look at Kasuyi, flashing a tacit smile.
Kasuyi helplessly shook his head. Him stabbing Manison this time was not just to help Black Star consolidate his position but also him thinking for the future. After discovering the Sanctums, his mentality and view of the Association had changed.
After thinking about it, Jayz had mentioned that the Sanctums could only revive someone who was dead, as each Beyond Grade A existence was unique. Thus, was a person transformed into a Felon dead or alive?
Most likely, they were still considered alive. In that case, if a Beyond Grade A was transformed into a Felon, as long as they were not liberated, would they never be able to be resurrected by the Sanctums?
And here was an even more frightening thought… Was there anyone who would utilize the abilities of the Sanctum to set a trap, capturing newly revived Beyond Grade As to turn them into Felons?
Kasuyi shuddered.
In the past, he could reluctantly accept this technology, but the concept of resurrection through the Sanctums subverted his viewpoint in life. If there were no expectations, he would not care, but now knowing that his own life could be continuously prolonged, he found it difficult to tolerate the continued existence of such a threat.
This was just considering from his own point of view. From an overall point, in the long run, the Felon technology would not be conducive to the Association’s control and maintenance of the Sanctum’s ability to resurrect or to the members’ unity. Kasuyi was already able to guess several bad circumstances that could happen in the future. Now it seemed that Manison’s path was absolutely unworkable.
It was foreseeable that, once Black Star managed to develop the ability to resurrect people from the Sanctums, the Mechanic Emperor, who had mastered the Felon technology would inevitably become the target of public criticism. Who would wish to resurrect a Beyond Grade A that knew the Felon technology? By that time, maybe even death would become a luxury for him. If most of the Beyond Grade As went to the extreme, they might work together to send him into the Spacetime Amber to prevent Manison from being resurrected by the three Universal Civilizations to squeeze out his Felon technology.
Kasuyi still had some measure of friendship toward Manison; he did not wish to see him fall into such a desperate state. It could be said that this was for the good of Manison. It was just that only he was aware of the severity. Before Black Star finished his research, the information on the Sanctums could not be disclosed to anyone. As for whether Manison would listen or not, that was his problem. Anyways, Kasuyi felt that he had already shown his brotherhood.
Without Han Xiao fanning the flames, the meeting continued normally, but everyone present was absent-minded, their eyes constantly switching between Han Xiao and Kasuyi with different thoughts on what Han Xiao had actually offered to Kasuyi.
Sorokin was also quietly looking at the duo, feeling envious and jealous.
Kasuyi has also been roped in. Black Star’s influence in the Association is getting larger… He had always remembered the threat of Black Star having seen through his identity. To have his weakness in the hands of others, while he had always wanted to silence him, he feared the repercussions of his actions. Sorokin was reluctant to leave this shell of his.
According to Sorokin’s calculations, the best solution was naturally to use other Beyond Grade As to kill off Black Star while he stayed out of the matter. However, with Black Star’s social circle expanding, he had more friends than enemies, which meant there were fewer candidates for Sorokin to utilize.
There were only so many pinnacle-level Beyond Grade As in the universe. Every friend that Black Star made meant one less potential helper.
“Could it be that I’ll have to be eaten to death by him like this? If I can discover other variables…”
Sorokin’s eyes flashed with darkness.
A few hours passed. The regular meeting ended smoothly, and everyone left with their own thoughts. Kasuyi disconnected the projection link. At this time, his communicator rang, and not surprisingly, it was Manison calling.
He could only sigh, picking up the call and calmly speaking
“What have you called for?”
“Kasuyi, what’s happening between you and Black Star? Does he have a bargaining chip in his hands?” Manison cut to the chase, asking about the meeting incident.
“…Nothing happened.”
Manison frowned before continuing. “You went missing for a few months. Was it because you went with Black Star? What did you encounter?”
“What has it got to do with you?” Kasuyi indifferently replied.
Hearing this, Manison’s expression changed.
He was admitting to it, but from his tone, it was obvious that he was not willing to reveal any intelligence related to Black Star.
It seemed like he had guessed wrongly. Kasuyi was really supporting Black Star, and their relationship had improved by leaps and bounds in the past few months, to the point he was willing to offend Manison for the sake of Black Star.
Manison felt the indifference and estrangement Kasuyi was exuding, and it made him uncomfortable.
This sort of feeling was like having a close companion being pried away by an opponent. The heartache of betrayal. He felt that his social circle was being invaded by Black Star. Everything that once belonged to him was gradually disappearing.
At this moment, Kasuyi said, “Is there anything else? If there’s nothing, I’ll end the call. I’m pretty busy right now.”
Even if this was a private conversion, he was reluctant to engage in any conversation that could cause any leaks. He could only try to chase Manison away.
“Understood.” Manison was silent for a few seconds, suppressing his disappointment before actively disconnecting
Kasuyi put down the communicator, his expression complex and a little sad.
During the Intelligent Plague, Manison had tried to go for wool but ended up shorn, landing himself in trouble. This caused Kasuyi to change the candidate choice from Manison to Black Star, which allowed such an opportunity to fall into Black Star’s hands. In Kasuyi’s eyes, Manison had chosen short-term gains over the bigger long-term gains. If he had not proceeded so rashly, Kasuyi felt that he would still have called upon Manison to team up. In this case, Manison would also have had a copy of the intelligence in his hands, and he would not be in the dark.
A pity, there were no ‘if’s in reality. “It’s all fate. If I had teamed up with you, then you would be the one with the intelligence advantage now…” Kasuyi shook his head, feeling sorry for Manison.
The undercurrent of the Beyond Grade A Association did not affect the activities of the players. A few days later, the fourth Pro League finals unfolded.
Ratings on the forums broke through all records. If Rivervale carried all the hopes of the Chinese players, then Thunderbolt Python carried the hope of all foreign clubs. Only they could prevent China from establishing a record three version winning reign.
Under the attention of the public, both sides were evenly matched in the first match. While Rivervale was stable, they were hit by the secret tactics that Thunderbolt Python had been hiding up till now. They suffered a loss, losing the first round to Thunderbolt Python, which raised the blood pressure of the Chinese players.
However, in the second and third rounds, Rivervale withstood the pressure and played steadily under the leadership of Frenzied Sword. While there were few exaggerated maneuvers, the team relied on the endurance advantage of the Mechanic class to eke out a small advantage and win both games to take the match point
In the fourth round, Thunderbolt Python tried their hardest, playing cautiously, but they were beaten by Rivervale again and again. In the end, Rivervale won the round and the match, obtaining the championship. Ever since entering the quarter finals, Rivervale’s record of their matches had mostly been a 3:1 victory. The stability of the Mechanic department was fully demonstrated by them, strong with few shortcomings. Under the gazes of countless spectators, the last player of Thunderbolt Python fell in the ring
The sound of the body falling resounded in the hearts of all the viewers like a drum. It was akin to a signal that announced the birth of China’s reign of three consecutive victories!
The moment Rivervale defeated Thunderbolt Python, the Chinese players went straight into the forums to vent their inner ecstasy and excitement.
“Congratulations, Rivervale! Congratulations, China!”
“Three consecutive championships, what a lad!”
“Hahaha, continue to harass us. We’ll still win!”
“Congratulations to North America for being Runner-ups! XP”
Ever since the preliminary rounds, the Chinese players had been suffocating. Their teams had constantly been targeted, but now they finally exhaled and vented their indignation. Starting from the second Pro League, Long Sky, Dynasty, and now Rivervale had each brought a championship trophy to China. As the saying went, good things would not go beyond three generations. Three consecutive champions, in the eyes of the players, meant that their achievements were truly remarkable and glorious.
The official staff of the Rivervale club quickly posted an announcement after their team won the championship. In just three minutes, the number of replies to the post broke through a million, all of which were congratulatory notes. With their popularity, they instantly rose to the top of the ‘Trending Posts’ list.
The congratulatory messages were not limited to the Chinese players. They also attracted a large wave of foreign fans. Among the players all over the world, there were many spectators who had been supporting the team’s achievements regardless of nationality.
While China was busy celebrating, the foreign teams were feeling uncomfortable. They had failed in their targeting, and the teams that had participated met with a lot of cynicism, loss, and helplessness.
We’ve exhausted all means, but we failed to stop China from obtaining the championship. What else can we do? We can only accept reality.
In his office, Han Xiao could not help but smile as he read through the forums.
“Three consecutive championships… truly a feat.”
No country in his previous life had achieved such a reign. Even the most dominant North America in his previous life had only won three separate championship titles. Now, with his own influence, the Chinese team, which had struggled in his past life, had achieved a good record and become a hegemon. He also felt some pride.
As the main faction of the Chinese players, the benefits were naturally obvious. It was foreseeable that the attractiveness of his faction would increase once more, which would be extremely beneficial to his own plans. In the next version, the success rate of other factions trying to poach his members will decrease even further.
Han Xiao was naturally happy, and he suddenly recalled his original plans during the national war.
“Oh, now is the best time to send the rewards…”
Because the Golden Alliance had won the national war, Han Xiao thus decided to purchase Planet Milton, which was the main battlefield and give it to the Golden Alliance as a reward. Now was the opportune moment.
While the three Universal Civilizations were still at war with the Super Star Cluster Alliance and could not confirm the ownership of Planet Milton, it did not prevent him from releasing the news to the outside world. Just based on the status of the Black Star Army, no matter which organization obtained Planet Milton in the end, they would not prevent such a small business from happening. This way, it would be equivalent to him placing a bid on Planet Milton.
For the next ten days after Rivervale won the championship, the forums were still as bustling as ever. During this period, the Galaxy Times also stepped up its production, producing a new program. The past three champion teams of Rivervale, Dynasty, and Long Sky were invited as guests, giving rise to an unprecedentedly grand occasion.
Han Xiao was also watching, his screen constantly being barraged with bullet comments. Two hosts, a man and woman, were seated on one side. The team players, headed by Frenzied Sword, King Admiral, and Hao Tian, were seated on the other. The interview had already begun.
“… Since the first Pro League, we’ve witnessed the rise of Rivervale step by step. The team has continued to mature, and after four versions, you’ve finally won the highest honor. Captain Frenzied Sword, any thoughts?” the female host asked.
Frenzied Sword carried a proud smile on his face as he said, “First of all, I would like to thank the club for investing in me. After the first Pro League, Rivervale decided to rebuild the team up from scratch, and they gave me a lot of authority. It can be said that without their support, there would not be the present me. Next, I would like to thank my teammate. Everyone put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to achieve the current results. Without our tacit cooperation, we would not have today’s glory.
“Next, I would like to thank Dynasty, Long Sky, and the other Chinese teams. Without their efforts in the previous two leagues, we would not have been able to obtain the honor of having three consecutive championships. This is the result of the hard work of all the Chinese teams. Everyone has won glory for the country.
“Lastly, I would like to thank the Black Star Army. Though a bit strange, if I were to be honest, I feel that the Black Star Army has played an irreplaceable role in the course of our championship titles. It might even be one of the main factors.”
The male host nodded. “There are indeed such sayings on the internet. Many people think that the achievements of China’s three consecutive championships is inseparable from the unique faction benefits offered, which means that there is a factor of luck involved. Do you feel the same?”
Frenzied Sword spoke in agreement. “I would think so. The players who have experienced four versions like me will understand. The Black Star Army started off small in its early stages. It was us who painstakingly built it up from scratch, which has brought us long-term gains. “Being able to join such a promising faction at the very beginning is part of our luck, and it does indeed provide a lot of convenience. There’s no need to deny this… Of course, the team’s contribution is also equally important. Those who wish to get work done must first sharpen their weapons. In this respect, our faction allowed us to develop well, and we used these resources to give a glorious answer sheet.”
Hao Tian added, “Frenzied Sword is right. The Black Star Army does have a part in the honor of our three consecutive championships.”
In Version 1.0, he was one of the ‘four pillars’ under Han Xiao, so he naturally agreed with Frenzied Sword.
To mention an NPC faction during a championship interview seemed a little weird, but most players in the Chinese teams would not feel that way. After four versions, the Black Star Army had given them a strong sense of belonging, making them feel like they were part of a larger family. Seeing that the topic had reached this point, the female host turned over her card as she said, “Speaking about the Black Star Army, just a few days ago, Black Star himself publicly stated that he would buy the Planet Milton and give it to the subsidiary Golden Alliance as their base. This has aroused a lot of conversation. What do you think of this?”
Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Maple Moon. She was, after all, the recognized plot digger among the professional players, and everyone felt that her answer would be more reliable.
Maple Moon thought for a bit before answering. “I feel that, although the behavior of our Army Commander was a little sudden, it’s not at all surprising if you think carefully about it. You have to remember that during the national war, there were quite a few NPC spaceships from the various organizations watching us on Planet Milton. With our existence in the universe, it is impossible for Black Star not to pay attention to our national war.
“While the NPCs do not know what we’re doing, they can also make basic judgments. From the perspective of the Army Commander… I think that while he might not understand why we are fighting, in his eyes, it is likely to be a conflict between us Immortals. He didn’t want to manage this, but because the Golden Alliance is under his command, and there were also teams that were subsidiaries of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, there was an environment of faction conflict.
“Therefore, when he saw his affiliated organizations defeating all the other enemies, he might have been pleased. Then when he saw us staying in the battlefield of Planet Milton and establishing a player Main City, he might have thought that we were reluctant to leave this place, so he generously decided to purchase it to reward his subordinates.”
After Maple Moon’s analysis, many of the viewers suddenly realized that the cause and effect were quite clear, and the screen immediately flooded with a barrage of comments.
“Indeed, a professional player good at digging out plots. This idea is actually pretty clear. I can understand it immediately.”
“What do we need to analyze anyways? All we need to do is scream ‘Army Commander, you’re impressive, awesome’!”
“Even when fighting a national war, our faction still gives us benefits. Only the Black Star Army have such good treatment, right? This is too good!”
The national war was a player’s spontaneous activity, so there was originally no reward. However, because of Black Star’s generosity, they now had something to celebrate.
Moreover, even if the guild alliances of the other factions won the national war, they probably would not get such benefits. Only the players of the Black Star Army would have such treatment. Was this not too fortunate?
The eyes of the guilds in the other factions were all green with envy. Seeing this, Han Xiao laughed in satisfaction. He liked this sort of player with an excellent brain who gave his army a sense of existence. The two hosts asked many questions, giving the players of the three teams much free room to talk. The interview ended in a happy atmosphere before entering the last link of the program, reviewing the course of this version and predicting the next version’s start point.
The male host slowly said, “Version 4.0, we’ve witnessed many historical events, such as the establishment of the Beyond Grade A Association, Black Star’s Godlike Battle, the Intelligent Plague outbreak, Black Star being awarded the Galaxy Medal and being hired as a special consultant by the three Universal Civilizations. There were also conflicts between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance, the Black Star Cup, and the participation of the Flickering World war… There were so many achievements…”
Many of the viewers were wrapped up in their memories, recalling the rich experiences from the past few years.
The hostess then added, “We’ve experienced a lot in Version 4.0. The opening of the World Server has given this version a special meaning, but the universe is still under turmoil. It’s difficult to predict what will happen in Version 5.0, so we can only make an educated guess based on existing intelligence.
“Right now, it’s the early stages of the Flickering World War. We don’t know how many years will pass between Version 4.0 and 5.0. In our opinion, the next version will likely be at the end of the war, letting us participate in the final decisive battle. It will likely be a time skip of more than ten years…”
Hearing the hypothesis of the Galaxy Times, Han Xiao shook his head. “They’re wrong this time.”
From the viewpoint of the players, the Flickering World War was akin to the Crimson Tide. They thought it would be a multi-version timeline, but they did not think that the Main Storyline of Version 5.0 would be the Calamity of the Supers. In the past, players were also involved in the conflict in such a confused manner.
But it was no wonder they would think this way. The players were currently not at a high level, so there was no way to obtain too many clues. There were also sudden factors involved in the Calamity of the Supers, which basically no one could predict.
Now that there was a butterfly effect at play, the trend for Version 5.0 would be even more confusing. Even Han Xiao himself could not accurately predict what would happen, let alone the players.
While thinking about it, Han Xiao flicked his finger across the edge of the desk, and the blue virtual screen popped out. He glanced at the date on the upper right corner before exhaling.
“Only twenty-seven days left before the game will undergo an update. Version 4.0 is ending…”
Nearly a month later, it was the day when the version would be updated. There was a sea of people in Black Star Palace’s lobby. Countless players gathered there, chatting in twos and threes as they waited to go offline.
Bun-Hit-Dog wandered through the crowd, turning on his recording function as he enthusiastically took pictures of the scene in the hall as an assistant followed him.
In Version 4.0, Bun-Hit-Dog’s business had made significant progress, becoming an important co-reporter of the club, so he founded a studio. He no longer single-handedly edited videos, instead recruiting some employees to be responsible for all aspects of affairs. The most important task was to help him collect material. These employees all have their own work accounts. Their IDs were prefixed with the studio’s name. This assistant beside him had the ID of ‘Bun-Hit-Dog: Little Wheat’. At first glance, he looked like a happy little fat man.
“Boss, why are we shooting in the base? Can this even be used as material?” Little Wheat was curious.
“Are you stupid? Who knows what the army will become in the next version? If there are changes in the future, all of this would become historical data. It’s completely possible to produce a nostalgic video!” Bun-Hit-Dog instructed.
“Boss, you really have foresight!” Little Wheat gave a thumbs up.
“Humph, your business opportunity level needs to be improved. Take a good look and study hard.” Bun-Hit-Dog grunted.
Not far from the two of them, a group of professional players formed a circle, having a discussion.
“I’m going to retire,” King Admiral said, which immediately drew everyone’s surprise.
Frenzied Sword had always treated King Admiral as his idol, and he replied in disbelief, “We’ve just won three consecutive championships. Why are you retiring?”
“That’s right. Right now, China is at its peak,” someone added.
“Haha, it’s precisely because we’ve won three consecutive championships that I can retire with peace of mind. I originally had this idea after getting champion the last version, but I stayed on because I wanted to achieve it again with Dynasty.” He thoughtfully waved his hand. “I’m not young anymore, and I can feel my performance beginning to decline. Now is the right time for me to retire. My application for retirement has also been handed over to the club’s superiors, and they respect my choice. In the future, it will be Second Prince who leads as the captain of Dynasty. I have to give others a chance.” Hearing this, everyone turned to Second Prince.
Second Prince had always wished to suppress King Admiral and steal his position of Captain. However, now that his wish was coming true, he surprisingly did not reveal any happiness. He was silent and depressed.
King Admiral glanced at him before smiling. “Didn’t you always want the Captain’s seat? Now you’ve got it, why are you not happy?”
Second Prince moved the corners of his mouth, showing a wretched smile. “Nonsense, I’m obviously very happy. I finally chased you away, haha.”
Everyone present shook their head. They could tell that Second Prince was being insincere. He was obviously sad and disappointed, but he was still stubborn to the very end.
Ever since entering the team, Second Prince had been competing with King Admiral on the field. While he liked to trash talk, he had always treated King Admiral as his best buddy in his heart. He had a competitive nature and hoped to surpass King Admiral, not to obtain the Captain’s position in this manner.
Upon thinking that he would never be able to fight with King Admiral side by side in the future, Second Prince felt an empty spot in his heart.
“Relax. Although I’m retiring, I’ll still be working in the club. I’ll likely take on the position of coach.” King Admiral patted Second Prince’s shoulder as he smiled. “As such… this means that I’m still above you. You don’t need to miss me.”
While he did not say it directly, the implied meaning was there.
A younger brother will always be one. You want to step over me? Dream on!
Second Prince changed his face faster than an opera face-changer did as he barked out, “Who’s missing you? Hurry and resign and get lost. You irritate me!”
Everyone immediately withdrew their gazes, unable to bear this ‘tsundere’ moment.
“Speaking of retiring, I also have similar thoughts.” Long Sky’s Sleepy Winter sighed. “I should be the oldest player here, and I have almost reached my limits. Now is the best time to retire, since we’ve already achieved something big. I feel that it’s time to allow the newcomers to step up. Isn’t Rivervale doing well as a newcomer superstar?”
“We’re only so-so. That’s right. Since we won this time, it’s our turn to treat everyone.” Frenzied Sword scratched his head in embarrassment.
The group of professional players were there to discuss their respective careers. Li Ge was secretly happy, wishing that all of his competitors would retire. He seemed to foresee the rise of his Temple of God.
Time passed slowly, but it did not take long to finally arrive at the time for the Version update. White lights flashed as the players went offline one after another. The hall of the base suddenly became desolate.
Version 4.0 update initiated.
Saving data… Saving completed!
Player forums closed. Update Duration: Unknown. Please wait patiently.
In his personal machinery factory, Han Xiao withdrew his gaze from the surveillance of the main hall of the base, calling up the interface to take a look.
“The players have gone offline.”
Han Xiao sighed, quickly adjusting his mentality. This time, it would take much longer for his farm to harvest, so he had to properly fertilize his land beforehand.
The fourth Pro League had brought him another wave of experience at the end of this version, but his reserves were still quite lacking. His current experience upgrade cost was too huge, such that it was crippling even with the massive amount of experience the Celestial Star Alliance storyline had given him. In this version update, Han Xiao decided to first focus on the God’s Trait Transformation
– Machinery, raising it to the max before moving onto his Void Branch.
The God’s Trait Transformation had changed on the tenth layer, adding prerequisite missions. The Mission Completion Card was tested to be effective, so Han Xiao planned to do more missions with random rewards during the Version update to obtain more Mission Completion Cards. This could save him a lot of God’s Trait Transformation points.
The main source of God’s Trait Transformation points was in creating Gold Grade equipment from blueprints. There were many Gold grade blueprints in the inheritance left by Jayz, which was a large source of points for himself. Han Xiao decided to first study that technological information.
With this technical inheritance, there was no longer a need to go to the three Universal Civilizations to acquire blueprints, and there was no need to perform missions for Contribution Points. This saved a lot of time and energy, also allowing the three Universal Civilizations to misjudge his technical background, thinking that he did not have many Gold-grade blueprints. This was killing many birds with a stone.
“In the next few decades, there’ll be another batch of new Beyond Grade As. I wonder how many of those under me will be promoted…”
Han Xiao stroked his chin.
In his eyes, the officers who had a chance of promotion would be Aurora, Feidin, Hadavy, Jotina, Lothaire, and Lagi.
Among them, Aurora had no bottleneck to speak of. It was just that her normal development was slow. However, with the Holy Light Seed as a leek field, it would greatly accelerate her development process. For Feidin and Lothaire, they were just that talented, with the possibility of a breakthrough. As for Hadavy, Jotina, and Lagi, they all had deep accumulations, which granted them a chance to grow further.
Evans’ training career was still too short, and a few decades would not be enough for him to grow. The ‘New EsGod Cultivation Program’ would take some time.
As for Karlot, he belonged to the late bloomer type, and this timing was far from the peak of his previous life. However, because of Han Xiao’s own influence, his maturity might have some changes.
“It’s still more reliable to focus on cultivating Aurora, allowing her to reach Beyond Grade A so that the spirit of Germinal will resurface in
US…”
Han Xiao sneered in his mind.
Within a certain base of the Holy Accord, a secret hall had been redesigned as a huge laboratory. In the center of the room was a circular mechanical base with a diameter of about fifty meters. It was covered in complex patterns, energy transmission pipes, and magic circuits. At first glance, it looked like some sort of ceremonial venue.
In its surroundings, many members of the Holy Accord Organization wearing white lab coats were intensively debugging the various instruments. Law and Fay were present to supervise.
“How much longer till the agreed period?”
“There are three minutes left to enter the preset time range. The receiving device has been warmed up and can be activated at any time.”
“The Information Form stabilizer has also been set up. All procedures are ready.” Looking at the time, Law had a solemn expression, his palms full of sweat.
It was the day of appointment confirmed by Destiny’s Child. According to the information passed down by the organization, the flow of spacetime within the Sanctums was special, only briefly coinciding with the main universe at random points. If the time node was missed, it would take a long time. The layout of the current venue was just to allow Oathkeeper to return, and everyone present was testing this out for the first time, not knowing how effective it would be.
Everyone’s spirits were taut as the time ticked by every minute. It finally arrived at the determined time node.
“Begin!” Law immediately shouted.
The next moment, all the instruments were activated in sequence. The circular mechanical base in the center of the room came to life, and the energy loops on its surface lit up in sequence from bottom to top.
Ohm!
A loud noise sounded in the room, as the space above the pedestal produced a distortion visible to the naked eye. This continued on for more than ten seconds before a gate of light appeared in the sky, spitting out a figure before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Everyone hurriedly looked up, their faces overjoyed. On the ground was Oathkeeper, who had been missing for many days.
Law and Fay rushed up to help Oathkeeper, only to see him in a daze, as though he had just woken up.
“Leader, you’re finally back. How do you feel?”
Oathkeeper looked at the two with a dazed expression, only remembering his identity after a while. His eyes gradually focused, and he slowly recovered, covering his forehead as he mumbled, “It feels like I’ve had a long dream. There’s a strong sense of illusion within the Sanctums, just like being in a dream. I’ve discovered many amazing secrets, but only a small part of the fragmented information remains in my memory. Let me sort it out…”
He clutched his forehead as he struggled to recall what he had seen in the Sanctums. He vaguely remembered the shock that permeated his soul, but the relevant memory had faded quickly, leaving only fragments in his mind.
After a long period of time, Oathkeeper gradually restored the information he obtained, and a look of horror flashed across his face.
Fay noticed the shocked emotions on Oathkeeper’s face and asked, “Have you recalled something?”
“… No, I cannot.”
Oathkeeper took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions.
The Great Reboot, Universe Iterations, the function of the Sanctums… all of this information flashed through his brain. All of this knowledge subverted his worldview, and he intended to keep it a secret, not prepared to share any of the information he discovered in the Sanctums.
Throughout the universe, I should be the only one who has obtained this information at the moment. Its value is immeasurable, akin to the advantage of prophecy. The future course has to be drastically altered…
This thought flashed past his mind.
At this moment, Law surveyed the surroundings, and not seeing anyone else, he asked, “Leader, did our plan succeed? Have you resurrected them?”
Hearing this, Oathkeeper seemed to recall something. Turning his hand, he discovered a peculiar golden imprint on the back of his hand. In his remaining memories, this was a one-time use Sanctum imprint, which would allow him to resuscitate the historical Beyond Grade As using the Sanctum as a medium. “It should have succeeded…” Oathkeeper paused, surveying his surroundings before raising his tone. “Empty the venue immediately and follow me to welcome the return of the Primordial Ones!”
1211 Revived Primordial Ones
Several Holy Accord spaceships were suspended in the planet’s orbit. Law and Fay were heading a group of technicians to manipulate various detection instruments. The monitor was aimed at the surface of the planet, showing Oathkeeper standing in the center of the picture.
Amid the sandy yellow desert, Oathkeeper glanced at the Sanctum Resurrection Brand on the back of his hand as he took out a palm-sized, disc-shaped device with the other.
The fragmented memories in his mind showed that this brand was more like fuel. In order to activate its function, he needed to prepare a switch, a device capable of converting Information Forms. If there was no technology in the area, then this brand would only be ornamental.
This disc in his hand was part of the Holy Accord’s Esper Ability technology. Researchers had developed an information state disturbance device through analysis and research on Destiny’s Child. This was not black technology but rather a by-product that was accidentally made. It was just a coincidence that it could act as a switch for the Sanctum resurrection.
Oathkeeper pressed the button, and the disc began to buzz. The next moment, as though hot oil was being poured on cold water, a fierce reaction took place.
The Sanctum brand suddenly shone, separating from the back of Oathkeeper’s hand before turning into a dazzling ball of white light, quickly expanding to cover a large area in front of Oathkeeper.
The surrounding energy fluctuations spiked, and Oathkeeper subconsciously took two steps back. At this time, the technician in the spaceship exclaimed in the communication channel.
“The reading of the information state disturbance has broken through all historical records! Oh my god, it’s still skyrocketing!”
“An abnormal phenomenon has been detected, being matched to relevant records in the database… Suspected to be an [Information Form Projection] or [Reality Distortion]!”
“Warning! Time and space coefficients in this area are rapidly declining in stability. There is a cosmic energy surge, but there seems to be some kind of force to constrain the fluctuations here without spreading!”
Oathkeeper was vigilantly staring at the light cluster in front of him, his body tense and prepared for a quick response.
After a period of time, the light clusters transformed from the Sanctum Resurrection brand split and turned into luminous individuals with different shapes. At the same time, the light slowly faded, and the individuals turned from virtual to real, forming many different biological entities.
Seeing this, the noisy communication channel suddenly ground to a halt.
Including Oathkeeper, every member of the Holy Accord held their breath, their eyes filled with incredible and ecstatic looks.
Those people were exactly the characters that were recorded in their minds.
Each of them was actually one of the Primordial Ones, with known names and identities!
“Success!”
Law and Fay were overjoyed, while the technicians embraced and cheered each other.
Many of them were the descendants of the Primordial Ones, so seeing that their ancestors had been revived, how could they not be happy?
At this moment, these Revivors recovered their wits, surveying their surroundings.
“Where are we?”
“Why am I here? Shouldn’t I be at war?”
“Eh, aren’t you already dead? I was the one who even scattered your ashes. Don’t tell me you faked your death…”
After clearly seeing the people around them, some of whom were even opponents who had faced each other on the battlefield, many of the Primordial Ones rushed to distance themselves, vigilant and confused.
The Beyond Grade As that were resurrected in the Sanctum only retained the memories of their past, at the final moments of their deaths. To them, it was as though they had woken up after a sleep, and they hardly felt the passing of time.
At this time, Oathkeeper walked over, immediately attracting the attention of everyone. Many of the Primordial Ones were shocked, only now realizing that there was one more person at the scene.
They all watched as Oathkeeper slowly lowered his hood, revealing his face as he spoke in a tone full of complex emotions.
“I have accomplished the original Oath. Congratulations on your rebirth.”
After seeing his appearance clearly, the many Primordial Ones were stunned. They all recognized Oathkeeper.
“It’s actually you!”
“Our original idea actually came true‽”
“We have been resurrected?”
Everyone was stunned. Shock, ecstasy, and disbelief covered their faces.
The objects to be resurrected by the Sanctum required a corresponding medium. Thus, the people chosen in the first batch by Oathkeeper were all the original founders of the Holy Accord, which were only a portion of the Primordial Ones.
These people served different civilizations during the exploration era, thus engaging in endless killing because of their factions. However, they formed secret associations in private, striving for a common goal.
But as the exploration era war continued, the Primordial Ones died one after another, reducing the number of members in the Holy Accord. The Holy Accord Organization at the end of the exploration era thus became almost an organization in name, left without hope, but never did anyone think that their originally envisaged road would finally come true!
“What did you do‽”
Everyone was curious, coming up to ask.
“During that time…” Oathkeeper slowly let out a breath, recounting his experiences in the years after.
At the time when only he remained in the Holy Accord Organization after the exploration era, he took a low-key approach, no longer participating in any events, only devoting himself to the development of the organization, gradually restoring the dying Holy Accord. The vitality had grown to the scale it is today, and they had always regarded the original Oath taken as the purpose of the organization.
While Oathkeeper casually spoke, everyone could understand the difficulty involved. This operation had gone against the currents and saved them all.
This spirit of living up to one’s words really deserved to be praised.
For a while, most of the people in the field were moved, patting Oathkeeper on the shoulder again and again with gratitude.
“Good work. Thank you.”
“It was nothing. I was just abiding by the original Oath.” Oathkeeper waved his hands, donning his hood once again.
“How did you revive us though? Is it really the effect of the Sanctums?”
“Not really. Luck took up a majority of it, and this method may also only work once…” Oathkeeper narrowed his eyes and spoke, not revealing the true mechanism of the Sanctums.
Everyone had some doubts about this statement, but their level of suspicion was not high. After all, they were still impressed by Oathkeeper.
The most important thing was that there was no way they could identify it, as only Oathkeeper had been to the Sanctums, so no one could not refute this.
After a while, the emotions of most of the Primordial Ones had calmed down. Various questions rose up in their minds.
“What year is it now? What happened to the exploration era war?” someone asked.
Oathkeeper sighed.
“The exploration era war has long ended. The Federation of Light, the Crimson Dynasty, and Arcane Church are now the hegemons of the universe. You’ve lost touch with the times and need to catch up on information.”
Hearing this, everyone nodded, feeling an itch in their hearts, as though they could not wait to understand the modern universe.
At this moment, a tall figure who had always been standing quietly by the side suddenly spoke.
“Does my civilization still exist?”
Everyone turned over and their expressions changed. They recognized this person, the [King of War] Pangon Filet, a well-known war addict.
Following this question, everyone became aware of some thorny problems. Their original excitement turned stale as the atmosphere became more tense.
Their primary goal was to revive themselves in the future, but everyone’s goal of resurrection was not the same. Some just wished to escape the war, while some wanted to achieve their ambitions. Others wished to live forever.
There were some people whose civilizations were destroyed in the exploration era. Would they want revenge? Some people belonged to the current advanced civilizations in the universe today. Would you then return? These were all issues left over from history.
When the common goal of resurrection was achieved, people would then lose the basis of their unity, destined to part ways.
After understanding this, everyone’s position slowly changed, shifting into various factions as they guarded against each other.
Oathkeeper was not surprised at all. He had long anticipated this and did not try to force it. He just replied indifferently.
“As for the situation of the various civilizations, you can check the information for yourselves when the time comes. Anyway, I only brought all of you back to life to keep my Oath. I don’t care what you do, and I will not retaliate either, so long as you don’t betray the Accord… It’s just that you all still lack understanding of the current era. I recommend that you stay with me for now and learn about the situation.”
“Will do.” Pangon nodded.
Seeing this, no one voiced any disagreement. No matter what their relationship would become, at least, everyone right now was a founder of the Holy Accord, with many descendants in the organization.
Furthermore, they had just resurrected and were no doubt weak. It seemed like their strength had declined, so they restrained themselves at this moment, unwilling to cause trouble.
One of the Primordial Ones addressed Oathkeeper. “What about you? Since you’ve revived us, what do you intend to do in the future?”
“The Holy Accord is the result of my efforts. I’ll continue to develop it. If there’s anyone that is willing to stay and help, that would be good, but I will not force you… Right now, our advantage lies in the fact that we’re hidden. None of the Universal Civilizations have any data on us. As long as we don’t reveal ourselves, it’s easy to live in freedom, without the control of any faction,” Oathkeeper calmly replied.
“Other than us, there’s no one that knows of our resurrection?” Another asked.
Oathkeeper was about to reply when a figure flashed past in his mind.
His expression changed, and he hesitated a while before answering dully. “No, there’s someone who knows.”
Everyone was shocked.
“Who is it‽”
Oathkeeper helplessly answered, “His nickname is Black Star, a Beyond Grade A. He’s only been around for a few decades, but his power and influence are top notch in this era. I’m not sure where he heard of my goals. Maybe the organization has a traitor.”
“It’s a newcomer.”
Most of the Primordial Ones had never heard of Han Xiao’s name and did not pay too much attention. As the first batch of characters to be promoted to Beyond Grade A, they were naturally arrogant.
Oathkeeper explained, “However, Black Star has no malicious thoughts, and I even made a few deals with him. He could be considered our ally at the moment, and he has also provided help for us to complete the resurrection.”
“So, I guess we owe him one. It seems like this little kid’s pretty good.” Everyone nodded.
While they had never met, this younger generation named Black Star was technically their savior, so they had some positive feelings for him.
“… Thus, I plan to explain the resurrection to Black Star and seek his help. Right now, among the Beyond Grade A, there are few people who have the same influence as him. Since he’s friendly toward us, the resources in his hands can also provide a lot of help to us.”
Oathkeeper explained as he schemed in his heart.
He had already concealed the mechanism behind the Sanctums, and now he had a new idea, which was to use this method to recover more Beyond Grade As, thoroughly mastering this channel. He could see the significance of this to the Beyond Grade As.
He could use the cooperation with Black Star on the premise of occupying the advantage of intelligence. While it was put as cooperation, in Oathkeeper’s eyes, he was just using Black Star’s resources. After all, Black Star did not understand the importance of the Sanctums. Therefore, he could fool the other party into thinking it was a one-off thing.
Before entering the Sanctums himself, Black Star would always be hidden from the truth.
Oathkeeper estimated that this method could fool Black Star for a long time. The Holy Accord had prepared for many years before entering the Sanctum, so in his opinion, even if Black Star was powerful, it was not a place that one could casually enter.
He had agreed to tell Black Star about the news of the Sanctums, but that was limited to the information his organization had previously, not about his own experience in the Sanctums. Oathkeeper did not intend to violate the transaction, but he did not mind telling Black Star half-truths either.
He did not have any negativity toward Han Xiao, but he had always been on the passive side due to the ‘traitor’. He did not know how much intelligence Han Xiao had obtained, which made him depressed.
Right now, he finally got some exclusive information of inestimable value, so naturally, he chose to conceal it.
The resurrection plan has succeeded. It’s time to talk to Black Star. I have to hold him so he would divulge the news…
A light flashed through Oathkeeper’s eyes.
1212 Oathkeeper: I“m Stunned!
_____________________
The mission [Return to the Historic Stage] has been completed!
You have received 1 Legendary Point.
Legendary Point: [The Awakener of the Primordial Ones]—Because of the activities organized by the Holy Accord, a group of Primordial Ones have been resurrected from death. You secretly helped with this, and you are one of the leaders behind the return of the Primordial Ones. Your behavior is likely to have a profound impact on the entire universe.
+25 Beiger Kellarmir Favorability
+25 Tripp Sunstrider Favorability
…
+25 Pangon Filet Favorability
_____________________
In his personal machinery factory, Han Xiao, who was buried in research, suddenly received a huge information dump from his interface, causing his expression to light up.
“The mission has been completed. Does it mean that Oathkeeper has succeeded?”
At this time, it was only a few hours after the players had gone offline. Han Xiao did not expect to obtain such good news right off the bat.
Oathkeeper had finally shown a response after losing contact in the Sanctums.
The mission reward for [Return to the Historic Stage] included one Legendary Point and twenty-five points of Favorability for all the resurrected Beyond Grade As.
Looking through the list, Han Xiao discovered the names of all these people were astonishing, easily identifiable through the internet.
“People such as [King of War] Pangon, [Mage God] Beiger, [All-Knowing One] Tripp… all of them are famous Primordial Ones.”
As the first batch of people to achieve Beyond Grade A, the characteristic was that their nicknames were relatively fierce compared to his generation, who had been deprived of many of the good nicknames.
Han Xiao discovered another advantage to having this mission reward statement, which meant that he immediately knew who was resurrected.
A portion of them were exactly those that had appeared during the Calamity of the Supers, which meant that the Holy Accord had played a part at that time.
Han Xiao counted the names and suddenly scratched his head as he mumbled, “The numbers don’t seem to tally…”
He remembered that the past number of resurrected Beyond Grade As was far higher than the current number.
At present, the notifications he received about Favorability were all from Primordial Ones. In the previous World Tree War Version, the Holy Accord not only brought over resurrected Primordial Ones but also others from history.
What was the reason for the fewer number of people resurrected…
Han Xiao suddenly had a thought.
Jayz had revealed the mechanism of the Sanctum Revivals last time. With this important information, he finally understood why the trajectory behind the movements of the Holy Accord in his previous life.
The Holy Accord had revived a group of Primordial Ones before Version 5.0, but some of them should have had differences, so they parted ways and ran out to induce the Calamity of the Supers. However, they did not reveal the secret of the Holy Accord. The remaining Primordial Ones continued to linger inside the organization, under Oathkeeper’s leadership. It was likely that Oathkeeper discovered the secret behind the Sanctums, so he wished to grasp the lifeline of the Beyond Grade As and developed in secret.
During this period, the Holy Accord must have obtained news results, allowing them to revive more Beyond Grade As and used some method to persuade the rest to join in this plan, so the total number of resurrected this time was not the same as his previous life.
The Holy Accord thus developed silently like this until the World Tree version. It was only because they would be affected if the Universal Civilizations were destroyed that they exposed themselves and took part in the war, which shocked the explored universe.
“Oh, then it makes sense…”
In this manner, the nature of the Holy Accord in his previous life was similar to that of the Beyond Grade A Association today, with similar goals in preparing for the futures of the Beyond Grade As.
“I estimate that this should be the storyline in my previous life…”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
While it was just a guess, it felt that he was not far from the truth.
Oathkeeper already knew of the true mechanism behind the Sanctum Revivals, so he and Kasuyi were no longer the only insiders. The plan he had set might have to undergo some changes, reaching a deeper level of cooperation with the Holy Accord.
Among them, the attitude of Oathkeeper was important. Han Xiao had limited knowledge of him and thus did not know how he operated.
Right at this moment, Han Xiao’s vision was filled with black flames, and it condensed into a familiar figure.
Speak of the devil, I was still wondering when he would come knocking, but I didn’t expect him to be so quick… Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
Very quickly, Oathkeeper’s mental projection took shape, nodding at Han Xiao.
“We meet again, Black Star. I’ve returned from the Sanctum.”
“It seems like you are planning to fulfill our deal today.” Han Xiao’s eyes flashed, and he deliberately pretended, “Has the Sanctum Revival succeeded?”
Right now, he did not know how much intelligence Oathkeeper had gotten, so he did not wish to show off immediately. He planned to probe Oathkeeper with his words to see the knowledge of the other party.
“It has succeeded and was pretty smooth.” Oathkeeper nodded.
“Oh, I didn’t expect this idea to actually work. How many were revived?” Han Xiao put on an interested expression.
“Dozens,” Oathkeeper replied in a clipped tone. It was obvious he did not wish to reveal this intelligence to Han Xiao.
“Oh, the number is decent.” Han Xiao was naturally aware of the figures, so he did not feel curious when Oathkeeper did not want to mention it. He then changed the subject. “What’s it like in the Sanctum?”
Oathkeeper pondered for a while before replying in an uncertain tone.
“It seems like being in a dream, with foggy consciousness. I felt like I experienced many things, but it seemed at the same time only a moment had passed. The only clear impression I had was that I was within a boundless world with countless light clusters floating in my range of sight. Most of them would avoid me, as if there is some repulsive force in my body, but I can see different images within each light cluster…”
Hearing this, Han Xiao stroked his chin in deep thought.
Based on what Jayz mentioned, the light clusters could very well be Information Form entities that contained different contents. A light cluster could represent a civilization or a Beyond Grade A or even a period of history. Nothing was set in stone.
“Is there danger inside?”
“I doubt so…” Oathkeeper hesitated.
Han Xiao remained silent for a few more seconds before smiling. “Let’s talk about the resurrection method for the Beyond Grade As of the Sanctum first. We agreed in the beginning that you would reveal all related information the moment the plan is completed. You won’t go back on your words, right?”
“Of course not, our understanding of the Sanctums is like this…”
Oathkeeper inwardly exclaimed that his chance was finally here.
Based on his plan, he recounted the relevant information previously accumulated by the Holy Accord, but he did not correct his erroneous guesses and concealed the reproducibility of the Sanctum Revival, deliberately describing it as a one-off method.
His explanation was also very simple, deliberately distorting the concept that the resurrection was due to a projection of the Information Form, instead describing it as a ‘cutting out’ of the target information from the Sanctums, thus making it disappear. This categorized the Sanctum Revival as a one-time function.
Oathkeeper did not even disclose the source and purpose behind the Sanctums, leaving out information on the Universe Iteration and the Great Reboot, intending to make Han Xiao mistakenly believe that the Sanctums could only perform resurrections.
Oathkeeper babbled a lot of nonsense, which was totally different from what Jayz said. Han Xiao felt that something was wrong when he heard only half of it.
Their versions were totally different, so one of them had to be wrong. According to the situation of the Celestial Star Alliance and Jayz motives, the latter was more credible than Oathkeeper.
Thus, did Oathkeeper make a mistake himself, or was he lying?
Considering the behavior of the Holy Accord in his previous life, he was likely a scammer!
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, giving off a playful vibe.
He did not immediately refute but waited till Oathkeeper had finished speaking before he sighed and changed the conversation. “I’m curious, you just said that the existence of the Sanctum was related to the Information Form and that recovery is done through it. Does that mean that the Sanctums have recorded all Beyond Grade A information?”
“It should be the case…” Oathkeeper cautiously answered.
“Then I’m really confused. Why would the Sanctums store Beyond Grade A information?”
“Oh, I’m confused about that too.” Oathkeeper tried his best to control his tone.
Han Xiao pretended to think and frowned. “I feel that the Sanctum does not appear to be a natural phenomenon but likely a product of someone or some civilization. Its role should not remain at just resurrection Beyond Grade As… What do you think?”
“I don’t know about this either. This shouldn’t be made by a civilization. The three Universal Civilizations should not have such capabilities, and it would be even weirder if it was in the civilizations before. It should be some sort of Space Wonder…” Oathkeeper had no choice but to follow the conversation, secretly only inducing but not refuting directly lest he revealed flaws.
Hearing this, Han Xiao stroked his chin, pretending to seriously analyze the issue. He slowly said, “Let’s assume the Sanctum is a Space Wonder in the Information Form, with the function of recording the information of the Beyond Grade As… Then, when those Beyond Grade As are resurrected, will the information be refreshed? If that’s the case, while you might have clipped out the original record in the Sanctum, a new and updated copy would be placed within the Sanctums, so you still can clip off another copy when you next enter, right?”
“This…”
Oathkeeper was struck dumb. This analysis was justifiable, not allowing him to be able to explain.
If he objected, there was no basis since he had only been to the Sanctums once. This Black Star was truly a cunning fox and would immediately suspect him.
But if he did not object, he would make Black Star feel as though the Sanctum Revivals could be repeated indefinitely, which would run counter to his own intentions.
This annoying man was too difficult to fool!
After thinking about it for a while, Oathkeeper could not come out with a rebuttal, so he could only reply in the depressed tone. “I did not think that far.”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and spoke in a teasing tone. “So, you were lying to me just now. It seems like I need to re-evaluate our agreement.”
“Cough, cough, I really did not think of this possibility. How could I be lying to you?” Oathkeeper hurriedly defended himself.
“Hehe.” Han Xiao let out two mirthless laughs, putting his hands behind his back and walking around Oathkeeper before saying, “If I’m correct, those resurrected Primordial Ones have experienced a drop in strength and have also lost a few of their abilities, right?”
“That’s right, they… wait! How did you know‽”
Oathkeeper widened his eyes.
Only a few of these Beyond Grade As had discussed this in private, and those Primordial Ones would not have had contact with Black Star. In just dozens of minutes, how did Black Star learn about this?
“I know more than you think.” Han Xiao leisurely strolled as he continued. “I’m not sure if you have heard the terms ‘The Great Reboot’ and ‘Iteration’?”
Oathkeeper paled in horror, taking back two steps abruptly as he stared at Han Xiao in disbelief.
“How do you know of such things‽”
His entire being was dumbfounded, his mentality torn to shreds. He lost control of his ability for a moment, and the remote projection fluctuated violently as if he was about to disintegrate at any time.
Oathkeeper was once again mind blown!
Only he had entered the Sanctum this time, so there was no possibility of a traitor. How did Black Star know of all this?
Who betrayed me, or who did I betray?
Could it be that Black Star has placed eyes on me, allowing him to observe everything that I do‽
In that case… did I really betray myself‽
In his shock, Oathkeeper lost his wits and shuddered. Han Xiao’s image in his mind became even more mysterious and unpredictable, making him extremely awed.
How much did this fellow actually know? He even helped to analyze my bullsh*t just now. Turns out, he was just laughing at me!
As he admired Oathkeeper’s distraught look, Han Xiao dealt the finishing blow.
“I paid out in good faith, and I hoped that you would treat me honestly, but it seems like you don’t really treasure my friendship at all.”
He was actually unsure how much information Oathkeeper had, but he felt that everyone who entered the Sanctum would obtain the basic concept of the Iterations. This was just Han Xiao scamming him, but it had a miraculous effect in scaring the guy out of his mind and soul.
This is good. In this manner, the initiative is firmly held in my hands.
Han Xiao maintained his posture of being almighty, looking down at Oathkeeper.
“Why, you think I don’t know what you’re thinking? You intend to monopolize all the exclusive intelligence, so as to fleece me into giving you resources to aid your growth, right?”
Oathkeeper was shaken.
All his schemes were seen through by Black Star. At this moment, he felt as though he was naked in front of him, his secrets laid bare.
He had guessed the possibility of failing to scam Black Star, but he had never expected that Black Star would break him in this manner, directly smashing out all his hidden secrets and shattering all his lies.
At this moment, Oathkeeper stood there in a daze, only thinking of finding a hole and burying himself within.
1213 Intention to Cooperate
Oathkeeper was filled with question marks, finding it difficult to control the stormy waves of emotions.
He had not even gotten familiar with all the top-secret intelligence, and he had already heard it from a second person. It was just as though he had chatted with a random girl on a dating site last night, and his girlfriend called him the next hour to lash out at him.
Without any warning, his privacy was intruded, and this feeling gave him goosebumps.
Han Xiao held out his palm, interrupting his words. “I said before, I have my own sources. You only need to remember two things. First, I have far more intelligence than you. Second, our goals are roughly the same. As for the details… you don’t need to ask so much.”
Oathkeeper shut his mouth, his brain whirring as he tried to guess Han Xiao’s intelligence source.
Under the sudden mental impact, he had temporarily lost his senses. He had almost thought that the problem lay with himself, but after recovering his senses, his reasoning told him that this possibility was slim, and it was likely because of other reasons.
The Great Reboot and Iterations were top-secret information, only known to those who had been in contact with the Sanctums. The only more plausible reason he could come up with was that Black Star had interacted with the Sanctum under certain circumstances and thus had learned of this intelligence by chance.
Beyond Grade A Supers had a very low probability of coming into contact with the information generated by the Sanctums, thus obtaining random revelations. The earliest information about the Sanctums in the Holy Accord was obtained in this manner as well, which was the basis for the establishment of said organization.
But when Oathkeeper thought of the previous exchanges he had with Han Xiao, he felt that things might not be that simple. Black Star must have had some means that outsiders were not aware of.
He could not think of an explanation that could convince himself, so he felt that Han Xiao was veiled in mystery.
At this moment, Han Xiao put his hands behind his back, putting on a profound image. “Your little thoughts can’t be hidden from me. I don’t like others trying to fool me, and I hope this is the last time, otherwise… Since we’ve all laid our cards down, I think we can be more honest with each other.”
Oathkeeper could only reluctantly push down his inner turmoil and carefully ask, “How do you plan to go about it?”
“Firstly, I hope that you will tell me the actual intelligence. This is the basis for our mutual trust.” Han Xiao raised his eyebrows.
Hearing this, Oathkeeper struggled for a few seconds before speaking truthfully on the intelligence without tampering.
He knew that he had already lost the initiative. Black Star had likely acquired the most important secret, so it did not matter if he revealed it. He did not dare play tricks anymore.
Han Xiao patiently listened and smiled. “You know how to admit your wrongs. Not bad.”
This time, Oathkeeper’s recount was the same as Jayz, obediently telling him the true mechanism of the Sanctum.
Having finished speaking, Oathkeeper paused for a while before saying, “I’ve told you all that I know. Now that you know the true situation of the Sanctum Revival, you should also know what this means for the Beyond Grade As. You will not try to monopolize it, right?”
Han Xiao did not directly answer but changed the topic to ask, “Do you think that the Sanctum will be monopolized by anyone?”
“What do you mean?” Oathkeeper could not understand Han Xiao’s sudden question.
Han Xiao took two steps as he slowly explained, “Let’s put it this way. The existence of the Sanctum is independent and should not be controlled by anyone, just like a public library… Since we can borrow the functions of the Sanctum as such, others will definitely be able to. Have you ever thought about what will happen when the advanced civilizations like the three Universal Civilizations master a stable method of Sanctum Revival?”
Oathkeeper thought about it before speaking uncertainly. “They will continuously resurrect their direct lines, maintaining the scale of their high-level combat power and using this as a bargaining chip to recruit allies.”
“That’s right, and in the long run, this is inevitable. What will happen is that once the advanced civilizations master the method to enter the Sanctum, they will begin a period of rapid development, widening the gap between the strength of a civilization and the free Beyond Grade As. By that time, the Beyond Grade As will come to a forked path in their destinies.”
Han Xiao looked at the pondering Oathkeeper.
“Imagine, if there was no Beyond Grade A Association, no Holy Accord, no stable Beyond Grade A group that can stably perform Sanctum Revivals. The Beyond Grade As will be forced to sell themselves to a civilization. Those who choose to be free will not be revived by the civilizations, while those who are disobedient will be eradicated. In this manner, there will only be the obedient Beyond Grade As left in the universe, quietly being dogs for the advanced civilizations. They will forever be trapped in faction disputes, having to kill each other with no choice…”
He explained the situation of the Celestial Star Alliance in a hypothetical manner. The more Oathkeeper listened, the more frightened he became, realizing that the situation Han Xiao spoke of could likely happen.
“That’s right. This possibility has to be guarded against. I did not expect you to see that far. You indeed have foresight!”
Oathkeeper let out a gasp of amazement.
That’s not the case. You thought I was predicting, but I’m actually spoiling it for you!
Han Xiao secretly grinned, but he revealed a solemn expression on the surface as he heavily spoke again. “In order to prevent such a future, we have to let the Beyond Grade A Association master the method of stably reviving all the Beyond Grade As, so I said we have a common goal. This is for the entire class; every Beyond Grade A is a beneficiary, and no one can monopolize this.”
His words went straight to Oathkeeper’s heart, which coincided with his thoughts. A burst of heroism rose from his heart as he recognized Han Xiao as someone similar to him.
“So, you’re proposing to cooperate in this manner?” Oathkeeper’s eyes lit up.
Han Xiao nodded.
“We’ll do it this way. You are in control of the Holy Accord, while I’m in control… well, about to control the Beyond Grade A Association. We’ll unite a part of the Beyond Grade As together and produce different resources. As long as we become strategic partners, we can work together to complete this important task sooner, allowing the Beyond Grade As to completely unite to rewrite their fate.”
Oathkeeper helplessly shook his head. “Actually, I have no choice. You’re the second insider, so we can only cooperate… but who is going to control the channel, the Holy Accord or the Beyond Grade A Association?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao laughed.
“Naturally, both of us will control the channel. The Beyond Grade A Association will be the main force on the surface, striving for the recognition of the advanced civilizations, while the Holy Accord will take in those Beyond Grade As who wish to stay hidden as secret insurance. After all, the advanced civilizations will not easily accept the fact that the Beyond Grade As can constantly revive themselves. They are likely to do something to the Association, so it’s best to hide a portion of Beyond Grade A strength under the surface and prevent them from seeing our full strength.”
If possible, Han Xiao would have wished to have the Association monopolize the Sanctum Revival, but now that Oathkeeper was an insider, he could only form a partnership with him instead of doing things separately. There was not much conflict of interest, and their goals aligned.
Furthermore, it was not a bad thing to allow the Holy Accord to stay hidden. Both sides could form a mode of complementary and mutual assistance. Beyond Grade A could go to the Holy Accord if they wished to stay hidden, whereas if they wanted a place in the universe, they could proceed to the Beyond Grade A Association. They could switch at will, just like staying at the office or going out to the field.
Oathkeeper nodded in acceptance.
Seeing this, Han Xiao made his tone a little more serious. “We’d better finish this business before the advanced civilizations come in contact with the Sanctums. Do not reveal the truth of the Sanctum Revival to anyone. Only the two of us should know.”
Kasuyi was also in the know, but Han Xiao would naturally not reveal this detail, or else it would reveal too much about his process. He would rather leave the mysterious impression of himself on Oathkeeper.
“Oh, I naturally will not reveal anything.” Oathkeeper knew of the importance behind this matter and solemnly nodded.
The two of them discussed specific cooperation projects for a while, reaching a united direction.
Oathkeeper also divulged his method of entering the Sanctums, claiming that the method used for all six Sanctums were different. The Holy Accord only knew of the method to enter the Third Sanctum, which consumed Primal Esper Ability Entities as keys to enter and would need to recollect them from scratch.
As for the ideation behind the method, Oathkeeper said that it was a vague revelation obtained by some of the Beyond Grade A members during the exploration era, while the rest was derived from Destiny’s Child. He mentioned how Destiny’s Child was special and might reveal the keys behind each Sanctum. However, the possibility was very low and completely random.
Han Xiao was more interested in the First Sanctum, but at present, entering the Third Sanctum would be the faster route. The Holy Accord had prior experience, and with its resources, it would greatly shorten the time needed for Han Xiao to gather the keys again.
However, if one wished to resurrect more Beyond Grade As, then they would need to collect related information, and the descendants of the Beyond Grade As were the easiest targets.
“That’s right. Since we’ve decided to cooperate, I hope to meet with the revived Primordial Ones.”
“Why do you need to see them?” Oathkeeper subconsciously replied. He still did not completely trust Han Xiao.
Han Xiao smiled. “I remember you told me that you cannot force the revived Primordial Ones. There should be many of them who wish to occupy a place in the universe and re-develop their own organization. In this case, the Beyond Grade A Association is the best backer for them. I hope to get in touch with them and convince them to support me after joining the association.”
The first batch of Primordial Ones definitely had their own goals. Being previous Beyond Grade As who could call on the winds and rains, forcing them to remain anonymous was basically impossible. Some of them would do things in the universe like what happened in his previous life, shocking the galactic society and becoming the fuse of the Calamity of the Supers.
With the Beyond Grade A Association now, Han Xiao felt that he could absorb some of them to strengthen his own faction.
With the association intervening, the situation of the Calamity of the Supers could also be greatly changed… Han Xiao thought.
Hearing this, Oathkeeper thought for a while before he eventually nodded.
“I’ll arrange for you to meet with them as soon as possible. However, you have to be mentally prepared. They died early and have not experienced the generations of changes in the Beyond Grade A realm. They are not as low key as I am and might be a little… arrogant.”
“It’s alright.” Han Xiao’s lips curled. “I specialize in treating such negativity.”
1214 Times Have Changed
“Huff, acting is pretty tiring, but I’ve managed to pin him down.”
The Holy Accord was a powerful force, completely hidden in the dark during his past life. However, he had now established a stable relationship with it, indirectly holding a secret power in his own hands. Furthermore, he would also know the whereabouts of the Revivors, which was an important move in this game to complete the key layout.
In this manner, he could interfere in the Calamity of the Supers event to become a chess player, rather than passively waiting for the situation to occur like in his past life.
This was only the general layout. There were still other more specific issues, such as the impact of the Primordial Ones revealing their identity, the shockwave it would cause upon entering the Beyond Grade A Association, and so on. Since he would be the President, such details had to be dealt with.
“It seems like I have more things to do during the Version update. Visiting and helping all these old people integrate into the present times gives me the impression of a neighborhood committee member…”
Han Xiao shook his head and chuckled.
Based on what Oathkeeper said, the Primordial Ones were taken from the warring era, and their blood and fire had yet to dissipate. They were basically a rebellious generation. Now that they had been put into an era that did not belong to them, most of their mentalities had yet to be adjusted.
If he wanted these people to accept and support him, it was not enough to just use his mouth. They had to be convinced. It was best for them to accept severe beatings of the society, allowing them to recognize their reality and understand the meaning of ‘the new will constantly replace the old’.
However, the other party was still a future partner, so it was not good to be too violent. It was better for him to first be courteous, only giving them ‘education’ if they failed to behave.
In this regard, Han Xiao was quite confident. The Primordial Ones were the first generation of Beyond Grade As, and while he could not rule out the fact that there might be super geniuses who had reached the peak of Beyond Grade A, that number would not be huge. The average strength of the Primordial Ones was likely to be the same as the modern Beyond Grade As, and this was because of the long fighting that they did. Otherwise, their strengths might not even match up to the Beyond Grade As of today.
However, he did not have a complete advantage as well. There was a problem that could not be avoided, namely because he was still second place in the Association. Old Man Manison was holding onto his position tightly, which could mean that some of the Primordial Ones would end up supporting Manison.
However, the problem was not too big. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that he himself was thriving potential stock, whereas Manison was old stock that was bleeding internally. The choice was simple.
“As for the specifics, it’s best to talk about it only after contacting the Primordial Ones. I’ll wait for Oathkeeper to arrange it. Before that, I’ll study their characteristics…”
As the saying went, ‘know thyself and your enemy, and you’ll win all your battles’. Han Xiao took out the Revivor name list, and based on the information on the internet and his memory, he began to construct a data model for these Primordial Ones.
…
In the spaceship of the Holy Accord, Oathkeeper dismissed the remote projection. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the Primordial Ones looking at him.
“How was it? What did Black Star say?”
Everyone was concerned about the attitude of the other insider.
“I’ve already communicated with him and reached an intention to cooperate. He mentioned that he will not disclose any secrets. Furthermore, he commands the Beyond Grade A Association and has expressed his hope to get your support. You can check the information about the Association through the internet. Finally, he has proposed a request to see all of you,” Oathkeeper recounted.
“He wishes to see us?”
Everyone looked at each other, and many of them showed off weird smiles.
“That’s good as well. We would like to see what sort of intentions he has for helping to resurrect us.”
There was no love without reasoning in this world, so no one believed Oathkeeper’s description of Black Star, thinking that Black Star wished for more than just an increase in the number of Beyond Grade As. There should be some ambition and scheme involved in his plan.
In their eyes, Black Star likely wished to use them. While they had positive feelings toward him for his kindness, they did not intend to be used by him.
Everyone had on relaxed expressions as they talked about it.
“Black Star knows of our resurrection. Do you think he wishes to use this as a threat to force us into doing something for him?”
“Hehe, if he really thinks of it this way, he’ll soon find that his thoughts are wrong. Want to use us? Laughable!”
“He might have asked to meet because he wishes to foster a good relationship with us. It’s just as well. We can take this opportunity to pull him down a peg, dispelling his thoughts about trying to use us.”
“There’s also that Beyond Grade A Association. He seeks our support on that matter. In my opinion, we can totally set up another organization. There’s no need to listen to the orders of another. Even if we wish to join it, we don’t need to support Black Star or any others. Why don’t we just aim for the top by ourselves?”
“I checked up Black Star’s deed on the internet, and it’s actually pretty ridiculous. He broke the record for the fastest promotion to the Beyond Grade A realm, and he has even repelled the attacks of more than a dozen Beyond Grade As.”
“Oh? To think that the Beyond Grade A strength of this era has regressed so much, that more than a dozen people failed to kill a newcomer who has only been promoted for a few decades. Tsk tsk… it seems like each generation is inferior to the last.”
“Don’t look down on them. If it wasn’t for his capabilities, he would not dare to have designs on us.”
By the side, Oathkeeper quietly listened to their idle chatter, with no intention of correcting their misguided notions.
It was too common for the Primordial Ones to look down on newcomers, especially since they were the ‘founders’ of the Beyond Grade A realm. Their statuses were lofty, with the mentality that the descendants today were able to achieve what they had because of them, the trailblazers.
But from his viewpoint, this bunch of fools would need a lesson in order to quickly adjust their mentality.
This is also for all of your own goods…
Oathkeeper shook his head as he secretly sighed.
…
After half a month, on a certain barren planet in the Ancient Star Desert, six figures stood on the ground, Oathkeeper and five other Primordial Ones. Because they did not wish for Black Star to know the total number of people resurrected, they selected five people as representatives who had the best combat power.
The other Revivors did not show up but stayed in a fleet that was two days’ distance away, remotely monitoring the area.
“He should be here soon. Let’s listen to what he has to say first. Don’t just scare him the moment he comes,” Beiger said.
“Just follow the previously discussed plan. No matter how the discussion goes, let him see our strength and dispel any unnecessary thoughts,” Pangon lightly replied.
By the side, Oathkeeper closed his eyes and rested his mind, as though he did not hear anything.
Before long, a comet flashed through the dark outer space and fell quickly. It was Han Xiao, who was using his fleshly body to cross the starry sky.
“I’m not late, right?”
Han Xiao landed in front of everyone, having an inkling of the situation as he glanced at the six people present.
Oathkeeper took the initiative to introduce them. “No, you’re not. The five here are the representatives elected by the rest. Let me introduce them to you…”
But Han Xiao however cut him off, taking out his fluent ass-kissing techniques as he smiled. “Everyone here is a Primordial One, with a reputation that resounds like thunder. How could I not know all of them?”
His words were comfortable to the ears of those present. As the saying went, one would not hit a smiling face. While they had discussed showcasing whose fists were stronger today, since Black Star was their savior and even boasted good manners, the five also followed suit and greeted him, showing their friendly intentions.
While Han Xiao was speaking, he was secretly calculating.
[King of War] Pangon, [Mage God] Beiger, [Purple Emperor] Lady Lust… these five were all experts in this batch of Primordial Ones, with different attitudes in his previous life. They were deliberately elected as representatives likely because they suited with the different goals among the Primordial Ones. Pangon represents the Avengers, Meiji represents the Liberals, and Beiger represents the Careerists who pursue power… It seems like the issue of differences among the Revivors has become prominent…
After everyone exchanged greetings, Pangon then spoke. “You actually came with your main body?”
“It’s our first meeting. I had to show my sincerity. It would be too disrespectful to arrive in my avatar.” Han Xiao smiled.
“I admire your guts. Not bad at all.” Pangon’s tone was indifferent.
Oathkeeper coughed a little to catch their attention. “Let’s first get to business. Black Star is now our partner, and he has requested this meeting, expressing his intentions to provide resources to help you quickly integrate into this current era.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao smiled and nodded. “Everyone has just been revived, and your thinking has stopped during the exploration era. I estimate that you might not be adapted to the current era, so I would like to help you. However, I would like to know the goals you have after being resurrected, so as to facilitate the arrangement.”
“Let me be clear. If the goals for some of us are not within your line of interests, then what are you going to do?” Beiger asked with interest.
“It will depend on the situation, but you can be rest assured that the possibility of engaging in armed conflict is not high. The Beyond Grade A Association that I belong to specializes in resolving such problems. I will not prevent you from pursuing your own goals, unless this goal will harm everyone,” Han Xiao replied.
“Really?” Pangon coldly said. “The Federation of Light destroyed my homeland, so I’m going to avenge them. What do you think of this goal?”
“Avenging your own civilization is a justified matter, but the premise is that you do not bring us a negative influence, or else the association will not sit idle… However, I would like to say something. I don’t recommend you performing such suicidal goals.” Han Xiao waved his hands.
“I just want to remain free forever, without being restricted. The Beyond Grade A Association you speak of seems to also have a lot of rules.” Lady Lust raised her brows.
“The rules in place are mainly just to protect the interests of everyone. Fundamentally speaking, the Association is just a neutral group. Everything can be settled through negotiation. As long as you do not deviate from the interests of the group, you can enjoy the greatest degree of freedom. No one will force you to do something, and with the change in the universe, the Beyond Grade As grouping together is an inevitable trend. Only by seeking shelter can you obtain freedom,” Han Xiao answered as he sized up Lady Lust.
This Beyond Grade A had an exquisite appearance, with gorgeous makeup, purple lipstick painted on, and purple eyeshadow. Her hair was bunched up high, and she gave off an awe-inspiring aura. Among the women Han Xiao saw, her temperament resembled Urranrell the most, a ‘superwoman’ who would not take no for an answer.
The group constantly asked questions that they were concerned about, with Han Xiao answering them one after another, explaining how the Association could help them with it, but no positive response was received. The five did not agree with this proposal at this time, and in contrast, they were more inclined to create their own group.
During the discussion, Han Xiao could feel that the five of them were scrutinizing him, as though they wished to see through his tricks.
Suddenly, Pangon interrupted the questioning as he said, “I’ve always been curious. What is the motive behind you helping us?”
Hearing this, everyone immediately focused their gazes on Han Xiao.
Han Xiao remained impassive. “I’ve already told Oathkeeper. The Beyond Grade A realm requires more manpower. Only then can we obtain our own independence.”
Pangon shook his head. “This is not enough to persuade me. You are holding onto the intelligence of our resurrection and information on the Holy Accord. Was it never your intention to threaten us?”
“There’s no need. We’re mutually benefitting in this.” Han Xiao took out the signature fake smile that Sorokin used to give.
“I really hope that is the case. I’ll advise you to dispel any unrealistic thoughts as soon as possible, or you will regret it,” Pangon warned.
“You’re overthinking it.” Han Xiao laughed in return.
At this time, Beiger also spoke. “We’ve heard from Oathkeeper that you wish to obtain our support. Let us make things clear first. While we’re thankful to you for resurrecting us, personally, I will only respect the strong.”
“Oh, can I understand that as you inviting me for a spar?” Han Xiao’s brows furrowed.
“If you wish for me to support you, it’s best to show some skills to convince me. If you don’t mind, I really wish to try how capable you are.” Beiger narrowed his eyes.
Han Xiao swept a glance at the rest. “Do all of you think the same?”
“Beyond Grade As ultimately speak with their fists,” Pangon coldly replied.
The rest also nodded, staring at Han Xiao with a playful look on their faces.
After being in contact, they discovered that Han Xiao was courteous and talkative, without the air of an expert. It was inevitable that they would doubt and underestimate his combat power. They could not help but embrace the attitude of testing him out.
“I have no issues, but who is going to spar with me?” Han Xiao smiled.
“You can pick any one among us five. It doesn’t matter to us. Since you also helped us, we won’t go too heavy on you.”
Beiger sounded casual, but he was actually very confident in all of their strengths.
Hearing this, Han Xiao turned his head to see Oathkeeper rubbing his nose in embarrassment and immediately understood.
He shook his head with a smile, and facing their gazes slowly spoke out. However, the content of his words froze everyone’s expressions.
“That’s not too good. No matter who I choose, it will only make people think that I’m picking on a soft persimmon, which will offend them… How about all of you come at me together? This will save me from the rumors that I only bully the elderly.”
The silence became palpable.
The five did not expect that Black Star, who had been so flexible and friendly, would suddenly make such arrogant remarks. Their eyes widened and showed emotions such as disbelief, uncertainty, and anger.
“Are you looking down on me?” Pangon’s expression sank, and a dangerous light shone in his eyes.
“No, no, you’re mistaken. I’m not targeting you.”
Han Xiao kept his smile, glancing around, before slowly stating.
“I’m saying that all of you here are all weaklings!”
Stop trying to pretend to be wolves in front of me. Wake up. Your glory days have already passed. The times have changed!
1215 Old Trick
“Did I hear that correctly? He wants to challenge all five of them at once?” Someone was very confused.
“Isn’t he too arrogant? I thought he’d have more self-awareness based on the way he spoke earlier.”
“Hehe, looks like he’s indeed quite ambitious. He’s thinking of intimidating us.” Someone snickered.
“I heard he defeated a dozen Beyond Grade As at once. Did that make him overly confident?”
“Possible, he might think we’re on the same level as the modern Beyond Grade As… Hehe, does he really think he’s strong just because he bullied some kids who grew in the peaceful era? He’s probably never seen what true strength is.”
“His tone is so arrogant. Pangon and the others are definitely insulted. A show is about to begin.” Someone gloated. “Wait and see, they’ll teach this guy a lesson, especially Pangon… He’s got a bad temper.”
“Hope he can still be this cocky later,” someone said with a mocking tone.
All of them were waiting to see the show.
What Han Xiao said was targeted at all the Primordial Ones, including them, so they were insulted too. Although they did not look like they were, they were more than glad to see Han Xiao get embarrassed.
…
On the other hand, the six of them including Oathkeeper heard what Han Xiao said and their expressions changed.
You said we’re outdated, that we’re not letting go of our old honors? That’s hurtful!
“Arrogant!” Flames of rage appeared in Pangon’s eyes. He was furious.
When had they ever been looked down like this ever since the era they dominated the universe?
This was the first time anyone had dared to talk to them like this!
Even Oathkeeper felt somewhat awkward.
Feeling the intense atmosphere, he was secretly worried for Han Xiao.
Oathkeeper hoped that Black Star could teach his buddies a lesson, but Black Star wanting to fight all five of them at once was beyond his expectations. He was shocked and was worried Black Star might lose.
Black Star is too confident. Is he going to win?
Oathkeeper was a little regretful. He felt Black Star only made this proposal because he did not know the strength of these Primordial Ones well.
In his eyes, although Black Star was strong, he was not that strong. Despite having caught up with the recent news, his image of Han Xiao was still the same as before he entered the Sanctum.
I would’ve given Black Star some hints beforehand if I knew this was going to happen. These five guys are not just ordinary Beyond Grade As…
This time, Beiger narrowed his eyes and confirmed it. “Are you sure you want to fight all five of us at once?”
“What, you guys aren’t willing to?” Han Xiao’s eyes scanned past everyone’s faces and saw each of their expressions clearly.
“There’s no need to.” Lady Lust frowned calmly. “If the five of us fight you together, it won’t prove anything even if we win. Are you just afraid that fighting us one on one will damage your reputation? I can promise that our spar will be reasonable. We just want to test what you’re capable of. No matter the result, we’ll consider it a tie. Are you satisfied with this?”
“You are quite thoughtful for my sake.” Han Xiao smiled.
“No matter what, you’ve helped us. I…”
Before Lady Lust finished, Pangon interrupted her and coldly said, “Don’t represent me. I’m going to fight him alone.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao maintained his smile and said, “Just come at me all at once. Defeating you guys one after another is too troublesome.”
The five of them were deeply insulted.
We gave you an out. Not only are you not taking it, you’re even crossing the line further.
You need a damn beating!
Beiger gave Han Xiao a meaningful look. “You chose this yourself.”
“Like I said, I alone am enough.” Pangon turned to look at the others and looked like he would fight them first if they argued with him further.
Knowing Pangon’s personality, someone said, “Consider us securing the perimeter for you on the side.”
Pangon thought about it and did not argue. He stomped the ground heavily. An enormous shockwave expanded out, creating a ripple like tide on the ground.
Bang!
He shot up the sky and flew into space like he could not wait any longer.
The others were not surprised and followed behind. After all, he was a Pugilist, and Pugilists were not known for being sensible and logical. The others were used to Pangon’s personality.
Han Xiao glanced at Oathkeeper, who was looking worried, and then flew up as well. At this time, a notification popped up on the interface.
_____________________
You have triggered the hidden mission [Fists Speak the Loudest]!
Mission Introduction: The revived Primordial Ones appreciates your help but aren’t convinced of your strength. You’ve decided to display your strength to earn their respects.
Mission Requirements: Earn the respect of the Primordial Ones through actions.
Reward: Depends on the results of your actions. The higher the rating, the better the reward.
Tip: This is a Series Mission. Your actions will affect the following missions. Please act with caution.
_____________________
Yo, here it is. This should be in the same mission chain as [Return to the Historic Stage].
While he looked at the mission, he flew into space. The five of them were already in position. Four of them stood in different directions and drew out the battlefield area, while Pangon stayed inside opposite Han Xiao.
“Can we start now?” Pangon’s tone was irritated.
“Anyti…”
Before Han Xiao even finished, Pangon had already lost his patience. Golden red flames erupted from within his body as he turned into a meteor and charged toward Han Xiao.
Usually, when Pugilists were in a friendly spar with Mechanics, they would always actively back away some distance so that the Mechanic could let out part of their army. However, Pangon had already developed the habit of using everything to his advantage as much as possible through countless large-scale galactic wars, exploiting every edge he had, even in spars.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, stood in place, and opened the secondary dimensional army box. However, before the first batch of mechanical troops even appeared, Pangon had already bashed onto his chest.
Boom!
As his fist landed right on Han Xiao’s chest, Pangon was surprised to realize Han Xiao did not even dodge it. Hence, he quickly turned a normal attack into an ability. Thick Pugilist flames rushed into his fist and entered Han Xiao’s body, turning into an erupting shockwave.
This was a control type ability, using Pugilist flames to trigger the atoms in the opponent’s body to tremble. As long as his Strength was superior, he would be able to temporarily immobilize the opponent.
Pangon was very experienced in dealing with high-level Mechanics. He knew that getting this close to a Mechanic was an extremely rare opportunity, and he was not going to waste it. Tons of combos flashed past his mind. He decided on using the combo with the highest explosive damage instantly, and his body immediately moved following the muscle memories. Once Han Xiao was immobilized, he would be able to instantly deal a ton of damage.
However, just as he was about to use the combo, a slap suddenly landed on his face.
Paa!
This slap was powerful and heavy, Pangon’s eyes widened, and his brain was trembling. He could almost hear the sound of the bones on his face cracking.
Before he recovered from being stunned for an instant, a thunderstorm of melee attacks suddenly arrived. Countless heavy attacks landed on his body every second, shattering the gold and red flames on his body part by part, continuously creating ripples and dents on his muscles. Pain swarmed his nerves like a tsunami.
Pangon instinctively raised his hand to protect his vital spots. He was still in shock.
Wait a minute, as a Mechanic, not only did he not back away after I, a Pugilist, got this close to him, but he even actively fought back to have a hand to hand combat with me?
Never mind him fighting back, but what’s with this power? It’s outrageously strong!
After getting bashed by Han Xiao for a few seconds, Pangon finally found an opportunity to twist Han Xiao’s arm and pull it toward him, locking Han Xiao in his place.
“Don’t you think you can run!” Pangon said. Pugilist flames flowed in his body. His muscles suddenly bulged, and his strength increased in an instant.
He was prepared to stop Han Xiao’s attempt to escape his body lock.
As long as he could lock Han Xiao down for just two seconds, he would be able to lash out with an even stronger ability and deal even more damage.
Each and every part of a high-level Pugilist was a weapon. Although Pangon was a little lost and stunned by Han Xiao’s attack from earlier, with his countless Pugilist abilities and talents, he still had an incomparable edge in close range combat.
However, the next moment, he was shocked to realize that not only did he not feel Han Xiao trying to escape, but Han Xiao even grabbed his waist and locked him down instead.
“What fighting style is this?” Despite being very knowledgeable, Pangon was still puzzled.
“What, you want to learn? Sadly, you won’t be able to even if I teach you.” Han Xiao laughed.
At this time, the first batch of mechanical troops that had flown out of the secondary dimension fired at the two of them without hesitation. In their preset programs, the most prioritized tactic was to fire at their master unconditionally once their master locked a target down. Han Xiao did not even have to control them to do so anymore.
Seeing this, Pangon’s expression changed drastically.
Isn’t this the ‘die together’ tactic? F*ck, this man is even more ruthless than me!
Although his physique was tough, he did not want to take a psionic bath with the enemy!
Pangon became the one who was trying to get away, so he hastily let go of his body lock on Han Xiao and tried to step back. However, his waist was tightly held by Han Xiao’s shockingly powerful arms, and he could not escape quickly enough.
“Stop wasting your energy. I’m quite surprised really. You guys knew I’d be visiting half a month ago, yet you didn’t study me online properly. If you even studied my battle recordings just once, you wouldn’t have been so stupid as to rush into my face like this… Are you guys really that arrogant, or did Oathkeeper cut off your internet?”
Han Xiao was almost speechless.
He really did not plan to use this tactic at all. He thought as long as the Primordial Ones searched his information online, this old trick of his would no longer work. No matter what, if they at least saw his ‘Indestructible Body’ nickname, they would be more or less more cautious.
However, to his surprise, Pangon rushed into his arms right at the start. Even Han Xiao did not underestimate the Primordial Ones and constructed their data models beforehand so that he would come prepared. This only proved how little these Primordial Ones thought of him.
Don’t blame me then. You asked for this.
“Eat this!”
Boom!
The blinding light from the explosions of a round of focus fire psionic attacks instantly devoured the two of them.
The bombardment lasted for about three seconds. A golden-red meteor hastily fled the explosion area and rolled a long distance in the cosmic space before finally stopping himself.
Pangon’s clothes were ragged. Large areas of burnt skin could be seen on his body. Some places even showed signs of carbonization.
Han Xiao flew out of the explosion area too. He sized Pangon up and sighed.
The time for the army to gather was too short, so the number of mechanical soldiers he summoned in the first batch was too few. The damage dealt was far from enough. After all kinds of shields and resistances, the damage done by that round of focus fire could only slightly injure Pangon.
Han Xiao had already seen Pangon’s attributes from the combat information. Pangon’s Energy Rank was about 71,000, and his attributes were about the same as when Han Xiao was level 300. Before Han Xiao’s Promotion, he might have had quite a tough time dealing with Pangon, but now he could thrash him in any way he wanted.
However, he also knew that these Primordial Ones were not at their peak. Losing part of their attributes and being in the weakened state since they had just awakened were just two of the reasons. Another important reason was that their equipment did not revive with them. For example, Pangon’s nickname came from the set equipment he used when he was active in the galaxy, which was exactly called ‘King of War’. It was built by the civilization he was in and consisted of three Universal Treasures—the shield, spear, and the armor. Without this set of equipment, he was about thirty percent weaker.
This was even worse for Mechanics who revived. They would have lost all the machines they had and would have to build from scratch. It was tragic. After all, not everyone had as fast production speed as him and the Mechanic Emperor.
Seeing this, the four others who were securing the battlefield on the side were astounded. Their expression turned from unconcerned to serious.
“Did you see that? The strength this guy just displayed?”
“Hmm. To think a Mechanic whose physique is supposed to be weak has such high power and agility. Either his Energy Rank far exceeds Pangon, which means his foundation is much higher, or the modern Mechanics have taken a very new path of not focusing on machines but their physique instead!”
“I think the latter is quite likely…”
While the four of them chatted in the communication channel, the situation in the battlefield changed again. After losing a small round, Pangon became cautious. Before clearly understanding the situation, he did not dare rush close to Han Xiao. He did not know what to do for the time being.
Han Xiao, however, did not continue to attack. Golden Mechanical Force spread out from his body like a net catching onto all the machinery around him and pulling them toward him. Within the blinding cluster of Mechanical Force lightning bolts, the enormous Mechanical Deity appeared.
The next moment, the Mechanical Deity swung the Celestial Punishment Edge one round and unleashed an arc of silver blue psionic energy.
Swoosh!
The energy blade quickly expanded. Even the four people at the edge of the battlefield were targets in this attack. With flashes of light, magic arrays, Esper Abilities, and psychic means of defense appeared. Beiger, Lady Lust, and so on blocked this powerful energy blade attack in their own ways.
At the same time, Han Xiao’s provocation sounded in the public channel. “I said I’m going to fight all five of you, and I’ll do it. You guys want to watch on the side? Don’t even think about it!”
Beiger and the others exchanged looks and joined the battle without hesitation.
Seeing Black Star’s strength, the few of them no longer minded fighting Han Xiao together. If they really let Pangon fight him alone, Pangon would most likely lose. Furthermore, Han Xiao attacked them and forced them to fight. Not fighting back would not be suitable.
The few of them did not reject the idea of fighting one enemy together. This was the complete norm during the exploration era. The result of caring too much about these things was death. The Primordial Ones were all used to fighting one opponent together. They were not obstructed by such unnecessary morals.
“Finally. Come, let me give you guys a beating of love to help you see reality!”
Seeing this, Han Xiao grinned. Mechanical Deity swung the Celestial Punishment Edge, stirring up a tide of dark blue energy and charged toward the five of them.
1216 Confidence Destruction Lesson
The flashes of psionic explosions flickered in space. Mechanical soldiers charged out of the secondary dimension rapidly into the battlefield.
Five different colored clusters of energy were flooded by the sea of machinery, passing through the countless mechanical soldiers like asteroids. Flashes of light from different abilities flickered between the tiny gaps of the mechanical army from time to time.
There were four classes among the five of them, only no Mechanic. Mechanics without their inventory were tremendously weaker, so no Mechanic was chosen to be a representative by the revived Primordial Ones.
Psionic Prime led dozens of Apostle Weapons to fight. With the bonuses from Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force, the highly synchronized Apostle Weapons gave them a lot of pressure.
The Mechanical Deity stood above all in the battlefield, swung its Celestial Punishment Edge around and chased after the five of them. The weapon was enormous but quick like lightning, releasing extremely powerful psionic energy blades together with Getta Hadoken combos one after another, dealing massive damage.
Pangon got special attention. Han Xiao loved bullyin… ahem, educating cocky, headstrong Pugilists.
Since the opponent this time was not Old Manison, who knew him all too well, Han Xiao had to maintain his image. Hence, he was more reserved and did not bombard them with private messages.
The five of them fought for quite some time. Despite fighting the five of them alone, Han Xiao did not show signs of defeat for the time being. In fact, not only was he not losing, he even had a slight advantage.
Pangon, Beiger, and the rest of them were far from their peak strength, but they were not completely trash. Although they were at quite a disadvantage, they could still hold on for now by working together.
However, all five of them felt distressed. This was the first time they had fought a Mechanic of this style. They did not know what they should do.
In their knowledge, the best tactic against Mechanics was simply getting close. When they first saw that Black Star came with his original body, they were quite surprised and felt Black Star was way too incautious. Only now did they realize just how wrong they were. Black Star’s style was the complete opposite of the impression they had of Mechanics—one was as fragile as a piece of paper, while even the supposedly psychological weakness of the other was extremely tough. He was basically indestructible!
The strategy of rushing toward him was basically useless. But if they targeted his army, his inventory was way too huge. Soldiers were still swarming out of the secondary dimensional army box every second. God knew when it would end.
It seemed like the only strategy they could use was to deplete his energy by stalling the battle. However, the destructive power of the Apostle Weapons, mechanical army, and the Mechanical Deity was too strong together. There was hardly any room for them to make any mistakes. Plus, their energy was also getting consumed at a quick rate.
If this carried on, the five of them were uncertain if they would be heavily injured and unable to fight first or Black Star’s energy would dry up first.
“Does this guy even have a weakness?” Beiger was appalled.
“It’s shocking to see such a horrifying man in this era!” Lady Lust marveled.
“If only my weapons were still…” Pangon clenched his teeth as dozens of his bones were shattered by an energy blade once again.
“Save it. You got beat up by a Mechanic at close range as a Pugilist, have you not embarrassed yourself enough?” someone asked.
“Alright, stop quarreling and think of how to fight him. If we really get defeated despite fighting him as five, just image how shameful that’ll be for us,” Beiger said.
The five of them dodged and guarded against the mechanical army’s attacks while trying to find Han Xiao’s flaws. However, they were unable to find an opportunity to turn the tables. Instead, they fell into a more and more passive situation.
With the bonuses of [Fearless Heart] and [Legendary Battle Technique], the attacks of the army were extremely powerful. Among the five of them, only Pangon had True Damage Reduction. The rest could not endure many rounds of focus fire.
If not because a Psychic and Beiger were continuously refreshing their shields, someone would have already been heavily injured.
Most importantly, the few of them were absolutely shocked to realize that Han Xiao was becoming stronger as the battle carried on.
Beiger dodged the attacks of a few Apostle Weapons by using an illusion spell before saying decisively, “The battle is now going according to his tempo. Things will only get worse if this carries on. Let’s try again. The five of us all attack his main body together. I don’t believe his physique doesn’t have limits. There’s no other way for now other than this anyway.”
“What do you plan to do? His body is hidden in the Mechanical Deity, protected.”
“Have you forgotten about the Space Forbidden Spell I have mastered? I can pull the target out of the Mechanical Deity for a short period and create an opportunity.”
The few of them quickly came to an agreement. Beiger did not delay any longer and started preparing for the spell with a hand gesture.
An exquisite enchantment array illuminated on his neck. A wave of space repelling force expanded from him, and the mechanical soldiers around were all pushed far away.
Right after, he raised his hand and used a group teleportation spell, teleporting the other four to beside him.
His spell casting did not stop. He instantly created a new magic array. Ripples suddenly appeared in cosmic space not far away. Han Xiao, who was supposed to be inside the Mechanical Deity, suddenly appeared at the location Beiger had selected out of nowhere.
Han Xiao only felt a flash before his eyes, and the location he was in changed. He instantly saw the round of focus fire the five of them had prepared that was rushing toward him.
“Yoho, cute combo.”
Han Xiao still had the time to tease them. He opened a new gate of the secondary dimension beside him. He pulled it and dragged out rows of Spacetime Amber balls, which were stacked into a transparent wall in front of him.
The next moment, the tsunami of long-range attacks from the five of them crashed onto the amber barrier. Like a water pillar falling onto a leaf, the attacks instantly slipped toward all directions, leaving Han Xiao who was behind the barrier completely unharmed.
“What is that?”
Seeing this, the pupils of the five of them constricted.
At this time, Han Xiao’s laughter sounded in the public channel.
“This kind of time swap spell is quite interesting. I have something similar too. Do you guys want to see it?”
As soon as he said that, Han Xiao disappeared and returned to the Mechanical Deity using Void Hyperdrive. Before the four of them could respond, he instantly used Void Swap and changed his location with a target.
Whoosh!
Pangon’s sights flickered. He was petrified to realize that he had appeared inside the Mechanical Deity. Before he could react, the parts of the Mechanical Deity around him suddenly disassembled into mechanical troops. They surrounded him and fired at him instantly.
While the headstrong boy was being beat up, Han Xiao appeared beside the four others.
Looking at their shocked expressions, he smiled and activated Void Prison.
The next moment, the movements of the four of them became extremely stagnated like they were in a pool of mud. They were all inside the Void Prison, and only Han Xiao could move freely.
Then, he activated Apostilization to maximum power. The countless mechanical troops gave him tons of attributes. His right arm bent like a bow. Energy circuits lit up on his mechanical suit, and psionic energy expanded like a ripple.
“Getta Hadoken—Star Penetration Hammer!”
Han Xiao launched his fist right forward. The fist covered in blinding psionic energy landed right on Beiger’s cheek. Under the slow-motion effects of the Void Prison, the shaking of Beiger’s face could be seen clearly.
Boom!
A dark-blue shockwave erupted, and Beiger shot out, rolling.
Han Xiao did not stop there. His mechanical suit operated at maximum capacity as he continued to smash the other three of them like an afterimage crisscrossing between the three of them.
Kacha!
After being trounced for some time, the few of them were finally freed from the Void Prison. They hastily backed away, every part of their body hurting.
Pangon did not get captured. He barely escaped the mechanical army’s encirclement. However, having faced so many attacks in such a short time, he was covered in blood and quite heavily wounded.
Han Xiao stood in place and did not chase after them, but the five of them stood far away from him with fearful and heavy expressions.
“Hiss!”
Beiger held his bleeding cheek. He was filled with shock. Not only did the tactic not work, but they even got beaten up by Han Xiao instead. Han Xiao was able to injure the five of them one after another, among whom Pangon was the most heavily injured.
This astounded the five of them. They did not know what other special abilities Han Xiao had, and they did not dare to get close to him anymore. They were afraid of falling for his abilities again.
Seeing that Han Xiao was sizing them up, the five of them focused all of their attention. The last bit of underestimation in their hearts disappeared completely. They anxiously waited for the next round of Han Xiao’s attacks.
However, at this time, Han Xiao stopped the movements of all of his army. He scanned over them one by one, smiled, and said, “How about we end it here? I believe you guys already have a thorough understanding of my capabilities. If we continue the spar, it might not be a good idea. I agree with Lady Lust’s suggestion. No matter the results, we’ll call it a tie. There’s no need to go all out.”
Hearing this, the five of them were stunned for a moment. Seeing that Han Xiao did not look like he was faking it, they finally relaxed.
They exchanged looks and saw some bitterness, shame, and embarrassment on each other’s faces.
The few of them knew very well that Black Star did this so they would not lose so much face, but this made them feel even more hurt.
What kind of tie is this? The five of us clearly fought one opponent but still got thrashed!
We don’t feel comforted like this at all, only ashamed!
“… Someone as strong as you would have been unique even during the exploration era. We underestimated you.”
Beiger sighed and had a complicated expression.
Having experienced it personally, Black Star’s combat capability far exceeded their expectations and completely convinced them.
Even without that flashy combo, the few of them could see that Black Star’s strength far exceeded theirs just from how powerful his mechanical army was.
Having thought of this, the few of them looked more or less disheartened. They could no longer stay proud.
The new generation surpassing the old generation did not feel good. It almost made them wonder if they really were outdated.
Pangon was the most embarrassed. The wounds on his body were still hurting like hell, but compared to the wounds in his heart, they were nothing. This hard to accept result made him doubt himself unavoidably.
Han Xiao looked at them and said with a smile, “I might have used a little more strength than I intended to. I hope you guys don’t take it personally.”
“Ahem, it’s just a small matter. We don’t mind it at all.” Beiger was a little embarrassed. He still remembered that he had said something similar to Black Star not long ago.
“Can we continue to discuss what we were discussing before now?” Han Xiao shrugged.
“Yes, yes, let’s head back down and continue.”
The attitude of the few of them changed completely. Their tone now included respect and admiration.
Although they were not used to this change mentally, Beyond Grade As respected the strong; strength was the foundation of their position. Therefore, of course, the few of them were not going to act proud like they did before in front of someone who could crush any one of them in a duel.
Seeing this, Han Xiao smiled. When he returned to the planet surface, he instantly saw that Oathkeeper was staring at him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Nothing.”
Oathkeeper suppressed the shock inside him and tried his best to make his tone sound natural and calm.
The strength Han Xiao had just displayed shocked him too!
Unlike the other Primordial Ones, Oathkeeper knew that Han Xiao was very strong, but he did not expect him to be this strong!
Before today, Oathkeeper felt that he had a fifty percent chance of beating Black Star. However, after witnessing Black Star’s fight with his own eyes, he doubted his judgement severely. Black Star was much more powerful than the rumors!
Fake news was awful!
Oathkeeper could not help but feel glad that he did not choose to kill Black Star back then, or he would have probably been the one who was killed.
…
At the same time, the remote surveillance room in the Holy Accord organization spaceship far away was completely silent.
The Primordial Ones who were watching the battle were astounded. Their eyes widened with shock, and they were at a loss for words.
After more than ten seconds of complete silence, someone finally said with disbelief, “Five against one, and they lost‽”
As soon as he said that, the rest erupted.
“Is this the strength of the modern Beyond Grade As‽”
“From the way it looks, it seems he didn’t even use his full strength at all. The five of them could not even make him go all out!”
“What’s his Energy Rank? Eighty thousand? Ninety thousand? Or above a hundred thousand‽”
“Maybe he was right. We’re outdated. The times have really changed…”
The Primordial Ones present felt that everything they once knew was shattered. In the start, they felt Black Star was only acting strong and arrogant, but now they discovered that he was really strong. It felt like a loud slap on their faces.
Luckily, they were only watching behind the curtains and did not have to be concerned about losing face. In their eyes, it was a clear loss. They did not consider it a tie at all.
Thinking back on what Black Star said before the battle, their confidence was crushed. Their sense of superiority as the Primordial Ones got completely shattered.
Looks like he really did not overestimate himself. This is a lesson to help us see reality…
The people present had no choice but to accept reality. The arrogance, pride, sense of superiority, and other feelings they had after being revived dissipated rapidly, turning into caution, humility, and caution.
The only problem was that this lesson was way too impactful. The mindset of some of them even slipped toward the other extreme…
“Black Star is only the vice president of the Beyond Grade A Association. The net says there are quite a few Beyond Grade As who are on the same level as him, so they should be just about as strong… Tsk, the modern age is scary!”
Some of the Primordial Ones who were originally planning to have a fresh start on their own were now discouraged. They seriously doubted if they were qualified enough to start again.
Originally, the goal of reviving for some of them was to avoid the exploration era war and come to a peaceful era, rely on their own strength to form a new organization, and gain power.
However, Han Xiao’s performance today gave them a misconception that people as strong as Han Xiao were everywhere nowadays.
Not only did this spar shatter their confidence, but it also made some of them so scared they buried their ambitions.
With the little strength we have, being in a hurry to mess around is probably suicide. We’d better train a few more decades and not reappear in the world before we catch up with the times. We can’t humiliate ourselves like that!
1217 Elderly Killer
Han Xiao carried on the topic they were discussing earlier with the others. This time, the atmosphere was clearly much better. Beiger and the others were now seriously listening to his suggestions.
As the saying went, ‘as long as your fists are big enough, you can make people sensible and calm.’
“… You guys are absolutely not in a state to reappear in the universe. After all, your strength has decreased after reviving, and you’re now behind the era. It’s best for you guys to think of ways to make up for that. In my opinion, you guys should spend more time training in isolation. Learn new technology and new knowledge,” Han Xiao said.
This would not be convincing at all before the spar, but now everyone agreed with it strongly. They thought that they could only revive once, so now that they had finally been revived and had an opportunity to make up for their regrets, satisfy their ambitions, and reach new heights, they treasured it very much. They all wanted to make sure they did everything correctly.
The opportunity was extremely rare, these Primordial Ones were all very patient. They could wait.
“Black Star, you have really helped us antiques learn something new today. Not many would have been your match even in the exploration era.” Beiger sighed.
They had lost a lot of face in the spar earlier, but they did not hate Han Xiao for it. At this level, no one would be that stupid.
They were not enemies. Although Han Xiao’s words were harsh, they were the truth. As someone who not only saved them but was also much stronger than them, Han Xiao’s words clearly carried weight.
“I’ve always suggested that you join the Beyond Grade A Association. Although the present is more peaceful than the exploration era, it’s still shaky below the surface. Beyond Grade As are not in a safe position. You can search up the Tragedy of the Pinnacles online. That’s a cleansing operation the advanced civilizations carried out against us. They’ve always been trying to control our numbers, so staying together is the certain trend.” Han Xiao started promoting the association again.
This time, other than Pangon, who decided to take the ‘revenge before life’ path, the other four all started to take Han Xiao’s suggestions seriously and considered taking this path.
Seeing this, Han Xiao continued. “There are more benefits to joining the association. You guys have only just revived, so you have nothing but your own strength. There’s no organization or force under your command, and starting one from scratch will take a lot of time. Furthermore, the various Star Fields’ territory is already split up by the various forces. Even with the strength you have, you’ll still meet many obstacles… However, if you become members of the Beyond Grade A Association, you can instantly lend intelligence, resources, military forces, and so on from other members. If you want to start your own organization, we will also come together to help and provide assistance, helping you to become a part of the profit network…”
The others nodded. They were tempted.
The universe was too vast. Without manpower or money, nothing would be easy to achieve.
During the exploration era, their various civilizations provided the things they needed to them. They were used to having power. They would not be able to adapt if they had to start from zero now.
Lady Lust pondered for a while and said, “We’re willing to support you, but you’re only the vice president and can’t be completely in charge. Furthermore, since you’re this strong, the president definitely won’t be much weaker…”
“Hmm, that’s true. We appreciate what you did for us, but we have to think on our own behalf. Comparatively, isn’t it better to support the top man in power?” Beiger asked.
Han Xiao smiled.
“Now that is something you guys don’t know about. My path is different from the president’s. He’s very ambitious and aggressive. He wants to tie the association with him on a path with no return, which has already enraged quite a number of people. There’s no chance he’ll be reelected. Furthermore, he’s old now. Who knows he’ll just be gone one day? Hence, there’s no future in supporting him. I, however, have a lot of friends and have basically already obtained the president position in the next election. Plus, there’s a very high chance I’ll be reelected multiple times after that. Investing in me is the best choice. I’m not just exaggerating. You guys can search it online all you like… By the way, I’ve defeated him too.”
Although he had only beaten the Mechanic Emperor once and lost more than he had won overall, saying he had defeated him was not wrong. After all, the Mechanic Emperor was not there, so it was not like he could object it.
“I see.”
Just like that, Old Manison’s image was damaged once again.
The few of them discussed it for a while. Han Xiao gave many suggestions and described the current situation of the universe to them. Beiger and the others all listened carefully and learned a lot.
After Han Xiao finished talking about the intricate relationship between the three Universal Civilizations, he stopped, changed the topic, and said, “By the way, I’m very interested in the exploration era, but what I know is limited to the information on the internet. You guys are all from that era, so could you tell me more details of the situation of that era?”
He had not just gone there to set things up for the Calamity of the Supers but also to exchange information with the Primordial Ones. Seeing that the time was right, he brought up the topic.
“You’ve asked the right people. Who alive knows more about that era than us?”
Han Xiao had always been the one speaking while they listened. Seeing that Han Xiao had brought up a topic they were much more familiar with, they immediately became interested. They started talking about their glory days in the past all the way from the dark ages to the days of intense wars, bringing up anything that came to their minds.
Han Xiao listened, nodding and asking questions from time to time. He obtained quite a number of secrets about the exploration era war from them, as well as the information about some Primordial Ones.
“Speaking of which, do you guys know this Soul Emperor guy?”
…
“Rovell Sissock? I fought him a few times on the battlefield. That guy’s quite capable, but I died earlier than him. I don’t know what happened to him afterward,” Lady Lust said.
“He was killed in action.” Beiger shook his head. “By me.”
“You killed him?” Han Xiao was immediately interested.
“Hmm, to be more details, I participated in an ambush on the Soul Emperor, along with two others. But I dealt the final blow.”
Yo, now isn’t this an interesting coincidence?
Han Xiao was very curious about what expression Sorokin would have when Beiger joined the association.
Hmm, given how Little Soro is, even if there’s a tsunami in his mind, he’ll probably still have that signature fake smile… Should I give him some stimulation by then?
Han Xiao suppressed his wicked thoughts and asked, “Are you sure he’s really dead? His soul Esper Ability is rather special. Maybe he shifted his soul without anyone knowing.”
“You’re saying he faked his death?” Beiger was surprised for a moment. He thought for some time, shook his head, and said, “I wouldn’t know about that then. Anyway, I didn’t notice anything strange at that time.”
“I’m just guessing. If he remained alive till now like Oathkeeper, and you see him again, will you be able to recognize him?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure. If he didn’t change, my soul detection spell would recognize him. By the way, Soul Emperor is also the previous master of the Soul Flame. Oathkeeper should sense it if they met… but that also depends on if he changed his soul frequency or not. Everyone’s soul frequency is unique.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao rubbed his chin and pondered.
Sorokin was an expert in the soul area. He should not have left such a flaw… but that might not certainly be the case. After all, Sorokin had lived all the way till now. He would never expect to meet the Primordial Ones whom he once had contact with.
No one in the present could prove that Sorokin was the Soul Emperor, so these revived Primordial Ones became the most solid evidence…
Tsk, if Beiger recognizes Sorokin right on the spot when he joins the association, things will get very interesting.
“Black Star, I have a feeling you’re trying to say something. Do you know something? Is the Soul Emperor really alive?” Beiger could not help but ask.
“Who knows?” Han Xiao shrugged. He had yet to decide whether to expose Little Soro yet. It was not the time to obtain the most benefits from doing that yet.
He paused and said, “By the way, there was a pair of sisters during the exploration era who possessed the vital and death energy respectively. What do you guys think about them?”
“Nerkese and Eros… They were very strong. They created the Underworld. Not many people dared to mess with them.” Pangon finally found an opportunity to say something.
“What’s the Underworld?” Han Xiao acted like he had no idea.
“That’s one way of reviving too but with more cons. You’d become the vassals of the two sisters,” the few of them explained.
The Oathkeeper listened for a while and said hesitantly, “Many Primordial Ones were looking for a way to revive back then. We chose the Holy Accord, while some placed their hopes in the Underworld, but…”
Lady Lust shook her head. “I’ll say it. Those two sisters got lost on the path of searching for the meaning of life and death. They were very unreliable. We once invited them to join the Holy Accord, but they rejected us. Afterward, we lost contact with them and don’t know what happened to them. They probably died.”
Not just died, you might not believe this, but they committed suicide…
Suddenly, his body turned stiff as he realized something.
When Onicelu explained the Underworld to him back then, he did not know much about the Sanctums, but thinking about it… was the act of the two sisters leaving Information Form Esper Ability seeds behind the equivalent of snatching the information of their own Esper Abilities out from the Sanctums? Was that why these two Esper Ability seeds passed down their life knowledge?
The Great Mechanic Han was baffled. The more he thought about it, the more he felt it was not as simple as he thought.
Could the reason for the two sisters to suicide be that they found out about the Sanctum being able to revive them and wanted to attempt to revive themselves right after committing suicide to prove their theory and confirm that their path was right? Maybe they failed in the end and only left the information of their Esper Abilities behind but not themselves…
Linking this with the situation Kasuyi was in, could the impact of God’s Trait Transformation missions have played a part?
Before they completely died, the word ‘heritage’ was mentioned among their last words… Could they have been pointing at not only their Esper Ability seeds but also The Great Reboot, the Eons of the universe‽
Thinking deeper, could Nerkese and Eros be revived through the Sanctums by using Hila, Aurora, or the Underworld as the medium? If that failed, would it mean that they were still alive in a certain way?
Han Xiao felt the more he thought about it, the more complicated it seemed.
Suppressing the shock and doubts he had, he skipped this topic and continued chatting with the others.
The few of them chatted for a while. Seeing that it was about enough, Han Xiao interrupted them and said with a smile, “Let’s call it a day for today. I’ve already relayed my suggestions. We can be considered friends, so don’t hesitate to come to me if you need anything in the future. Keep in touch.”
Hearing this, everyone nodded, expressing their friendliness.
Han Xiao bade farewell one after another and then equipped the King mechanical suit before disappearing.
Beiger and the others exchanged looks after he left.
“Let’s get going too. Black Star is right. I’m going to focus on training from now on. We’ve acquired such an amazing opportunity. Let’s use it to find breakthroughs and hope to recover to our peak strength,” someone said.
“Hmm… I don’t plan to leave for twenty… no, forty years. I’ll be staying in the Holy Accord.”
Hearing their discussions, Oathkeeper smiled with comfort.
His buddies’ mindsets were finally fixed by Black Star.
My efforts were not wasted…
…
Han Xiao teleported all the way back to Black Star Palace, which was multiple Star Fields away, and opened up the interface immediately. He saw the mission notification that had been flickering for quite a while right away.
_____________________
[Fists Speak the Loudest] Completed!
Your actions have earned the respect of the Primordial Ones. The results were excellent. This will cause unknown affects to the future.
Grade: Unbelievable
+20 Lady Lust Favorability
+20 Tripp Favorability
…
+20 Pangon Favorability
You have received 240 Billion Experience, 8 Random Rewards, and 3 Blank Character Summon Cards.
You have received 10 Awakening Points.
You have received a [The Third Sanctum] Ability Fragment.
You have received talent [Elderly Killer].
[Elderly Killer]: When facing opponents older than you, your basic attack will increase over time up to 15%. At the same time, your Charisma will increase by 40%.
_____________________
“This…”
Han Xiao was speechless.
The rewards were very rich. Very rarely did missions reward Awakening Points directly, and he even got a new talent.
The effect of the talent was quite good, giving him bonus basic attack damage just like [Fearless Heart]…
But what kind of name is this‽
I beat up a group of Primordial Ones, so I became an ‘Elderly Killer’‽
Also, I can understand the bonus attack damage, but what’s with the increased Charm? Did they feel I looked cool fighting? Are they going to cheer for me while I beat them up? Are all elderlies masochists?
Other than these things, the triggering mechanism was quite perfect for him—among the current Beyond Grade As, no one was younger than him…
What a weird talent. Plus, it seems to go against the traditional virtue of respecting the elderly…
Han Xiao shook his head. He went through the reward one more time and closed the interface to ponder about the impact of the things he did this time.
“I beat up the Primordial Ones, getting rid of their pride. This way, they should keep a low profile for a very long time. The Calamity of the Supers will be delayed because of it… I can be less worried for some time now.”
Han Xiao let out a deep breath.
He had a lot of things to do such as study the treasure trove of technology, expand the army, collect the Sanctum fragments, and many more. Time was what he lacked most. The later the Calamity of the Supers broke out, the better it would be for him. It would be best if the signs of it only showed after he became the Beyond Grade A Association president. His position would be very firm if that was the case. Furthermore, guiding the direction the Calamity of the Supers took would be easier.
Currently, the three Universal Civilizations were fighting with the Super Star Cluster Alliance. The universe was unstable, but this was the most stable time for Beyond Grade As. There were no exterior conflicts for them, so they could grow stronger while keeping a low profile. The association would also be able to build a more complete interest network… All things aside, it had only been a few years since the founding of the Beyond Grade A Association. There were way too many things that had to be done.
It’s time to focus on growing for some time… Han Xiao thought.
…
At the same time, Manison and Sorokin, who were in different places, both suddenly felt chills down their spines.
“Weird, why do I feel as if something bad has happened?”
Sorokin was troubled. Dozens of speculations flashed past in his mind.
The response of Manison, however, was much more direct and immediate.
“That little b*stard Black Star is definitely plotting against me again!”
1218 Flames of War, Gaud's Movements
The galactic society in the years of war was filled with endless unrest, changing the lives of quadrillions. Some threw themselves into the tides of the era, some were forcefully dragged into the vortices, and some were firm on living a meaningless life till death.
Protests, revelations, coups, political strife… countless chain reactions spread in the various Star Fields.
The root of this storm in the universe was the Flickering War between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance. After the Immortals disappeared, the war became more and more intense, gradually turning from using representatives to sending in official armies.
Even though both sides kept the battles as undestructive as possible, the large-scale battles between advanced civilizations were not things ordinary organizations could take part in.
The various frontlines in the fourth exploration phase exploration area became almost forbidden grounds. Once the war machines of advanced civilizations started moving, they were different from the battles between individuals with great power. It was as if they had taken over the sky.
In the face of the attacks of the three Universal Civilizations’ official armies, due to the problem of having a limited supply lines, the Super Star Cluster Alliance started to show signs of defeat. Their territories were snatched away time after time, and their battlefronts kept shrinking.
In the midst of all this madness, the Beyond Grade As, however, were unshaken. Their days were spent in comfort, keeping a low profile while slowly completing the association’s profit network, linking the Beyond Grade A organizations from various industries.
While heated wars were going on outside, Han Xiao ignored all of it and announced his isolation. Other than the Beyond Grade A meetings, he did not step out of the gates of his workshop at all, spending all his time studying the technology treasure trove from Jayz.
The operation of the Black Star Army no longer required his attention. With the army’s resources and partnerships with multiple organizations, it slowly expanded the subdivisions in the various Star Fields. The immense profits earned were used by the Great Mechanic Han to study the technology. The army was making so much money that he could not spend it all. His cash power became ever stronger.
With his current position, no one dared mess with him without good reason. As for those who were overconfident and did not know where they stood, the army could easily deal with them. There was no need for Han Xiao to settle those issues personally.
The various Primordial Ones of the Holy Accord organization were training secretly and peacefully. Manison, Sorokin, and the others who had beef with him were also busy with their own things. No one came to disturb him.
In this peaceful environment, the Great Mechanic Han finally had the time to study technology for several years.
During which, he even obtained the Stuarts Peace Prize once and got himself a Legendary Point, as well as some fame for some time.
High-level beings’ sense of time varied. They could make one second feel many times longer to themselves, and they could let pass months in the blink of an eye. Therefore, Han Xiao never felt bored being submerged in the sea of knowledge. He even grew more patient.
Days passed in the flames of war. The time now was Galaxy Calendar Year 738.
…
At a certain secret Crimson Dynasty military training base, all of the lessons had stopped. All the students and drill sergeants gathered in the biggest square and looked up at the enormous virtual screen in the sky.
The screen was split into dozens of smaller windows displaying different images. Most of the screens were showing different angles of a silhouette that was shining brightly from all over his body.
One of the windows that was showing the widest angle was displaying a spherical mechanical satellite that was filled with energy circuits. Condensed chimney-looking devices extended from all over the satellite. Some were absorbing the dark energy that existed everywhere in the cosmic space, and some were shooting out white plasma. The energy circuits on the satellite’s surface flickered like it was breathing. This seemed to be a certain kind of energy cycling and converting device.
If the people on the square looked at the other side of the sky, they would see that many more similar satellites were hovering above the base. One of them was operating, and it was the one shown on the screen.
This was one of the facilities in this training base. Its official name was ‘High Energy Life Form Enhancing Device’, commonly known by the students as the Energy Tower. It only had one function. Through a special method of converting and accumulating energy, it could create a special environment to help Calamity Grades take that crucial step, slightly increasing their chances of becoming Beyond Grade As.
Usually, this device would not be used even once in many years. Now, someone who could use it finally appeared. It was indeed Gaud, who was very famous in the base.
After training for many years in the base, he had finally reached the point where he had to take this step.
All students and drill sergeants came to witness it, holding their breath and waited for the birth of a new Beyond Grade A.
In the images, the shining silhouette was in the middle of the energy vortex created by the device, ravaging the energy around him, creating colorful energy streams that looked like silk as well as fog. It was dreamy.
After some time, the silhouette seemed to have reached saturation and gradually stopped absorbing energy. The brightness of it slowly reduced.
The next moment, Gaud opened his eyes. A beam of light shot out and retracted back one second later.
As he moved his body, he turned into a meteor and flew out from the tunnel within the device. He descended from the sky in front of everyone and hovered above the crowd.
“He did it!”
Deafening sounds of cheers shot up the sky from the square. Everyone present had witnessed the birth of a Beyond Grade A. They were thrilled.
Gaud controlled his body and landed on the ground. The base manager and the chief instructor approached, their faces filled with bright smiles.
“Congratulations on stepping into the territory of the Beyond Grade A. You really did not disappoint the dynasty!”
Back then, the two of them had felt that Grade A had the chance of becoming a Beyond Grade A within eight years, but Gaud had done it in just less than five years. It was better than they expected, and they were happier than anyone because of it.
Gaud moved his fingers around, seemingly familiarizing himself with the new power he had gained. “The dynasty upper echelons should want to see me, when?”
“Yes, the Ruler is already waiting for you.”
“Lead the way then.”
Gaud tone was normal.
The students were chased away by the drill sergeant. Gaud changed his clothes and went with the manager of the base to a remote communication room.
Then, the base manager left leaving Gaud alone in the room.
Gaud operated the communication device, activated the remote projection, and entered the preset channel. The next moment, the environment in his sights changed. He came to the Ruler’s office. Urranrell was sitting in her chair, and Clotti was standing right away.
“Congratulations on becoming a Beyond Grade A. The dynasty is proud of you.” Urranrell’s tone was friendly.
“Greetings, Your Excellency Urranrell.” Gaud nodded.
“You’ve done a great job. Your growth exceeded our expectations…”
Urranrell gave him some words of praise and encouragement. This was the patriotic education every direct Beyond Grade A had to go through. It was to encourage them to contribute to the dynasty.
After saying that, Urranrell quickly got to business and said, “The dynasty will adjust your authority, privileges, and position as soon as possible. Do you have any thoughts about the position you’d like to take?”
“My power isn’t solid yet. I don’t wish to take on any positions for the time being. As for the future… I think my ability is very suitable for the research and developments area. I hope to take on a position in the dynasty’s Science Institute.”
Gaud smiled faintly.
“Hmm, the dynasty will consider your suggestion.” Urranrell nodded.
This time, Gaud narrowed his eyes and said, “Speaking of which, I’m already a Beyond Grade A now. Is the plan regarding the Evolution Cube going to be carried out?”
Hearing this, Urranrell’s movements paused for a second.
Many years ago, the dynasty’s upper echelons had secretly made a plan to use Gaud’s Esper Ability to analyze the energy composition of the Evolution Cube after Gaud became a Beyond Grade A. This way, they would have a chance to secretly crack part of the mechanisms of the Evolution Cube, so the dynasty would acquire this technology as a form of insurance.
However, the Black Star Army had been growing stronger too quickly over the past years. The risk of this plan had increased rapidly. After Black Star became the Special Safety Consultant of the three Universal Civilizations, this plan was indefinitely postponed.
Urranrell went silent for a few seconds, shook her head, and said, “This plan won’t be carried out yet. We don’t wish to damage our relationship with Black Star for now, even if the chance of that is very low.”
Gaud narrowed his eyes and asked, “Alright, will I still have the privilege of using the Evolution Cube?”
“Yes. If you want it, submit a request. We’ll arrange to put you in the next fleet headed for the Flickering World to use the Evolution Cube.”
Then, Urranrell paused and added, “When you arrive at the Flickering World, go to Planet Finn while you’re there and join the Beyond Grade A Association. The dynasty needs more direct members in the association to keep an eye on their movements.”
“Sure, I’ll go.”
The two of them talked for a while more before cutting off the communication. From the start to the end, Clotti did not say a word.
After the remote projection was deactivated, Gaud returned to his room. His eyes were flickering.
He pondered for a while, then as he was about to exit the room, his private communicator suddenly rang. He received an encrypted communication request. It was surprisingly from Bekorodi.
Gaud made contact with the hawk faction very long ago. Bekorodi was one of the upper echelons of the military hawk faction. After the plan was postponed, the two of them had not spoken in a very long time. He was curious as to why Bekorodi called him.
The communication was picked up very soon.
“Gaud?”
“It’s me. What is it?”
“Congrats on becoming a Beyond Grade A. Remember the plan back then? Stick to it. When you’re going through the evolution process from the Evolution Cube, use your ability to analyze the Evolution Energy.” In the encrypted channel, Bekorodi’s voice was very blurry.
“Oh? That’s not what the ruler said.” Gaud found it interesting.
Bekorodi seemed to have expected this. He lowered his voice and said, “The Flickering War won’t last for long.”
This reply did not seem to answer Gaud’s question at all, but he understood what Bekorodi meant.
The entire dynasty knew that Urranrell’s term was about to end, and that would certainly happen after the war ended. Then, the already chosen new ruler would take her place.
Toward the end of her term, Urranrell’s control over the upper echelons weakened unavoidably. The identity of the new ruler was a secret to the outside world but not to someone like Bekorodi.
Although Gaud did not know who the new ruler was, he was almost certain Bekorodi telling him to continue the plan of analyzing the Evolution Cube was already secretly approved by the new ruler.
Through this, Gaud could see that the next ruler seemed to be more controlling. It was no wonder the next ruler was close to the hawk faction.
From another perspective, this might also be because the new ruler did not wish to execute such a risky plan during their term, so they wanted to carry out this plan at the end of Urranrell’s term.
Gaud thought for a while before slowly saying, “Understood, I’ll find a way.”
“Good, I’m counting on you.”
Bekorodi gave a short response before hanging up.
Gaud did not take this matter to heart at all. He looked like he was thinking of something in the past.
“Black Star, we’re finally going to meet again…”
…
A few days later, in the Black Star Army commander’s private workshop, Han Xiao was debugging the machines when he suddenly received a report from Phillip.
“Master, I’ve received the name list for the next batch of candidates from the dynasty who are going to accept the evolution process from the Evolution Cube hum.”
Han Xiao continued to do his things and said casually, “Anyone worth paying attention to?”
“Yes, yes. A new direct Beyond Grade A of the dynasty is on this list. His name is Gaud, hum!”
Han Xiao’s movement suddenly stopped.
“Gaud?”
He put down the work in his hands, brought the list up, and looked at the basic information of Gaud. His eyes instantly narrowed as he searched through his memories.
“I think I met him a few times decades ago when fighting the Kunde Race. He seemed to only be an aide-de-camp back then…”
That’s weird. I didn’t expect this guy to become a Beyond Grade A. This guy did not exist in my previous life. Is this because of the butterfly effects I’ve caused again?
Han Xiao grinned slightly.
“Interesting. When this guy gets here, I’m going to find out what’s going on.”
Anyway, no matter who Gaud was, since such a person did not appear in his previous life, there were definitely some secrets within him. He might even come across a hidden mission or sorts, so there was no reason for him to let it past.
Phillip’s report interrupted his work. Han Xiao thought about it and decided to rest a while. He left the workshop, entered his personal lounge, and sat on the couch. He waved his hand to have the mechanical assistant bring some snacks and drinks, then browsed the recent news on the quantum network.
During the version upgrade, the forums were frozen, so Han Xiao lost a major form of entertainment. In his free time, other than teleporting to Floating Dragon Island to accompany Ames, all he did was look at the news online.
Looking at the situation of the Flickering War, Han Xiao thought, Yo, it’s already at this stage. The Super Star Cluster Alliance is almost going to lose grip. Looks like they couldn’t change their fate. The ending of the war is near.
Due to the butterfly effect he caused, Han Xiao could not accurately predict which exact day the Flickering War would end. However, judging from the current situation, the dust would probably settle within three years. The Super Star Cluster Alliance would not be able to last much longer.
The Flickering War broke out in Galaxy Calendar Year 732. Six years had already passed. This was close to what he predicted. He felt that the war would last at least three to five years, and at most ten to twenty years.
Although the Intelligent Plague broke out in advance, causing the Super Star Cluster Alliance to have more time to prepare, there were still way too many factors that caused them to have disadvantages. The Super Star Cluster Alliance were fighting a defensive war. The battlefield was far from their territory, they were surrounded by enemies like an island. In the past years, the three Universal Civilizations cut off tons of secret supply routes of the enemy, causing the Super Star Cluster Alliance to have less and less external support. Their situation was becoming worse every day. The only way for the Super Star Cluster Alliance to get out of this situation was through external means, dispatching soldiers from their home territory and making new battle zones in other Star Fields. However, if they did that, the nature of the war would become completely different. The laws between advanced civilizations would break, and the scale of the war would jump multiple levels. The war would become much more intense.
They were just putting down a small bet. No one could take the consequences of flipping the table completely.
Han Xiao rubbed his chin and said, “When the war is over, the Crimson Dynasty and the Federation of Light are both going to have different leaders. Urranrell’s term will end, and she’ll retire. The new ruler… tsk, a troublesome person.”
He was not sure if the butterfly effect he caused would change who the next ruler was, but the chance of that was not high. Hence, of course, he knew who the new ruler was.
Although he occasionally had trouble with Urranrell, the partnership was quite pleasant. However, the next ruler was someone in the hawk faction who had different ways of doing things. In his previous life, the Calamity of the Supers and the Silver Revolutionary Army both happened during the term of the new ruler. The next ruler was also the ruler the players were most familiar with in his previous life.
The ruler was not as lenient toward the Supers, which was also one of the reasons the Calamity of the Supers broke out. The next president of the Federation of Light was also not the nicest person.
“When the new ruler takes office, he’ll definitely make contact with all the Beyond Grade A allies. I hope things can stay the same.”
Han Xiao shook his head. Throughout history, every time the new took over the old, a lot of problems would come up.
He put this thought behind him and looked at the interface. Currently, his (God’s Trait Transformation Machinery] was already at the twelfth stage. He settled all the prerequisite missions with Mission Completion Cards, so he only spent a total of seven God’s Trait Transformation Points.
The cost of leveling up to the thirteenth stage was eight points with three prerequisite missions. This meant that it would at least require five God’s Trait Transformation Points.
The technology treasure trove from Jayz consisted of Gold blueprints. This was a gold mountain that needed to be digested slowly. Han Xiao only studied part of it in the past years, and he already felt that his inventory had become richer.
If he was to accumulate Contribution Points and exchange Gold blueprints from the three Universal Civilizations, God knew when he would be able to obtain this much knowledge.
Han Xiao considered the technology as his final trump card and had yet to display any of it. He believed that once he used it in front of others, the various civilizations and the other Beyond Grade As would probably be in an uproar, and he would face tons of trouble. Hence, it was better to slowly study them for now.
More than two months later, a dynasty fleet arrived at Black Star Palace, carrying the new batch of dynasty elites there to receive the evolution process from the Evolution Cube.
Spaceships rode into the dock at the exterior base of Black Star Palace one after another. The hatches opened, and the elites from the various departments of the dynasty swarmed out, gathering on the platform. As the only Beyond Grade A, Gaud naturally became the leader. As soon as he stepped onto the dock, a few army receptionists approached him directly.
“Elites of the dynasty, welcome to the Black Star Army. The army commander has been waiting. Please follow me.”
Then, the receptionist led the way ahead, and the crowd followed behind.
They quickly came to an intersection.
This time, the receptionist stopped, turned to Gaud, and said, “Your Excellency Gaud, the army commander would like to chat with you. Please follow me to see the army commander. As for the rest of you, my colleague will bring you to the hall to wait for the evolution
process.”
This was the army’s territory. The two sides had been partners for many years, so the dynasty elites had no objections. Black Star’s love for networking spread across the entire universe; no one found this strange. “Lead the way then.”
Gaud nodded with a calm expression.
The crowd split into two and went different directions. Gaud followed the receptionist. The footsteps of the others soon faded.
The two of them came to a private guest room, opened the door, and walked in. Gaud immediately saw Han Xiao, who was standing in front of the window, facing away from him. The stars were shining brightly outside the window. The person in front of the window was tall, muscular, and had wide shoulders, giving off a manly vibe all over his body. He looked like a Pugilist.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Han Xiao turned around, gave a friendly smile, and pointed at the seat with a hand gesture.
“You must be Gaud. The dynasty got another direct Beyond Grade A member, congratulations. Quick, please sit.” “We meet again. Do you still remember me?” Gaud sat down, his tone casual. “Of course, we met once during the Kunde Race war.”
Han Xiao sat opposite Gaud, secretly sizing him up. He was now completely certain this person never existed in his previous life. He wondered where he came from.
Gaud nodded, smiled faintly, and said, “Yes, then you definitely remember what I said back then. I said we’ll surely become colleagues one day, and now it has come true.”
“I like your confidence. I love to make friends with people who have a lot of potential.” Han Xiao nodded but was secretly pondering in his mind.
From how it looked, this guy was someone who had extreme confidence. Even when speaking with him, he was casual and did not put himself in a lower position… This was very common among the new Beyond Grade As. It only felt arrogant but nothing strange other than that.
In the database of the dynasty, the information of the direct Beyond Grade As was all kept secret. Even with Han Xiao’s authorization as an ally, he could only find some of the basic information, and Gaud’s past was very clean. He looked like a regular military man of the dynasty.
Han Xiao was only curious because this person did not exist in his previous life. He did not have any other suspicions for now.
Gaud was a direct member of the dynasty, so Han Xiao was in no position to question him. Of course, he was not going to cause trouble with a colleague just to satisfy his curiosity.
Afterward, they had a casual and pleasant chat.
After a while, Han Xiao felt it was time and said with a smile, “I’m a little curious as to what your ability is. Is it ok to tell me?”
“The world will know my ability sooner or later. But before that, let me keep it a secret for some time. This is what the dynasty requested too.” Gaud grinned and refused.
Seeing this, Han Xiao did not continue to push him but neither did he give up-he decided to sting him later.
They chatted for a while longer. Gaud actively stopped their chat and said with a smile, “Black Star, let’s stop chatting for now. The others are still waiting. I want to go through the evolution process as soon as possible. I still have to visit Planet Finn and request to join the Beyond Grade A Association.”
“Oh, that’s easy. I’m the vice president. I’ll handle the procedures needed.” Han Xiao stood up. “Since you’re in a hurry, I won’t keep you. Let’s keep in contact in the future.”
Then, the two of them walked out of the room side by side and came to the hall where the dynasty elites gathered. They were all waiting there.
Han Xiao said a few words of encouragement and raised his hand. The Evolution Cube hovered and spun in front of him.
He entered the secret code to activate it. Black Evolution Energy gushed out and swept past everyone like a tide. Then energy solidified and black cocoons appeared in the hall. Gaud was in one of them.
The place became silent instantly. Only Han Xiao was able to walk around.
Hehe, kid, you can’t move now, can you?
Han Xiao giggled, stowing the Evolution Cube. Then, he controlled the nanoparticles to form a needle and poked it into the black cocoon Gaud was in.
He knew how it felt to go through the evolution process. They would feel an overwhelming itch all over their body. The senses inside their body would be enhanced, and their senses of the outside world would become dull.
Even if Gaud discovered he did this, he was not worried. After all, he could easily find an excuse for it.
The combat information popped up on the interface, and Han Xiao browsed through it carefully. “Gaud, level… oh, 240? He’s got a lot of potential, his level is the same as mine when I became a Beyond Grade A… Woah, this guy’s ability is Energy Control! This is the top tier ability among the Super High Risk Esper Abilities. It actually really exists. No wonder he’s so secretive about it. This ability almost counters all classes…”
Han Xiao was secretly shocked.
There were stronger and weaker Super High Risk Esper Abilities too, and Energy Control was undoubtedly top tier. It only existed in theory before, but now it really appeared. Gaud was probably the first ever person to possess this ability.
His ability was outrageously powerful, and his potential was also very high. If he continued training, becoming a peak Beyond Grade A would only be a matter of time. It was no wonder the dynasty poured so many resources into training him and kept him a highly confidential secret. This kid got a golden future!
In the battle of Beyond Grade As, one’s Esper Ability was a decisive factor too. If Gaud reached the same level as Clotti, Gaud would have a more than ninety-percent chance of beating Clotti. This was the advantage his Esper Ability had.
Energy Control countered almost all Supers. Be it psychic, magic, psionic, or dark energy, they were all included in the energy this ability could control. The only restriction was the user’s strength, which decided the limits of his control.
It would not be an exaggeration to say when Gaud reached his peak, he would be absolutely qualified to compete for the spot of the strongest individual in the entire explored universe.
No wonder he was so confident, anyone who had an Esper Ability with infinite potential like this one would be very confident about their future.
How did the dynasty get this lucky? Where did they find this guy? Han Xiao exclaimed in his mind, but then he wondered. Wait a minute, if he has such an extremely powerful Esper Ability, he shouldn’t have been completely unknown in my previous life.
Did he die in my previous life and the butterfly effect I caused saved him?
Han Xiao continued browsing the interface with these doubts in his mind. He was then appalled to discover that Gaud’s attributes were quite irregular. The other attributes suited his level, but his Intellect and Mystic were way too high. One was more than 9,000, and the other was 13,000.
That doesn’t check out. When I became a Beyond Grade A at level 240, my highest attribute, Intellect, was only just over six thousand, and my second highest attribute, Endurance, was little more than four thousand. How are his attributes so high? This is almost the normal standard for Beyond Grade As who are about level 320!
Han Xiao initially only wanted to look at his Esper Ability, but he discovered more and more dubious things on the way, and he got more and more suspicious.
He looked through his information for some time. Suddenly, his eyes were drawn to one of Gaud’s talents as he discovered another anomaly.
(Esper Ability-Rebirth]: Your body has been reborn. Your soul is still strong. You have inherited a fraction of the Intelligence and Mystery attributes from before.
This is…
Han Xiao’s eyes immediately widened.
He could think of many things just from the name of this talent.
There’s indeed something unusual!
This kid is probably just some new Beyond Grade A. His secrets seem to be more shocking than I thought!
1220 Speculation
Looking at Gaud’s cocoon, Han Xiao started pondering.
According to the introduction of [Esper Ability—Rebirth], it was similar to how Psychics could possess others’ minds, as well as Sorokin’s ability to keep changing identities. Judging from the several anomalies on Gaud’s attributes in the interface, he was most likely someone who ‘started a new account’.
The detailed mechanisms of this ability were still unknown. It should be in the form of changing a body but keeping the same soul. If that was the case, judging from Gaud’s Intellect and Mystic attributes, he should have been a Beyond Grade A before he was reborn.
This was where the problem lay—the ability [Esper Ability—Rebirth] almost had no combat capability and extremely limited uses, as well as a very low growth potential. It should not allow the user to become a Beyond Grade A.
Either Gaud did not have [Esper Ability—Rebirth] and received help from another Super who had it to complete the rebirth, or a Grade A became a Beyond Grade A with both Energy Control and [Esper Ability—Rebirth].
There was not much speculation to be done if it was the former, but if it was the latter, Han Xiao only knew one person who had this ability…
EsGod!
Could it be that b*stard? His body is locked in the Spacetime Amber but his soul escaped?
Han Xiao’s eyes flickered. He was used to making daring speculations.
The chance of EsGod breaking out of the Spacetime Amber was very low, which meant he would have done it before he was captured.
The possibility of this was not low. EsGod had enemies everywhere, so he would have most likely prepared for it. Plus, he absorbed so many strange Esper Abilities. There was a high chance he had this type of ability. Maybe this was why he dared to make enemies everywhere, since he could ‘start a new account’ once his main account was done for.
However, [Esper Ability—Rebirth] was somewhat different from other ways of changing bodies. For example, no matter how many times Sorokin changed bodies, his abilities would remain the same. His soul was his foundation. However, the foundation of being able to absorb Esper Abilities was in the genetics of EsGod’s body, and his body was trapped in the Spacetime Amber. If Gaud was really EsGod, by changing into another body, his abilities should have changed too. He would have lost the ability to absorb Esper Abilities and only have one Esper Ability, [Energy Control].
Could it be that Gaud is a secret container EsGod prepared for himself? Hmm, EsGod was always driven to create Super High Risk Esper Abilities. Energy Control might be the results of many years’ work. That b*stard might have really succeeded in fusing a ton of Esper Abilities into one overpowered ability and somehow planted it into Gaud’s body…
Han Xiao pondered.
Gaud did not appear out of nowhere; he had a complete life. Since the dynasty was confident enough to pour resources onto him, the dynasty was definitely certain that Gaud’s background was clean.
If this was EsGod’s doing, he definitely started to prepare for it a very long time ago. Somehow, he was able to create an identity with a clean background.
If this speculation was true, EsGod joining the three Universal Civilizations after being reborn would not just be to simply ‘join them if you can’t defeat them’ but part of a very ambitious and huge plan.
This might be how it happened…
To achieve his goal, EsGod committed countless crimes, became an enemy of the world, and finally created a Super High Risk Esper Ability with infinite potential. However, the identity ‘EsGod’ was too notorious, so he would never have peace even though he obtained this ability. Furthermore, his genetic chain became overloaded as a side effect of absorbing countless Esper Abilities. He might have planned to give up this identity long ago!
Therefore, EsGod planted the Super High Risk Esper Ability he created into a ‘container’, waiting for the day to use Rebirth and shift his soul into it. Thus, he got a new life, a new identity, and joined the three Universal Civilizations with the Super High Risk Esper Ability he had obtained. He was raised by the three Universal Civilizations and wiped his history completely clean!
Han Xiao pondered.
EsGod is definitely someone who could do something like this. He does not care about whether he’s a wanted criminal or a member of a civilization. All that matters is how much he will benefit from the faction he’s in. He only ever had one goal, to step into that higher territory…
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. This should be one of EsGod’s many plans.
However, all of this relied on the assumption of ‘Gaud is EsGod’ being true. Actually, just having [Esper Ability—Rebirth] could not prove this to be completely true.
Although he felt there was a high chance Gaud was EsGod, the evidence was not enough for him to fully believe it.
Make daring speculations and cautiously search for evidence… it’s a pity Bold Explorer can’t be used on people.
Han Xiao shook his head.
No matter who Gaud really was, he did a perfect job of rebirthing, not leaving any clues behind. He thought no one would notice it, which was why he was so confident and relaxed when he was with Han Xiao.
Luckily, my level is higher than his, so I saw all of his abilities. I might be the only one who’s discovered Gaud’s secrets…
Han Xiao did not leave but sat on the side and waited while brainstorming.
After a while, the black cocoons in the room shattered one after another. Dynasty elites completed the evolution process and came out of it one after another, feeling refreshed. Seeing that Han Xiao was still there waiting for them, they could not help but feel flattered.
Gaud took the longest and came out of the cocoon last.
“How are you feeling?” Han Xiao acted completely normal and spoke with a friendly tone.
“Quite good.” Gaud glanced at Han Xiao. “When I was inside, I felt someone poke me with a needle. Was that you?”
“Haha, don’t mind it. That’s a needle used to check if the evolution process is going smoothly. You’re a direct member of the dynasty, so I have to pay more attention. After all, the evolution process is not completely safe. There are still risks, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.” Han Xiao smiled and easily found an excuse to cover it up.
Gaud nodded and calmly said, “Thanks for your concern. I have to go to Planet Finn, so I won’t disturb you any longer.”
Seeing that Gaud intended to leave, Han Xiao did not stop him. “Alright, I won’t keep you then. See you in the association.”
Then, Han Xiao turned around and left the hall, quickly disappearing from everyone’s sights.
Gaud’s eyes gleamed, followed the receptionist and returned to the dock, led the dynasty elites back to the fleet.
The dynasty fleet quickly left the dock, shot into the galaxy, and split up into two groups. One headed back with the dynasty elites, and the other carried Gaud to head to Planet Finn deep in the Flickering World.
In the spaceship, Gaud looked at Black Star Palace getting further in the porthole. A slight grin appeared on his face.
“Black Star, oh, Black Star, I said we will meet again sooner or later, but never would you have expected not to recognize me when I stand in front of you again, even enthusiastically trying to befriend me…”
Seeing how Black Star had absolutely no idea, Gaud could not help but laugh in his mind.
Tricking Black Star right under his nose felt strangely thrilling.
During the evolution process earlier, he used his ability to try to analyze the Evolution Energy. With the edge his ability had, he already had some clues.
“No wonder this is an ability only thought to exist in theory. With enough time, I’ll have a sixty-percent chance of figuring out the Evolution Energy. My position will then skyrocket in the dynasty, and the upper echelons will also be more likely to agree with my request of being stationed at the Science Institute when they see the results. This way, I’ll be closer to the dynasty’s research results of that set of data from back then…”
A snicker appeared on Gaud’s face as he went through the plan in his mind.
…
Han Xiao watched the departing dynasty fleet from his office.
“I did not act differently. Gaud should not know that I’ve already seen through his secrets. The most important thing now is to find out who this guy really is. He’s a big uncertainty…”
Han Xiao frowned slightly.
The situation was not in his favor currently. Gaud was a direct member of the dynasty. This identity protected him. There were many things Han Xiao could not do because of it.
The imminent issue was to acquire evidence to prove there was something abnormal with Gaud. Only then would he have sufficient reasons to do something.
Otherwise, if he beat up a new direct Beyond Grade A whom the dynasty expected a lot of for no reason, he could easily imagine just how strongly the dynasty would respond.
The dynasty had to take responsibility for all of its direct members, so they would certainly never compromise or take a step back. In the worst case, the dynasty would instantly become his enemy, which would destroy almost all the preparation he had done up till now. Even though he was very useful to the dynasty, when it came to this kind of thing, there was zero room for negotiation. The dynasty would not hesitate to lose him as an ally.
As long as there was no evidence, any explanation for such actions would be meaningless.
If he really had to act without enough evidence, he had to do it secretly and wipe out all the clues. There could not be witnesses, clues, or anything else, and he must not fail…
“The risk is too high. There’ll be tons of problems if I’m even slightly careless.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
Clearly, giving up the profit network and connections he had built up over all the years just for Gaud was certainly not worth it. Unless he had no other choice, he would never do it.
There was a less risky path now, so Han Xiao did not want to take this risk.
If Gaud really is EsGod, something has definitely happened with the body he left in the Spacetime Amber… Looks like I’ll have to request from the dynasty to visit EsGod.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
Gaud still had to stay in the Flickering World for some time. It would be best to figure things out before he returned. Otherwise, things would be much more difficult once Gaud returned to the dynasty’s territory no matter what he wanted to do.
Ding!
While he was pondering, a notification popped up on the interface.
_____________________
You have triggered the hidden mission [Gaud’s Secret]!
Mission Introduction: Gaud is a new direct Beyond Grade A of the Crimson Dynasty. During your contact with him, you noticed something abnormal about him. This might be a shocking secret.
Mission Requirements: Figure out Gaud’s secret.
Reward: 1 Character Summon Card, draw one ability/talent from the target.
Tip: This mission might affect your relationship with the Crimson Dynasty faction. Please decide how to act cautiously.
_____________________
Han Xiao looked at the interface.
A hidden mission… Was it triggered because I saw his abilities? That’s not an easy trigger condition… I can only see all of Gaud’s abilities because my level is higher than his. I’m probably the only person who can trigger this mission.
1221 Release
After a short while, he received the response.
“Hmm? My file got sent back?”
Han Xiao looked at the virtual screen in front of him that was showing the request file he sent to the dynasty.
A red stamp was added to the bottom right corner of the file that wrote ‘Unapproved’ in the dynasty’s language. This meant that his request was rejected.
“The dynasty isn’t letting me visit EsGod. What does that mean?”
Han Xiao frowned. He took out his communicator, thought for a while, and did not call Urranrell’s private number but her office.
The communicator rang for a while and was picked up very soon. Seeing that it was Black Star calling, the liaison officer directed the call to the head secretary of the office.
“Your Excellency Black Star, what can I do for you?” The head secretary had a good relationship with Han Xiao.
“I have just sent a request to visit EsGod, but it was not approved. Is this Urranrell’s decision?”
“Ah, Her Excellency has been attending a meeting, so it shouldn’t be her. I didn’t know about this. Your request was not reported to us.”
“Can you check which department processed the request for me?”
“Sure, please wait for a moment…”
The head secretary searched through the internal system for a while and brought up the files before sighing.
“This is the collective decision of the dynasty’s main artificial intelligence, Heroic Soul, and the prison department. I looked at their internal remarks. The location of EsGod is top secret, and no one is allowed to visit under normal circumstances. Your Excellency Black Star, you are a special case. You’re surprisingly on their visiting blacklist…”
“Why am I on the blacklist? What did I do?” Han Xiao was confused.
The head secretary sighed and said, “You didn’t do anything, but you’re currently the only person in the world who can release EsGod. Therefore, before the five-hundred-year sentence ends, you’re not allowed to visit…”
Han Xiao was speechless.
I caught EsGod for the dynasty, and now I can’t even visit him?
Alright, from the dynasty’s perspective, this is logical. I’m the only person in the universe who can open the Spacetime Amber seal, so I’m the only one who has the ability to release him. This way, the reason for the dynasty rejecting my visit seems normal. It’s simply to avoid risk.
Although it was not wrong for the dynasty to do this, Han Xiao was still disheartened emotionally.
He thought the request would be smoothly approved. He did not expect it to get rejected.
“Can’t something be done?” Han Xiao frowned.
“The authorization level for EsGod’s prison is very high. If you must visit him, you’ll have to ask the Ruler to help. She can approve your request, but it’ll need a sensible reason, otherwise…”
Hearing that, Han Xiao nodded.
He had quite a good relationship with Urranrell, but there was no way she could just approve it without a valid reason.
Han Xiao hung up the communication. Urranrell was in a quite important meeting, so he had to wait a while before he could contact her. Since there was time, he used it to think about what to say.
“I was going to see EsGod by visiting him, but sadly, that won’t work. Without a valid reason, the dynasty won’t allow me to get close to EsGod’s cell in any form. Even the coordinates of the prison are a secret, and I don’t have the authority to check it…”
Han Xiao tutted with dissatisfaction.
Simply saying he wanted to check on EsGod would not be able to convince the dynasty. Plus, he had to open the amber seal if he wanted to check on EsGod. The best method was still to come up with a special reason so that the dynasty would allow him to open the amber. The risk of this method was the lowest.
If he could not convince the dynasty, he would probably have to imitate Old Manison and try to hack into the dynasty’s database to search for related information. Although he would offend the dynasty by doing so, stealing information was not too serious an offence… but this could only be the backup plan.
After a while, the secretary sent a message to him saying that the Ruler’s meeting ended. Han Xiao then called Urranrell’s private number, and it was picked up very quickly.
Urranrell appeared on the screen with a calm face and cut to the chase.
“Black Star, I heard you just tried to contact me and want to visit EsGod, why?”
Although she hid it very well, Han Xiao was very observant and saw that Urranrell was a little mentally tired. He thought about it and said, “EsGod has already been locked up for decades. I want to open the seal and check on the status of his soul. ”
“Is that necessary?” Urranrell frowned. “You were the one who suggested the five-hundred-year sentence, and it’s only been a few decades. With EsGod’s strength, his soul won’t have dissipated this quickly. Opening the seal now will only cause trouble.”
“Ahem, I was not strong enough back then and had a limited understanding of the level of strength EsGod has. That’s why I suggested that the sentence should be as long as possible. Five hundred years was just a rough estimate. Now that I’ve reached this level and have a deeper understanding of the Spacetime Amber, I’ve discovered that wiping out the soul of a Beyond Grade A probably won’t take that long.”
Han Xiao said the reason he had prepared. He did not have proof to explain his suspicion of Gaud, so saying that would only make the dynasty suspicious. Thus, he did not mention Gaud.
Urranrell did not doubt him but still shook her head and said, “I don’t think that’s needed. EsGod is too dangerous. I still think imprisoning him is the safest. The dynasty can afford to wait that long.”
Han Xiao expected Urranrell to say this; he was not surprised. “Experimenting on him is just one of the goals. I actually have other worries. I’ve only come to understand how strong someone at this level is, and thinking back now, I realized that capturing EsGod was too easy. Something’s not right. From what I know about EsGod, he very likely escaped using some kind of soul-related ability. I’m worried that we’ve been tricked, so I want to open the seal and check.”
Urranrell’s eyes flickered, but she was still not very convinced.
“Evidence?”
Han Xiao deliberately spoke in a solemn tone. “This is just speculation, which is why I want to verify it. But if you need evidence, you can ask Lotus Swordsman. Back when we caught EsGod, she sensed a strange soul ripple from EsGod. I suspect that was where the problem lay.”
Gaud was a star the dynasty had high hopes for, so mentioning him was not a wise choice. Han Xiao’s words were mainly targeted at EsGod.
Hearing this, Urranrell finally became serious about the issue and immediately told the head secretary to contact Lotus Swordsman.
Lotus Swordsman came online very quickly and agreed that it did happen. Only about thirty years had passed since it happened, so she remembered it vividly.
Seeing this, Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief in his mind. This evidence actually could not prove anything. Everyone thought that it was just EsGod’s final meaningless struggle. However, now that he made use of it to make his excuse sound more convincing… If this did not happen, convincing Urranrell would probably have been much more difficult.
Having received a response, Urranrell went silent, seemingly analyzing the pros and cons. After a while, she looked up right at Han Xiao’s eyes and said seriously, “Black Star, if EsGod gets free, can you guarantee you can capture him again?”
Han Xiao smiled. “I could do it then; I can do it now.”
He no longer had the Esper Silence Character Summon Card, but after decades, he was much stronger than before. Even if his guess was wrong, he would just have to seal EsGod up once more.
Furthermore, the others did not know that the Character Summon Card was a one-time ability. They would only think that he could still use the ability.
Urranrell pondered for quite a while and nodded in the end.
“Okay, I’ll approve it! Since your suspicion makes sense, open the seal and check EsGod’s status. Make sure that we did not capture an empty shell!”
…
Over ten days later…
A huge cube shaped mechanical building hovered in space. It was a galactic fortress covered with armor and shields that were more than enough to endure bombardments from hostile fleets. This was the space prison EsGod was locked up in.
At this point of time, dense dynasty fleets surrounded the prison. Cannons extended from every battleship, all ready to fire.
A black silhouette hovered near the prison. It was Han Xiao. He had opened the secondary dimensional army box and was summoning his army, forming a second encirclement.
Gaud was still on his way in the Flickering World. Han Xiao wasted no time and directly used the King to teleport into the dynasty’s subdivision in their territory, boarded the dynasty fleet that was there to pick him up, spent about ten days traveling, and finally arrived at this restricted area.
After summoning countless mechanical soldiers, Han Xiao finally closed the secondary dimensional army box gate and said in the communication channel, “I’m ready. Activate all spacetime stabilization devices and open the prison core.”
“Roger.” The fleet commander’s serious voice sounded in the channel.
The next moment, an invisible ripple extended from the fleet’s center. The spacetime of this area instantly ‘tightened’. The spacetime coefficients of this area became extremely stable. Almost all abilities related to spacetime became useless.
Then, the space prison opened layers by layers like a blossoming flower showing its stamen. The core of the prison was an egg-shaped cabin that stored the Spacetime Amber of EsGod, tightly locked in place by the mechanical structure of the prison.
As the prison opened, the egg-shaped cabin was unlocked as well. Its independent power system started operating. The thrusters shot out flames and slowly pushed the cabin out.
As Han Xiao extended his arm, his Mechanical Force pulled the ten-meter-long egg-shaped cabin toward him. He then opened the cabin door.
A familiar face entered his sights. It was EsGod, who had been trapped in the Spacetime Amber for decades. He still had the same expression and posture as his last moment of freedom before he was locked up.
“All units ready! Prepare to fire!”
The fleet commander’s grave toned voice sounded in the communication channel.
Even after decades, the fear EsGod had left in people’s hearts had yet to fade away.
“Now, it’s time to verify my speculation…”
Han Xiao looked into EsGod’s eyes, took a deep breath, took out the core of the Spacetime Amber, and poked at the Spacetime Amber seal.
Pop!
It was as if the crisp sound of the Spacetime Amber shattering could be heard.
The prison that locked EsGod up was opened, but his body did not move. It only floated in the vacuum right before Han Xiao’s eyes.
“Is it already an empty shell…”
Han Xiao took out a suction plate shaped device and placed it on EsGod. This was a device used to detect the state of one’s soul.
Although Mechanics were not experts in the soul territory, at his level, building a device to only detect if the target had a soul was not a problem.
As the suction plate was just about to touch EsGod’s body, the next moment, Han Xiao suddenly felt a resistance force at his wrist as if someone suddenly grabbed his wrist tightly. His hand stopped moving abruptly.
Han Xiao immediately looked up at EsGod’s eyes that had color once again.
At the same time, a deep mind message entered Han Xiao’s mind.
“Like I said, we’d meet again sooner or later…”
1222 Deception Is the Way of Wars
EsGod’s tone was filled with mockery.
Han Xiao’s pupils constricted.
This body isn’t an empty shell‽
His first thought was that he got Gaud’s identity wrong and set EsGod free for nothing.
However, when he heard what EsGod said, his eyes gleamed, and he asked, “Why were you so sure I’d definitely let you out?”
“Oh? You’re not letting me out to seek help from me?” EsGod’s brows raised. “You didn’t station so many soldiers here just to open the amber and see if I’m dead yet, did you?”
Seek help? Right, this b*stard knows about the World Tree Civilization and left the wormhole data behind. He might think that when the advanced civilizations discover the World Tree Civilization, they’ll most likely let him out to ask him for information. Is that why he said that we’d meet again sooner or later?
The Spacetime Amber froze everything except the soul that was also trapped inside the body. EsGod knew absolutely nothing about the outside world in the past decades. His impression of the universe was still the same as when he got captured.
The mind conversation happened in the split of a second. The movements of the two of them did not stop during it.
Hu!
EsGod backed away instantly and was about to teleport right away, only to realize that the spacetime of the area around him was stabilized and he could not teleport. He quickly analyzed the strength of the encirclement he was in and came to the conclusion that he would not be able to break through it using ordinary methods. Hence, he quickly thought of other ways to escape and started to use his Dimension Crack ability to fill this area. As long as he could create just a tiny crack, he would be able to escape with teleportation.
Although he did not know why the dynasty let him out, to him, escaping was his top priority.
Han Xiao acted immediately. He led the dozens of Apostle Weapons and many mechanical soldiers forward to surround EsGod. It did not matter what was going on with EsGod. As long as this body was not an empty shell, he had to seal it up once again.
The dynasty fleet around started attacking. All kinds of control-type weapons were also launched continuously. Dark-red energy filled the space.
The battle erupted in an instant!
EsGod was submerged in countless attacks in the blink of an eye.
“Back then, it took eleven Beyond Grade As to finally catch me. Black Star, you’re alone now. How are you going to capture me?”
EsGod’s mocking voice appeared in Han Xiao’s head. Despite being heavily surrounded, he did not panic at all.
After he evolved, the load on his genetic chain had drastically decreased. His strength was undoubtedly at the top tier in the universe. Although he had just come out of the Spacetime Amber, his soul was in a weakened state and had no time to prepare dozens of Beyond Grade A level doppelgangers, he still had the health-energy conversion ability.
Using [Esper Ability—Black Hole], EsGod could convert the attacks he received into his own energy, then use his regeneration Esper Ability to heal at a rapid rate. The enhanced ability to convert energy into health that Han Xiao had was obtained from EsGod too.
If EsGod had time to prepare dozens of doppelgangers in advance, he would probably have been able to single-handedly deal with the Stars Alliance world that Han Xiao had once experienced. Currently, most peak Beyond Grade As were no match for EsGod. Plus, with the many slippery space related Esper Abilities he had, he was basically undefeatable.
If not because Han Xiao landed the Esper Silence ability on him back then, causing all his Esper Abilities to stop functioning and all his doppelgangers to perish, even eleven Beyond Grade As would not have been able to capture him.
Luckily, this time, Han Xiao and the dynasty had set up in advance. EsGod’s escaping abilities were rendered useless. With his most troublesome ability gone, his threat level reduced dramatically. Otherwise, he would have been able to escape anytime he wanted.
However, this did not mean that EsGod would certainly never be able to escape. Although the dynasty had used all kinds of advanced spacetime stabilization devices, if they took too long to trap EsGod again, he might still find the chance to ‘dig a hole’ and escape.
“You’ll find out how. I’m no longer the same as before. I don’t need help to deal with you.”
Han Xiao chose some of the mechanical soldiers and assembled them. As electronic light flickered, the Mechanical Deity appeared and instantly chased after EsGod, slashing and smashing down at him, dragging a trail of electric sparks behind.
Although EsGod had many abilities, he could not use too many of them simultaneously. He solved this problem by using doppelgangers, giving them some of his Esper Abilities. The more doppelgangers that existed at the same time, the more abilities he could use.
As creating doppelgangers required large amounts of energy and he could absorb energy in battle, as the battle went on, the number of doppelgangers would increase. EsGod was also someone who would become stronger the longer the battle went on.
However, EsGod did not prepare any doppelgangers in advance this time. Although he could create them slowly during the battle, Han Xiao’s Apostle Weapons were not for decoration. As soon as he created one doppelganger, it would be murdered by the many Apostle Weapons. The number of doppelgangers he had could not increase at all.
Therefore, the current situation was very clear. All factors present had placed EsGod at an extreme disadvantage. All he could do was get beat up.
Despite being able to convert between energy and health, the rate was much slower than Han Xiao. [Esper Ability—Black Hole] had a limit and could not block all damage, and the speed of his regeneration also had a limit. The damage Han Xiao was now able to dish out was on a completely different level to before. Plus, the dynasty fleet also provided support on the side. EsGod’s health was decreasing faster than he was regenerating.
After several decades, the level difference between Han Xiao and EsGod became much smaller. He opened the interface, looked at the combat information, and saw more of EsGod’s information than before.
He quickly scanned through but did not see [Esper Ability—Rebirth] in EsGod’s ability list. He wondered if it was one of the few question marks he still could not see.
However, in EsGod’s status bar, Han Xiao discovered something abnormal.
_____________________
You are in the [Intermediate Weakened Soul] state. Your Psychological Resistance is decreased by 30%. Your Intelligence and Mystery attributes are decreased by 15%. Duration: Unknown.
You are in the [Torn Soul] state. You have lost a large portion of Intelligence and Mystery attributes. Your Psychological Resistance is decreased by 60%. Duration: Permanent.
_____________________
“This is…” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
Weakened Soul should be the side effect of being imprisoned by the Spacetime Amber, which EsGod could recover from. However, the [Torn Soul] state clearly had nothing to do with the Spacetime Amber, and it just happened to match Gaud’s abnormally high attributes.
So, I didn’t guess wrong. EsGod is indeed related to Gaud.
The possibility of Gaud being a doppelganger that EsGod had created could be limited, as all his Esper Abilities were useless once he got affected by Esper Silence. Gaud had to have nothing to do with EsGod’s abilities to still exist. At the moment of EsGod’s capture, he did not have a chance to create doppelgangers. All he could do was soul-related things in that short period of time.
Therefore, EsGod did not just simply shift his soul but unflinchingly used some kind of Esper Ability to tear his own soul apart and fuse it into Gaud’s body, leaving the remaining soul in his original body.
The Spacetime Amber froze everything, so there was no way EsGod could control Gaud from inside. Being in the outside world for so many years, it should be EsGod’s main consciousness inside Gaud.
At this point of time, the various detection devices of the dynasty fleet did not discover any odd soul ripples, meaning that this ‘EsGod’ was also not remotely controlled.
Therefore, the two souls were now completely separated into two independent individuals.
This meant that this ‘EsGod’ before him might not be the EsGod he knew but instead a new personality, a new consciousness that birthed from the remaining soul and memories of EsGod, like a clone. As for the main consciousness of EsGod, it was actually in Gaud… or was it the other way around?
If this was the case, EsGod was still EsGod, and Gaud would still be Gaud. Even though their personalities and memories were hardly different, they were two different people… Could this be what the word ‘rebirth’ in [Esper Ability—Rebirth] meant‽
His original body is a Beyond Grade A, and Gaud also became a Beyond Grade A. This b*stard split into two different Beyond Grade A individuals… If his main consciousness is in Gaud, then he’s really completely merciless toward himself.
All kinds of thoughts flashed past Han Xiao’s mind.
If the two souls were still linked and shared memories, it would be a conspicuous flaw. Judging from EsGod’s personality, if he made up his mind to wipe his ledger clean, he would not have made such a mistake. Therefore, he most likely completely cut off the connection of the two souls.
Not only did he abandon his old body, but he even did not mind creating another ‘him’ in the universe, giving all the strength he had accumulated in the past to ‘someone else’.
If this was really the case, any memories related to Gaud that this ‘EsGod’ had were probably all deleted by EsGod’s main consciousness when his soul split. That way, if the dynasty dissected this ‘EsGod’ in the future, they would not find anything in the memories.
This was why he was given the name ‘God of Espers’. No one but him could ever do something this crazy.
While making all kinds of speculation in his mind, Han Xiao’s attacks did not stop. The battle carried on fiercely.
The situation was completely one-sided. EsGod was bathing in psionic energy. His flesh was melting and regenerating countless times every second. Under the nonstop attacks, he could hardly move at all and was in a completely defensive stance. He did not dare stop regenerating health for even a second.
The way he regenerated was through accelerating the division of his cells. Every time his body regenerated, the vitality of his cells would increase, and his life span would decrease. If not because the Evolution Cube had given him a boost in the past, he would not have been able to endure such a highly intense battle.
Feeling Han Xiao’s powerful attacks, EsGod was shocked too.
He remembered that when he was locked up, Black Star was not even a peak Beyond Grade A yet. However, with the strength Han Xiao was now displaying, even EsGod could not confidently say he would be able to defeat him. Even if he was at his peak strength, if they fought in a fair duel, he felt it would most likely end up in a tie.
Only how many years have passed, and Black Star is already catching up to my level, even looking like he’s about to surpass me‽
“Your growth is really unbelievable! I’ve never seen anyone as talented as you!” EsGod honestly marveled from the bottom of his heart.
“Don’t think I’ll attack you one less time because you complimented me.”
Han Xiao continued attacking with an expressionless face. Among all the classes, he now had the easiest time fighting Espers. He gained bonus attributes and increased damage when fighting Espers.
Also, the [Elderly Killer] ability was great against an elderly like EsGod…
Though the evolved EsGod was strong, Han Xiao was not any bit weaker!
Rounds of attacks landed on EsGod continuously. Explosions appeared everywhere EsGod passed by like a snake made of flames.
After continuing to attack for some time, as Han Xiao estimated that the bonuses of his various talents had reached the maximum, Mechanical Force erupted from his body.
Ka la ka la…
The armor at the Mechanical Deity’s forehead suddenly opened up. A pile of mechanical parts extended out, turning into an exquisite mechanical crown that landed on the Mechanical Deity’s head.
The next moment, an invisible shockwave erupted from the crown, concentrated into a beam, and hit EsGod.
EsGod’s entire body trembled. It was like a huge hammer heavily bashed his consciousness.
This was the Universal Treasure Grade equipment Han Xiao learned from Jayz’s technology treasure, a Mechanical Deity exclusive weapon—[Soul Breaking Crown]!
Its name sounded like a magic item, but it was actually a piece of machinery. It worked by obtaining soul energy from breaking down psionic energy. The Soul Breaking Crown could provide an extremely high amount of Psychological Resistance for the user of the Mechanical Deity while at the same time being able to launch mental attacks.
Usually, Mechanics’ weaknesses were their original body and their mind, they also tremendously lacked mind attack means. The effect of this Gold equipment could make up for that weakness to a certain extent… Although Han Xiao was no ordinary Mechanic, the Soul Breaking Crown was still useful to him.
The debuffs on EsGod made his mind his biggest weakness. Han Xiao was used to targeting the enemy’s weak points, so of course, he was not going to let this kind of opportunity slip.
Before EsGod could recover, Han Xiao instantly activated Virtual Soul, easily dragged EsGod’s soul into the virtual world, and gave him a beating.
Having his vital spot being attacked continuously, EsGod received tons of damage.
While EsGod was still stunned, Han Xiao’s original body left the Mechanical Deity, grabbed EsGod’s neck, activated the Spacetime Amber and started to create a seal instantly.
EsGod regained focus very quickly and was about to resist. Seeing this, Han Xiao pressed him into his wide chest and said, “Don’t move. Do you remember how I caught you the last time? If you do it again, you won’t just be spending the rest of your life in prison; you’ll die!”
Hearing this, EsGod’s movement paused for a moment as he instantly recalled the trauma of getting hit by Esper Silence back then.
He knew nothing about Character Summon Cards, nor did he know why Black Star could use this ability, so he could not help but think Black Star still had this ability.
“Compared to an endless sentence, why shouldn’t I fight till my last moment?” EsGod’s eyes narrowed.
He was in a situation that was more than enough to threaten his life. Through the fight earlier, EsGod knew very well that there was absolutely no chance he could escape. If Black Star used Esper Silence, he might really die.
“Are you sure you want to die?” Han Xiao whispered. “Don’t you want to see the day the World Tree advents?”
EsGod’s body suddenly froze, and shock finally appeared on his face.
He had always thought that he was the only person in the entire universe that knew about this. Never did he expect to hear it from Han Xiao.
When did Black Star find out‽
“That data… have you guys already completed studying it‽”
EsGod’s eyes gleamed.
Han Xiao, however, did not reply. He deliberately said in a meaningful tone, “Stop resisting, and you’ll still have a chance to be set free to witness it all. If you die here, there’ll be no more hope.”
“…” EsGod’s expression changed rapidly. He was caught in a dilemma.
However, it only took a few seconds for him to understand the situation he was in. His body became relaxed, and he had stopped resisting.
He looked up right into Han Xiao’s eyes and said slowly, “I don’t trust that you’ll let me out… but I’m willing to make the bet. After all, I don’t have anything more to lose.
“This is the second time I’ve lost to you. Maybe you really can step into that level and witness the scenery there for me…”
At this time, Han Xiao took a step back without saying anything. The prison was complete.
EsGod’s body was fixed. He was locked in the Spacetime Amber once again.
The only difference was that he was in a different position.
Seeing this, Han Xiao finally let out a long breath. He shook his head.
“If you continued to resist, I really might not have been able to capture you… Sorry, deception is the way of wars.”
1223 Choice
Deception was a way of the war; conquering the enemy’s mind was the smarter strategy. If not because he used this to successfully intimidate EsGod, he would have spent much more time capturing him, and there would have been a lot of uncertainties.
“Speaking of which, this is this b*stard’s second time going in…”
Han Xiao looked at EsGod, who was in the amber, and sighed.
Ignoring all other factors, EsGod was really a very pure person. In order to reach his goal, he was willing to do anything in the world. As long as one did not get in his way, he would not do anything, and vice versa.
While he was looking at EsGod, the dynasty fleet around instantly stopped attacking upon seeing that the mission was complete and retracted their weapons.
Tons of parts of mechanical soldiers floated in the battlefield. Some were even destroyed by the attacks of the dynasty fleet. In order to dish out as much damage as possible to EsGod, they could not be concerned with causing damage to their ally. Even Han Xiao was confused as to whether these teammates of his were attacking EsGod or him.
He deactivated the Mechanical Deity. Mechanical Force shot out from his hands and turned into electrical chains, linked onto the shattered parts, and assembling them back into mechanical soldiers using Advanced Machinery Construction.
This time, the fleet commander heaved a sigh of relief in the communication channel and said, “Luckily, we set up enough traps in advance and had the edge. If not, we wouldn’t have been able to capture him again while paying such a small price… Alright, please give EsGod to us. We’ll find a place to lock him up.”
His tone was formal.
As Black Star was the one who requested to release EsGod to check on him, capturing him again was not considered a contribution, but letting him get free would have been a huge demerit. Therefore, this was a mission that required a lot of effort but gave no merits, so the fleet commander did not feel appreciative toward Han Xiao.
Capturing EsGod this time looked easy, but that was because they had too big an edge. EsGod was immobile before, which was why they could set up an encirclement any way they wanted, letting EsGod, who was in a weakened state, out after being fully prepared. If EsGod was free in the beginning, there was no way he would have been surrounded by this many traps.
A few dynasty spaceships came to take the prisoner away. Han Xiao stood in place for a while as he watched them bring EsGod away. Only then did the dynasty fleet turn off all the spacetime stabilization devices.
He curled his lips, opened the dimension factory, and stuffed his mechanical army into it for repairs. After rejecting the invitation of boarding the ships, he took out a King mechanical army and disappeared.
The next moment, he appeared in a machinery factory that was no longer in the Constellation Corridor. He crossed multiple Star Fields directly and arrived in Black Star Palace that was in the Flickering World instantly, using the ‘Throne’ in his private workshop.
Beep beep beep!
At this time, the communicator rang timely. Han Xiao took it out, and as he expected, it was a call from Urranrell.
As she used her ruler rights to approve Han Xiao’s request to open EsGod’s seal to check his status, she had been paying attention to the live broadcast the whole time, so she called right after it ended.
“Black Star, I’ve seen the process. Looks like your worries did not come true.”
Urranrell nodded.
“…Maybe.” Han Xiao shook his head.
EsGod’s body was still very much alive and not an empty shell, so in the dynasty’s eyes, this was undoubtedly his original body, and their doubts were cleared.
Although he had confirmed EsGod and Gaud’s relationship through this, he could not use the information from the interface to convince the dynasty.
Although EsGod showed signs of his soul being torn, the difficulty of verifying that was way too high.
First of all, EsGod would certainly resist and not possibly obediently accept the check. Plus, they could not check on EsGod when he was locked inside the Spacetime Amber.
Secondly, EsGod’s level was too high. Only an extremely few peak Beyond Grade As in the universe who were experts in the soul territory could investigate his soul fully, which would also require EsGod to not put up a fight. This was like the difference between using one’s ability to attack and using it to cure a sickness; the latter required much more precision.
Thirdly, on the surface, the effects of having a weakened soul and torn soul coincided. It would be extremely difficult to differentiate them. Both could be seen as the side effects of being locked up by the Spacetime Amber.
Even if all of those difficulties were overcome and EsGod’s soul was proven to be in a torn state, there was no way he could prove the connection between EsGod and Gaud to the dynasty. The evidence was too weak.
Considering all the factors, Han Xiao felt that there was close to no way he could find any solid proof on this matter.
Urranrell did not have many doubts and said, “Being worried is a good thing. At least what you did got rid of a possible problem for the dynasty, and now we can safely lock EsGod up without having to worry. Plus, you captured EsGod again without paying much of a price. You didn’t disappoint me.”
She did not feel what Han Xiao did was completely unnecessary. She was the one who gave the order, and Black Star executed it only after she approved it. Now that the matter was settled, it was not a bad thing but a good thing. From her perspective, this operation was a form of reassurance.
“I guess…”
Han Xiao was not in the mood to say much. He casually chatted for a while and went offline afterward. He looked somewhat upset.
Urranrell had already done a lot for him. There was absolutely no merit in this operation. Instead, she had to bear the risk of letting EsGod escape and the responsibility of approving the operation that caused it. At the end of her term, she definitely had to focus on keeping a low profile and making sure everything was going on smoothly. Willingly approving his proposal was already a sign of her strong trust in him; he could not ask her to do more.
If EsGod… no, Gaud wanted to completely wipe his history clean, he most certainly did everything the dynasty asked him to do and nothing else while he was weak, not showing any signs of his ulterior motives. Han Xiao was not able to find any solid evidence this time, so he could not accuse Gaud of anything.
Without solid evidence, the dynasty had no reason to believe in his accusations and test the loyalty of a direct Beyond Grade A member out of nowhere. Therefore, this method was definitely not going to work.
If Gaud really decided to take the lawful path, even if he found evidence, as long as it was not completely definitive, the dynasty might not even want to recognize it so that they could avoid losing a direct Beyond Grade A member with infinite potential. This was not completely impossible.
I’ll have to make other plans. Since there’s no way to convince the dynasty to investigate Gaud thoroughly, I can only do it myself…
Han Xiao frowned and pondered.
If he was to attack Gaud secretly and it was discovered, he would undoubtedly be in astronomical trouble.
Even if he did it secretly enough, the dynasty would also put in a tremendous amount of effort to search for the culprit. Due to the organizational nature of the Beyond Grade A Association, it would certainly become a key target for the dynasty’s investigation, which would also cause an enormous storm. It might even become the fuse of a new Tragedy of the Pinnacles.
Han Xiao had to admit that the method Gaud used to wipe his history clean was impeccable. He became a direct member of one of the three Universal Civilizations, acquiring super powerful protection. If something happened to him, more Beyond Grade As might be dragged down with him.
However, if he was left alone, the entire explored universe would be in danger. He was a colossal hidden threat. This was especially true because this b*stard already got into the insides of the dynasty. God only knew what storm he would stir up. He might even end up being the usher for the World Tree Civilization.
Furthermore, Gaud’s Esper Ability had way too much potential. He was still considered easy to deal with now that he had only just entered the Beyond Grade A territory, but as he grew stronger, he would rapidly become tougher to deal with.
“What a dilemma…” Han Xiao rubbed his nose and was a little troubled.
Sometimes, there was no perfect solution, and a decision had to be made between two bad choices.
His thoughts fought internally for a while, and he finally made up his mind.
I must get rid of this time bomb as early as possible before he grows too strong. If I wait for him to show any flaws, it’ll be too late!
Han Xiao clenched his teeth.
He started to brainstorm quickly, analyzing the possible consequences while coming up with all kinds of wicked plans.
The best method is to not let Gaud disappear out of nowhere but give a target the dynasty can vent its anger toward. With a direct target, no one else will be dragged down. Hence, not only do I have to avoid being suspected, but I must think of a way to frame it on someone else. I’ll also have to consider what different impacts framing different people will cause…
Han Xiao’s thoughts quickly spun, and he very soon had a rough plan.
Putting aside the differences between the detailed plans, there were only two choices in terms of execution. One was to do it himself secretly and find a way to frame it on someone else afterward. Another was to find a way to create a situation to lure others to attack Gaud so that he would not be suspected.
Not mentioning the former, the key factor of the latter was ‘lure’. It was best for him not to be involved in any way, so calling his friends to murder Gaud was not doable.
For example, the Holy Accord organization had more than enough strength to kill Gaud, but Han Xiao could not possibly ask them to do it. This was the equivalent of handing his vulnerability right into their hands. The revived Primordial Ones all had their own philosophy and were not united, nor were they his subordinates. He could not ensure they would not leak this secret in the future… Plus, whether they would be willing to help or not was another matter.
The more people who knew about it, the higher the risk, no matter who he asked to help do it.
“No matter which path I take, I’ll have to muddy the waters first…”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
…
The Beyond Grade A Association headquarters on Planet Finn were visited by a dynasty fleet.
Gaud walked out of the hatch. The dynasty’s senior officer uniform reflected the light of the artificial sun like it was shining.
“Welcome to Planet Finn, Your Excellency Gaud.”
A receptionist who was wearing the association’s uniform instantly approached with an enthusiastic smile.
The news of the dynasty acquiring a new direct Beyond Grade A member had already spread out among the high-class circle, but it was only limited to the name Gaud and nothing else. The dynasty did not publicize too much information; they even controlled the flow of any information regarding Gaud. Therefore, many organizations were guessing Gaud’s way of doing things and his specific abilities… This was the normal treatment for a new Beyond Grade A.
Gaud handed over the request to join the association with all the documents needed. The Beyond Grade A Association hosted a meeting just to welcome this new member. The staff was arranged long ago to wait for Gaud there.
“Lead the way.” Gaud’s tone was casual.
The two of them left the dock, boarded an anti-gravity carrier, and headed toward the spherical conference room at the top of the headquarters building in the middle of the city.
Looking down from the sky, the ground was filled with closely packed buildings. It was a highly advanced galactic city. The receptionist pointed out some of Planet Finn’s hotspots on the way like a tour guide. Gaud did not stop him. He looked down and silently observed the streets that passed by.
The various Beyond Grade A organizations had all set up their agencies there. In the last decade, Planet Finn had already become a prosperous galactic city. Flying carriers dashing across the sky formed the transport network.
Base level personnel in uniforms of different organizations could be seen everywhere on the streets. Gaud even saw quite a number of base-level office workers of the Black Star Army.
However, these organizations were just stationed there. The association’s staff were the ones who were responsible for managing this planet.
The carrier arrived at the platform outside the conference room very soon. Gaud followed the receptionist into his personal lounge. As he was the focus of today’s meeting and he had come with his original body, he had to wait for someone to notify him to enter the venue from another door.
After watching the receptionist leave and shut the door, Gaud casually picked up the snacks on the table and started chewing. He sized up the marvelous lounge, and his eyes were filled with enjoyment.
“The Beyond Grade As have been split up for so many years, only finally showing signs of unity in recent years. Black Star, Manison, and Kasuyi have done a really good job. Sadly, I did not wait for such a good time to arrive in the past… However, they probably wouldn’t dare take in the most vicious criminal in the universe anyway. If I didn’t change my identity, all of this would have nothing to do with me.”
Gaud could not help but sneer.
After gangs earned enough money, they would all consider wiping their history clean and turn to legal businesses. It was the same for him. Committing crimes was not his goal, just a path he took to accumulate enough strength.
After getting rid of his past identity, he could now start a new life.
A while later, someone finally came to notify him to enter the venue.
Gaud stood up, patted his clothes, walked down the corridor all the way to the end, and pushed open the tall, exquisite gate. Light shone from within and entered his eyes.
A huge, round table conference room entered his sights. The remote projections of all the Beyond Grade A members were sitting in their own seats. They turned to face him simultaneously. Their eyes all focused on Gaud with all kinds of different emotions.
Gaud became the focal point of the entire venue. He looked around at the familiar faces and uncontrollably dazed off for a moment.
This was the first time he had appeared in front of most of the Beyond Grade As in the universe with his new identity. Looks of hatred, hostility, and fear were no longer anywhere to be found. The hate and conflict of the past was all gone; his relationship with every one of them was completely new.
Being reborn had never felt so refreshing.
At this time, Manison, who sat in the main seat, nodded and said, “This friend here is Gaud. On behalf of all the members of the Beyond Grade A Development Union, I welcome you to the association.”
“It’s my honor to join the association.” Gaud regained focus. A smile with unknown meaning appeared on his face as he placed his hand on his chest and did a universal greeting gesture.
Clotti, who had always been quiet, pointed at the empty seat beside and said, “You’re a direct member of the dynasty. I’ve saved a seat for you. Come here and sit.”
Seeing this, Gaud smiled, walked over, and sat beside Clotti. The entire row beside him was the seats for the direct members of the dynasty. It was like he had found his clique.
However, as soon as he sat down, a voice filled with a strong sense of curiosity sounded.
The content of what that person said made Gaud’s calm heart skip a beat.
“Gaud, right? I heard your ability is the Super High Risk Esper Ability that only exists in theory, Energy Control! Is that true?”
1224 Muddy the Waters
Gaud stared at him feeling shocked inside.
He had only ever used his ability a few times. He had only fought a little bit decades ago during the Kunde Race war and never sparred with anyone after becoming a Beyond Grade A. Only a few people in the dynasty should have known about his exact abilities. This information was tightly controlled and had yet to spread. He did not expect someone to find out his ability on his first day after joining the association…
Where did the information get leaked?
Gaud did not respond, so someone asked curiously, “Lucie, where did you get that information?”
“The black market, of course. I heard it coincidentally,” Lucie casually said.
“Is it reliable?” someone else asked.
“How would I know? I’m trying to find out now, aren’t I? Did none of you hear anything similar at all?” Lucie questioned.
Secret Master frowned and slowly said, “My subordinates acquired similar information too, but there’s no solid proof. There are hundreds of speculations like this on the black market. God knows who they came from. Most of them are random guesses anyway.”
Seeing this, a few more frequents of the black market also expressed their agreement, saying that they had all heard similar things, but none took it seriously.
Han Xiao watched from the side and heaved a sigh of relief in his mind.
He was indeed the one who anonymously placed the information about Gaud’s ability into the black market. With his Virtual Technology skills, he left no traces behind at all. From others’ perspective, this rumor looked like it appeared out of thin air and spread so quickly that no one could find the root of it. This kind of thing happened every day on the network.
The black-market network was a magical place. Countless information trades were carried on here every day. There was a lot of false information, but secrets would also appear occasionally. Sometimes, even the advanced civilizations had no idea how their secrets were leaked.
For example, a Super High Risk Esper Ability that only existed in theory attracted enough attention and spread very rapidly. Currently, all the organizations were using their own intelligence channels to search for information related to Gaud. Therefore, for someone like Secret Master, who frequented the black market, there was a high chance he would discover it.
However, there were way too many speculations and no solid proof. These guys would not ask Gaud directly just because of these rumors. Therefore, Han Xiao selected a few targets to specifically leak this information to, luring these guys to bring up this topic when everyone was present. Lucie was one of them.
He did not select these targets randomly. Others thought Lucie was a neutral Beyond Grade A, but the truth was that his identity was exposed in the later versions in his previous life as a secret member of a Super Star Cluster civilization just like Traveler. Han Xiao knew all about who he was.
Due to the sensitive competitive relationship between the three Universal Civilizations, Han Xiao had some confidence that he could lure the secret members of the Super Star Cluster civilizations in the association to deliberately stir things up. Even if that failed, he had backup plans.
The crowd discussed the rumours for a while before turning to look at Gaud with strong curiosity in their eyes.
“What’s your real ability?”
Looking at everyone’s curious expression, Gaud exhaled and slowly said, “Do any of you have a habit of announcing your secrets? Well, I don’t. You don’t have to be so curious. You’ll find out in the future.”
Lucie curled his lips and continued to question him. “We’re all association members. What’s so secretive about it? You’ve joined the association, but you won’t share any information with us. That’s not sincere at all. It’s unfair to us. Or is your ability really Energy Control?”
Hearing this, many people nodded in agreement.
In the Beyond Grade A circle, rookies were all treated this way. Everyone wanted to know about the rookie’s secrets and abilities so that if they had to fight the rookie, they would not be surprised by unknown abilities. Most Beyond Grade As had already walked down the same path.
Gaud’s eyelids twitched.
He totally understood that Lucie was basically a sh*t stirrer who wanted to force him to share his secrets.
“Don’t bother asking anymore. I won’t answer you.”
Gaud shook his head and did not deny it but avoided the question.
Keeping his ability a secret was only temporary, not permanent. Once he grew to a certain stage, the dynasty would no longer keep it a secret and would instead promote the fact that he was the first person ever in history to possess this Esper Ability to intimidate the Beyond Grade As of other civilizations.
Therefore, dynasty’s current demand of him was only not to directly answer any question about his ability but not lie about it, or the promotion they did in the future would not be as effective.
Furthermore, denying his own ability was not something someone as strong as him should do. It was bad for his reputation. If he damaged his image among the Beyond Grade As, making up for it would be much more troublesome than simply not answering and avoiding the questions.
“So, you’re not going to give us face?” Lucie narrowed his eyes. “Our real bodies aren’t here, otherwise all we’d have to do is spar with you, and your ability would no longer be a secret. Why are you being so secretive about it? Looks like the rumors are not complete nonsense. Your ability is probably really Energy Control. Even if it isn’t, it’s definitely very special. That’s why you’re keeping it a secret.”
“Think whatever you want.” Gaud did not want to argue with him anymore and looked away.
Seeing this, many people’s eyes flickered with some suspicion.
From the way they saw it, by not giving a direct answer, Gaud having the Energy Control Esper Ability seemed more trustworthy. If this was not his ability, he could have just denied it.
If Gaud really did have this overpowered Super High Risk Esper Ability…
Having thought of this, many people had all kinds of ideas.
This time, Han Xiao who had been watching smiled and said, “Alright, alright, if Gaud doesn’t want to say it, don’t force him. Today, we’re welcoming him as a new member after all. Don’t make the atmosphere so uptight.”
The best result would have been for Gaud to admit what his ability was, but there was nothing Han Xiao could do if Gaud was not willing to answer no matter what. However, this was within Han Xiao’s expectations too. As long as he spread the information of Gaud possibly having the ‘Energy Control’ ability to all the Beyond Grade As present, he would have achieved more than half of his goal regardless of whether Gaud admitted it or not.
Hearing that the vice president had spoken, the others moved on from this topic, and the atmosphere became tranquil again.
Gaud glanced at Han Xiao and saw that Han Xiao nodded at him. He responded with a smile and sighed in his mind.
He had never enjoyed the feeling of being helped; he was always the shared enemy of everyone. At this point, he had to admit that having someone speak for him really felt quite good.
The meeting was casual and relaxed. The main goal of it was to welcome the rookie while helping him to understand the purpose, principle, and the rules of the association, or help him to solve some problems. For example, they could provide support in helping him to grow his forces, lend him resources, assist in battles, and so on. However, since Gaud was a direct member of the dynasty, he did not need help in terms of resources.
The people chatted casually, pulled Gaud around, and asked him questions. The people on the dynasty’s side were the more active ones; the other people only occasionally said a few words.
As they were having a good time chatting, Han Xiao glanced at Manison, chuckled, and said casually, “Gaud, you’ve just joined the association and don’t know about many things, so I must remind you. You have to be careful of our dear Mechanic Emperor. He’s very interested in new and young members.”
“Oh? Why?”
Gaud turned and saw that Manison’s expression was calm, as if he was used to it.
Sun Hunter, who was on the side, laughed out loud and said, “Haha, Black Star is right. Manison has been insisting on not giving up the Felon technology. If you really have a Super High Risk Esper Ability, you must be careful. He might be interested in your fragile body and turn you into his puppet.”
“Humph, ridiculous.”
Manison closed his eyes and ignored them.
Seeing this, everyone burst into laughter. The room was filled with joy.
Black Star messing with the Mechanic Emperor was already a routine part of the meetings. Hearing Han Xiao say that, everyone only felt it was usual. They were used to it and did not suspect anything.
As time was scarce for everyone present, the welcome meeting ended very quickly. The people went offline one after another. Gaud stood up and returned to the dynasty fleet as well.
As soon as he returned to the room, Gaud received a communication request from the dynasty upper echelons that began with a question right away.
“We’ve heard about what happened during the Beyond Grade A Association meeting. You didn’t tell anyone your ability, did you?”
“Nope.” Gaud shook his head.
He was not surprised about how quickly the dynasty got the news. After all, there were many direct members of the dynasty in the association, so they were all sources of information for the dynasty.
“Good. We’ll investigate where the information got leaked. To think that your ability was so accurately exposed, there’s definitely something going on… The contents of today’s meeting will certainly pass on to the federation, the church, and some Super Star Cluster civilizations. They might be suspicious about your ability because of it. Come back as soon as possible. The Flickering World is too dangerous.”
“You’re saying that someone might try to kill me?” Gaud raised his brows.
“I don’t know about that. Times are different now than before. Because of the Beyond Grade A Association, as long as the rules are not broken, this kind of thing will most likely not happen… but it’s still better to be cautious.”
“Alright then,” Gaud casually replied and hung up the communication.
He did not feel any organization would attack him. The Flickering World was still in war now. The federation and the church would not attack their allies, and the Super Star Cluster civilization would not dare dispatch Beyond Grade As too due to fear of the three Universal Civilizations also sending their direct members into the war. Plus, the Beyond Grade A Association was another layer of insurance for him. He felt he was in a very safe situation.
Unlike the past, the association Black Star and the others founded became a privilege for all Beyond Grade As.
In the past, when Black Star did a lot of things, he got targeted and attacked by the federation and the church all the time. Now, however, the association guaranteed the safety of the Beyond Grade As, so this kind of situation would most likely not happen again.
Gaud benefited from it as well. Furthermore, his identity as a direct member of the dynasty was another layer of protection. He did not think anyone would have any motive to want to kill him—the risk of it far exceeded the reward.
“Now is such a good era for the Beyond Grade As…”
Gaud sighed and ordered the fleet to depart.
Dynasty spaceships took off one after another, entered outer space, and headed in the direction to leave the Flickering World.
At the same time, the content of the meeting got passed into different organizations by the various Beyond Grade As.
…
On the Federation of Light’s mother planet…
“An Esper who possibly possesses the Energy Control Esper Ability that only exists in theory?”
As the federation’s president, Bader, browsed the report sent by the direct Beyond Grade As, his expression changed slightly.
The chief doyen on the side tapped his cane and said with a deep voice, “This is just a guess. It might not be true, and it’s too early to take it seriously.”
“It’s a discovery at least,” Bader said. “This new Beyond Grade A of the dynasty is so secretive about everything. It doesn’t matter if his Esper Ability is Energy Control or not. He’s definitely not ordinary… They say the information got leaked from the black market. Tell the intelligence department to collect related information from the black market network and see if they can verify it.
“If this is true, the dynasty really got lucky. If they acquired such a Super with infinite potential, he will most certainly replace Clotti and become the National Pillar in the future… They already have Black Star, and now they have Gaud too. In terms of individual strength, the dynasty will be able to maintain an edge for hundreds of years. Sigh.”
The chief doyen frowned. “You’re not going to do anything, are you? It will cost us much more than it’ll benefit us.”
“Don’t worry. One Beyond Grade A isn’t important. I won’t destroy the great situation we’re in now just for such a trivial matter. The church will probably make the same decision too.” Bader waved and suddenly said, “But as for others… I don’t know.”
“Don’t think too much.” The chief doyen shook his head. “Times are different. Nothing will happen.”
Bader thought about it and nodded. “Hmm, you’re right. No one will do it, unless they’re an idiot.”
1225 Speculation and Attack
On the Star Arc Civilization’s mother planet…
“An Energy Control Esper… this kind of rumor would not appear out of nowhere. Investigate the reliability of this information as soon as possible!”
The Star Arc Civilization was severely worried.
In the past few decades, the growth of the Crimson Dynasty had been way too rapid and smooth. It could be considered their golden era. Not a single advanced civilization was not jealous.
The dynasty already had people like Dark Lord and Black Star, and now Gaud, whose potential might be infinite, had appeared, not to mention he was even a direct member of the dynasty. This news was undoubtedly a nightmare for the Super Star Cluster civilizations. With every new talent the three Universal Civilizations acquired, the Super Star Cluster Alliance faced more pressure in the individual strength territory.
Back when Traveler got publicly executed by the dynasty, although their good brother Modo took the blame for it for some reason, it was impossible for the Star Arc Civilization leader not to be furious watching their own loyal member getting his execution broadcast live by the dynasty. He had only held back and did not do anything because the big picture was more important.
If he could eliminate Gaud and erase the dynasty’s future National Pillar in advance, it would be like avenging Traveler and making the dynasty pay for what they did…
The Star Arc Civilization leader’s expression shifted rapidly. In the end, he sighed and suppressed his impulses.
“Forget it. The state of the Flickering War is not positive at all. Our allies are getting defeated time and again. We’re already in a difficult enough situation, forcing them to send Beyond Grade As into the war too isn’t a wise choice. There’s no room for risk-taking in the current situation…”
Currently, no Beyond Grade A was part of the Flickering War. The three Universal Civilizations promising not to dispatch any direct Beyond Grade As was one of the very few great things for the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Once they broke the rule and made the three Universal Civilizations send in Beyond Grade As, the situation would become much worse for them than it already was.
The Flickering War was the hope for the Super Star Cluster Alliance to turn their situation around. Between a Beyond Grade A and the overall strategy of the entire civilization, of course, he knew which was more important.
The three Universal Civilizations had control over the resources of the explored universe. The strong became stronger, forming a positive cycle. Those who came after had to grow under restrictions, unable to catch up to their growth speed no matter what. The difference would only grow bigger, and killing a single Beyond Grade A would not change that at all.
If they lost the Flickering War completely, taking revenge might be considered as a form of collecting some interest. Now, however, the risk of acting far outweighed the benefits, so of course, he was not willing to do it.
“Be it Gaud or Black Star, let them do whatever.” The Star Arc Civilization leader shook his head. “I wonder what the other Super Star Cluster civilizations think. No one should want to take this risk; the big picture is more important. As for the federation and the church, they’re not likely to fight internally now… right?”
…
Somewhere in the Primeval Star River, Manison deactivated the remote projection, turned on the virtual screen, and brought up Gaud’s information that was circulating on the internet. He tapped the armrest of the chair with his fingers and pondered.
“Gaud… a new name, not a Beyond Grade A seed from any Star Field. He suddenly appeared out of nowhere, which means he’s been secretly trained by the dynasty all this time. The last person who appeared in a similar way was Clotti, who has the ability to control dark matter. The dynasty heavily promoted his strength as soon as he appeared…
“Usually, the three Universal Civilizations promote the abilities of their direct Beyond Grade A members. However, the dynasty has asked Gaud to keep it a secret instead. Even Clotti did not receive this treatment, which means this guy’s Esper Ability is extremely special. The rumor of him having the Energy Control Esper Ability might not be fake. Interesting.”
A tint of curiosity flashed past Manison’s eyes.
If Gaud really had such an overpowered ability, he could not say he was not tempted. If this was before, he would have most likely tried to ambush Gaud and capture him to make him into a Felon.
Now, however, he had decided to quit that profession. Unless it was a special situation, he would no longer make new Felons, or he would not possibly be able to have a high reputation in the association. That b*stard Black Star had been bringing his dark history up all the time, and he was really annoyed by it.
“I shall see how things go first. If Gaud wants to build a reputation in the future, he’ll definitely have to display his ability. There’s no way for him to hide it. In fact, someone might already plan to spar with him before he even leaves the Flickering World.”
Manison suddenly narrowed his eyes and murmured, “There are so many Beyond Grade As and armed fleets in the Flickering World. It’ll be easy to dispatch forces. That place is the most dangerous Star Field in the universe now. It’s the land that nourishes conspiracies and plots… Hmm, I wonder if the federation, the church, and the Super Star Cluster Alliance will do anything…”
…
Meanwhile, in the Limitless Financial Group’s Flickering World subdivision…
“Another high potential stock…”
Sorokin crossed his arms and recalled what happened in the meeting earlier.
From the way he looked at it, Gaud had a bright future and would definitely be able to grow smoothly with the dynasty’s protection. It was almost certain he would become the National Pillar of the dynasty in the future. The dynasty had very high hopes on him.
“If things go well, I might be able to trigger a second Tragedy of the Pinnacles…”
Sorokin contemplated. He felt this was a great opportunity.
If he used the real strength he had been hiding and secretly assassinated Gaud, making the dynasty furious, he should be able to start an enormous storm that would shatter the situation the association had been working so hard to achieve. Thus, the bloody slaughtering between factions would start again.
Although he had joined the association, he was the last person who wanted to see the Beyond Grade A be united. His goals had never changed—one was to earn money, and another was to reduce the number of Beyond Grade As, creating an environment that was beneficial to him.
Furthermore, Black Star had always been a hidden problem. He instinctively wanted to get rid of anything that might expose his true identity.
“If I target Gaud, maybe I can think of a way to pin it on Black Star and cause him trouble… But he knows my secrets, so he’ll definitely suspect me. It’ll be risky for me too.”
Sorokin frowned slightly.
Although he had this idea, it was tough to actually execute it, as Black Star had no motive to target Gaud.
In his eyes, even if he made the move, Black Star would be the last person the dynasty suspected. The framing had almost no chance of working.
He did not dare take the risk before coming up with a detailed plan.
“I have to carefully think on what to do exactly.”
Sorokin’s eyes flickered.
…
A few days passed very quickly. Under the influence of some people with motives, the content of the Beyond Grade A meeting got leaked. It did not only circulate in the black market this time but throughout the entire galactic society, attracting widespread attention.
The appeal of Super High Risk Esper Abilities related topics was very high. It piqued the interest of countless galactic residents. The rumors got more and more widely known. Although there was still no solid proof, under the secret influence of some organizations, it was as if the galactic society had already confirmed that Gaud’s ability was ‘Energy Control’.
Although the various organizations were shocked, due to different reasons, no one acted. They only silently kept an eye on the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance, speculating if they would make a move.
In the eyes of the various organizations, as long as these two sides did not make any moves, nothing would happen.
The changes in the outside world did not affect the schedule of the dynasty fleet. It advanced through space with Gaud on board, heading toward the exit of the Flickering World.
Inside the luxurious training room of the fleet, Gaud hovered in midair, giving off a dim light all over his body. The sound of a moving stream echoed in the air; energy formed tides inside his body.
After a while, he opened his eyes and took a deep breath. The light extinguished, and his body returned to normal.
Gaud reached out his hand and turned his palm up. The next moment, a tiny stream of dark black energy suddenly appeared and spun around his wrist.
He toyed with this stream of energy and grinned.
“It’s no wonder Energy Control is a ‘high class Esper Ability’. It’s been less than a month, and I’ve already cracked about half of the Evolution Energy’s structure and can produce a semi-finished version of it. It’s going smoother than I thought. At this pace, I’ll control this special energy very soon. Then, I will be able to create it all I want and become a walking Evolution Cube…”
The ability of every Esper would change once they became a Beyond Grade A, and Energy Control was no exception. Once he broke down the structure of a type of energy, it would mean he permanently gained control of that type of energy and would be able to create it anytime.
This did not only include all kinds of common types of energy but even special forms of energy such as the Evolution Energy and Primal Esper Ability Entities. As long as he cracked them, they would become his own ability. With every type of energy he controlled, he would become stronger.
Not only that, Gaud even had a fuzzy feeling that once he became even stronger and mastered more types of energy, it seemed like he could even create new forms of energy out of nothing!
Even with his extremely extensive knowledge, he was still astonished. The potential of this overpowered Esper Ability was horrifying!
“Primal Esper Ability Entities are tough to find, but Black Star seems to have two of them. I’m his colleague now, and he wants to build a good relationship with me. If I bring up the request, he should agree to lend them to me… This is so much easier than robbing.”
Gaud was in a great mood. The air felt so refreshing and the future so bright.
In the past when he was a wanted criminal, he could only rob something from others if he wanted it. Now that he had become a member of the Lawful Faction, he finally felt the advantages of having connections.
Gaud sighed as he opened the gate and walked out of the training room. The dynasty soldiers he met on the way all greeted him respectfully. He was already used to it.
When he came to the command room at the bridge, the captain approached and greeted him.
“Your Excellency Gaud, we’re approaching the edge of the fourth exploration stage area of the Flickering World. We’ll be reaching the entrance of the stargate route in two days. After that, we’ll quickly pass through the remaining Star Clusters through the Black Star Army’s territory.”
“Hmm, good work,” Gaud responded monotonously.
“Thank you. It’s an honor to serve y…”
The captain’s tone was humble.
However, before he finished, the ship suddenly trembled. It exited from hyperdrive mood and stopped.
Bang!
The staff all staggered due to the momentum. Some even fell to the floor.
The captain held onto the table and yelled, “What’s going on?”
Very soon, an operational officer responded with a shocked tone. “Captain, the spaceship’s artificial intelligence suddenly lost control. It locked down the engine, activated the emergency stop, turned off all devices, and disconnected from the quantum network! We’ve lost contact with the other spaceships!”
“Is this an attack‽” The captain was furious. “Who dares attack the dynasty’s forces! Turn on the backup artificial intelligence immediately and regain control of the spaceship!”
The operational officer quickly returned to his post and worked on the system, but he was covered in sweat very soon.
“It… It can’t be done! All functions of the spaceship are frozen!”
The dynasty crew inside the command room were panicking. Gaud glanced at them. He then turned to look outside the porthole and frowned.
“Am I the target?”
Gaud was surprised. He felt this was the only possibility.
He had analyzed his situation long ago. For their own sake, the odds of the various organizations attacking him were extremely low. He originally thought his trip in the Flickering World would be smooth and did not expect someone to really take such a big risk.
“Looks like the doing of a Virtual Mechanic. Is it the Mechanic Emperor? Tsk, is he really planning on capturing me and turning me into a Felon? He’s already in such a horrible situation, yet he still dares to enrage the dynasty?”
Gaud was shocked.
Being shocked was one thing, but he was not nervous. His experience of being attacked was way too rich. The emotion ‘fear’ did not even exist in him.
Furthermore, he was not really a new Beyond Grade A. Although his strength could not compare with his old days, he had still inherited part of it and was stronger than someone at his level should be. This was one source of his confidence.
If the attacker was the Mechanic Emperor, he had to admit he would not be able to defeat him and could only look for a way to escape.
However, if it was some other organization that took him as a new Beyond Grade A and wanted to eliminate him, they would have made a huge mistake.
In his eyes, the only ones who had the motive and the ability to attack him were the federation, the church, the Super Star Cluster Alliance, and the Mechanic Emperor. It basically could not possibly anyone else.
Gaud’s Beyond Grade A senses suddenly spread out and covered this entire area.
“Let’s see who wants to kill me!”
1226 Stop Acting. I Know Who You Are
The moment he discovered the target, it appeared before the fleet. It was shrouded in a black mechanical suit. Gaud could not figure out whom it was.
“Just one person… hmm? This presence…”
Gaud’s expression changed slightly. His Esper Ability was very sensitive about one’s energy presence. He could basically remember the unique energy presence of everyone he had ever met. He noticed that the presence of this attacker was familiar, so he might have met them before.
As the radar no longer worked, he sensed the environment around too and realized that the spacetime of this area was locked. It was the common effects of a trap. Space-related abilities such as hyperdrive, teleportation, and so on were all disabled.
Furthermore, his senses could not continue extending further when it reached a certain distance. There seemed to be a layer that separated this area from the outside world.
At this time, the captain noticed the attacker and immediately responded. He yelled to the crew, “Try to reconnect to the network and report this to the dynasty. Also, pull out the artificial intelligence chip, switch to manual controls, and retreat immediately!”
As soon as the order was given, the crew hastily moved. The staff in the main control room quickly headed toward the engine room and pulled out the artificial intelligence. They then used the hardware system to cancel all the artificial intelligence’s authorization to control the spaceship. This was to prevent the spaceship from being controlled by the enemy. Plus, they would only be able to reboot the paralyzed spaceship if it was in manual mode.
This dynasty fleet was only responsible for transporting Gaud, so it was a small team. Although the performance of the dynasty battleships was higher than most spaceship models, the size of this team was too small. Its combat capability was very limited and could not possibly fight a Beyond Grade A.
Most importantly, their communication channel was cut off, and they could not request reinforcements from the outside world. The most important mission right now was to get the information out, so the captain did not want to fight. All of this was the standard response written in the Dynasty Commander Strategy Guidebook.
However, although his idea was decent, with the communication network cut off, the command system was broken, and his orders could not be passed onto the others. Shifting into a magic oriented emergency command system would also require some time… and this time dictated the difference between life and death.
Before this dynasty fleet made a move, countless golden electric arcs exploded from the attacker’s body. Inside the cluster of electric arcs, a black-bean-like particle expanded and turned into an enormous mechanical army, instantly filling up the sights of everyone!
Mechanical Force—Soldier Nest!
Compressed Orb Innovation—Armed Body!
Indeed, it was Han Xiao’s original body who came to attack Gaud!
He deliberately spread the message to have the various organizations suspect each other, but all of that was for one thing—to eliminate Gaud without anyone finding out. Otherwise, it would all be a waste of effort. The other organizations were not going to do it, so he had no choice but to do it himself.
As history and experience proved, the more parts a plan had, the more unstable factors it would have. Many conspiracies and plots were anything but complicated; they did not have so many twists and turns. Therefore, he did not have to be flashy to achieve his goal, focusing on the main conflict was the key.
Now, the waters were muddied. There were way too many possible suspects. He had achieved the first step of his plan, so he could move on to the next step and act now.
Based on the dynasty’s route, he calculated a location Gaud had to pass by. He had teleported to the frontline stronghold using the King long ago and secretly moved here, found a desolate area, and planted the trap.
Not only did he place spacetime stabilization devices in this area, but he even used a large area detection masking device and ‘sealed’ this area up. The inside could not detect the outside, nor could the outside detect what was going on inside. No matter how intense the battle was on the inside, the detection devices outside would not be able to sense the energy shockwaves of the battle and see it as nothing was happening. This way, the chances of anyone discovering something were reduced.
Additionally, Han Xiao planted many other devices that blocked all kinds of detection methods, anything he could think of, all to reduce the chance of getting discovered. Only a Mechanic would be able to do something like this.
The universe already had the technology he used, but the ones Han Xiao used were all improved versions of them that incorporated some similar blueprints in Jayz’s technology treasure. These devices were very advanced and much more effective than the ordinary versions.
Of course, the battleships of advanced civilizations had respective detection devices for all these traps. If they were travelling normally, the dynasty fleet would have discovered the anomaly from very far away. However, the range of Han Xiao’s hacking abilities was extremely far now. He had secretly won the heart of the dynasty fleet’s artificial intelligence long ago and taken control of the fleet, which was why they did not notice it at all. Otherwise, the dynasty fleet would never have stepped into his traps.
Though Gaud’s Energy Control Esper Ability was powerful, he was powerless in the virtual territory and could not notice anything.
As soon as the mechanical army appeared, it fired right away at the paralyzed dynasty fleet without hesitation.
Countless beams of light flickered through space. The next moment, the storm of attacks penetrated the dynasty fleet’s formation!
The shields of the dynasty fleets were frozen. They were defenseless under the rain of attacks. Beams penetrated the ships one after another. The thick exterior armor became twisted and torn. The spaceships exploded in the blink of an eye, turning into colorful fireworks!
Buzz!
At this time, a dark blue psionic barrier appeared abruptly and protected the remaining spaceship. The mechanical army’s attacks rapidly shattered one layer of the barrier after another, but its speed was still delayed.
During this extremely short delay, the thrusters of these spaceships suddenly released huge flames. The spaceship accelerated in an instant and barely escaped the attacks.
Inside the main ship, Gaud’s eyes were gleaming. A cluster of light filled with thousands of light strings floated above his palm.
In the crucial moment earlier, he had activated his ability and created a psionic shield that blocked some of the attacks. Then, he used his Esper Ability to fire up the energy furnace of the remaining battleships, skipping the multiple layers of authorization and forcibly activating the thrusters.
After a round of fire, a small fleet like this was already heavily damaged. There were only seven ships left.
“That was close…”
Gaud’s expression was grave. He was on edge.
In the moment of the attack, he sensed the energy level of the attack and confirmed it had definitely reached the peak Beyond Grade A standard. It was strong by the peak Beyond Grade A standard even in that matter.
There were only so many Mechanics in the entire universe who were at this level. No matter who it was, it was not someone he could defeat… Of course, it was still most likely that old b*stard Manison!
“We can’t fight. Let’s go!”
Gaud glanced at the shocked and furious captain, activated his ability again, and pushed the surviving spaceships toward the edge of the sealed area.
He knew that the crew was of no help. It was not that he wanted to save them, but his flying speed was slower than the battleships; he needed them to escape.
As soon as he left this locked area and out of the opponent’s trap, he would have a way to contact the outside world.
However, at this moment, a sudden sense of danger appeared in his mind. His intuition felt an overwhelming sense of threat. He instantly charged through the cabin wall and escaped the spaceship.
Swoosh!
The next moment, five extremely condensed red beams shot out from Han Xiao’s fingers, easily penetrated the layers of psionic barriers, and cut the remaining battleships into pieces like a hot knife cutting through butter.
The next second, the energy cores of the spaceships exploded. The spaceships turned into fireworks and destroyed all the spaceship fragments.
In an instant, the fleet was annihilated, leaving Gaud to hover in the battlefield alone.
“What a powerful energy beam. It seems to have extremely strong penetrating ability against all energy shields. If I was hit by it, I would definitely be hurt…”
Fear lingered in Gaud’s heart. He was very close to being hit by the red beams earlier.
He looked at and saw that Han Xiao’s black mechanical suit was covered in red energy circuits like blood vessels, all connecting to his fingertips. As the five red beams were launched, these energy circuits dimmed again as if they had entered a cooldown.
Seeing that his attacks had missed, Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
“These Anti-neutron Beams are completely silent. If it was an ordinary new Beyond Grade A, he would have already been hit. He must have foreseen the threat because of part of the soul he inherited from the past.”
In the last few years, Han Xiao had built more Universal Treasures than just ‘The King’. This black mechanical suit was originally a Gold blueprint from Jayz’s technology treasure. Han Xiao had fused some modern technology into it, improved it, given it a new name, and called it ‘Black King—Ranged Gear’.
This was just one of the products in the series. There were also ‘Melee Gear’, ‘Army Gear’, and ‘Defense Gear’, which excelled in different areas. He called them the “Black King Series”, and they were all Gold Grade mechanical suits!
Without hesitation, Han Xiao charged toward Gaud. Gaud turned around and fled right away.
However, without a spaceship, his flight speed was no match for the mechanical army. He instantly got surrounded by the mechanical troops and fell into a dreadful spot.
As soon as the fight started, Han Xiao immediately noticed just how much of an edge Gaud’s Esper Ability gave him. Not only did he have an outrageously high resistance against energy attacks, but he could even absorb the enemy’s energy attacks during battle to recover his own energy at an astonishing speed. Basically, at the Beyond Grade A level, having this Esper Ability meant having infinite energy. It was incredibly overpowered!
The superiority of his Esper Ability was extremely apparent. With the edge his Esper Ability gave him, Gaud shockingly did not show signs of defeat under the attacks of the mechanical army.
“He has only just entered the Beyond Grade A territory, and he’s already this strong. Will there ever be anyone who can defeat him in the distant future?”
Seeing this, even Han Xiao was astounded by how talented Gaud was. At the same time, his thoughts of eliminating this hidden threat as early as possible became firmer.
The next moment, he personally stepped into the encirclement and charged toward Gaud, deflecting the energy beam attacks from Gaud one after another, successfully closing the distance. Without saying a word, his leg swung down like an axe.
Gaud’s expression changed as he hastily raised his hands to block it.
Boom!
An enormous force came from Han Xiao’s leg. Even though he protected his body with energy, his body could not endure it. His bones broke one after another, and intense pain flooded his mind.
“To think I got physically beat up by a Mechanic. If my Grade was a little bit higher, you’d be done for…”
Gaud clenched his teeth and endured the pain. As he attempted to back away, he realized his arms felt like they were stuck to the armor on Han Xiao’s leg, and he could not pull it away.
He hastily looked at it and saw black nanoparticles spreading at the area of contact, rapidly covered his arms, and headed toward his entire body.
“Sh*t!”
Gaud hastily controlled his energy attempting to get away. However, at this time, his mind suddenly trembled. His soul was dragged into a world made of data streams, and he lost control of his body.
Before he could react, a gigantic silhouette appeared and slapped his soul into the ground.
This is… Virtual Soul!
Gaud had vivid memories of this ability. He clenched his teeth and shouted, “Manison! Is that you‽’
Han Xiao ignored him and continued attacking.
Inside the Virtual Domain, Gaud’s soul was powerless and was thrashed. Luckily, the strength of his soul far exceeded normal new Beyond Grade As. Only because of that was he able to quickly escape.
As Gaud’s consciousness returned to his body, before he could catch a breath, he realized his entire body was wrapped by machines as if he wore a mechanical suit.
“You…”
Before he could start resisting, he saw Han Xiao snap his fingers.
Whoosh!
The next moment, Gaud disappeared without a trace. The King mechanical suit took him away through teleportation, ignoring the spacetime lock in the area.
“Execute the second plan.”
Han Xiao turned around immediately and told the mechanical army to bombard the area, wiping away all possible traces of the fleet. At the same time, he folded and compressed the mechanical army and placed them back in his main body.
He had prepared multiple plans. If he could quickly eliminate Gaud right here on the spot, it would be the best. However, if Gaud had the ability to hold on for an extended period of time, he would find a way to change the battlefield.
Although he had set up many traps, the fourth exploration stage area of the Flickering World was way too boisterous. There were uncertainties everywhere. The longer he took, the more risk he would have to bear. He did not want to spend too much time there to avoid running into someone.
The last time he traveled with Kasuyi, he had recorded the coordinates of many Deep Layer secondary dimensions on the way. While waiting for Gaud to arrive, he had chosen a stable dimension no one had ever visited and placed a few ‘Thrones’ there. He had also left some mechanical armies in that dimension to transform it into a larger sealed area.
When they arrived in the Deep Layer secondary dimension, only then would all of Gaud’s ways of escaping be eliminated.
Han Xiao quickly finished up cleaning the traces, stored his troops, hastily changed into another King suit, and instantly disappeared.
As the images in his eyes flickered, he arrived at a new area.
There, the earth was white. It was desolate. There were absolutely no signs of life, as if it was a black and white world. Only outsiders carried colors with them.
In midair, the mechanical army that had set up an ambush in this secondary dimension had surrounded Gaud and was attacking him so that he could not escape.
Seeing that Han Xiao had appeared, Gaud instantly turned and looked at him. His eyes were filled with shock.
The teleportation function of the King was already one of Han Xiao’s signatures. When he fell for it, he finally knew who the attacker was, and he could not believe it!
While barely holding on against the attacks of the mechanical army, Gaud stared at Han Xiao. His tone was filled with shock and confusion.
“Black Star! It’s you! What do you mean by this!”
He had absolutely no idea why the person who attacked him was Black Star.
Aren’t we buddies now?
Didn’t you want to befriend me?
Why attack me‽
Knowing that Gaud’s doom was certain, Han Xiao finally spoke in a calm tone.
“Stop acting. I know who you really are… EsGod. Do you really think you can cut off your past completely and get a new life?”
The moment his words sounded, Gaud’s pupils constricted into dots. He completely lost it!
Impossible!
My plan’s perfect. How could he possibly know‽
1227 I Am Starting to Feel More and More Like a Villain
Hence, he had hidden this ability all along and never shown it. He had secretly chosen ‘Gaud’ as the container for rebirth and planted this part of his Esper Ability genetic chain into Gaud, planning to inherit this ability after his rebirth. He then killed all his subordinates who knew about it and made sure that this identity had a clean background.
The core of this plan was [Esper Ability—Rebirth]. This was an ability that could only ever be used once, giving the user a second life. It was not a pure soul-type Esper Ability but was related to the High Dimensional Information Form.
Of course, the effect of it was not as simple as simply splitting up his soul. His consciousness would fuse perfectly with the container, forming a new and whole soul, completely unrelated to his original body. Although he would still have his memories, his thoughts and personality would shift to a certain extent. This meant that Gaud was Gaud and no longer EsGod; he had entirely abandoned his past and was truly reborn.
Back when he was captured by Han Xiao and the others, in that brief moment before the Spacetime Amber completely sealed him up, only [Esper Ability—Rebirth] could save him. Hence, he had unflinchingly torn his soul apart and escaped. Using this ability to turn into High Dimensional Information Form, he had escaped the soul seal from Lotus Swordsman and the others, entering Gaud’s body.
Not a single person knew about this. After so many years of nothing happening, Gaud had not been worried since long ago. He felt that no one saw through his plan. However, to his absolute shock, his deepest secret got brought up by Han Xiao this easily.
A tsunami was going on in Gaud’s mind. He had utterly no idea at which part of the plan he got discovered.
Due to how unstable his mind was, even his defenses became weaker. He was blown away by the mechanical army, adding a few more wounds to his body.
At this time, Gaud’s thoughts spun quickly. He suppressed the shock in his heart and said,
“EsGod? What are you talking about?”
“You still don’t want to admit it? Looks like you still have some meaningless hope. Do you think you can possibly escape now that you’re in my hands?”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and instantly knew what Gaud was thinking.
Even in such a desperate situation, Gaud would never admit he was EsGod. He believed that if he went missing, the dynasty would most certainly search for him intensively and thoroughly, and Black Star might also be investigated. He felt he still had a chance to escape.
However, if he admitted his identity, what Black Star did would be justified. He could wait for the dynasty to rescue him as long as he did not leave any evidence.
Therefore, no matter how absolutely shocked he was inside, no matter how much Black Star tried to make him talk, Gaud was never going to admit it.
“Black Star! This is completely ridiculous! At least find a better excuse if you want to kill me. How am I related to EsGod? You’re probably worried that I’ll threaten your position when I’m stronger, so you want to get rid of me beforehand. There’s no one else here anyway. Why bother making up something nonexistent‽”
Gaud clenched his teeth and spoke with a tone that sounded like he was furious from being accused.
“Why didn’t I notice in the past that your acting skills are on par with Kasuyi’s?” Han Xiao curled his lips.
Gaud ignored what he said as if he was submerged in rage and yelled, “I got it! You’re the one who leaked my ability to the black market! You must have heard it from inside the dynasty and want to muddy the waters, so you can frame it on someone else! Don’t think for a second you can deceive everyone; the dynasty won’t let you run away with this!”
“Since you don’t even dare admit it, there’s nothing much more to talk about.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
He originally wanted to speak with Gaud heart to heart. After all, they had known each other for decades; he wanted to at least give him the chance to say a few last words. However, Gaud was clearly not going to admit it no matter what, so there was nothing more to talk about.
As soon as he said that, Han Xiao activated his Mechanical Force without hesitation, releasing the troops in his original body. He then fused some of the mechanical soldiers into a Mechanical Deity.
This sealed Deep Layer secondary dimension was undisturbed, so Han Xiao did not have to hold back anymore.
Swoosh!
The Celestial Punishment Edge slashed down, shattering multiple layers of shields and smashed Gaud from the sky down to the ground like slapping a fly. He plummeted like a falling meteor, creating an enormous crater.
A shockwave erupted with Gaud in the center. Cracks opened up on the pale earth that extended all the way to the end of the horizon.
Plop…
Gaud was bleeding from every pore on his skin. His shirt was instantly painted red.
An intense pain flooded all his nerves. Before he could even catch a breath, his sights were filled up by dense black silhouettes. The next moment, the barrels of the machines in the sky all lit up.
Gaud hastily jumped up and backed away. The next second, countless psionic cannon beams fused into a gigantic light beam and penetrated the pale earth.
The ground instantly cracked and bulged like a mountain rising from the ground. It then shattered and exploded!
Boom!
The powerful aftershock spread rapidly. Though Gaud created layers of shields, the shockwave still blew him away.
He was only halfway up the sky when the Mechanical Deity caught up to him and smashed him back to the ground, shattering god knew how many more bones.
Although Gaud’s Esper Ability had an extraordinary potential, potential was not the same as actual strength. His current Grade was still too low. Before Han Xiao, who was at his peak performance, he was as weak as a child and completely powerless. The battle was entirely one-sided; Gaud could only barely stay alive while getting thrashed!
While Han Xiao beat up Gaud, he took the time to look at the combat information on the interface.
Since his level was much higher than Gaud, he could see all of Gaud’s abilities, so he could confirm that Gaud had no way of escaping this situation.
Although he had seen Gaud’s interface the last time, he looked through it again now just in case.
Then Han Xiao discovered that Gaud had acquired a new ability.
_____________________
[Energy Control—Evolution Energy (Unactivated)]: You are analyzing the energy structure of the Evolution Energy. You will master this energy when the analysis is complete. Current analysis progress: 50.2%.
_____________________
This b*stard is still thinking about the Evolution Cube?
Han Xiao frowned.
This guy is really persistent. It’s a shock he still hasn’t given up on the Evolution Cube!
Gaud’s ability was too stealthy. He only started the analysis after leaving the palace, so Han Xiao did not notice it back then.
Luckily, he indirectly shattered this plan of his because of other reasons, or Gaud would have secretly obtained this technology.
Han Xiao suddenly realized a sensitive problem.
Did Gaud do this only on his own, or did the dynasty ask him to do it?
Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed as he thought with a heavy heart.
Although the dynasty had not mentioned the Evolution Cube recently, Han Xiao knew that some people in the dynasty would never give up on obtaining it. Gaud was now a direct member of the dynasty, so the dynasty’s upper echelons knew his ability. It was very likely they secretly sent him to crack the Evolution Energy and then claim that their research succeeded so that he would have no reason to be angry.
Han Xiao had nothing to say about the dynasty’s doings. They were just trying to acquire what they wanted. There was no right or wrong. What he cared more about was how this piece of intelligence would affect his plan.
If the dynasty asked Gaud to do it, the risk would increase for him. In the dynasty’s eyes, he would have a valid motive and not be someone who they had no reason to doubt; he would become a suspect too.
On the other hand, this gave him a new excuse. Since the dynasty played tricks on him first, as long as he did not kill Gaud, even if he got found out and the dynasty held him responsible for it, things would also not end up in the worst scenario.
Looks like it’s not all bad… I shall take him down first!
Han Xiao shook his head, suppressed these thoughts, and focused on bullyin… no, fighting Gaud.
As time passed, Gaud’s state became worse and worse. Although his Esper Ability gave him an infinite amount of energy, it did not give him the ability to regenerate health quickly. His wounds accumulated, and his regenerative speed could not keep up anymore.
Dragging his exhausted and wounded body, Gaud tried to escape time after time, but he failed each attempt.
The strength difference was too great, and Han Xiao was very well prepared. There was nothing Gaud could do.
As a few more light beams penetrated his body, Gaud could not hold on any longer. Like a bird without wings, he plummeted and landed on the wrecked pale ground. Blood flowed out from all over his body, quickly forming a puddle.
Han Xiao deactivated the Mechanical Deity and slowly landed beside Gaud. Gaud still had yet to give up. He dragged his heavily damaged body and crawled on the ground, leaving a trail of blood behind.
“… Give up.”
Han Xiao looked at the interface and confirmed that Gaud was already in the near-death state. He shook his head, sighed, bent down, grabbed Gaud’s neck, and lifted his entire body up.
Gaud’s feet were hovering above the ground. He had no strength to resist. He stared at Han Xiao; his eyes were filled with hatred.
He had finally returned to the Beyond Grade A realm after so long. He had a hopeful future filled with infinite possibilities, and he was looking forward to it.
However, he had never thought that after keeping a low profile and growing for so long, as soon as he appeared in the world full of hope, he would meet Black Star, who figured out his identity and shattered his plan in the womb.
He could not admit this loss!
He still had a bright future!
He still had a big goal!
All the planning in the past years, his lifelong ambition…
All of that was going to perish…
He could not accept it!
He could not lose!
Han Xiao looked at Gaud’s twisted expressions and shook his head.
“Whether you admit that you’re EsGod or not, it won’t change the facts. I did this to you not because of personal reasons. If that thing did not happen, I couldn’t care less about you wiping your history and joining the dynasty. After all, I’m no saint. I’m no one to judge your sins.
“But I know exactly how determined you are about what exists on the other side of that wormhole. I can’t let you move freely inside the dynasty. That will not only threaten me but the entire explored universe.
“Although that day will come sooner or later, not only will your existence bring that day forward, it’ll even cause unpredictable impacts… because you’re too pure. As long as there’s the slightest opportunity to become stronger, you won’t care who you fight for. As for me… I don’t like to act only when the threat has already erupted.”
Gaud’s pupils constricted.
He subconsciously wanted to ask Han Xiao what he knew and opened his mouth but did not speak in the end. He did not want to leave any evidence that might cause suspicion.
“Black Star… the dynasty won’t let you get away with this!”
Gaud repeated this sentence again.
Seeing that Gaud was still not admitting anything, Han Xiao knew it was not going to happen. As he activated his Mechanical Force, nanoparticles extended onto Gaud’s body and quickly shrouded his body, turning into a spherical mechanical imprisonment device.
Then, Han Xiao activated the Spacetime Amber and slowly covered this imprisonment device up. He then thought about it and said, “Including this time, this is the third time you’ve fallen into my hands.”
Before Gaud could respond, Han Xiao completed the Spacetime Ember seal.
Buzz!
The next moment, the amber was complete.
The entire device got sealed up. From the outside, only the spherical mechanical prison could be seen in the amber. What was inside it was not visible.
At this moment, Han Xiao finally heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed his taut nerves.
“It’s finally done. No accidents happened…”
One reason he did not kill Gaud on the spot was to give himself some room for explanation if he got exposed; another was that he did not want to give Gaud an opportunity to be revived by the Sanctums any time soon; last but not least, he did not want to waste the Super High Risk Esper Ability EsGod spent countless years to create, [Energy Control]!
When the Spacetime Amber wiped out Gaud’s soul, he could have Feidin use the Soul Swapper and shift the soul of someone he thrust into Gaud’s body. Using these two Universal Treasures in combination had always been something he wanted to test out.
Or he could wait for ‘Little EsGod’ Evans to grow and suck away Gaud’s Esper Ability.
He could even wait till he mastered the Felon technology and secretly make Gaud into a Felon. However, the side effects of that were too huge, so it was not the best choice.
As for whether Gaud could still revive after he did all these, Han Xiao did not know either. He never tried it, so he had no way of knowing.
If Gaud could revive, there would indeed be a chance he could get exposed. In the future, when the dynasty discovers the Sanctums, they would certainly try to revive this ‘direct member’ of theirs.
However, who knew what things would be like then? Furthermore, he could infinitely delay the arrival of that day, and it was easy. Before he was confident in dealing with the dynasty’s accusations, he could simply not kill Gaud and only imprison him, letting him out once in a while to beat him up and make sure his soul was not wiped!
This way, Gaud would not die, and of course, he could never be revived!
Merciless, cruel, ruthless, fearsome. Why is my style becoming more and more like a villain?
Han Xiao rubbed his cheeks.
He silently made a joke about himself in his mind before becoming serious.
Capturing Gaud was only a start. The more important thing to do was to deal with the storm the dynasty’s rage would stir up not long after that would sweep across all advanced civilizations!
“I’ve done what I need to do. Now I’ll just have to wait for the storm to start… Sigh, I didn’t expect myself to start the fuse this time.”
Thinking about the various possibilities he had speculated not long ago, Han Xiao exhaled lightly, turned on the interface, and looked at the mission.
The hidden mission [Gaud’s Secret] was surprisingly complete. The mission requirement was to find out Gaud’s secret, and Han Xiao did not know what the criteria of that was. He clearly did not find any solid evidence, nor did Gaud admit anything. Did he just have to call out his real identity in front of him? Was it really so easy?
Hmm, the fact that I thrashed him is probably the main reason it’s considered completed…
The mission completion criteria of hidden missions was quite confusing. Han Xiao did not think too much about it and went to clean things up.
He controlled the mechanical army and bombarded this secondary dimension till the entire dimension collapsed, eliminating all traces.
After completing that, Han Xiao did not waste any time there. He retrieved his machines, put on the King suit, directly returned to Black Star Palace, and found Feidin in the library right away.
Feidin only looked up and glanced at Han Xiao before putting his focus back on reading the book in his hands, letting Han Xiao touch him all he wanted.
After getting plenty of luck in his hands, Han Xiao returned to his personal training room, rubbed his hands with excitement, and chose to conclude the mission.
_____________________
[Gaud’s Secret] completed!
You have received [Character Summon Card – Gaud]!
Character Summon Card – Gaud: [Energy Analysis]—You can efficiently analyze the principles and structure of an energy form, gaining control of the energy. Usage: 0/4
You have received: Draw one of Gaud’s ability/talent.
Note: Gaud is an Esper. Parts of the possible abilities have been automatically adjusted to your class.
Randomizing… complete!
Please select one from the five options below as the reward:
1. [Plasma Shockwave] – Ability: Release a plasma arc beam and deal damage to the enemy. The power of it relies on your Intelligence, Mystery, and energy output efficiency. Minimum cost per second: 5 energy. Cooldown: 4 seconds.
2. [Kinetic Strengthening] – Ability: Using energy, strengthen your cells and continuously enhance your close-range combat capabilities. The effects rely on your Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, Mystery, and energy output efficiency. Minimum cost per minute: 10 energy. Cooldown: 12 seconds.
3. [Spiritual Growth] – Talent: +15% Mystery, +10% Charisma.
4. [Energy Collecting Ring] – Ability: Absorb the energy around you to rapidly recover your energy. Cost: 2 stamina per second. Cooldown: 0. Can be turned on at all times.
5. [Perfect Energy Affinity Physique] – Talent: You have astounding affinity toward all forms of energy. +120% basic energy senses, +90% basic energy resistance, +60% basic energy absorption efficiency, +30% basic energy attack damage, +20% maximum energy.
1228 Sorokin's Confusion
“Yoho, nice!”
Among the options, only the last one was valuable. This was one of Gaud’s Molding Talents.
The bonuses this talent gave were all basic bonuses. The increase would be very considerable. To Han Xiao, the three most useful bonuses to him were the additional ninety-percent basic energy resistance, thirty-percent increase to basic energy attack damage, and twenty-percent increase to maximum energy.
His Indestructible Body was only strong because his regenerative speed was extremely quick, but his resistances were not outrageously high. However, this talent directly almost doubled his resistance to energy attacks!
As he became stronger, the attack damage of his mechanical army became stronger too. Hence, the ‘die together’ combo also became riskier for himself as time went on. The last time he used this in the Celestial Star Alliance, he almost sent himself away.
With this talent, if he did the same time again, he would not be in danger at all. This was another big step forward on the path of a Mechanic Tank.
Without this ability, Gaud would have lost consciousness long ago.
The basic energy attack damage bonus only increased Gaud’s own damage output, but in the hands of a Mechanic, it was much stronger. It could increase the damage of all energy type weapons. Its most direct impact would be the increase to the army’s long-range attacks. The thirty-percent increase was also quite ample.
At this point, with so many talents, Han Xiao had already discovered one trait—when the Molding Talents of other classes were possessed by a Mechanic, the effects would be astronomically enlarged. This was the advantage of using the Army Style.
Of course, the extra twenty percent maximum energy was incredible too.
His current maximum energy was around 290,000, so this gave him 50,000 energy right away. It was more than enough for him to acquire the bonuses of a new Energy Rank, maybe even two ranks!
In the later stages, Energy Rank bonuses and Race Evolution were among the main sources of attributes, giving thousands of points easily every time, substantially more than simply leveling up.
At his current Energy Rank, the attributes he would receive every time his rank increased were enormous. His attributes would increase for about seven thousand in total once he gained just one more Energy Rank.
The way the Energy Rank bonuses worked was that when his current energy depleted throughout battles, the bonuses would decrease along with the Energy Rank too. Therefore, the Supers who had infinite energy or could convert between energy and health had a tremendous edge. They could always maintain their energy level at their peak. Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Oulou were all like this.
_____________________
You have received the talent [Perfect Energy Affinity Physique]!
_____________________
It was an easy choice. Han Xiao chose the last option without hesitation.
The next moment, an intense pain erupted in his body. Luckily, his nerves were tough, and he instantly regained control of his body.
This talent changed his physique; all the cells in his body were becoming stronger. The pain only faded after quite some time. His senses of the world changed again. It felt refreshing.
Han Xiao realized that he could now sense the stray universe energy everywhere around him without having to use any ability. It was as if he was suddenly no longer short-sighted; he could observe the world more clearly.
Furthermore, his body was even automatically pulling the stray energy in. The stray energy around was gathering unconsciously, moving around his body like pets.
Anyone who has this physique can be considered a talent. They’ll grow extremely quickly. This talent should also be one of the reasons Gaud became a Beyond Grade A so quickly.
Han Xiao’s body was filled with energy. He glanced at his attributes, his Energy Rank had already surpassed the 100,000 level.
However, there was no additional notification on the interface, so he was not sure if 100,000 Energy Rank was a new stage.
He was not concerned about it. Based on experience, the benefits of achieving a new Energy Rank would only show during Promotion. That was how it was for the bonuses of 52,000 Energy Rank and 78,000 Energy Rank. Therefore, having higher Energy Ranks at lower levels meant having high potential.
As for the effects of the Character Summon Card, Han Xiao had yet to try it. However, based on the fundamental mechanics of the Character Summon Cards, the effects of [Energy Analysis] were most certainly not permanent. He had two guesses about it.
One possibility was that once he chose which energy to gain control of, he would lose the control when the duration of the Character Summon Card ended. Another possibility was that it was similar to Jayz’s [Mechanic—Insight] Character Summon Card; although he would lose the ability after the Character Summon Card duration ended, he would still remember the knowledge he gained by analyzing the energy, which would make studying this type of energy easier in the future.
However, he, of course, did not have the [Energy Control] Esper Ability, so he could not convert energy like Gaud could and would only be able to simulate the process using machines, which would be much more difficult. Espers did not have to understand the principles and mechanisms of their Esper Ability at all; they could use it right away. While the others could not duplicate the same process, they had to analyze the process and find another way to carry it out.
Basically, Espers only had to know that one plus one made two, while the others had to find out why one plus one was two and understand it. The difference was huge.
If the special energy created by Esper Abilities were so easy to break down, the advanced civilizations would have mass produced them long ago, and [Energy Control] would not have been seen as an overpowered ability.
Nonetheless, at least there are four uses. There’s room for mistakes.
Han Xiao nodded, he was quite passionate about research.
Although I can fight Pugilists with my fists, I know I’m still a good scientist.
After browsing his attributes for a while more, Han Xiao turned off the interface and entered the quantum network.
For the time being, he did not plan to go anywhere and only wanted to monitor the galactic network at him, waiting for the storm to arrive.
…
“Gaud and his fleet have all gone missing‽”
Inside the Crimson Dynasty, Urranrell, who had just received the urgent report, suddenly stood up. Her expression changed drastically.
Before her was the remote projection of the marshal of the exploration army, Tarrokov. His expression was extremely serious as he said with a deep voice, “Yes, it happened just now. The remote link between Gaud’s guard fleet and Planet Lighthouse’s artificial intelligence center suddenly broke. We tried repairing it, but all attempts failed. We can’t contact Gaud or anyone in the fleet now!”
The artificial intelligences of the dynasty fleets in the Flickering World were all monitored by the Planet Lighthouse headquarters. Once disconnected, Planet Lighthouse would instantly find out where that team went missing. This formed a highly responsive military system that covered most areas in the Flickering World.
“Where did they go missing?” Urranrell frowned heavily.
“Right at the edge of the Flickering World’s Emerald Star Cluster, close to the stargate entrance of the third exploration phase. Using the nearest space buoy as a point, we have circled out the rough range of the area they went missing in. I’ve already sent the teams nearby to investigate.”
Hearing this, Urranrell had no choice but to wait patiently. She asked with a grave tone, “What do you think is the cause of this?”
“There’s not enough evidence to make an assumption.” Tarrokov hesitated then said, “But personally, I’m guessing that the fleet was very likely attacked. Someone wants to kill Gaud. This is the most likely scenario.”
Urranrell sat back down, her hands gripped together. The emotions in her eyes were flickering.
Not long after, Tarrokov received a report from his subordinates. His expression changed slightly, and he said, “Your Excellency Urranrell, the teams have sent back the message saying they did not discover any traces of the fleet, nor are there any signs of an anomaly within the area. The spaceships that passed by also said they did not detect anything unusual. It’s like the fleet Gaud was in disappeared into thin air…”
Hearing this, Urranrell no longer hesitated. She instantly contacted the chief secretary and said with a firm tone, “Release an Emergency Summon Order. Notify all the upper echelons to drop everything on their hands and gather for a meeting immediately!”
…
About ten minutes later, the remote projections of the dynasty upper echelons came to the conference room one after another. The bosses of the various departments gathered and chatted quietly, not knowing what happened that made Urranrell summon all of them urgently.
Very soon, Urranrell entered the room with a serious expression. She looked around at the various upper echelons present and cut to the chase.
“This is an emergency. The dynasty’s direct Beyond Grade A, Gaud, might have been attacked and is confirmed missing!”
As soon as she said that, the entire place became silent.
Shock appeared on the faces of every upper echelon. They did not expect to hear something so shocking.
At this time, Tarrokov stepped up and described the situation in the simplest way.
After understanding the situation, the various upper echelons present were all furious!
“Who dares to attack the dynasty’s direct member‽ This is trampling the dynasty’s pride!”
“We must investigate it thoroughly!”
“The dynasty is not to be provoked! No matter who did it, we must make them pay!”
Everyone had the same reaction; they were all extremely furious.
They were one of the ruling civilizations, yet someone dared to attack their direct member and wipe out their talent. Whoever was behind this had absolutely no respect for the dynasty at all!
For someone to do something like that, in their eyes, that person was asking to be killed!
An intelligence department high ranking official said with a deep voice, “Since the fleet is missing too, we can assume that the enemy succeeded. We have to first verify if Gaud is still alive. If he’s still alive, we have to prioritize saving him.”
“That’s right. Gaud is an important direct Beyond Grade A. Even if there’s only a tiny chance, we must protect his life!” another military official agreed.
“Gaud is a Beyond Grade A. To be able to take him down so quickly, the enemy definitely had to use a lot of forces. I suggest checking the space buoys nearby immediately. There should be witness reports of large fleets passing by!”
“Don’t have too high hopes. If the enemy could easily cut off the fleet’s remote link, they’d definitely be able to modify the records of the space buoys. The enemy was definitely fully prepared and wouldn’t leave any obvious clues since he dared mess with the dynasty.”
“The enemy could make our fleet disappear without a trace. There’s a high chance that a Beyond Grade A Mechanic is involved!”
“That’s right. The enemy might have left clues in the quantum network. I suggest getting Quantum Demon Judith to investigate, or we can even request help from Black Star if it really comes to that point. Black Star is a top Virtual Mechanic. Not many people in the universe can hide from him in the quantum network!”
The people planned and discussed the matter for a while. The topic then went back to the suspect.
An officer said, “Some time ago, an unknown force spread information about Gaud’s real ability on the network. This might be the fuse; someone wants to eliminate our talent or has eyes on this Super High Risk Esper Ability.”
“Not many organizations have both the ability and motive to do this. The federation and the church have been our competitors forever. They don’t want to see us have someone as talented as Gaud, so they both might act… especially the Federation of Light. They have the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, so they can kill Gaud without anyone noticing!”
“No, it is now the development stage of the Flickering World, and we’re still at war. The federation and the church wouldn’t break our temporary partnership for something like this. In fact, the Super Star Clusters civilizations are the most suspicious. They might feel that since they have no way of turning the war around, they had to erase a future threat before losing completely!”
“I heard Black Star has been protesting about Manison’s Felon technology, so the Mechanic Emperor is suspicious too! Don’t forget, Ninjia from the Arcane Church is suspected to have been killed by Manison, leading to the church’s Ten Thousand Deity Scepter falling into the federation’s hands… This guy has done something like this before!”
Everyone present had the same three speculations. These three sides had both the ability and the motive. Other than them, no other organization would have the guts to attack the dynasty’s direct member.
Looking at everyone’s excited expressions, Bekorodi’s expression changed slightly as he suddenly thought of something.
No… one more person has the motive.
In the past, he had told Gaud to analyze the Evolution Energy. If Black Star discovered what Gaud did, Black Star would have a reason to attack him too. Black Star was a suspect!
However… Bekorodi could not bring that up!
The plan to analyze the Evolution Cube got called to a stop by Urranrell long ago; Bekorodi only approached Gaud behind Urranrell’s back because he received the subtle approval from the next ruler. He was carrying out this plan secretly; this was not something he could point out in this situation!
It did not matter whether Black Star was actually the one who did it. As soon as what he did got exposed, not only would he be most likely demoted, it would impact the next ruler negatively too.
If Black Star really did it, although Black Star would certainly be held responsible, he would take much more blame. After all, he acted against the orders and placed the dynasty at the moral low ground.
All kinds of plots flashed past his mind. Bekorodi opened his mouth a bit but chose to stay silent in the end.
Even if Black Star was the culprit, he was not going to say it.
Bekorodi thought things through very clearly. It was the next ruler who hinted for him to carry out the plan. The two of them had a silent agreement to have the new ruler break this case open after Urranrell’s term ended, so the new ruler’s reputation and image would be increased.
However, although Bekorodi had this plan, what made him stay silent was more the fact that he did not believe Black Star was the culprit.
With Black Star’s position, even if he did notice what Gaud was doing, he had no reason to make it into such a big deal. He sure had the motive, but it was too weak.
Furthermore, the way Bekorodi looked at it, the title of National Pillar and the three Universal Civilizations’ consultant were more than enough to tie Black Star up. After enjoying the benefits of them, Black Star would not want to lose them, so he would not do something as rash as this.
While Bekorodi was brainstorming, the others quickly came to a decision.
Urranrell made the decisive call.
“Announce Gaud going missing on behalf of the dynasty immediately. Tell the entire universe that the dynasty will find the culprit no matter the cost!”
Swoosh!
The upper echelons present stood up simultaneously and nodded.
“Understood!”
…
At a border stargate transit station of the Emerald Star Cluster, a man wearing the uniform of the Limitless Financial Group stood at the scenery observation area and looked at the galaxy outside the porthole. The border stargate was not far away. Belts of light extended from inside the blue space vortex. They were all spaceships entering and leaving the border.
“Based on the time, the fleet guarding Gaud should arrive in a day at most…” this Limitless Financial Group employee murmured.
It was not the original owner who was controlling this body but Sorokin’s manifestation.
According to the route the dynasty fleet was taking, they should be leaving the Flickering World through the Black Star Army’s territory. Hence, Sorokin had possessed this person many days ago and waited at this stargate, wanting to observe the size of the fleet Gaud was in. He could only come up with a detailed plan after obtaining enough information.
However, although he was already making preparations, he was still hesitant as to whether he was going to make the move or not. After all, the matter was too huge.
“If I do it, it’s best to do it in the Black Star Army’s territory, it’ll be easier to frame it on Black Star this way… even if I fail, Black Star will be held responsible if something happens to Gaud in his territory.”
Sorokin pondered.
Beep beep beep!
At this time, his communicator suddenly rang.
Sorokin took it out and glanced at it casually. It was an announcement the dynasty had made in the public channel, which forced a notification to pop up on every communicator.
According to the General Quantum Network Communication Laws, only the civilization that ruled over an area had the right to do this, not any other organizations, especially not consortiums.
“Tsk, how great would it be if this could be used for advertising…” Sorokin mumbled and opened the message.
With just one look, his expression froze on his face, and his entire body turned stiff.
“Gaud was attacked and is already missing‽”
Sorokin was stunned, his mind was filled with question marks.
Wait, what? I haven’t started moving yet!
Which hero did my job for me‽
Marvelous!
I thank you!
The sudden turn of events astonished Sorokin totally.
Not only him, as soon as this enraged announcement from the Crimson Dynasty was publicized, the entire galactic society was absolutely shocked!
It all happened so suddenly. No one was mentally prepared!
Chapter 1229 The Thief Calling the Cops
Somewhere in the Emerald Star Cluster, a small fleet was slowly sailing. The symbol on the exterior armor of the spaceships showed that this fleet belonged to ‘Ancient Snake’, which meant this was the person who called out Gaud’s Esper Ability during the welcome meeting, Lucie.Lucie stood before the porthole at the bridge and looked into the galaxy outside the window. Beside him was another neutral Beyond Grade A who was also someone who frequented the black market.“How long till we arrive at the Star Cluster’s border stargate?” Lucie asked without turning around.
“About a day, boss,” the captain hastily answered.
Hearing this, the neutral Beyond Grade A on the side sighed and said, “I don’t think we can catch up to Gaud. Lucie, do you really have to spar with him?”
“I must find out what his ability really is.”
“Sigh, he’s a direct member of the dynasty. He can totally not accept your request. It’s not like you can force him to fight, right?”
“Humph, I’m going to try it at least.” Lucie looked determined.
After the welcome meeting, he had brought his fleet along with a Beyond Grade A friend and chased behind Gaud along the route they took, hoping to stop Gaud and ask for a spar.
Of course, he did this not just to satisfy his curiosity. As a secret member of a Super Star Cluster civilization, he received a secret order from the upper echelons that asked him to find a way to force Gaud to fight and verify if Gaud’s ability was really [Energy Control]. This was why he kept chasing after Gaud.
The Super Star Cluster civilizations did not want to attack Gaud, but a test of this degree was doable. They all wanted to know Gaud’s real ability.
At this time, the spaceship’s radar suddenly rang.
“Alert! Spacetime stabilized area ahead. Hyperdrive will be shut down. Please stop hyperdrive mode or go around the area…”
The two of them were surprised.
Spacetime stabilized areas usually meant trouble. Neutral Beyond Grade As did not like getting into unnecessary trouble.
Lucie was just about to have the fleet go around the area when the spaceship suddenly received a message.
“This is the Crimson Dynasty exploration army. We’re carrying out a check on all passersby. Please stop your ships immediately and cooperate. I repeat, please stop your ships immediately…”
Hearing this, Lucie told the fleet to stop. He looked outside the window and saw a line of defense formed by the dynasty’s battleships that seemed to have locked up a large area ahead.
Three dynasty spaceships quickly approached and activated all kinds of detection devices to scan Lucie’s fleet.
At the same time, a projection of someone who looked like a dynasty military officer appeared on the communication screen. He looked at Lucie and the Beyond Grade A beside him and said expressionlessly, “Please show us your IDs, spaceship sailing certificate, crew list, logbook…”
Though unhappy, Lucie told the captain to do as he was told. After all, his real identity was sensitive. Plus, he did not think there was anything he had to hide.
The military officer started checking through the information provided. Having realized that Lucie and the person beside him were both Beyond Grade As, his expression changed slightly. A strong sense of suspicion flashed past his eyes.
“What are you doing here? Why are you passing by this area? Where are you heading?”
“The dynasty needs to know that too? This is one of the routes leading to the border stargate station. Is it weird for me to pass by here?” Lucie frowned. “In fact, why are you guys locking this area down?”
“To search people.” The dynasty military officer did not want to say much and went back to checking through the records.
At this time, he suddenly realized that there were records of tracking Gaud in Lucie’s logbook. His pupils instantly constricted, and he yelled with an indisputable tone, “Everyone, leave the spaceship immediately for further checks!”
The neutral Beyond Grade A on the side frowned. “Isn’t this too much? We’re just passing by.”
“I’ll repeat myself one more time. Leave the spaceship immediately for further checks, or we’ll do so forcibly!”
After that, the dynasty fleet at the back activated their weapons and aimed at Lucie’s fleet immediately, clearly ready to fire at any time.
“Are you threatening me?” Lucie was annoyed.
The dynasty was powerful. Forget their officer not showing him any respect, how dare an officer attempt to order around him, a Beyond Grade A, like that? Did he really think Beyond Grade As were easy to mess with‽
Sure, as a neutral Beyond Grade A, he did not have the strength to mess with the dynasty. However, he did not think that just anybody in the dynasty had the right to disrespect him. Furthermore, with the Beyond Grade A Association behind his back, he was not someone who had absolutely no backup at all anymore!
Beep beep beep!
Just as Lucie was about to vent his anger, the communicator of everyone in the ship rang.
Lucie frowned, suppressed his anger for the time being, and took out his communicator. Only then did he see the dynasty’s announcement that popped up, and his expression changed drastically.
Gaud is missing‽
Who did it? Who had the audacity to do it‽
Lucie’s body suddenly shook. It suddenly occurred to him.
Wait a minute, I’ve been tracking Gaud all this time, wanting to spar with him…
If nothing had happened to Gaud, this would have been completely normal and would not lead to the dynasty’s hostility. However, now that something had happened to Gaud, anyone who was related became a suspect. Although he was only trailing behind Gaud and did not even meet him, he was still suspicious in the eyes of the dynasty. The dynasty was not going to let go of any leads!
No wonder the dynasty military officer had that attitude!
Lucie knew how huge the matter was. This was not the time to be concerned about whether that officer disrespected him or not. He had to find a way to clear his suspicion.
If he did not cooperate with the dynasty’s investigation, he had absolutely no doubts that the dynasty would vent their anger on him—this was not the time to be stubborn.
Lucie’s rage instantly extinguished. He did not dare explode and could only tell everyone to leave the spaceship and obediently cooperate with the dynasty’s checks. He was extremely frustrated.
Who’s the b*stard that did this‽ Now I’ve been dragged down too!
…
“What? Gaud is missing? Someone really attacked him‽”
The Federation of Light’s president, Bader, stood right up from his chair, stunned.
What, who’s the idiot‽
No, this isn’t an idiot. It’s a maniac!
The Chief Elder was in dismay too. “Who’s so daring as to really attack a direct member of the dynasty? This will affect the entire explored universe’s situation, create a huge storm and cause problems for everyone!”
Bader frowned tightly and said with a deep voice, “If we didn’t make a move, nor would the church… so it’s most likely the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s doing.”
“Yes, it must be the Super Star Cluster Alliance.” The Chief Elder nodded.
Before it happened, the two of them did not think the Super Star Cluster Alliance would dare act. However, when it really happened, to the two of them, since they did not do it, it could only be the Super Star Cluster Alliance!
Who gave them the guts! They dared to attack the dynasty’s direct member today. Are they going to attack ours tomorrow‽
“The Super Star Cluster Alliance is getting cocky. Looks like the Tragedy of the Pinnacles was not an effective enough of a lesson. Looks like it’s time to educate them again…”
Bader’s eyes flickered.
He was actually secretly happy about the dynasty being the one that took the hit. He basically enjoyed the benefit of the dynasty being weakened without having to do anything. However, on the other hand, the dynasty represented one of the ruling civilizations, and the federation was also one of the ruling civilizations. Seeing their authority get challenged, he was still angry. These two emotions were not in conflict.
The Chief Elder thought for a moment and said with a heavy heart, “Although we’re not the culprit, our specialty is assassination since we have the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, so we’ll most likely be one of the suspects to the dynasty.”
“Hmm, this is a problem. Therefore, we have to make a stand and actively help the dynasty investigate the case. However, we’re not the only ones who have this kind of teleportation technology. Who knows if the Mechanic Emperor stole it? Plus, Black Star also has a type of mechanical suit that has similar teleportation abilities…”
“The Mechanic Emperor is suspicious indeed. He’s still the federation’s ally. If he did it, we’ll be responsible too. As for Black Star…” The Chief Elder laughed. “Hehe, as long as the dynasty upper echelons have not gone crazy, it’s impossible for them to suspect Black Star.”
“You’re right.” Bader sighed and shook his head.
…
“Who the f*ck did this‽”
The Star Arc Civilization leader was dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning.
Although this was indeed something they wanted to do, the Star Arc Civilization leader knew that no matter who attacked Gaud, the Super Star Cluster Alliance would certainly be the dynasty’s top suspect.
This was pushing them into the flames!
The Star Arc Civilization leader was puzzled. Possible suspects flashed through his mind one after another.
“I didn’t do it. Is it another Super Star Cluster civilization? Who has the motive to do so… Modo‽”
Modo had exited the war long ago. The current battle had nothing to do with, so they would really not be afraid of doing something like this. Even the possibility of them wanting to burden the Super Star Cluster Alliance was not out of the question. They had lost the chance to compete, so they wanted to make the other Super Star Cluster civilizations fail just like them!
The brain of the Star Arc Civilization leader’s spun quickly.
Was it the plan of the federation and the church, killing the dynasty’s talent and framing them‽
Was it the dynasty’s own plot, making Gaud go missing and framing it on the Super Star Cluster Alliance, giving their direct members a reason to participate in the war and using it as an excuse to start another Tragedy of the Pinnacles? If not, how could it happen so suddenly, and how could Gaud possibly not be able to resist‽
The Star Arc Civilization felt as if he had seen through everything.
This was a plot against the Super Star Cluster Alliance!
The three Universal Civilizations wanted them dead!
“We’re too passive. We must do something! We can’t allow the three Universal Civilizations to make things up!”
The Star Arc Civilization leader clenched his teeth.
You want to frame us? We know how to do that too! We must find a scapegoat that’ll shut the three Universal Civilizations up!
Names quickly flashed through his mind, and suddenly, it stopped at one name.
This person did not lack motive, had more than enough ability to do it, and was very suspicious…
I choose you, Manison!
…
In just a few days, the dynasty’s announcement swept over all Star Fields like a storm, causing sensations in countless areas.
Some thick and overconfident local terrorist organizations claimed to be responsible for it. Then, in less than a day, the dynasty’s fleet arrived at their bases right away and wiped them all out, not leaving a single survivor!
Everyone could feel that, this time, the Crimson Dynasty was really furious!
Many organizations smelled that a storm was about to come…
The Beyond Grade A Association held an emergency meeting to discuss how to deal with this matter too.
In the large round table conference room on Planet Finn, the remote projections of many Beyond Grade As gathered and discussed intensely.
“How could this happen? It’s so sudden!”
“It’s only been a few days since we last saw Gaud, and now he’s… sigh!”
“It has to be someone in the association who did this. Who did it? Step forward!”
They were infuriated.
Although Gaud was a direct member of an advanced civilization, what happened to him impacted the others too. They glanced at Gaud’s empty seat from time to time, feeling sympathetic.
The meeting was as noisy as a wet market. This time, Sun Hunter opened his mouth. His thunderous voice covered everyone else’s voices.
The others looked over and saw that he was staring at Manison with a suspicious expression.
“Mechanic Emperor, tell us the truth, did you do it?”
“Nonsense! Have you people been brainwashed by Black Star‽ I’m the president. Why would I possibly take the lead to violate the rules‽” Manison’s face twitched. He was frustrated.
However, the others still stared at Manison and did not trust him.
Han Xiao had never stopped damaging his reputation. He had planted the seed of doubt in everyone’s heart long ago.
Seeing this, veins popped up on Manison’s forehead. He was extremely irritated.
No matter how much he explained himself, he would not be able to clear the suspicion. The Beyond Grade As would still suspect him… and Black Star was the one who caused all of this!
Manison glared at Han Xiao and almost wanted to fight him right here in front of everyone till he could vent all his anger out.
This time, Clotti slowly stood up and said with a freezing tone and expressionless face, “No matter who here caused Gaud to go missing, we will drag you out and make you understand the consequences of challenging the dynasty!”
As he was speaking, he glanced at Manison faintly.
The three Universal Civilizations’ direct members usually did not speak, but now, they all made serious statements, expressing that they would catch the culprit no matter what. Many glanced at the Mechanic Emperor from time to time.
Manison’s expression became worse and worse.
However, Sorokin was looking at Manison more and more gently.
If not because this was not the right time, Sorokin would have given Manison a thumbs up and praised him.
At this time, Han Xiao, who had not said much, cleared his throat, attracting everyone’s attention.
“Gaud joined the association before this happened. He’s also one of our members and is protected by the association. Now that he’s missing, this isn’t just an act of provoking the dynasty but also the association’s authority. It’s our duty to find the culprit. This is the purpose of the association!
“Therefore, I propose that the association shall announce to the public that we’ll be investigating this case thoroughly. All Beyond Grade As will be searching for leads together and releasing a kill order across the universe!”
After he said that, whether sincere or fake, everyone expressed their approval and agreement.
“The vice president is right. The association must not be excluded!”
“Who dares target our member? Do they think we’re all decorations‽”
Han Xiao’s proposal matched how the majority of people felt. Some were worried that if they did not make a stand, the dynasty would take revenge like the Tragedy of the Pinnacles and threaten their lives.
Since Han Xiao had proposed to provide assistance, it would more or less direct the dynasty’s hatred somewhere else so that they would not be the target for the dynasty to vent its anger.
Furthermore, protecting its members was one of the association’s duties. Most people were glad to see the association make a move. This meant that they would receive the same treatment in the future.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became united.
Clotti glanced at Han Xiao. His expression became slightly less cold as he nodded at Han Xiao and sat back down.
He had intended to acquire the association’s help. After all, this many Beyond Grade As was an extremely powerful force. Gaining their help would largely increase the chances of finding the culprit.
Black Star was the dynasty’s ally, and he had given them a lot of face by making the decision on the spot to provide assistance. Seeing this, Clotti agreed more with the dynasty’s strategy.
Letting Black Star control the association was definitely a good thing for the dynasty.
Looking at everyone’s reaction, Han Xiao maintained a serious expression on the surface while secretly heaving a sigh of relief in his mind.
This was the effect he wanted to achieve—having all the organizations suspect each other while not knowing that the true culprit was right under their noses…
He had completely muddied the waters.
1230 Werewolf Becoming the Detective
As so many Beyond Grade As used their influence to search for clues, it instantly caused chain reactions in the Flickering World, affecting countless normal organizations.
The dynasty also made a public response based on the Beyond Grade A Association’s announcement, praising Vice President Black Star’s act of taking the lead, not at all mentioning Manison, the actual president. The difference in treatment was clear.
At the same time, the Beyond Grade A Association publicized a universe kill order. Every member chipped in some money, making up an outrageous reward as high as four billion Enaus. Among them, the Black Star Army alone contributed half a billion, expressing their determination to find the culprit to the outside world.
The outrageously high reward immediately triggered the enthusiasm of the entire Flickering World. Almost everyone was guessing who the real culprit was every day.
Plus, the dynasty exploration army dispatched a ton of manpower and resources to search for clues, causing the focus of the Flickering World to shift. Although the Flickering World was still the main focus of the galactic residents, the search for Gaud also attracted a lot of attention. Other than fighting in the war, these organizations were also sending their men all over to look for clues.
The federation and the church did not only watch either. They both made announcements stating that they felt just as provoked as the dynasty was and would be sending forces to assist the dynasty in their investigation.
Organizations in the galaxy got questioned one after another. The dynasty collected all kinds of information related to the time surrounding the incident, but they had yet to find any clues.
…
In the remote conference room of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, a meeting was being held.
“… After this, there’s no way the dynasty will put it behind them. They’ll have to settle it no matter what. Never mind if they solve it, but if they end up not being able to solve it, they’ll undoubtedly find a temporary ‘culprit’ to take the blame, save the dynasty’s reputation, and vent their anger. We’re the best choice for the dynasty.”
The remote projections were all of the Super Star Cluster civilization leaders. Listening to the Star Arc Civilization leader speak, everyone had a serious expression.
At the start, they had doubted one of their own and asked if they did it as soon as they met, thinking this was the stupid act of one of their allies. However, after sharing their internal information, only then did they clear each other’s doubts and unite on this matter.
The Star Arc Civilization leader brought up his opinion at the right timing, receiving agreement from many other leaders.
Everyone knew that their situation was against them. Whether the dynasty could find the real culprit or not, the Super Star Cluster Alliance would still very likely take the blame. The three Universal Civilizations would definitely not mind using this opportunity to frame them for a crime they did not commit.
The Tragedy of the Pinnacles was a bloody lesson. No Super Star Cluster civilization wished for that to happen again, so they had no choice but to let the three Universal Civilizations take the moral high ground among the public and toy with them. Therefore, the Star Arc Civilization leader spoke to their hearts.
The others nodded. “That’s right. We can’t sit and wait for our doom. We have to turn the situation around. Explaining ourselves won’t work. It’s best to find a clear ‘culprit’ and announce it so that the three Universal Civilizations can’t use this against us… Manison is a suitable target.”
Seeing this, the Star Arc Civilization leader heaved a sigh of relief and smiled with satisfaction.
He had brought this proposal up in the meeting because he wanted the help of the entire Super Star Cluster Alliance.
They would only have a higher chance of making Manison take the blame if they worked together; the Star Arc Civilization alone was not enough.
Now, the entire Super Star Cluster Alliance had come to an agreement to frame Manison.
…
In the Mechanic Emperor’s secret base, Manison did not look happy. He hung up the call from the federation and frowned slightly.
“The dynasty’s request is too much, telling me to show all my Felons, submit the logbooks of all the spaceships under my command, and even open up the memory database of all my mechanical soldiers for them to check… Hehe, they say they hope I can cooperate with the investigation, but they’ve actually already marked me as the main suspect. The only thing that’s left to do is to bring me over and interrogate me.”
Manison shook his head. He could clearly see that the three Universal Civilizations were also planning to use this opportunity to find out the coordinates of his various bases.
Although he did not do it, he was not so naive as to think he could stay out of it completely.
From Manison’s perspective, the Super Star Cluster Alliance was most likely the culprit. The Super Star Cluster Alliance would certainly not be willing to sit and wait for their doom, so they would definitely do something about it. Manison, however, happened to be between the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance and was the most suspicious. He was the most suitable sacrifice; someone was probably going to pin the incident on him.
“I must prepare some way to fight back and make the Super Star Cluster Alliance take the blame they deserve… Hmm, speaking of which, if they try to frame me, that should prove they’re the real culprits.”
Manison’s thoughts were very clear.
If possible, he might have wanted to frame Black Star and teach that b*stard a lesson.
However, that was way too difficult to do, almost impossible really, so he could only forget about that idea.
…
In the Holy Accord organization’s base…
“To think that this happened in the outside world…”
The various revived Primordial Ones gathered, watched the images on the communicator in Oathkeeper’s hands, and chatted continuously.
“The times are so terrifying now. Even an Esper Ability as powerful as Energy Control has appeared.”
“Pity, he got killed right after he entered the Beyond Grade A territory. Black Star is indeed right. The world outside is dangerous.
“This culprit messed up. No matter how perfectly he executed the plan, as soon as the dynasty figures out the Sanctums and revives Gaud, the truth would be revealed…”
The others nodded.
Oathkeeper, however, was a little worried. “If the dynasty can’t find the culprit, once you revivors appear, the dynasty will suspect you guys too. This isn’t good news.”
Beiger sighed and said, “So, we’re affected by the culprit too. We’ll have to be more cautious when we decide to go public.”
The people sighed and felt that the problem had just fallen down the sky out of nowhere.
…
In the Black Star Army Commander’s office, Han Xiao said in his chair. Virtual screens hovered before him, displaying the activities on the quantum network.
Over the past few days, he had been doing this to pay attention to the direction this matter was taking. He had witnessed the spark he lit spread like wildfire, affecting bigger and bigger areas. He felt more and more like a mastermind behind the curtains stirring up storms in the universe.
“This is probably going to be the norm for some time. The dynasty will not stop till they find the real culprit, it’s like a hornet nest.”
At this time, his communicator suddenly rang. He took it out. It was surprisingly a call from Tarrokov.
As he picked it up, Old Tar’s remote projection appeared in the room.
“Old Marshal, it’s been some time.”
Tarrokov nodded and said with a serious expression, “Black Star, I’ll keep things short. The dynasty needs your help now.”
“Go ahead.”
“Gaud has been missing for many days. The dynasty has already searched all the records of the area within a month’s duration before and after the incident, but we have yet to find any solid evidence. Therefore, the upper echelons have decided to form a task force especially in charge of this matter. The dynasty hopes to invite you to join as an expert, relying on your abilities to search for leads on the quantum network. What do you think?”
Han Xiao almost laughed out loud.
“Ahem, I’m the consultant of the three Universal Civilizations. This is my duty. I’m ready anytime.”
“Okay. The task force will gather online in a day’s time. If you can find any clue, the dynasty will reward you generously.”
Tarrokov did not waste any time. He pointed out a few more things and hung up the call right after. He had been busy as hell lately; he really had no time to stay for a chat.
Han Xiao put the communicator down and smirked.
As a werewolf, I successfully got others to believe I’m the seer and even got voted as the detective!
By inviting him, the mastermind, to investigate this case, anyone could be captured but the real culprit…
Furthermore, he would even join as an expert, meaning he had a lot of control over the direction of the investigation. With his capabilities, doing something without anyone noticing was too easy.
This way, he had more targets he could frame…
However, forging clues was still risky. Han Xiao planned to be cautious and see how the ‘suspects’ reacted.
While he was being secretly glad, a notification suddenly popped up on the interface.
_____________________
You have triggered the mission [Wanted Order]!
Mission Introduction: An important member of the Crimson Dynasty is suspected to have been ambushed and is now missing. The dynasty trusts your capabilities and has asked you to join the investigation team.
Mission Requirements: Solve the case and capture the culprit.
Reward: Depends on the Mission Rating.
_____________________
What the hell?
Han Xiao’s expression froze, he was stunned.
The situation now was still within his control, but the interface gave him a surprise.
Excuse me, I’m the one who did it. How can I still trigger this mission?
How am I supposed to complete it? By capturing myself‽
1231 Werewolf Detective
Han Xiao was curious.
The mission requirement was to catch the ‘culprit’, not the ‘true culprit’. He wondered if the mission was based on the truth or the dynasty’s perspective.
If it was the latter, did this mean that as long as he could prove someone was the culprit to the dynasty, the mission would be considered complete?
If that was the case, he would have a chance to complete it.
No way was he going to turn himself in, not in this life. A werewolf would not kill himself, only frame others. That was the only way to live.
Han Xiao shook his head. He did not have the compulsion to clear out every mission. From the way he looked at it, it would be best if he could complete this mission, but it would not matter if he could not complete it.
According to the nature of the mission, the reward was most likely going to be mainly the dynasty’s Contribution Points. If this was in the past, he would have needed them to acquire more blueprints from the dynasty. Now, however, with Jayz’ treasure, the dynasty’s Contribution Points were no longer valuable to him. The only thing that was still useful would be Political Assets.
…
The next day, Han Xiao entered the online channel of the dynasty task force on the dot. His remote projection appeared in a conference room.
As soon as he entered the room, projections appeared one after another, sizing each other up.
Han Xiao saw familiar faces like Clotti, Kant, Ravenlaude, and so on, as well as unfamiliar faces.
Before they started chatting, Tarrokov appeared, attracting everyone’s attention. “Everyone here is a member of the dynasty’s task force, so I won’t waste any time. You all know what needs to be done. This team has gathered the experts of various fields. You guys are authorized to use all resources the dynasty has in the Flickering World. The dynasty only has one requirement; find the culprit and Gaud’s whereabouts.”
The next moment, Clotti said, “I’m the team captain for the task force for the time being. Any requests to utilize resources can be made through me. As for the detailed arrangements of your jobs, the vice-captain will decide.”
This time, a tall, skinny dynasty officer stepped up, looked at everyone, and did a dynasty style greeting.
“You can call me Sherlock Dillman. I work for the dynasty’s intelligence department. Pardon me for not sharing the details of my work. For this task, the upper echelons have sent me to be the vice-captain. I’ll be in charge of the investigation work. My power alone is limited. Everyone will have to work together.”
Han Xiao raised his brow.
Sherlock? The name sounded like a famous detective. This person was definitely not ordinary. He should be the dynasty’s special talent in the investigation field.
The task force did not need muscles, only expertise. Therefore, Sherlock was the vice-captain, and the Beyond Grade As in the team were experts in different fields. In simple terms, the Beyond Grade As were acting as tools.
The rest introduced themselves one after another. There were three experts in charge of the quantum network search, Kant, Judith—the dynasty’s direct member—and himself.
Sherlock allocated different jobs for the experts in different fields one after another. Very soon, he came to the three of them and quickly pointed out the requirements.
“… That’s the situation we’re in. The Virtual Domain is a key area of the search. Please find clues to the best of your abilities. I’ll leave it to Your Excellencies.”
Sherlock bowed. His attitude was very respectful. After that, he turned away and went to assign tasks to the others.
Seeing that Sherlock had left, Kant scratched his head and said, “You two are more than enough. I’m not a Virtual Mechanic, so why did the dynasty call me here?”
“The dynasty was probably just being nice and did not think you’d agree, but to their surprise, you’re actually thick-skinned enough to really come,” Han Xiao joked.
Kant’s mouth twitched. “… Black Star, you’ll lose me as a friend like this.”
“Ahem, ahem, Your Excellencies, we’ve already received the authorization. We better get to work,” Judith said from the side.
Han Xiao focused and received the quantum network authorization shared by Judith.
The dynasty had called them, the experts, of course, not to let them fight alone. The dynasty had opened up almost all the resources in the Flickering World for them to use.
For example, the three of them could command all of the dynasty’s Virtual Mechanics in the Flickering World. The backdoor of the quantum network stations the dynasty had set up in the Flickering World was also open to the three of them. They could log in to the Flickering World’s quantum network as administrators.
Furthermore, even some permissions of the dynasty’s main artificial intelligence ‘Heroic Soul’ were temporarily given to Han Xiao and Kant, despite them being ‘outsiders’. Other than to investigate the case, Judith’s mission also included preventing the two of them from doing anything out of the line while they had such high-level authority.
Han Xiao logged into the network through the backdoor. His mind sank into the quantum network vision, and everything seemed so clear.
The network of more than half of the Flickering World was clearly laid out in front of him, all within his control. He felt like he had become the processor of the network. He had access to any and all data in every station. With so much power, he almost felt all-mighty.
“Nice.” Han Xiao enjoyed it quite a lot.
No matter how strong his Virtual Intrusion ability was, he would still be a thief sneaking into someone’s house. Now, however, it was like the owner of the house had directly rented the entire house to him; he could do almost anything he wanted.
Although Judith and Kant were beside him, with his abilities, he should be able to do some things without them noticing. However, the best thing to do for the time being was to observe how things were going first.
More importantly, with this level of authority, he could totally wipe out the possible flaws he might have left, erasing any evidence that could lead to him even more thoroughly, completely making his alibi legit.
Since the dynasty had given him this chance, he was certainly going to ‘treasure’ it.
Han Xiao spent the next few days submerged in the quantum network, carrying out the investigation with Judith and Kant.
Initially, Han Xiao thought he would not be able to find any leads. However, to his surprise, this was not the case. He discovered that the situation had taken a slight turn.
He did not have to do anything. The Super Star Cluster Alliance and Manison were already fighting with each other. They had started forging evidence and framing each other.
Both sides were doing it very discreetly. If not because he had the administrator authority of the Flickering World’s quantum network, Han Xiao would not have discovered what the two of them were doing.
With the authority and his incredible Virtual Technology, their tricks did not escape his eyes.
Tsk, you guys didn’t even do it, but you’re already trying to frame each other…
Han Xiao’s mouth contorted slightly.
Never mind if the others discovered this, but since he was the real culprit, from his perspective, this situation was like two villagers accusing each other of being the werewolf, while he, the real werewolf, was not suspected at all.
However, with some thought, he understood what the two of them were thinking.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance was afraid that the three Universal Civilizations might claim they were the culprit without any evidence, so they decided to act first. Manison knew this, so he took countermeasures. Hence, both sides immediately discovered each other’s tricks, and they started fighting.
This is exactly why I muddied the waters.
The plan worked!
The two sides are trying to frame each other. Both are suspicious. Since there’s no way the real culprit is going to be discovered, one side will definitely be deemed as the culprit by the dynasty…
Han Xiao’s eyes shifted quickly.
Currently, the two sides were at a stalemate, unable to completely frame each other. This was where he could interfere.
Since the situation had developed in this direction, to him, framing someone else became easier than he had expected.
With his current level of authority, he only had to play a little trick, and the dynasty’s judgement would be affected. He could easily help one side beat the other side, which meant that he was the one who could make the decision.
Who should I help? Han Xiao pondered.
He had always been against Manison, but on this matter, he planned to help the old man.
After all, Manison was the current Beyond Grade A Association president. If he took the blame, though his personal reputation would be damaged, the Beyond Grade A Association would be affected too. The impact would be very negative. If the president had secretly attacked the association’s newest member, many members would feel threatened and much warier, which was bad for the association.
On the other hand, if the Super Star Cluster Alliance took the blame, it would have the opposite impact on the association. The Beyond Grade As would feel that Gaud’s tragedy was because he was involved in the conflicts between factions. They would think that the same thing would not happen to them if they chose not to join any faction but the Beyond Grade A Association. It would instead increase some Beyond Grade As’ sense of recognition for the association, which was beneficial for the association’s growth.
Most importantly, the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance were already at war. If they took the blame, the others would not be impacted.
Although the dynasty would not stop searching for the real culprit after, for the time being, letting the Super Star Cluster Alliance take the blame would minimize the risks for him.
Humph, old Manison, I’m not helping you; it’s for the association.
Han Xiao curled his lips.
Mumbling a little in his mind, he started to execute the plan right away.
No matter how these two villagers accuse each other, in the end, I, the werewolf detective, will still be the one to make the call.
…
“It feels like a mysterious force is helping me…”
Inside the Mechanic Emperor’s secret base, Manison had a weird expression on his face.
In the past few days, he had discovered that the Super Star Cluster Alliance was indeed trying to frame him. Hence, he retaliated.
Originally, both sides were only suspects, and there was no evidence. They had now added quite a lot of ‘flaws’ to each other’s alibis.
In this silent war, Manison was actually at a disadvantage. After all, the opponent was the entire Super Star Cluster Alliance. Although his Virtual Technology was strong, he was alone.
However, not long ago, he discovered something abnormal. Some of the evidence the Super Star Cluster Alliance forged surprisingly suddenly disappeared, as if someone was helping him fight against the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
“To be both able to discover my conflict with the Super Star Cluster Alliance and interfere… is this the doing of the three Universal Civilizations?”
Manison thought about it.
The reason the three Universal Civilizations were doing this should be that they had confirmed the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s guilt, so they did not want them to successfully frame him… Or thinking one level deeper, if the dynasty could not identify who the real culprit was, this would have been a strategic decision to accuse the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
If he went one level deeper…
Manison pondered and fell into a cycle.
…
About a week later, on the Crimson Dynasty mother planet, Urranrell browsed the report of the task force and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
“After the investigation carried out in the past few days, you guys have found a chain of evidence that seems to be legit, all pointing toward the Super Star Cluster Alliance… but this isn’t the dynasty’s initial intention.”
Before her was the remote projection of an intelligence department upper echelon who sighed and said, “Whether it’s real or not isn’t important now. As long as this chain of evidence is more than enough to convince the outside world, it’s enough.”
“I want the real culprit and Gaud’s whereabouts. Why else would I need the task force?”
“But time waits for no man. The real culprit did not leave any traces at all. If we keep investigating like this, the truth will remain out of reach. The outside world is already doubting that the dynasty can find the culprit. There are even people on the internet starting to admire this culprit who enraged the dynasty but still has yet to be punished… We can take all the time we want to find the real culprit in the future, but what the dynasty needs now is results.”
Urranrell frowned slightly.
After the tricks Han Xiao played, the task force found a complete chain of evidence that led to the Super Star Cluster Alliance. However, after carefully verifying it, the task force knew this was forged, most likely by Manison. These two parties’ act of trying to frame each other did not go unnoticed by the dynasty.
However, even though this was the case, after some discussion, the task force still decided to submit this result to the upper echelons. The dynasty upper echelons all knew about this, but still, this report was placed on Urranrell’s desk.
Currently, the public opinion of the outside world was becoming worse. What the dynasty urgently needed was a ‘result’, real or fake. The target this chain of evidence led to matched the dynasty’s war strategy too; the Super Star Cluster Alliance was the best target.
Furthermore, the Super Star Cluster Alliance was trying to create a ‘culprit’. They were the ones that started this. If things were delayed for too long, they would succeed, and the dynasty did not want to see that.
Urranrell hesitated for a few seconds. She did not approve it immediately, sighed, and said, “Call Clotti and Sherlock here. I want to hear their opinions…”
This time, she paused and added, “Call up Black Star while you’re at it.”
1232 Master of Tempo
“Your Excellency Urranrell.” The three nodded respectfully in greeting.
Urranrell nodded in return, pointed at the report on the virtual screen, and cut to the chase. “Is this the result of your work? I’m not very satisfied. You guys know this kind of evidence that’ll only fool outsiders isn’t what I want.”
Sherlock stepped up, knowing he would be scolded, and said, “Your Excellency Urranrell, we’ve been trying to find the whereabouts of the real culprit, but the culprit left absolutely no flaws at all. We have found zero leads. While doing that, we discovered that the Super Star Cluster Alliance and Manison were fighting each other, so…”
He explained the progress of the task force’s work. In simple terms, they did not find a single lead or clue, only a ton of forged evidence.
Seeing that the outside world was having more and more doubts, with the mounting pressure from the upper echelons, Sherlock had no choice but to reluctantly pick out some of the forged evidence and form an evidence chain using his deductive skills. Though fake, after he arranged and analyzed them, it at least sounded real.
Urranrell frowned. “Tell me the truth, how long do you think it’ll take to find the real culprit?”
“… For now, never, unless we find a breakthrough.” Sherlock sighed and shook his head.
“Do the two of you feel the same way?” Urranrell asked.
Clotti did not speak and nodded slowly with a poker face.
Han Xiao shrugged as if he was saying that there was nothing he could do either. “The person who attacked Gaud is very slippery and did not leave any clues. Even I have not found any leads. Based on the current situation, I feel that the dynasty can look at the matter from another perspective. Based on the perspective of benefits, the dynasty needs to find a suitable target to take the blame to calm this matter down for the time being, and the Super Star Cluster Alliance is perfect… Furthermore, since they’re in such a rush to clear their suspicion, they might be involved somehow.”
Urranrell shook his head and said, “But there’ll definitely be people in the outside world who’ll see through our plan. The Super Star Cluster Alliance won’t easily admit it either. To the dynasty…”
Han Xiao interrupted her. “I know your concerns, but that is not important. The dynasty already lost when Gaud was attacked. All you can do now is save the situation as much as possible. What the dynasty needs now is results. Display its stand and muscles. You can’t shut people up, but you can make them afraid. This way, even if someone mocks this result, they’ll still be afraid. Thus, the goal is essentially achieved.”
“But if we do this, won’t the real culprit laugh all day seeing that the dynasty has accused the wrong side? Won’t some people with ulterior motives think they can use the dynasty to their advantage because of this?” Urranrell said with a deep voice.
This was what she was worried about. Once the outside world saw through what the dynasty was doing, some people would think the dynasty was easy to fool, which would also damage the dynasty’s reputation.
“That’s inevitable, but a choice has to be made. Not everything can be done based on one’s likings, right?” Han Xiao’s skin was as thick as metal. He chuckled and said, “Plus, this might not be a bad thing. This will more or less make the real culprit lower their guard, increasing the chance of them showing flaws, which might one day give us a breakthrough.”
An intelligence department upper echelon agreed and said, “His Excellency Black Star is right. We’ll have to make a choice sooner or later.”
Urranrell sighed, signed the order, and said, “Do it then.”
The moment this proposal was placed on her table, Urranrell already knew that this was the silent agreement of the dynasty’s upper echelons. They only needed her signature. Even the ruler could not do whatever she liked; she still had to compromise here and there. Her term was nearing its end. She could not dictate things anymore.
After signing the order, Urranrell felt weirdly relieved. She shook her head.
“Looks like the mission to find the real culprit can only be passed on to the next ruler. It’s good, I suppose. I have an easier time.”
Han Xiao’s eyes flickered, and he said, “Actually, we might have missed something. There’s another possible scenario that might explain how Gaud went missing. Did the dynasty consider it?”
The others instantly turned toward him.
“Oh? Tell us about it.” Urranrell was interested.
“Is it possible that this is Gaud’s own doing?”
Hearing this, the intelligence upper echelon laughed uncontrollably and said, “Your Excellency Black Star, we made this assumption long ago. We came to the conclusion that it’s not possible. Gaud doesn’t have a motive to do that.”
“I don’t feel the same way.” Han Xiao shook his head. “Just because he’s a direct member doesn’t mean he’s totally loyal. Is it possible that he only wanted to use the dynasty’s resources to become a Beyond Grade A, then fake his death and free himself from the dynasty’s restrictions and hide?”
After saying that, he subtly glanced at everyone and saw the unconvinced looks on their faces. He then added, “Of course, this is just speculation based on logic. I don’t know Gaud’s origins nor personality, so I don’t trust him completely. Anyway, in my eyes, it’s not completely impossible for something like this to happen. After all, it has happened before.”
Sherlock thought for a moment and said, “Hmm, your suspicion makes sense. The amount of time Gaud has served the dynasty is too short.”
Urranrell gave him a glare and said with a typical politician’s tone, “You don’t have to worry about that. The dynasty has its own system of checking through its direct members and won’t take in anyone suspicious. The dynasty trusts the loyalty of its direct members completely…”
Han Xiao glanced at Clotti’s poker face and understood that Urranrell did not want to continue this topic here.
He shook his head, smiled, acted casual and said, “Alright, I’m just saying.”
Sherlock, however, continued asking. “I’m curious, why do you think Gaud might have faked his death? Something must have caused you to have that speculation. Did he act suspicious on any occasion?”
Han Xiao looked at him surprised.
Are you really that interested? I don’t know if I should say that you have a strong desire for knowledge or that you don’t know how to read the room. Didn’t you see the look on that upper echelon’s face?
Han Xiao suddenly realized that this was an opportunity to set the tempo. He fake-coughed and said, “One reason is that we could not find any clues at all. It’s way too clean and doesn’t look like he was attacked. Another… well, it’s not that Gaud acted suspicious or anything, but I just happen to know someone who successfully faked his death, so it came to mind.”
“Who’s that?” Sherlock was curious.
“This person is quite famous actually. You guys definitely know him. It’s that Limitless Financial Group’s Sorokin.”
Before the others asked anything, Han Xiao continued. “I coincidentally discovered his little secret. He’s not as weak as he looks. I sensed danger from him. He might not be any weaker than me, yet he has always presented himself as being very weak. No one knows what his plan is. Plus, his soul’s true age seems to be much higher than his current age. I tested him a bit and discovered that he might be a Beyond Grade A from history who possibly faked his death and lived till now using different identities…”
He kept some of the key information and exposed Sorokin’s identity using ambiguous words, making the others doubtful.
“How do you know?” Urranrell wondered.
“This involves a certain Universal Treasure I acquired not long ago. It has special uses in the soul field.” Han Xiao smiled and did not give any details.
Urranrell knew that Han Xiao did not want to share, so she did not continue asking. Thinking of Sorokin’s actions in the past, she said, “If this is true, Sorokin definitely has a big plan. We’ll have to adjust our approach for him…”
She would not instantly believe what Han Xiao said. However, Han Xiao’s Political Asset count was quite high. He even had the bonus from the weird [Civilization Leader Slayer] talent, so what he said was taken more seriously.
Urranrell planned to secretly investigate Sorokin. Compared to Black Star, Sorokin was even more of an outsider.
Seeing this, Han Xiao stopped talking about this topic. He did not want to say too much; getting the dynasty interested in Sorokin was enough.
After all, making the Super Star Cluster Alliance take the blame was only the dynasty’s temporary solution. They would continue to search for the culprit in the future. Therefore, Han Xiao wanted to use this opportunity to mess with Sorokin.
This guy was a master in knowing when to be a coward. He was way too well hidden, so God only knew what he was planning. If Han Xiao could expose him, it was definitely a good thing.
With what had happened to Gaud, once Sorokin’s real strength was exposed, he would also be a suspect.
Although, from the way the Great Mechanic Han looked at it, Sorokin did not have any motive. However, at least he could disgust this b*stard…
Humph, who told you to plot against me secretly all the time. Did you think my little notebook is empty‽
“Alright, that’s the situation for now. I don’t have anything more to ask, so if there’s nothing else…”
Urranrell was just about to end the communication. However, before she finished, she heard Han Xiao speak again.
“Wait, one last thing.”
“… Go ahead.” Urranrell clenched her teeth in her mind.
She thought Han Xiao was about to make another report, but saw that Han Xiao suddenly put on a serious expression and said,
“Your Excellency Urranrell, I’m now speaking to you as the vice president of the Beyond Grade A Association. I fully support the dynasty’s decision to target the Super Star Cluster Alliance, but I hope this won’t impact the association’s members.”
Hearing this, the others looked at Han Xiao with surprise and became serious too.
“Go on.” Urranrell narrowed her eyes.
“I believe we both know that there are direct members of the Super Star Cluster civilizations hidden among the neutral Beyond Grade As. I am all for the dynasty’s plan to target the Super Star Cluster Alliance, but I don’t wish to see the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s Beyond Grade As included in the revenge target. I’m not covering the culprit. I’m asking the dynasty not to vent its rage on some neutral Beyond Grade As who might be direct members of the Super Star Cluster civilizations. The culprit might be among them, but before the real culprit is found, they’ll be protected by the association.”
Han Xiao spoke with a serious tone that felt like he was going to fight for this even if he would offend the dynasty for it.
Urranrell and the others understood what he meant immediately. Black Star knew how the evidence had come about. Though he supported the dynasty’s decision, he did not want it to become an excuse for the dynasty to target the Beyond Grade As. He was planning ahead.
You can beat up the Super Star Cluster Alliance, but you can’t drag down the unrelated Beyond Grade As!
His identity swapped smoothly. One second ago, he was the dynasty’s ally giving suggestions for the dynasty’s sake, the next he became the Beyond Grade A Association’s vice president thinking ahead for the association.
“You’re really thoughtful.” Urranrell had a complicated look in her eyes.
“If I don’t speak for the association, when word gets out, how can I remain vice president?”
“… Alright, I understand. The dynasty’s target is only limited to the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s forces. Before we acquire solid proof, we won’t target their hidden direct Beyond Grade A members. After all, the association has made a stand to help us too.”
Urranrell sighed.
Seeing this, Han Xiao finally smiled again. He thought for a while and said with a chuckle, “Alright, if the dynasty doesn’t mind, can you help me promote it? Just say that the dynasty initially wanted to investigate the neutral Beyond Grade As or even forcibly interrogate them, but I quarreled with the dynasty using logic, protecting the association’s members, and in the end, convinced the dynasty of only targeting the Super Star Cluster Alliance. And please emphasize the fact that I played a crucial part in the dynasty’s decision.”
“…”
Although the others did not speak, they had the same looks on their faces.
Wow, just how f*cking shameless can you be!
“… Okay.”
Urranrell took a few deep breaths to calm her emotions, or she was worried she might grab the cup on the table and throw it at Han Xiao.
Although she complained about how shameless Black Star was in her heart, she still decided to help him to promote, increasing Black Star’s position and reputation in the association. There were more pros than cons to having Black Star control the association.
Having received a definitive answer, Han Xiao only then bade farewell with a smile.
After deactivating the remote projection, his sights returned to the office where his original body was. He heaved a sigh of relief.
“This tempo I’ve set has finally completely deviated the dynasty’s direction…”
Han Xiao felt much more relaxed.
Luckily, he had enough Political Assets, which made making the dynasty accept his proposals easier.
If not because Manison and the Super Star Cluster Alliance were going at each other’s throats, he would have had to spend more effort. It could be said that these two sides helped him to make things easier. He grabbed the main conflict and did not need to make any flashy moves.
Furthermore, making the association’s members see that their vice president was so responsible he argued with the dynasty to protect their interests would increase his reputation considerably. This would probably make more people see the benefits of letting him lead them.
Even Han Xiao could not say how many birds he killed with this one stone. He only knew that the negative impact caused by Gaud being attacked was tremendously reduced. When the dynasty announced their plan to act against the Super Star Cluster Alliance, this matter should be considered settled for the time being.
As for the other unknown chain reactions, the only thing he could do was find out in the future.
…
On the other side, Urranrell and Clotti were the only ones left in the ruler’s office.
Urranrell pressed her fingers subconsciously with a hesitant expression. After some time, she finally softly said, “Do you think he’ll be the next Mechanic Emperor?”
Clotti glanced at her and shook his head.
“He’s a hundred times more dangerous than the Mechanic Emperor.”
1233 Dust Settled
Ever since Gaud was attacked, the investigation of the dynasty attracted the attention of the entire universe. A month had already passed since then. The dynasty made such a big deal out of it but still had yet to achieve anything. Voices of doubt started to appear in the outside world.
As the public opinion was getting more and more intense, the dynasty finally made a new announcement, producing a full chain of evidence that pointed directly at the Super Star Cluster Alliance. The public opinion was stirred up once again.
The dynasty claimed that this chain of evidence was carefully verified. They had discovered that the Super Star Cluster civilizations planned the attack on Gaud. Hence, the dynasty used a harsh tone to question them, demanding these three Super Star Cluster civilizations open up their databases and cooperate with the investigation, or the dynasty would take further actions.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance originally wanted to make Manison take the blame, but their moves against Manison were defused by a mysterious force time after time. In the end, it led to the dynasty being one step ahead. Facing such an obvious method to divide them, the Super Star Cluster Alliance strongly denied it and refused to cooperate with the investigation. They also made an announcement claiming that the Crimson Dynasty was only using this opportunity to accuse them of something they did not do. Since the two sides were already at war, they even stated the unfair treatment the three Universal Civilizations had been giving to the Super Star Cluster civilizations all these years, hoping to gain the moral high ground in the eyes of the public.
The federation and the church came to support the dynasty too.
The two sides’ conflict stirred up a storm in the galactic civilization. Most people trusted the three Universal Civilizations more, but there were some who saw through the dynasty’s plan. However, even though they knew something was going on, the situation would not be affected.
No matter how much was said, fists still spoke the loudest. After a few days of the situation fermenting, the dynasty took further action. They claimed that since the Super Star Cluster Alliance had already attacked a Beyond Grade A, the agreement they had made in the past was considered voided. The dynasty announced that they would be sending direct Beyond Grade A members into the Flickering War. The federation and the church followed and did the same after.
The Beyond Grade A Association who had made an agreement with the three Universal Civilizations long ago expressed their support, claiming that it was the Super Star Cluster Alliance who broke the rules first.
Very soon, the direct Beyond Grade A members of the three Universal Civilizations were heading toward the frontlines one after another.
With the Beyond Grade As joining the war, the intensity of it rapidly escalated. The three Universal Civilizations penetrated one stronghold after another. The Super Star Cluster Alliance was losing territories even quicker.
Originally, the outside world thought the Super Star Cluster Alliance would also send in direct members, but that did not happen. The Super Star Cluster Alliance only relied on the troops they had to fight the direct Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations. Even though they were losing quickly, they still did not bring out any hidden Beyond Grade As.
Questions related to this matter got brought up and spread on the internet, secretly guiding more galactic residents to feel curious about. When this matter attracted enough attention, a ‘mysterious person’ finally appeared and explained the reasons behind it with so-called ‘inside information’.
According to the information, the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s direct members might be hidden in the Beyond Grade A Association, and one or more of them might be the culprit who attacked Gaud. The dynasty planned to thoroughly investigate all neutral Beyond Grade As. However, when Black Star found out about this, he went to argue with the Ruler, despite knowing it would put him at a bad spot in his relationship with the dynasty. He insisted on protecting the association’s members’ interests, stating that unless solid evidence was found, he would not allow the association’s members to be affected.
After a negotiation that went on for days and nights, the dynasty was finally convinced by Black Star and decided to cancel this plan. Because of Black Star’s hard work, the Beyond Grade A Association did not receive the forced investigation treatment. The public speculated that the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s hidden members could only remain hidden because of this. Therefore, the Super Star Cluster Alliance would rather get beat up than expose their identities.
This news shocked countless organizations. In the face of the dynasty’s furious investigation, almost everyone would obediently cooperate. However, Black Star dared to reject it. Furthermore, the dynasty clearly knew that the culprit might be in the association, but they still agreed to Black Star’s request. Just how much weight did Black Star’s words carry‽
The galactic residents were dumbfounded.
No wonder he became the first ever consultant of the three Universal Civilizations. The dynasty had to give him face even when they were furious!
…
In the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s remote conference room, the leaders of the various civilizations had gathered. The atmosphere was tragic.
“We guessed right. The three Universal Civilizations decided to make us take the blame… Everything feels like it was planned!”
The Star Arc Civilization leader clenched his fists with rage.
Originally, Manison alone could not stop them. However, they discovered that a secret mysterious force was obstructing them and supporting Manison, slowing their plan down by a large extent.
The mysterious force that was helping Manison could only be the three Universal Civilizations!
“The three Universal Civilizations planned to make us take the blame. Therefore, after discovering what we were trying to do, they obstructed us secretly so that we wouldn’t have a chance of escaping the accusations and would have no choice but get targeted!” a leader said with an enraged tone.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance guessed what the three Universal Civilizations wanted to do. They were afraid of taking the blame, so they tried to frame Manison. Manison knew what the Super Star Cluster Alliance wanted to do, so he tried to protect himself. The three Universal Civilizations were one step ahead. They guessed that the Super Star Cluster Alliance had guessed what they wanted to do, so they helped Manison. Their final goal was still to target the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
Their hearts were filled with a strong rage and sense of powerlessness. It felt like the three Universal Civilizations had knitted a huge net. They had nowhere to run and no way of struggling.
“What do we do now? The three Universal Civilizations have sent their direct members, and we have limited reinforcements. If we don’t bring our direct members out, our loss is certain,” someone said with a worried tone.
The people exchanged looks and all looked troubled.
Someone sighed and said what everyone was thinking. “Forget it, don’t we all see the situation? Even if we bring our direct members out, we’d have no chance to turn the tables. We’d only be exposing their identities for nothing.
“Instead of that, we might as well let our direct members continue to hide their identities… Things are different now. Black Star is protecting the Beyond Grade A Association, so as long as our men’s identities are not exposed, they won’t be affected.”
Everyone else nodded.
Without the Beyond Grade A Association, the three Universal Civilizations would definitely thoroughly investigate most of the neutral Beyond Grade As, and no one would dare object. The result of that would very likely be another Tragedy of the Pinnacles.
With the Beyond Grade A Association, the three Universal Civilizations could no longer do whatever they wanted. Due to Black Star’s existence, the dynasty could not target the neutral Beyond Grade As without any consequences. This way, their secret members would also be protected.
“Black Star…”
Many civilization leaders felt complicated.
They did not like this guy at all, but what Black Star did protected their men. This was the indisputable truth.
The Star Arc Civilization leader sighed in his mind and said, “Our days are past. Don’t make any unwise moves. The three Universal Civilizations are forcing us to expose our direct members. Once we fall for it, they’ll have reason to carry out checks… Don’t waste the safety Black Star fought for. Let them continue hiding in the association.”
…
At the Beyond Grade A Association headquarters…
“It’s all thanks to Black Star this time, or we’d all be affected.”
Inside the round table conference room, the atmosphere was joyful. Many normal Beyond Grade A members had relaxed looks on their faces.
Ever since the incident happened, many neutral Beyond Grade As had been worried they might be affected by it. Now, the dust had finally settled. If not because this information got out, they would not even know that Black Star had argued with the dynasty and successfully protected their interests.
This really touched many Beyond Grade A. Only a leader who cared about the interests of his subordinates could be considered a good leader. Although they were not bosses and subordinates, it was exactly why they admired Han Xiao so much. Their sense of recognition increased too.
Facing everyone’s enthusiasm, Han Xiao waved with a ‘Sorokin smile’ on his face.
“I’m the vice president. I only did what I should have done. Don’t have to be so formal, guys.
“That won’t do. I have to properly thank you!” Lucie suddenly bowed toward Han Xiao. He said with an appreciative tone, “If not for you, God only knows when I’d be free. You’re being too humble.”
He had been caught tracking Gaud by the dynasty, and the dynasty had captured him. Lucie had spent many days in fear and only been released not long ago.
With such an experience, Lucie knew more clearly than anyone that without Black Star’s help and the association’s protection, he would most likely have died in the dynasty’s hands. There was no way he could regain freedom. Therefore, although he was a secret member of a Super Star Cluster civilization, the appreciation he was displaying now was not fake.
Lucie’s words were recognized by the others. Everyone had a balance in their heart. By placing the president and the vice president on the two sides of the balance, they could easily see that Black Star had brought more benefits to the association than the Mechanic Emperor.
Putting those purposes and claims on paper aside, they had joined the association for safety and benefits. They were willing to have anyone who could bring more benefits as their representative.
Not only was the president, Manison, of no use at all, he even caused the association to be suspected. The comparison was way too stark.
“Alright, alright, don’t get so excited guys. It’s good to not be wrongly affected. At least Manison cleared his suspicion. Don’t target him for today. Wait till tomorrow.”
Han Xiao coughed and interrupted.
Although this was an act of building his reputation, this was enough. He was worried that if these members got too excited, he would be wearing a golden robe very soon.
Hearing this, the others had extremely dumbfounded looks on their faces.
Black Star spoke for Manison‽
Our youth has ended!
The others could not believe it. Manison glanced at Han Xiao with a complicated expression but was less hostile than before.
The others had no idea, but how could he not know? After the Super Star Cluster Alliance took the blame, he knew that the mysterious force that secretly helped him was most likely Black Star.
He probably did this for the sake of the big picture.
Manison sighed.
Back when Hila was attacked, he had helped Black Star. Now, Black Star helped him in return.
The two of them had been in conflict for many days, but at this moment, Manison uncontrollably felt an indescribable emotion in his heart.
Han Xiao noticed Manison’s look too. He glanced at him and said, “What you looking at?”
“…Nothing.”
Manison looked away, closed his eyes, and hid his emotions.
Han Xiao ignored him, looked to the other side, and saw Sorokin.
Sorokin did not have his signature fake smile on but instead looked very concerned and was dazing off.
From the way he looks, the dynasty has probably made moves secretly.
Han Xiao snickered in his mind.
Letting the Super Star Cluster Alliance take the blame was only a short-term solution; his mission was not shown as completed. However, he was not very concerned about it.
Things had settled. The storm caused by him secretly beating Gaud up finally came to an end for the time being. Overall, he was quite satisfied with the current situation—he had cleared the hidden threat and did not get impacted. This result was quite good.
After the people spoke among themselves for quite a while, Han Xiao suddenly put on a serious expression and said, “Guys, we can’t be glad yet. The situation is clear now. The three Universal Civilizations will certainly win the war, and the Super Star Cluster Alliance won’t be able to last long. Once they lose, they’ll at least keep a low profile for many decades. When the three Universal Civilizations have more time on their hands, we’ll be their next target!
“Don’t forget, the three Universal Civilizations have been planning to do that since the start. It was only delayed by the Flickering War. We’ve been growing smoothly in the past years because the real obstacle has yet to arrive. Be mentally prepared… The day the three Universal Civilizations pressure us isn’t that far away.”
Hearing this, the others nodded with a serious expression.
…
After the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations joined the war, like the last straw, the battle rapidly became completely one-sided.
Most people predicted that the war would still go on for two to three years. However, due to the impact of what happened to Gaud, this duration was tremendously reduced.
In only eleven months, the three Universal Civilizations cleared out the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s military power in the Flickering World’s fourth exploration phase area, retrieving all territories.
The Flickering War ended with the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s tragic loss. They invested countless resources and ended up crushed. In the end, they could not change their fate and could only lick their wounds in the dark.
The Crimson Dynasty redistributed the fourth exploration phase’s territories. Those who participated in the war could keep their territory. Part of the remaining territory would be developed by the dynasty. The rest would be leased, sold, or rewarded to organizations who made contributions. This time, no Beyond Grade A ally was rewarded any territory.
Han Xiao, however, successfully bought the venue of the players’ national war, Planet Milton. He stationed a regiment of the army on the planet and only slightly modified it, keeping the marks left by the players during the national war.
As the flames of war extinguished, the Flickering World temporarily entered a time of peace. The three Universal Civilizations started to deal with the aftershock of the war, recover the law and order of the various territories, and rest.
However, the impact of what happened to Gaud did not end with the Super Star Cluster Alliance’s loss but continued to ferment where no one could see.
In this atmosphere, more than half a year passed.
On this day, the big event finally arrived for the Crimson Dynasty.
Urranrell retired. The new ruler had taken office!
1234 The New Ruler
The venue was already set up. All the seats were filled, and most were remote projections. There were dynasty officials, leaders of their subsidiary allied civilizations, and the envoys of the federation and the church.
The Beyond Grade A allies were also invited to attend. They sat toward the back of the middle area, beside the dynasty’s direct members.
Han Xiao sat between Kant and Milizaus. The ceremony had yet to start, and the three of them were chatting.
“Time passed so quickly. Urranrell is retiring too.” Kant sighed.
“Now that I think about it, I’ve already met four different dynasty rulers. Although Urranrell wasn’t the wisest among them, she was definitely the friendliest,” Milizaus mumbled. As a member of the Ancient Ones, his life experience was rich.
“Well, it’s the first time I’ve witnessed the change of head of state.”
Han Xiao was quite interested.
In his previous life, players could not reach this level, so it was the first time he had experienced this kind of event himself. He found it refreshing.
Although I’m stronger than most Beyond Grade As in the universe, I’m still a curious boy.
At this time, Kant subtly pointed forward with his mouth and whispered, “See that? That’s the new dynasty ruler. Any idea who he is?”
“Nope.” Milizaus shook his head.
Han Xiao looked over too. The new ruler’s seat was right beside. From Han Xiao’s perspective, he could only see the new ruler’s broad back.
Long before the handover ceremony, the personnel taking over the top positions in the dynasty had already been decided internally. The path had been set long ago. The new ruler’s identity was kept a secret to the outside world only because of the dynasty’s practice. The allies of the dynasty had no way of finding out before the day.
However, Han Xiao was not one of them—he knew who this new dynasty ruler was long ago.
After chatting for a while, the starting time of the ceremony approached. The voices in the venue gradually lowered, and people started to sit up straight.
When the time came, the entire place was already completely silent. The official hosting the ceremony stood up, expressed the dynasty’s welcome toward the people there, and announced the official beginning of the ceremony.
The dynasty ruler’s handover ceremony adhered to the civilization’s theme completely. The process was short and simple, not flashy and complex like the Federation of Light.
After a few programs, it was finally time for the focus of the ceremony, the handover. Urranrell first had to give a speech.
Under the attention of everyone present, Urranrell walked up to the podium. She wore a simple dynasty uniform. Her hair was tied up high, and there was nothing unusual.
She looked around the venue for three seconds before slowly saying, “Today reminds me of the day I took the position as the dynasty’s ruler. I was confident, proud, and firmly believed I could make the dynasty better. After so many years, the things I wished to do have already been achieved in different ways. I can proudly tell myself that I did not fail the beliefs I initially had, nor did I fail the dynasty.
“Looking back, we’ve accomplished many feats in many fields such as politics, economics, order of the universe, and so on. Our biggest achievement was the development of the Flickering World. This will determine the dynasty’s rapid growth in the future. Along the way of the dynasty’s growth, we were lucky enough to meet many friends and allies that share our philosophies. The dynasty has been able to achieve what it has achieved today not because of me alone, it’s the result of the hard work of all of the dynasty’s allies and friends. For that, I would like to show my sincerest appreciation to all of your contributions.”
Urranrell bowed and made a dynasty gesture. Thunderous applause sounded in the venue.
The applause lasted for a few seconds. Urranrell straightened her back, raised her hand, and pressed down, signaling that they did not have to continue clapping any longer.
“Of course, the dynasty’s path is also filled with obstacles. Our path has never been a smooth ride, and we’ve faced a lot of challenges.
“The dynasty rose from nothing. Our predecessors fought through hardships and disasters. In the end, it led us to standing as a universal civilization, becoming one of the foundations that maintains the order of our galactic society. The golden spirit of the dynasty has been passed on through generations. It’s deeply scorched in our genes. We don’t fear hardships. We solved many difficulties including the Intelligent Plaque, not only protecting our civilization but also the safety of the entire universe. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
“The trend of the world always is filled with twists and turns. There’ll be new challenges and new opportunities in the future. I sincerely wish for all the dynasty’s people to forever maintain the dynasty’s spirit—no matter what difficulties lie ahead, never fear and face them with a smile.
“Today, my term ends. My duties will be smoothly passed on to the next leader of the dynasty, who will continue to carry on our divine responsibility of our civilization and the universe.
“I believe, the dynasty will reach new heights in his hands, just as I believed in myself.
“Last but not the least… long live the dynasty!”
Then, Urranrell bowed again. Her speech was not long, nor did she boast about her achievements. It was simple and clean.
Clap clap clap!
The next second, thunderous and deafening applause sounded in the venue, giving the highest approval and praise to a ruler who was about to retire.
Han Xiao clapped too. Memories of his interactions with Urranrell flashed past his mind as he sighed.
He had known her for decades. Putting aside their identities, they were more or less friends.
We’ll probably rarely ever see her again in the future…
After a dynasty ruler retired, they would still continue to enjoy the same level of privileges and treatment, only they no longer had any political power. They would usually live on the dynasty’s mother planet and hardly ever show their faces at any public events. After their life span ended, they could choose whether or not to upload their backup memories into the dynasty’s main artificial intelligence, Heroic Soul.
The thunderous applause lasted a full minute before stopping slowly. Urranrell stepped aside, and that hefty new ruler walked up to the podium and showed his face in front of everyone.
This man’s face was tough and angular. His hairline was rather high, showing his smooth forehead. He was tall and muscular. His huge chest muscles and biceps stretched out his uniform tightly, outlining his body shape. He was giving off an assertive and firm vibe all over his body, like a cluster of walking male hormones. He was confident, proud, and ambitious.
Marbruce Peel Stanson, the dynasty’s new ruler. He used to be an officer in the dynasty’s military. He then moved into the political field. Starting as a planet manager, he rose all the way to becoming the manager of a Star Cluster before moving to the central department of the dynasty. During Urranrell’s term, he qualified to be trained by the Doyens, becoming one of the candidates for the next ruler. In the end, he surpassed everyone else and was confirmed as the next ruler.
Related information flashed past in Han Xiao’s mind. This person was the dynasty’s ruler the players in his previous life were most familiar with.
Urranrell was considered a semi-special case. Someone like Marbruce was actually the norm for the dynasty rulers. Of the many dynasty rulers throughout history, most had the same vibe.
Marbruce looked around, introduced himself briefly, and said with a serious tone, “I give my highest admiration to the contributions Urranrell has made in the past years. She’s the key reason the dynasty stands where it stands today. For many years in the future, I’ll be leading the dynasty. Just as she believes in me, I believe in myself too. I will not fail my duties and will lead the dynasty to continue forward…”
His tone was filled with a strong sense of confidence.
Compared to Urranrell’s speech at the end of her term, his speech to kick-start his term was different. He analyzed the current situation, talked about his plans for the future, shared his political philosophies, emphasized on the growth route of the dynasty, created political goals for himself, and so on. It was much longer than Urranrell’s speech, lasting for more than an hour.
If Han Xiao had to conclude what was said, the key words were ‘strengthen centralized political power’, ‘reinforce area control’, ‘expand military power’, ‘encourage partnerships in multiple fields’, ‘reduce unnecessary resource wastage’, and so on. This was quite different from the dynasty’s policies when Urranrell was in office, emphasizing the dynasty’s control over different fields.
Though they did not show it on their faces, many guests were already impacted by his new policies.
As the dynasty changed its policies, many forces would be severely impacted, and the firm philosophy of the new ruler was, of course, not good news for them. This was only a heads-up.
The eyes of many Beyond Grade A allies were also flickering.
“I didn’t expect the new ruler to be so firm. I thought he’d choose to take the steadier path at the beginning of his term,” Kant mumbled softly.
Milizaus shook his head. “What he said has definitely been approved by the internal members of the dynasty. Since they have no problems with it, it’s not like us outsiders can influence who will become the leader of the three Universal Civilizations. His position is rock solid to begin with.”
“Sigh, my honeymoon period with the dynasty is probably going to end.”
Han Xiao shook his head and had this feeling.
Urranrell trusted him so much because they had experienced many incidents together, so they had built a trusting relationship. Marbruce, however, had never met him. Even if he heeded him, he would not be as friendly as Urranrell.
Nonetheless, it was enough. Having benefited from the partnership for many decades, the Black Star Army had already completed its rise. As long as he could maintain the current situation, he would be quite happy about it.
Everyone had their own plans, but they all looked like they were paying full attention to the ceremony, not showing anything on their faces.
Not long after, the handover ceremony finally came to its end. Urranrell and Marbruce shook hands firmly, announcing the completion of the handover of the dynasty’s power. This moment would forever be recorded in the dynasty’s history as a photo.
On Galaxy Calendar Year 740, February 15th, the ruler of the Crimson Dynasty changed. Urranrell retired, and the dynasty entered the age of Marbruce.
Two days later, the Federation of Light hosted a handover ceremony too. Bader retired as the president, and the new Federation of Light president took over. His name was Louis Rocky.
Two of the three Universal Civilizations changed their leaders in just a few days, attracting the attention of the whole galactic society. The majority of the galactic residents were speculating how this would change their everyday lives.
On the third day, Han Xiao finally received Marbruce’s invitation to meet in private.
…
Han Xiao’s remote projection appeared in the ruler’s office. Marbruce was sitting on where Urranrell once sat, but his personal guard remained the same. It was still Clotti.
“Black Star, I’ve heard a lot about you.” Marbruce gave a manly smile.
“Your Excellency Ruler Marbruce.” Han Xiao nodded respectfully too.
“You’re a legend in the universe. I’ve always wanted to meet you, and today, my wish is finally fulfilled.” Marbruce’s tone was liberal and somewhat friendly.
Seeing this, Han Xiao praised Marbruce in reply.
The way Han Xiao looked at it, as Marbruce just became the ruler, he had to meet with every important member of the dynasty. This meeting was just purely to get to know him; there was no special agenda.
The two of them chatted for a while before Marbruce brought up the key point.
“I won’t make any changes to Urranrell’s agreement with you, nor will the dynasty interfere with the territories that have been given to you. I also won’t stop the support and assistance we’ve been providing to you. So, you have nothing to worry about.”
“Hehe, I’ve always believed the dynasty is fair and just. I’ve never had any doubts.” Han Xiao gave a formal and standard reply.
Marbruce grinned, suddenly changed the topic, and said, “About the issues with the Beyond Grade A Association, the dynasty is still discussing it. If you have any suggestions, feel free to bring them up to me anytime. I’ll consider them carefully.”
Han Xiao maintained his smile, nodded, and did not reply.
The two of them chatted for a while more before Marbruce expressing the intention to end the conversation.
As Han Xiao was just about to bid farewell, he suddenly looked at Clotti, smiled, and said, “Can Your Excellency Dark Lord escort me out?”
“Escort a remote projection?” Clotti frowned.
This time, he suddenly noticed Marbruce nod at him, so he led Han Xiao out of the room.
Closing the door, Han Xiao looked at Clotti and asked curiously, “How’s Urranrell?”
“Her? She joined the Doyens,” Clotti said. “Why ask?”
Unlike the Federation of Light, the dynasty’s doyens had no power. They were only responsible for raising the successors of the ruler at most. It was really a place for retirement. The doyens hardly had any contact with the outside world.
“Just curious. Anyway, why are you still the ruler’s personal guard?” Han Xiao smiled.
“Well, originally, Gaud might have taken over after he grew stronger. Now he’s gone, and the other direct members all have their own tasks, so I can only continue as the ruler’s personal guard.”
Clotti shook his head. Although he still had a poker face, his tone had a hint of resignation.
While the two of them chatted outside the door, Marbruce, who was in the ruler’s office, looked at the closed door, and a tint of worry flashed across his eyes.
“The ex-ruler really left me a difficult problem. You’ve given Black Star way too much…”
As the representative of the hawk faction, Marbruce did not like an ally who was too strong to be controlled, like Black Star.
However, for now, he did not plan to do anything to Black Star. He was going to maintain the current situation till further in the future.
Marbruce still remembered Bekorodi’s report—Gaud, whom they had high hopes in, might have fallen into Black Star’s hands. Although he was not sure if it was true, with the Mechanic Emperor as a prior example, he was already cautious toward Black Star.
1235 Inheritors of the Underworld
“Marbruce has quite a lot of thoughts about the Beyond Grade A Association… Well, I suppose it’s his duty to do that since he’s in that position, and he just so happens to need achievements at the early stages of his term.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
Urranrell was so much better. Sadly, he had no choice but to adapt.
The benefits he gained in the past few decades of his honeymoon period with the dynasty was a crucial factor in the Black Star Army’s rise. For various reasons, there was no way the dynasty was going to take these benefits back. Even if Marbruce wanted to, he could only follow the partnership agreement Urranrell had signed with Black Star. Therefore, Han Xiao had absolutely no need to be concerned about him. Even if he would not acquire any more benefits in the future, the benefits he would continue to gain from these agreements were enough.
You can’t divorce me, so we might as well put up with living together.
While Han Xiao pondered about this issue, he left his office, came to the secret area inside Black Star Palace and walked into a combat training room.
Clank!
As soon as he entered, he saw a tall mechanical suited warrior fighting two virtual opponents. Every step this warrior took, the entire room shook.
As soon he saw Han Xiao, this mechanical suited warrior stopped and stood in a respectful manner.
Han Xiao smiled. “Working hard, I see. Come out and let me see your progress.”
The mechanical suit split up from the middle, showing the user inside. It was Lothaire.
Ever since Lothaire assassinated Modo’s leader, Han Xiao had hidden him, and he had been training all this time. This mechanical suit was training assistance equipment Han Xiao had specially made for Pugilists. It had zero combat capability and would instead add an extremely high load to the user, enhancing the effects of the training.
Almost a decade had passed, and Lothaire’s strength had been growing steadily, unlike those officers who had been stuck in the same place in Calamity Grade. Clearly, Lothaire had more potential. Han Xiao had high hopes for him.
Han Xiao raised his hand. Golden sparks of electricity jumped around his fingers. He placed his hand on Lothaire’s shoulder, sending a highly-stimulating electrical stream into Lothaire’s body.
Lothaire’s body shivered, but he endured the pain and remained still as Han Xiao electrocuted him.
Han Xiao only lifted up his hand after quite a while. Seeing the combat information, he smiled and said, “You’ve become stronger again than the last time I checked, but your energy is still your weakness. You need to make up for it…”
He pointed out a few things. Lothaire listened carefully, writing down Han Xiao’s suggestions on his training schedule from time to time.
This was an assistive training method Han Xiao had come up with. By looking at the person’s attributes through the interface, he could point out a direction the person should take. Since he could see all of their attributes, he could always give very constructive suggestions that not only gave them a clear direction but even clearly conveyed how much they had grown, making them more motivated to train.
Through this method, he could help others grow. Han Xiao had already used it on some important officers in the past years. After realizing just how incredibly effective it was, Lothaire treasured all the opportunities he could learn from Han Xiao.
After giving the suggestions, Han Xiao patted Lothaire’s shoulder, smiled, and said, “Keep up the good work. You might be the next Beyond Grade A of the army. Then, if you want to found your own force outside, I’ll support you.”
Lothaire shook his head. “I’ll always be your blade in the dark.”
Even if he could become a Beyond Grade A, it would be thanks to Han Xiao’s teaching. Lothaire was very appreciative of this, and he was not so cold-blooded that he would forget how much Han Xiao had helped him, or he would not have joined the army to repay Han Xiao.
“I appreciate the thought.”
Han Xiao was quite glad. He said a few more words before leaving the room.
Han Xiao followed the corridor in the base into another room. Aurora sat in the room with her legs crossed. Vital energy filled her body. She was training her energy. The moment she saw Han Xiao, she joyfully pounced over.
Pa!
Han Xiao pressed onto her head, stopping her a few feet away. He sighed and said, “Come on, how old are you? On Planet Aquamarine, you’re already old enough to be someone’s grandma.”
“Humph, I don’t care. I’m forever eighteen!” Aurora became unhappy right away. Don’t mention my age and we’re still good friends.
“Alright, alright, let me see how much your body… ahem, your strength has grown.” Electric sparks appeared on Han Xiao’s fingertips, and he poked Aurora’s forehead with it.
Combat information appeared on the interface. Han Xiao mainly looked at her Energy Rank and maximum energy, then nodded in his mind.
In the past decade, Aurora had been harvesting the Holy Light Seeds and accumulating energy. Not having any growth limit was really an incredible trait, her strength had been growing steadily.
Furthermore, Aurora did not even have to study her abilities too much. The information the last generation of the two sisters left in the Esper Ability was basically like an ability tree that had already matured; she inherited it directly.
What’s hacking? This is hacking!
Han Xiao was bitter.
He had had his eyes on the life energy for quite some time and used [Energy Analysis] on Aurora long ago.
The results were just as he expected. He could control this type of special energy during the duration of the Character Summon Card, but he lost it after the duration ended. However, part of the understanding of the very nature and principles of the life energy remained in his mind, which would help in studying it afterward.
The [Perfect Energy Affinity Physique] he had obtained from Gaud played a big role in this, largely increasing Han Xiao’s efficiency in analyzing the life energy. Although creating life energy with machinery was still extremely difficult, at least he had a direction.
Han Xiao’s current focus was Jayz’s technology treasure trove. It was the most valuable thing to study. Before he depleted the essence of Jayz’s treasure, he was not going to spend too much time studying other things.
These thoughts flashed past his mind in a second. Han Xiao removed his hand, smiled, and said, “You’ve been working hard lately, no less than your sister.”
Hearing this, Aurora smiled brightly. She loved hearing Hila, Ames, or Han Xiao praise her.
At this time, Aurora suddenly thought of something and said, “By the way, sis told me to ask you to go to the Underworld dimension a few hours ago. Go and take a look.”
“Why did you only tell me now?” Han Xiao gave her a stare.
“Sis said so… She said to tell you later if you’re busy. It’s nothing urgent anyway,” Aurora murmured softly, tapping her index fingers on each other.
“Got it. Her skin is probably itchy and needs a beating. Alright, I’ll go eat her up now.”
Han Xiao waved, activated the King, and disappeared.
The next moment, he was in the Underworld dimension.
Compared to the last time he came, the size of the Underworld seemed to have expanded quite a lot.
“Where is she?”
Han Xiao looked left and right and did not see Hila, so he lifted his leg and stomped the ground.
“Come out, Onicelu!”
As soon as he said that, Onicelu came out from under the ground.
“You’re finally here. Hila has been waiting for you.”
“Where is she? Let’s start the fight quickly. I’ve brought all the tools. I still have other things to attend to.” Han Xiao took out a ton of weapons and looked around.
Onicelu sighed. “She’s not asking for a fight. The Underworld was fully repaired yesterday. Hila plans to wake up all the Hero Spirits and is worried about something happening, so she wanted to ask you to watch her do it.”
“Oh, so this is why she called me here.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. He waved his hand and stowed the weapons away. He calculated in his mind. Judging from Hila’s charging speed, repairing the Underworld would indeed take about a decade.
He still remembered that he had a mission called [Inheritors of The Underworld]. Once the Underworld recovered to its peak, he would receive the [Mark of The Underworld] reward. That would enable him to use the Underworld’s powers to a certain extent and send souls into the Underworld.
“The Hero Spirits are all sleeping in my energy core. Hila is already waiting there. Take my hand, I’ll guide you there.” Onicelu raised her arm.
Han Xiao grabbed her hand. The next second, he felt a space energy erupting around him, and one moment later, he already arrived at a place that looked like an underground cave.
At the middle of the cave was a dimly lit white energy sphere that had dark-red patterns on its surface like blood vessels. The patterns were even moving slightly.
This was the energy core of the Underworld. Only the dimensional consciousness entity could lead the way and enter easily. The part of the Underworld outside was like Onicelu’s skin, and coming here was like entering her body.
This was Han Xiao’s first time entering, while Hila had already come in and out countless times. She was resting with her eyes closed sitting beside the energy core. As soon as Han Xiao arrived, she sensed it. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
“Shall we?”
Hila had no intention of chatting and cut to the chase.
Seeing Han Xiao nod, dark red death energy flowed out from Hila’s palm into the energy core. Onicelu, who stood to the side, also controlled the Underworld to work together.
Ohm!
As the place started to shake slightly, the energy core became brighter.
When their sights were filled with a blinding light, an enormous beam of light suddenly rushed up, penetrating the thick ground and the grayish sky.
Han Xiao looked up at the beam of light. Through his sharp senses, he noticed that blurry silhouettes were being shot into the sky along with the beam of light. In his senses, soul presences appeared one after another.
The beam of light extended all the way up until it hit the interior wall of the Underworld. It then spread in all directions. It looked like a fountain that connected the ground with the sky. Awakened Hero Spirits fell like rain, landing on the Underworld’s ground.
This process lasted for more than ten minutes. Very soon, the quiet and unpopulated Underworld became boisterous. Hero Spirits were everywhere on this desolate land.
The light on all the Hero Spirits gradually faded. From the outside, they surprisingly looked no different from living individuals. They were all looking around with confusion, seemingly yet to regain focus after their long sleep.
“It was very successful. Let’s go meet them.”
Onicelu was relieved. She led the way to fly out. Hila and Han Xiao followed right after.
The three of them flew up into the sky. All the Hero Spirits sensed it and looked up at them. Seeing Onicelu’s familiar face, almost everyone looked like they were searching through their memories.
Not long after, seven unique Hero Spirits dashed into the sky and stood around the three of them.
“Onicelu, the Underworld has recovered? Have Nerkese and Eros returned‽” one Hero Spirit asked hastily.
“Hmm, it has recovered but not because of the two sisters. Let me introduce you. This is the new Lord of Death, Hila. She inherited Nerkese’s ability and is now the new master of the Underworld.”
Onicelu then pointed at the seven Hero Spirit and said, “These seven are the seven Hero Spirit Kings of the Underworld. They were all Beyond Grade As and are the seven strongest beings of the Underworld.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao sized the seven of them up and realized that they were all Primordial Ones whose names had been recorded in history. He nodded in his mind.
No wonder those revivors of the Holy Accord organization once said that not many people were willing to mess with the life and death sisters during the exploration era—they could summon seven Beyond Grade As in every fight who were unkillable. Who could deal with that?
Even now, this level of strength would be the top tier in the universe.
However, Onicelu was not finished. What she said next made Han Xiao’s heart skip a beat.
“Although the Underworld is a place for souls to rest, there are way too many Hero Spirits, so we created a management structure to have the seven Hero Spirit Kings help manage the others. There are 3,600 Calamity Grades, 1.8 billion Grade Bs, and billions of other Hero Spirits. They are all the residents of the Underworld.”
Han Xiao subconsciously took a deep breath.
What the f*ck‽ That’s so many souls!
This was a total of 3,600 Calamity Grades. It was a horrifying force anywhere! Without the players, the Underworld would be the biggest undead army!
He could indirectly feel how bloody the exploration era war was just from this number. Some of these souls were collected by the two sisters, and others were ones who requested to enter the Underworld and gain eternal life.
While he was being shocked, the seven Hero Spirit Kings were sizing Hila up. Feeling the death energy Esper Ability on her, they knew Onicelu was telling the truth, but they were troubled.
Never mind working for the two sisters, they now had to work under a new master. They were not very willing to accept it deep in their hearts, but they had no choice, so they were quite bothered.
However, since they were willing to enter the Underworld for eternal life, it meant they cared more about their lives than working for someone else. Therefore, they were not bothered for long before they convinced themselves. Furthermore, Nerkese and Eros had committed suicide, which really ripped off these Hero Spirits who trusted these two sisters. They were all not happy about it.
This time, the seven Hero Spirit Kings turned to Han Xiao and looked confused.
“Who’s this guy then? The new Lord of Life?”
“No, my name is Black Star. Actually, I…”
Before he finished introducing himself, he got interrupted by Hila.
“I’m all of your boss, and Black Star is my boss,” Hila said calmly. “You guys can call him big boss. You’re all now his men.”
“What’s with you?” Han Xiao was surprised.
Hila turned to him. Her tone became gentler as she said, “My powers are yours. These Hero Spirits are for you to command too.”
“I’m quite touched by you saying that, but…” Han Xiao pointed at the seven Hero Spirit Kings, who looked unhappy. He sighed and said, “You didn’t have to be so direct. At least think about how they feel…”
They’re the Primordial Ones who once stood at the top of the pyramid, yet you’re giving them to me like cargos. Don’t they want face?
A Hero Spirit King who had a bad temper was annoyed. “New Master of the Underworld, we’re indeed controlled by you, but you have to respect us too. Even your predecessor did not dare speak to us like this… I’ll let this time go, but don’t do it again.
“However, we’ll never listen to anyone else. With us, you’re among the strongest people in the universe. You don’t have to work for anyone anymore. If you want, we can get this guy called Black Star right away and give him to you to do whatever!”
Han Xiao was unhappy.
This little b*tch, trying to mess with my relationship with Hila as soon as he came out. If not because you don’t have a physical body, I’d make sure you live the rest of your life eating from a tube.
Hila frowned and said with a deep voice, “Shut up. You can beat it if you’re not happy, or I can send you back to sleeping forever.”
The expressions on the seven Hero Spirit Kings’ faces froze. They exchanged looks and were shocked.
Even the previous two sisters treated them with respect and would not offend them because they were the ones controlling their bodies during battles. The two sisters could only revive them temporarily but not control them in combat, so they could totally choose not to fight for them.
However, this new master was completely different. It was like she did not care about their strength at all. She supported her boss even though it meant she would offend them…
You’re a Beyond Grade A!
The seven of them looked back and forth between the two of them. Suddenly, they thought of something, and their expressions became enigmatic.
Hehe, we’ve seen a lot of things and are very experienced. In this situation, either you owe him many favors, or the two of you… hehehe. These are the only possibilities for why you’re so loyal.
This time, Onicelu eased the tension and said, “You guys have slept for too long. Many generations have passed. Black Star is one of the strongest people in the universe. You guys might not be able to defeat him even if all of you fight him at the same time… Plus, the Underworld now only has the Lord of Death. The Lord of Life is still growing. Therefore, you guys can’t have physical bodies and can’t fight.”
Hearing this, the seven of them immediately threw away the thought of being tough and laughed.
“Hahaha… we were just joking with you, man.”
“That’s right. Don’t be so serious.”
“I can tell brother Black Star is talented and has a bright future just by looking at him. It’s our honor to work for him.”
“Exactly, if not because we can’t revive for now, we would showcase what we’ve got right here!”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, and his lips twitched.
That’s it?
What bullsh*t Hero Spirit Kings? You sounded so noble and all, but you’re just a group of people who gave up all your dignity to not continue sleeping! I shouldn’t have had any hopes!
Although he detested the personalities of these Hero Spirit Kings, he had to admit that the Underworld was extremely powerful. This was the biggest inheritance the two sisters had left, and the life and death Esper Abilities were the keys.
However, for now, since Aurora had yet to become a Beyond Grade A. The Underworld could not be put to use yet. Furthermore, reviving them required energy and had a time limit.
Compared to the Sanctums, the biggest specialty of the Underworld was that it was not only limited to the Beyond Grade As. Plus, it would not reduce their strength much.
However, the disadvantage was also very clear. Those who took this path could only work under the master of the Underworld forever and no longer had freedom.
While the few of them chatted, the countless Hero Spirits on the ground started to regain focus too. They started to modify the Underworld using the core energy.
On the desolate black earth, buildings rose from the ground one after another. The Underworld quickly became prosperous.
At this time, a notification popped up on Han Xiao’s interface.
_____________________
[Inheritors of The Underworld] Completed!
You have received 50,000,000 Experience and +20 Onicelu Favorability.
You have received [Character Summon Card – ‘Underworld’ Onicelu].
Character Summon Card – “Underworld” Onicelu: [Thousand Soul Stream] – Become immune to all mind attacks. At the same time, absorb any mind attacks to recover energy and health. Uses: 0/1.
You have completed the bonus mission requirements.
+40 Onicelu Favorability.
You have received ability [Mark of The Underworld]!
1236 A Path Never Thought of Before
Han Xiao looked down at the back of his palm. A mark that was the same as the one on Hila’s hand was slowly appearing.
He looked up and saw Onicelu smiling at him.
“This is the Mark of the Underworld. You can use some of the Underworld’s power with it. Without your help, the Underworld would never have recovered to its peak. I don’t have anything I can repay you with but this.”
“I know. I’ll make good use of your body… ahem, the Underworld.”
Han Xiao coughed.
The Underworld was Onicelu’s body, so was this her saying, “I’ll repay you with my body”?
No, no, I’m a pure person…
Suppressing these weird thoughts, Han Xiao sensed the Mark of the Underworld. Black streams of air flowed out from the mark and circled around his hand.
This was the second secondary dimension that had a connection with him. Comparatively, the link with the Void Dimension had a higher level, as he could only use part of the Underworld’s power with this mark. Nonetheless, it gave him some bonuses.
At the same time, with this mark, he could choose to have the Mark of the Underworld absorb the souls of the enemies he killed and turn them into Hero Spirits.
When Aurora stepped into the territory of the Beyond Grade A and the Underworld regained the ability to revive souls, he should be able to summon Hero Spirits using the Mark of the Underworld. However, it would still consume Hila and Aurora’s energy.
This means that the more Hero Spirits the Underworld has, the more I’ll benefit from it, so I’m not working for free.
Han Xiao mumbled in his mind and looked at the other reward, Onicelu’s Character Summon Card.
The effects of [Thousand Soul Stream] were outrageous; being able to be immune to all mind attacks and even absorb them was completely overpowered.
Although he could only use it once, it was undoubtedly a trump card.
While he was looking through the mission rewards, the Underworld was undergoing a big change. Hila was speaking to the seven Hero Spirit Kings.
After the seven of them accepted their position, coming to agreements became much easier.
“From today onward, you’re all members of the Black Star Army, understood?” Hila said.
“No problem. His Excellency Black Star’s words are absolute!” the seven of them promised. The change in their attitude was very smooth.
“Are they always like this?” Han Xiao was curious.
Onicelu whispered, “The former masters did not have any plans to expand the Underworld. Among the seven of them, two of them challenged the two sisters, got killed, enslaved, and tortured for a very long time. Their edges were rounded long ago. Three of them fled here, and two begged the two sisters to take them in… So, you can imagine what kind of people they are.”
“Damn…” Han Xiao’s mouth twitched.
From the actions of the two sisters, they were carefree and never thought of being responsible. The Underworld only had so many souls because these souls wanted to obtain eternal life. They did not care if the two sisters were reliable or not and begged to join, giving up their freedom. Clearly, they did not have much dignity left.
This explained how creating platforms was better than selling products.
The nature of all fortune was planting and harvesting leeks.
Although the seven Hero Spirit Kings joined for different reasons, after so many years, they could no longer let go of their eternal life. They did not dare offend the master of the Underworld. Plus, they were looking forward to the Lord of Life reviving them so that they could tour the outside world.
Currently, the strongest among the Hero Spirit Kings was a Primordial One called Rega. According to data, his Energy Rank was around 65,000 Ona, not a peak Beyond Grade A but above average. With an undead body, his actual strength would increase quite a bit.
Han Xiao thought for a moment, stepped forward, and asked, “Do you guys know anything about the Sanctums?”
In the past, he originally wanted to ask about the Sanctums from the Hero Spirits in the Underworld. However, he had already established a partnership with the Holy Accord and had been searching for the ‘keys’ of the Third Sanctum, so he no longer needed the Hero Spirits’ help.
Plus, these Hero Spirits definitely did not know as much about the Sanctums as the Holy Accord, so Han Xiao was just asking to try his luck.
“Sanctums? I didn’t expect you… to know about this, big boss.”
The seven Hero Spirit Kings all looked over with a slightly complex look on their faces, as if they were reminded of something in the past.
“Before we entered the Underworld, there was a rumor among some of the Beyond Grade As. It was said that some people could occasionally sense a kind of special existence outside the spacetime of the universe. Some called it a Sanctum. However, most people never experienced such things, so there was no way to verify if it was true. It was always seen as a fake rumor,” a Hero Spirit King said.
“Some said the Sanctum is the staircase to the next level; some said that all the technology and knowledge of the universe is hidden in the Sanctum; some even said the Sanctum can bring people back to life. No one knows what’s real and what’s not,” another Hero Spirit King said.
Rega sighed, shook his head, and said, “We don’t know much really. However, during the exploration era, I remember that there was a group of Beyond Grade As who founded an organization and apparently wanted to use the Sanctum to revive in the future. We didn’t think that’d work, so we didn’t join them. They should have failed by now.”
Han Xiao raised his brow. “What’s the name of that organization?”
“The Holy Accord, I think.”
“…”
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched. He did not know what expression to show.
I knew it. They did not fail at all. Their plan was a huge success!
Of course, most of the merit goes to Oathkeeper. God knows why these revived Primordial Ones were so lucky to find such a reliable partner.
I’d better not tell this to these seven Hero Spirit Kings… They’ll probably never be able to be revived by the Sanctum after entering the Underworld. If they find out about this, they probably die of regret.
It’s better to let them think the Holy Accord organization has failed. Keeping this cruel truth from them will keep these leeks healthy…
No matter what, these Hero Spirits also achieved eternal life in another way. Although they took different paths, they reached the other side all the same.
All kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind. Han Xiao suppressed these thoughts and listened to Hila and the seven Hero Spirit Kings communicate.
The few of them chatted for a while. The seven Hero Spirit Kings bade farewell and left to manage the Hero Spirits.
Seeing that the seven of them had left, Hila turned and asked, “What do you think of them?”
Han Xiao smiled and said, “Although they don’t have the best personalities, their strength is real. The Underworld is an extremely powerful force. Although it can’t be used now, Aurora will eventually become a Beyond Grade A with how quickly she’s becoming stronger. By then, there won’t be many people in the universe who can be a threat to you two… Speaking of which, the Underworld is like an exclusive Universal Treasure for the two of you. Tsk, I’m quite jealous.”
In Han Xiao’s previous life, Hila had no chance to accept this inheritance, so it was wasted. This time, however, as long as no accidents occurred to the two of them, they would be more than strong enough to be in the top tier in the explored universe.
As soon as Aurora became a Beyond Grade A, these two sisters would become tremendously stronger.
“What about compared to you then? Will I be able to defeat you?” Hila’s eyes were glowing.
“What, you want to overtake me?” Han Xiao joked. “Don’t dream of it. I’ll still crush you.”
“Humph, I don’t believe it.” Hila grinned. “You never know till you try.”
She secretly decided not to do anything else after she returned other than push Aurora to train harder so that the Underworld could be used sooner.
After the official matters were over, Hila sensed the strong and firm presence of Han Xiao and felt an itch.
“You have nothing to do now, so you want to do it with me?”
“The Underworld has just recovered. You still have many things to do. It’s best for you to make a list for the Hero Spirits. Leave the sparring for next time.” Han Xiao waved.
“Alright.” Hila had no choice but to endure the itch.
Han Xiao said a few more things, put on the King suit, and left the Underworld.
Returning to the office in Black Star Palace, Han Xiao changed into casual clothes, summoned Phillip, and added the Underworld’s data into the confidential plan documents.
While recording, he started to analyze the situation. Although this was good news, he still felt a little worried.
“With this, I have another powerful secret force in my hands. In the future, the two sisters’ position in the universe will most certainly rocket. They’ll acquire high positions in the Beyond Grade A Association for sure.
“When the Holy Accord comes out, the entire universe will find out the two ways of reviving—the Sanctum and the Underworld. The Beyond Grade As will have a choice between the two. However, for now, only Oathkeeper and I know that the Sanctums can revive them an infinite number of times; he others all think it’s only once. So, there’s a possibility some might join the Underworld because of this misinformation. As for the Supers below Beyond Grade A, they’ll only have one choice, the Underworld.
“These two reviving methods are both connected to me, so I’ll certainly become the focus of the entire universe and the three Universal Civilizations. The dynasty’s power is in the hands of the hawk faction now. The new president of the federation seems to be a muscular man too… Tsk, things are not looking great. The importance of the Sanctum and the Underworld is far above the Evolution Cube. The advanced civilizations will not let them go easily. I might become the starting point of a storm.
“When one grows to a certain stage, he’s not allowed to stop, or he’ll walk backward. The advanced civilizations will never stop targeting the Beyond Grade As…”
Han Xiao frowned and thought about the future.
Due to the extremely complicated and intricate profit relationships, way too many things had no solutions. Suddenly, a brief but daring idea appeared in his mind.
If he could make the Beyond Grade A Association and all the Beyond Grade As fuse together to form a new organization, completely splitting the ordinary people and Supers…
This might be a path he had never thought of before, a revolution that would turn the world upside down. Many people would die from it.
At his current position, he already had the ability to guide the direction of the universe. Many things that looked impossible were no longer unimaginable.
However, once he made the decision, quadrillions of lives would be affected. He only had a brief thought and did not plan to act on it.
The shadow of the World Tree still shrouded the explored universe. This was not the time to make this kind of plan.
“I shall decide after dealing with the exterior enemy. Sigh, I really don’t wish to take this step…”
Han Xiao exhaled, calmed the storm in his mind, and suppressed these thoughts at the bottom of his heart.
Right at this moment, his communicator rang.
Beep beep beep!
He took it out. It was surprisingly a call from Sylvia.
“Army Commander, the Crimson Dynasty has sent an official letter. They will be sending emissaries to inspect the progress of the cultural education of the Kunde Race. If standards are met, they can consider opening up parts of the sealed areas and allow some of them into the galactic society.”
“Oh? It has only been less than thirty years. This is quite a lot earlier than I expected.”
Han Xiao’s eyes lit up.
He still remembered the Kunde Race’s mission. Modo was already devastated, so only the cultural education part had yet to be completed.
Once this mission was done, he would finally acquire the abilities he had been working for the whole time.
1237 Sorokin's Big Plan
The dynasty probably had a certain reason to do that in advance.
Han Xiao had a rough guess.
Although the Kunde Race lost, the billions of their remaining population were quite a considerable amount of manpower. Now that they were settled in the Black Star Army’s territory, they basically belonged to the army. Plus, while the cultural transformation was carried out, the Black Star Army was also promoting the benefits of the army, trying to make the Kunde Race loyal and yearn to join the army.
The dynasty probably did this to stop the Black Star Army’s advertising in the Kunde Race as soon as possible so that the Kunde Race would not completely become the army’s talent reserve. At the same time, they likely wanted to make the Kunde Race members who were not completely transformed cause some trouble for the army.
“Tsk, feeble trick…”
Han Xiao curled his lips.
He had only met Marbruce not long ago, and the response had already come so quickly. This was certainly backed up by the dynasty’s upper echelons. The dynasty’s attitude change toward him could clearly be seen from this.
Han Xiao did not mind it really. It was good news for him. He pondered for a few seconds and said, “Reply to dynasty. We welcome the inspection. Get someone to arrange a time with the dynasty. We’ll form an inspection team on our side and have them accompany the dynasty’s emissaries to carry out the inspection.”
“Understood.” Sylvia nodded. “One more thing, the Limitless Financial Group owes the Germinal Financial Group three months of payments. I told the finances department to talk to them, but they are not giving a reply. Would you like to ask them personally?”
“The Limitless Financial Group owes me money? Are they having problems with their capital flow?”
“Iapetus already had someone investigate. The Limitless Financial Group’s businesses are all stable. They’ve even achieved new records in some fields. Their capital flow is very healthy, but they’re just not paying us.”
“How much exactly?”
“There is a total of thirty-four projects. The total amount owed is 48.2 billion Enaus. You…”
Before Sylvia finished, Han Xiao’s eyes widened, and he stopped her.
“Yoho, this b*stard dares to not pay up. I’ll speak with him personally.”
Then, Han Xiao found Sorokin’s private number and called on the spot.
It rang for a while before being picked up. Sorokin’s projection appeared on the screen. His enthusiastic-on-the-surface voice sounded.
“Your Excellency Black Star, what a rare treat. I was just thinking why I am in such a good mood today. It turns out I’ve got an honorable guest. Can I do anything for you?”
“Nothing much, I just heard you owe me quite a lot of money, so I’m here to hurry you to pay up.”
Han Xiao raised his brows.
Sorokin instantly looked troubled. He then said with a very sincere and helpless tone, “Sigh, the consortium is not doing well. Our capital flow is tight right now. You know, for people who have large businesses like us, we have to spend billions every day. I really don’t have the money now.”
“Stop lying. You think my finances department is a joke? The report on our side says you’re doing very well. You even expanded quite a lot of businesses, and you’re still telling me you have no money?”
“It’s exactly because we’re expanding our businesses. We’re spending more money to open up new channels, and it’s costing more money that I expected, so I really don’t have the money.”
“Bullsh*t. Don’t blame me for not reminding you. If you don’t pay up in the agreed period, you’ll have to pay for liquidated damages. Don’t regret it then… By the way, I heard some time ago that you were trying to poach Iapetus’s team with a high salary. Is that true?”
“Hehe, I’m a businessman. These are all normal business operations. Don’t take it to heart.”
The two of them went back and forth a few more rounds, and Sorokin was still not saying he would pay up.
Seeing Sorokin’s unusual responses, Han Xiao had some guesses in his mind. He suddenly said meaningfully, “Looks like this is not a business issue. It seems we’re having some problems in terms of our positions.”
Hearing this, Sorokin smiled faintly and said, “I thought we’d work well together, but I seem to be wrong…”
Both used very ambiguous words because they did not want to leave any evidence, but they both understood what the other meant.
Ever since Han Xiao reported Sorokin’s oddness to the dynasty using the opportunity when Gaud went missing, Sorokin had been investigated and targeted by the dynasty both on the surface and secretly. In the past two years, he had needed to be careful, scared, and worried all the time. It was very irritating.
At the start, Sorokin thought the dynasty was just investing all suspicious personnel, so he put up with it. However, the dynasty’s recent actions had made him feel more and more like something was not right. Through his connections, he asked around and shockingly discovered that the dynasty’s motive for investigating him was actually because they doubted his identity.
Currently, Black Star was the only person in the entire universe who knew about his secret. Initially, the Limitless Financial Group partnered with Black Star to shut him up. However, Black Star having exposed his secret to the dynasty was the only possible reason the dynasty was targeting him now. Sorokin was furious.
Since Sorokin was already betrayed, he did not want the Black Star Army to continue draining blood from the Limitless Financial Group.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be off. Hehe, I still have other things to attend to.”
Sorokin gave a fake smile and hung up.
The screen turned black. Han Xiao put the communicator away with a snicker.
He did this on purpose to force Sorokin to expose his identity. He was curious about how Sorokin would deal with it.
“You thought I was just messing with you, but I’m actually hoping you’ll lose your cool. If you fight me, that’d be for the best. Beating you up would be justifiable.”
Han Xiao’s eyes flickered as he chuckled.
Sorokin’s identity was similar to Gaud’s. It was a form of protection for them. However, Han Xiao dared to touch Gaud because his level was much higher, and he could see all of Gaud’s abilities, so he had the confidence to take him down. Sorokin was different; his level was higher than Han Xiao’s even now. Han Xiao still saw a ton of question marks on the interface and did not know what Sorokin was hiding. Han Xiao was worried about messing up.
Most importantly, getting rid of Gaud was because Gaud was involved in a matter that was way too big to be ignored. If he did not do it, everyone would be done for. As for Sorokin, his importance was not as high, so Han Xiao did not want to break the association’s rules because of personal beef. This was the bit of virtue he had.
Of course, this was only limited to not attacking him first. If Sorokin came at him, Han Xiao would not mind playing ‘Welcome to the Black Underworld’ for him.
…
As soon as the call was hung up, Sorokin’s expression turned gloomy.
He was a little regretful. He felt he should not have hesitated when his identity was pointed out by Black Star back then; he should have eliminated this threat as soon as possible.
Although gathering all Soul Seeds would cause this body to be destroyed, and he would lose this identity, letting Black Star be would still risk losing this identity.
Since he would definitely lose a ton of things no matter what, he might as well drag Black Star down.
Although he was furious, he was still hesitant. He was worried that he might be blowing the matter out of proportion, but he was also worried about if he could actually defeat Black Star.
“No matter what, I have to make backup plans. I need to find a way to inherit part of the Limitless Financial Group’s enormous funds. If the cash flow is too large, it’ll attract attention even if I use the black-market channels. It’s best to turn the funds into actual items…”
Sorokin clenched his teeth.
Whether he was going to do it or not, preparing a way to back off was definitely not wrong.
“Black Star’s body is indestructible. His soul is his only weakness, but even that is speaking relatively. He has peak Beyond Grade A mind resistance at the very least. Killing him is extremely difficult. He has the King, so exiling him into the unexplored universe will also not work. Based on my ability and the Universal Treasures I’ve secretly collected, only one plan has a comparatively high success rate, heavily damaging or sealing his soul so that he has to go into a long-term hibernation state.
“To do that, I’d best retrieve the Soul Flame. Only then will the success rate be higher. I wonder if the Soul Flame has a master now. If it has, I can only kill him and retrieve it…”
…
A few days later, the dynasty and the Black Star Army agreed on a date for the inspection. They sent emissaries and headed to the Flickering World from the Central Galaxy.
The dynasty’s inspection team had to spend quite some time on the way, so Han Xiao told the troops stationed on the hundreds of residential planets of the Kunde Race to spread the message that the inspection team would arrive soon. He told them that they could be freed if they performed well.
Originally, inspections were usually carried out secretly. Once the inspection target knew about it in advance, in order to be freed earlier, they might ‘cheat’. This had happened before.
This time, however, the dynasty did not react at all, as letting the Kunde Race out earlier was also their secret goal. Although what Han Xiao had done went against the rules, it matched what the dynasty wanted to achieve, so they turned a blind eye. Han Xiao, too, wanted to free the Kunde Race as soon as possible so that he could acquire the mission reward.
Both sides were trying to achieve their goal. The difference was that Han Xiao knew what the dynasty was thinking, but the dynasty did not know what his goal was.
The news that the inspection team would soon arrive spread out rapidly on every Kunde Race residential planet. The Kunde Race, who had spent their days meaninglessly, suddenly saw hope.
…
Kunde Race Residential Planet No.77, South of Sigaia City, Apartment F0044’s rooftop…
Barton stood tall and looked over the entire city. Tall, rectangular apartments were neatly placed with the same height, shape, and distance between each other, like metal coffins. The city gave off a strong industrial vibe. The sky was dark, and the dawn hid behind the clouds, painting the city a depressed yellow.
Barton could not remember how many times he had seen this boring, forever the same, and depressed scenery. In his eyes, this was no city; it was more of a large prison.
Piercing cold wind swept past, bringing the voice behind.
“Brother Barton, the news said this is the first time the Crimson Dynasty inspection team has visited. Can we really leave here?”
Hearing this, Barton turned around. Hundreds of people stood on the rooftop, all young Kunde Race members.
He stayed silent for a while before nodding slowly.
“Definitely!”
They were all children of the residents in this apartment, born in the ‘Age of the Big Lockdown’. Barton was the oldest. He was the acknowledged leader of all the youngsters there.
During the cultural transformation, everything in their lives was arranged. Their residence was arranged, and their neighbors were arranged. Leaving the house had to be reported to the local artificial intelligence management system, and they could only leave the area after it was approved. Everything they did was monitored.
The Kunde Race was not allowed to develop their technology. The only thing they could pass around was part of the Super knowledge, which came from the Black Star Army. The Black Star Army saw the Kunde Race as its talent reserve, so it did not want them to all become useless shut-ins.
The cultural transformation involved many aspects, including their daily necessities, the news they saw, the education they were given, and so on. After more than two decades, this had already become the norm of the Kunde Race’s lives. They were receiving this information every day, and their mindsets changed subconsciously.
However, for the first batch of newborns during the Age of the Big Lockdown, the glory of the Kunde Race in the past only existed in words. They could not imagine it. While being educated in public schools, they were also influenced by the lingering hatred of the previous generations at the same time.
Some of the seniors who experienced the Kunde Race’s defeat still had hatred buried deep in their bones, warning the younger generations to never forget about it. Some chose not to speak of it, to let the newer generations leave the past behind. Only then would their race be freed one day and have a new future.
Living on a planet in lockdown, a society that was depressed, and between divided beliefs, this generation was lost. No one knew where the path ahead led.
Now, the arrival of the dynasty’s inspection team finally made them see something that was more important than anything else—hope.
Barton looked past the eyes filled with hope and said with a deep voice, “We might only have this one chance in our life… Anyone who causes problems will be a sinner to the entire race.”
A young man sighed and said, “Brother Barton, maybe we won’t cause any problems, but as you know, there are too many others who still are blinded by hatred just in this apartment… This is probably not what the inspection team wants to see.”
Barton stayed silent for a while. He then slowly raised the pliers in his hands. Tiny electric sparks danced on his skin, and he softly said, “Someone will have to take the lead. We still have time to prepare. Go, talk to everyone in the apartment who is still filled with hatred. For the entire race, I believe they’ll make the right choice.
“If there’s anyone who is really blinded and twisted by hatred, not willing to make any change, a burden to everyone…”
Barton paused. Colors representing pain appeared on his carapace.
“Kill them, even if they’re our family.”
1238 Inspection and Conclusion
“Greetings, Your Excellency Black Star. We’re the emissaries for this Kunde Race inspection.”
A group of dynasty officers walked into the room with synchronized footsteps. The group leader reached out his hand, his tone respectful.
Han Xiao shook his hand and invited them to sit. They briefly introduced themselves and took out the documents for the main topic.
“Currently, there are 113 residential planets for the Kunde Race, with a population of trillions. The dynasty colonial review department gave us the allocation for twenty-five planets to open up for this time. This is the maximum allocation, not a fixed one. If no planet reaches the standard, we can also choose not to open up any planets.”
“At most, a quarter of the population can be freed, got it.” Han Xiao nodded.
Every planet of the Kunde Race was locked down separately and had no communication with each other. Therefore, the progress of the cultural transformation for each planet was different. Choosing the planets with higher progress was the job of the inspection team.
Although the dynasty had other goals and the inspection team was most probably just a standard procedure, a standard was still required. If the results were really too far below the standard, they would choose not to free them.
The few of them spoke for a while. Han Xiao called the army’s patrol team over and told the two sides to discuss the details while he left the room.
Of course, he only had to show his face and express his attitude. He did not have to take care of the details.
Han Xiao returned to his office. Not long after, he received a message from Phillip saying that the dynasty’s inspection team and the army’s patrol team had decided on the details, already boarded the spaceships, and left Black Star Palace to get to work.
“Check the current status of the various Kunde Race planets.” Han Xiao told Phillip to bring up the related information.
He did not have the time to keep an eye on the transformation progress of the Kunde Race all the time. Now that the inspection team had arrived, only then did he decide to carefully go through the current status of the various Kunde Race planets. He could also see the effects of him notifying them in advance so that he could be prepared.
On the hovering virtual screen, the records of the Kunde Race planets flashed past one after another, and Phillip spoke on the side.
“Master, hum… according to the statistics, after the news of the inspection team arriving was announced, the overall state of the Kunde Race planets changed. The trend of anti-dynasty opinions decreased by forty-six percent on average, and the average percentage of haters decreased from thirty-two percent to seven percent. However, the security of some planets decreased. Murders occurred frequently. Some haters were killed by their own…”
“Killing their own race… looks like the arrival of the inspection team gave them hope. The more than twenty-year-long lockdown led them to fully understand that opening up the lockdown is the only way out for the race. Some of them treasure this chance, so they’ve started to eliminate the stubborn ones.”
“That’s right, hum…”
“That’s quite sensible and all, but… this might achieve the opposite effect.”
Han Xiao scratched his chin.
By sacrificing the minority and eliminating the stubborn ones to show obedience, at a glance, this was for the sake of the entire race, quite noble even.
However, the dynasty looked at things from a different perspective—too much yearning for freedom represented a strong motive. Killing one of their own meant a new chain of hate was formed. According to the normal inspection standards, this was a sign of the transformation not being thorough enough, which meant that the lockdown would have to continue.
However, since the dynasty had decided to carry out the inspection so many years in advance, they clearly knew that this would happen. Han Xiao estimated that the standard would probably be very low, so this might achieve positive effects.
…
For the next few months, the dynasty inspection team visited one Kunde Race planet after another, filling up their inspection records.
…
The double-sided mirror split Sigaia City Prison’s interrogation room in two. On one side was the interrogation room where the criminal was in, and on the other was the surveillance room.
At this time, the dynasty inspection team stood in the surveillance room. The team leader held a set of documents in his hands, glancing from time to time at the Kunde Race member inside the interrogation room who was cuffed up everywhere. He slowly read the content of the documents.
“Barton, age 22, Mechanic Super, graduate of Sigaia City First Super Academy with excellent results. Talented, achieved Grade C last year, reason of imprisonment… murder and organizing murder. A total of 126 people died by his order. Also, he personally killed seven more, including his family.
“The victims were all haters according to the records. He claimed that this was to eliminate the stubborn members… When the marshals found him, he stopped his accomplices who tried to fight back. He chose not to resist and took responsibility for all the crimes.”
“Tsk tsk, how unflinching.” The Black Star Army patrol team leader tutted.
The dynasty inspection officer finished reading the report, cleared his throat, and opened up the comms. “Barton, you ordered others to murder, committing horrible sins. Is your goal to deal with the dynasty’s inspection?”
Barton’s eyes were closed, and he did not reply.
Seeing this, the dynasty inspection officer continued. “I’ll take it as that’s what you think. You couldn’t possibly not have known that, after doing what you did, the marshals who monitor everything would definitely find you. In order to eliminate those so-called stubborn people, you were willing to be imprisoned and even held responsible for some of your accomplices, basically giving up your life. Is it worth it?”
Barton shook his head calmly and said, “Here or outside, both are prisons. What’s the difference? On this planet, no one’s life is valuable. If I can give mine for some hope, of course it’s worth it.”
“You think you’re very noble, right?” the inspection team leader said with a poker face. “I’m the dynasty’s inspector. Frankly, I do not like your extreme methods at all. Your motive is too strong. You think you can convince the dynasty by doing this? Youngster, don’t you think you’ve underestimated us?”
Barton’s carapace color shifted slightly and then returned to the color of calmness. “This might be the only inspection in my life. I only did what I thought was right. No matter the results of the inspection, I’ve reduced the source of hate. The number of haters born in the future will also be reduced because of it. Even if we fail the inspection now, the chance of passing in the future will increase. At least what I did was meaningful.”
The dynasty inspection team leader was not touched at all. He had witnessed too many similar examples, so he was already used to it.
He thought for a moment, changed the topic, and asked, “If your planet is freed, what do you think your people should do?”
“Join the Black Star Army.” This time, Barton answered without hesitation.
The dynasty inspection team leader narrowed his eyes and asked, “And why is that?”
“Even freed, the Kunde Race still lives in the Black Star Army’s territory. In the short term, the Kunde Race still needs the Black Star Army’s protection. Our civilization is still too weak. If one of us can become an officer of the Black Star Army, the Kunde Race will also receive help. Have the Supers work for Black Star and aid the entire race, this is the best path for now,” Barton said with a deep voice.
Hearing this, the dynasty inspection team could not help but glance at the Black Star Army patrol team. He snorted and said, “Looks like the promotion you guys did was very effective.”
“Thank you. The army commander taught us well. Plus, he’s too charming.” The army patrol team leader smiled.
The dynasty inspection team leader looked down and pondered for a while before writing some remarks on the inspection form and ticking off a few things.
…
When the inspection team visited all the Kunde Race planets, Han Xiao finally received the results.
“A total of seventeen planets reached the standard. The standard is even lower than I expected.”
Han Xiao curled his lips. He looked at the list of the planets, and Planet No. 77 was on it.
Then, he summoned Phillip and said, “Hmm, there’s no problem. Make the arrangements according to this list. Have the troops stationed at these seventeen planets guide the residents to familiarize with galactic society. At the same time, make a recruit announcement. Although they’re free, they don’t have anywhere to go, so the majority of them will choose to join me…
“Also, broadcast the process of freeing these seventeen planets to the other planets. Encourage them to accept the transformation properly and regain freedom sooner.”
Han Xiao gave the order. He then looked at the details of the inspection and discovered the conversation between the dynasty inspection team leader and Barton.
“Oh, this kid is interesting.”
Han Xiao raised his brow. He brought up Barton’s information and said casually, “Phillip, tell the prison department of Planet No.77 to let this kid out and have him join the army.”
He felt that Barton was a man with dreams and not lazy. Also, Barton seemed to have potential. After all, the Kunde Race never had the Super system in the past. Barton was in the first batch to learn it, and he still became a Grade C at such a young age. His potential should be quite high.
However, at Han Xiao’s current position, he did not plan to meet him personally. He was only picking out a high-quality leek out of habit. If Barton could not achieve things in the Black Star Army, Han Xiao would not specifically remember him.
A few days later, the results of the inspection got approved by the dynasty. The Black Star Army acted right away to open up these seventeen planets. Billions of Kunde Race members were freed.
On this day, the screams of joy of countless people shot into the sky and echoed through planets. After more than twenty years, they were finally free. Be it seniors or youngsters, they were all tearing up.
They still had problems with the dynasty, but most of them had a strong sense of appreciation toward the Black Star Army. Not only were they thankful for the Black Star Army’s advanced notification but also for Black Star avenging the Kunde Race by making Modo suffer. There was also the protection the Black Star Army had provided them for decades.
Among the Kunde Race, the reputation of the army was at the peak. The relationship was firmly at Reverence.
At Sigaia City Prison, Barton walked out the prison door. The blinding sunlight almost made him unable to open his eyes. The streets were filled with an overjoyed crowd, and loud cheering voices came from all directions.
The lifeless city in his impression seemed to have suddenly come alive. Barton stood still, stunned.
“You’ve been let out. Now go.”
The warden spoke from behind. He had received the message from Black Star, so he did not dare ignore it and personally sent Barton out of the prison.
“Isn’t my crime very horrible? Why have you let me go?” Barton turned around. He was both shocked and confused.
You think I wanted to? While thinking that in his mind, the warden gave a stiff smile and said, “Don’t thank me. The army commander said to let you go by name. He must believe in your capabilities. Work hard, and don’t waste the army commander’s kindness.”
Barton’s entire body shivered. The color of disbelief appeared on his body.
The news was promoting how strong Black Star was every day. To say he did not admire someone that strong would be a lie; Barton simply kept this admiration buried in his heart.
He originally wanted to sacrifice himself, so he never expected to be released. Plus, he was released by Black Star personally.
Doesn’t this mean Black Star knows who I am?
Suddenly, Barton felt a stream of heat flowing in his body. He was feeling tipsy like he had too much to drink. His shell rapidly turned into the color of hot red excitement like he was cooked.
“Since Black Star… no, since the army commander has so high hopes for me, I must live up to it!”
At this moment, Barton made a decision.
He would become the army’s officer and prove that Black Star was not wrong about him!
He hoped that he could one day stand before Black Star and express his appreciation to him face to face.
…
“Your Excellency Black Star, our inspection is complete. We shall get going.”
Inside the army commander’s office in Black Star Palace, the dynasty inspection team bade farewell respectfully and expressed their intention of leaving.
Han Xiao nodded with a smile and said, “Send my regards to your superiors when you get back.”
They nodded and swarmed out, leaving Han Xiao alone in the room.
Han Xiao opened the interface and looked at the mission list. The first requirement, to provide protection when the Kunde Race was being culturally transformed, was finally shown as completed.
“Only the first batch of the planets are free, and more of them are still being culturally transformed. However, since some of the Kunde Race have entered galactic society, they’ll take care of their people who are still in lockdown in the future. I won’t be the only one providing protection.”
Han Xiao smirked. This was him completing his promise; it was enough.
“I’ve protected you guys for so long. Finally, I can get some rewards.”
Han Xiao took a deep breath and chose to conclude the mission on the interface.
Notifications popped up one after another on the interface.
_____________________
Grade S mission [Kunde Race Leader’s Last Wish] completed!
You have completed Mission Requirement I.
You have received 6 billion Experience, 10,000 Kunde Race Favorability, 2 Random Rewards, 4 Political Assets (Kunde Race).
Kunde Race will enter into the [Awakening Era], +10% chance of becoming a Super.
You have completed Mission Requirement II.
You have received 12 billion Experience, 15,000 Kunde Race Favorability, 1 Specific Blank Character Summon Card.
You have received the talent [The Enemy]!
You have received the talent [Proof of Leadership]!
You have received the ability [Kunde Rage]!
1239 Sorokin's Senses
He had been eyeing these three abilities for a very long time. Now, he had finally acquired them after almost a full version.
Both [The Enemy] and [Kunde Rage] consumed health. The former was a passive talent, giving him more damage with health lost during the battle, up to twenty-five percent. The latter was an ability, increasing his Psychological Resistance tremendously for forty seconds at most, as well as immunity to almost all negative psychological states.
Among these three, the strongest was [Proof of Leadership].
This was considered a ‘Semi-Molding Talent’ to players, meaning even the players could obtain it. The way it worked was that when the user was the leader of a faction, they would receive comprehensive bonuses. The bonuses increased with the size and level of the faction. The most incredible trait of this talent was that it had no upper limit.
No matter how strong the players’ organizations were, they could not reach the Beyond Grade A organization level and would not be able to gain enough bonuses from this talent. However, Han Xiao was different.
The Black Star Army’s position was unique and irreplaceable in the universe. After an entire mission, it was already much stronger than when he triggered this mission. He could benefit a ton from this talent.
The bonuses of [Proof of Leadership] were very comprehensive. It included but was not limited to basic attributes, health, stamina, energy, ability strength, class affinity, all kinds of resistances, attack damage, ability level, and so on.
Han Xiao looked at the talent and realized that it did not only include one faction he was in. Other than the bonuses brought by the Black Star Army, the talent showed that the Beyond Grade A Association provided some bonuses too. His vice president identity was also considered in [Proof of Leadership], only it was not complete. He would only gain the complete bonuses if he was the president.
All in all, [Proof of Leadership] gave him a huge boost. This single talent increased his Energy Rank by an outrageous 5,400 Ona!
With the increase of Energy Rank, the strength difference between every point increased too. His Energy Rank was more than 100,000; 5400 Ona was an enormous boost to his combat capability at this level.
Feeling the overflowing energy in his body, Han Xiao took a deep breath and was delighted.
“This talent really suits me very well. I’m a huge step closer to the higher territory.”
Han Xiao looked through the effects of [Proof of Leadership] several times with a huge grin on his face. He loved this talent.
Having finally achieved his dream of so many years, he was relieved.
The Kundes had to join the army of their own volition, and the dynasty freeing them in advance would decrease the number of Kundes willing to join the army, but it led to him acquiring the biggest benefit in advance.
As for the future developments of the Kunde Race, as long as nothing huge happened, Han Xiao did not plan to interfere frequently.
Anyway, the Kunde Race was now living in his territory. If they recovered to a normal civilization, they would even have to pay taxes to him instead, like a protection fee. If the Kunde Race wanted to expand in his territory, they would have to rent or purchase planets from the army.
Controlling one area was indeed an amazing way of making profit. By providing all kinds of services such as renting and selling land, he could harvest the labor of the Kunde Race as a whole and take a bite out of their produce. He had the right to decide the prices of the planets in his territory, so he dictated how quickly he wanted to harvest. He could choose to dry the pool for the fish in it, or he could choose to slowly fish over the long term. Of course, Han Xiao liked the latter more.
“Hmm, in this case, I can attract the Kunde Race Supers into the army using special benefits. For example, all Kunde Race members of the army with relatively high positions can purchase resources for the Kunde Race at a discount…”
The dynasty had definitely thought of this too and did not want to see it happen. Only, they could not easily tear away the agreement they had signed in the past.
Therefore, when the Kunde Race was freed to a certain stage, the dynasty would find a way to make the Kunde Race request to migrate. The fighting happening behind the curtains was complicated and troublesome. Han Xiao could already guest what methods the dynasty would use.
However, in his position, he did not have to attend to every little thing personally; people below him would deal with it. Furthermore, this would almost certainly not happen in the next few decades, so he did not have to worry yet.
…
A few days later, the Black Star Army announced a system to the Kunde Race, stating that in respect of the Kunde Race civilization, the army would not give them benefits for free out of pity but instead provide the Kunde Race tons of job opportunities.
The Black Star Army claimed that one reason for this was to guide the Kunde Race to blend into galactic society, and another was to give the Kunde Race a channel to acquire resources. Through working, all Kundes could earn contribution points that would be put under the entire race. The Kunde Race could then use this special currency to purchase all kinds of services to speed up the rebuilding of their civilization.
As soon as the system was announced, it received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Kunde Race. Putting aside Han Xiao’s reputation, although these trillions of Kundes gained freedom, they were also lost. Many of them did not know how to blend into the galactic society.
Now, the Black Star Army provided them with a clear direction, and the results of that were countless responses.
Han Xiao was already extremely experienced at harvesting leeks. This was the exact method he used to harvest the Planet Aquamarine players during Version 2.0 back then, turning his faction into the guiding faction. It was effective on the Kunde Race too.
Tons of quality Kunde Race laborers swarmed into the Black Star Army. The number of base-level Supers rocketed.
Currently, the Black Star Army was focusing on growing the subdivisions in other Star Fields, and the manpower from the Kunde Race came just at the right time.
The HR department arranged to have the Kundes travel far away from their home to different Star Fields to work in the subdivisions. They would work ‘overseas’ to accumulate contribution points for the race. This would prevent them from sticking only to other Kundes and not blending in with the galactic society well enough.
The Crimson Dynasty announced a similar policy too. However, the duration of the transformation was too short, so only an extremely few were willing to work for the dynasty, far fewer than the number of Kundes the army recruited.
However, more Kundes decided to stay among their race to rebuild the civilization and not work for other organizations, so the dynasty’s plan worked to a certain extent.
While the Black Star Army was digesting the Kunde Race’s laborers, Sorokin started to move.
…
“I’m finally done with the backup plans. I can act anytime…”
Inside the office at the Limitless Financial Group headquarters, Sorokin sensed the movements of his various manifestations and looked relieved.
In the past few months, he had returned to the Limitless Financial Group headquarters in the Sea of Star Spirits and prepared backup plans, placing secret warehouses in many Star Fields and some secondary dimensions that stored large amounts of resources.
Sorokin knew the strength of Virtual Mechanics, so he left no traces in the database. This was all done by his manifestations.
As for the movements of the funds, he disguised them as normal business transactions.
However, the consortium was his to begin with. Its business was growing better by the day and had no difficulties, so there was absolutely no need for the boss to take the money and run. This was like him stealing his own things, so not many people would realize the issue.
At the same time, using several methods, Sorokin left many hidden problems for the Limitless Financial Group’s cash flow. If he was fine, he could easily solve them afterward.
If something happened to him, the credibility of the Limitless Financial Group would plummet. Once the partners came to tell the Limitless Financial Group to pay up, the Limitless Financial Group would be tremendously damaged. By then, the other large consortiums would definitely try to eat up the businesses of the Limitless Financial Group and dissect its corpse. This way, what was left to the shareholders of the group would be a huge mess. Even if they wanted to continue the Limitless Financial Group, they would have to pay a hefty price to fill up this hole.
This was one of Sorokin’s backup plans—he would rather destroy his hard work over many years than give it to someone else, especially when Black Star was one of the shareholders.
“I can use those Universal Treasures I’ve collected anytime, but the most useful thing for this mission is still Soul Flame…”
Sorokin’s eyes flickered.
He was once the master of Soul Flame; he knew the functions of this Esper Ability Entity extremely well. From his perspective, if he could regain this ability, the success rate of the plan would increase by another twenty percent.
Back when he gave up the identity of Soul Flame, he had no idea where Soul Flame went. In order to keep his identity hidden and not get discovered by anyone he knew, he used the specialty of his Esper Ability to change his soul frequency. Basically, he gave himself soul plastic surgery.
However, he did not completely cut off his senses to Soul Flame but split it up into Soul Seeds that had been sealed all this time. Once he opened the seal, he would be able to sense the rough location of Soul Flame.
All this time, Sorokin had disguised himself as a common Psychic Esper and had never shown all the special traits of his Esper Ability. Therefore, although he was also a soul-type Esper, his abilities looked quite different from ‘Soul Emperor’.
To not attract any suspicion, he never dared retrieve Soul Flame. Anyway, he had a method to sense it. From the way he looked at it, no matter where Soul Flame went, he could totally retrieve it any time he wanted.
Sorokin narrowed his eyes, found that sealed Soul Seed in his Esper Ability senses, retrieved it ignoring the distance between him and the Soul Seed, and unsealed it.
The next moment, Sorokin’s gaze changed subtly. It was a little bit colder.
Every Soul Seed was a fragment of his personality. The more he retrieved, the more whole his personality would become, and the more he would be like the real ‘Soul Emperor’ Rovell Sissock.
The moment the Soul Seed was unsealed, a reaction that was far away appeared in his senses, pointing him in a direction.
Sorokin turned toward that direction. He looked at the dark cosmic space through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Soul Flame is in that direction… the Ancient Star Desert.”
…
In the Holy Accord organization, Oathkeeper, who was playing Wayne Cards with the others, suddenly felt something. He turned and looked outside the window. Confusion appeared in his eyes.
Why does it suddenly feel like I’m being watched?
Before he could think further, Beiger, who was opposite, slapped the table impatiently.
“Stop dozing off. Mechanic Emperor, do you want it or not?”
Oathkeeper regained focus and threw out a card.
“Black Star, bigger than you.”
“Tsk, dog luck… pass, pass, go on.”
Oathkeeper’s focus returned to the game.
The Wayne Cards included almost all organizations and important people in the world, so it was an extremely efficient way to figure out the current structure of the universe and its history…
It’s most certainly not because we like to play cards!
1240 Sorokin's Bizarre Adventure 1
At a certain place in the desolate universe belt, an armed fleet was slowly advancing through the cosmic space. Sorokin stood in the command room of the main ship and looked into the galaxy.
This armed fleet was a mercenary group he had secretly founded in the Ancient Star Desert. Other than a few upper echelons, no one knew that their boss was the Limitless Financial Group. For this mission, Sorokin secretly created a manifestation that looked exactly like him and left it in the consortium’s headquarters. He then slipped out, led this mercenary group, and headed to the location of Soul Flame.
This group did not know the exact goal of this trip; they only acted based on orders of the upper echelons. For safety reasons, Sorokin even wore a mask. Other than the leader beside him, no one else in the fleet knew that the renowned Sorokin was on their ship.
“The reaction is getting stronger, meaning I’m getting closer…”
Sorokin looked at the star map. Within a certain distance ahead, there was only one desolate planet. He was basically certain that Soul Flame was on this planet.
On the star map, this planet had no name, only a serial number. It was marked as a poor planet with no value for developing.
After the fleet advanced a while longer and was still quite some distances away from this planet, Sorokin stopped the fleet.
“All ships, stop advancing. Use astronomical observation instruments to observe the surface status of that planet.”
“…Observation complete. Boss, everything is normal on the planet surface. It’s desolate and has nothing worth paying attention to. The details still require field inspection.”
Sorokin nodded and ordered, “Hmm, send out a recon ship to land on the planet first. Everyone else, remain in stealth mode and standby here.”
He had a habit of being careful at all times. He was worried that Soul Flame might have a master, so he decided to test it first. Even if it was a desolate planet, he still had to repeatedly confirm there was no hidden danger.
The recon ship deviated from the fleet and quickly flew toward the planet. Sorokin secretly used his ability and possessed the captain of the ship.
A while later, the recon ship finally arrived on the planet. It activated all kinds of scanners and started to investigate the underground. However, after an entire hour, all results came back normal.
Sorokin immediately realized the problem and narrowed his eyes.
According to his senses, Soul Flame was right there, somewhere underground. There was no way it was not discovered unless someone had set up disguise devices underground, which would prove that someone was there.
“Even if the scanning can be avoided, the actual object can’t be hidden.”
Sorokin’s manifestation drew out a rough area on the planet’s underground model. He then ordered the crew to stop scanning and send robots to dig into the ground instead. He planned to dig a hole right toward the location of Soul Flame.
However, the moment the robots were dispatched from the ship, the recon ship suddenly became paralyzed. Its engine shut off, and it plummeted from the sky. The crew inside the cabin were bumping into everything around like they were inside a shaking tin can.
Sorokin suppressed his instincts and did not use any ability with his manifestation. When the recon ship was just about to crash onto the ground, a blue-purple magic gate suddenly appeared below it. The recon ship fell right in and disappeared.
At the same time, the mercenary group leader far away in the main ship hastily reported to Sorokin’s original body.
“Boss, we’ve just lost communication with the recon ship. It’s suddenly missing. Should we go take a look?”
“No need, move back for now.”
Sorokin’s eyes flickered.
It looked like there were indeed enemies near Soul Flame. Since he possessed the captain of the recon ship, he could now scout the enemies.
At this point of time, the vision and senses of the manifestation were being transmitted back to his mind.
After the recon ship fell into the magic gate, as if it had fallen onto a certain buffering platform, it did not crash, but the trembling of the cabin made the people inside fall down again.
The crew covered their bleeding heads. They hastily pressed on the operating table and said with panic, “Captain, all functions of the spaceship are frozen. We’ve lost contact with the others!”
Sorokin’s manifestation acted panicked and said, “Go put on the land exploration armor. Open the hatch manually, and take a look at where we are.”
As the order was given, the crew quickly changed and became land exploration armored warriors. Suppressing the nervousness in their hearts, they carefully pulled the hatch open.
Whoosh!
The sound of air pressure adjusting appeared as the hatch slipped open. After seeing what was outside, everyone froze.
This was a place that looked like an underground helipad. Outside was a group of mechanical suit warriors holding explosive energy firearms who surrounded the recon ship, aiming all their barrels at the hatch.
“What is this place?”
“Who are you?”
The crew of the ship were shocked.
The leader of the mechanical suit warriors outside coldly replied, “Disarm yourselves immediately, put your hands up, and walk out, or we’ll fire!”
This is an unknown organization? They should have been hiding in the underground of this planet.
Sorokin did not see any organization’s symbols on the mechanical suits of these people. He immediately acted nervous and cowardly. He yelled at the crew to throw away their weapons and led them out with his hands in the air.
Very soon, they were captured and imprisoned separately. Sorokin’s manifestation was alone in an interrogation room.
After quite a while, the room door was finally pushed open. A mechanical suit warrior who was clearly there to interrogate him walked in, still wearing the helmet. It sat opposite and said, “I ask, and you answer, or you die. Understood?”
Sorokin’s manifestation acted scared and nodded.
“I just searched your logs and found you belong to a mercenary group. Tell me, why have you come here?”
“I-I don’t know. I’m just following orders.”
Sorokin’s manifestation deliberately stuttered, but he was secretly relieved.
Through checking the logs and interrogating the crew, this unknown organization definitely knew that the rest of the mercenary group was there too. Luckily, out of caution, he had kept the rest of the fleet quite far away and ordered them to back away even further when the recon ship lost contact.
The interrogator asked many more questions. Sorokin’s manifestation’s answers had both truths and lies, keeping to the amount of information this captain should know while shivering.
He had been acting across multiple lives, so he was already a top tier expert and a competitive candidate at the Oscars, so he did not cause any suspicion.
After a while, the interrogator was done asking questions and was about to stand up and leave the room.
At this time, Sorokin’s manifestation’s eyes suddenly lit up. Through his eyes, Sorokin’s manifestation dashed into the interrogator’s body and tried to possess it.
He had to know more about this unknown organization, so possessing one of them was clearly the best choice.
Sorokin activated his ability in the blink of an eye with no signs at all. It was extremely well hidden. At such a close distance, this interrogator who was not even a Calamity Grade, of course, was defenseless. His body was instantly taken over.
Right after Sorokin took over the body, before he could feel glad, he shockingly discovered a bright flame in the mind of this body.
“Soul Flame’s seal‽”
The moment this interrogator’s mind was occupied by an outsider’s consciousness. As if it sensed something, this flame suddenly became volatile like it was about to turn into a sea of fire the next second and torch the mind of this body.
Sorokin’s expression changed. In an instant, he adjusted his soul frequency, made a series of complex adjustments, and shrouded this flame with his soul energy.
The next moment, this flame slowly calmed down but still did not look fully stable, as if it could erupt any time.
Seeing this, Sorokin was relieved.
He knew all too well about the effects of Soul Flame. It could plant this type of surveillance seal on others to prevent them from leaking certain secrets or getting their memories searched. Once triggered, the seal would instantly burn all related memories. The master of Soul Flame would also sense it.
This was effective against most people, even Beyond Grade As, but not Sorokin.
He had once been the master of Soul Flame, so he already knew everything there was to know about its abilities. With the specialness of his Esper Ability, he could temporarily dodge the Soul Flame’s seal. He was one of the extremely few who could infiltrate the Holy Accord in the universe.
Although he successfully made the Soul Flame seal misjudge him and did not erupt instantly, he knew that he would only be able to deceive the seal for a certain amount of time. If he retrieved his soul energy in this manifestation, the seal would erupt right away, and Soul Flame’s current master would notice.
Also, he did not dare to read the memories of this body. Soul Flame sealed the related memories like a chain of traps. Once triggered, he would no longer be able to deceive the Soul Flame seal and would be exposed instantly.
“That was close. Don’t tell me every member of this mysterious organization has the Soul Flame seal…”
Sorokin was on alert. He was surprised.
This meant that the master of Soul Flame should be the leader of this unknown organization, an upper echelon at the very least.
Using this method to make sure all its members did not leak the secrets… what kind of huge secret needed this degree of caution? What did this organization do?
While he controlled the new manifestation to leave the room, he pondered in his mind. Although he could not read this body’s memories, he could observe the situation of this organization with it.
As soon as he walked out of the interrogation room, someone approached him. Following the rule of ‘the more said, the more mistakes made’, he handed over the interrogation report without saying a word. Seeing that no one gave him further orders, he left the area on his own.
He walked around for some time and very quickly realized that this organization’s base was very huge and had a lot of members, but there was no organization’s symbol anywhere.
Sorokin’s manifestation did not dare ask anyone, so he could only walk around randomly. However, this body’s authorization level seemed to be very low. Many areas were not accessible, especially the direction where he sensed Soul Flame was. It was in a forbidden area, which base-level personnel were not allowed to enter.
“This won’t work. I won’t find any valuable information, and I’ll be exposed sooner or later… Looks like I need a push,” Sorokin murmured.
From the way he looked at it, this mysterious organization was very serious about secrecy. Once exposed, it would very likely shift its location. Therefore, he planned to let the mercenary group attack this planet to force this organization to display its strength and start to migrate. Then, he would have more chances to discover the secrets of this organization and the identity of Soul Flame’s master.
As for the possible casualties of the mercenary group, he did not care at all. They were sacrificial chess pieces to begin with.
Having thought of that, Sorokin’s original body immediately said to the mercenary group leader, “Pass my order, send seventy percent of the fleet to bombard that planet. The remaining thirty percent, back away with me.”
“Understood.”
The leader gave the orders right away.
A portion of the armed fleet advanced right away, entering attack range after quite a while. They then activated all kinds of ranged weapons immediately. Enormous missiles were shot out and flew toward the target, dragging tails of flames behind.
Buzz!
Suddenly, a light-blue magic barrier shrouded the entire planet and stopped all the attacks. The missiles turned into fireworks in cosmic space.
Before the fleet made the next move, all the battleships that were sent to attack the planet lost control and started attacking each other like they were being controlled by someone else.
At the same time, a ring of fire as bright as the sun expanded from the planet like an illusion, quickly penetrating all the battleships.
The next moment, more than ninety percent of the crew’s souls were incinerated, and they died right on the spot.
The armed fleet sent to attack the planet completely lost the ability to fight in less than a minute!
At this time, a hole suddenly opened up on the surface of the planet like the tracks of an airport. Spaceships with no symbols flew out and seized all the remaining battleships.
“This quickly?” Sorokin’s expression turned grave.
He knew that the mercenary group would be no match, but he did not expect them to be annihilated so quickly.
However, though the battle was short, he still gained some shocking information.
Mage, Virtual Mechanic, and the master of Soul Flame… This organization has at least three Beyond Grade As!
Sorokin was intimidated.
This organization is way too unfathomable. Luckily, I was cautious enough. If I charged right in like a Pugilist…
Good thing I’m a coward!
Having thought of that, he immediately told the remaining fleet to back away at full speed.
At the same time, Sorokin’s manifestation in the Holy Accord organization also received an emergency migration order.
In the underground base, members of the organization moved supplies, destroyed buildings, and activated spaceships quickly.
Sorokin’s manifestation was also summoned by his boss. He quickly rushed over, did his job at the dock, and observed the surroundings.
Shortly after, he sensed that the location of Soul Flame was rapidly approaching.
Very soon, rapid footsteps came from a tunnel, along with many voices. To his shock, some of the voices sounded familiar.
“Odd, what was with that fleet? Why did they suddenly attack us?”
“Were they here for us? Did they discover us?”
“No way, they’re way too ill equipped to have the guts to fight us. It seems to be a fleet that passed by and discovered our base…”
“Are we that unlucky? Did you not wash your face this morning?”
The voices got closer. Very soon, a group of people walked out the passage, complaining while walking toward the spaceship at the dock.
Sensing that the master of Soul Flame was in this group, Sorokin subconsciously turned and glanced at them.
With this one look, his mind went completely blank!
‘King of War’ Pangon, ‘Mage God’ Beiger, ‘Violet Queen’ Lady Lust… They were all Primordial Ones who were in the same generation as him. Even Beiger, who killed him, was there!
Didn’t they die long ago‽
Why are they here, alive‽
While Sorokin’s thoughts were going wild, the energy he used to suppress the Soul Flame seal also became unstable.
The next moment, the seal broke through the suppression and erupted, instantly incinerating the soul of this manifestation.
“Hmm‽”
Oathkeeper, who was leading the way at the front of the revived Primordial Ones, instantly turned around and saw the manifestation that collapsed to the floor.
“Someone just triggered the Soul Flame seal…”
Uncontrollably excitement appeared in Oathkeeper’s eyes.
Could it be… the legendary spy has appeared?
Ha! It’s been so many years I almost thought you really didn’t exist!
You’ve finally shown yourself!
1241 Sorokin's Bizarre Adventure 2
Dozens of Primordial Ones, all alive till today… did they fake their deaths like me‽
Sorokin could not believe it.
Impossible!
Some of them were definitely dead. Even their ashes were scattered!
How did they get past the exploration era, hide their existence, and live till now?
Is this place actually the nursing home for the Primordial Ones?
Or have these people been hiding for so long and planning an astronomic conspiracy‽
Sorokin completely lost it. The more he thought about it, the more terrified he was.
He had never heard of this organization before. Could he be the only one in the universe who knew this secret?
This time, Sorokin suddenly shivered. He hastily ordered the leader of the mercenary group, “Split up the fleet immediately. Retreat in different directions and run at full speed!”
For the first time in a long time, Sorokin panicked.
He was confident in his strength. Originally, he felt that the success rate of retrieving Soul Flame was not low. He only got a bit more serious even when he saw three Beyond Grade As earlier and did not think he could not do it.
However, to his absolute shock, there were more than thirty Beyond Grade A there!
The situation far exceeded what he expected, who in the world could deal with this!
Dozens of Beyond Grade As far exceeded the limit of what he could deal with. Plus, he had triggered Soul Flame’s alarm, which was basically the same as poking the hornet nest. Sorokin immediately lost any desire to continue his plan; all he wanted to do was immediately run out of this area as far as possible.
At this time, the mercenary group leader looked at the remote observation images and suddenly screamed, “Boss, their fleet moved and is heading toward our direction. Plus, dozens of high energy reactions suddenly appeared on the radar, all possibly Beyond Grade As!”
“What are you standing there for then? Run!”
Sorokin was furious and shocked.
He could secretly find out more about this organization in the future, but if he got caught now, there would be no ‘future’ to speak of!
The mercenary group split up right away. The main ship Sorokin was in sent all its energy into the engine, entered overload mode, and fled at full speed in hyperdrive. The starlight outside the window was stretched into lines.
However, only shortly after they started fleeing, a deafening alarm rang on the radar!
Boom!
The next second, the entire spaceship suddenly trembled and exited from hyperdrive mode. The huge inertia caused everyone but Sorokin to fall onto the floor.
Sorokin ignored the screams of pain of all the crew and hastily looked outside the window.
The cosmic space around was filled with magic arrays. Glass-like translucent arcane tentacles extended from within and tangled around the entire spaceship tightly. The arcane tentacles squeezed the spaceships continuously, and the sound of the metal armor tearing up could be easily heard in the cabin as cracks appeared and extended on the alloy walls.
At the same time, a magic teleportation suddenly opened up right in front of the spaceship. Beiger and the group of Primordial Ones walked out.
“Beiger!”
Flames of rage filled Sorokin’s eyes. He ground his teeth.
Damn Mage!
This time, the spaceship was suddenly taken over by a Virtual Mechanic among the Primordial Ones and opened its communication.
The next moment, Oathkeeper’s projection appeared in the cabin. He sized Sorokin up. His tone was thirty-percent curious, thirty-percent excited, and forty-percent annoyed.
“You’re the one who dodged Soul Flame’s seal and possessed my subordinate?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! Who are you?” Sorokin was on full alert.
“Interesting, you’re not going to tell us you just happened to pass by, are you?” Oathkeeper narrowed his eyes.
“Listen to me, I…”
“You’ll have plenty of time to explain later!”
Before Sorokin finished speaking, dozens of Beyond Grade As attacked at the same time. A shocking amount of energy headed right toward the spaceship Sorokin was in.
Boom!
The spaceship was instantly shattered into atoms. Sorokin dashed out the cabin at the last moment. Feeling the hopeless strength difference between him and the enemies, he was filled with despair.
He wanted to calm these people down with words first, but they attacked right away, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Although his physical body was not the core of his life, he did not want to end up in the hands of these people.
“There’s no other way!”
Sorokin clenched his teeth and retrieved most of his Soul Seeds. Suddenly, his entire vibe changed and became cold and violent. An enormous energy shockwave erupted from his body, creating visible ripples in the cosmic space around him!
Feeling this energy, Oathkeeper’s eyes turned serious. He pulled his teammates into a mind chat channel and said, “Careful, this guy is very strong. Don’t let down your guard.”
“Don’t worry, there’s plenty of us!”
They laughed and charged forward.
An intense battle erupted instantly. However, within seconds, Sorokin was completely overwhelmed, and the battle became one-sided.
His actual strength was indeed very strong, on par with even peak Beyond Grade As. However, he had yet to step into that higher territory and was still a normal Beyond Grade A.
With dozens of Beyond Grade As attacking him together, Sorokin could only get thrashed. Even if it was the evolved EsGod, he would still meet the same end.
All Sorokin could do was try not to die. Very soon, his mask was shattered, and everyone saw his face.
“This guy is… the Limitless Financial Group’s Sorokin?”
Oathkeeper was surprised.
He did not expect the guy who infiltrated his organization to be the renowned head of the biggest consortium.
Isn’t this guy known for being weak? Isn’t he among the weakest Beyond Grade As? Why does he have this level of strength?
Has Sorokin always been acting weak and hiding his strength? Is he this cowardly?
While he was being confused, Beiger suddenly noticed something from Sorokin’s combat style and exclaimed, “This Esper Ability… Are you Soul Emperor?”
“What?” The others were shocked. They hastily observed Sorokin, and everyone discovered some clues.
The modern people could only analyze Soul Emperor’s abilities, whereas they were in the same generation as Soul Emperor and had fought him God knew how many times. They noticed it right away.
Hearing this, Sorokin was filled with frustration.
He had always avoided going all out because he was worried about being recognized, but in the end, it still happened.
He knew he could not deceive these people who were familiar with him. Plus, he already planned to give up this identity. Thinking at least they shared some common topics, he gave up acting and yelled, “That’s right, it’s me! Aren’t you *ssholes dead? How are you here‽”
“It’s really you, Rovell Sissock!”
The Primordial Ones were surprised and slowed down their attacks.
If it was a stranger, they would not have been affected at all. However, Soul Emperor was someone in the same generation as them, so he was at least a familiar face. They were all very curious about what was going on with Sorokin.
We didn’t revive you. Did you not die?
Beiger’s expression changed slightly. He recalled what Black Star said in the past that hinted Soul Emperor had always been alive.
“Did you fake your death?”
Beiger was shocked.
“I clearly beat you to death back then. You did not leave any sign of life at all. How did you do it?”
“You’re one to bring it up!” Sorokin dodged another magic missile that had more than enough power to penetrate a planet. Veins popped up on his forehead as he was reminded of what happened in the past.
Back then, his physical body had lost its life, and he had indeed been on the brink of death. The strong sense of frustration and hate in his mind had pushed his potential to explode, causing his Esper Ability to evolve. In the last moment, he had acquired the [Immortal Soul] ability. Otherwise, he would have died during the exploration era war along with his physical body.
This time, Oathkeeper thought of something and suddenly started to doubt his thoughts on the spy.
From the way it looked, it does not look like Sorokin knew about us long ago. Is he not related to the leak of the organization’s information in the past?
“I didn’t expect you to be Soul Emperor from back then. You’ve hidden yourself really well… How did you find us?”
“I was just trying to retrieve Soul Flame and followed my senses. I didn’t know about you guys at all.” Sorokin clenched his teeth. “Stop attacking, let me go!”
Oathkeeper recalled what happened earlier and believed Sorokin mostly, but he still shook his head.
“It doesn’t matter if you knew before or not. You’ve found our secret today, so there’s no leaving. We’re all people from the same generation. We can have a good chat… but that’ll be after you lose the ability to resist. Stop resisting. There’s absolutely zero chance you can escape, so why prolong your suffering?”
The others nodded in agreement. Most of them did not intend to kill Sorokin right there. After all, they knew him from the old era, and they all wanted to hear Sorokin’s experience in the past years.
Bang!
This time, Sorokin’s face got punched by Pangon again, blasting him away flying. He forced himself to stay focused and observe the battlefield. His heart kept sinking.
Dozens of Beyond Grade As formed an encirclement. He had no chance of breaking through it head-on at all. In terms of mobility, as a mind Esper, he was no match for the teleportation spell of a Mage. There was absolutely no way he could escape.
Is this really going to be the end for this shell I’ve spent so much effort raising? I was supposed to use it against Black Star, but I haven’t even seen Black Star’s face yet!
Although Sorokin was confident to a certain extent that he would not die there because of his Esper Ability, he did not want to take the risk if he could save his body too. After all, he had already faked his death before; these people would definitely be more careful.
How many years has it been since I was last in such a desperate situation‽ I’m still not ‘cowardly’ enough. If I knew I’d end up poking the hornet nest, why did I think about killing Black Star? Isn’t just retiring quietly so much better‽
Sorokin was filled with regret.
“What, still not surrendering?” Beiger snorted. “Don’t think just because we know each other, I won’t kill you. I’ve killed you once, and I can kill you again!”
Suddenly, it occurred to Sorokin. Memories deeply buried in his mind surfaced.
“I remember now! Holy Accord, you guys are the Holy Accord!”
The memories of the exploration era became vivid again. Sorokin had heard of the Holy Accord back then but scoffed at it and did not join.
As so much time had passed and Primordial Ones died one after another, he thought that secret-association-like Holy Accord organization had long disappeared.
When he just saw the dozens of Beyond Grade As, he was too shocked and occupied with fleeing, so he did not think of this at all. However, when he tried to find a way to escape earlier, his mind had spun rapidly, and he finally recalled this ‘rumor’ that once circulated around the Primordial Ones during the exploration era.
Therefore…
“Reviving using the Sanctums is real‽ You guys succeeded‽”
Sorokin’s expression changed drastically. His tone was filled with disbelief.
If they came back by being revived, everything would make sense. He never thought such a rumor with absolutely no proof or whatsoever would be true!
Seeing that Sorokin had figured out the truth, everyone present was surprised.
Soul Emperor was in the same generation as them, so it was not impossible for him to figure it out. However, although they were already mentally prepared for that, the moment their secret was exposed, they were still shocked.
At this time, bolts of lightning crisscrossed in Sorokin’s mind and connected everything he had just experienced. A plan quickly appeared in his mind, followed by joy, as if he had seen light in a dark cave. He found the only hope he had of escaping!
The Holy Accord was so secretive definitely because they did not want the information about the Sanctum to leak, this was the only leverage he could use—he would only have a chance if he bet on these people being afraid of leaking this secret!
While thoughts flashed through his mind, Sorokin yelled without hesitation, “You guys have been hiding and protecting the secret of the Sanctums, but you guys definitely remember that I can possess others with my ability. Yes, I can’t escape from this encirclement today, but before you guys kill me, I have the time to control my manifestations in other Star Fields to spread out the information about the Sanctums! Stop this immediately if you don’t want your secret to be leaked, or I will share this information with everyone right now!”
As soon as he said that, the others’ expressions changed, and they slowed down their attacks subconsciously. They turned to look at Oathkeeper.”
“… Are you threatening us?” Oathkeeper’s eyes flickered.
“You’re leaving me no choice; I just want to live!” Sorokin wiped away the blood on his forehead. Although he had no confidence, he could only act firm. “You’re the master of Soul Flame. You can try to see if you can stop me, but can you deal with the consequences? It’s better if I’m the only one who knows this secret than the entire universe finding out about it,” Sorokin said.
Oathkeeper sized Sorokin up for a while silently. As the atmosphere kept getting more intense, he suddenly raised his hand, signaling for the others to stop attacking. “All of you, stop.”
As soon as he said that, the others stopped attacking but still surrounded Sorokin with hostile expressions, not letting him escape.
This indeed hit Oathkeeper’s weak spot. He knew what exposing the information about the Sanctum would mean. Comparatively, Sorokin’s life was insignificant.
Oathkeeper was an expert in the mind too, but he did not have complete confidence he could stop Sorokin from activating his Esper Ability to control his manifestations. God knew what new abilities this guy learned after living for so long.
Oathkeeper did not want to push Sorokin too hard and force him into a corner. He planned to take it slow and see how things went.
1242 Sorokin's Bizarre Adventure 3
Although the duration of the battle was not long, the strength difference was too huge. He was crushed by dozens of people the entire time and was quite heavily wounded. An ordinary Beyond Grade A would have been done for long ago.
Luckily, he had a flash of insight and found the Holy Accord’s weak spot. Just knowing their weak spot was not enough; he had to be able to use it as a leverage and only an extremely few people in the entire universe could do that. Sorokin was one of them. No one knew how many manifestations he had and where they were hidden.
Furthermore, they were not sure of what method Sorokin used to fake his death, so they did not dare do anything impulsive.
This time, Sorokin endured the pain all over his body, suppressed his annoyance, and put up a stiff smile.
“Ahem, ahem. See, this is much better. We all know each other. We should use a peaceful method to solve our misunderstandings. There’s no need to resort to violence.”
Oathkeeper hovered in space and said, “What ideas do you have?”
Sorokin’s mind spun quickly. “We can totally work together.”
“Work together?” Oathkeeper sized Sorokin up.
“That’s right. We’re all from the old era. The conflicts we had in the past have dissipated with time. We’re not enemies now. Today was just a misunderstanding. My goal is actually just Soul Flame, but I coincidentally discovered your secret. The biggest issue between us is that you guys don’t trust me. You’re worried that I, an outsider, will leak your information, so you want to capture me…”
Sorokin had calmed down, and using his magical mouth trained through his business experience over many years, he started negotiating.
He observed everyone’s expression, paused, and continued. “However, you guys can’t stop me from leaking your information now, and I’m also worried you might do something to me. We both have worries. Therefore, working together is the best choice for all of us. If we can peacefully come to an agreement, we can avoid escalating the situation that’ll do neither of us any good.”
“How do you want to work together?” Oathkeeper narrowed his eyes.
Sorokin smiled. “Simple. You guys are worried about me leaking the secret, so you don’t trust me enough to let me roam outside. Therefore, you might as well let me join the Holy Accord and make me one of you. Then, isn’t the problem solved?”
His core mindset was very simple. If he could not defeat them, join them!
This was not just a temporary plan to save his life but a carefully thought-out plan. Although what he experienced this time threatened his life, when he carefully thought about it, it might just be an incredible opportunity to explore the secrets of the universe.
He already planned to give up the identity of ‘Sorokin’ and was originally planning to go to the secondary dimensions and retire for some time. However, from the way things looked now, the Holy Accord organization might be a better place to go. Not only was there a group of familiar faces, but they also seemed to be carrying out some kind of big plan. Plus, if he stayed there, he could even convince the outside world that he had been revived.
After the initial shock, Sorokin had a strong interest in the Sanctums. Another of his goals was to reduce the number of Beyond Grade As in the universe. Now that he had realized that Beyond Grade As could be revived, he would not be able to sleep and eat well before he figured out how it happened.
At the same time, Sorokin inevitably felt bitter. Originally, he thought most Primordial Ones had disappeared, and he was the only one who had stayed alive till now. Although he never mentioned it, he actually had a sense of superiority in his heart, thinking that he was the only one who got the last laugh among all the Primordial Ones in the same generation.
However, now that he saw a big group of Primordial Ones still alive, his sense of superiority disappeared, and he was left with only bitterness. That was especially so when he thought of how he hid his identity and carefully lived all these years in the past. He could not help but feel jealous and envious of these revivors, which made him even more interested in the Sanctums.
“You want to join the Holy Accord?”
The others were surprised. The expressions on their faces became odd.
You didn’t contribute anything, yet you want to take a bite off our fruit of victory?
Why is your dream so ambitious?
After so many years, how did that cold and powerful Soul Emperor in their memories become so smooth?
Oathkeeper frowned and pondered silently. It seemed like he was having difficulties making a choice.
Seeing this, Sorokin added, “Frankly, I was just planning to retire. If the Holy Accord is willing to accept me, I won’t come empty handed. You guys should know that I’m the owner of the Limitless Financial Group. I can bring Holy Accord a huge amount of funds. You’ll need money no matter what you’re planning, right?”
He had eyes on the secret of reviving through the Sanctums too, so he was willing to pay a high price to join the Holy Accord. If he could also enjoy this privilege, his life would be insured.
Hearing this, Oathkeeper said, “The risk of letting an outsider join us is not controllable. You hid your strength so well, and we don’t know much about you. It’s very tough for us to trust you.”
“I understand your worries, but I’m really sincere. As for what you said about me being an outsider, I don’t think that’s true.” Sorokin smiled. “We all know each other and each other’s personality to a certain extent, we don’t lack the foundation of trust.”
Beiger suddenly shook his head and said, “No, we never hung out and are not close.”
Fu*k you! You even ‘hung’ me to death back then!
Sorokin wanted to cuss but still maintained a smile.
Oathkeeper slowly said, “So many years have passed; you’ve definitely changed your identity more than once. How do we know how much you’ve changed?”
Hearing this, Sorokin became silent, which was rare. Then, he shook his head and said, “Everyone has secrets. No matter what I experienced in the past, I’m just Sorokin now.”
He did not want to expose the information of his other identities. The identities of Soul Emperor and Sorokin were still considered clean, but he had done many not-so-clean things with his other identities. If he shared this information, it would become new leverage. Hence, he refused to say what identities he used before, expressing his firmness to a suitable extent, reminding the opposite party that their positions were equal in this negotiation.
Oathkeeper thought about it, changed the question, and asked, “Let’s put this matter aside first. Let me ask you, you say you can sense Soul Flame, but you have not done it in so many years—why are you suddenly trying to find Soul Flame? We can’t believe what you say if you don’t explain this.”
Sorokin hesitated for a moment and said, “Actually, I’ve come across a very strong enemy. In order to fight him, I have to retrieve Soul Flame and increase my strength as much as possible.”
“Who’s that strong enemy?”
“Black Star!”
As soon as he said that, everyone’s heart shook, but they hastily controlled their expressions and did not expose themselves.
Oathkeeper suppressed the shock in his heart, acted confused, and said, “Black Star? I know this guy. He only rose in the past few decades and seems to be among the strongest in the universe. It’s said that his full strength is unfathomable. How did you get into trouble with him?”
When this was brought up, Sorokin’s expression turned gloomy.
“He figured out my identity and came to blackmail me. I decided not to escalate the issue, accepted his request, and partnered with him in businesses at a loss, hoping to fill his appetite so he won’t expose me. But that *sshole is too much. He took my money and still wanted to expose my identity, plotting against me behind my back. If I don’t teach him a lesson, he’s really going to think I can be easily bullied!”
This time, Sorokin’s rage was not fake but his real emotions. It was as if he could not live with Black Star being alive and would grab tightly onto any opportunity to kill Black Star.
“So, this is why you wanted to abandon your current identity and retire?” Seeing that Sorokin’s expressions were sincere, Oathkeeper pondered.
“That’s right. I don’t want the three Universal Civilizations to pay attention to me. He forced me to abandon the organization I’ve spent years building,” Sorokin said with a hateful tone.
His hostility toward Han Xiao was extremely strong. Earlier, he even thought of threatening to leak their secret to make the Holy Accord organization help him kill Black Star. With such an unexpected and overwhelmingly strong force, he definitely could get Black Star by surprise.
However, after thinking about it carefully, he had given up on this thought. After all, Black Star had the King suit and would not be trapped. Also, threatening them would definitely make Holy Accord unhappy, and they might not let him join them.
Compared to the secret of the Sanctums, dealing with Black Star did not seem that significant. Therefore, Sorokin did not want to lose the opportunity of finding out about the Sanctum because of something less significant. Furthermore, he had already learned a lesson from what happened today—since he chose to be a coward, he should be a total coward!
Hence, Sorokin did not want to make things more complicated. With the big secret of the Holy Accord opportunity, he decided to abandon the plan of targeting Black Star and retired peacefully. Anyway, he felt that he would always get a better opportunity in the future to make Black Star pay for what he did to him.
Oathkeeper narrowed his eyes and suddenly said, “If you’re targeted by Black Star, this is a risk for us too. If we take you in, Black Star might find our location one day by tracking you, leading to us being exposed like today.”
Sorokin quickly said, “That won’t happen. Black Star is not very obsessed with me personally; he just wants my money and assets. You guys don’t know, but that guy is endlessly greedy, domineering, ambitious, slippery, shady, and extremely shameless… His goal is to take over the Limitless Financial Group’s assets.”
Damn, if not because we made contact with Black Star before, we might have really believed in your nonsense.
… But you’re right about him being shameless.
Oathkeeper rolled his eyes in his mind, acted serious, and said, “That’s just your speculation. You can’t ensure Black Star won’t do anything. If you want to join the Holy Accord, it’s best to solve this problem first.”
Sorokin was frustrated inside. He was already planning to cancel this plan, but to his surprise Holy Accord actively wanted to force him to target Black Star instead.
However, from his perspective, Oathkeeper’s worry was totally sensible and logical. Sorokin did not find it strange.
“Honestly, I’m not very confident about fighting Black Star alone. He’s too strong…” Sorokin said with resignation.
Oathkeeper gave him a glare and said, “What, are you asking us to help? Don’t cross the line! If you think you can threaten us just because you have some leverage on your hands, we’ll eliminate you even at the risk of exposing our secret.”
He used a strong and firm attitude so that Sorokin would not suspect Holy Accord and Black Star were connected.
“What do you want to do then?” Sorokin asked. He felt that since Oathkeeper had said so many things, there was no way he was still thinking of resorting to such an extreme solution.
Oathkeeper narrowed his eyes and suddenly said with a gentler tone, “Anyway, you can’t leave now. We have to ensure your original body is in our sights. However, we won’t do anything to you. This is just an insurance measure to prevent you from leaking the secret. As for your request to join the Holy Accord… we’ll have to consider it, weigh the pros and cons.”
The other Holy Accord members all understood Oathkeeper’s intention to take a step back from what he said. They had varied expressions.
“What, are we really going to take him in?” Beiger deliberately acted surprised.
“That is one option. If not, are we really going to let him leak the information?” Oathkeeper turned and glanced at him. He then scanned through everyone and secretly gave them a look. He then turned back to Sorokin and said, “This is my condition. If you don’t accept it, there’s nothing more to talk about.”
Sorokin considered it for a while and realized that he did not have much of a choice. This was already a decent result. Hence, he exhaled and slowly nodded.
“Okay, I agree with your terms. I’m willing to stay under your control temporarily, but you guys can’t secretly set up traps to seal soul energy. Although that doesn’t work much against me, if you guys show signs of doing it, I’ll see it as you guys being insincere about this partnership. I’ll consider our agreement invalid and immediately have my manifestation leak your secret.”
“Okay.” Oathkeeper nodded.
As the two sides came to an agreement, the atmosphere calmed down.
The people approached Sorokin and escorted him toward the Holy Accord’s fleet, planning to monitor this guy every second as a new entertainment other than playing cards.
Sorokin obediently let them take him away. He discreetly wiped away his cold sweat, felt that this experience was like a dream and was glad.
“Luckily, I’m convincing enough to earn a chance…”
After the others went away, Oathkeeper was relieved too. He was also planning to keep Sorokin stable first.
Actually, to Oathkeeper, if Sorokin was sincere about joining them, taking him in was not an issue. They had nothing against each other, plus, they were from the same generation and had common topics, and it would prevent Sorokin from leaking their secret.
Holy Accord was not a subsidiary organization of someone else, so there was actually no need to report to Black Star when recruiting a new member. However, Oathkeeper felt it was still better to tell Black Star about this.
After all, Sorokin and Black Star had conflicts, and Oathkeeper was more on Han Xiao’s side in his heart. To him, the Black Star Army was a more important partner.
Having thought of that, Oathkeeper closed his eyes and secretly used his soul projection to contact Han Xiao.
…
Oathkeeper’s soul projection appeared In Han Xiao’s office and saw the person who was dealing with a pile of documents in his seat right away.
Noticing Oathkeeper’s arrival, Han Xiao looked up and smiled.
“Yo, Oath, what a rare guest.”
Oathkeeper, however, had no intention to chit chat. He said with a deep voice, “Black Star, an emergency situation just happened, and I felt I needed to tell you about it. This might severely impact our plan.”
“Tell me then. I didn’t cover your mouth.” Han Xiao was not nervous at all and joked.
“Just earlier, Sorokin found us…”
Oathkeeper described everything that had happened without leaving any details.
“What? I thought my luck was trash enough. I didn’t think yours would also be not much better.”
Han Xiao laughed right away. He did not expect Sorokin to be so brave to break into this nursing home.
“How are you still laughing!” Oathkeeper was annoyed. “What do you think we should do about this? If you don’t have any suggestion, I’m really going to take him into the Holy Accord!”
“Aiyo, don’t be in such a rush. Isn’t this very easy to solve?” Han Xiao casually waved.
“What ideas do you have?”
“You’ve mistaken the situation, which is understandable given how much it concerns you.” Han Xiao rested his chin on his hands. “You’re worried that he’ll leak your information, but he doesn’t know my connection with you guys. Therefore, in his eyes, leaking your information is only a threat to the Holy Accord organization, not to me. If you think about it from another perspective, you’ll realize that this is good news for me.”
“You’re saying…” Oathkeeper had a rough idea.
“I never had the chance to secretly attack him. Now, however, you guys have helped me to trap the prey and even indirectly created a secret execution ground. Furthermore, Sorokin has no idea that the leverage he has is also effective on me. All it takes is for us to put on a show, and the problem will be solved. This is the reason for our partnership to exist, basically…”
Han Xiao smiled faintly. A Mark of the Underworld on the back of his palm flickered slightly.
“He’s gone.”
1243 Holy Accord: We Are Serious About Acting!
Sorokin sat on a small chair in the middle and watched them play cards, giving suggestions from time to time, not acting like an outsider at all.
This time, the door opened. Oathkeeper walked in, and the noise in the room suddenly disappeared. Everyone, including Sorokin, looked over.
Oathkeeper looked around, stopped at Sorokin, and said with a deep voice, “I’ve considered it over the past two days. I’ll accept you into the Holy Accord.”
Joy appeared on Sorokin’s face. Just as he was about to speak, Oathkeeper stopped him and added, “But before that, you have to resolve your conflict with Black Star. I don’t want you to bring problems to the organization.”
Hearing this, Sorokin’s expression turned serious. “What ideas do you have?”
Oathkeeper slowly said, “First, we have to test the risk, which is how persistent Black Star is about killing you. Therefore, we’ll use your location as bait and see if Black Star chases after it.”
“How do we do that exactly?”
Oathkeeper opened the star map, pointed at a transit hub planet in the Ancient Star Desert, and said, “We’ll find a way to spread rumors saying you’ve passed by Planet Deere recently, then set up surveillance to see how Black Star reacts to it. If his men come right away to investigate, it means he’s indeed hunting you. If Black Star invades Planet Deere’s node using Virtual Intrusion, our men will discover it too… To show our sincerity in working together, we’ll share the situation reflected by the surveillance with you.”
Sorokin thought about it for a moment and agreed with this plan. Although he did not think Black Star would be hunting him, faking his whereabouts would not threaten his safety, so he had no objections. Instead, he was quite impressed by how cautious Oathkeeper was. It suited his taste.
From his perspective, he could totally just retire and not do anything, but Holy Accord was not going to agree with that. They were worried Black Star might find them just like he did. Therefore, they actively wanted to remove the hidden threat. He could not make the decision for the Holy Accord, so he could only cooperate.
“If Beiger is really hunting him, what do we do?” Beiger added.
“Then, there’ll only be two ways to solve this problem.” Oathkeeper looked at Sorokin, acted like he was troubled, and said, “Either we erase Black Star, or you fake your death to deceive Black Star.”
“That makes sense,” Beiger added. “Black Star will only give up hunting him if he thinks he’s dead. After all, the dead don’t speak. Anyway, Sorokin knows how to fake his death; he can just do it again.”
Sorokin felt this was logical and nodded. However, thinking about it, he said with a reluctant tone, “But that’s too risky. Black Star knows my identity, so he’ll definitely be wary about me faking my death. I’m worried that if he discovers it, I’ll really be dead…”
Oathkeeper shook his head. “Honestly, that’s even more convincing. We have the Sanctums, so if you really die, we can revive you. Not only will the threat be eliminated that way, but you’ll really become one of us.”
Sorokin laughed awkwardly. “I’d rather pass on that. Plus, he has the Spacetime Amber. I’m worried he might seal me up…”
It sounded like a good plan, but how could he trust the Holy Accord? What if they did not revive him after he died?
Oathkeeper frowned and said with a displeased tone, “This plan has the lowest risk and highest success rate. In the end, you say you want to join the Holy Accord, but you don’t see us as being on your side.”
“I’m really very sincere about joining the Holy Accord, but trust needs to be developed over time…”
Sorokin looked troubled but complained inside.
This plan means you guys are only bearing the minimum risk. Basically, you don’t have to do anything at all. The problem will be solved regardless of whether I’m really dead or not…
Conversely, fighting Black Star was very risky for Holy Accord but much less risky for him, so of course, he favored this plan more.
“Humph, so you’re still forcing us to help you to kill Black Star.” Violet Queen snorted.
Sorokin had nothing to say.
“… We’ll talk about it when the time comes. Let’s see if Black Star responds to the fake information first.”
Oathkeeper purposely glanced at Sorokin with dissatisfaction. He did not say much and left.
Not long later, through secret channels, the intelligence that Sorokin passed by Planet Deere got spread out. At the same time, the Holy Accord organization set up many men on Planet Deere for surveillance.
Time passed day by day, and the information got spread further. As they did not know if Black Star had received the news yet, they could only wait and stare at the surveillance screens all day.
As this involved him personally, Sorokin was most concerned about it. He stared at the screens every second.
After almost ten days, the Holy Accord organization finally got the intelligence that one fleet from the Ancient Star Desert subdivision of the Black Star Army had arrived on Planet Deere and was searching for Sorokin’s information on the planet.
…
“The situation is very clear. Black Star is indeed hunting you closely. You’ve brought us risk!”
In the remote surveillance room, Oathkeeper glared at Sorokin, his tone very displeased.
Sorokin did not reply. He looked extremely frustrated, and his heart sank.
He could not oppose this solid proof; he did not expect Black Star to want to kill him so much that he was hunting him secretly.
So, this guy not only wants my money but even my life!
What an evil man!
F*ck, although I tricked you several times in the past, I’ve already paid the price for that! Black Star, why do you want me dead so much‽
This time, Oathkeeper said with a deep voice, “You really are not willing to fake your death to fool Black Star?”
“No.” Sorokin shook his head without hesitation.
Oathkeeper looked distressed. He walked back and forth, annoyed, as if he was hesitating.
After quite some time, he spoke reluctantly like he had finally made a difficult situation.
“Since that’s the case, we can only eliminate Black Star!”
As soon as he said that, the other Primordial Ones were instantly ‘appalled’ and expressed their strong objection.
“We have no conflict with Black Star. Why should we mess with such a strong enemy just for Sorokin?”
“Wouldn’t fighting Black Star also leak our existence?”
“This guy is just threatening us. Don’t fall for it!”
The elevated emotions of everyone startled Sorokin. He did not dare express his opinion.
“Stop!” Oathkeeper argued with them for a bit. He then raised his voice and said firmly, “There’ll be no next time!”
Then, he glared at Sorokin and coldly said, “Are you satisfied now?”
“Nonsense, I’m not the one forcing you guys to deal with Black Star. This is your decision. I’d rather ignore him.” Sorokin sighed and expressed this was not his fault.
He was originally not planning to threaten the Holy Accord organization to fight Black Star because he would offend them that way. However, he was not the one making the choice.
In his position, he could not change their stubborn opinions and convince the Holy Accord to ignore Black Star. It was like someone who owed loan sharks a lot of money and took refuge in someone else’s home, not only causing them trouble, but also attempting to convince them to put up with the loan sharks’ harassment… Even Sorokin felt that was a little bit shameless.
Oathkeeper snorted and said slowly, “All and all, you brought the trouble, so you’ll have to solve it. Since Black Star is hunting you, you’ll be the bait to lure him into the trap.”
“Alone?” Sorokin asked.
“Of course, three of us will accompany you, both to prevent you from escaping and to help you fight Black Star.” Oathkeeper shook his head. “As for the rest of us, we’ll set up an ambush far away and join the battle when the time is right.”
“Will that even work? Black Star has the King suit and is not afraid of being outnumbered,” Beiger added, displaying his expertise as an actor.
“Don’t worry, Black Star will never expect there to be dozens of us, and that’s our biggest advantage! The trap set up by Sorokin will only have four people. It’s only our first measure but will seem like the whole ambush to Black Star. With Black Star’s strength, he’s unlikely to flee against four people and will definitely try to fight. Therefore, the team with Sorokin’s mission will be to stall Black Star.” Oathkeeper’s tone sounded like this was real.
“Then?”
“Try to create an opportunity, of course! The dozens of us will be accumulating energy. As long as you can temporarily control Black Star and make him not have the time to use the King suit, Sorokin, we’ll charge right in with Beiger’s teleportation spell, attacking him all at the same time, while having those who excel in the soul territory try to heavily damage Black Star’s soul!”
Oathkeeper’s tone was very firm and filled with confidence. Even he almost believed it.
Sorokin analyzed the plan and felt that the success rate was much higher than for him to act alone.
He believed that as long as Black Star did not use the Spacetime Amber to guard against the attacks, even he would most likely not be able to endure the focus fire of dozens of Beyond Grade As.
Although Soul Flame was not in his hands, Oathkeeper could use it all the same. Furthermore, there were not just the two of them who excelled in the soul territory in the Holy Accord organization, which made Sorokin feel there was an even higher chance of succeeding.
“This plan should work. The success rate is probably above seventy percent. The entire galactic society practically sees Black Star as a god, but he definitely has limits no matter how strong he is.”
Sorokin was relieved and expressed his support for the plan.
Seeing that the fish had bitten the bit, knowing the ways of fishing very well, Oathkeeper said with a warning tone and a deep voice, “Don’t be glad so soon. You’d best pray this plan succeeds. Otherwise, if Black Star escapes, he’ll definitely leak our information too. Then, your leverage will be meaningless, and I’ll hold you responsible for it. You can make a guess on what we’ll do to you… Therefore, for your own sake too, you’d better give your all in this mission!”
Hearing this, Sorokin’s expression turned serious, and he nodded firmly.
…
Half a month later, in a certain desolate universe belt of the Ancient Star Desert, a small spaceship hovered. There were only four people in the spaceship—Sorokin, Beiger, and two other Beyond Grade As.
Beiger stood with his arms crossed. He glanced at Sorokin who was beside and said with an unsatisfied tone, “Tsk, I never thought I’d have to fight alongside you one day. Unlucky.”
“Tsk, you think I’m happy to see your face?” Sorokin snorted. He did not want to argue with him. He changed the topic and said, “It’s been so long—will Black Star really come?”
“Who knows? We’ve already sent the coordinates out; it all depends on how strong his love for you is,” Beiger joked.
Sorokin was about to strike back when an unwelcome guest entered the range of his senses. His expression changed immediately.
“Someone’s here.”
The other three sensed it too and became silent. They looked in the direction of the presence they felt outside the porthole.
After a while, an asteroid approached extremely quickly. It seemed to have noticed the four of them too. It stopped not far away, and a familiar face appeared.
“It’s Black Star! He’s really here!”
Sorokin’s expression turned grave. He flew out of the cabin and stood opposite Han Xiao. Beiger and the other two followed along.
Han Xiao scanned through the few of them and laughed in the public channel.
“Yoho, I see, you deliberately leaked your coordinates to lure me into a trap, huh? So, the information about your whereabouts some time ago was fake information you made up and spread purposely… Hehe, I don’t know where you got the help from, but Sorokin, oh Sorokin, aren’t you underestimating me too much, daring to attack me with just four people?”
“Black Star, I didn’t expect you to be so persistent in chasing me. You’re too much! Don’t blame me. You left me no choice!”
This was what Sorokin was most irritated by. From the way he looked at it, he was the one who incurred much larger losses, yet Black Star hunted him nonstop. It was too excessive.
“Sorry, I’m not a forgiving person. You’ve plotted against me one too many times. There’ll be quite a number of problems with letting you escape. Therefore, it’s better for you to live inside my Spacetime Amber suite, safe and sound.”
While speaking in the public channel, Han Xiao glanced at Beiger and the other two with mockery in his eyes.
There were only five people there and supposedly two sides, but there were three group chats. One was the public channel, and another was the temporary combat group chat Sorokin, Beiger, and the other two were in.
The third was the ‘actor’ group chat that Han Xiao, Beiger, the other two Beyond Grade As, and all the Holy Accord members ambushing far away were in. Basically, everyone except Sorokin.
“Do it!”
Sorokin did not want to bullsh*t with Han Xiao and attacked right away while also telling Beiger and the other two to attack together.
Seeing how much of a hurry Sorokin was in, everyone was laughing out loud nonstop in the actor group.
“He’s getting impatient…”
“Hahaha, why do I suddenly feel pitiful for him?”
“It’s so tragic. I can hardly watch.”
“You’d better take a few more looks. I’m afraid we’ll never see him again…”
The people joked around. The actor group chat was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
“Stop it. We’re in the middle of a performance. Be serious about it,” Han Xiao said while laughing. He summoned his mechanical army and charged into Sorokin’s attacks.
Beiger and the other two hastily joined the battle. They did their best not to burst into laughter and fought alongside Sorokin as if they were really on his side.
The battle broke up instantly. The energy left by the five of them left scorch marks in space.
The opportunity only existed for the blink of an eye. If they could not annihilate Sorokin instantly, this guy would still have time to leak the information. Now was not the time yet, so the Holy Accord was still performing for Sorokin.
Sorokin thought victory was in his hands and focused entirely on fighting Han Xiao. However, what he did not know was that the teammates he had high hopes in were all actors ready to backstab him any second.
1244 Suppressed
The battle looked ferocious, but Sorokin was actually the only one fighting for real. His three teammates only used about sixty percent of their strength, and Han Xiao was slowly accumulating bonuses.
Beiger could clearly feel that the attacks of Han Xiao’s army were several levels weaker than the last time and not as pressurizing as before. He instantly understood that Han Xiao was also holding back.
Han Xiao’s strength had rocketed recently. In order to let Sorokin still have hope, he deliberately decreased the damage output of the army to only slightly stronger than the last time he showed his strength in public, creating a situation where both sides were on par.
He was not worried about Sorokin finding out—the two of them had never fought before, so Sorokin’s judgement of his strength all came from the information on the internet. Since he had never experienced it for himself, he did not have a clear understanding of how strong Han Xiao was. Han Xiao just had to display about the same amount of strength as the information available to the public said he had, and Sorokin would think it was his actual strength.
Sorokin was indeed quite strong. His soul Esper Ability was very tough to deal with, applying all kinds of debuffs on Han Xiao. Han Xiao did not activate [Kunde Rage] and [Thousand Soul Stream] for the time being, so it was not a breeze for him either. Putting other things aside, Han Xiao estimated that this guy’s Energy Rank was above 90,000, undoubtedly in the top tier of the universe.
Sadly, this guy is fragile.
Han Xiao curled his lips in his mind. No matter how incredible the fragile individuals were in terms of combat, they had limits—only tanks had an infinite future.
Sorokin’s body was weaker than the average of those around the same Energy Rank as him, but destroying his physical body would not kill him. With [Immortal Soul], [Spiritual Energy Foundation], and other talents, Sorokin’s soul was the foundation of his life. His soul could live without a physical body.
Furthermore, Sorokin had the [Fleshly Body Reconstruction] ability. He did not have to infest or take over another’s body like Psychics; he could build a new shell for himself with his soul energy any time. To him, physical bodies were just replaceable vessels for his soul; his soul was his original body.
Through the introduction of [Immortal Soul] on the interface, Han Xiao knew that Sorokin was immune to physical attacks when in the soul state, while also having very high resistances, it was very difficult to deal with. Destroying his physical body would only lead to Sorokin entering his ‘second phase’.
For that, the trump card he had prepared was the Mark of The Underworld. The Underworld at its peak had a special restraining effect on all souls; it was the arch enemy of souls.
Han Xiao’ goal was to find an opportunity to destroy Sorokin’s physical body in the blink of an eye, force his soul to be isolated, drag his soul right into the Underworld, and have the experts inside send him up happily.
Meanwhile, Sorokin was also making plans in his mind.
Black Star’s strength is about the same as what I predicted. He’s indeed strong but not as exaggerated as the rumors say. With this level of strength he has, the success rate of this ambush is higher than planned.
Sorokin felt confident.
Remaining in the passive situation was very disadvantageous for him. Although he had found the Holy Accord’s weak spot, his safety was still in their hands. This leverage would only be much more useful once he escaped the Holy Accord’s control, or it would only keep him alive and nothing else… The Holy Accord organization indeed did not want to be exposed, but even if they were exposed, they would only get in trouble while he would almost certainly be dead. The scale was unbalanced, so there was not much room for negotiation.
He felt an opportunity to escape might appear the moment the ambush succeeded. However, as a soul Esper, his mobility was awful, and his odds of escaping were too low.
I shall follow the plan and find a chance to capture Black Star first, then improvise from there.
Sorokin focused his thoughts, pressed between his eyes, and sent another few hundred soul energy attacks right toward Han Xiao.
The five of them were all waiting for a chance.
The battle went back and forth for quite some time when, suddenly, Han Xiao’s movements became stiff as if he had endured too many soul energy attacks.
“Now!”
Before Sorokin spoke, Beiger suddenly yelled in the group chat and took over the heavy responsibility of setting the tempo.
Intense magic energy erupted from all over his body. Control type spells he had been preparing all this time flew out rapidly and all landed on Han Xiao.
The other Beyond Grade As followed instantly and threw out all their control type abilities together.
Ohm!
Energy of all colors and forms tangled around him, seemingly fixing him in midair, unable to move.
Seeing the opportunity, Sorokin followed up right away. With his eyes wide open, energy shockwaves that almost materialized were launched rapidly one after another, penetrating Han Xiao’s body, instantly applying all kinds of debuffs on him.
The next moment, Beiger raised his hand. A teleportation circle appeared on the battlefield, and dozens of Beyond Grade As swarmed out instantly, all holding onto charged attacks prepared long ago, ready to launch them at Han Xiao.
However, at this time, Han Xiao’s body shook. He seemingly used some kind of ability to escape from all the control abilities.
He actually did not do anything; Beiger and the other two secretly deactivated their abilities.
As for Sorokin’s abilities, he gained immunity to the tons of debuffs by activating [Kunde Rage] in advance and was not affected at all.
Even the opportunity was sold by Han Xiao; Beiger only cooperated following the script discussed in the actors group chat and made Sorokin mistakenly think the opportunity had come when it was actually Han Xiao’s signal.
The sudden change happened in a fraction of a second. Before Sorokin could react, Han Xiao immediately used Void Hyperdrive after he was freed and appeared right before Sorokin. He then pressed Sorokin into his wide arms.
“You…”
Shock appeared on Sorokin’s face. It was as if a huge red “DANGER” appeared above his head.
Before he finished his sentence, the dozens of Beyond Grade As attacked the two of them instantly!
The mechanical army also turned to fire at the two of them, this time, at full output!
Han Xiao activated all his explosive abilities directly followed by Virtual Soul to restrain Sorokin. The two of them stood still and watched countless attacks approaching rapidly.
The next second, the two of them were submerged by a blinding light.
Hong!
The attacks turned into a cluster of rapidly expanding energy, sweeping in all directions. The horrifying energy almost robbed the senses of everyone present, and all they could see was white.
Hu!
The cluster of light expanded to the maximum and exploded abruptly. The energy shockwave erupted from the center and blew away everything around.
The light dissipated quickly. Han Xiao was the only one left, covered in wounds that were gushing blood nonstop like a water bag with dozens of holes. He was clearly severely injured.
The attacks of dozens of Beyond Grade As’ trump cards and the mechanical army dealt the most terrifying amount of damage to Han Xiao he had ever experienced. The [Perfect Energy Affinity Physique] and [Proof of Leadership] were the reasons he survived. Plus, Han Xiao wore the ‘Defense Gear’ of the Black King series. Though already completely shattered, it still blocked tons of damage. Otherwise, he might have had to use the revive token.
As for Sorokin, his physical body had been blown to atoms in the explosion.
Someone else would have completely died in this situation, but for Sorokin, this was only him entering his second phase!
Streams of light suddenly illuminated in front of Han Xiao, forming a glowing green energy entity with Sorokin’s appearance.
At the same time, a mind message sounded in Han Xiao’s mind.
“The attack worked… Looks like your Indestructible Body isn’t really eternally indestructible.”
Sorokin was secretly glad.
Luckily, the foundation of his survival was not his physical body. When his soul separated from his body, there was a moment his soul was in the phased invincible state, or that round of attacks would also have heavily damaged him. As for now, his soul was at the peak state.
One more round and Black Star will definitely be dead!
Without hesitation, Sorokin launched a chain of soul shockwaves onto Han Xiao, attempting to stop Han Xiao from escaping with the King.
Then, he backed away immediately through Han Xiao’s arms, planning to increase the distance between the two of them. At the same time, he yelled in the mission channel for others to use this opportunity to launch another round of attacks.
However, as Sorokin was about to back off, Han Xiao raised and shoved his hand into Sorokin’s soul. The Mark of The Underworld on the back of his palm instantly lit up, and an astonishingly strong absorption force erupted from it.
“What is this‽”
Sorokin was stunned. This mark felt like a vortex. His soul suddenly went out of his control. Before he could do anything, an irresistible force dragged him inside.
“I got him!” Han Xiao spit out a mouth of boiling blood and grinned.
These changes seemed like they had taken a very long time to occur, when actually it all happened in an extremely short amount of time. If not because all of the Holy Accord cooperated and held back, he would not have been able to defeat Sorokin so easily.
However, only half of the plan succeeded. The problem was not yet completely solved.
“Follow me!”
Han Xiao put on the King while at the same time throwing out a few extras at Oathkeeper and a few other Beyond Grade As who were experts in the soul territory.
The mechanical suit latched onto them automatically. The next moment, Han Xiao shot out a few streams of Mechanical Force and activated the Kings on all of them.
With a flash of light, they disappeared.
…
Plop!
Sorokin felt the world was spinning. He fell onto a black stone ground.
At this time, the unknown energy that pulled his soul only finally faded. Sorokin flew up immediately and observed his surroundings cautiously. He had no idea where Black Star had sent him.
His eyes scanned through the boisterous land. An odd sense of familiarity surfaced in his mind.
Suddenly, Sorokin suddenly remembered something. His soul trembled, and his expression changed drastically.
“Is this the… Underworld‽”
As a Primordial One from the exploration era, he had also heard of the two sisters and was no stranger to the existence of the Underworld.
The only thing left in Sorokin’s heart was disbelief.
Aren’t the two sisters dead? How does the Underworld still exist‽
Why did Black Star send me here‽
While he was being appalled, Onicelu appeared before him out of thin air and gave him an odd smile that made him feel threatened.
“Sh*t!”
Sorokin had no time to think carefully. He hastily rushed up the sky hoping to flee from the Underworld.
If this was another secondary dimension, he would not have been so afraid. However, all Primordial Ones knew that all independent souls were severely countered by the Underworld.
The Underworld was the nemesis of all souls! A forbidden ground feared by all soul life forms!
Onicelu remained in the same place and did not chase after Sorokin, all she did was extend her arm, aimed at Sorokin who was getting further away and tightened her fist.
Buzz!
The Underworld moved according to her will. A mysterious force suddenly appeared, pressing all Hero Spirits in the Underworld onto the ground.
Underworld—Soul Restrain!
The Underworld had recovered to its peak. Onicelu was a professional at dealing with souls!
Even though Sorokin’s soul was extremely unique and had Beyond Grade A combat capability, his flight speed still decreased by ninety percent, and his altitude continued to decrease.
With the same smile on her face, Onicelu performed a ‘pull’ gesture.
Underworld—Soul Arrest!
Thick Underworld energy flowed out from the black ground, turning into countless tentacles that shot up the sky and ensnared Sorokin, trying to pull him down.
Although souls could penetrate all kinds of physical objects, they could not penetrate the energy of the Underworld and would instead be stuck. Sorokin used all his strength to try to escape from the tentacles but could only just keep himself from being dragged down further.
Hu!
At this time, a red tornado rose on the horizon, and Hila appeared. She had been waiting there since long ago.
“It’s you!”
Sorokin was astonished. His soul was not immune to soul attacks; Hila happened to counter him.
“Go down!”
Hila waved her hand. Death energy gushed out like a raging river and brushed Sorokin’s soul down.
Sorokin fell onto the black ground. Onicelu moved her index finger, and chains formed by Underworld energy extended from the underground. They penetrated Sorokin’s soul and locked him down in multiple layers.
While Sorokin was clenching his teeth and trying to escape, a group of people suddenly appeared before him. It was Han Xiao, Oathkeeper, and the others who arrived by the Kings’ teleportation. They all took off the mechanical suits.
Seeing this, Han Xiao smiled. “Looks like you had a fun time with my friends.”
Seeing Oathkeeper and Han Xiao appearing together, Sorokin was completely dumbfounded.
At this moment, he understood everything.
“You guys are on the same side‽”
Sorokin was filled with rage and shock. Without hesitation, he immediately tried to contact his manifestation and expose all their secrets.
However, he was dumbfounded once again the next second.
His connections with his manifestations were all cut off!
“Why do you think I spent so much effort to get you in here? In here, unless approved by the Underworld’s consciousness, no one can send soul signals to the outside world. Oathkeeper could not block your ability with absolute certainty, but the Underworld can.”
Han Xiao lightly stepped on the black stone ground under his feet.
“After all… the initial function of the Underworld was a prison!”
1245 Welcome to the Underworld
When the actor chat group was discussing the plan, Han Xiao had said he had a trump card that could disable Sorokin’s ability, and he just needed an opportunity. He did not say what the trump card exactly was. Since the others had the same goal as him, and Black Star was usually quite reliable, Oathkeeper trusted him.
Only now did the Holy Accord members present discover that the trump card Han Xiao spoke of was the Underworld, which they were familiar with.
“Did the two sisters revive too?” Beiger asked with shock.
“Nope, the Underworld has a new master now.”
Han Xiao shook his head, told Hila to land beside him, and patted her shoulder. He did not share the detailed information about the two sisters’ inheritance.
At this time, the seven Hero Spirit Kings suddenly appeared around Sorokin and sized up the Holy Accord members present with shock and disbelief.
“You guys are still alive‽”
“What, you guys too‽”
The few Holy Accord members and the seven Hero Spirit Kings looked at each other with dismay.
Both sides were Primordial Ones who chose different paths of reviving. Both achieved that goal at this point. Meeting each other in the modern age after countless years, they felt complicated and surprised.
However, comparatively, the seven Hero Spirit Kings felt somewhat regretful.
They thought the Holy Accord was nonsense and the path they chose was the only right one. They never expected the Holy Accord to really succeed…
I should’ve joined the Holy Accord back then!
Looking at this, Sorokin was already completely dumbfounded.
The existence of the Holy Accord was already unbelievable enough. He never would have thought the Underworld still existed too. So many Primordial Ones lived till now, and he was not the only one at all.
Sorokin suddenly felt that his sense of superiority all these years was nothing but a joke.
This time, Han Xiao squatted, leveled with Sorokin’s eyes, and said slowly, “I’m someone who always prefers to give others a chance to make a choice. There are two paths in front of you now. One, get wiped out by us, and you will then become fertilizer for Hila. Two, become an Underworld Hero Spirit and be controlled by the Underworld. Which do you choose?”
Sorokin was a top-level combatant. The external enemies of the explored universe had yet to be dealt with, so Han Xiao preferred not to eliminate him.
In fact, if not because Sorokin accidentally found out the Holy Accord’s secret, Han Xiao would not even have targeted him. He was only displeased about how many times Sorokin plotted against him in the past and felt this guy was too much of an *sshole, but he did not see him as someone he had to kill.
Now that Sorokin was completely in his hands, Han Xiao almost wanted to say some classic villain lines… Go on and scream, no one will come!
Sorokin looked around at everyone and said with indignation, “What… are you guys planning‽”
It was horrifying to find out that Black Star was both related to the Holy Accord and the Underworld. In fact, it was unfathomable. He felt Han Xiao was certainly planning something big secretly, and he could almost smell the stink of conspiracy.
Are these people trying to overthrow the universe‽
Also, since Black Star is together with these guys, is he also one of the Primordial Ones who lived till now‽
Having discovered these secrets and linking them with Black Star’s history, Sorokin could not help but to fantasize in this direction.
“You think I’d tell you now?”
Han Xiao chuckled.
Telling the enemy all my plans when the mission is about to succeed is a huge no-no for villains. I’m not going to fall for it.
This time, the seven Hero Spirit Kings had heard about Sorokin’s real identity from Oathkeeper. The head of the Hero Spirit Kings, Rega, walked over, patted Sorokin’s shoulder, and comforted him. “Stop hesitating. When you join the Underworld, you’ll realize that it’s nice to be a Hero Spirit.”
“Rega, you got domesticated too?” Sorokin said sarcastically. They were all from the same generation, so of course, he knew the seven Hero Spirit Kings.
Rega was not offended. He smiled and said, “Don’t make it sound so bad. As long as the Underworld still exists, Hero Spirits will never die. You’ve borderline survived in the main universe for so long, I’m sure you’re not willing to die. What’s so bad about being happy with us? You’ll never have to worry about being killed, think about it.”
The other Hero Spirit Kings also started to enthusiastically promote the advantages of becoming a Hero Spirit King. It was like a company’s interviewer promoting the company’s benefits during an interview.
It was not that they actually cared about Soul Emperor’s life, but living in the Underworld while not being able to go out was quite dull. The seven Hero Spirit Kings already knew everything there was to know about each other, the freshness was long gone. Now that a possible new member was finally here, they did not want to let him get away.
Even the Holy Accord members on the side nodded in agreement.
The history of the exploration era already proved that as long as the Underworld was fine, the Hero Spirits could do whatever dangerous things they wanted to. Honestly, they were quite jealous too.
Since Oathkeeper had hidden some of the Sanctums’ information due to certain reasons, the current Holy Accord members all thought that they could only be revived once. Seeing the Underworld, they also started to have some ideas.
They originally thought they could only revive once, but with the Underworld, would that not mean they could keep living?
Although they would have to become someone else’s subordinate… as long as they could live, what was so bad about becoming dogs!
“Black Star is closely related to the Underworld. I have to maintain a good relationship with him…” Beiger mumbled softly, saying what everyone was thinking.
Han Xiao heard his whisper and laughed in his mind.
This was part of the reason he had brought them to the Underworld. Using the fact that the Holy Accord members did not know the truth about the Sanctums, he increased the importance of the Underworld in the ears of the revived Primordial Ones so that his plan in the future would be easier to execute.
Even those Holy Accord members with other goals could not ignore his existence for the sake of having a backup plan, which meant he could influence these people and prevent them from doing things too out of the line to a certain extent.
Seeing Sorokin was shaken, Han Xiao said, “You already love to cower. Now you’re just cowering somewhere else. Plus, you won’t have to worry about your safety. What’s there to hesitate about?”
Sorokin stayed silent for a while. He sighed with frustration and resignation. “… I admit I’m done for. I’m willing to join the Underworld.”
He always believed in living as a coward was better than dying a hero, so he had no choice but to say goodbye to freedom and choose to live with regrets.
Han Xiao looked like he expected and gave Onicelu a look.
Onicelu raised her hand. Clusters of Underworld energy flowed out from the ground and hovered beside Sorokin. She then smiled and said, “Lower your guard and accept the transformation. It might hurt a little, but don’t resist no matter what, alright?”
Swoosh!
Before Sorokin responded, the Underworld energy rushed into his soul the next moment.
The color of Sorokin’s soul was gradually painted with the Underworld energy’s color as he transformed into a Hero Spirit.
Sorokin felt like burning iron bars penetrated his soul. His soul was scorching from inside out as if it was going to be burnt to ashes any second.
Seeing this, the seven Hero Spirit Kings were so overjoyed they wanted to beat the drums on the side to welcome another unlucky fellow joining them.
The Hero Spirit transformation lasted for quite some time before finishing.
The chains formed by Underworld energy disappeared. Without them, Sorokin slowly stood up, looked down at his soul that had now turned into an Underworld Hero Spirit, and felt his connection with the Underworld. He was filled with complicated emotions.
After so many years of cowering, to think he became an Underworld Hero Spirit he once despised; fate was really full of surprises…
The seven Hero Spirit Kings surrounded him and smiled passionately.
“From now on, you’re the eighth Hero Spirit King. Welcome to the Underworld!”
“Hehe…”
Sorokin could not laugh at all. His lips were twitching.
Onicelu suddenly turned to look at Han Xiao and said, “He’s not like the other Hero Spirit Kings. Although he’s transformed, he still kept his original strength.”
Han Xiao expected this. He asked, “He’s special, can you restrain him?”
“That’s not a problem. After being transformed into a Hero Spirit, he’s already connected to the Underworld and is under my control.” Onicelu nodded.
“That’s good.” Han Xiao nodded.
Normal Hero Spirits had no combat capability. They could only regain their strength with the help of life energy. However, Sorokin had [Immortal Soul] and [Spiritual Energy Foundation], so he maintained the strength of a Beyond Grade A even as a Hero Spirit. This was his uniqueness.
However, after the developments made by the two sisters, the Underworld was already a treasure close to the Space Wonder level. Its operating mechanisms were impeccable, so restraining Sorokin when it was at its peak state was not a problem.
Seeing that Sorokin’s face was filled with regret, Han Xiao smiled and said, “Stop being so down. One day in the future, you might be glad you joined the Underworld.”
“I don’t think that day will ever come.” Sorokin was filled with sadness.
“Hehe, we’ll see.”
Han Xiao smiled and shook his head.
With the increase of his strength, position, and connections, the enemies he once felt were tough to deal with were no longer so tough. Having gotten rid of another hidden threat, he was quite satisfied.
Sorokin’s value was not just his strength; the resources and information this guy had was also very valuable.
Having thought of that, Han Xiao turned to Hila and said, “Go talk to Sorokin and have him share the information he knows.”
Hila nodded and pulled Sorokin aside to question him. As the current master of the Underworld, she was perfect for this task.
Seeing that Sorokin had been dealt with, the Holy Accord members present were all relieved. They went to chat with the seven Hero Spirit Kings about the old times.
On the other hand, Han Xiao and Oathkeeper walked to the side on their own and talked about something else.
“How’s the collection of the Third Sanctum keys?”
“Still working hard on it. With the experience from the last time and the channels you provided, it should be much quicker this time,” Oathkeeper replied.
“Do it fast. I have a feeling that the peaceful times won’t last too long,” Han Xiao whispered.
He still had missions related to the Sanctums that were not yet complete. Even not for the missions, since the Sanctums were the future of the Beyond Grade As, he had to go in and take a look.
Oathkeeper nodded. He suddenly changed the topic and asked, “Although I’m not in the Beyond Grade A Association, won’t Sorokin suddenly going missing cause problems?”
Han Xiao glanced at him and said with a deep voice, “Yes, Gaud went missing a few years ago and now Sorokin too. It’s easy for people to link these two events… However, the difference is, no one will step up for Sorokin, so the problem won’t be too big, and the impact won’t be too strong. It’ll mainly cause doubts among the association itself and investigations.”
“It won’t affect you, will it?”
“Not much if it’s dealt with properly. The dynasty has been secretly investigating Sorokin recently. I can find a way to make Sorokin look responsible for what happened to Gaud, then fake the reason he went missing, saying he fled due to fear of having what he did discover. Thus, creating a motive for him and closing the case… As for the future, there’s no need to worry if others discover Sorokin is here. His Esper Ability allows him to change his soul frequency, which will solve most problems.”
Han Xiao was prepared for this.
Sorokin was now tied up to the fate of the Underworld. Although he had no freedom, it was not all bad. Han Xiao was someone who knew Sorokin’s personality well. This guy’s biggest trait was that he knew his situation well. He would basically never do something that would damage both parties, so there was no need to worry about him not cooperating.
Oathkeeper agreed. “As long as you have a plan. You’re an expert at these shady things.”
“Sarcasm, huh? Don’t copy my words.” Han Xiao glanced at him.
The two of them did not chat for long. The other Holy Accord members were still waiting in the main universe. Han Xiao used another King suit to send Oathkeeper back to explain what had happened to prevent them from worrying.
After sending the outsiders away, Han Xiao went to where Hila and Sorokin were. The two of them sat opposite each other. One asked, and the other answered; the atmosphere was peaceful.
Although Sorokin had regrets, what was done was done. He had no choice but to let go of his pride. He was quite cooperative.
Han Xiao walked beside Hila and asked, “How’s it going?”
Hila looked up at him and had a playful expression.
“You came at the right time. He seems to have just said something huge…”
1246 Confession and Doubts
After hearing the interrogation results, Han Xiao could not help but size Sorokin up with surprise.
“I’ve changed many identities and have always been trying to reduce the number of Beyond Grade As in the universe. But as you can see, the Holy Accord and the Underworld found ways to revive them, so that’s a dead end.”
Sorokin was hopeless.
After entering the Underworld, there were no secrets that he could keep anymore. Plus, Hila could control him anytime.
Reducing the number of Beyond Grade As was his old goal. However, as he found out about the Holy Accord and the Underworld, he immediately knew that there was no way this plan would ever work. He was forced to change his mindset.
Sorokin shared all the other identities he had once used and confessed the fact he secretly assisted in making the Tragedy of the Pinnacles happen. He knew his situation very well; no matter how unwilling he was inside, he knew that this past of his had the potential to become a ticking time bomb in the future, so he actively brought it up.
If he kept it hidden, although he might have a chance to mess with Han Xiao, if the Underworld was damaged because of it, he would be affected too. As the saying went, if he could not resist, he might as well enjoy it. At least the Underworld Hero Spirits had almost infinite life. Although it was not what he really wanted, it was not too bad either. He had no choice but to protect this only remaining privilege he had.
After hearing the various identities Sorokin shared, Han Xiao tutted and said, “So, they were all you. You really love causing chaos.”
Initially, he had been thinking about how to frame Sorokin for what happened to Gaud, but now it seemed easy. Sorokin had so many identities in the past and a history of guiding the Tragedy of the Pinnacles. There was his motive!
As for clues and evidence, with Sorokin right there, he was not worried about not finding them.
Han Xiao put this thought behind him for the time being and said, “Let’s put this aside first. Tell me the resources you have, such as secret warehouses, internal intelligence of the Limitless Financial Group, business secrets… Be honest. If you cooperate, I might consider leaving you some.”
Sorokin knew that Han Xiao had his eyes on his assets and wanted to get all the benefits he could get from him. He was unwilling in his heart, but Hila was right beside them, and he had no choice but to truthfully share everything.
Han Xiao noted them down and could not help but be impressed.
“Not bad, not bad. You’ve accumulated quite a lot of good things. Other than technology, blueprints, and knowledge, you even secretly collected eight Universal Treasures…”
If not because I have Jayz’s treasure trove, my inventory would also be about this much.
Being rich is really nice!
As for the Limitless Financial Group, it was a huge cake. Although Han Xiao wanted to eat it all, he had to control his appetite, or it would cause suspicion.
After Sorokin ‘escaped due to fear of having what he did to Gaud discovered’, the Limitless Financial Group would definitely be severely impacted and dissected by tons of organizations. Han Xiao did not plan to enter the scene in advance. He planned to have the Germinal Financial Group act together with the other organizations after Sorokin was discovered to have gone missing. Making sure he could get a piece of the cake was enough; being too greedy was not a wise idea.
However, as for the ‘backup plans’ Sorokin secretly prepared by using the Limitless Financial Group’s funds, he could take all of them.
After Sorokin was done, Han Xiao put away the notebook with satisfaction and grinned.
“Alright, what needs to be said has been said. Spend some time getting used to staying here… Hila, take care of this guy. I’ll be going back.”
Hila nodded with a poker face. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him.”
She emphasized the words ‘take care’. Han Xiao instantly remembered how much of a battle maniac Hila was and could not help but secretly pity Sorokin.
He did not have the time to spar with Hila, while as the only Hero Spirit who had Beyond Grade A strength in the Underworld, Sorokin was clearly the perfect opponent. Since he could not be killed, she could kill him again and again!
Han Xiao gave Sorokin a weird glance, shook his head, and disappeared in his King suit.
Seeing this, Sorokin sighed. He felt that life was so magical. All he could do now was adapt to the new life.
This time, the seven Hero Spirit Kings approached him, smiling.
“Eighth, let’s chat. How about you start by telling us what big things happened in the universe in these years? We’re so curious.”
Sorokin’s face turned black.
“Who’s Eighth? Don’t disturb me. Scram!”
…
Days passed one after another. Not long after Sorokin went missing, the galactic society finally noticed that the head of the Limitless Financial Group had not appeared in quite some time.
Although very few people could see Sorokin to begin with, he was the head of a top consortium in the universe and was quite famous. Sooner or later, people were bound to notice.
Without the orders from their leader, the Limitless Financial Group was becoming quite chaotic.
While the entire galactic society was wondering, the Crimson Dynasty suddenly announced a wanted order. The target was indeed Sorokin!
The dynasty claimed that they had made a breakthrough in their investigation. They disclosed Sorokin’s real identity and his many identities, listed the many crimes he had committed—including guiding the Tragedy of the Pinnacles—and even claimed that Sorokin was deeply connected with Gaud going missing. They stated that Sorokin was missing because he had fled, so they announced a wanted order to find him.
Ever since Han Xiao hinted Sorokin’s identity to the dynasty upper echelons, the dynasty had been secretly investigating Sorokin in every way possible. Using this opportunity, Han Xiao left some related evidence provided by Sorokin. He did not do anything personally but instead secretly guided the dynasty to discover the evidence in the process of the investigation, exposing what Sorokin had done.
As soon as the news was announced, the entire galactic society was in an uproar. Countless galactic residents and organizations were shocked by this news!
All along, Sorokin’s image in everyone’s eyes was a wildly successful businessman, the owner of a universal consortium, and a Beyond Grade A who did not like violence. His business talent overshadowed his Beyond Grade A identity in the eyes of the galactic society. No one had ever thought Sorokin had such a big secret, that a universally renowned businessman was the secret mastermind of so many incidents!
For some time, the popularity of topics surrounding Sorokin shot through the sky. His history was too legendary. Almost everyone uncontrollably made wild assumptions and speculations; conspiracies became popular.
As this went on, the galactic society gradually began to look at it as a form of entertainment. More and more people started to make fun of Sorokin.
In the words of the galactic residents, Sorokin seemed to have become the biggest conspiracist ever in history, and everything became related to him. Even the pig next door giving birth to seven babies was part of his secret big plan.
A new meme was born on the internet—no matter what matter they were talking about, it would all end with ‘this is all part of Sorokin’s conspiracy!’
While the public was having fun, the Limitless Financial Group was filled with tragedy and worry.
As the consortium’s head had run away with the money, the dynasty’s strategies came right after. The negative impact of the news caused the consortium to not be trusted. Tons of creditors came to collect their debts, the stock market price plummeted, all their business partners and galactic banks stopped granting loans, and the capital flow gradually started to show signs of breaking apart. It was doomed.
Sensing the difficult situation the Limitless Financial Group was in, the hunters everywhere sharpened their knives and started moving, biting off the Limitless Financial Group’s enormous business empire bit by bit.
Tons of organizations came to enjoy this festival, countless talents of the Limitless Financial Group left one after another, and numerous businesses were taken over; its size shrank rapidly. The product of Sorokin’s blood and sweat over many years fell like dominos.
Approved by Han Xiao, the Germinal Financial Group also took part and shared the cake as a shareholder. Old Manison, Kasuyi, and the other shareholders also feasted on the remains of the Limitless Financial Group.
Sorokin was a member of the Beyond Grade A Association, after all, so the association had to host a meeting for this matter and discuss how to deal with it.
…
A meeting was going on in the round table conference room on Planet Finn.
“It’s hard to imagine that Sorokin, who always pretended to be weak, was hiding such a big secret… He’s a Primordial Ones who lived all the way till now. Who knows how strong he really is? We never saw it coming,” Kasuyi said with disbelief.
“He’s indeed very well hidden. I always thought he’s really weak, even laughed at him. He probably thinks I’m just a joke.” Sun Hunter scratched his head.
“Actually, I’m a little doubtful. Would Sorokin really do this? Could someone have framed him? After all, some people have a history of that…” A neutral Beyond Grade A peaked at the dynasty’s direct members. It was easy to read between the lines of what he said.
“We have solid evidence,” Clotti replied calmly and was not angry about it.
They discussed the matter for quite a while when Han Xiao suddenly coughed, expressing that he had something to say. Everyone immediately became quiet.
Seeing this, Han Xiao slowly said, “Sorokin’s conspiracy is already proven to be true. He once guided the Tragedy of the Pinnacles, so attacking Gaud might be his attempt to do the same again. No matter what, despite being an upper echelon of the association, he’s not only not on our side but even wants to split the Beyond Grade As. He broke the principles of the association, causing extremely negative influences… I suggest canceling his membership as punishment. Let’s vote on it.”
Hearing this, the others exchanged looks. After quite some time, someone finally raised their hand.
“Seconded!”
“Agreed!”
Beyond Grade As voted one after another. The people who agreed with it quickly became the majority. Manison was the only one who had yet to make a stand.
“Old man, what do you say?” Han Xiao raised his brow.
Manison glanced at him and said with a poker face, “I concur. From today onward, Sorokin’s membership will be cancelled. He’s no longer a member of the Beyond Grade A Development Union.”
…
On the Crimson Dynasty mother planet…
“I see, the Beyond Grade A Association cancelled Sorokin’s membership… They’re wise.”
Marbruce finished reading the report and nodded slightly. He did not react to it much, as if he had expected this.
Opposite him was Bekorodi. They were the only two people in the room.
Bekorodi said softly, “Do you really believe that Gaud was attacked by Sorokin?”
“No,” Marbruce replied without hesitation.
“Then, why did you…”
Marbruce knocked on the table and slowly said, “The evidence came too easily. Think about this. If you were Sorokin, would you have left so much information behind? This evidence is very odd. Although it’s not fake, someone secretly guided us to find it. It might be an attempt to use a real lie to hide the real culprit.”
“But Sorokin is indeed missing. If it is really as you say, maybe the person who made Sorokin disappear is the same culprit who attacked Gaud?”
“Hmm, it’s very possible.” Marbruce pondered. “Don’t you think all of this is too coincidental? It’s like an invisible hand is controlling everything. Do you… really think Black Star did it?
“I can’t say easily.” Bekorodi hesitated. “Logically, Gaud only tried to copy the Evolution Energy, and there’s no need for Black Star to make such a big deal out of it. He has no reason to…”
“Maybe there are some things we still don’t know about.” Marbruce’s eyes flickered. “I have a feeling that there might be a powerful force hidden in the universe we have yet to discover…”
“What do you mean?”
“Hehe, that’s confidential.”
Marbruce smiled and shook his head. He recalled a certain piece of information he only found after becoming the ruler that had the highest confidentiality level.
As a Primordial One, the Soul Emperor somehow lived till now. Is he really the only one?
1247 Consumed
In this battle of sharing the cake, relying on Black Star’s identity as a shareholder and the army’s military power advantage, the Germinal Financial Group inherited many ace businesses and tons of talents of the Limitless Financial Group. Its scale expanded instantly, and its stock price skyrocketed.
After this incident, although the Limitless Financial Group secured the last bit of their business and survived, it was severely damaged. Only a part of Sorokin’s elite offspring remained to protect their family business.
However, even though the Limitless Financial Group was already severely damaged, it only fell from the position of top consortium and was still a big consortium in the Star Field, clearly proving how many assets Sorokin had worked hard to accumulate. In terms of making money legally, there was probably really no one among Beyond Grade As who could match him.
If not because it was not convenient to let Sorokin appear in front of the public, Han Xiao almost wanted to make him in charge of the commercial area of the army. Han Xiao had already confirmed that making money was really one of the few hobbies of Sorokin.
In Sorokin’s own words, the increase of the money he had was visible and much easier than the increase of strength. He loved this kind of snowballing mechanism; the increase of his assets made him happy.
However, Han Xiao also did not plan to let Sorokin do nothing. He decided to have Sorokin take care of some business affairs behind the curtains.
This guy loved to make money, so letting him enjoy his hobby was also a form of entertainment for him. He could also give him some dividends… He had no place to spend it anyway.
The way Han Xiao looked at it, the Limitless Financial Group’s players were the unluckiest. When they returned in the next version, their reaction would probably all be the same…
Where’s my faction? It’s such a big faction. What happened‽
Just thinking about it, Han Xiao felt pitiful.
Looks like I’ll have to take these homeless leeks into my warm arms and show them that love really exists in the world.
After the Crimson Dynasty announced the wanted order of Sorokin, Gaud’s case seemed to have finally settled. The dynasty did not do anything after that, and everything went back to normal.
The focus of the galactic society shifted with it and back to the developments of the Flickering World. The fourth exploration phase had already finished, ending with the exit of the Super Star Cluster Alliance. There would still be the fifth phase, the sixth phase, and so on. All would be focused on developing peacefully. The developments afterward did not have much to do with the Beyond Grade A allies.
A few months later, the Germinal Financial Group finally digested the ‘inheritance’ of the Limitless Financial Group and submitted a detailed report to Han Xiao.
…
In his office, Han Xiao carefully read through the report on the screen. After a while, he finally nodded with satisfaction and looked at the remote projections of Sylvia and Iapetus in front of him.
“You guys have done a good job consuming these businesses of the Limitless Financial Group. The army has taken a huge step in the progress of expanding its subdivisions in the various Star Fields, at least saving twenty years’ time.”
“It’s all thanks to your guidance. You’re the lighthouse of the army, showing us the path.” Sylvia smiled lustfully.
Han Xiao caressed the back of his palm and said, “I also saw on the report that we recruited some of Sorokin’s offspring. Some even actively chose to join us…”
“That’s because no one can resist your charm.” Sylvia did it again.
Han Xiao looked at her oddly.
What’s going on with this woman today? Did her personality change?
Han Xiao ignored her, turned to look at Iapetus, and said, “What do you plan to do with Sorokin’s offspring?”
Iapetus rubbed his moustache and slowly said, “Although Sorokin escaped for his crimes, his offspring are innocent. Some of them were raised as elites and had high management positions in the Limitless Financial Group. They’re very capable, so taking these people in is great for the Germinal Financial Group. Of course, I’ll test them before giving them positions, limit the power they have, and split them up into different management positions.”
“Hmm, do as you said.”
Although Han Xiao felt like it might be immoral for them to join the person who caused Sorokin to go missing, he felt like given Sorokin’s personality, giving birth to offspring was probably just to raise trustworthy assistants; he would not be too emotionally attached to him.
Beyond Grade As breeding offspring as assistants was very common. Most people would carry out group activities at most to increase efficiency. Beast Ancestor was the only one in this era who was so extreme about it.
“Offspring are indeed good. They can be raised systematically from a young age. Maybe I should start to breed some babies,” Han Xiao mumbled.
Sylvia’s eyes lit up instantly. “I’ll do it! Maternity leave is still leave. I don’t mind it!”
Han Xiao almost fell down from his chair from shock.
What, are you already this desperate for the sake of taking leave now?
Not only do you want to take leave, but you even want to sleep with your boss! How do you think something that incredible will happen?
Iapetus coughed on the side and whispered, “If you want to take maternity leave, I can help too…”
Sylvia glared at him. “Keep dreaming!”
Iapetus’s expression froze. Facing Han Xiao’s meaningful stare, he wisely went offline.
Only two of them were left in the room. Sylvia suddenly smiled lustfully, shook her waist left and right, and walked to Han Xiao. She pressed her arms on the table, leaned forward, pressed her lips near Han Xiao’s ears, and whispered, “I wasn’t kidding. What do you think of me?”
“Is today your estrus cycle? Looks like I have to remember this date and calculate your cycle so I can dodge you in the future.”
Sylvia’s face twitched, and her smile became stiff. She did her best to not lash out and said with a suggestive tone, “Do you really not know just how charming you are? My admiration for you has flooded since long ago. Are you really going to treat me like this?”
“Stop it. It’s not useful to me. Say what you want to say.”
Han Xiao was unaffected. He pressed on Sylvia’s forehead and pushed her head away.
Excuse me, I’m a righteous man. I have never practiced the “if there’s something to do, let the secretary do it; if there’s nothing to do, do the secretary” system.
Usually, you were always dismissive of me, but today you suddenly turned into an emotionless praising machine. There’s definitely something you want from me today.
Sylvia’s expression collapsed. She kicked Han Xiao’s leg heavily, then rubbed her feet while grinding her teeth with annoyance. “I’ve been the Chief Administrative Official for decades. You’ve always used me like a tool! I’ve had enough. I want to change my position!”
Han Xiao thought it made sense. Although Sylvia was very loyal, she would not be happy about being a tool for so long, especially when the lifespan of Calamity Grades was far shorter than Beyond Grade As. She had basically given her youth to the army.
He always said that the hairline was the durability of the officers, but Han Xiao considered himself to be quite flexible. As long as the request was logical, he would not really treat his officers like tools.
“What do you want to do then?”
“I want you to teach me to become a Beyond Grade A!”
“Huh?” Han Xiao almost thought he had heard wrong.
“I’ve given my heart and soul to the army, putting in my entire youth, but you’re not even willing to teach me!” Sylvia was angry.
“No, no, that’s not true. It’s just that becoming a Beyond Grade A depends on talent. Even if I teach you, you don’t have too high a chance…” Han Xiao sighed.
“I don’t care. I just want you to teach me!”
Sylvia pulled Han Xiao’s arm and shook it like she was begging him. In front of others, she was a decisive, capable, and smart Chief Administrative Official. But in front of Han Xiao, she was still occasionally that little girl in the past.
“Alright, alright, after you’ve finished the handover for your job, come back as my student.” Han Xiao agreed.
Hearing this, Sylvia finally smiled brightly. She kissed Han Xiao’s cheek and ran away like a thief.
At the door, Sylvia stopped, turned, and smiled like a fairy with a slightly blushed face. She said with a playful tone, “I really wasn’t kidding about what I said earlier.”
Then, before Han Xiao could respond, she ran away.
“Tsk, as if I’d believe you, you little minx.” Han Xiao shook his head and wiped away the lipstick on his face.
In his previous life, after Sylvia’s father was sent into a prison, Sylvia could only wander in the universe without a goal. Now, the army had given her a home and a goal she could work for.
Without him knowing, many people’s fates had changed because of him.
“Sylvia’s potential shouldn’t be enough to reach Beyond Grade A, but nothing is absolute. Even garbage like Kohler and Beyoni can become Beyond Grade As, after all. With my teachings, Sylvia might not be completely hopeless… I shall teach her some knowledge from Jayz’s treasure trove.”
Han Xiao nodded in his head.
Beep beep beep!
At this time, his communicator suddenly rang. He took it out and to his surprise. It was a call from Ames.
Sylvia just left seconds ago and Ames already called?
So coincidental, is this the sixth sense of woman?
Han Xiao shivered slightly.
He focused his mind and picked up.
Ames appeared on the screen holding her cheek with her hand and smiling elegantly.
“We’ve not met for quite some time. Do you want to come and have a chat? Aesop brewed a batch of new wine.”
“That’s it? No, no!”
“Also… I might slightly, a little tiny bit, miss you.” Ames blinked.
“Let’s go.”
Without hesitation, Han Xiao put on the King suit immediately.
For the past few years, other than the plenary, he did not meet with Ames much. He had been busy with plotting and studying machinery. He felt a bit sorry for it. Furthermore, he had just dealt with a huge matter, so he also needed some soothing and stress relief.
1248 Galaxy Calendar Year 780
Ames was smiling at the communicator when he arrived, only hanging up when she saw him. She kept the communicator and shifted her eyes onto him, maintaining a faint smile.
“I knew you’d come. Sit, the wine is ready.”
Han Xiao walked up and sat beside Ames. He sighed and said, “I’ve been busy lately and didn’t come for quite some time. I’ve neglected you.”
“When are you ever not busy?” Ames replied.
Han Xiao shook his head, picked up a glass, and drank the wine. He tutted and said, “Why does it taste different from the last time?”
“Aesop improved the recipe the last time he returned.”
Ames controlled her force field and filled Han Xiao’s glass up.
Han Xiao smiled and said, “Speaking of which, after Aesop was kidnapped, I was surprised you didn’t reject Aesop’s request to travel. I thought you’d ground him for a very long time.”
“I wouldn’t have agreed if not for the Soul Swapper.” Ames snorted softly.
After Feidin acquired the Soul Swapper, Han Xiao had come up with a plan for Aesop. After long consideration, Aesop had taken his suggestion and asked Feidin to temporarily swap his soul into someone else so that he could go out. It was secretive and safe. In the end, Ames agreed with his request.
“The Soul Swapper is indeed nice. Sadly, Feidin is only at the Calamity Grade for now. The functions he can use are limited.” Han Xiao shook his head. He suddenly thought of something and said, “I have a gift for you.”
“A gift?” Ames raised her brows.
Han Xiao took out a pure white small sphere from his pocket. He passed to Ames, smiled, and said, “This is a Universal Treasure I happened to obtain. It can help Espers develop their ability. It’s for you.”
Ames accepted the small sphere, toyed with it using her force field, and said curiously, “What’s this thing’s name? How do I use it?”
“Just call it Esper Ability Enhancement Orb. It’s easy to use. Just apply energy to it every day. Basically, play with it.”
Han Xiao briefly explained its effects.
This was one of the Universal Treasures that Sorokin secretly collected and was seized by him. According to the item details on the interface, this thing could randomly enhance the various ability parameters of Espers. The effects would only be triggered if it was worn for a long time. The chance was unknown, and the magnitude of the enhancement each time was not high.
At its maximum, it could at most increase the Esper Ability’s potential by one grade. After that, it would lose effects on the same user.
However, the enhancement effects would not certainly occur. It might be completely useless too. According to the introduction, the chance of triggering the enhancement relied on Luck to a certain extent… Basically, it despised unlucky people.
Han Xiao recalled that Ames’ Luck was quite high, so she should be able to trigger this treasure. After she was done using it, given her relationship with Hila and Aurora, why would she not lend it to them? It was perfect.
“I’ll take it then, thanks.” Ames toyed with it for a while and put it away.
In the past years, Han Xiao had given her gifts frequently. A few years ago, he had even secretly given her the entire set of Esper class knowledge. She almost thought Han Xiao hacked into the dynasty’s database.
The two of them chatted while eating snacks.
Most of the time, Han Xiao was speaking, and Ames was listening with a smile, staring at Han Xiao and holding her chin with her hands.
After chatting for some time, Ames suddenly interrupted Han Xiao and said, “I’ve realized you’ve had a lot on your mind in the past few years.”
Han Xiao was stunned for a moment. “How did you notice?”
“I know you too well.” Ames smiled. “Do you want to talk to me about it?”
Han Xiao sighed.
Indeed, after he found out about the Sanctums, he had been feeling more stressed mentally. He had been spending all his time studying machines and becoming stronger in the past few years, keeping himself busy and not slacking off.
Han Xiao thought about it and said with a deep voice, “In the past few years, I’ve been thinking about one question. What if our world is just an illusion that exists only in the past and the things we see are only mirages in a cell?”
“Why did you suddenly have this thought?” Ames was curious.
“… I just happened to discover some information and made some connections.”
Han Xiao’s answer was ambiguous. Of course, he was not going to easily share the information about the Celestial Star Alliance, the iterations of the universe, and the Sanctums.
Actually, he had been suspicious of this since long ago. He had only buried it because he knew it was very difficult to find the answer for it. He only had more speculations after finding out about the Sanctums.
Although Ames did not understand what Han Xiao was talking about, he could sense the pressure from Han Xiao’s tone. It sounded somewhat distant, and she felt something she rarely ever felt from Han Xiao. He sounded a tiny bit lost.
Most of the time, Han Xiao was very confident. She rarely ever saw Han Xiao like this. Although she did not know what caused Han Xiao to be so stressed, to her, it did not matter. What mattered was that she knew this man needed her comforting.
Having thought of that, Ames smiled.
“It doesn’t matter. I know that our breath is real, the warmth I feel is real, and your touch is real…”
While saying, Ames held Han Xiao’s hand in her hands and whispered, “And I’m real too.”
The two of them looked into each other’s eyes for almost twenty seconds.
“… Ahem, we’re not in the secondary dimensions.”
Han Xiao suddenly coughed and pulled his hand away.
“Hehe.” Ames laughed softly with unknown meaning.
The two of them both skipped this topic without saying anything and chatted for a few more hours before Han Xiao bade farewell and teleported away.
Looking at the empty seat, Ames suddenly sighed.
After spending so much time with Black Star, she had long found out that although Black Star looked like he had many friends, for some reason, he always kept his heart locked up and would not let anyone walk into it.
…
In the place where Gaud was ‘raised’, a spaceship stopped at the port, and the hatch opened. Two rows of people appeared, one boarding it and another alighting. Most of the people in the former were dejected, while the people in the latter looked full of confidence.
This was a transport ship that carried a new batch of students in. It was also in charge of taking away the students who were disqualified from the training base.
Karlot was in the row of people boarding the ship. He could not help but glance back at the training base.
For all the time, Karlot had been on the edge of the disqualified list every term. If not because of what Gaud said back then, he would have been kicked out by the manager of the base long ago. Now, however, Gaud was nowhere to be found, so what he said, of course, became meaningless. The manager of the base no longer gave Karlot special treatment and placed him on the disqualified list in this term, no longer giving him advanced training.
“I’ve studied for almost a decade here. It’s a shame I couldn’t remain here…”
Karlot sighed softly.
He was not really down, just felt it was a pity.
He had worked hard for so long and only just discovered the right training method of the Super system, but before he could change the way he trained, he was kicked out…
“Never mind. At least the studies I did in these ten years had not gone to waste. As long as I’ve learned something, it’s good enough.”
Karlot shook his head, turned back to look at his front, and walked up the spaceship in big steps. The vibe he gave off was completely different from the dejected crowd around him.
…
After the dust settled on Gaud and Sorokin’s cases, the galactic society finally entered a period of stable development.
The Super Star Cluster civilizations defeated in the Flickering War quietly licked their wounds, while the other organizations who took part in the war continued to rest and digest the profits of the exploration. A time of stability was needed after the leader of the Crimson Dynasty and the Federation of Light changed. On the other hand, the Beyond Grade A Association was continuing to build the profit network.
While all sides peacefully developed in this calm atmosphere, the fifth, sixth, and the rest of the exploration phases of the Flickering World were smoothly completed. The Flickering World was finally added to the map of the explored universe, making the galactic society even more prosperous than before, bringing in countless business opportunities.
Even a pig could fly with a strong enough wind. The development of the Flickering World bred many new organizations. New consortiums appeared in the Flickering World every once a while.
After the Black Star Army consumed part of the Limitless Financial Group’s businesses, it grew even quicker and expanded rapidly in the various Star Fields. Its force became larger and larger, and Han Xiao’s position increased along with it.
The two hidden threats, Gaud and Sorokin, had been dealt with, and Manison was accumulating strength with a low profile, so no one in the universe dared to mess with Han Xiao in this period. He finally entered the longest peaceful development period he had ever experienced.
Other than the daily activities, Han Xiao spent the rest of his time studying Jayz’s technology while occasionally trying to break down the life energy. Every day was spent meaningfully.
As someone who had always been at the center of the attention and always slapped himself in the face in the end every time he said he wanted to keep a low profile for some time, Han Xiao finally faded out of the sights of the outside world.
Although the universe still remembered him, the stage was cleared for newbies to shine.
This situation lasted all the way to Galaxy Calendar Year 780. On this day, the Beyond Grade A Association welcomed its fiftieth anniversary.
This meant that the president position that lasted for fifty years every term was going to change. It was finally time for the election.
1249 Forty Years
A cluster of gentle pale-golden energy floated in an area surrounded by many satellite bases like a glowing golden asteroid. It was expanding and shrinking as if it was breathing, sending out rings of light gold energy rhythmically like ripples.
Two figures, one black and one red, hovered near this ‘asteroid’. Around them were countless mechanical soldiers that formed a line of defense guarding the area.
“This day has finally come. Aurora has stepped into our territory…” the red figure said softly with a tint of satisfaction and pride. A gentle smile appeared on her usually-cold face.
The two of them were Han Xiao and Hila. The glowing golden ‘asteroid’ nearby was indeed Aurora, who was going through the last step of transforming into a Beyond Grade A.
The last forty years had left no traces on Hila. Other than her vibe being colder and more distinguished, her appearance did not change at all. To normal Beyond Grade As, this amount of time was equivalent to about six to seven years, and to a special Beyond Grade A like Hila who controlled death, it was but the blink of an eye.
Han Xiao smiled. “If Aurora was accumulating energy on her own, it’d probably take more than a hundred years for her to become a Beyond Grade A. This is even quicker than I expected.”
His appearance did not change much too, but his vibe became more unfathomable.
The army had steadily expanded over the last forty years, and the bonuses of [Proof of Leadership] increased along with it. Through studying Jayz’s treasure trove, Han Xiao already increased his God’s Trait Transformation to a very high level. He was remarkably stronger than forty years prior.
The leek harvesting technique using the Holy Light Particle reduced Aurora’s process of accumulating energy. With her special trait of having no energy limit on top, becoming a Beyond Grade A was just a matter of time for Aurora. The time it took was close to what Han Xiao speculated.
After quite some time, the golden ‘asteroid’ in front of the two of them finally started to shrink. From an enormous cluster of light, it turned into a silhouette, glowing with light gold light all over, giving off a divine vibe like the combination of mothership and holiness.
Aurora’s appearance changed drastically. She became taller, and her face became gorgeously beautiful; she had the face of an angel and the body of a devil. Her entire style turned from adorable to alluring. It was almost like a completely different person.
Seeing this, Han Xiao and Hila flew over to Aurora and sized her up, looking astonished.
“Why do you look different?” Hila compared her height with Aurora and realized Aurora was surprisingly even about fifteen centimeters taller than her.
Han Xiao stared and studied Aurora’s body for a while and made a decisive conclusion. “This must be the second puberty!”
“This is my new ability. I can control the shape of my body now.” Aurora giggled. Her body glowed, and she instantly returned to her normal tiny body shape. “How was that? Was I prettier than you, sis? I can change back anytime.”
Hila tutted, changed the topic, and asked, “What other abilities do you have?”
Aurora performed them right away. All her abilities were enhanced. She did not have to develop her abilities on her own and directly inherited the progress from her predecessor. She instantly acquired many abilities and talents, fully displaying the advantages of being a cheater.
After entering the Beyond Grade A realm, the life energy Aurora could produce every day multiplied by countless times. She basically did not have to worry about not having enough of it at all. Furthermore, she even got an aura. The allies on her side would have a drastically higher regeneration speed if they were within a certain range of her. The range of this aura would even grow as she became stronger.
“Also, I should be able to perfectly produce revival energy now.”
While speaking, Aurora flicked her finger and sent out a cluster of life energy. Hila saw it and released a cluster of death energy too. The two fused together and turned into a cluster of golden-orange revival energy. The strengths of the two types of energy achieved a stable balance.
“Now that you’re a Beyond Grade A, you only have to briefly familiarize with your abilities, and we will be able to use the reviving function of the Underworld,” Hila said.
The seven… oh no, eight Hero Spirit Kings had been doing nothing in the Underworld. Now that Aurora had become a Beyond Grade A, the last piece of the puzzle was found. These Hero Spirits would be able to have combat capabilities.
With the help of the eight Hero Spirit Kings of the Underworld, the two sisters leaped right to the front of the list of the strongest people in the universe. This was the biggest inheritance left by their predecessors. With enough strength to protect herself, the summoning style would become Aurora’s best combat mode.
Han Xiao smiled and said, “You’re a Beyond Grade A now. Do you want to become a deputy army commander like your sister, or do you have other plans?”
Aurora’s eyes spun, and she said with excitement, “I can protect myself now. Does that mean I can act freely?”
“… Technically, yes.” Han Xiao could only nod.
“Then I want to travel alone. Don’t stop me.” Aurora’s tone was filled with anticipation. She had been extremely bored for years. She basically could not go anywhere at all. All she wanted to do now was travel the universe.
Han Xiao and Hila exchanged a look and saw the resignation in each other’s eyes.
Now that Aurora had become a Beyond Grade A, they could no longer arrange everything for her like before. They had to respect her personal will.
However, at least there was no need to worry about her safety. Aurora could solve most accidents with her current capability.
“I’ll approve it, but you have to take a Throne with you,” Hila said with a serious tone.
Aurora was exhilarated. She turned to look at Han Xiao and said, “By the way, I can join the Beyond Grade A Association now, right?”
She had been longing for the Beyond Grade A Association for a very long time. She had heard that all of its members were talented and sweet. She had been wanting to see for herself.
“Okay, I’ll arrange to put you in… Hmm, the presidential election is in two months. Letting you in will increase my chances too.”
Han Xiao did not reject her.
Now that Aurora had grown, she had more than enough power to protect herself. There was no need to continue hiding her. Plus, she did not want to hide either. She was going to join the association sooner or later.
Although this would make the various organizations once again be reminded of the two Primordial sisters, Han Xiao could deal with it now.
Aurora’s ability might even assist in uniting the Beyond Grade As… Who did not want to last longer?
Aurora blinked and said, “Are you sure you’ll become the president this time?”
Han Xiao smiled. “At least ninety percent sure.”
Over the last fifty years, the Beyond Grade A Association had already completed some of its initial goals. It successfully became a huge profit network. Although it met obstructions from the three Universal Civilizations along the way, there were no too intense conflicts.
Therefore, in the past few years, he did not hold back on causing problems for Manison. He had already obtained the highest reputation in the association; Manison could only be a mascot most of the time.
Other than the support of the internal members, the exterior organizations also supported him. If things remained this way, he would certainly take over the position of the president during the plenary in two months and bring the Beyond Grade A Association into an age led by Black Star.
However, he did not know what Manison had been doing over the last few decades since he had been keeping a low profile all this time. Han Xiao did not know if he would be watching him become the president or do something… However, no matter what, Han Xiao had already made the necessary preparations.
After chatting for a while, Hila brought Aurora to the Underworld to familiarize herself with her abilities, leaving Han Xiao alone.
Han Xiao watched the two of them leave. “The army has now raised a second Beyond Grade A. It’s the only example. It’ll be even better if Lothaire makes a breakthrough too.”
Lothaire had been training hard and improving rapidly in the past forty years. He was already on the path of transformation. However, unlike Aurora, he had to break through some obstacles and was still some distance away from Beyond Grade A. As for the other officers of the army, no one showed any signs of becoming a Beyond Grade A any time soon.
Han Xiao caressed his chin and thought about the presidential election in two months’ time.
Becoming the president was not even the most important thing; the chain reactions it would cause were. For example, the elderlies of the Holy Accord organization had remained quiet for decades, and they agreed with Han Xiao to only appear after he became the Beyond Grade A Association president.
Han Xiao could imagine the reactions of the entire galactic society—even though many details were changed, it would most certainly go back to the path of the Calamity of the Supers incident.
“Quite a number of rookies have been born in the last forty years and have been active in the universe, while I’ve been keeping a low profile for so long. Looks like I’ll be returning to the center of the public attention once again.”
…
The Beyond Grade A Association was already a giant in the galactic society. The election of the president received the attention of countless organizations.
On the Federation of Light’s mother planet, the current federation president, Louis Rocky, tapped the table and said to the chief elder in front of him with a deep voice, “The Beyond Grade A Association is about to have an election. Manison will definitely be beaten by Black Star. What ideas do you guys have?”
The chief elder shook his head and said, “This is unavoidable. Although Black Star is the dynasty’s ally, their honeymoon period has ended. Letting him become the president won’t be a bad thing for us.”
Louis frowned. “I’m not talking about Black Star alone… Not even a single rookie born in the past forty years joined the three Universal Civilizations. All of them went to the Beyond Grade A Association. The existence of the association is already influencing our interests.”
As the Beyond Grade A Association grew, the three Universal Civilizations had been having a harder time controlling it. For example, the spread of knowledge privately happening between Beyond Grade As became more and more frequent, causing the three Universal Civilizations’ system of attracting new Beyond Grade As by monopolizing the Ultimate Knowledges of all the classes to be severely impacted. They could not recruit any new allies.
Of course, the three Universal Civilizations never agreed to let the association pass around knowledge, so this kind of act could be considered a violation of the laws the three Universal Civilizations set. However, the association did not openly share the knowledge, so it would be extremely difficult for the three Universal Civilizations to find who was responsible for what. Hence, they could not prevent the association’s members from spreading the knowledge in private. With the association backing them, the Beyond Grade As cared less and less about the three Universal Civilizations causing trouble for them.
“This is indeed a problem, but to solve it, we’ll have to face the Beyond Grade A Association directly, which will have enormous consequences. I suggest you do not do anything before coming up with a fully developed plan,” another elder said.
Louis tapped the table and narrowed his eyes.
The former president Bader did not want to flip the table on the Beyond Grade As during his term, so this mission fell to him. Louis had no choice but to take responsibility.
Through the past decades, he had become more and more certain that the Beyond Grade A Association was the top problem he had to solve during his term.
From the way Louis looked at it, the Crimson Dynasty and the Arcane Church probably had the same thought.
…
In a certain base of the Holy Accord…
“The Beyond Grade A Association’s presidential election is finally here…”
“After Black Star gets elected, we’ll be able to go out as promised.”
The many Primordial Ones looked at the news on the virtual screen. Some were excited; some were looking forward. They chatted softly.
Oathkeeper stood beside the door with his arms crossed, mumbling.
“This day still came… Black Star, I hope your predictions are right.”
1250 Headstrong
The welcome meeting was being hosted at the association headquarters on Planet Finn.
The remote projections of the Beyond Great As sat in the venue. Compared to forty years ago, there were more seats now. Beside Hila, an empty seat was added for Aurora.
At this time, the Beyond Grade As present were all chatting and curiously guessing the identity of this new Beyond Grade A.
As the information had not been leaked, the people present only knew that another new Beyond Grade A had been born in the universe. They did not know who this rookie was.
“I wonder if the rookie is a neutral or a member of a big organization.”
“There’s no information anywhere at all, and Black Star’s already recruited this guy. I have a feeling this rookie is closely related to Black Star.”
“I’m only curious about what Super class this rookie is.”
“I hope it’s not a Pugilist. There’s already enough people with clogged brains…”
The people chatted within their factions.
After forty years, many more factions were formed in the Beyond Grade A Association.
Some were classified by the huge organization they were in—for example, the three Universal Civilizations direct members, their allies, and the neutral ones. Some were classified by their partnerships, like those Beyond Grade As whose organization worked very well with each other. Others were classified by different classes. These factions were formed because of the private spread of the Ultimate Knowledges, which caused the Beyond Grade As in various classes to gather around the stronger ones with the same class as them.
Because of that, many members hoped the rookie had the same class as them so that they could expand their faction.
Han Xiao let them chat freely for a while. He then clapped and smiled.
“Alright, let’s keep it down and welcome the rookie.”
Hearing that the vice president had spoken, the members all shut their mouths, ignoring Manison, who was resting with his eyes closed.
Not long after, the side gate of the venue opened. The mature version of Aurora walked in and sized up everyone curiously.
The Beyond Grade As present also looked at her with curiosity and mumbled softly.
“So, she’s the new Beyond Grade A. Doesn’t look like a Pugilist, great.”
“Hmm, I don’t know her. I know all the renowned Beyond Grade A seeds in the universe. She’s definitely not one of them.”
“That’s weird. She looks familiar to me… Don’t you guys think she looks a little similar to Hila?”
At this time, Han Xiao spoke. “This rookie’s name is Aurora. She only stepped into the Beyond Grade A territory not long ago. She’s Hila’s sister and also is a member of the Black Star Army. Her ability is the complete opposite of Hila’s. She controls life energy. This can help others to quickly regenerate their wounds and recover their life force… Aurora, on behalf of the Beyond Grade A Association, I welcome you.”
As soon as he said that, shock appeared on almost everyone’s face.
This rookie is a Black Star Army officer again‽
She’s even the relative of another Beyond Grade A. What are the chances of that‽
“One controls death; one controls life. And they’re sisters! Why does this sound familiar?” someone murmured.
Hearing this, many people recalled that there was a similar pair of sisters among the Primordial Ones.
Same Esper Abilities, same two sisters… this is too coincidental!
If someone were to say the two sisters were completely unrelated to the Primordial sisters from history, the vast majority of people there would never believe it.
Recalling the stories of the Primordial sisters, the way they looked at Hila and Aurora changed subtly. On top of disbelief, a tint of desire appeared.
Hila’s ability could reduce people’s life span. If her sister’s ability was the opposite, did that mean she could increase people’s life span? Or could she even imitate the Primordial Ones and create the legendary ‘Underworld’?
Most people present had ideas of befriending Aurora and immediately welcomed her. They were very enthusiastic.
They avoided Hila as much as possible but acted the complete opposite with Aurora.
Seeing this, Hila coldly warned, “Don’t have any ideas about my younger sister. I won’t hold back.”
“We’re greeting Aurora. What does it have to do with you?”
Many snorted.
Although they feared Hila’s ability, they could not act that way.
However, words were one thing. Indeed, not many dared have any vicious thoughts. After operating for fifty years, the association had already established a reputation. Not many were willing to violate the rules and do anything to its members. Furthermore, most people feared the giant organization, the Black Star Army. Even if they were not afraid of Hila, they had to consider Black Star too.
As they thought of Black Star, they could not help but feel bitter and jealous.
He had acquired another Beyond Grade A officer… Where in the world did Black Star find so many top talents from?
“Er, I’m Aurora. I’m glad to join the association…”
Aurora came to her seat and briefly introduced herself. She then read the script she had memorized and said the standard things like ‘it’s an honor to be a part of the association’.
The others responded kindly.
Hila watched on the side and secretly curled her lips.
Tsk, you dogs. I’ve never seen you this enthusiastic toward me before…
Aurora was the focus of today’s welcome meeting. She had finally entered the Beyond Grade A circle and was filled with curiosity. In the face of the others trying to befriend her, she kept on talking excitedly, creating a clear contrast with Hila’s cold image.
From her own words, the others confirmed that Aurora could extend their life span. They were overjoyed.
However, as soon as they mentioned anything about requesting her to do it, Aurora kicked the ball to Han Xiao and stated that she would only listen to Black Star. This was discussed beforehand to increase Han Xiao’s reputation and position further, increasing his chances of being reelected as much as possible.
Hearing this, the people looked at Han Xiao. When they saw that he was smiling, they immediately knew that they had to pay a price for Han Xiao to approve their requests. After knowing him for so many years, they knew that Black Star was not easy to deal with or deceive. The presidential election was very soon; it was easy to figure out what Black Star was trying to convey.
After chatting for some time, someone could not hold back his curiosity and asked, “Why do you work for the Black Star Army?”
“Well, Black Star saved me…” Aurora briefly shared her experience in the Germinal Organization, saying that Black Star had saved her life.
Hearing this, even those who knew about Black Star’s early history were astonished.
A puny surface civilizations organization that made three Beyond Grade As, just how blessed is this Germinal Organization‽
After some time, seeing that they chatted about enough, Han Xiao spoke and changed the topic.
“Alright, you’ve all met. Let me use this opportunity to say something. The next plenary will be the presidential election. Manison will step down then, and all members can run. The election will be in the form of voting, and everyone has one vote. Don’t forget.”
The people nodded.
At the same time, Manison’s eyes opened slightly. He glanced at Han Xiao and closed them again.
…
On a certain planet in the Flickering World…
“The next presidential election, huh? If I can take that seat…”
Inside a palace, Royce’s eyes gleamed.
He was a relatively new Beyond Grade A. With the assistance of this platform, he quickly formed his own organization. Therefore, he knew what power the association had very well and had been eyeing it all along. Occasionally, he would fantasize about himself being on top of it.
The next president would be elected in two months’ time, and Royce felt his chance was here.
As a rookie, he knew that he could not compete with seniors like Black Star. However, the ambition in his chest made him want to give it a try no matter what.
What if he made it?
He was a doer. As soon as he had that thought, he immediately started to act on it.
“I’m definitely no match for Black Star in terms of strength, but the election is vote based. Although my chance is thin, it’s not completely hopeless…”
Royce’s eyes spun rapidly.
The rookies who had just stepped into the Beyond Grade A circle for a short amount of time had no way of finding out about Han Xiao’s personal relationship with the other members, so he did not have a strong sense of Black Star’s connections.
Therefore, in Royce’s eyes, he did not have completely no chance.
One of the reasons he dared do this was that as a member of the association, his life would not be in danger.
In terms of combat, although Royce admitted he was no match for Han Xiao, he felt the difference would not be too big.
When Royce came to fame, Han Xiao had kept a low profile for quite some time. Everything he knew about Black Star’s strength came from hearing it from others; he had never experienced it personally, nor could he really see the details by looking at the videos on the internet.
Overconfidence was a common problem for most new Beyond Grade As. They were ambitious and headstrong, always dreaming of taking over those at the peak.
Usually, only a beating from society could cure this illness, but ever since Royce became a Beyond Grade A, he had yet to receive any ‘treatment’.
“Although Black Star wants to become the president, who said I can’t take it from him?”
Royce started planning in his head and was looking forward to it.
…
Two months passed very quickly, and the election of the Beyond Grade A Association came as expected. The various organizations in the universe all focused their attention and waited for the results.
Inside the closed venue, all members came online earlier than usual. The atmosphere was solemn. The people’s eyes kept moving back and forth between Manison and Han Xiao.
“Ahem, since everyone is here, let’s start,” Han Xiao said. He then looked at Manison with a smile. “Let’s have the president host the meeting.”
Manison glanced at him, slowly stood up, and looked around the entire venue.
After a short silence, Manison then spoke. “The association rules state that the president will be elected every fifty years. Now that fifty years have passed, I’ll be stepping down from the president position and will not be running today.”
As soon as he said that, the people were stunned.
Although most people knew that Manison would not be re-elected, no one felt he would easily give up. To their surprise, Manison gave up running for president completely.
Han Xiao was a little surprised too. He was already prepared to debate with Manison, but Manison directly gave up.
Odd, this doesn’t suit old Manison’s personality!
“Are you really not running? Is it because you’re worried about being embarrassed when you lose to me?” Han Xiao asked to confirm.
“Humph.” Manison did not reply.
Seeing this, Han Xiao shook his head.
No matter what Manison was thinking, as long as he did not run, his biggest competitor would be gone. Becoming the president was almost certain for Han Xiao.
“If that’s the case, I’ll be the first to run.” Han Xiao looked around at the expression on everyone’s faces and asked, “Who else?”
Many people looked away and did not meet his eyes.
Judging from the current situation, it was basically already decided that Black Star would become the president. Plus, he was indeed the most suitable for it.
None of the peak Beyond Grade As who were the most qualified to run even spoke, so most people read the room and shut their mouths. They were thinking they might as well let Black Star be the only one running so that the voting round could be skipped, and he would become the president on the spot.
However, when everyone thought that was how it was going to be, a voice filled with confidence sounded.
“I’ll run!”
Who? Who’s so headstrong‽
The people were shocked. As they turned around, their expressions became odd.
Royce raised his hand and remained in the posture. He had an excited smile on his face as if he was enjoying the moment of being the center of attention.
“Are you sure?” Han Xiao was a little surprised.
“Anyone can run anyway, so why not try it? What if I win‽” Royce was not afraid at all and looked directly at Han Xiao’s eyes, giving the vibe of confronting him directly.
This looked quite hot-blooded on the surface, but in the eyes of the people present, it was nothing but ridiculous.
This rookie is so daring. Does he really want to wrestle with Black Star?
At the same time, Aurora quietly whispered into Hila’s ear and asked, “This guy should be a Pugilist, right?”
Hila glanced at her.
“You guessed that right.”
A rookie wants to compete for the position of president against me? Who gave you the courage?
Han Xiao looked at Royce’s confidence. Thoughts quickly spun in his mind, and many speculations flashed past.
However, when he recalled Royce’s class, the surprise in his mind disappeared completely.
Oh, he’s a Pugilist, never mind.
Han Xiao shook his head and stopped speculating Royce’s motive.
The way the Pugilists’ brain worked was, well, refreshing. Most of the time, one thought they were at the second or the first level, when actually they were at the negative one level. There was no need to think too much.
Han Xiao did consider the possibility of some peak Beyond Grade A trying to compete, but he never thought a rookie would step up out of nowhere. This meant that they had to enter the voting round, but it was not a big deal.
Although he had no idea where Royce’s confidence came from… he was a Pugilist, so it was understandable.
“Anyone else want to run?” Han Xiao moved his eyes away and scanned through the conference room.
The people exchanged looks, and no one responded.
Seeing this, Han Xiao nodded. “If that’s the case, only Royce and I will be running. You guys can vote now.”
Everyone there was a Beyond Grade A. No one’s opinion could be ignored, so everyone could vote.
Those who always stood on the side of the Black Star faction voted immediately and supported Han Xiao as the president. The direct members of the three Universal Civilizations also voted for him. Some of the peak Beyond Grade As who were upper echelons of the association also expressed their support for Han Xiao.
Other than Heber, Psyker, Manison, and a very few who abstained. Almost all the members voted for Han Xiao.
As for Royce, he stood alone and did not receive a single vote. It was almost lonesome.
Han Xiao could not help but glance at him with an odd look.
Wait, what, that’s it?
You didn’t even get anyone on your side, yet you still came to compete…
What are you so confident about?
Even Han Xiao felt awkward for Royce just by looking at his bewildered expression.
Come on kid, did you really think anyone would vote for a rookie? Are you the kind of person who likes to be humiliated?
The voting was completely one-sided. Han Xiao regulated his emotions, cleared his throat, and said, “The situation is clear then. Royce, do you accept this result?”
The people simultaneously turned to look at Royce with all kinds of emotions such as mockery, pity, disdain, and other complicated emotions in their eyes.
Royce opened his mouth, sat down, and said sadly, “I accept.”
Although he only gambled because he knew there was no risk involved and he would not lose anything even if he did not get elected, seeing how big the difference was, he was still embarrassed.
Royce actually had quite the plan. He knew he most likely would not be elected as the president, but he thought that if he could receive some votes during the election, it would at least show that he had some reputation, so he would not have to be treated like a rookie in the future and be involved in more affairs of the association.
In his eyes, this was the first step for a rookie to obtain a higher position.
In order to achieve this goal, he indeed did contact other association members privately and expressed his thoughts of running for president in the calls, and some people promised to support him even. This was why he had the confidence to run.
However, when the time came, those b*stards all broke their promises!
Actually, what he did not know was, most people thought he was just kidding and promised him as a joke, which mistakenly gave Royce confidence.
As these people were all stronger than him, Royce did not dare vent his anger and could only sulk in the corner while screaming in his mind that verbal promises were not reliable.
Han Xiao was not interested in what Royce was thinking.
He knew Pugilists way too well; it was not that their brains were really made of muscles but that the path of the Pugilist required a ‘no backing down’ attitude. For those Pugilists who could become Beyond Grade As, this personality would definitely be more apparent. In other words, Pugilists who were not headstrong would have a harder time becoming a Beyond Grade A.
And this was exactly the reason Han Xiao had high hopes for Lothaire. After all, this man was the prime example of someone who was headstrong…
Random thoughts flashed past. Han Xiao focused, looked around, and smiled.
“Thanks for your support, everyone. I shall gladly take on the position of the president.”
Aurora clapped first with her face filled with excitement.
Seeing someone lead the applause, the others hesitated for a moment and also clapped symbolically. Most people were rather reserved and not used to doing something like this.
A round of not too loud or too soft applause sounded in the room. Han Xiao smiled in return.
Although he already expected this to happen beforehand, when it actually happened, he still felt content.
He was the leader of the Beyond Grade A Association and could formally lead the Beyond Grade As. His influence evolved to a higher level.
The effects of [Proof of Leadership] also updated right away. He only received part of the bonuses when he was the vice president, but when he became the president, the bonuses were finally complete. Although it was not so tremendous it would increase his strength drastically, it was still a cherry on top.
As the president was elected, the position of the vice president became vacant. An election was then also carried out. This time, the system changed. The number of vice presidents changed from one to two, taken by Kasuyi and Sierron.
Other than that, the association also decided on a few new directors, including Hila.
The voting process was very simple. The procedures were smoothly carried out, and the handover was completed.
Han Xiao finally sat in the main seat. On his left and right were Kasuyi and Sierron.
An inaugural address was needed even in the Beyond Grade A circle. Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Han Xiao pondered for a few seconds before speaking.
“Since I’ve been elected as the president, let me say a few words… It has already been fifty years since the Beyond Grade A Association was founded. From nothing, we have built a strong foundation. We’ve done quite a good job till now, and we couldn’t have done it without the contributions of the former president Manison and all of you here.
“The initial purpose of founding the association was to unite all Beyond Grade As, form an interest network, and protect the Beyond Grade As. This purpose will be passed on. All decisions made in the future will work in accordance with this principle. All individuals or organizations who attempt to divide the Beyond Grade As will be the association’s enemy.
“As for me… I’ll also do my very best to make the association grow better, making it into a shelter for all Beyond Grade As. I won’t say too much. All of you here know what kind of person I am. I’ll certainly do my best to live up to your expectations.”
At this point, no matter what their thoughts about Han Xiao were, all the Beyond Grade As were nodding with approval.
Everyone present knew that from this second, the Beyond Grade A Association had entered the age of Black Star!
Looking at the different expressions on their faces, Han Xiao paused before speaking again in an unusual tone.
“We might see a revolution not far in the future. Be mentally prepared.”
Hearing this, many people could sense that Han Xiao was subtly conveying a meaningful message, but they could not figure out what it was.
And Han Xiao did not elaborate.
When the Holy Accord members appeared, a drastic change would come.
He could already see that a storm was about to arrive!
…
In a certain secret base of the Mechanic Emperor, as the election meeting ended, Manison deactivated the remote projection, and his sights returned to the dark room.
He picked up another communicator that had been in a call all this time, and the person he was calling was surprisingly Kasuyi.
“Thanks to you not running. The handover was smooth,” Kasuyi said with a smile.
“For the record, I did not give up running because you came to ask me do it,” Manison said with a poker face and a normal tone.
Others had no idea that the two of them negotiated privately. Kasuyi secretly contacted Manison and asked him to give up thinking of being re-elected. They had made an agreement under the table.
Kasuyi smiled. “No matter what, you’ve helped me.”
“Humph, it was an election, but it looked like Black Star was the only one whose words mattered.” Manison snorted with dissatisfaction.
“That’s called ‘the support of the people led to the right result happening’.” Kasuyi laughed.
“I have no idea what benefits Black Star gave you for you to help him this much. If I ran for office, even if I might not be re-elected, I’d at least be a vice president.” Manison frowned.
Kasuyi shook his head. “He didn’t give me anything. I did this of my own volition.”
“Ever since you and him went to the secondary dimensions together a few decades ago, you’ve always spoken for him. Did Black Star grab your heart with his charm? Humph, anyway, it’s none of my concern. Just don’t forget you owe me a favor.” Manison snorted softly.
“I won’t, old friend.”
Kasuyi smiled, and his figure disappeared from the screen.
Manison hung up the call, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
Kasuyi’s request was only a very small factor in him choosing not to do anything during the election. He was actually already planning to do it.
The first reason was that he knew his place and knew that there was no way he could beat Black Star, so he did not want to humiliate himself. The second reason was that he wanted to keep a low profile and let Black Star take all the pressure so that he could look for opportunities in the dark and turn things around in future elections.
The third reason was the main reason Manison made this choice. After forty years of growth, the Beyond Grade A Association had become more and more independent, which prevented the three Universal Civilizations from gaining any new allies. He saw the brewing danger in this situation and felt that the three Universal Civilizations would very soon take the next step.
He stepped down to let Black Star take all the pressure.
Manison also understood that Black Star was the best person to lead the association in times like this. Black Star’s words mattered to the three Universal Civilizations, so he could relieve the pressure from the three Universal Civilizations to a certain extent. Black Star had a higher chance of leading the association to conquer the difficulties ahead and prevent the ‘cleansing’ from happening.
He had personal beef with Black Star, but protecting the safety of the Beyond Grade As was more important to him. Therefore, he chose to take a step back and not cause problems for Han Xiao’s election.
Manison closed his eyes.
“The three Universal Civilizations won’t watch us grow infinitely. Having rested for more than forty years, they’ll act soon… Black Star, will your method be enough to deal with the next ‘Tragedy of the Pinnacles’?
“Your philosophy is wrong; peaceful developments won’t lead to compromise. If we don’t make rulers like the three Universal Civilizations feel afraid, how can they allow us to grow stronger freely? If you can’t hold on, don’t blame me for releasing the imitation of the Virtual Mutiny Virus…”
…
“Black Star has taken over as the president of the Beyond Grade A Association.”
This news rapidly spread out in the galactic society, which had been paying attention.
Tons of reports appeared on the internet, announcing the arrival of the age of Black Star!
Suddenly, Black Star, who had kept a low profile for forty years, became the center of attention once again. His reputation and fame rocketed, and his legendary deeds of the past got brought up by the media once again for promotion, attracting tons of attention. Even the stock price of the Germinal Financial Group increased quite a bit because of it.
Overall, the galactic society had a positive attitude for this change. Black Star was the hero of the universe who solved the Intelligent Plague, a Stuarts Peace Prize winner, a receiver of the Galaxy Medal, the shared consultant of the three Universal Civilizations… These titles were so much better than the Mechanic Emperor’s. Most people trusted that the Beyond Grade A Association would peacefully grow under Han Xiao’s lead.
While the outside world expressed all kinds of opinions about the Beyond Grade A Association having a new president, Han Xiao had already teleported to the Ancient Star Desert and met with the Holy Accord organization.
He did not go there just to discuss the Primordial Ones appearing in public but also for another big matter…
The keys to open the Third Sanctum were once again all collected!
1252 Enter
“Yo, it’s been some time. You’re still wearing this? Don’t you need to wash your clothes?” Han Xiao laughed and joked.
“… No.” Oathkeeper’s lips twitched. “I’ve been waiting for you. Let’s talk inside.”
Oathkeeper led the way ahead. Han Xiao followed him along the corridor of the base.
The two spoke while walking.
Han Xiao scratched his chin and said curiously, “It’s only been a few decades, and you’ve collected all The Third Sanctum’s keys again. Aren’t you too efficient?”
“That’s nothing. There’s only zero times or countless times for entering the Sanctums. With experience, doing it again becomes much easier. Some keys are not single use, and we’ve kept inventory of them. For example, the Primal Esper Ability Entities. We were stuck on that previously, and we managed to collect them all the last time, so we just have to use them again… As for the other types of keys, with your financial help and channels you provided, collecting them was much easier than before,” Oathkeeper explained.
Han Xiao nodded.
Basically, the crucial items could be reused and did not have to be collected again.
It was the same in the previous life too. The Holy Accord organization’s scale was much larger than when they appeared, which meant that Oathkeeper had definitely entered the Sanctums multiple times, so being this efficient was not surprising.
This time, Han Xiao would be entering the Sanctum alone to complete the third round for the [A Relay Across Iterations] mission as well as out of curiosity.
The two of them chatted along the way and came to the elderlies activity room. As soon as Han Xiao walked in, dozens of pairs of eyes focused on him.
The many revived Primordial Ones were waiting there. As soon as they saw Han Xiao, they all swarmed over and surrounded him.
“Black Star, congrats on being elected as the association president!”
“The promised time has come. We can go out now, right?”
They spoke noisily.
Han Xiao raised his hand and signaled for them to calm down. He then said slowly, “Hmm, it’s about time. But I think it’s better to wait one or two more years.”
“One or two years?”
The expressions on their faces changed slightly.
You told us to stay here three years after three years. Now it’s almost fifty years, pal! We really can’t hold it in much longer!
“Ahem, guys, don’t be in such a hurry. I have three reasons for that.”
Han Xiao pointed his fingers and explained, “Firstly, I’ve only just been elected as the president, so it’s best to wait a little. Secondly, in the past forty years, the three Universal Civilizations have not gotten a single new ally, so they’re probably not very happy about it. I have to see what they’re going to do first.
“As for the last reason… it’s that I have to enter the Sanctum, and I don’t know how long it’ll take.”
According to Oathkeeper, the flow of time in the Sanctums was different from the outside world. Oathkeeper did not feel like he spent a long time inside, but when he came out, he found out that a few years had already passed in the main universe. Therefore, Han Xiao had to prepare for that.
Hearing this, the many Primordial Ones looked like they were in a dilemma.
They wanted to go out right away, but if Han Xiao was in the Sanctum and might disappear for a few years, without the support of President Black Star in this period of time, many things would be difficult.
“Doesn’t matter,” Pangon coldly said. “I wasn’t going to join the association anyway. I’ve decided, I’ll leave shortly!”
Han Xiao glanced at him, nodded, and did not say anything.
This batch of revived Primordial Ones were generally divided into three groups with different goals. One wanted to enjoy the privileges of Beyond Grade As in a peaceful era so wanted to join the association. For example, Lady Lust. They were the ones who were conflicted.
The second group wanted to continue hiding in the Holy Accord and help Oathkeeper operate the organization. They did not plan to go out, so of course, they had no problem with waiting.
The last group were the creditors from the exploration era wanting to take revenge against the advanced civilizations. They were the minority, and their representative was Pangon. He planned to be a lone wolf to begin with, so he did not want to join the association.
Han Xiao did not want these people to join either. After all, acts of revenge would heavily intensify the conflicts between the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade As. If those people entered the association, should the association help them or not when the time came? Most association members would definitely oppose helping them. Therefore, he felt he might as well let these lone wolves be so that they do not drag the association down with them.
In his previous life, these people’s acts of revenge were one of the crucial fuses of the Calamity of the Supers version. Han Xiao did not care about where Pangon and the others were going.
Han Xiao knew what Pangon was thinking too. Pangon did not expect the association to help. He knew the purpose of the Beyond Grade A Association, so he did not want to burden the association and decided to take on the responsibility of taking revenge alone.
In Han Xiao’s previous life, Pangon never leaked the existence of the Holy Accord. Therefore, though headstrong, this guy was loyal to his morals.
Han Xiao looked at Beiger and the others. “What about you guys? Are you willing to wait for me?”
Beiger thought about it, nodded, and said, “Although we can’t endure it much longer, the big picture is still more important. We might not be from the same generation as the modern Beyond Grade As, but we all represent the same grade and share the same interests. When we appear, the entire Beyond Grade A class will definitely be shaken. Don’t worry, we won’t damage the big picture for our personal interests.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao smiled with satisfaction.
After more than forty years, most Primordial Ones had adapted to the era. Some of them no longer only thought for themselves and were tricked… ahem… convinced by him to be invested in the Beyond Grade A Association’s future, letting go of their past in the exploration era. They decided to participate in this new warfare between the Beyond Grade As and the advanced civilizations and were willing to fight for the entire Beyond Grade A class.
From these people’s perspective, when the huge change arrived, they could not not have the key person, Black Star. For that, they were willing to continue hiding for some time.
Although Beiger and these guys had yet to appear in public, in their hearts, they already considered themselves members of the Beyond Grade A Association and had the collective interest in their mind.
“Great, I was not wrong about you guys…” Han Xiao laughed, quickly comforting their emotions.
As they received a response, they arranged their emotions and went back to playing cards on the side.
Han Xiao pulled Oathkeeper out of the elderlies activity room and into a side room to speak privately.
Han Xiao closed the door and said, “To deal with the drastic change that’s about to come, we need more Beyond Grade As. Are all the revival mediums prepared?”
“Hmm, they’re all ready. Thanks to the fact that many Beyond Grade As left offspring and races behind, they weren’t difficult to collect.” Oathkeeper nodded.
This time, Han Xiao would be entering the Sanctums. He was going in with a mission—to revive more Beyond Grade As.
Reviving Beyond Grade As through the Sanctums required all kinds of mediums. In the past few decades, the Black Star Army and the Holy Accord organization had been secretly carrying out this task of collecting objects related to old Beyond Grade As. They included their inheritance, the remaining people of their race, and others.
Han Xiao took the list and scanned through. His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Looks like there are some strong people in the list of people we’re reviving this round.”
“No matter how strong they are, are they stronger than you?” Oathkeeper curled his lips.
“You’re right about that. I’m f*cking invincible.” Han Xiao accepted this compliment.
He then recalled Jayz of the Celestial Star Alliance and wondered if he could revive this guy from a different Iteration.
Shaking his head, Han Xiao temporarily put away this thought. He found an empty room and entered alone. He blocked all the surveillance in the room, took out his communicator, and called a number.
He first called Kasuyi. Very soon, Kasuyi appeared on the screen.
“Black Star… oh no, it’s Mr. President now. What is it?” Kasuyi smiled.
Han Xiao scratched his chin and said, “I might have to disappear for an unknown amount of time, maybe a few days, maybe a few years. When I’m not around, help manage the association’s affairs.”
“Where are you going?” Kasuyi wiped the smile off his face and frowned.
“Remember our experience in the secondary dimensions? I found some clues and need to spend some time investigating them.” Han Xiao did not share the details, but Kasuyi knew about the Sanctum-related information too, so he would know what he was saying.
As expected, Kasuyi understood what he meant and looked surprised. He did not question him further, nodded seriously, and said, “Go then, don’t worry. I’ll take care of the association.”
When Kasuyi found out about the Sanctums from Jayz a few decades ago, he knew that Han Xiao’s path was the right one and stood on his side. They had become secret allies.
Kasuyi had no interest in power; he stepped up to become the vice president not because he wanted a higher position but because Han Xiao told him to as it would indirectly help Han Xiao solidify his position further. It had no disadvantages anyway, so he did not mind helping Han Xiao.
“I’ll leave it to you then.”
Han Xiao nodded, said a few more things, and hung up.
He did not stop there. He then called up Hila, Ames, and so on, telling them he would disappear for some time, going to the secondary dimensions to look for opportunities to undergo God’s Trait Transformation.
This was not rare for peak Beyond Grade As, so this excuse was very useful. Hila, Ames, and the others did not suspect anything.
Han Xiao told them to take care of the army while he was out.
Then, he called the last few numbers, the three Universal Civilizations’ men.
The three Universal Civilizations once wanted him to be elected, thinking he would be a more suitable leader of the association than the Mechanic Emperor. However, after decades, conflicts accumulated quicker than expected, so this slight favor was no longer enough. There was no way the three Universal Civilizations would allow the Beyond Grade A Association to continue becoming stronger just because of him alone.
Han Xiao did not know how long he would spend in the Sanctums, so he planned to restate his identity and stance to keep things stable for a period of time.
The negotiation was considerably smooth. After all, he still had the consultant of the three Universal Civilizations title. Han Xiao found out what the three Universal Civilizations were planning to do.
The three Universal Civilizations were still observing the changes him becoming the president would cause, so they would not make the conflicts explode in a short period of time. This was logical and within his expectations.
After arranging everything, Han Xiao approached Oathkeeper again, looked at his anticipation-filled eyes, and nodded solemnly.
“Start the preparations and open the Sanctum as soon as possible!”
…
Three days later, at an unpopulated area near the Holy Accord organization’s base, spaceships hovered in the desolate cosmic space.
Han Xiao was the only one hovering outside the spaceships. He remained in contact with Oathkeeper using the screen inside the mechanical suit.
On the screen, Oathkeeper made an encouraging gesture and said, “Ready? Everything’s ready on my side. The Sanctum can be opened anytime.”
“Do it.” Han Xiao exhaled and calmed his emotions.
Oathkeeper nodded, turned around, and ordered, “All units, begin!”
As soon as he said that, the spaceships immediately moved. They had rehearsed the process countless times, like an impressive machine, not a single mistake was made.
Bang bang bang!
Primal Esper Ability Entities were shot out one after another, contained in special seals. Colorful light beams focused at one point, rapidly expanded, and turned into a hovering white sphere.
Under the effects of special devices, like a piece of rubber, the light sphere shrank into a bright ring only about a hundred meters wide. Its energy was extremely condensed.
Then, the remaining spaceships activated one device after another and released the other ‘keys’ into this ring through beams.
As the space seemed to have trembled, the ring suddenly shone even brighter and projected six mirage-like light gates.
The next second, five light gates disappeared, leaving only one that seemed to have materialized from an illusion to something real. It was still shaking unsteadily like it could disappear any second.
“That’s the entrance of the Third Sanctum. Go!” Oathkeeper hastily said.
Han Xiao focused his mind, activated his thrusters, and dashed into the Sanctum’s entrance.
The next moment, the light before his eyes suddenly became much brighter. All he could see was white.
The moment he passed the gate, Han Xiao felt his body suddenly become lighter as if he had broken through some kind of barrier. He felt fuzzy, like he was no longer in this world.
“I’m finally inside…”
1253 The Third Sanctum 1
Han Xiao’s vision slowly became clear as he gradually saw his surroundings.
This was an endless world of white with no gravity. His body floated in midair. Countless white light spheres floated all around him, some small, some large. Looking from afar, every light sphere seemed to be playing blurry images.
“The Third Sanctum does indeed look no different from what Oathkeeper described…”
Han Xiao looked around curiously. Suddenly, he turned around and saw that the light gate entrance he came from was trembling intensely as if it was going to collapse.
Suddenly, out of intuition, he extended his hand and closed his fist.
Buzz!
At this time, a stream of special energy suddenly appeared in his body. Six warm streams of energy seemed to have appeared out of thin air and gathered on his palm, turning into a glowing unique pattern.
The next moment, the entrance seemed to have received some kind of support and instantly became stable, turning into a slowly spinning light gate like a glowing mirror.
“What’s this?”
Han Xiao was surprised. Earlier, he only thought of not wanting the entrance to disappear, and suddenly, he intuitively felt that he could make it happen, which was exactly what happened.
He looked down on his palm and observed this mark that appeared out of nowhere. It looked like it was a combination of six patterns, and it did not seem whole.
“That’s weird. When did I have this thing inside my body?”
Han Xiao was just about to open the interface to check his status, when to his absolute shock, he discovered he could no longer open the interface.
This was the first time ever the interface did not respond!
Han Xiao frowned. He clenched his fist and tried to command the energy inside his body, the next moment, streams of golden Mechanical Force shot out.
“Hmm. Although the interface can’t be opened, my status did not change. I’m still at my peak.”
Han Xiao sensed the state of his body and heaved a sigh of relief. Although he could not open the interface for the time being, it did not affect his abilities.
Since the very start, everything he felt was real. All the abilities he learned became his own techniques that he could use anytime. If it was a player, they would not even be able to use any ability at all without the interface. For example, when building machines, he had to personally finish all the processes, while players only had to wait for the progress bar to finish. The difference was huge.
This was Han Xiao’s first time inside a Sanctum. All he could do was slowly figure things out.
He tested several abilities and realized he could use almost all of them. The only ones he could not use were the abilities that were related to the outside world such as quantum network communication functions and the Dimension Factory. Even the King’s teleportation function became unusable.
Although he somehow stopped the Sanctum entrance from disappearing, all means of communication he had with the outside world were no longer working. His call with the Holy Accord organization was also cut off.
“Interesting. The Sanctum is very special. Not only is the King suit useless, even the interface can’t be opened…”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, and his brain quickly spun. Staring at the mark on his palm, he suddenly had a flash of insight.
“Six patterns… six… if I remember correctly, that’s about the same number of Third Sanctum fragments I have, isn’t it?”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
Despite not being able to see the interface now, he still remembered things like that.
Initially, he only had two [The Third Sanctum] fragments, one from the [Primal Esper Ability Collector] milestone and another from beating up the elderlies of Holy Accord.
The mission requirement of the third round of [A Relay Across Iterations] was to enter any one of the Sanctums. The reward was three Sanctum fragments of the respective Sanctum. Although he could not see the interface now, Han Xiao had a feeling that the interface might still be operating. He could not see the notifications, but the mission rewards were still given.
If that was the case, he had five Third Sanctum fragments.
As for the one extra fragment, Han Xiao had a few speculations about it. According to Oathkeeper’s experience, the biggest possibility was that by entering any Sanctums, he would automatically obtain its respective fragment.
If this theory was true, the number would match, and it would explain this situation. This meant that this mark did not appear out of thin air but had always been sleeping inside his body, and the activation requirement was to enter the corresponding Sanctum.
“I had no idea about the use of Sanctum fragments, but they stabilized the Sanctum entrance just now… Does this mean that the Sanctum fragments are related to the level of authority I have in the Sanctums? The more fragments I have, the more things I can do?
“Oathkeeper said he felt like he was in a dream when he was in the Sanctum and his mind was not clear, but my mind is only a little bit distracted and not as fuzzy as he said. Is this also because of the Sanctum fragments?”
Han Xiao could not help but ponder.
Suddenly, he regained focus and shook his head heavily.
“These things can only be speculated now. I can’t waste too much time. I should find out what happened after I go out and can see the interface… The priority now is to observe the Sanctum!”
Han Xiao focused, controlled his body, and flew to the nearest light sphere. He opened his eyes wide, wanting to see the illusions in it clearly, but it was still very blurry.
He hesitated for a moment, reached out the hand that had the Sanctum mark, and carefully touched this light sphere.
Swoosh!
At the moment he came into contact with it, an enormous stream of information gushed into his mind like a tsunami.
Suddenly, illusions appeared before Han Xiao’s eyes. It was as if he saw the entire rise and fall of a race, creating a glorious civilization, breeding great people generation after generation, improving its technology rapidly. It was eventually destroyed in a disaster.
Han Xiao remained stunned for quite some time before removing his hand. He realized that he could only remember parts of the illusions he saw. Some knowledge appeared in his head out of nowhere that seemed to be a part of the technology this civilization created in its development.
“This knowledge mainly revolves around biology and gene tech. It’s only a part of this civilization’s technology…”
Han Xiao digested this surprise and went back to touching more light spheres.
After several tests, he had a rough idea of the mechanics of the Sanctum and concluded a few patterns from speculations.
Firstly, every light sphere was an Information Form collective body that recorded the information of various things, mainly civilizations. Usually, one light sphere represented one civilization. None of them existed historically and should all be from the past Iterations.
Secondly, he could read the information inside the light spheres by touching them, but he could only remember parts. The number of things he could remember should be related to the level of authority he had, meaning the number of Sanctum fragments he possessed.
However, there was a limit to the number of memories he could keep. At a certain point, when he read new light spheres, he would forget a part of the information he read earlier.
According to the nature of the Information Form, the number of memories he could keep every time he entered the Sanctums was very likely limited and would only be reset the next time he entered. This meant that the amount of knowledge he could bring out of the Sanctums each time was limited too, and the limit probably still depended on the number of Sanctum fragments.
Thirdly, after touching multiple light spheres, he noticed that the technology he acquired was mostly related to biology, genetics, and Esper Abilities. This might be the difference between Sanctums, meaning that the knowledge of these civilizations in the past Iterations was stored separately based on its type. Different Sanctums might represent the different types of knowledge. The Third Sanctum most likely contained the biology, genetics, and Esper Ability related technology.
Fourthly, some light spheres contained information about Beyond Grade As from different Iterations. By reading it, he could immerse himself in their life experience and even acquire some of the information they knew.
However, there were only Espers in the Third Sanctum. According to Han Xiao’s speculation, if he read the light spheres about Mechanics or Mages, he would very likely acquire the knowledges, technology, spells, blueprints, or other things these Beyond Grade As had.
“Jayz didn’t lie…”
Han Xiao was shocked.
Although parts of these patterns were speculation, he felt that it should be very close to the truth!
Other than completing the revival goal, Oathkeeper almost did not gain anything at all the last time he entered the Sanctum. It might be because his level of authority was not high enough.
However, he had six fragments in the Third Sanctum to begin with. His authority level was a full five levels higher than Oathkeeper. He should be able to do much more.
Having thought of Jayz, his request appeared in Han Xiao’s mind.
“Let’s see how the Sanctum revival system works.”
Han Xiao focused and took out the mediums that Oathkeeper had given him.
As soon as he thought about testing how the Sanctum revival system worked, the mark on his palm seemed to have sensed it and flickered.
Swoosh!
The next second, thin lines of light suddenly shot out from some light spheres and met before Han Xiao’s eyes. With a bright flash, a glowing mark hovered in midair.
Han Xiao sized it up and was delighted.
“This mark… it’s the Sanctum revival mark Oathkeeper drew.”
Han Xiao reached out and touched this mark right away. The mark instantly turned into a stream of light and landed on the back of his hand.
At the same time, a stream of data flowed into his brain that recorded the instructions on how to use the Sanctum revival mark and the list of targets this mark could revive.
Sadly, Jayz was not in the list.
“Looks like it failed…”
Having realized that, Han Xiao sighed.
Either this medium of his was not recognized by the Sanctum, or there was some kind of restriction on reviving targets from other Iterations like Jayz said.
Although they did not spend a lot of time together, Jayz left a heavy impression on him. Since the revival had failed and he could not meet Jayz again, Han Xiao felt complicated.
“Never mind, this is just fate.”
Han Xiao shook his head and cleared up his emotions. His thoughts jumped from Jayz to the Celestial Star Alliance, and he murmured, “The Information Form collective body of the Celestial Star Alliance Iteration should also be inside the Sanctums, right?”
As soon as he thought of that, the Sanctum mark reacted and glowed, pointing to a direction.
Seeing this, unprepared, Han Xiao was surprised.
Then, he flew in the direction the mark pointed and stopped beside a bunch of light spheres.
“Are these the Information Form light spheres of the Celestial Star Alliance Iteration?”
As he thought that, he read the content of one of the light spheres and immediately verified his speculation. It indeed contained the information of a certain civilization from the Celestial Star Alliance Iteration.
Regaining focus, Han Xiao looked at the mark on his hand with surprise.
“Looks like I guessed correctly. The Sanctum fragments represent authority, but it’s surprising it can even lead the way… Well, I guess it makes sense. There’s so much Information Form information inside the Sanctum; finding a specific piece of information is like finding a needle in a haystack.”
As soon as he said that, Han Xiao’s body shook, and a daring thought appeared in Han Xiao’s head. He mumbled, “If it can lead the way like an index, if I search for the Iteration information of the Galaxy and find it, does that mean that we’re already…”
Buzz!
Before he even finished, the Sanctum mark pointed in another direction.
“There really is‽”
Han Xiao’s breath stopped for a second, and his heart sank.
He bit his lips, followed the direction silently, and came to a light sphere.
He stood in place for quite some time before he finally prepared himself mentally, took a deep breath, and slowly touched this light sphere.
However, the next moment, Han Xiao was dumbfounded.
There was no content in this light sphere. It was empty!
“Why isn’t there anything‽”
Han Xiao had touched many light spheres. This was the first time he had come across this.
He then tried to search for the three Universal Civilizations of the Galaxy and the other advanced civilizations.
Every search worked, but none of the target light spheres had any information in them at all. They were all empty shells.
Han Xiao was shocked yet could not help but feel relieved.
He was worried about seeing the information of the explored universe inside the Sanctum. It would mean that just like the Celestial Star Alliance, Galaxy was only an illusion of the past. However, this was beyond his expectations. Although he could search for the target civilizations, they were all empty. Han Xiao did not know what it meant, but at least it was not the worst scenario.
“Interesting, what is going on?”
Han Xiao frowned and pondered, beginning to speculate.
“The reason they’re empty shells… does it mean that Galaxy is the ongoing Iteration, meaning it’s the present, and its related information will only be recorded by the Sanctum after we experience the Great Reboot? If that’s really the case, it should be good news…”
This time, Han Xiao suddenly thought of something, and his expression changed slightly.
“Therefore, these empty shells… are the gravestones the Sanctum prepared for this Iteration?
“Is the Sanctum trying to say that nothing can escape death?”
Han Xiao became silent.
He silently looked at the empty light sphere before him. At this moment, his heart was filled with a strong sense of grief.
1254 The Third Sanctum 2
Han Xiao took a deep breath, cleared his emotions, and buried them, not looking at the empty light sphere in front of him any longer.
“This isn’t a bad thing. At least it’s not an illusion of the past like the Celestial Star Alliance. Plus, judging from the Celestial Star Alliance’s time period, the Galaxy is far from the Great Reboot. I don’t even know if I’ll live till that day…
“Speaking of which, if I search for Planet Earth, will it have any results?”
This thought suddenly appeared in Han Xiao’s mind.
He looked down at the mark but realized it did not respond this time. He raised his brows.
“Hmm, no reaction, huh? My old home is still in another world then. It has nothing to do with our Iterations…”
Han Xiao shook his head.
He focused his mind and went back to business, putting the information he read into the storage device.
Although his devices lost internet connection, they still functioned. He wanted to see if he could go around the memory capacity limit of the Sanctums by storing information in his hardware.
Han Xiao quickly stored the technology he acquired into the storage device, then started to touch another light sphere to read its information. The new technology he acquired once again replaced some information in his mind.
Then, Han Xiao opened the storage device and saw that the same information disappeared in it too.
“Looks like this doesn’t work either… Be it the human brain, mechanical hardware, or anything else, as long as it’s an information transmission medium, the part of information will be wiped no matter what. It’s similar to how Destiny’s Child works, just in a more advanced way. It’s one of the principles of the High Dimensional Information Form…”
Han Xiao then tried a few more times using different methods, but nothing worked, so he had no choice but to let go of this thought.
He put the storage device away, stopped making meaningless tries, and looked around the Sanctum. He nodded.
The Sanctum revival was successful, what Jayz said was verified, he found out about part of the mechanisms of the Sanctums, and his memory capacity reached the limit. From how Han Xiao looked at it, his goal of entering the Sanctum was basically achieved. It was about time to leave through the gate he came from.
Just as he was about to move, he suddenly had a flash of insight and realized a problem.
“Wait a minute. I knew about the Sanctums’ origin, the contributions of the Savior Civilization and the Sanctum Civilization, and how they passed on the knowledge from Jayz… but how did Oathkeeper find out?
“If the information he has only came from reading the light spheres, with so many light spheres here and the memory capacity limit, it should most likely be incomplete…”
Han Xiao frowned.
The Sanctum did not just record the final civilization of an Iteration but all civilizations of every Iteration. As long as they once existed, they would be recorded whether they were weak or strong, unlike the information of individuals.
This meant that only an extremely few light spheres contained the information about the origin of the Sanctums and The Great Reboot.
According to Han Xiao’s experience of reading so many light spheres, if not because he found out about the full picture from Jayz, he would most likely not have been able to combine them into this much information just by reading the light spheres. The memory capacity limit was the main reason.
However, Oathkeeper’s authority level in the Third Sanctum was far lower than his; unless he got extremely lucky and touched one of the ‘final civilizations’, there was no way he would know so much. Therefore, Han Xiao started to have doubts about Oathkeeper’s source of information—he did not believe that b*stard would be so lucky, or he would not have taken so many years to collect all the Sanctum keys.
Han Xiao pondered. The moment he doubted why the Sanctums existed, a change suddenly occurred!
Buzz!
The Sanctum mark on his hand suddenly flickered and shot out streams of light like silk that formed a translucent light curtain hovering before him.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
Han Xiao looked at it closely.
Chains of symbols that he could not understand appeared on the curtain. The language seemed to have changed every few paragraphs. Han Xiao could read none of them.
However, the next second, all these symbols turned into the common Galaxy language.
“It can automatically change into a language the reader understands, another Information Form mechanism, I see…”
Han Xiao focused and read from top to bottom. He realized that the contents of the Sanctums and the Iterations were right at the top, clearly explaining the full story. It was basically completely the same with what Jayz said, only more detailed.
Reading further, gaps started to appear every now and then. The further down he read, the more gaps there were.
After reading it for a while, Han Xiao roughly understood what was going on.
“I see, what this light curtain records are the last words of the final civilization of every Iteration. This thing is probably a special message board that passes down the important experiences of final civilizations to the next generations.
“These messages should be arranged according to time. The earliest messages are at the top, basic and the most crucial information about the origins of the Sanctums and the Iteration. This is basically the source of the information Oathkeeper knows… The lower it gets, the closer the messages are to the current Iteration, and the more random gaps there are. This is probably also related to the level of authority. The gaps will only decrease with a high level of authority.”
Han Xiao suddenly understood the purpose of the message board—to record the order of the Iterations and let those that came after quickly understand the origins of the Sanctums and the Great Reboot. That way, they did not have to randomly touch light spheres and piece the puzzle together themselves. Those that came after could learn from their experiences and make fewer mistakes.
This message board should be the main platform for the relay between the final civilizations of the various Iterations!
Han Xiao rubbed his chin and said with surprise, “This message board doesn’t feel like it came from the Sanctum itself but a change created by the later Iterations…”
Jayz had once said that because the Sanctums were eternal, many final civilizations saw the Sanctums as a breakthrough point and carried out all kinds of plans around it. That caused the Sanctums to ‘mutate’ and gain new functions. The Sanctum’s revival function might be one of them, since the class of the revival targets was not restricted by the different types of Sanctums.
This message board was very likely one of the mutated functions too. Through reading, he realized many civilizations did indeed carry out plans concerning the Sanctums. The first civilization to leave a message clearly conveyed in the message that it was the first to discover the message board function, and there were light spheres of civilizations in earlier Iterations than them.
The first civilization also briefly described the basic mechanisms and functions of the Sanctums, such as the required keys of the other Sanctums. As Han Xiao expected, the Sanctum fragments represented the level of authority.
Even Beyond Grade As occasionally receiving a feeling that Sanctums existed was a mutated function so that the following Iterations could come in contact with the Sanctums earlier and have more time to prepare.
At the same time, the final civilizations in the later Iterations also continued the work of introducing the functions of the Sanctums, adding new mutated functions on the message board. However, most of them were incomplete, and Han Xiao could not see them.
“All the rulers of the Iterations were leading the path for those who came after them…”
Han Xiao’s eyes flickered and looked at the light curtain again with different emotions.
[Today is the day to carry out the ███ Plan. Hope everything goes smoothly.]
[Will the ███ really work? We’re not actually confident…]
[The Rebirth Plan is based on ███. According to our calculations, our success rate is only at about 1.44%. Maybe we’ve not studied it enough and won’t make it through the Great Reboot, but the technology of the Rebirth Plan will be recorded by the Sanctums. We hope those who come after us can continue to study it. The name of our civilization is ███.]
[We’re the ███ Civilization. The Great Reboot has begun; all of this is not a lie. We are using the remainder of our time to leave this message. Our plan will fail. It proves that the ███ technology won’t work. Don’t take our path, it’s a dead end!]
On the light curtain, there were messages full of hope, messages that sounded unconfident, and messages that analyzed the path they took…
Looking at these messages, Han Xiao could almost feel the emotions these civilizations were going through when leaving them. They suppressed their anxiety, despair, and fear, forcing themselves to calm down and leave the knowledge they had to those who came after…
“This must be the true meaning of ‘A Relay Across Iterations’… What an incredible history.”
At this time, Han Xiao finally had a deeper understanding of the name of this mission. He felt complicated and could not help but respect these civilizations.
“Maybe one day in the future, the three Universal Civilizations will leave a message here too… hmm, or the World Tree Civilization?”
Han Xiao sighed, calmed his emotions, and started searching for messages related to the Celestial Star Alliance.
As the messages were arranged by time, he wanted to see where the Celestial Star Alliance came in and how many Iterations they were away.
He read one message after another, and when he came to the fifth last message, he saw the related information.
As this was relatively recent, the messages below were mostly empty. But he saw the familiar phrase ‘World Reset Plan’, which was the Celestial Star Alliance’s plan to get through the Great Reboot.
“Fifth last, huh. This means that the Celestial Star Alliance is at most four Iterations before us, or the last Iteration before us at minimum…”
Han Xiao nodded.
As one Iteration could leave multiple messages, he did not know who wrote the last few messages. It might be other Iterations or the Celestial Star Alliance. Originally, he could judge from their language as the same language would mean they were from the same Iteration, but the message board had already translated all of them into the Galaxy’s general language. Han Xiao tried to but could not turn them back to their original language; he did not know if there was no such function or his level of authority was not high enough. Either way, there was nothing he could do.
The last few messages were filled with blanks. The only valuable piece of information was a phrase in the middle of the last paragraph.
[██████ Information Form becoming real. This is the right path ██████]
Han Xiao scratched his head and did not know what to say.
“Information Form conversion… Both the Intelligent Plague and the Sanctum revival function should share this trait. However, this message actually said this path is the right one… If it really is, how did you guys perish?”
Han Xiao sighed.
He pondered for a while. He then tried to leave a message on the light curtain, but it did not respond.
“Hmm, speaking of which, all the messages on this light curtain are from civilizations, no individuals. I wonder if my authority level is not enough to leave a message, or are the messages left by individuals not recorded by the message board?”
Since there was no way of figuring that now, Han Xiao could only put this question aside and close the message board.
The goal of this trip was mostly achieved. To him, the biggest thing he acquired this time was that he recorded the full methods to open the other Sanctums with his authority level, which was much higher than Oathkeeper’s.
Due to the limit of memory capacity, he would probably have to wait till the next time he entered if he wanted to acquire more things.
“I hope I can see other Sanctums next time. The First Sanctum would be best; my authority level there is quite high too.”
Han Xiao mumbled to himself and returned to the stabilized Sanctum gate.
He glanced at the Sanctum, then turned around and flew into the gate.
When the bright light filled Han Xiao’s sights once again, in the short moment his consciousness was blurry, he only had one thought.
“I’ve stayed in the Sanctum for five hours at most. I wonder how much time has passed in the universe…”
1255 Fourth Round Mission and Second Revival
Han Xiao only regained focus as if his consciousness got dragged back to his body after being stunned for about ten seconds.
“Hmm? I’m already out?”
Han Xiao felt the complete opposite from when he entered the Sanctum. It was as if he passed through a thin membrane and his body became heavier, like stepping out from a pool.
Recalling what he had experienced in the Sanctum, his memories became blurry like he was seeing through a clouded window. However, it felt much better than what Oathkeeper described. It should be because his authority was higher.
The technology and knowledge he had memorized were totally clear.
Han Xiao looked down at his palm. The mark that represented his authority level in the Sanctum was already gone, leaving only the Sanctum revival mark.
“Let’s see if I can open the interface now…”
Han Xiao tried to bring up the interface, and the next moment, notifications popped up rapidly one after another.
_____________________
You have successfully entered The Third Sanctum.
You have received 1 [The Third Sanctum] Fragment.
[A Relay Across Iterations] third round completed.
You have received 200 Billion Experience, 2 Random Rewards, 3 [The Third Sanctum] Fragments.
You have entered a Sanctum. [The Third Sanctum] fragments are now assembling…
Assembly completed. You have received ability [The Third Sanctum Authority Lv6]!
_____________________
“I knew it, the fragments represent authority. I can’t open the interface in the Sanctums, but it still works.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
He opened the ability introduction of [The Third Sanctum Authority Lv6] and read it. It was basically about the same as what the Sanctum’s message board described, only more detailed. It also stated that the speed of time in the Sanctums also relied on the level of authority.
Han Xiao took out his communicator to look at the date and was relieved.
“Phew, less than four months have passed. This is much shorter than I expected, unlike that unlucky Oathkeeper, who spent years there. This means that the higher the level of authority, the closer the speed of time in the Sanctum compared to the main universe.”
He was in a much more delighted mood. After all, he had expected this to take years and already made preparations for it. Since it had taken less than four months, it was a pleasant surprise.
He took out the communicator and looked at it. Since he had already made the arrangements before entering the Sanctum, the affairs of the army and the association were all taken care of. The past few months had been peaceful, and nothing big had happened. Those seeking revenge, including Pangon, had yet to appear.
“This is the best scenario possible. I still have a hold of things.”
Han Xiao nodded, put the communicator away, and looked at the interface. The fourth-round mission of [A Relay Across Iterations] had also popped up.
_____________________
Fourth round started!
Mission Requirements (Optional)
1. Share the information related to the Sanctums, The Great Reboot, the Universe Iterations, and so on with the current advanced civilizations (Super Star Cluster minimum).
2. Prove the existence of the Sanctums to the advanced civilizations and help them to open the Sanctums.
3. Make use of the level of authority advantage you have and lead the advanced civilizations into the Sanctums.
Remarks: Select one or more mission requirements stated above. The more requirements completed, the higher the Mission Rating for this round will be.
Basic Reward: 25 Billion Experience, 1 All Sanctum Fragment.
Bonus reward will be given depending on the Mission Rating.
_____________________
“Hmm, so this is what the fourth round is like… It requires the person who entered the Sanctum to share this precious information with the advanced civilizations… Well, it makes sense. This is the meaning of a ‘relay’, after all. The perspective of this mission is bigger; civilizations are the key to the universe’s growth. The sooner they know about the Sanctums, the more time they’ll have to prepare. The final goal of this mission, judging from its name, is to help the civilizations get through the Great Reboot…”
However, although Han Xiao understood the purpose of this mission, he did not plan to do it.
From the perspective of the mission, helping the civilizations get control of the Sanctums was the top priority. However, this would cause unpredictable impacts on his plan.
It was no longer personal. Han Xiao had to think for all the Beyond Grade As.
In the future, to deal with the Great Reboot, they might have to work with the three Universal Civilizations. However, for now, there was no way he was going to be in a hurry to share such precious information with the advanced civilizations—it would be betraying the Beyond Grade As.
He only planned to work with the three Universal Civilizations after the association got a firm hold of the Sanctum revival function. Otherwise, the Celestial Star Alliance’s complete rule over the Beyond Grade As would be a prime example of their future.
Han Xiao sighed and decided not to complete the mission for the time being.
At this time, a few spaceships suddenly deactivated their stealth mode, appeared, and asked cautiously in the public channel, “Is this His Excellency Black Star?”
“Yes, it’s be.”
Han Xiao looked up and was not surprised.
He had noticed these few Holy Accord organization spaceships earlier and knew that they were the guards Oathkeeper had stationed there.
Han Xiao paused, took out the communicator, and called Oathkeeper. It was picked up very quickly.
Oathkeeper appeared on the screen with a face full of surprise.
“Black Star? Doesn’t it take a few years? How did you return so fast?’
“Maybe because I’m lucky?” Han Xiao shrugged.
“Really? I don’t believe you.”
Oathkeeper expressed strong doubts and was bitter.
Why did it take a few years for me and only a few months for you? It’s unfair!
“By the way, why didn’t you tell me about the message board? Naughty you, did you hide it from me on purpose?” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
If not because he felt something was not right, he might have left without seeing the message board. Furthermore, Oathkeeper did not say anything about the Sanctum’s authority level, which made him unavoidably suspect Oathkeeper’s motives.
“What message board? What’s that?” Oathkeeper said with a confused tone.
“You don’t know?”
Han Xiao raised his brows and observed Oathkeeper’s expression but could not see anything.
It might be because Oathkeeper’s authority level was too low and he could not remember, or he was hiding it deliberately. Anyway, no matter what motives Oathkeeper had, such a trivial matter was in the past. Han Xiao did not want to bother dwelling on it.
“… Never mind. I’ve already acquired the Sanctum revival mark. Quickly bring the fleet over.”
“Okay, on it,” Oathkeeper immediately replied.
Han Xiao nodded, thought about it, and added, “By the way, it might be best to bring those Primordial Ones. We’re not reviving only the people we know this time. We have to make sure they’re under control.”
“Understood.” Oathkeeper nodded.
The targets of the first revival were the old members of the Holy Accord organization, all people who knew about the Sanctums, so they got a grip of the situation very quickly. However, the targets of this batch were outsiders who had no idea the Holy Accord even existed. Once they were revived, it would be difficult for them to accept the reality.
The targets of this revival were filtered, mostly Beyond Grade As who died in accidents. None of them were a direct member of any advanced civilizations, an ally at most. Also, many of them died during the Tragedy of the Pinnacles.
As the Tragedy of the Pinnacles incident had the highest number of Beyond Grade A deaths ever since the exploration era, they occupied quite a high percentage of all Beyond Grade A deaths in history, so it was tough to avoid those who were sacrificed in the Tragedy of the Pinnacles in the process of finding suitable targets to revive. Even Han Xiao could not guarantee there was no one difficult to deal with among them.
In his previous life, the Holy Accord revived many batches of Beyond Grade As, including many outsiders. Yet, they still only appeared during the World Tree war version and did not leak any information beforehand. This proved that the Holy Accord had a certain way to restrain them.
The Holy Accord organization was not a charitable organization. Never mind those Primordial Ones who joined long ago, but if any outsider who revived later wanted to cause trouble, the Holy Accord probably would not mind sending them back into their coffins while adding more nails.
“Thinking about it, Oathkeeper lying to the members of the organization saying that they could only revive once was a good thing. This way, those who revive after will treasure this one revival chance and won’t mess around.”
Han Xiao nodded. He hung up the call, opened the secondary dimensional army box, took out a small portable base from it, and rested inside, reading about events from the past four months while waiting for Oathkeeper.
Two days later, the Holy Accord organization’s fleet finally arrived along with many Primordial Ones.
The fleet docked at Han Xiao’s portable base, and they met there.
“It’s surprising you came out after only four months. Looks like we won’t have to wait years.” Beiger and the others were pleasantly surprised.
Han Xiao scanned around but did not see Pangon and his clique. He asked, “Where’s Pangon and his group?”
“They left the Holy Accord three months ago. We have no contact with them now.” Oathkeeper shook his head.
Han Xiao nodded and did not say anything. This was within his expectations. The good news was that before Pangon caused any big problems, he had already returned.
“Alright, let’s cut to the chase and revive these people. You guys just stay on the side. They’ll only calm down and speak with us properly in the face of overwhelming power.” Han Xiao displayed the Sanctum revival mark on the back of his hand.
The others nodded and had no objections.
The group of them came to the venue prepared beforehand and stood in position. Han Xiao took over the activation device from Oathkeeper, took a deep breath, and pressed on the activate button.
Buzz!
The Sanctum revival mark suddenly gave off an extremely bright light, flew out from the back of his hand, and turned into an expanding, blinding sphere of light.
The next moment, the light sphere split up and turned into illuminated figures of various shapes that slowly materialized, turning into several Beyond Grade As who all looked lost.
At the front was a male elf with long ears and an elegant posture who was wearing an exquisite robe. He looked around. His eyes stopped at Han Xiao, and he mumbled, “So, this is the underworld… You’re dressed like a ghost. You must be the legendary King of Hell.”
“Huh?” Han Xiao frowned. Since you’re so clever, speak more while you can, or I’m afraid you won’t have the chance in the future.
1256 Provocation
“Didn’t I die? Why am I alive again? What have you people done to me!”
“Where is this? Who are you guys‽”
“What in the world is going on? Is this an enemy trap‽”
Shock and panic rapidly spread in the crowd. All kinds of yelling and roaring sounded one after another. It was chaos.
Facing the reality that they came alive after death, even though they were Beyond Grade As, their hearts were still heavily impacted.
Seeing the commotion become worse and worse, Han Xiao took a deep breath. His face tensed up, and his presence exploded!
“Silence!”
Boom!
Like a deafening thunder, the presence of Han Xiao’s Energy Rank swept across everyone, and golden lightning bolts flickered in midair.
An enormous pressure suddenly landed on every revivor. It was as if someone had pressed the stop button. All noises disappeared instantly, and everyone shut up. Looks of shock and fear focused on Han Xiao.
It felt like they were at the center of a Primordial Psionic Energy explosion. They intuitively felt an incomparable sense of danger, as if they were prey targeted by a hunter. Their bodies tensed up uncontrollably.
There were peak Beyond Grade As among these revivors who were watching the situation calmly, but even their expressions changed drastically, and they looked at Han Xiao with shock.
This overwhelming energy seemed to be stronger than anyone they had ever seen before!
This man in black in front of them was probably capable of ending their lives!
This time, before these revivors could react, the other Holy Accord members stared at them with their arms crossed and released their presence too!
Boom!
The energy presences of dozens of Beyond Grade As clashed intensely, creating one shockwave after another. The entire room started to tremble!
“These are all Beyond Grade As‽”
The expressions of the revivors changed dramatically. They were petrified.
The pressure only lasted three seconds before Han Xiao told everyone to retract it.
This intimidation act was clearly very effective. None of them dared cause a mess anymore. Seeing that everyone had finally quietened down, Han Xiao smiled and said, “Looks like everyone has calmed down. Good, now we can talk.”
Hearing this, the revivors looked around at the dozens of Holy Accord Beyond Grade As and instantly decided to follow their hearts and obediently wait for Han Xiao to continue.
Seeing this, Han Xiao cleared his throat and slowly said in as friendly a tone as possible, “I know everyone needs an explanation. It is now Galaxy Calendar Year 780. You’re all Beyond Grade As who died in different eras. The reason you guys have appeared here is that we discovered a unique way that revived you!”
Although the revivors already made some guesses, when hearing the confirmation, they still could not help but be astounded.
How is this possible? We’re really alive again‽
Their emotions were complicated and contradicted. They felt both glad and worried.
Although reviving was a surprise, most people still felt weird about it.
You didn’t ask for our permission to dig us out!
This is definitely not a free service. These people definitely have motives!
“So, this is not the world after death…” This time, that male elf with a sweet mouth seemed to have realized what was going on. He then looked at Han Xiao with a strange expression, frowned, and said, “Then, what’s with that outfit? You think you’re very stylish?”
Han Xiao’s head was filled with question marks. He could not help but look at his clothes. Sure, it is quite black, but its design is rather exquisite, isn’t it?
Is this a matter of personal aesthetic? My officers all think it looks great!
Plus, is this really a good time to look down on my outfit?
Han Xiao sized him up, searched through his mind palace, and found the information about this elf male very soon.
‘Elf King’ Dylan, a peak Beyond Grade A Mage, was active from the final stage of the exploration era to the early stage of the Galaxy Calendar. His position back then was about the same level as Dark Lord, Void Overlord, and the Mechanic Emperor now, one of the representatives of the Beyond Grade As of the generation.
The elves were a huge race in the universe with many branches like the Galaxy Human Race. Back then, using his power, Dylan united the sub races in the universe one after another, founding an enormous organization belonging to the elf race that was similar to old Milizaus’ ‘Dragonblood Nation’. It was a time of glory in the history of the elf race.
Back then, the three Universal Civilizations tried to recruit Dylan, but they were rejected. He then allied with multiple Super Star Cluster civilizations.
The reason he did this seemed to be that he felt that he could only choose one of the three Universal Civilizations while if he stood on the Super Star Cluster civilizations’ side, he could acquire resources from many of them while enjoying more freedom.
In the end, Dylan died during the Tragedy of the Pinnacles.
It’s this guy. Now it makes sense… Han Xiao understood.
According to the records, Dylan’s personality was very strange. He never cared about the timing and situation of saying things, nor did he care about others’ feelings. Because of that, he had a very bad relationship with the Beyond Grade As back then and many enemies.
In his final battle, he faced a whooping twelve Beyond Grade As who wanted him dead.
This is almost my level of treatment…
As for what this guy would decide to do, it was tough for Han Xiao to judge. After all, the era and environment had changed.
During Dylan’s era, as there were no prior examples, the Super Star Cluster civilizations were still openly competing for Beyond Grade A allies with the three Universal Civilizations and trying to attract them using better terms. At that time, joining the Super Star Cluster civilizations was the norm. No one thought the Tragedy of the Pinnacles would happen.
Han Xiao curled his lips, ignored him, looked away, and said to everyone, “I know everyone still has a lot of questions, such as who we are, how and why we revived you guys, and so on. For these questions, my friend here will answer them one by one.”
Hearing this, Oathkeeper stepped up and said with a deep voice, “Everyone, we’re a secret organization named the Holy Accord. We were founded by some of the Primordial Ones during the exploration era. Our core goal was to revive in the future. As for how we revived you guys, it’s through a phenomenon called a Sanctum…”
Oathkeeper had prepared the script long ago and explained Holy Accord’s origin and purpose in detail, answering everyone’s doubts.
The Primordial Ones were famous. The revivors sized up the Holy Accord members present and realized that they were indeed the Primordial Ones recorded in history. They started to gradually believe what Oathkeeper was saying.
This time, someone looked at Han Xiao and said, “Who is he then? He’s not one of the Primordial Ones,”
The rest looked over too.
Hearing this, Han Xiao straightened his shirt.
“You guys can call me Black Star. I’m the leader of the Beyond Grade As of this era.”
As soon as he said that, everyone’s expression changed.
Leader of Beyond Grade As?
How arrogant!
In our eras, even the strongest Beyond Grade As did not dare to call themselves the leaders of the Beyond Grade As. Who are you again? How dare you give yourself such a title!
Oathkeeper coughed and said, “Let me introduce you. His Excellency Black Star isn’t a member of the Holy Accord but our crucial partner in this era. We have the same goals. In this era, the Beyond Grade As have already founded an association and united, and Black Star is the president of that Beyond Grade A Association. Plus, his strength is also at the top tier in the universe. At the same time, he’s also the only shared consultant of the three Universal Civilizations. He has an extraordinary position…”
After hearing the explanation, everyone looked shocked and could not help but keep sizing Han Xiao up.
Beyond Grade A Association president, consultant of the three Universal Civilizations… Those titles had never existed before. Although they did not know the details yet, just from these titles, they could feel Han Xiao’s influence.
Thinking back of the Energy Rank Han Xiao had just displayed earlier, the majority of people started to take him seriously and remembered the name Black Star.
To think that such an incredible youngster appeared in the ‘future’, this Black Star guy might have had the best time out of all the Beyond Grade As in history…
This time, a revived peak Beyond Grade A coldly said, “How strong you are is your business. All I want to know is, you didn’t revive us to accompany you to play Wayne Card, did you? Or are you planning to use us to help you achieve some kind of ambitious goal, like the classic ‘rule the universe’?”
Han Xiao shook his head and chuckled. “That’s funny. The Holy Accord organization and I disturbed all of your rest not out of personal ambition. The entire Beyond Grade A class is in urgent danger, and we need our seniors, your strength!”
As soon as this was said, many people felt honored and interested right away.
“Tell us more. What danger are the Beyond Grade As in?” someone else asked curiously.
“It’s still related to the three Universal Civilizations…”
Han Xiao spoke fluently and explained the crucial problems such as the unity of the Beyond Grade A Association, the stand of the three Universal Civilizations, what the Sanctum Revival meant for both sides, and so on. He did his best to explain the intense situation the Beyond Grade As were in now as simply as possible.
Seeing that they were thinking about his words, Han Xiao added, “If this problem isn’t dealt with properly, a second Tragedy of the Pinnacles will certainly happen to the Beyond Grade As!”
As soon as he said that, many people shook.
A lot of them were victims of the Tragedy of the Pinnacles. This term touched their soft spot.
Seeing this, Han Xiao quickly made use of the opportunity and said with a meaningful tone, “This is closely related to every one of you, not just a matter of this era. Even if you guys aren’t willing to join us, you have to think about your own interests.
“You guys have already died once and been revived. You definitely want to continue enjoying your lives. However, if this problem isn’t dealt with, you won’t be able to ensure your own safety. There’s only one chance for Sanctum Revival, so if we don’t unite and the second Tragedy of the Pinnacles breaks out, you guys will be in danger too. If killed again, your lives will really end this time.”
Han Xiao deliberately hid the secret that the Sanctums could revive them an unlimited number of times and claimed that they only had one chance. By doing that, he became tremendously more convincing.
Hearing this, everyone understood the situation and looked serious.
Dylan rubbed his chin and said, “If that’s the case, there are only two paths in front of us. Join the Beyond Grade A Association or stay in the Holy Accord, one or the other. There’s no other choice.”
Someone on the side frowned and asked, “Can’t we leave on our own?”
Dylan glanced at him with disdain and said, “Use the few brain cells you have and think about it. Given how important the information about the Sanctum Revival is, do you think they’d let someone who knows about it move around freely? Idiot, no wonder you got killed.”
This person’s expression froze, and he angrily said, “Didn’t you die too?”
“You don’t understand. I died strategically!” Dylan snorted.
The others were bewildered.
What a f*cking creative way to describe it.
However, being weird was one thing, but they had to admit what Dylan said made sense.
There were only two choices. If they wanted freedom as soon as possible, they had to join the Beyond Grade A Association and let the galactic society, especially the three Universal Civilizations, know about their existence. This way, they would be tied with the Beyond Grade A Association.
If they chose to stay in the Holy Accord, no one would know about their existence. Even if the ‘cleansing’ happened, they would not be at risk.
Safety or freedom, there was no third choice… If they thought about secretly sneaking away, they would most likely end up back in their coffins.
They were in a dilemma.
Most people preferred to hide in the Holy Accord; they would lose freedom for some time, but it was better than losing their only second life. If the Beyond Grade A Association’s hard work paid off, they could enjoy the fruits of victory. If the association failed, they would still be safe.
Han Xiao saw their hesitation. Knowing that what he said was effective, he was secretly glad.
However, this time, an untimely voice suddenly sounded in the crowd.
“Why do we have to accept such restrictive terms? Everyone, there are many of them, but we aren’t few in number either. Why don’t we work together for the time being, get out of this place? They can’t stop all of us. Everyone will be free that way!”
As soon as this provocative idea was brought up, the expressions of many revivors changed.
Han Xiao’s expression sank. He looked toward the source of the voice.
“Well, I really thought the problem would be solved smoothly, but it seems some people’s mindsets need to be adjusted physically.”
1257 Intimidation
“Oh? Is that what you think?”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and looked at him. This person’s information surfaced in his mind.
‘Fist of Polar Channel’ Bagnita. He was an extremely strong Pugilist with an explosive, aggressive, and destructive style. The founder of multiple Pugilist styles, he was an expert in the Polar Channel Flow. Although he was not the founder of the Polar Channel Flow, he was publicly recognized as the best in the Polar Channel Flow style.
This guy was not from the Tragedy of the Pinnacles but was a neutral Beyond Grade A from even earlier. His cause of death was unknown, and he left his race behind.
Bagnita wore a sleeveless army combat shirt. The muscles on his arm jumped as he said coldly, “I hate it the most when people give me a multiple-choice question. Whether I help you or not depends on my mood. If you’re going to force me, there’s absolutely nothing to talk about!”
“People with a unique personality usually don’t live long.” Dylan sneered.
Hearing this, the others looked at him and nodded in agreement.
Bagnita ignored him, looked around, and said with a deep voice, “We’re all Beyond Grade As. What’s there to be afraid of? Those with a backbone, stand with me!”
Han Xiao shook his head and realized that he was surprisingly calm, as if he was used to it. In fact, it might feel weird if a Pugilist who was not headstrong appeared.
He turned and looked at the revivors. With a shrug, he said, “Who else agrees with him? You can step forward.”
The people exchanged looks and hesitated; no one responded. Instead, they backed away and isolated Bagnita.
Seeing this, Bagnita frowned, snorted, and said, “Humph, the Beyond Grade As are getting more cowardly with each generation!”
Dylan tutted and mocked him. “Hehe, you’re trying to provoke us to risk our life to play with you. If a fight really breaks out, you can probably walk out alive. You won’t be the one to die anyway. Just say it out loud if you want others to block bullets for you. We’re all Beyond Grade As here. Who are you putting up a performance for?”
Bagnita glanced at Dylan and said with disdain, “Idiot.”
Seeing this, Han Xiao looked back at Bagnita, raised his brow, and said, “Looks like you’re the only one. Do you still want to continue?”
“No one dares work with me. What else can I say?”
Bagnita snorted and put down his crossed arms.
Han Xiao could not help but laugh and said, “Aren’t you smart, but don’t you think you’re too naive? You tried to incite the other revivors, but when you saw it can’t be done, you gave up and wanted to act as if nothing happened. Do you really think it’s going to be that easy?”
Bagnita frowned, tightened his arm muscles again, and said, “What do you want?”
Han Xiao slowly walked forward into the revivors toward Bagnita while saying, “I revived you guys because it’s beneficial for the entire class, not for charity. I have already explained the situation very clearly earlier. We’re on the same boat here… Still, I never thought about sacrificing you guys. I didn’t even force you guys to take any risks and gave you all a choice to stay in the Holy Accord and watch us fight hard for our future. If we win, you guys can enjoy the victory together. If we lose, you guys can still stay hidden and save yourselves.
“You cannot appreciate us giving you a second life, but you were willing to destroy our whole plan just for your own desire… Of course, you’re free to do that. But since you’ve done it, don’t blame others for dealing with you.”
As soon as he said that, a sudden change occurred!
Raging energy erupted, covered with blinding Pugilist flames. Bagnita’s fist landed heavily on Han Xiao’s chest like an asteroid!
Boom!
“You knew I’m a Pugilist, yet you still dared approach me. You’re asking for a beating!”
This thought flashed past Bagnita’s mind. There was no way he was going to wait and do nothing. Seeing Han Xiao’s words were heading toward a dangerous direction, he immediately decided to strike first.
The next moment, the power of the punch exploded. Dense Pugilist flames gushed out from Han Xiao’s back, turning into a cylinder-shaped energy shockwave that created an enormous hole in the room.
Boom!
A blinding beam of light shot out from this galactic base as if an explosion occurred inside.
In the room, the people were surprised to see how decisive Bagnita was in attacking. Some wanted to help while others wanted to back away and watch.
However, before they acted, they saw that Han Xiao, who had just been punched heavily, did not even shake. It was as if nothing happened to him. In the blink of an eye, Han Xiao’s hands grabbed onto Bagnita’s head and he raised his leg!
Bang!
Bagnita shockingly could not resist such an enormous force at the time. His head was dragged down and intimately hit Han Xiao’s knee. Blood gushed out from his nose, and his brain trembled.
Before he recovered from the short moment he was stunned, Han Xiao wrapped his one hand around Bagnita’s head and locked him in place, while the elbow of his other hand slashed down on Bagnita’s arched back.
Kacha!
The sound of bone breaking appeared in everyone’s ears, and a visible dent appeared on Bagnita’s spine.
Hiss!
Many people inhaled with shock. The looks in their eyes changed again.
Taking one powerful attack head-on just to heavily injure the opponent in exchange… we won’t believe it even if you tell us he’s not a Pugilist!
At this time, Bagnita finally recovered from the short moment he was stunned. He roared, and the flames on his body erupted again. His muscles bulked up. A dense energy spread instantly, and his attributes shot up in a flash.
Then, Bagnita grabbed Han Xiao by his waist, kicked back with his legs at full power, and pushed Han Xiao through metal walls one after another. They shot out into space like an asteroid.
“That’s Polar Channel Flow!”
The people instantly figured out what happened.
Relying on the explosive power of the Polar Channel Flow, the combat capability of Pugilists could usually shoot up a small Grade. As the publicly known master in the Polar Channel Flow, its effect on Bagnita was even more incredible. Plus, with his personal improvements on it, its side effects were very limited.
Bagnita was not a peak Beyond Grade A on his own, but with his explosive power, he was more than capable of fighting a peak Beyond Grade A and earning himself the name of ‘Fist of Polar Channel’. In the revivors’ eyes, he was very strong.
Although they had just felt how strong Han Xiao’s Energy Rank was not long ago, they had never seen Black Star in combat and did not have a clear idea of it.
Since there was an opportunity now, the revivors did not help anyone, nor did they stop them—they all wanted to observe Black Star’s strength in combat.
Most Beyond Grade As were proud, all of them wanted to see how strong this so-called ‘leader of Beyond Grade As’ was and what gave him the confidence to call himself that.
The revivors were initially expecting a marvelous fist fight, but the change that happened in the next second took them by complete surprise.
Han Xiao locked his hands around Bagnita too. Right after that, Mechanical Force erupted from all over his body. At the same time, countless mechanical soldiers swarmed out from the galactic base, shrouding the sky, and instantly fired at the two of them!
Boom!
Like a newborn Fixed Star, the expanding energy light sphere lighted up the cosmic space!
As the aftershock of the explosion spread, the protective shield of the galactic shield was activated automatically, barely blocking it out. The entire base was pushed out while heavily shaking.
The sudden blinding light made everyone narrow their eyes subconsciously. They all looked surprised.
“Did the two of them both die?”
“What a violent style of fighting.”
“By the way, Black Star is a Mechanic? From his body strength, he’s a total Pugilist!”
The people unavoidably started to worry and looked around. However, they realized that the Holy Accord members all looked very calmed and did not seem to be worried at all.
“Are you guys not worried for the safety of your partner?” someone asked.
Beiger turned, glanced at these people, and smiled. “Hehe, something that can kill Black Star probably doesn’t exist!”
At this time, the light gradually started dissipating. Two closely attached people flew out from the center of the explosion, quickly headed to the base, and returned to the room through the hole.
Plop!
The sound of someone collapsing sounded. Bagnita lay on the ground like a dead dog; almost not a single spot on his body was whole. He was heavily injured and extremely close to death.
Shocked, the people looked up and saw that although Han Xiao was also wounded, his wounds were regenerating at an unbelievable speed, and Han Xiao returned to normal almost instantly. Han Xiao was the one who had brought Bagnita back.
With a calm face, Han Xiao gestured at Oathkeeper with his mouth.
“Take care of his injuries. Don’t let him die.”
The Holy Accord members were not surprised at all. A few of them walked forward and flipped Bagnita’s body over a few times while spraying regenerative potion on him. It somehow looked like brushing sauce on barbequed meat.
Seeing this, the revivors could hardly believe their own eyes.
That’s it?
Did the fight even take three minutes‽
They were expecting an intense huge battle. None of them ever thought Black Star would thrash Bagnita so quickly.
Bagnita was no trash Beyond Grade A but a famous Beyond Grade A!
They already knew that Black Star might be very strong, but they had never thought he would be this strong. It completely surpassed their experience-based expectations!
No wonder he dares call himself the ‘leader of the Beyond Grade As’. He’s indeed qualified for that…
This thought flashed through the minds of many of them.
Han Xiao stretched his neck and the muscles that felt a little sore from the bombardment massage earlier. He turned and saw the stronger fear in everyone’s eyes and nodded internally. He was quite satisfied with the impact of this battle.
He was not actually angry. He scolded Bagnita only to intimidate the others.
This was because he knew that there were definitely more people who had the same thoughts as Bagnita who only did not dare respond because of the situation they were in. In order to get rid of such thoughts, making them afraid of doing anything by just outnumbering them was not enough. He had to make them feel the huge difference in individual strength. To that end, showing them then and there was the most effective method.
The best way to intimidate them was to crush Bagnita in a short time.
Therefore, Han Xiao deliberately displayed his intention of wanting to attack Bagnita while going closer to him at the same time. He did all that so Bagnita would fight him at close-range, which would make using ‘die together’ easier. After all, this combo was the most efficient way of defeating an opponent in a short time!
The biggest advantage he had was the amount of information he had. Anyone who knew about him well would never get close to him, but these revivors did not know about that yet. Therefore, based on his outdated experience, Bagnita did not give up on this ‘opportunity’ and fought him at close range right away, completely falling into Han Xiao’s trap.
The moment Bagnita chose to fight him at close-range, the ending of this battle was already decided.
The effects of crushing Bagnita reached Han Xiao’s expectations, shocking the fragile hearts of these people. There was only one more step to take.
Seeing that Bagnita’s body was gradually recovering, Han Xiao took out the Spacetime Amber and wrapped Bagnita up. He then said coldly, “I won’t kill him, but in order to avoid uncertainties, I shall ground him so that he calms down.”
The next moment, the Spacetime Amber formed around Bagnita. His body was fixed inside the amber.
“What’s this?”
The people were confused. The Holy Accord members on the side explained.
Very soon, everyone present understood the function of the Spacetime Amber. They all looked shocked and scared—this thing was almost the nemesis of Beyond Grade As.
This time, Han Xiao turned to them and smiled brightly.
“The person who brought up the question has already been dealt with. So, everyone, have you made your choice?”
Their looks differed. Some were smiling bitterly, while some were swallowing their saliva nervously.
There was no suspense to what choice they were going to make.
“… I’m willing to stay in the Holy Accord.”
“Me too.”
With someone taking the lead, the rest all responded one after another.
Between the two choices, almost everyone chose to stay in the Holy Accord organization. They did not want to appear in the outside world, at least not before they understood the whole picture clearly, so they did not have to take risks.
Very soon, Dylan was the only one who had yet to express his choice.
Han Xiao looked over. “What about you? Are you staying in the Holy Accord or joining the association?”
Dylan caressed his smooth and white chin, snorted, and said, “I won’t want to miss something this fun… I’ll join the association! If we start fighting the three Universal Civilizations, count me in!”
Then, as if he felt he did not say enough, Dylan scanned at the other revivors present and snickered. “The books are right, cowardly and ordinary people are always the majority.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao could not help but to look at Dylan again.
You really deserved to be slain. Even I want to…
1258 Test and Welcome
“I’ll leave the rest to you then. You guys usually don’t have anything to do anyway. You should be fine helping the newcomers get used to this era, right?”
Beiger smiled and agreed on behalf of the others. “Don’t worry, we’re adept at this. We were just in need of new card-mates too.”
Oathkeeper nodded subconsciously but then suddenly realized, Wait a minute, isn’t this my organization? Why are you the one giving the orders?
“Er…” Oathkeeper was just about to speak.
However, before he could, Han Xiao clapped, interrupted him, and smiled.
“I’m glad we’ve come to an agreement. Let’s get to familiarizing them with this era then.”
The atmosphere in the place became calmer as he said that. The Holy Accord members led the others and left the room while chatting. Their voices gradually grew more distant.
Oathkeeper’s lips twitched slightly.
I, the organization’s leader, have been ignored? Don’t I deserve some face‽
This time, Han Xiao walked over, patted Oathkeeper’s shoulders, and said, “I’m afraid you’re going to be busy for some time. These revivors are intimidated by me for the time being, but I can’t keep an eye on them all the time. There’ll definitely be someone who wants to sneak away. You have to monitor them closely but not too obviously, in case they get unhappy about it.”
“Understood…” Oathkeeper coughed. “Ahem, I know what to do. You don’t have to teach me.”
Han Xiao smiled. He summoned a virtual screen and quickly made a list.
“This is a partial list of keys for the other Sanctums. You guys are the expert in this. It’s best to keep collecting them. The more keys we have, the better.”
“You found this in the Third Sanctum?” Oathkeeper looked surprised. “Why didn’t I see it when I went in?”
“It might be because your authority level is too low…” Han Xiao shook his head and briefly explained authority levels. As for whether Oathkeeper kept it a secret deliberately or not, now was not the time to be concerned over such trivial matters.
“Alright, this way, opening the Sanctums in the future will be easier.” Oathkeeper was glad.
Although the information recorded in the various Sanctums differed, the Sanctum revival function worked in all of them. Having the methods to open the other Sanctums meant that the Sanctum revival function could be carried out many times more.
Accepting the list, Oathkeeper paused and asked, “Have you decided on the timing for the first batch of revivors to appear in public?”
“Probably in the next few months.” Han Xiao responded.
“After they appear, the attitudes of the three Universal Civilizations will change drastically. Are you ready?” Oathkeeper sounded worried.
No matter how mentally prepared he was beforehand, as the one who would start this storm, it was impossible for him not to worry. That was especially so when this was most certainly going to be a fuse to cause the structure of the universe to change dramatically, as well as the turning point for all Beyond Grade As. Its influence would be colossal; it might lead the future of the galactic society to a completely unknown direction. He was naturally nervous.
“I know what I’m doing. This is a step we must take. There’s no need to worry so much.”
Han Xiao smiled and patted his shoulder.
Oathkeeper frowned slightly and slowly said, “Also… we hid the truth about the Sanctums, making the others think that they can only revive once. This means that although the three Universal Civilizations will still be concerned, they most probably won’t give up on the idea of the ‘cleansing”… Are we really not going to share the truth about reviving?”
Han Xiao shook his head.
“It’s okay. We have to hide this trump card for a while. Although letting this information out will make the three Universal Civilizations cautious, they might change their strategy because of it too. It’s better to give them the wrong idea. After all, being able to revive an infinite number of times… will only be convincing when it actually happens. If the cleansing is really carried out, it won’t be too late to reveal it then anyway. That way, not only will the three Universal Civilizations’ strategy be disrupted, it would also be a surprise to those who died.
“Plus, fear is the lock of desire. If we tell the truth to the revivors now, it won’t be easy to manage them anymore.”
Oathkeeper sighed and said, “But you’ll face too much pressure this way… You’re the one who will bring the revivors into the association, so anyone would think you know the truth. The three Universal Civilizations will definitely target you. Will you be able to deal with it?”
“It’s not a big problem. As soon as the association sees that the Sanctums can revive people, the Beyond Grade As will be united around me like never before. In addition, with my capability, forces, and the Underworld, it won’t be a problem to stand against the three Universal Civilizations for the time being. That way, there’ll be room for negotiation.”
Han Xiao smiled and made Oathkeeper not so worried.
Oathkeeper nodded and said with a solemn tone, “As long as you got a plan. Anyway, whether we can walk under the sun in the future all depends on you.”
…
The next day, Han Xiao went back to hosting the association and Kasuyi stepped down. Kasuyi contacted Han Xiao multiple times privately, trying to find out what Han Xiao acquired in this trip, but Han Xiao smoothly avoided the topic every time.
Reappearing again after going missing for four months did not attract too much attention. It was common for Beyond Grade As to travel, so the various organizations did not overthink about what Han Xiao had done while he was missing.
After waiting patiently for more than half a month, the three Universal Civilizations finally acted and sent Han Xiao a private meeting invitation.
“After observing for so long, they’re finally on the move, huh…”
In his room, seeing the invitation notification on the communicator, Han Xiao focused and sat up straight.
He opened the network link in the invitation letter, and his remote projection entered the online conference room.
The next moment, he came to a secret conference room. The remote projections of the leaders of the federation, the dynasty, and the church were all already there.
“Black Star, you’re here.” The dynasty’s ruler, Marbruce, smiled with his squarish face.
Han Xiao looked around, put on the signature smile of the eighth king of the Underworld, and said, “Your Excellencies, what can I do for you?”
“We haven’t officially congratulated you for being elected as the Beyond Grade A Association president, congratulations.” Marbruce nodded.
“Thanks.” Han Xiao smiled. “It’s all thanks to the support of the members.”
“We have high hopes for you. You’re more suited to lead the Beyond Grade A Association than Manison. We all agree that under your leadership, the Beyond Grade A Association will walk further on the right path…”
The few of them superficially praised each other as usual before getting to the main topic.
The federation president, Louis, stroked his moustache and said, “We’ve called you here today mainly because we need your help on a matter… The issue of the Beyond Grade A Association members privately spreading Ultimate Knowledges of the various classes has gone on too long. Manison deliberately allowed it when he was in office and ignored it. Now that you’ve become the president, we hope you can help settle this issue.”
Han Xiao raised his brow. “I’ll try, but I can’t promise it’ll work. After all, I can’t possibly interfere with the private life of every member.”
Knowing this was a perfunctory response, the church leader coughed and slowly said with a more serious tone, “Black Star, this issue is very important to us. This has lasted decades. We can’t possibly allow it to continue. There’s a limit to everything. We hope we can see the situation improve very soon.”
“I’ll do my best.” Han Xiao maintained a smile and did not reject it. He was not surprised.
The three Universal Civilizations never opened up the restrictions on the spread of Ultimate Knowledges legally, so the association members could only spread it privately. This was an important factor to attracting new blood, so of course, Han Xiao was not going to agree. The three Universal Civilizations clearly knew that too. Part of the reason they still deliberately brought this matter up was to test his position as the new president, and the other part was most likely to set the path for the ‘cleansing’.
If he rejected it, the three Universal Civilizations would have a justifiable reason to target the association. If the association compromised, the members would definitely be shaken. Arguments and split opinions would certainly happen too.
The three of them gave Han Xiao a meaningful look.
“We’ll wait for your results then. You won’t disappoint us, will you?”
“Of course. I’ve always believed in taking the win-win path; you guys know that.” Han Xiao smiled. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
“Hmm, go do your stuff then.”
Han Xiao made a simple gesture to bid farewell and hung up the communication.
When his remote projection in the room disappeared, the three leaders remaining in the room looked at each other, nodded, and came to an agreement.
“Looks like it’s time to take action.”
Black Star replacing the Mechanic Emperor and taking office was the opportunity to act. This was because, to them, the biggest difference between Black Star and Mechanic Emperor was that Black Star knew all too well about avoiding conflicts, unlike the Mechanic Emperor, who was very headstrong. The chance of Black Star flipping the table was very low. This was one of the reasons they waited to act till Han Xiao took office—the personality of the leader was very important.
The three of them did not plan to target Black Star. Their plan was to kill some and poach some. Peak Beyond Grade As were not the three Universal Civilizations’ targets. Instead, they were even going to compensate and woo them during the operation so that they could divide the Beyond Grade As.
According to the personality analysis based on their large databases, Black Star’s predisposition to seek profit and avoid conflict was extremely strong. In order to protect his own interests, there was only a very small chance he would stand on the complete opposite side of the three Universal Civilizations for the other Beyond Grade As. As long as the operation was firm and cruel enough, Black Star would very likely step back to protect himself, which would give them an opportunity to divide the association.
The most ideal result would be the Beyond Grade A Association disbanding, fundamental and medium level members all dying, and most uncertainties eliminated, leaving only their direct members and the peak Beyond Grade As. This way, the three Universal Civilizations would once again gain control of the individuals with great strength, and everything would go back to how it was.
When the three of them were discussing the plan, inside Han Xiao’s office in the Black Star Army, he put down the communicator and mumbled, “The situation is about to reach the tipping point, looks like it’s time to bring the revivors out… there just happened to be a new member requesting to join the association recently, I can use the opportunity to announce their existence to the entire universe.”
…
Half a month later, at Beyond Grade A Association headquarters on Planet Finn, a small fleet slowly docked.
In front of the porthole at the bridge of the main ship, a skinny man looked out the porthole at Planet Finn.
“The Beyond Grade A Association finally accepted my request…”
Mahel was relieved, like heavy weights were lifted off his shoulders.
He was a new Beyond Grade A who stepped into this territory a few years ago, raised by a certain Star System civilization. Although the chances of this happening were extremely low, it was not completely impossible. Some civilizations would get unbelievably lucky once in a while.
As the one and only Beyond Grade A of the civilization, Mahel carried heavy responsibilities. After he stepped into the Beyond Grade A territory, he became the guardian of his civilization, earning benefits for his civilization and stabilizing its forces in the local area. He did not join the Beyond Grade A Association as soon as he became a Beyond Grade A, but he also rejected the offers of the other civilizations.
He had only just requested to join the association, and he had come with a mission. He hoped to gain a hold inside the Beyond Grade A Association and bring more benefits to his civilization using the resources of other members.
Today was the welcome meeting the association hosted just for him. Mahel had made a lot of preparations for today. He even hired professionals to draft a script for his speech. He had memorized it and planned to earn the favorability of other members using this nice speech so that he could quickly blend in.
“Hope everything goes smoothly…”
The spaceship stopped at the dock. Mahel walked out and followed the receptionist into the temporary lounge of the venue. On the way, he kept rehearsing the speech he would give later on.
Very soon, Mahel came to the door of the lounge, pushed the door open, and walked in. He subconsciously looked around and was suddenly stunned.
In the room, dozens of people stood and sat around while casually chatting. Hearing someone had pushed the door open, they all stopped chatting and looked at him.
“Isn’t the temporary lounge for one? Did I enter the wrong room?”
Mahel was stunned for a moment. He took a step back, looked at the room number, and was confused.
I’m not wrong. This is the lounge for the rookie to wait to enter the venue. Isn’t this supposed to be my room? Where did these people come from?
At this time, the people inside the room suddenly started laughing. The people near the gate stood up, pulled Mahel in, and pressed him down on the sofa.
“Yo, finally, a real rookie is here.”
“Sit, sit, get something to eat.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen a rookie of the new era.”
The others all crowded around and sized him up curiously while chatting.
Mahel was stuck in the middle with no idea of what to do. He could not take it anymore and yelled, “Who are you? This should be my room. Please get out!”
Hearing this, the others exchanged looks and smiled. Suddenly, everyone’s body shook.
Boom!
The presence of Beyond Grade As erupted in an instant and disappeared the next second.
Mahel was startled. He froze in place and was totally dumbfounded.
All these strangers are Beyond Grade As‽
“W-who are you peop…”
Mahel’s eyes opened wide. His brain was short-circuiting, and he could not even speak properly.
Beiger joked, “Don’t be so nervous. We’re just like you, all rookies joining the association.”
“Impossible! How can dozens of new Beyond Grade As appear in the universe silently‽ Who are you guys‽”
Mahel stood up and lost it.
Isn’t today’s welcome meeting to welcome just me‽
Beiger smiled and waved. “We’re not strangers. Take a closer look, do you recognize us?”
Hearing this, Mahel hastily observed the people present. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically.
“I’ve seen your information… you’re Primordial Ones‽”
“Haha, I knew you would recognize us… Come on, don’t look at us like that. We just simply revived. It’s no big deal.”
Beiger patted Mahel’s shoulder with a smile.
As if his bones were shattered, Mahel lay flat on the sofa with no color in his eyes like he had lost his soul.
At this moment, his brain was completely blank. There was only one thought left in his mind…
When did I fall asleep?
1259 Youngsters, Times Have Changed!
“Another welcome meeting today? The last rookie was Aurora, and that was only about half a year ago.”
“I don’t know if you guys noticed, but the frequency of new Beyond Grade As in the past few decades seems to have increased quite a bit compared to before.”
“Indeed. I remember that very long ago, just three of four Beyond Grade As appearing in a few decades was already quite a lot, yet there have already been eight new Beyond Grade As in the past few decades. Although this kind of thing is very random, it does prove that the times are evolving.”
“That’s right. The population in the galactic society is increasing, the study of the Super system has been improving, and the Beyond Grade A seeds have been reaching their tipping points. There’s going to be a period with many new Beyond Grade As.”
The time before the meeting started was always for the members to chat and bond. They chatted casually, and it was boisterous.
Han Xiao’s projection sat in the main seat and looked at this peaceful scene with a smile.
Looking at how clueless everyone was, Han Xiao smirked slightly… These people had no idea that something huge was about to happen that would change the structure of the entire universe.
At this time, someone suddenly brought up a topic related to Han Xiao.
“I received the Federation of Light’s warning a few days ago, strictly prohibiting me from privately spreading Ultimate Knowledges. Your Excellency Black Star, did you know about this?”
Hearing this, many people added their input and expressed that they had received the same warning from the three Universal Civilizations. They all looked at Han Xiao.
Han Xiao glanced at the three Universal Civilizations’ direct members, nodded, and said, “I spoke with the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations not long ago. They hope I can solve the issue of privately spreading Ultimate Knowledges.”
“And what did you say?’ Manison asked.
“The three Universal Civilizations maintain the laws of the galactic civilization. I’ll do my best to cooperate with their work without affecting the operations of the association.” Han Xiao gave a meaningless answer with a smile.
Manison snorted softly. He knew that given how smooth Han Xiao was, he would not directly reject the three Universal Civilizations and would most likely agree verbally.
This time, a direct member said, “How do you plan to solve this problem?”
“I haven’t decided. Do you have any advice?” Han Xiao turned and looked at him.
“I think that one of the reasons the private spread of Ultimate Knowledges is happening is that the statute of the association is too lenient and did not clearly forbid it. I suggest improving the statute and heavily punishing those who disobey…”
While this direct member spoke, the other association members all shut up and exchanged looks.
The interests of the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations were different from normal Beyond Grade As. The two sides were the two most clear-cut factions. As the three Universal Civilizations became more and more dissatisfied with the acts of the Beyond Grade A Association, the conflict between the two factions grew stronger. People had already secretly proposed to Han Xiao to kick the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations out of the association more than once.
Han Xiao listened to the direct member for a while. He suddenly interrupted him and said with a smile,
“These suggestions are all not bad. I’ll consider them carefully. Let’s leave this topic to the next plenary. Today is the welcome meeting, after all. We shouldn’t overstep our bounds.”
He skipped this topic casually with a meaningful tone.
This direct member Beyond Grade A’s heart sank. He understood Han Xiao’s subtle warning and had no choice but to sit down reluctantly.
The other Beyond Grade As, however, were excited… ‘Shouldn’t overstep our bounds’ was a warning to the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations, telling them not to forget who the master of the association was and not to think the three Universal Civilizations could give them orders.
With Han Xiao’s subtle response, many people felt more at ease. As Black Star was quite closely related to the three Universal Civilizations, some people never stopped worrying about Black Star changing from taking the firm path like the Mechanic Emperor to compromising with the three Universal Civilizations.
Seeing this, Kasuyi helped to calm the atmosphere and said, “The president is right. We’re gathered here today to welcome the rookie. Let’s not talk business.”
Hearing Kasuyi, the atmosphere became joyful again. The people skipped over this topic and started guessing the identity of this new rookie. Some even set up bets.
After discussing it for a while, someone looked to Han Xiao again and joked, “President, the rookie of this time should be Mahel, right? It’s not going to be another new Beyond Grade A officer from the Black Star Army, is it?”
Han Xiao raised his brow, with a smile that was unlike a smile on his face.
“All I can say is… everyone is definitely familiar with them.”
The people chatted while waiting. After some time, everyone was finally present.
Seeing this, Han Xiao raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down. “It’s about time. The welcome meeting can start now. Let’s remain quiet and get ready to welcome the rookie.”
Hearing this, everyone became silent, turned around, and looked at the side gate of the room. According to the routine, the rookie always walked out from here.
Not long after, the side gate was finally pushed open. Mahel walked out and appeared in front of everyone.
The people started softly discussing right away.
“I knew it. It is indeed Mahel.”
“Haha, I guessed right. Give me my money.”
“Hmm? Why does he look weird?”
They sized up Mahel and realized that something was off right away. Mahel’s eyes were out of focus as if his spirit was not here, and he was frozen.
“What’s he doing standing there and not coming here?”
“Why isn’t he saying anything? He’s not mute, is he?”
They were confused.
At this time, another person walked out from behind the gate, then another, and another… Very soon, dozens of people swarmed out and pushed Mahel aside.
“W-what’s going on? Isn’t today the welcome meeting?”
The people present were stunned and lost.
This time, Han Xiao smiled and slowly said, “Don’t have to be surprised, these people are all rookies who will be joining the association today. Guys, let’s welcome them.”
As soon as he said that, everyone was bewildered.
You’re not f*cking pulling my leg, are you?
Even the three Universal Civilizations’ direct members on the side had their eyes wide open with shock.
There were no signs before today. They all thought today was an ordinary welcome meeting. None of them thought such a surprise would happen.
Every welcome meeting was hosted for just one person. When had the association ever accepted so many rookies at once?
Plus, when did so many new Beyond Grade As appear in the universe? There were as many of them as a third of the association! It was completely impossible!
What festival is it today? Is the president joking with us?
He must be.
While these thoughts flashed past their minds, they subconsciously sized up these dozens of ‘rookies’. Suddenly, their bodies shook.
“Wait a minute, these people look so familiar!”
“Are they… Primordial Ones‽”
“How is that possible? The Primordial Ones died centuries ago. They must have purposely dressed up this way!”
“Aiyo, they really look the same. Their disguise is amazing!”
The people hastily searched for the information of the Primordial Ones online and matched with the revivors present. They were all surprised.
Manison looked at Han Xiao with a frown and asked with a deep voice, “What’s the meaning of this? Finding a group of people to disguise themselves as Primordial Ones and even letting them join the association. What is this nonsense‽”
“You think it’s fake too?”
Han Xiao glanced at him and was not surprised. After all, to those who did not know about it, this was way too unbelievable. Anyone normal would doubt it.
He slowly stood up and looked around. His grin grew bigger as he said firmly, “I know you all have doubts, but these people are none other than the Beyond Grade As who existed in history. They have awakened from the river of time, revived, and decided to join the association to shine for the Beyond Grade A class!”
As he said that, the venue became dead silent.
Everyone present was completely dumbfounded.
That was, everyone except Kasuyi, who was shivering with excitement. He was the only other person who knew about the Sanctums, and he immediately linked them.
Is this what Black Star did when he went missing for four months‽
“…Tell me, is this true?” Kasuyi turned and stared at Han Xiao. He could not wait to hear the answer, afraid that this was just a joke.
Han Xiao gave him a firm look and said slowly, “On my honor, I hereby promise that this is not a joke!”
At this instant, joy, shock, admiration, and other emotions exploded in Kasuyi’s heart!
He only had one thought in his mind…
Black Star… did it!
At this time, Beiger, who stood at the front, chuckled. He stepped up, facing everyone’s shocked looks, and said calmly, “Youngsters, times… have changed!”
As soon as he said that, the energy of dozens of Beyond Grade As shot up the sky without holding back!
Boom!
With a loud noise, the rooftop of the entire venue was blown away. The floor and walls cracked!
The enormous pressure swept the entire planet. At this instant, all lives on Planet Finn were pressed onto the floor almost simultaneously. Deafening alarms echoed across the planet!
The Beyond Grade As present were all remote projections and could not feel the impact, but all of their organizations had an agency on Planet Finn.
Almost instantly, everyone received an emergency report from their agency. All of their radars were showing dozens of Beyond Grade A energy sources, coming from the dozens of people right in front of them! No evidence could be more solid!
At this instant, the expression of all the members present changed drastically. Their faces were filled with disbelief and aghast.
This is true? The Primordial Ones are alive‽
Impossible!
Everyone was dumbfounded!
An irresistible shock instantly shattered their view of the world, leaving only endless confusion.
At this point, almost no word could describe the shock they were feeling.
Even Manison was stunned for a few seconds. He turned around hastily and stared at Han Xiao.
“What in the world did you do? How did they revive‽”
Like waking up from a dream, eyes filled with disbelief focused on Han Xiao.
These revivors were all brought into the association by Black Star. He definitely knew all about how this happened!
“Black Star, how the hell did this happen‽”
“Answer us!”
“Speak!”
The people were in an uproar, wanting to know the answers.
Seeing how worked up everyone was, Han Xiao smiled and said calmly, “In this world, there’s a special information form phenomenon named the Sanctum Revival. Once you step into the Beyond Grade A territory, you will leave a set of backup data. Even if you die and leave absolutely nothing behind, not even ashes, you can still be revived through the Sanctum Revival.
“This will only happen once for everyone, meaning all Beyond Grade As have a second life… and using this phenomenon is how I revived them from their graves in history!”
Having received a clear answer, everyone was astonished.
The shock and jubilation exploded in everyone’s mind!
There’s such a mysterious phenomenon that only works on Beyond Grade As in the universe? Is this another Space Wonder‽
Everyone realized that this was a gift to all Beyond Grade As!
If they had heard about this from someone else, they would most likely have laughed at it and not believed it. Now, however, an example of it happening appeared right in front of them, proving what Han Xiao said was true.
The next second, the way everyone looked at Han Xiao changed.
Black Star had revived so many Primordial Ones, which meant that he already controlled the method of using it. He explained that it existed, but he never said anything about how to use the Sanctum Revival. Therefore, for now, Black Star was probably the only way they could enjoy the benefits of ‘Sanctum Revival’‽
Thinking from another perspective, it had only been about half a year since Black Star became the president. Logically, he might have discovered the method of Sanctum Revival long ago and kept it hidden all this time if he did not become the president…
This moment, everyone felt that electing Black Star as the president was the wisest decision they could have made!
Han Xiao looked around at everyone’s expression.
“Since everyone no longer has doubts, don’t forget the subject of today’s welcome meeting…”
Han Xiao raised his hand. The seats around the round table started moving, and rows of new seats extended from under the ground. These were for the revivors. Then, Han Xiao clapped his hands.
“Everyone, let’s welcome the return of the old era.”
1260 Times Have Changed
With Han Xiao in the lead, everyone could only suppress their inner shock and temporarily applaud. A feeling of witnessing history being made spontaneously rose in them.
However, the scene happening in their minds was probably akin to being robbed by a bunch of thugs while they were happily camping and feasting on hotpot in the wilds. This was too damned ‘surprising’!
Seeing this, the dozens of Revivors smiled and took their seats one after another. Seeing Mahel standing stupidly on the same spot, some of the Primordial Ones kindly pulled this little brother to his seat as well.
The applause slowly stopped, and Han Xiao sat down once more before looking at Beiger and the others. “Everyone, would you like to introduce yourselves?”
“I feel that there’s no need.” Beiger waved his hand as he surveyed the scene. “If they want to know who we are, they just have to check up on our history.”
Everyone subconsciously nodded. The Primordial Ones were all famous, so every Beyond Grade A would have heard their names before.
At this moment, Dylan raised his smooth chin slightly. “Although I’m not a Primordial One, I believe everyone here should also know of me, right?”
Everyone turned to face him. Among the Revivors, there were a few that were not Primordial Ones, so they were not as popular and well known as the rest.
“Who are you?” Sun Hunter was curious.
“Tsk, there’s really someone who doesn’t recognize me?” Dylan glanced at him. “Little thing, listen up. I’m the Elf King Dylan. Go home and brush up on your historical knowledge. Don’t ask such ignorant questions next time.”
Sun Hunter was stunned for a moment before turning furious.
Do you even know how to talk, to dare call me a little thing!
If it was not my remote projection here, I’d conjure dozens of gun barrels into your mouth and blow you to death!
On the other hand, many of the Mages felt a jolt in their spirits.
“So, it turns out to be the famous ‘Elf King’ from the history of magic. It’s said that you took a different approach, pioneering a special elven spell system. Now it has become the mainstream magic system of the elves, but unfortunately, due to your sudden death, some of the mysteries and secrets have been lost forever. I hope I will have the opportunity to ask you for advice in the future.”
Austin could not help but speak, showing his goodwill. A Mage’s desire for spells was akin to the Mechanic’s curiosity about technology.
Hearing this, Dylan instead lowered his head to pick at his nails before casually saying, “It’ll depend on my mood. I normally do not like to converse with untalented Mages, but if my mood is good, I could share some information.”
Austin’s expression froze, and he shut up. Seeing this, the other Mages that wished to talk also closed their mouths, not wanting to flatter a non-responsive person.
Seeing this, many of them gave Dylan side-eyes.
It turns out that this person spoke with such a strange tone. No wonder he died so badly in history—he deserved it!
Seeing that the atmosphere had become a little delicate, Beiger moved away from the subject and smiled. “I have to say, this association is run well. During our time, there wasn’t such a good environment. The people who established the association are really long-sight and talented!”
“I feel that way as well.” Han Xiao smiled.
Hearing this, everyone glanced at Han Xiao and at Beiger, whose expressions remained unchanged.
These two were really shameless, one flattered so obviously, while the other was bold enough to accept it.
Beiger turned back to look at the rest as he spoke in a friendly manner. “We have many days ahead of us. I hope that we will have the chance to get to know each other better.”
Everyone nodded and responded without putting on an arrogant expression. The Primordial Ones were the pioneers of this path, so respect was definitely needed.
The newcomer orientation finally returned to its original role. Both groups of people communicated with each other for a while, allowing the dozens of Revivors to integrate into the association. Even if the other members of the association felt this matter to be hard to believe, they had to accept the fact that these ‘elderly’ had risen from their coffins.
While the Revivors were accepted on the surface, everyone was still filled with doubts. They were very curious about how Black Star had discovered the phenomenon of Sanctum Revival, how he convinced the Revivors to join the association, and where they had stayed until now.
But Han Xiao behaved splendidly, lightly skimming past all these questions without properly explaining anything.
Everyone felt as though they had an itch in their hearts, their impression of Han Xiao turning more mysterious. They all began to feel awed by him. No one knew how much strength he had hidden, only feeling that he was unfathomable.
But precisely because of this, the rest of the Association felt relaxed. In the past, everyone obeyed the rules of the association for protection and resources, but another important reason had been added.
The Sanctum Revival gave everyone assurance. Originally, there were still some people worried about the three Universal Civilizations, counting gains and losses, but their mentality had now stabilized, their fear of the three Universal Civilizations diminishing significantly.
Just as everyone was busy chatting, Manison sat by the side silently observing, his heart full of shock.
Black Star, turns out this is the trump card you prepared. Beautiful! The Sanctum Revival is of extraordinary significance for us. Not only will this enhance the confidence of members in facing risks, but it also strengthens the cohesion of the association. The group will be more united than ever before.
Furthermore, the resurrection of the historical Beyond Grade As is a way to quickly replenish our numbers, more efficient than slowly wait for a new Beyond Grade A to be born. The strength of the association will expand greatly in a short time, being reborn and breaking through the safety line of the three Universal Civilizations at once. Even they will have to weigh up the consequences if they wish to make a move… With this, I don’t have to risk launching the Intelligent Plague.
Manison sighed in his mind.
He had always been worried that Black Star’s route of peace would form the basis of confidence for the three Universal Civilizations and was worried that the influence of Black Star alone would not be able to affect the determination of the three Universal Civilizations. However, it seemed now that Black Star’s response was completely out of his expectations, allowing him to even be relieved of his hidden cards.
Manison had no choice but to admit that Black Star’s move was far more effective than his plan of sacrificing eight hundred soldiers to wipe out a thousand of the enemy’s soldiers.
While the two of them were typically at odds with each other, he acknowledged Han Xiao’s ability and was quite relieved this time that he ‘did not believe in the wrong person’.
On the other hand, Kasuyi glanced at Han Xiao from time to time, his favorability of him increasing.
Kasuyi was aware of most of the facts behind the Sanctum Revival and was probably the only person there other than Han Xiao who knew of the fact that there were no limits to the Sanctum Revivals. He was naturally more excited than anyone else.
He did not know why Han Xiao was pretending that there was only a single chance for the Sanctum Revivals, but after a little thought, he could guess the general intention and naturally would not expose it on the spot.
At this moment, Kasuyi could not help but feel fortunate.
Thankfully, my relationship with Black Star is not too bad. I’ve never offended him and even chose him as my companion to explore the Celestial Star Alliance. If it was someone else, even if they know the existence of the Sanctums, they would probably be just like me, having no clue even for the next few decades… I don’t know how he even managed to master the Sanctum Revivals.
Kasuyi was unaware of the Holy Accord, so he thought that Han Xiao had gotten inspiration from their trip to the secondary dimensions. He secretly sighed to have found himself a reliable comrade.
While the majority of the association members were pleasantly surprised and excited, the descendants of the three Universal Civilizations had solemn expressions.
From a personal point of view, the Sanctum Revival was indeed a divine revelation for the Beyond Grade As, but from the perspective of the civilization, if the Beyond Grade A Association possessed such a method, it would be earth-shattering news for the direct descendants.
The Beyond Grade As now have an extra life, so unstable factors cannot be removed once and for all. This will be troublesome. Even if they can be cleansed once, the deceased will definitely learn how to be smart after reviving, turning to hide and plot their revenge in secret.
The core of this problem was Black Star. Only he had the means to perform a Sanctum Revival. Unless he was killed first, or the method of Sanctum Revival was obtained from him, it would be almost impossible to split the Beyond Grade A Association.
The direct descendants frowned as similar thoughts appeared in their minds.
They had more or less received the news that the three Universal Civilizations planned to attack the Beyond Grade A Association, but at this juncture, Black Star had revealed his true colors, deliberately exposing this method. In their opinion, this was undoubtedly a warning signal. The three Universal Civilizations would be frightened with this move, such that they would not act rashly.
Moreover, the high-end combat strength of the association had suddenly soared up by a third. Even if the upper echelons of the civilizations wished to carry out their plan, they also had to consider the issue of their costs.
For the entire Beyond A realm, he did not hesitate to take the pressure upon himself… This is not like Black Star’s usual style.
Thinking of this, the eyes of the direct descendants looking at Han Xiao turned meaningful.
Han Xiao also noticed the gazes of these direct descendants, but his face was calm, and he secretly smiled.
The Calamity of the Supers was inevitable, and conflicts would eventually erupt. Right now, he had become the detonator of the Calamity of the Supers, but his fundamental goal had not changed. He had to find a way to keep the three Universal Civilizations in check, so as to control the intensity of the conflict during the Calamity of the Supers and save more strength to deal with the World Tree Civilization.
His other objective was for self-consideration. Only when the entire Grade was cohesive could his position be more stable.
I’ve finally taken this step. There’s no retrieving a loosed arrow. I can only guide these torrential times, ceaselessly running forward…
All sorts of thoughts flashed past, and Han Xiao calmed down. He clapped his hands, interrupting the communication as he spoke.
“Now that everyone has gotten to know each other, there will be opportunities in the future to socialize. Let’s stop here for today’s welcome meeting. We’ll discuss the resource allocation at the next regular meeting, helping our seniors rebuild their influence.”
Everyone nodded without any objection.
There were a lot of Beyond Grade As, which would inevitably cause them to share a part of the profits. However, the existence of the Sanctums gave everyone the decision in their hearts to get closer to Han Xiao. His authority in the association had already expanded to the extreme.
“Alright, then let’s end the meeting today.”
Han Xiao smiled and directly cancelled his remote projection.
Seeing this, everyone dissipated on their own.
No matter what emotions they had, everyone was aware that the ecology of the Beyond Grade A realm would be rewritten. When what happened in the venue today was spread, the flow of the entire Galactic Society would be greatly affected. A storm of change was bound to rise from this point, sweeping across the entire universe!
The instigator of this whole thing was actually someone who had not shown himself for a few decades yet came out straight with a bang—Black Star!
Many Beyond Grade As had a feeling that Black Star would likely open the curtains to a new era!
…
The content of this welcome party was not kept secret. With the help of those people with certain intentions, the news spread faster than expected. It had already spread to all the major Star Fields by the next day, having countless media channels scrambling to write various reports.
When the many galactic residents and organizations saw the news, their first reaction was disbelief, thinking it some sort of fake news.
Could a Sanctum really resurrect a dead Beyond Grade A? The Primordial Ones who had been buried in history collectively came back to life?
Stop joking, okay. Even the TV studios would not dare to shoot stuff like this!
However, within a few days, the members of the Beyond Grade A Association personally confirmed the veracity of the news. The entire Galactic Society was confused!
This was really true‽
The historical figures from our textbooks are now alive‽
If I’m not insane, then the world must be insane!
The emotions of countless residents exploded!
Driven by panic, fanaticism, and shock, the news spread faster and faster. The Galactic Society, which had experienced calmness for decades, was once again thrown into a stormy sea.
Be it an ordinary person or Super, civilization or private organization, almost everyone could vaguely see a storm brewing at rapid speed.
The universe seemed to be heralding a change!
1261 Response of the Three Universal Civilizations
The moment this report was delivered to their tables, the leaders of the three civilizations were shocked, hurriedly convening a joint meeting.
In the conference room of the highest level, the projections of Marbruce, Louis, and the Pope sat on one end. Sitting around them were the upper echelons of each respective civilization that was eligible to participate in the conference. The core powers of the three Universal Civilizations had gathered together, and the atmosphere was solemn.
“Resurrecting the Beyond Grade As… Black Star unexpectedly had such an incredible method. He hid himself deeply and only came out in high profile at this point. He did this deliberately!”
Marbruce’s expression was solemn, and he was frightened in his heart.
He had already tried to evaluate Black Star as highly as possible, but he did not expect to underestimate the other party so much. As part of the hawk faction with a strong desire to control, seeing Black Star pull out such a trump card that could stir the universe, his inner anger could not be quenched. He felt that this ally had already left the control of the dynasty.
Louis spoke in a deep voice. “Yes, Black Star has been planning this for a long time. He probably had an idea and was just waiting for an opportunity. Once he sensed the risk, he resolutely released this ace in the hole in order to disrupt our deployments!”
The Pope frowned. “This situation is unfavorable for us. With the return of the Primordial Ones, the top strength of the Beyond Grade A Association has expanded by at least a third. If we use the original plan to cleanse the Beyond Grade As, we will have to pay a higher price. This will shake the order of the entire interstellar society, not to mention that Black Star could possibly resurrect more of them…”
The mood of the trio was the same. Their plans had already entered the ready state, but this abrupt situation brought about by Black Star frightened them into stopping all their current actions and reconsidering countermeasures.
As Black Star was the source of the trouble, the goodwill of the trio toward him had disappeared, only leaving boundless hostility. Even if Black Star was nominally an ally of the dynasty, the Ruler Marbruce was also hostile toward him.
When the other party was beneficial to their own rule, they would cooperate with a smile even if they had a personal suspicion. However, Black Star’s actions had broken the balance of the universe and were leveraging on the foundations of the three Universal Civilizations. His reputation and status could no longer prevent both sides from turning against each other.
From the perspective of the three, they had given Black Star so many benefits, only to see Black Star backstab them!
If it were not for the fear of Black Star’s strength, influence, and connections, the trio might have convened their troops to smash the Black Star Army.
Marbruce suppressed his impulses, speaking in a low tone.
“It will be tricky in the short term but even more dangerous in the long run. Don’t forget, many of the Beyond Grade As have some hatred with us, such as the civilization guardians that were destroyed by us during the exploration era, or even those who perished in the Tragedy of the Pinnacles… If they make a comeback, they’re likely to retaliate against us!”
The upper echelons in the audience knew the seriousness of not removing the weeds from their roots, and they shuddered.
The three Universal Civilizations had many direct Beyond Grade As, but this number could not be compared with the number of enemies they had throughout history. Once their enemies were resurrected on a large scale, their direct Beyond Grade As were likely to be completely wiped out, resulting in the loss of their deterrence in the form of individual combat strength.
The best advantage of a Beyond Grade A was their ability as a strategic level weapon. They had unparalleled flexibility and were able to destroy the entire board with just a few people. If there were no direct Beyond Grade As on their side to restrain the other party, then even if the three Universal Civilizations could still wipe out the Beyond Grade As with their fleets, technology, and various Universal Treasures, they would have to pay a huge price to do so.
The pope thought further and solemnly said, “From the perspective of the overall situation, even if the factors of the enemy were not counted in, the dominance of the three Universal Civilizations is in danger of being flipped. The Sanctum Revival has increased the life expectancy of the Beyond Grade As, which will lead to a qualitative increase in accumulation for the Beyond Grade As in the universe.
“With this trend, the Beyond Grade A numbers will break through the balance between civilization and individual might in the near future, enough to threaten our rule. At that time, it will be hard for us to make a comeback. It will no longer be the Beyond Grade As worrying about us but rather us worrying when the ambitions of the Beyond Grade A Association will expand!”
The Pope sighed at this. He appeared resigned.
“But what’s the use of knowing this? Black Star’s trump card has completely destroyed all our checks and balances. He holds the remote control that could change this era. We can no longer act rashly!”
Hearing this, the trio fell silent.
This current situation was akin to nuclear deterrence, where the three Universal Civilizations did not dare shed all pretenses.
Even if a civilization was strong, facing such a situation, the trio felt helpless in face of this sudden situation. This naturally fueled their hate toward Han Xiao.
There seemed to only be one way to solve this… to obtain the authority to control the Sanctum Revivals!
“For the current strategy, we’ll negotiate as much as possible with Black Star until we figure out his plan!”
The trio nodded, reaching a consensus while secretly regretting their past decisions.
When the stubborn Mechanic Emperor was leading the association, they did not act rashly but rather waited for Black Star to take that position. However, it seemed now that Black Star was even more dangerous than the Mechanic Emperor, being able to hide so deeply.
The route the Mechanic Emperor took was a polar opposite of Black Star. Black Star only wished to deter and co-exist, having little negative impacts and benefiting the Beyond Grade A Association. Compared to Manison’s method of mutual destruction, the former’s method was more inconsistent with the three Universal Civilizations.
If they had known this would happen, when the Beyond Grade A Association was first established, they would have…
Well, what’s the use in regrets when it was not us at that time! What a mess our predecessors left us!
Marbruce could not help but think of the warning he had from Urranrell decades ago.
Beware of Black Star, he’s a hundred times more dangerous than the Mechanic Emperor!
At this point, he could only utter a single word. “Indeed.”
Without delay, the trio dispersed the meeting, sending an invitation and preparing for a secret conversation with Han Xiao.
The trio did not wait long, as Han Xiao descended quickly as a virtual projection.
“Your Excellencies, what a coincidence. We meet again.”
Han Xiao still held the same attitude, bowing slightly with a smile on his face.
While his tone was the same, the three of them felt a faint hint of mockery within.
Marbruce suppressed his urge to strangle Han Xiao, solemnly saying, “Black Star, you must know why we have called you over. Long story short, what’s happening with the Sanctum Revivals?”
Han Xiao blinked. “I’m not too sure myself either. I also only discovered this peculiar phenomenon by accident. This might be a Space Wonder.”
The corners of the trio’s mouths twitched.
Stop mentioning the phrase ‘Space Wonder’, my head hurts!
“Then what’s the process of the Sanctum Revivals, and are there any rules of restrictions…” Louis continued.
“Ah, I’m not too sure of that either. I haven’t started my research yet.” Han Xiao waved his hands.
The Pope cleared his throat before speaking solemnly. “I don’t know if you’re intending to share the formula for Sanctum Revival, but you can name your price.”
Han Xiao smiled.
Bruh, what are you smoking?
Seeing this, the trio knew that this request was outrageous and were secretly unhappy.
Marbruce gritted his teeth before bellowing, “Black Star! You should know what sort of chaos your Sanctum Revivals have brought to the Galactic Society. What’s your intention by resurrecting this group of historical Beyond Grade As? What is your goal?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao only smiled. “Just like you said, I was only testing out if Sanctum Revival was even possible. I didn’t expect to actually be able to resurrect this group of people. Should I stuff them back into their graves instead?”
Marbruce almost exploded in anger.
Accidental experiment? Only a fool would believe that!
The Pope took over the conversation. “Whether it was an accident or not, the Beyond Grade A Association now has to deal with a huge number of newcomers. We would like to know how you are going to deal with this problem.”
What the trio worried about was that with this new force, Black Star would take initiative to attack.
“There’s no need to deal with them. The moment they join the association, they are part of it, and they will not be given special treatment. I will only give them some resources in accordance with their established rules of the association. As for other matters… as long as they do not violate the regulations of the association, I will not care.”
Han Xiao’s attitude was to draw the line.
“This is not enough. You know our intentions. We hope that you will ensure that the Beyond Grade A Association will always exist in peace.”
Han Xiao chuckled. “Even if I guarantee it, will you believe it?”
The trio helplessly shook their heads. In reality, the foundation of trust between both parties had already collapsed. Even if they believed in Black Star, their own duties required them to plan ahead and expect the worst. Any sort of guarantee was useless to them.
The trio did not dare take a sharp attitude when facing Black Star. While Black Star had a huge business, his main clients were the three Universal Civilizations. But things were now different. With the existence of the Sanctum Revival, Black Star had become a ‘detonator’, sitting on the same level as the heads of the three Universal Civilizations.
Marbruce squinted and suddenly asked, “Black Star, is the dynasty still your ally?”
Han Xiao gazed at him, thinking for a bit before asking, “The covenant has not been torn down. The dynasty had provided me with a lot of help, so of course we’re still allies.”
It was not in his interests to completely tear off all pretenses, nor did Han Xiao wish to do so.
Marbruce’s eyes shone. “Then I wish to cooperate. Since you have the means of Sanctum Revival, I hope you can resurrect Gaud or the other dynasty descendants.”
“… I’ll think about it.” Han Xiao raised his brows. He naturally would not resurrect the direct Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations.
Seeing this, the trio knew that they would not be able to get anything else from Han Xiao, so they could only hold back their dissatisfaction and end the call.
In the huge room, the trio gazed at each other, staring in silence for a while.
Marbruce was silent for a while before he spoke.
“The original cleansing plan can be abandoned. We need a new response plan, and I have three ideas. One is to start with Black Star, using spies to infiltrate and find a method to get into the Sanctum. Second would be to divide the association, winning over some of the Revivors to inquire about the Sanctum Revival. As for the third…”
As he spoke, he glanced at them, hesitating a little before he continued.
“We should establish our own Ru0026D team to independently study the secrets of the Sanctum Revival. I believe that the federation and church are not completely ignorant of this, with some information on hand.”
The other two were taken aback before slowly nodding as well.
The three Universal Civilizations came from the exploration era, naturally having some knowledge of the Sanctums. The direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations would occasionally also obtain relevant inspiration and leave some vague information. Because of the rumors among the Primordial Ones as well, this was not the first time the three Universal Civilizations had heard of the term ‘Sanctums’. However, they had treated this as unverifiable confidential information in the past.
Such information was a high-level secret of the three Universal Civilizations. They cherished such things deeply and just wished to research it on their own. However, due to the incomplete intelligence provided, their research had been progressing slowly without any clues. Most of the projects had long been suspended, and even the authenticity of the intelligence was questioned.
But with this situation now, where the ruling foundations of the three Universal Civilizations were threatened, Marbruce felt that this was not the time to hide and monopolize.
“I suggest that we pool and share our relevant secrets, put together our clues to study this so-called Sanctum Revival together. Only in this manner can we have a small chance of making quick progress!”
After a moment of hesitation, Louis nodded. “Seems like this is the best idea. Let’s do it.”
The Pope also nodded in agreement. “In the short term, the possibility of us solving this problem is very small, but in the long run, while we cannot prevent the resurrection of Beyond Grade As, it’s not impossible to suppress the number.
“We cannot prevent the revivals, but we can also reduce the new Beyond Grade As and prevent them from growing endlessly!”
“You mean…”
The two of them started.
The Pope’s eyes flickered with an inexplicable light as he whispered, “The birth of Beyond Grade As comes from the huge base of Supers in the universe. If we obliterate the potential Beyond Grade As, then the Super class will be cut off. If we even cut off the inheritance of Super knowledge at the bottom, nationalizing all of it, this will make the Beyond Grade As lose their fresh blood…”
Hearing this, both Marbruce and Louis felt their hearts jolt. They were unable to help feeling shocked at the Pope’s bold declaration.
The Supers had always been an important part of the Galactic Society, but now he wanted to uproot them‽
With their insight, they felt that this idea was too insane.
But… if there were only advanced civilizations left in the universe that could train Supers, how stable would their public order be, and how strong would their ruling foundation also be?
They could not help but fantasize.
…
At the same time, in Black Star Palace, Han Xiao put away his communicator. Recalling the exchange between him and the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders, he sighed lightly.
“The checks and balances have been formed. The three Universal Civilizations will give up on their cleansing plans for now, fearing repercussions of their actions. In this manner, the intensity of the Calamity of the Supers will be controlled, but I don’t know… How long can this last?”
Han Xiao nodded.
The Revivors were born ahead of time, and the fact of Sanctum Revival was revealed. The butterfly effect he had brought would inevitably change the course of the Calamity of the Supers, not developing like his previous life.
But he could not say for sure to what extent the Calamity of the Supers would change, so he could only adapt to the circumstances.
1262 Mechanical Divinity
Han Xiao stroked his chin as he pondered.
While the storyline had changed, he had predicted the actions of the three Universal Civilizations. The leaders had approached him for a secret talk, naturally with the intention of negotiating with him.
But Han Xiao did not plan to talk about it at all. The fundamental contradictions were already placed up front, so negotiations would be useless if that was not resolved.
The three Universal Civilizations wished to achieve the result of preventing him from resurrecting the Beyond Grade As in history at will. The Revivors had to first be screened by them, and the number could not exceed a certain value. In short, the Sanctum Revivals would be limited, in a way that best fit with the needs of the three Universal Civilizations.
Even if he were to compromise, as long as the three Universal Civilizations did not control the Sanctum Revival function, their behavior would not change. The foundation of trust had already been broken; nothing said now would be able to dispel their fear. This fundamental conflict of interest had already prevented both parties from reaching a consensus.
Han Xiao naturally did not want to tie up his hands and feet. Now that the checks and balance were established, there was nothing they could do even if Han Xiao did not wish to negotiate. That being said, he did not wish to further provoke the three Universal Civilizations.
Unless the three Universal Civilizations made a move, he did not intend to expose any new Beyond Grade As revived by the Holy Accord.
“The three Universal Civilizations could be said to have turned into our enemies. While they are not yet openly hostile, the business cooperation between us will be gradually lifted. Naturally, their resource support will also not be handed to me.
“Tsk, Marbruce has never been happy with me. It’s only because of the deal signed between Urranrell and I that he has no choice but to continue to give me strong support. Now, he can finally terminate the cooperation in a fair way.
“However, I’m not the only one who is receiving this treatment. Except for the direct descendants and the allies who have not made a clear statement, it’s difficult for anyone else to be able to continue cooperating with the three Universal Civilizations. It is necessary to enhance the independence of the association.”
The nature of this wave caused by the Beyond Grade A Association had changed. The three Universal Civilizations would no longer continue their original intentions of killing their ‘enemies’ but would carry out non-armed conflict countermeasures such as economic sanctions.
With them taking the lead, a large number of affiliated civilizations would also terminate their cooperation with the Beyond Grade A organizations. If targeted policies were introduced, many of the interstellar consortiums would also choose to terminate their contracts with the Beyond Grade As. No matter how powerful the Beyond Grade As were, there was no way for them to develop their organizations without support, and Han Xiao did not doubt the influence of the three Universal Civilizations in this area. Free trade would turn into a political issue.
Because the three Universal Civilizations were hegemons, they did not care about losing this portion of cooperation, but for the Beyond Grade A organizations, it would be a significant dip in income. Many of their channels would be cut off, which would have a great impact.
This situation would cause the Super Star Cluster Alliance to take advantage of this vacancy and attempt to lure in the Beyond Grade As to replace the position of the three Universal Civilizations. However, the three Universal Civilizations were even more likely to turn toward the Super Star Cluster Alliance than to continue to cooperate with the Beyond Grade A Association.
Of course, even if the three Universal Civilizations were to take this route, they would not do it in a high-profile manner. This struggle would be out of sight of most galactic residents.
Such problems would not happen in the short term, but it was necessary for Han Xiao to establish an interest system for the Beyond Grade A Association that was independent from the three Universal Civilizations. The current interest system could only be regarded as a semi-complete product, needing further tuning.
“There are countless organizations contacting me these days to ask about the Sanctum Revivals. These are all resources that can be used.”
Han Xiao scratched his chin thoughtfully.
For the ordinary citizens, while the Sanctum Revival was magical, it had little to do with them. Instead, it was the consortiums with more sensitivity in business that were requesting further cooperation, believing that this would be a huge business opportunity.
In Han Xiao’s opinion, these were all ‘building blocks’ that were delivered to his doorstep.
The various consortiums had always been important partners for the Beyond Grade A organizations, but if the three Universal Civilizations adopted such economic sanctions in the future, these various consortiums would be caught in a dilemma between the two factions, not knowing which to choose.
During these unordinary periods, Han Xiao did not wish to clarify any risks with his investors. He planned to immediately accept any investors that wished to invest, tying the association and the consortiums further together to prevent them from running away.
If there came a day when economic sanctions really took place, the consortiums could either be as stubborn as mules and stay all the way or slice off a big piece of their flesh to withdraw. In short, they would not be allowed to pull out with all their investments.
For some organizations with Beyond Grade As, the significance of the Sanctum Revival was even more important. Among them, Han Xiao’s attention was focused on the surviving descendants of those historical Beyond Grade As. A few of them had already reached out to him, expressing their desire to resurrect their ‘ancestor’.
“The surviving descendants of the historical Beyond Grade As… they’re both a source of propaganda and a pool of high-value talents. With the Sanctum Revival in my hands, we can gain something of value from these groups,” Han Xiao muttered.
Resurrecting a Beyond Grade A would only allow him to receive gratitude from said person, but acting on someone’s request to resurrect would mean he could obtain many more benefits.
This was basic demand and supply. Since he had a monopoly, he could decide the price, and in Han Xiao’s view, this might be the correct method to operate the Sanctum Revival.
Right now, however, in order to maintain a sense of secrecy, it would be better not to turn it into a business.
Han Xiao populated his memo, recording thought after thought. It was the president’s duty to guide the development direction of the association, so it was necessary for him to consider all aspects and begin preparing early.
Very quickly, the memo was densely filled up. Han Xiao listed the current affairs that had to be completed, turning it into a complicated mess. Scanning it, he nodded to himself.
“Regarding the work of the association, this is about it. On the side of the organization, I’ll withstand the pressure, using my own strength as the foundation to maintain all of these things…”
While he thought to himself, Han Xiao opened up the interface with a smile.
With the Revivors joining the association, his bonus given by [Proof of Leadership] had seen a small rise. In the past few decades, he had digested most of Jayz’s technical treasures, building a variety of Gold Grade equipment. He had already come a long way on the road of God’s Trait Transformation.
His Machinery God’s Trait Transformation had reached the apex at level fifteen with the help of his Mission Completion Cards. As for his Void God’s Trait Transformation, it had reached level nine, which was also quite a high level.
The bonuses brought about by both of them had once again increased his Energy by thousands of Ona. At the same time, when his Machinery God’s Trait Transformation reached the final level, it brought about additional enhancements to himself, such as obtaining another fragment of the First Sanctum, as well as a fifteen percent increase in his chance to form an exclusive talent.
But unlike the first two times, his unknown talent was finally activated, turning into a new talent—[Mechanical Divinity]!
This was a special reward given when one reached the top of the Mechanic Class. The effect was comprehensive, covering strength of abilities, Machinery Affinity, manufacturing efficiency, and basic attributes, giving bonuses to Endurance and more. This allowed Han Xiao’s Energy to rise by more than 900 in one go, making progress in every single possible manner.
In addition, [Mechanical Divinity] provided him with two additional abilities. The first allowed him to obtain a stacking bonus when he activated his machinery with Mechanical Force, allowing him to get stronger as he fought.
The second gave him an ascension for his life level in his next advancement. From Han Xiao’s viewpoint, this might be the most critical effect, which would live up to its name of ‘transformation’.
As for the Void path, it mainly strengthened his Race Specialties and basic attributes, improving his Racial Talent. At the fifth level, the Black Star race’s talent [Mechanical Genius] experienced a forward leap in evolution, giving him a fragment from the First Sanctum.
As for his Unique Talent, Han Xiao was finally not totally clueless about it. During these decades of research, he had finally triggered a notification from his interface.
The Unique Talent was not one that could be obtained from a sudden epiphany. The mechanism worked when relevant activities were carried out, randomly giving him a certain amount of progress each time. Only when the progress bar was filled up could a true Unique Talent be formed. The triggering frequency and amount of progress depended on the probability of the activity being able to form his Unique Talent.
Because of the bonus awarded by his God’s Trait Transformation, Han Xiao had finally activated a prototype. It had only triggered about three times in the decades, with an extremely low probability. His progress bar was only at 44.7%. At this rate, it would take more than a hundred years for a normal Beyond Grade A to be able to develop their own Unique Talents.
The Awakening Points were able to speed up this progress, but he had no leeks to harvest for a few decades, so Han Xiao decided to be economical, not upgrading his skills, which led to fewer Awakening Points.
Our Great Mechanic Han gazed at his interface as he silently calculated his strength.
The Energy Rank increase brought to me by the various specialties is really high, opening up a gap between myself and the topmost echelons of the universe. I belong to a position on my own now, and when I reach my advancement for level 360, I might really step into a totally new realm…
The best thing to do now would be to push my Void God’s Trait Transformation to the maximum before my advancement, in order to maximize the benefits. The Gold Grade blueprints that Jayz left for me might be insufficient, but as long as I enter The First Sanctum, I should be able to collect a wave of these blueprints, and there will not be a need to worry about not having enough God’s Trait Transformation points…
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled in expectation.
Nobody seemed to have been able to set foot in this higher territory, even in the previous iterations. When the time came, what sort of feeling would it be?
…
“Unexpectedly, the Beyond Grade A Association gave us such a huge surprise!”
In the Super Star Cluster Alliance remote conference room, the leaders of the various Super Star Clusters were gathered together, their expressions unable to withhold their grins.
Ever since they lost in the Flickering War, the Super Star Cluster Alliance had been driven out of the Flickering World by the three Universal Civilizations. They could only endure this humiliation and go home to lick their wounds and recuperate, lying dormant whilst waiting for other opportunities.
They did not expect that merely a few decades later, the patterns in the universe would change once again.
“The conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association has begun. Black Star is always surprising us, even managing to dig up all those dead people. The three Universal Civilizations will definitely not sit still. This is our opportunity.”
The eyes of the Star Arc Civilization’s leader flickered as the corners of his mouth rose.
Someone laughed. “That’s right. This is a good time to intervene and also a direction to shake the rule of the three Universal Civilizations. We can make some improvements to the basis of our original plan.”
Even whilst recuperating, the Super Star Cluster Alliance was not idle. They were already planning to create some trouble for the three Universal Civilizations.
They originally wanted to jointly support a special task force, instigating the anger of the common people that suffered from inequality, reducing the goodwill of these people toward the three Universal Civilizations so as to shake their rule.
But plans could never keep up with the changes. There were now obviously better options.
Everyone had their own ideas, and they discussed vigorously.
“From what angle should we intervene in this storm?”
“It’s impossible to appear in person. We have to hide behind the scenes… Since the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association are restraining themselves, we should intensify their conflict and make them turn openly hostile.”
“The best result would be having both sides lose out, but the Beyond Grade A Association only possesses top-level strength. The power difference between the two is too wide. They are not an opponent of the three Universal Civilizations, so we should find a way to help them increase their power.”
“Are you talking about cooperating with them? That works, but it will attract the attention of the three Universal Civilizations.”
“No, no, not cooperation. We can secretly kill a few of their members, then pin the blame to the three Universal Civilizations, just like what they did to us in the Tragedy of the Pinnacles…”
The people threw out idea after idea, discussing them endlessly.
At this moment, the Star Arc Civilization’s leader interjected.
“Maybe… we could play it big this time!”
Hearing this, everyone turned, curious.
“What are your thoughts?”
The leader narrowed his eyes as he solemnly spoke. “Currently, the contradiction is only between the Beyond Grade As and the three Universal Civilizations. This scope is still too narrow. We can attempt to provoke a greater opposition… For example, we can expand the conflict to the entire Super class against the three Universal Civilizations!
“We can spread rumors that the three Universal Civilizations wish to slaughter the Supers in order to prevent new Beyond Grade As from being born, then we find some people to pretend to be part of the three Universal Civilizations. The hunting team will expose themselves, and by then, even if the rumors are too exaggerated, fear will be the best persuasive power, leading to panic.
“The Beyond Grade A is the natural leader of the Supers, which will cause them to step up, confronting the three Universal Civilizations and deepening their conflicts. The Beyond Grade A Association might seize this chance to increase its power since it will not miss out on such an advantage. The three Universal Civilizations will thus lose a lot of Supers, people, and prestige… Isn’t this very profitable?”
Hearing this, everyone jumped in shock, staring at each other.
After being silent for a while, someone asked, “Isn’t this a bit too exaggerated? If you instigate the rebellion of the entire Super-class, Galactic Society will experience a huge disturbance. Besides, the three Universal Civilizations will not sit still and wait. They will come out with countermeasures, and if they expose us, what should we do?”
“The risk is indeed high, but the benefits are proportional. This is already the best bet. I just put forward a new path we can follow. As for the specific details, we’ll still have to consider it further.”
The leader of the Star Arc Civilization then added after a pause, “Besides, the three Universal Civilizations are unlikely to be completely clean as well. Judging by their current situation, they might really have the idea of creating a fault in the Supers. Since they cannot prevent the resurrection, they can only prevent the birth of the new people. But even if they have such ideas, they will only act secretly to target potential Calamity Grade seeds. What we’re doing is just helping them ‘advertise’ it.”
The Star Arc Civilization’s leader sneered.
I dare not say anything else, but I’m the best at sh*t stirring!
…
Somewhere within the Ancient Star Desert, in a bustling galactic transit station, a few people clad in black robes walked among the ceaseless streams of people, their appearances hidden.
Suddenly, a few of them stopped, looking at a tall building not far away. At this moment, the virtual screen on the wall of the building was broadcasting news about the Sanctum Revival and the association.
The lead man slightly lifted his hood, revealing a stern face. It was Pangon, and those with him were the avengers that had left the Holy Accord about two months ago.
“Humph, Beiger and the rest are already ‘born’…” Pangon whispered to himself.
By the side, a companion glanced at him. “We’ve been out for several months. What are you planning to do?”
Pangon’s eyes flashed coldly.
“With just our strength, it’s too early to take revenge against the advanced civilizations. Now that Beiger’s group has attracted the attention of the universe, we should secretly develop our forces. Once we have accumulated enough power, we’ll head to the three Universal Civilizations for revenge… Before that, we have to hide our hostility and even pretend to cooperate with the three Universal Civilizations to stab them at the right time.”
As he spoke, Pangon took out a communicator and showcased the life history of someone. It was actually the EsGod!
He pointed toward EsGod’s data and spoke.
“Just like this junior of ours, there’s a lot of learning value. We can consider his methods…”
1263 Undercurrents move once again
The streets were bustling, and life forms of various appearances lived in harmony there. Most of them were species that existed in the main universe, but there were also a small number of native races that belonged to the Secondary dimension.
If there were any Beyond Grade A Supers present, upon gazing at the sun, moon, and thousands of stars in the sky, they would discover magic lines flickering in subtle places. These scenes were all illusions that were carved out through magic circuits, with none of them being real.
There was a beautiful brown wooden table placed on the top of the tower, of which was made from the core of the Devil Pith, an extremely precious material in magical alchemy. There were four ivory-colored tea cups on the table, which were filled with tea of an amber color. The steam emitted from tea filled the surroundings with fragrance, allowing people to feel calm. Obviously, the tea leaves were also a precious material.
Seated at the table, four figures looked at the boundless city whilst elegantly drinking the tea leisurely.
At this moment, an almost invisible phantom appeared beside the table, as though this space had suddenly distorted.
“My messenger is back…”
One of the old men in gorgeous mage robes pressed on the center of his brows, his mana absorbing the phantom.
He shut his eyes for a moment, as though savoring the taste, but his brows suddenly jerked.
“It seems like something major has happened in the main universe.”
Hearing this, the rest placed down their teacups, looking over curiously.
“What happened?”
“See for yourself.”
The elderly mage waved his hand, a thread of spiritual force shooting out. It sank into the heads of the other three, allowing them to share his memories. The news was about the changes in the Beyond Grade A Association, shown in the galactic news.
“Primordial Ones were revived? Sanctum Revival?”
“There’s actually such an event?”
The few of them revealed expressions of surprise.
“The changes in the main universe are really progressing rapidly with each passing day. Things that I never dared to imagine are all coming true. Such are the tides of time…” The elderly mage sighed.
“It doesn’t matter how they change. This doesn’t matter to us anyway. We’ve isolated ourselves from the world. Wasn’t it just to avoid such storms?” The other person shook his head.
Even for an advanced civilization, they could not supervise the birth of every Beyond Grade A. Everyone pursued different things. Sometimes, there were Beyond Grade As who were unwilling to fight for power, unwilling to show their skills and change with the times, so they chose to seclude themselves after reaching the Beyond Grade A realm, hiding their hard-earned strength.
Because those who could be promoted to the Beyond Grade A realm were generally people with strong ambitions and desires, there were relatively few of them who had no ambitions and yet could still advance. These were usually attributed to luck and were not recorded by the advanced civilizations.
These four were Beyond Grade As who had retired from the universe a long time ago. They were like-minded individuals, staying away from the main universe and settling deep within the secondary dimensions, forming a cooperative front to take care of each other.
This secondary dimension named ‘Land of Four Gods’ was not naturally formed. The four of them had selected a suitable dimension before putting in the elements stolen from the main universe such as materials and people, transforming it into a prosperous world much like a utopia. At the same time, everybody’s mind was wiped, so they would think that this dimension was an entire world. The population thus proliferated down from generation to generation.
The residents could stay free from war and enjoy the tranquility of the world. The majority of people there could all live to the end of their lifespan and worshipped the four as their ‘Gods of Creation’.
The elderly mage shook his head. “That being said, the Sanctum Revival is worthy of our attention. Sooner or later, we’ll also experience a time when we decay. If we can obtain a second life, we can continue to exist.”
“That time when we left the place, we never had any intentions to return. Are we going to break this intention now?” one of them said in a hesitant voice. They had gotten used to staying in this place and had some fear of going back out.
The mage stroked his long beard, only replying after a while. “Let’s wait and see again. Now’s not a good time to go back. We can wait till the dust settles before we have a chat with the younger lad known as Black Star.”
Even for those Beyond Grade As that avoided public scrutiny, they could not help being drawn in by the Sanctum Revival offered. Not only were the four of them affected, but similar issues were also happening in the many corners of the secondary dimensions.
The Sanctum Revival was akin to a deep water mine, stirring up the mud and sand in the depths of the seabed, causing the hidden existences to reenter the range of sunlight, surging as undercurrents in corners that no one knew about.
…
Within the Arcane Church’s Temple of Ten Thousand Gods, numerous statues of gods in all shapes and sizes stood. Some were majestic and heroic, some detached from the mortal dust, and some indescribable. The only thing in common was that each statue appeared lifelike. They were gods of various religions circulating in the universe.
The [God’s Chosen] Wuornos stood in the center of the main hall, his head bowed as he prayed. The silvery-gray sacrificial priest’s robes fluttered even without a wind, as colorful and peculiar auras flew around his body vigorously. If one were to observe the interior of these auras, they would see that it seemingly contained lines of divine words.
At this moment, a priest led an upper echelon of the Arcane Church to enter the temple.
“Your Excellency, God’s Chosen, the Pope requires your assistance.”
The upper echelon of the Arcane Church saluted as he spoke with a respectful attitude.
Wuornos stopped his prayers, indifferently speaking without even turning his head. “Speak.”
“Because of the Sanctum Revival, we have reached a new cooperation agreement with both the Crimson Dynasty and the Federation of Light, planning to form a joint scientific research team to conduct research of our own to obtain the Sanctum Revival. We’re preparing to establish a secret research institute in the desolate universe belt in the middle of the three territories, and the Pope would like you to hold the fort there, God’s Chosen.”
“Sure.”
Wuornos turned his head, pointing to an angel wielding a sword next to him. This was one of the deities worshipped by a large religious school named ‘Barbaroy’. Based on the school’s system, this deity governed over ‘combat’ itself.
At this moment, an invisible energy spread, and the statue suddenly shook. A golden-white aura shot out from within, separating itself from the statue. At the moment the light left the shell, the lifelike feeling of the statue dissipated.
This golden-white aura suffused into Wuornos’ body. The next moment, a crash was heard as an illusory figure suddenly grew out from his back.
This phantom had a pair of glowing wings and held a gorgeous long sword. It was surprisingly in the same outfit as the deity, except that its size and appearance were similar to Wuornos instead, as though they had combined.
At this moment, the phantom was holding Wuornos’ shoulders with its hands, attempting to pull itself out of Wuornos’ body inch by inch.
In just a few seconds, the sword-wielding angel had succeeded in separating itself, flapping its wings and floating into the air, splashing a pale, golden energy all over as it quickly transformed from a phantom into a physical entity with a strong aura. It stopped when the energy fluctuations reached the level of an upper-tier Beyond Grade A.
The two figures stood side by side, looking like different versions of the same person.
At this moment, Wuornos slowly spoke.
“One deity is enough. Barbaroy is good enough for this task. Take him there.”
“Alright, I’ll escort him over. Thank you for your gift.”
The upper echelon of the Arcane Church nodded and saluted.
No matter how many times he witnessed this, he could not help but secretly marvel and admire this scene.
This was the guardian of the Arcane Church, the person recognized in the universe as the strongest for many years now, the legendary God’s Chosen who could ‘summon’ the gods…
This one person could take on the persona of all the gods!
This was not just his personal ability but one of the core Universal Treasures of the Arcane Church, which was integrated into Wuornos’ body, creating the title of God’s Chosen.
At this moment, Wuornos saw that the other party had yet to leave and lightly asked, “Is there anything else?”
The person in question recovered his senses and hurriedly said, “There’s another matter. The Pope asked me to ask this question…”
“Ask.”
The upper echelon paused before carefully continuing. “The Pope wishes to know, do you have a guarantee of being able to get rid of Black Star?”
Hearing this, Wuornos finally turned to look at him. He frowned.
“I cannot guarantee that.”
“… Alright. I apologize for intruding; I’ll be off now.”
The person could only bid farewell.
Sending him off with his eyes, Wuornos lowered his head to continue praying. From the start to the end, he did not leave his spot at all, as though he was also a statue of a deity that was fixed in place.
…
The news of the Sanctum Revival quickly rose to a fever pitch in a few days, with no sign of fading even after half a month. The major news channels found a new entry point, beginning to count the Revivors and their identities, which attracted the curiosity of the people, allowing their ratings to remain high.
At the same time, the Wayne Card company announced that they would work overtime in order to produce all related card decks of the Revivors, formulating several new genres of gameplay based on the Sanctum Revival, further inflaming the level of popularity.
And among the various classes of society, the Calamity Grades reacted the most fiercely.
The Calamity Grades already had the strength to occupy a territory, so many of them would rather be a big fish in a small pond than join in under the lead of a Beyond Grade A organization. However, the existence of the Sanctum Revival changed their plans.
Generally speaking, those who were Calamity Grades would join Beyond Grade A organizations either to obtain shelter or to seek guidance. But some people were aware of their own potential, understanding that they were unqualified to enter the Beyond Grade A realm. Thus, they did not have much motivation to cultivate. Many of them chose to come to a standstill, indulging in the luxury brought about by their power.
But now, almost no one could refuse the attraction that was a second life. Even those who had accepted their mediocrity early could not help but feel their passion rekindled.
This was especially so for the Beyond Grade A seeds!
Initially, most of the Beyond Grade A seeds had a sense of arrogance, and not everyone would seek guidance from a Beyond Grade A. Even if they knew that this would be beneficial to them, they did not wish to work for others.
Some of the Beyond Grade A seeds practiced the lone wolf method, aiming to complete the sublimation of life level on their own.
However, the situation had changed. They would not be able to enjoy the Sanctum Revival if they did not step into the Beyond Grade A realm. Thus, these potential stocks that were one step away from the Beyond Grade A realm would gradually have their mentality fluctuate, beginning to think of plans to join under the Beyond Grade A organizations, obtaining guidance to achieve the qualifications for Sanctum Revival as soon as possible.
Those who could even become Beyond Grade A seeds were decisive people. Once they had come to a decision, they immediately put it into action. For a period of time, many of the seeds stopped roaming around, adjusting their schedules to turn toward the Flickering World.
Those who had abilities could afford to be arrogant, but for the majority of the time, the reason they behaved so was only because the benefits offered to them were not enticing enough. This was the law of the universe.
1264 Feidin's Card, Adventure Trigger
Within the command room of the foremost spaceship, many of the operators bustled at their posts, reporting parameters from time to time.
“Reporting to the Captain, we’ve left the Haite Civilization’s territory. Entering the low security area infested with galactic pirates. The alert level has been raised to Level 7. In about fifty-four hours, the fleet will arrive at the joint neutral area and enter the range of the inter-star field stargate.”
“Ok. Expand the range of the unmanned reconnaissance fleet. We have to be cautious. The next section of the journey is not safe,” Kevin replied as he sat in the captain’s seat.
He was slender and had a fair complexion with a handsome appearance. He was dressed in a set of elegant casual clothes, coupled with a black wide-brimmed hat adorned with a feather. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing a smooth, white chest. A slender saber hung sheathed on his waist, engraved with magic patterns that gave away its identity as a magic weapon.
‘White Wave’ Kevin was one of the recorded Beyond Grade A seeds in the universe. He did not belong to any organization but rather travelled freely within the universe.
This sort of neutral Beyond Grade A seed had always been an important target for the advanced civilizations, and Kevin was no exception. The three Universal Civilizations, the Super Star Cluster Alliance, and advanced civilizations in Blackhole Edge had handed him olive branches.
However, Kevin had never expressed his stance, not only because he did not wish to work under others, but also because he wished to leave himself some room to maneuver.
Originally, the price set by the three Universal Civilizations had moved him, and he was thinking about joining them, but the recent news about the Sanctum Revival made him dismiss such thoughts.
Even though the three Universal Civilizations had greatly increased their offers after this incident, it was no longer the same; Kevin remained unmoved. Suddenly, he no longer felt that the promised resources by the three Universal Civilizations were attractive, and he did not even wish to bargain. He directly decided to turn around and join the Beyond Grade A organizations, leading his fleet to the Flickering World.
He had even chosen his target. Black Star controlled the Sanctum Revival, so he had to join the Black Star Army. As long as he got to the Beyond Grade A realm in the future, he would be able to enjoy the benefits of a favorable position.
Kevin casually swiped through his communicator, browsing the latest news events on the local network channels. He soon noticed an article with an interesting title.
‘The three Universal Civilizations claim to know of the phenomenon behind the Sanctum Revival. They have always been researching it, and now they have also produced results.’
Seeing this in the headlines, Kevin could not help but sneer with a disapproving expression.
“Tsk, in order to soothe the hearts of the public, the three Universal Civilizations have started to produce fake news…”
In the near future, similar news would appear from time to time due to the impact of Sanctum Revival to the galactic community. This had triggered a chain reaction, even shaking the direct descendants of the advanced civilizations. In Kevin’s view, the three Universal Civilizations were doing this to placate the public and make the ordinary people believe that the three Universal Civilizations could also use such technology.
While such rumors were groundless, they could not be said to be completely ineffective. There would always be certain citizens in the Galactic Society who followed simple and crude logic, which made them believe that the three Universal Civilizations were involved in every field. Even if the Sanctum Revival was an unheard of technology, they would believe that the three Universal Civilizations had long known about it but kept it a secret.
However, these people were mainly only those in the lowest social strata. People like Kevin would naturally not believe it.
“The three Universal Civilizations are greatly pressured now. This is not a bad thing. Only when there’s competition between the major factions will people like us get noticed. In order to win us over, they will have to come out with better welfare. If not for the three Universal Civilizations feeling the pressure, they would not have suddenly increased the chips to win me over.”
Kevin scratched his jaw as he muttered to himself.
Reading on, he realized that the comment section was a little strange. There were many negative comments and curses directed at the Supers, with people feeling irritated about the privileges enjoyed by the Supers. Some were even furious about the unequal treatment. These comments all received a lot of likes and praise from the lurkers on the web.
Kevin carefully looked through the comments before helplessly shaking his head.
Toward the strength, status, and privileges that Supers enjoyed, the majority of the ordinary people both admired and feared them, but they also envied and hated them. Supers were one of the most active social classes in the universe, but they only accounted for a very small part of the total population of the universe. Compared to the ordinary people who were the mainstream, both sides had been plagued with conflicts for a long time.
Most people in the universe were destined not to have the potential to become Supers since they were born, doomed to be mediocre their whole lives. The more they admired these Supers, the more they would hate themselves for not having such a life and their unfair destiny. Thus, this hate would also pass to the surrounding matters related to Supers. Using reasoning could not tame the hearts of these people, thus forming a stubborn social contradiction between both classes.
On the universal scale, Supers and ordinary people were not just a matter of social class, not even of the same ‘biology’ make up. Supers represented the direction of evolution, whilst the ordinary people represented the low-level life forms. Even if the galactic society did not promote such a perception, many people thought of it as the truth.
The ordinary people who occupied the mainstream of the population were unwilling to accept their innate position as the ‘eliminated of the evolutionary process’, so conflict was doomed to happen.
In reality, most galactic residents did not dare make trouble in front of the Supers, but they would not hesitate to go on the quantum network to attack and vent their emotions. The Sanctum Revival seemed to have become a detonator for the grievances of the galactic residents, leading to many more of these ordinary residents becoming angry and shouting about injustice.
In such herd venting places, emotions would naturally outweigh one’s rationality. Even if many of the people knew that the strength a Super had was a result of hard training, it was meaningless. They would only stop the scolding when all Supers in the universe were dead or when they became Supers themselves.
While Kevin was not surprised at this, he felt that the eruption behind the class conflicts had been too violent. He would not believe there was nobody manipulating the thoughts of people behind the scenes.
“Dark clouds keep accumulating, and heavy rain will arrive sooner than scheduled. I always feel that if this continues, it will be bad for the future of our Galactic Society…”
Kevin shook his head.
Boom!
At this moment, the spaceship suddenly shook, and its radar buzzed in alarm.
“Warning! Warning! Detected a space jamming device nearby, exiting hyperdrive. An unknown spaceship is fast approaching!”
Kevin looked up in surprise, hurriedly switching to the outside field. He soon saw a small fleet surrounding him. They were a galactic pirate group active in this area, with the leader seeming to be a Calamity Grade.
The next moment, the shouts of the galactic pirate group sounded in the wide area communication channel.
“Quickly stop your spaceship and open the hatch. Allow my people to board the ship. Otherwise, we will open fire!”
“It turns out they’re here to loot…”
Kevin breathed a sigh of relief, and his expression turned cold.
“Captain, what do we do?” the pilot next to him asked. He believed in Kevin’s strength, so he was not nervous at all.
“Humph, let them board. Since they’re looking for death, then we’ll give it to them. I’ll finish them off quickly.”
Kevin’s eyes flashed.
Very quickly, the fleet stopped in place according to his instructions. Seeing this, the galactic pirates quickly approached, connecting their spaceships.
The hatch opened in a flash, and a galactic pirate stepped into the spaceship with a gun. Everyone onboard was waiting in front of the passage.
“Where’s the captain? Tell him to come out and see me!” The galactic pirate looked around.
At this moment, there was a loud shout from the crowd.
“You messed with the wrong person!”
Kevin, who was hidden in the crowd, suddenly attacked. He drew out his long, slender saber, cutting out a splendid sheen as a sharp cold light shot out.
The galactic pirate leader was shocked, hurriedly raising his arm wrapped in Pugilist aura to block the surprise attack.
Swoosh!
The next second, blood spewed, and the galactic pirate leader screamed in pain as the blade cut through his aura and into his arm, deeply embedding within.
Kevin gripped the blade in both hands as his feet spun. A wave of white blade light suddenly lit up, leaving a remnant flash on everyone’s retinas.
Shua!
The arm of the pirate leader fell on the ground. The incision was smooth, and the blood seemed to not have kept up with the speed of the blade as there was a split second of pause before it sprayed out, staining the spaceship corridor.
Both of them were in the Calamity Grade, but Kevin’s Energy rank was much higher, so he maimed his opponent in a single blow. As a Pugilist of the War Soldier Branch, Kevin was extremely lethal, having long reached the master level in swordsmanship.
Right at this moment, a sudden change occurred!
In the team of galactic pirates, seven to eight of them released the aura of a Calamity Grade and attacked Kevin at the same time, like hunters who had been stalking their prey for a long time!
“What!” Kevin’s pupils shrank, his eyes changing drastically.
These people definitely did not belong to the galactic pirates. If there were so many Calamity Grades, they would have been famous, and he would not be surprised like this.
To be so close and yet unable to sense their auras, these assailants were not simple!
Kevin did not have time to think about the origins of this group. He hurriedly dodged and blocked, but the attack was too sudden, leaving him to withstand most of the heavy blows. Blood spurted out as he suffered a heavy injury. The Pugilists of the War Soldier Branch were not famed for their defense.
“They’re not ordinary Calamity Grades. They’re all masters!”
Kevin was horrified, and while coughing blood, he slashed out wide, smashing through the bulkhead of the spaceship to flee into the universe, attempting to approach another spaceship.
At this moment, the seven to eight Calamity Grades chased after him, intercepting and cooperating to destroy all the spaceships while entangling Kevin, leaving no path of retreat.
Seeing that his path of retreat was cut off, Kevin could only resist desperately. With every exchange between him and the group, he was put in more and more danger.
Even with his status as a Beyond Grade A seed, he could not withstand the siege of seven to eight Calamity Grades. After all, not everyone had the frightening ability of Black Star.
“You guys are not galactic pirates. Who are you people‽” Kevin yelled in the wide area communication channel. Through his senses, he could vaguely feel the resolute killing intent of these Calamity Grades, as though they were there purposely for him.
Could it be that this group allied with the galactic pirates to plot against me?
But his question was destined to never be answered. These Calamity Grades were silent, only answering with their attacks, unscrupulously releasing their cold killing intent.
Seeing this, Kevin gritted his teeth, unwilling to sit still as he called out for help on the wide area communication channel while still trying his best to break out from the siege. Even knowing that his chance of escape was slim, he would not give up.
As his injuries grew more severe, he gradually burned out and started to lose his consciousness.
“It took me such a long time to gain my strength and to set foot in the Beyond Grade A field. Could it be that I’ll have to die like this here?”
Kevin tried his best to persevere as a strong unwillingness surged in his mind.
At this point, everyone’s attack suddenly halted. They looked up, seeing a shuttle-shaped spaceship appearing in their sight not far away, approaching as it seemed to have discovered the abnormal energy response there.
“There are eyewitnesses. What should we do?”
“Ignore them. Kill the target first.”
The few people exchanged words before increasing the intensity of the offensive, abandoning all defenses, fighting tooth for tooth.
This became the last straw. Kevin’s wounded body could no longer bear the offensive surge and shattered into pieces. His life quickly fled from his body.
One of the Calamity Grades was about to deliver the final fatal blow, but at this moment, something strange happened!
Buzz!
A holy golden light shot out from the spaceship, approaching quickly and shining on Kevin’s tattered body.
The next moment, as though a miracle happened, Kevin’s body returned to its intact state in the blink of an eye. All his injuries disappeared without a trace. He opened his eyes in confusion.
“This is…”
The pupils of those Calamity Grades shrank, and they all turned to the spaceship where the beam of light came from.
At the same time, Aurora retracted her hand from within the spaceship, her eyes flashing with excitement and curiosity.
“It’s really fun to go out with you. I always encounter strange things.”
By the side, Feidin helplessly shook his head.
If it was not for him being volunteered, he would not have wanted to accompany Aurora to travel everywhere. To put it nicely, he was a ‘bodyguard’, but in fact, he was just being used as an event trigger to make her journey more interesting and fun.
1265 Snatched
During her first few months, Aurora travelled around alone to view the scenery and experience different cultures, but she soon discovered that such a journey was too dull, not as exciting as she had imagined it to be.
Thus, after Han Xiao returned from the Sanctum, Aurora borrowed the handyman Feidin from him, asking Han Xiao to use the King to teleport him to her.
The effect of this move was significant, suddenly turning her journey into an exciting one. According to definitely inaccurate and incomplete statistics, the duo had been involved in more than a dozen incidents, be it large or small in just the past two months.
Aurora was now satisfied, but Feidin felt completely helpless as he was dragged around by Aurora to continue his career as a handyman.
He could not help regretting the fact that he had managed to separate Chen Xing’s soul, otherwise he could pass time by talking to her, not being just a mascot like he was now.
The spaceship they operated was specially crafted by Black Star. The hyperdrive engine, energy shield, detection radar, Cloaking Devices, and other miscellaneous devices were all top tier. Not too long ago, the spaceship had detected the abnormal energy fluctuations there and concluded that a battle was taking place. The special interference device of Black Star’s broke through the channel interference and saw Kevin’s call for help.
At the same time, Aurora’s ability also sensed multiple Calamity Grade life signals and immediately knew that there was excitement to be discovered there. Thus, she turned to take a look, chancing across this scene.
While she was not aware of the events that had transpired, throughout her months of wandering, she had long developed her own style of doing things… Regardless of why they were trying to kill each other, until she got the bottom of it, none of them were allowed to die!
With the limitless power provided through her ‘milk’, she could be that arrogant!
Seeing that Kevin was on the verge of death, Aurora did not waste her time, immediately drawing out a portion of healing energy. With her current Beyond Grade A strength, healing a Calamity Grade completely was as easy as taking a breath. In a moment, Kevin was reconstructed perfectly, and he even felt as though he was stronger.
“… I’m not dead?”
Kevin lowered his head, staring at his undamaged body. For an instant, he had faced death straight ahead, thinking that he was about to die, but the sudden infusion of ‘milk’ caught him off guard. He could no longer tell if he was in reality or an illusion.
At the same time, the faces of the besieging Calamity Grades twisted, and they suddenly dispersed.
“These are Beyond Grade A fluctuations. Run!”
The group split up and fled without hesitation. Enchantment tattoos lit up on their bodies, showing magic circuits of short-range teleportation being inscribed on them. With only slight fluctuations in space, all of their teleportation skills were activated.
“Thinking of running after beating me up‽”
Kevin recovered to his senses, rushing toward the nearest enemies. A strong aura condensed on his blade, slashing out as a sharp blade light.
The teleportation procedures of three of the enemies were interrupted as they avoided the attack.
However, a small vortex had already been created in front of the others, which was still rapidly expanding. It would only take them a few seconds to complete their preparations, allowing them to teleport and escape from there.
Seeing that the teleportation technique had been successfully engaged, the few of them were about to sigh in relief. However, a unique spatial fluctuation suddenly spread out from Aurora’s spaceship.
Buzz!
This fluctuation acted like an iron, directly smoothing all the space folds within the battlefield. The portals that were on the verge of forming shattered and disappeared.
On the spaceship, Aurora pouted.
“Humph, do you take my spaceship as a decoration‽”
Her spaceship contained a lot of black technology, which included what Han Xiao had obtained from Jayz’s technological treasure. The powerful spacetime anchoring was just one of the minor abilities her spaceship possessed.
Seeing this situation, the faces of the Calamity Grades turned pale. They glanced at each other, resoluteness flashing in their eyes.
The next moment, the group of people gave up on running away, turning their heads and rushing toward the shuttle-shaped spaceship, as though they wished to end up in mutual annihilation.
Feidin narrowed his eyes, about to take action. However, Aurora tapped on his shoulder.
“It’s okay. Let me do it.”
Her eyes flashed, and the energy levels in her body surged, instantly transforming her into her ‘mature’ version. The Mark of the Underworld on the back of her hand also lit up.
With a wave of her hand, Life and Death Energy combined to form the Resurrection Energy. The energies entangled with each other, weaving out bones, muscles, and blood vessels, transforming into the temporary mortal shells of ten different species.
Under the power of the Resurrection Energy, the temporary shells were quickly materialized, their outlines almost the same as the owners’ previous physical bodies. The only difference was that these temporary bodies all emitted a faint fluorescence light and retained certain characteristics of an Energy Life form.
With a flick of her finger, ten Calamity Grade Hero Spirits flew out from the Mark of The Underworld, merging into the shells. The next moment, their bodies all burst forth with Calamity Grade energy fluctuations.
The Hero Spirits descend, reincarnating from the Earth!
These series of actions were fluidly performed, which hinted at the ceaseless practice. At this moment, the Hero Spirits had become complete life forms, possessing the actual combat power of their previous lives.
“Go, take them down.” Aurora laughed.
The ten Calamity Grades nodded and immediately rushed out of the spaceship, intercepting their opponents and fighting them. Kevin saw this but was not surprised, quickly joining the battle.
The Hero Spirits did not care about death at all, so they did not even bother to defend. For them, an aggressive style of play was nothing more than a tactic. It might be unscrupulous, but it allowed them to operate above their combat levels, showing more power than before their original deaths.
Even though she completely controlled the Holy Light Particle, Aurora’s frontal lethality was still weak. She had thus become completely accustomed to the Summoning style but still stuck to only summoning up to Calamity Grade Hero Spirits. The physical consumption of summoning the Beyond Grade A Hero Spirits was too large. Plus, she had promised Han Xiao that she would not easily allow the Beyond Grade As to come out for a walk.
A Beyond Grade A would naturally bully the Calamity Grades, and without any suspense, these Calamity Grades of unknown origin soon retreated hastily.
Seeing that they were about to be captured alive, the group of people clenched their teeth, crazily compressing the energies in their bodies. Their bodies were soon covered with glowing cracks.
“They’re planning to implode!”
Kevin was shocked, subconsciously drawing back.
He did not expect this group of people to be so decisive, opting to blow themselves up than be caught alive.
Boom!
The next instant, the bodies of the several people burst into flames. A huge shock wave blasted outward.
However, this self-detonation had only just started when a holy light shot out from the spaceship again. Sweeping past, the fragmenting bodies of this group of people re-bonded and were restored to their original state.
The pupils of these people shrank, and they once again imploded without hesitation, only to have the same scene occur again. The moment they felt the pain of their bodies tearing apart, another light would shoot out and heal their injuries.
After trying a few times, the results remained unchanged. The faces of these people were now filled with despair as they understood that their lives were no longer theirs to control.
They could not live how they wanted, but they could not die when they wanted to either!
“That’s enough. Don’t fool around with them anymore. I’ll do it.”
Feidin shook his head in resignation.
He took out the Soul Swapper, replacing the souls of a few of them into prepared containers of animals.
In this period, Feidin had also reached the rank of a Beyond Grade A seeds. With this weird Soul Swapper, it could be said that it was rare for him to meet an enemy that could threaten him in the Calamity Grade.
The bodies of those whose souls were transferred turned into empty husks, collapsing where they stood and were easily captured. The Hero Spirits set about cleaning up the battlefield.
Seeing this scene, Kevin finally relaxed. He was full of joy at being able to escape from the dead and quickly broadcast through the wide area communications channel.
“My name is Kevin. Esteemed ones, you have saved my life. May I know if I may have the honor of thanking you face to face?”
After a few seconds, a voice sounded from the channel.
“Let’s talk on the spaceship.”
Kevin was energized. As he approached the spaceship, the door opened, letting him fly in.
After following the guiding robot to the command room, he saw the eye-catching Aurora at a glance. He did not hesitate to salute in excitement and surprise.
“Turns out that it’s the new Deputy Army Commander of the Black Star Army, the Goddess of Life, Aurora. It’s my blessing to be able to meet you!”
When Aurora had made a move, Kevin had vaguely guessed her identity, but only now did he dare confirm it when he saw the person in flesh.
Kevin’s happiness only grew.
Fortunately, he had met Aurora, who was a master of life. If it were someone else, they would probably not have been able to pull him back from death.
In the vast universe, I actually managed to encounter a Beyond Grade A that could save me. What sort of probability was this?
My luck is too good!
“Eh, when did I get this moniker?” Aurora actually intended to act high and mighty like Hila, but hearing this, she stopped in shock.
“Don’t you know?” Kevin said. “This is because you’re the sister of the ‘Goddess of Death’ and hold the exact opposite powers, so the world has started calling you this.”
“Not bad, I’m also someone with a moniker now.” Aurora giggled.
While it was only one compared to the multitude Hila had, it was a good start. Sooner or later, she would be able to defeat her sister and crush her under her own feet proudly!
Fantasizing about this scene, Aurora’s emotions were surging with joy.
Glancing over, Feidin immediately guessed that Aurora was distracted again, so he could only take the reins. “Anyway, we received your call for help, so we came over just in time. Could you please explain what exactly happened?”
“It’s like this. I was actually journeying but suddenly came across a bunch of galactic pirates…”
Kevin explained the whole process truthfully without hiding anything.
After hearing this, Feidin squeezed his perfectly shaped chin as he guessed, “It seems more than meets the eye. These people are by no means just galactic pirates. I think they specifically aimed at you. Could it be a vendetta?”
“It doesn’t make sense. I’m typically a do-gooder and have avoided any struggles of the factions. Even if I have to kill, I make sure I get rid of the roots as well. I have also never provoked an organization that could release seven or eight Calamity Grades at once.”
Kevin drew a blank.
Hearing this, Feidin was lost in thought for a while before he muttered, “If it’s not a vendetta, then it’s likely related to the current storm.”
“What is it about?” Kevin was curious.
“Oh, I’m still not sure, but we managed to capture a few live ones, so some interrogation will reveal everything…”
Feidin shook his head, but he suddenly paused, and his words grew sharp.
“You just mentioned that you were journeying over to the Flickering World to join the Black Star Army?”
“That’s right…”
“Great!” Feidin’s eyes lit up. “You don’t need to travel so far to the Flickering World. The Deputy Army Commander is right in front of you and is definitely qualified to accept newcomers. You could just stay and become part of her Guard Corps.”
“Huh?”
“This…”
Kevin paused for a while.
His original objective was to become a Black Star Guard, to enjoy the benefits of a favorable position, but Aurora had practically saved his life. While she was a new Beyond Grade A, her Esper Ability was unique, which would guarantee the safety of his life under most circumstances.
Even if he went over to the Flickering World, he might still encounter more dangers. Temporarily staying by Aurora’s side was not too bad.
“Yes, yes, yes, come under my command. As long as you come, I can give you the position of Guard Captain!” Aurora’s eyes lit up.
While she was the Deputy Army Commander, fully qualified to employ her own Guards regiment, she had been busy travelling ever since she was promoted. She had not recruited anyone, and thus, she had no Guards under her.
The talents in the army had mostly been divided by Black Star and Hila, so even if she tried recruiting from the inside, it would be difficult to find any masters. She had always envied the Guards that Hila had.
Now that she had encountered a Beyond Grade A seed in trouble, Aurora immediately had this thought.
Kevin struggled for a while before being tempted.
“… Alright, I’m willing to be the Captain of your Guard Corps.”
He had also done some research on the organizational structure of the Black Star Army. From his point of view, there were three factions, each with the respective Beyond Grade A as the leader.
Black Star was undoubtedly the ruling faction, but there were too many talents within, and there was no opportunity to show off, which made his chances of standing out remote. Hila’s faction was mainly comprised of women and had already been formed with no intention of expanding. Furthermore, Hila was also not known to be a good leader. In contrast, Aurora’s faction had just been established, so if he became one of her early followers when she had a shortage of people, his status would naturally be extraordinary.
While Kevin’s original intention was to obtain the Sanctum Revival, since he had decided to join an organization, he would not be satisfied with being a marginal person without any sense of existence.
“That’s great. I’ll help you register for your army authority! Phillip, come out!”
Aurora was overjoyed, immediately summoning Phillip. She could not wait to register Kevin as her Guards Captain.
Why is she even more excited than me?
Kevin felt a sinking feeling, but he had no choice but to cooperate.
However, this feeling of being appreciated by his boss made him feel more moved.
Seeing this, Feidin did not bother them, simply walking to the side and entering the spiritual realm to interrogate the prisoners.
After a while, Aurora had completed the procedures for Kevin, and the Hero Spirits had also cleaned up the battlefield.
At this moment, the two saw Feidin walk back with a solemn expression.
“You’re done interrogating? How’s the situation?” Aurora was curious.
“… The situation has exceeded our expectations. The matter is more serious than we thought.”
Feidin shook his head, speaking in a steely tone.
“Immediately report to the Army Commander. This matter is out of our league!”
1266 Travelling Feidin
In his personal machinery factory in Black Star Palace, Han Xiao looked with surprise at the communication screen where Feidin was speaking to him.
He had been too busy digesting his technology recently. Only when Feidin called him and told him that they had captured a hunting team that specifically targeted the Beyond Grade A seeds did he then notice.
“Speak in detail, I want to know everything.” Han Xiao put down the parts in his hand, his expression turning solemn.
“It’s like this…” Feidin explained the entire process.
After capturing these assailants, he had dug up the amazing intelligence through interrogation and reading of memories. All the Calamity Grades that attacked Kevin were acting on orders and had quietly controlled the galactic pirates that had been wandering nearby, waiting to intercept Kevin.
“Do you know which organizations they belong to?” Han Xiao was curious.
Feidin nodded. “I’ve already checked. These Calamity Grades did not leave any information within the universe. At the same time, they have no relevant memories, and they do not know which organization they work for, only unilaterally accepting direct orders from an account. The account for tasks for each person is also different. When I reviewed their memories, I discovered that they had been receiving some sort of thought-shaping training since young, specially to create warriors with weak self-awareness.
“Death warriors without any history? To be able to train up eight Calamity Grades as Death warriors from an early age, this is no small organization. The thought training should be a form of brainwashing that can maintain a long-term effect on the Calamity Grades. This should be technology at or above the Star Cluster level.”
Han Xiao furrowed his brows, pondering silently for a while before he asked, “Any other clues?”
“I’ve found some safe houses and codewords, as well as their activities. When I finish sorting them out, I’ll send you the report containing the top-secret accounts of these people for receiving tasks. It may be useful to you.”
Han Xiao’s brows rose. “To think you’re placing so much importance in this matter. It seems like you also know the problem in this.”
Feidin sighed. “If I could not guess the potential ramifications, then I would not have called you at first notice… People who can cultivate so many Calamity Grade Death Warriors will not be a small organization, and this team might not have been sent to only kill one person. Add that to the Sanctum Revival issue, this situation is obviously not simple.”
Han Xiao nodded. “That’s right. Organizations who have the motivation and the abilities to do such a thing are few and far between. The Super Star Cluster Alliance is also suspicious.”
While he did not manage to get their origins, through the analysis of different factors, Han Xiao first thought of the three Universal Civilizations as well as the Super Star Cluster Alliance, both of whom intended to do such a thing.
The former wished to reduce the impact of Sanctum Revival, secretly reducing the source of new Beyond Grade As joining the association in the future. The latter had more hidden motives, mainly to aggravate the situation and pin the blame on others, creating opposition and forcing the three Universal Civilizations and the association to turn hostile.
Of course, he could not ignore the possibility that there was someone fishing in the muddied waters, so Han Xiao did not immediately jump to a conclusion. Rather, he only assumed it to be the secret operation of the three Universal Civilizations or the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
As inferred, there was a high probability that there existed more than one hunter team. At present, there were many Beyond Grade A seeds rushing to the Flickering World from each Star Field, so the orchestrators behind the scenes were likely to deploy interception troops. These Beyond Grade A seeds would be at risk, as not all of them would be so lucky to run into the top milkmaid of the universe.
Feidin scratched his head in puzzlement. “Forget about the Super Star Cluster Alliance, but the three Universal Civilizations… would they really do such a thing? Conducting such a crazy plan, are they not afraid of facing the backlash of all Supers? It’s too radical.”
Han Xiao shook his head, not looking surprised at all.
“This sort of behavior is crazy but effective. The Beyond Grade A seeds in the entire universe are not many to begin with, and the cost of them going hands-on is not high. Even if all these people disappear, the backlash can be easily suppressed.
“Moreover, the three Universal Civilizations were clear that they had lost the monopoly advantage of having Ultimate Knowledge. The association can give whatever they can give, and with the addition of the Sanctum Revival, it will be difficult for them to attract new talents. On the other hand, the association did not even require any advertisement to attract new talents. If they do nothing, the situation will only get worse, so instead of sitting and watching, it’s better to send these Death Warriors to kill people and ruin what they can’t get.
“As for the methods… as with the Tragedy of the Pinnacles, the three Universal Civilizations have never been good people. Don’t be mistaken. As winners of the exploration era, none of them would have survived if they were not cruel. Once they panic, they can do anything.”
Feidin pursed his lips. “Aren’t they afraid of being revealed?”
Han Xiao stroked his chin. “I feel that they would be afraid, but I can’t be sure since I have to look at their overall picture.”
There was no Beyond Grade A Association in his previous life, and Sanctum Revival was kept under wraps, so the Beyond Grade A seeds were not intercepted. This was the first time Han Xiao had encountered such a situation, without knowing what the three Universal Civilizations would even do.
Han Xiao was also helpless to the fact that the Beyond Grade A seeds were targeted. He could only treat it as collateral damage.
“This storm is getting bigger and bigger.” Feidin’s expression was worried. “What do you intend to do?”
“The purpose of the association is mainly to solve the conflicts between the Beyond Grade As, so the Calamity Grade is not within our scope. Nominally, it is not suitable for us to cross the boundary and provide assistance…”
Han Xiao stroked his chin as he thought aloud.
“However, if we don’t stop this, the seeds will suffer great casualties, which is not conducive to our recruitment of new Beyond Grade As. How about this? Don’t they wish to join the various Beyond Grade A organizations? We’ll ask those organizations to secretly send people to protect and escort them. This can be justified in name.”
“Alright.” Feidin paused for a moment. “However, this response force will encounter battles with the hunting squad. Do we wish to spread the news and make the seeds vigilant, at the same time giving a warning to the person behind the scenes?”
Han Xiao thought for a while but finally shook his head.
“Secretly spreading it to the seeds is enough. This news should not be spread out on a large scale… If we expose it now, the happiest would be the Super Star Cluster Alliance. I don’t wish to tear off all pretenses with the three Universal Civilizations, nor do I want to be used as a weapon by the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Let’s focus on protection first. For the time being, we will avoid conflict if possible.”
While the Sanctum Revival was in name his, the Holy Accord had yet to be able to collect the second set of keys, so Han Xiao did not have much to rely on for now. Causing trouble was not his favorite action; it was better to be low-key.
“I understand. What else do you need me to do?” Feidin asked.
“For you guys… how about you search for more Beyond Grade A seeds in the vicinity. They will be safer with Aurora around them. Then, we can just bring all of them back.”
As he spoke, Han Xiao smiled in a praising manner.
“You’ve earned yourself a great merit this time. Without your warning, we might have had to wait till many seeds went missing before we realized something was wrong. My decision to have you go along with Aurora was a good move!”
He felt that Feidin was the perfect intelligence officer. Most people had to search for things, but it was the exact opposite for Feidin. Even if he were only to lie down every day, he would still be able to run into key intelligence, as though it was an automated process for him.
This Feidin is really useful!
Feidin showed a helpless expression. He had already resigned to the fact that he was a tool to be used.
“By the way, what should I do with the captives after the interrogation? They could serve as evidence.”
“What else can we do? Send them to the Underworld.”
Han Xiao waved his hands casually.
The two further discussed the details before hanging up. At this moment, Han Xiao suddenly noticed that his interface was blinking.
_____________________
You have triggered the mission [Stop the Hunting]!
Mission Introduction: For some reason, some unknown organizations are trying to hunt down talents who wish to join you. As a well-known organization, protecting the personal safety of your candidates is a basic requirement.
Mission Objective: Try to prevent the hunting of the Beyond Grade A seeds.
Remarks: The reward depends on the Mission Rating, which is correlated to the number of people successfully rescued.
Basic Reward: 8 billion Experience, +20 Favorability of rescued targets, 2 Random Rewards, 1 Blank Character Summon Card.
_____________________
“The experience is a little stingy, but the blank Character Summon Card is pretty good stuff.”
Han Xiao closed the interface. The level of this mission was not enough to excite him any longer. At present, he paid more attention to the matter itself.
“The three Universal Civilizations have quite the strong reaction to this. Being able to coexist in harmony is a pipe dream… Anyway, the version update has gone on for almost fifty years, so the players should be back soon. I’m afraid that will cause another explosion.”
Han Xiao rubbed his brows, his thoughts wandering before he suddenly thought of something.
“By the way, since someone is hunting Beyond Grade A seeds, this will also be my chance to poach people. I don’t know how Karlot is doing now. He should at most be a normal Calamity Grade, not taken seriously yet. I can just knock him out and bring him over.”
Han Xiao had a sudden urge to do so.
In the past, because he was worried about the possibility of a premature death of Karlot due to dramatic changes in the plot, he did not insist on poaching him. However, now that someone was targeting the Beyond Grade A seeds, they could not blame him for doing tit for tat.
Originally, Karlot was supposed to become the pillar of the dynasty, but now that they had started this fiasco, they should not blame him for it!
Unlike the orchestrator behind the scenes, Han Xiao knew exactly who would become future Beyond Grade As. While it might have been difficult to poach them in the past, this was now a different matter.
“If they were to learn the truth, they would have to thank me. For the safety of the universe, I’ll go all out to protect them. Maybe this is the so-called love has no boundaries. I admire myself so much. How could there be such a majestic person in this world?”
Han Xiao was so moved by himself that his shamelessness levelled up.
1267 Pre-Judgmen
In the command room of the main ship, Morgan paced back and forth in front of the porthole, his expression both solemn and anxious. The crew in the room merely watched him in silence.
After a short while, he paused and gravely said, “Urge them again and ask when the people from the Black Star Army will arrive.”
By his side, his aide-de-camp could not help but speak up. “… Boss, you just asked them two minutes ago. The other party said that they were already rushing over. It’s not too good to keep pressing them.”
“Bullsh*t, I asked you to urge them, so do it! Else I’ll dock your pay!” Morgan’s eyes flashed, “Who knows when the enemies will appear? Would you know? You don’t, so why are you spouting so much nonsense! You don’t need to be responsible for my life, so of course, you don’t care! But I can’t possibly fight off seven or eight Calamity Grades at once, so if my little life is gone, I’ll make sure you accompany me in my burial!”
The aide-de-camp was speechless. However, he did not take it seriously, having followed Morgan for a long time. He knew this guy’s character too well. He was scared of dying, indecisive, calculative, petty, and stingy… Sometimes, the aide-de-camp wondered to himself, how could such a person become a Beyond Grade A seed?
Morgan Panselm, a senior Beyond Grade A seed, ran a small organization in the Endless Nebulae Star Field. He only cared about the convenience of his daily life, not seeking to expand, keeping a thin sense of existence.
The moment the Sanctum Revival matter was revealed, he did not speak another word, merely packing up and preparing to throw himself toward the Beyond Grade A Association. His top choice was the Black Star Army. Other than benefitting from close relations to an influential person, he also had some connections with Hadavy since both of them were hardcore gamblers.
It was just that, when he was about to take his team to leave the territory, he received a private notice from the Black Star Army, stating that some mysterious organizations were currently sending Death Warriors to kill off Beyond Grade A seeds. There could be up to seven or eight of them within a troop, so the army had sent out a few protective fleets to escort them and also reminded each person to be cautious.
This almost scared Morgan to death, and he immediately halted his departure, prepared to wait until the army’s escort fleet arrived before leaving. Not only that, but he also parked his fleet in the most bustling area, staying within the crowd for fear of being murdered.
Of all the Beyond Grade A seeds who had received this notice, he was the one who behaved the most cowardly.
At this moment, his spaceship communicator rang, and a tender young face appeared on the screen.
“Hello, hello, this is Nero from the Black Star Army. I’ve arrived and spotted your ship. Please come over to make contact.”
Hearing this, Morgan was overjoyed. He rushed to the porthole, seeing another fleet with the Black Star Army insignia stop not far away from him.
“The reinforcements are here! Listen to my order. Full speed ahead. Immediately rendezvous with them!” Morgan revealed an excited look.
“We’re in such close range. Just dozens of seconds is enough to reach them through normal cruising. What full speed…” The aide-de-camp secretly cursed.
The two fleets quickly merged, and Nero took his men into Morgan’s spaceship.
Just as he walked into the cabin, Nero saw Morgan waiting at the door of the passageway. Without a word, he rushed up and grabbed onto his hands with an emotional expression.
“My family, you’re finally here. Do you know how I spent the last few days‽ I was in fear every single day, and now I can finally feel relieved!”
“There’s no need to be so excited. It’s all part and parcel.” Nero’s mouth twitched, and he applied some strength to forcibly extricate himself.
If not for the fact that Morgan had kept repeatedly pinging him, he would have arrived another two days later.
Morgan, however, did not seem to mind. He excitedly glanced behind Nero, “May I know how many experts the army has sent to meet me this time?”
“Experts? If we had to force it, I guess it’s only me.” Nero scratched his head a little in embarrassment.
Morgan’s eyes widened, and he stammered, “Only one… er, it’s not that I don’t believe in your strength, but I heard that there’ll be seven or eight Calamity Grades moving together. It’s just two of us. I think there will be some danger…”
“There’s no choice. At the moment, there are too many Beyond Grade A seeds who wish to join the Black Star Army. Our manpower is not enough any longer. We can only send out Grade Bs to escort. This sort of job would be best for the Immortals, but they have all disappeared fifty years ago, so the army has no experts left,” Nero explained.
“Then… the safety issue…”
“Relax, all of the escort teams have a machinery squad from Black Star’s Mechanical Army, as well as Her Excellency Aurora’s special life potions, to ensure our safety.”
Morgan finally relaxed. He asked, “Then, can we leave now for the Flickering World?”
Nero shook his head. “That’s not necessary. We just need to go to the main army subdivision of each Star Field. Every location has a Throne that Godfather has placed. We can use that to teleport you straight to the main base.
Han Xiao initially did not wish to use this method, but after discovering the hunters, he could only lift the restrictions, allowing the Beyond Grade A seeds to utilize the King suits to warp, saving them from the dangers in their journey.
As for those Beyond Grade A seeds that wished to join other organizations, Han Xiao did not reject them either. He rendered the same help, albeit with a token sum. This was also one of the uses of the association, allowing the Beyond Grade As to integrate their resources. As the President, he naturally had to lead by example at this critical juncture.
Both of them walked to the command room while talking, and the fleet finally set off and began its journey.
At this moment, Morgan seemed to have thought of something. He curiously commented, “That’s right, you mentioned that there were a lot of Beyond Grade A seeds at the moment. Have they met with the hunters? Was anyone hit?”
Hearing this, Nero’s expression sank, and he lightly nodded.
“It was a smart choice for you to remain waiting here. Some Beyond Grade A seeds were nonchalant despite receiving the notice, thinking that they could continue their journey as long as they remained vigilant. In the end, even before the reinforcements could arrive, they encountered an assault and were killed.
“Because of distance issues, some people had long assembled with their escort teams. We’re one of the later ones. Before us, some of our colleagues crossed hands with the hunters and turned out fine. However, other organizations have done the same but have been annihilated by the hunters themselves.”
Morgan shuddered. “Who dares lay their hands on so many of the Beyond Grade A seeds? This is too frightening.”
Nero sighed. “While the Army Commander has not specified who is responsible, it’s not hard to guess… Since the enemy can discover the whereabouts of so many Beyond Grade A seeds, their intelligence network is no trivial matter. To also be able to send so many Death Warriors, the likelihood is that they are from an advanced civilization.
“While this was supposed to be a secret operation, the outside world would soon notice that all of these Beyond Grade A seeds had disappeared. This would inevitably scare some of people from joining the Beyond Grade A Association. Like this, the orchestrator’s goal would be achieved.”
“Oh, this is hard.” Morgan sighed as well, pulling a long face.
Nero patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, with me here, you won’t get into trouble.”
Morgan nodded before suddenly asking, “That’s right, with so many Beyond Grade A seeds also joining the army, how are our positions going to be arranged?”
“I’m not too sure. I think only a small portion will become part of the Guards Corps. The rest will hold various positions within the army, replenishing the gap in our high-ranked combatants. The main thing is to see what you want. The army will not force anyone to take up a position.”
Morgan’s eyes lit up. “Then, does that mean I can choose which Beyond Grade A to follow?”
“That’s right, everyone can send in their application, but it will depend on the Excellencies to choose you.” Nero nodded. “Who do you wish to choose? Is it His Excellency Black Star? The competition for my Godfather is quite fierce, and there’s a possibility of losing.”
Morgan immediately denied it and embarrassedly said, “No, no, I don’t want to follow Black Star. I wish to follow Her Excellency Aurora.”
Nero sized him up before coming to an understanding.
Ah, I understand now, this man must be afraid of death to the extreme, so if he is able to enjoy the healing from Aurora, it would be difficult for him to die in the future!
The phrase ‘good for nothing’ really describes you to a tee!
…
“Reporting, six of our Death Warriors have lost contact and might have been captured by the enemy. We have severed all related links.”
“Reporting, the attack on Target #45 has failed. Three Death Warriors were sacrificed. The rest escaped with difficulty.”
In a certain secret intelligence processing center, a large number of intelligence personnel were sitting in front of a set of instruments, constantly reporting on the situation. The room was full of noise.
On the wall of the room was an ultra large screen, made up of many smaller surveillance screens. A single chair was placed underneath it, with a tall, thin figure seated on the chair looking up at the screens, his back facing the crowd.
This place was a secret area jointly created by the Super Star Cluster Alliance many years ago. They had no specific name, shrouded in mystery yet having great authority. They only answered to the leaders of the various civilizations.
This secret department was responsible for managing black ops and cultivating Death Warriors. Various Super Star Cluster civilizations secretly selected talented children and sent them to such training bases to conduct cruel training from an early age before allowing them to specialize in performing tasks that could not be revealed.
Their training method was designed to squeeze out all potential, and coupled with their technological and magical advancements, it allowed them to effectively increase the rate of Calamity Grades being produced at the cost of a high mortality rate.
These Death Warriors would never know who they worked for, from the training period up till they performed their missions in the future. To this end, this department had even specially trained a group of Death Warriors who believed that they worked for the three Universal Civilizations. Many methods had been used to ensure that outsiders would not be able to trace the Death Warriors back to the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
Everyone within this department was a special member who was not recorded in any internal files. They were all referred to by codes. The tall and thin figure in the room was the person in charge of the department, with only his title known to people—’Skeletal’.
After listening to the reports of his subordinates, Skeletal leaned forward as he slowly spoke.
“It seems like the Beyond Grade As are aware of our hunting actions and have equipped all our targets with guards… The chain of suspicion has been formed; our goal is achieved. It will be a waste of manpower if we continue. Stop the operation. Have everyone withdraw.”
“Understood!”
Everyone immediately followed orders without asking.
Skeletal bit on his nails as he narrowed his eyes.
“Hehe, the reaction of the Beyond Grade A Association is indeed not far from our hypothesis…”
…
In the conference room of the three Universal Civilizations, the virtual projections of Marbruce, Louis, and the Pope appeared.
“Tsk, the situation has changed. The cleanup plan cannot continue.”
Marbruce frowned, and the other two had unsightly expressions as well.
While they had begun researching the Sanctum Revivals, the three Universal Civilizations also had plans to hunt down the Beyond Grade A seeds. Even if they managed to master the Sanctum Revival method in the future, since this large number of Beyond Grade A seeds would have gone to the association, they would not be able to transfer them over in the future. Both parties were destined to enter a long period of fighting for talents, so they would rather return to the problem of the excessive number of non-Beyond Grade As, making it such that it would be easier to contain the Beyond Grade A level in advance.
But before they could move, the three Universal Civilizations discovered that all of their targets were heavily protected.
At the beginning, the trio were a little dazed, thinking that Black Star had predicted their actions, flipping over the boat of trust they were on.
However, after careful investigation, they discovered that another unknown organization had first acted and alerted everyone.
This totally messed up their plans, causing them to feel a disgusting aftertaste.
Such a dumb way of doing things was not their style at all. If they wished to do it, they had to catch everyone in one fell swoop.
While they had not found out who had acted, the three Universal Civilizations did not even need to think to know that it was likely the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
“The Super Star Clusters purposely decided to create a commotion, leaving the association time to react, spoiling our operations.” Louis was fuming.
“Unexpectedly, this makes sense.” The Pope was expressionless.
From the perspective of the trio, the intentions of the Super Star Cluster Alliance were obvious. This served to intensify the suspicion between the association and the three Universal Civilizations.
The Beyond Grade A Association was only protecting them in the dark and had not publicly come out to accuse anyone. If the three Universal Civilizations took the initiative to state their innocence, it might backfire on them. Even if they tried to pin the blame on the Super Star Cluster Alliance, it would just look like their customary attitude of throwing shade at the other party.
With the current relationship of the three Universal Civilizations and the association, this was akin to having mud on the back of one’s pants. Even if it was not sh*t, people would naturally assume it to be. No matter what, it would be difficult to gain their trust unless they could provide hard evidence.
The Super Star Clusters had been pitted against so many times; they already had experience in this matter. Since their reputation was in the gutters, they could just go for broke.
I’ll pull you along with me as I fall from the cliff. If I’m going to die, then you have to come along!
In their current situation, the Super Star Cluster Alliance had nothing to be afraid of from the three Universal Civilizations any longer.
Since they no longer had any chances with the Flickering World, they would just stay cooped up at home.
If you have the ability, come and have an all-out war with us. Did you think you could really destroy us?
The trio present did indeed feel that the Super Star Cluster Alliance was a thorny problem.
If they had managed to kill off all the Beyond Grade A seeds that were trying to join the association, it might still have been a fair trade to get suspected, but now, they had become the scapegoats when only a few had been killed off. This was placing them in a disadvantage!
“Cancel the cleansing operation for the Beyond Grade A seeds. They’re all protected now. There’s no chance now.”
The trio were not in a very good mood.
1268 All Heroes in the World Enter My Squad
The large-scale movement of the Beyond Grade A seeds also aroused the attention of the universe. Everyone soon learned about the fact that a large number of Beyond Grade A seeds had congregated in the association during the recent period. There was also news that specially drew out the areas at which they travelled, converging from various Star Fields into the Flickering World, which seemed as though they were migrating.
The number of Beyond Grade A seeds within a Star Field typically numbered more than one hundred, with the remote Star Fields having fewer while the Central Galaxy and the areas of the Super Star Cluster Alliance would be the most densely distributed. This total number had been trending upward, and with years of accumulation, the total number of seeds measured in the explored universe was about three thousand. This was almost twenty times the number of Beyond Grade As of the same generation.
Excluding the allies and direct descents of each civilization, as well as the people in existing factions, the current number of neutral Beyond Grade A seeds would be about two fifths the total, around 1,200. For this collective defection, roughly five hundred people, or almost half of the total number of neutral seeds, went over to join a Beyond Grade A faction, of which the number of people joining the Black Star Army was the highest!
This was equivalent to the association harvesting most of the top talent pool accumulated over the years of the explored universe. It was unknown how long it would take for the next batch of talents to grow!
Be it a Beyond Grade A or a Beyond Grade A seed, they were both top figures of the power pyramid and naturally possessed the attributes of a leader. Since both sides had merged on a large scale, the quantitative change has turned into a qualitative change. It was not just a simple matter such as the attitude of the Beyond Grade A seeds letting them choose where to rely on, but more of a signal and influence for many of the Supers, even the other Beyond Grade A seeds. This made everyone think that joining the Beyond Grade A Association at this time would be a wise choice!
The large-scale migration of the Beyond Grade A seeds caused a huge ripple effect over the next few months. A large number of Supers rushed to follow in their footsteps… As part of the strong at the apex of the power pyramid, their every word and action affected the people below. This was the meaning of a role model.
This matter was regarded as a ‘movement’ with special significance, nicknamed the ‘Scattered Stars Return’ by the galactic citizens. They likened the Beyond Grade A seeds to new stars that were scattered everywhere finally returning to their homes. A large group began to worship the members of the association, completing the cycle of Pioneers and Legacy holders.
Regarding the ‘Scattered Stars Return’, the entire Galactic Society was also analyzing the impact of this event from every angle. Gradually, a rumor spread that the function of the Beyond Grade A Association would change, their influence radiating to all Supers. A day would come when the association would no longer be a solely Beyond Grade A group; it would become the new organization that would lead all the Supers, becoming another pole independent of the three Universal Civilizations and turn into another ruler of the universe!
This statement was accepted and endorsed by a large number of Supers. Many Supers cheered, excited as they faintly waited in anticipation. In the eyes of most people, the Beyond Grade A Association was naturally qualified to lead them.
While there were so-called regional associations for Supers in the universe, the masters behind the scenes were the three Universal Civilizations, which used these associations as nothing more than tools for managing the Supers. The nature of those regional associations was inherently problematic.
In the eyes of the people, if the Beyond Grade A Association would one day evolve to become the guild for all Supers, it would truly be the organization that served the Supers. Their goals would naturally not be the same as the three Universal Civilizations.
The mentality of the Supers came from the fact that there had not been a unified voice to speak for them for too long, and they desperately wished to have a ‘home’. To put it simply, it was the sense of them finally finding an organization to which they belonged.
However, this sort of argument was not born naturally. Someone was behind it fueling the flames, pushing the Beyond Grade A Association to the forefront and igniting public opinion.
Just as the universe raged with rumors and speculation, Han Xiao was busy welcoming the Beyond Grade A seeds in Black Star Palace.
…
Black Star Palace’s Great Hall was huge but practically empty, with only the 300 seeds huddled in the middle. They either stood or hovered in the air, chatting as they eyed the doors leading into the hall, keeping a watch for Han Xiao.
“Everyone should be here now. Is Black Star still not coming? We’ve been waiting for almost half an hour.”
“Tsk, you want to see a pinnacle Beyond Grade A, but you don’t even have that much patience. You think people will come over to see you just because you want to see them?”
“Just be patient. Maybe His Excellency Black Star is actually watching us in the dark, observing our patience.”
Everyone chatted casually, turning around to glance at others occasionally. There was a slight wariness in many of their eyes.
Many of them were familiar with each other, having fought together or against each other before, and they regarded each other as whetstones. Everyone knew that the number of slots around Black Star and the other Beyond Grade As were limited. With so many people in the army now, there was a high probability that they would have to compete for places, so everyone here was technically a competitor.
At this moment, the door suddenly opened. Han Xiao stepped in with his officers following behind.
Upon seeing this, the hundreds of Beyond Grade A seeds subconsciously stopped talking, straightening their postures as they exercised the etiquette of their respective cultures, expressing basic respect to one of the top powerhouses of the universe.
“We pay respects to Your Excellency Black Star!”
“Welcome to the army. We’ll be family from now on, so there’s no need to be this courteous.”
Han Xiao waved his hand, putting on a warm smile.
Seeing the hundreds of seeds hailing from different areas, Han Xiao could not help but feel a little excited. This large number of experts meant a great replenishment for the army’s advanced combatants.
This number was too exaggerated. It seemed as though he had underestimated the impact the Sanctum Revival would cause on the lower levelled Supers. If there was no such thing, the general resources being offered would not even shake a single one of them.
At this moment, Han Xiao felt a kind of pride. Of course, he felt more of the joy of being able to harvest such a bountiful crop of leeks.
Scanning the group, Han Xiao noted the burning gazes of everyone present and smiled. “I know why you’re here. The threshold for the Sanctum Revival is a Beyond Grade A realm. I’ll definitely try my best to help you get promoted, but as for whether or not you can succeed in the end, it will all depend on your own destinies…”
Everyone nodded, their eyes gleaming.
Han Xiao said a few more ceremonial words before arranging for everyone to come forward and accept his inspection according to the practices of the army. He then browsed through the attributes of each person.
The Beyond Grade A seeds were not mediocre people; all of them were masters in their fields. However, from Han Xiao’s point of view, most of them had almost exhausted their potential, with only a handful having the chance to be promoted. He had a set of criteria for judging one’s potential, mainly their expertise and skills. Their differences were graded by him, and those with potential were silently selected and kept in his mind.
After completing this step, Han Xiao had a rough gauge in his heart, so he took two steps back and loudly spoke. “Everyone, I now have a basic understanding of your level. I’ll arrange positions according to your own personal abilities. Of course, you can send me your applications regarding your desired posts, and I’ll consider your thoughts and wishes.
“But I must state in advance that some slots are extremely limited. If there are too many applicants, you may have to compete for the same position. For example, the Guard Corps of the two Deputy Army Commanders and I can be challenged each time, with the winners rotating in the position. Everyone should be mentally prepared for this.”
When faced with an influx of people, a normal person’s treatment of them would be to fairly distribute them out. However, with these masters, Han Xiao deliberately adopted a competitive format to avoid dissatisfaction. At the same time, he would be giving those unsuccessful people the opportunity to challenge successful applicants again to stimulate everyone’s motivation to cultivate…
While this method was not useful to most of the people present, those in the Pugilist class felt their fighting spirit being strengthened.
Everyone glanced around subconsciously, their fighting intent sharpening.
At this moment, someone suddenly said, “Many thanks, Army Commander, for your protection. If not for your help, we would all have died mid-journey. I would like to ask, do you know the origins of the hunter squad?”
The moment his voice sounded, the entire room suddenly turned quiet.
Everyone’s expression showed at least some suspicion. They did not mention this just now, but no one would be so carefree as to not get to the bottom of this matter when it involved their lives.
Han Xiao stopped smiling. He paused before saying a meaningful tone, “You already have the answer in your heart, don’t you?”
Hearing this, the expressions of the crowd grew more complicated, and a slight commotion sounded.
“It’s time to throw aside your fantasies and illusions. It seems like this was done by the advanced civilizations, and they wish to claim our lives.”
“Has the relationship between the association and the advanced civilizations reached this point already? It’s only been such a short time. What will happen in the future?”
“Sigh, the targets during the Tragedy of the Pinnacles have been passed down to us now. The Sanctum Revival is also a double-edged sword.”
“If I’d known about this situation earlier, I might have already been frightened into retreating.”
Those present sighed in low voices. Facing the hostile attitude of the three Universal Civilizations, they were all a little frightened.
Before they chose a side, they did not expect the advanced civilizations to retaliate so strongly. There was no way for them to show regret anymore.
“Alright, don’t ponder about it any longer. You have already chosen your path, so all you have to do is to continue walking forward.”
Han Xiao clapped his hands as he comforted everyone. His officers then took the crowd to their rooms to rest and wait for his orders.
As he sent everyone off with his gaze, a flash shone in Han Xiao’s eyes. He then turned his head and left the great hall, walking for a while before arriving at the secret room.
Pushing the door open, this room was filled with bunks, but most of them were empty, with only one occupied.
Han Xiao walked forward, pressing the button to stop the hibernation program. With a hiss, the hatch slid open to reveal the figure inside. It was Karlot, who was lying down with a peaceful expression.
Karlot’s brows trembled as he slowly opened his eyes. At first glance, he immediately saw Han Xiao standing in front of him, causing him to be taken aback.
“Your Excellency Black Star?”
Karlot was stunned.
In the past, he was young and immature, and he did not know of the identity of Black Star. As he grew up, he understood what kind of opportunity Black Star had offered him back then, and he became a fan of Black Star. However, he knew that their statuses in the universe were vastly different, so it would be difficult for them to have a chance to meet in the future. He felt that Black Star might have forgotten about him a long time ago, so he merely followed Han Xiao’s deeds in silence.
But he did not expect his idol would actually appear all of a sudden in front of him.
The next moment, Karlot remembered what happened to him before he went into hibernation, and his expression changed.
“Was it you who knocked me out and brought me here? Where am I?”
“This is my base camp.” Han Xiao smiled.
Right now, his relationship with Karlot was stiff, so it took him some energy to track down Karlot’s whereabouts. However, Karlot had never realized his talent, so he was never taken seriously, and his capture had been smooth.
“You…” Karlot hesitated. “Why did you bring me here? Do you still remember me?”
If it was someone else, he would have long struggled to break free, but this was Han Xiao, who held a special position in his heart. Thus, he found it hard to be angry.
“Of course I do, and my impression was deep.” Han Xiao sized up Karlot with an approving gaze. “We parted many years ago. You’ve already become an adult now, not bad.”
Hearing this, Karlot could not help but feel moved. He did not expect Han Xiao to remember him so firmly.
Thinking about how Han Xiao had been optimistic about him, Karlot suddenly felt a little ashamed and embarrassedly said, “I’m sorry that I let you down. My potential doesn’t seem to be as good as you thought.”
He had managed to successfully enter the Calamity Grade in forty years, but after that, he seemed to stagnate. It seemed as though his potential had been exhausted, stopping at the ordinary Calamity Grade level.
Karlot did not care about the thoughts of outsiders, but in front of Black Star, he could not help but feel frustrated, thinking that he had failed the expectations the latter had of him.
“Are you saying that I was wrong?” Han Xiao spoke out with a smile that was not like a smile on his face.
Karlot did not speak, merely acquiescing to it.
Han Xiao laughed, raising his hand to pat Karlot’s chest. “Don’t look down on yourself. The dynasty does not value you because they have no foresight. I’ve always believed in your potential.”
Hearing this, Karlot again felt moved and ashamed.
“Aren’t you curious why I brought you over? This is the reason.” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, “Actually, I’ve always been paying attention to you. The dynasty has never seen your talents, so they never assigned resources to you, which has affected your growth. I cannot bear to see a talent being buried, so I brought you here to help you stimulate your potential!”
“… so, you’ve always been observing me?”
Karlot had an expression of wonderment. He was deeply touched on how he could be so favored by Black Star.
Han Xiao smiled as he poked Karlot.
“Don’t underestimate the huge potential in your body. You might think that the Calamity Grade is your limit, but let me tell you, Calamity Grade is far from your end!”
“You think that I can become a Beyond Grade A?” Karlot’s eyes widened.
“Not only that… I think that you might even reach the pinnacle Beyond Grade A realm, becoming one of the foremost experts in the universe!”
Han Xiao’s tone was full of passion and also provocative.
“Do you really see me this way?” Karlot mumbled.
Seeing that he was close to tipping, Han Xiao turned solemn as he said in a deep voice, “Then tell me now. Are you willing to remain here and accept my help?”
Karlot hesitated a little. He had also followed the news and knew of the current storm that was brewing. He whispered, “You wish for me to stay here, meaning I have to leave the dynasty and enter the army?”
“The situation has changed now. The dynasty and I are going against each other. Only by remaining by my side can I give you the most detailed guidance. However, this will make it such that you can no longer stay in the dynasty.” Han Xiao did not deny anything.
Karlot fell silent, seemingly conflicted. After a while, he slowly raised his head as his expression grew determined.
“I understand. I’m willing to stay by your side and receive your guidance!”
Karlot might have worked in the dynasty for decades, but in his eyes, it was just a job. It did not determine that he had to be shackled to the dynasty forever. With his family having passed on years ago, he was a lone wolf floating in the cold universe without any concerns.
The dynasty had never placed any importance in him. Although they allowed him to enter the secret training base, that was because Black Star had shown interest in him, or else they would not have given him this special treatment. They eventually still kicked him out of the camp… All his fortune had been given to him by Black Star—this much, he understood.
Furthermore, Karlot felt that Black Star did not need to scheme against him. He just wished to repay Black Star for whatever grace the latter had shown, so even if Black Star was wrong about him, he would still reach the Beyond Grade A realm!
Hearing this, Han Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
“I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
Thanks to the good relationship formed decades ago, setting the impression to become the role model of Karlot, the difficulty in recruiting him had been reduced by dozens of times.
This is the importance of information…
Han Xiao secretly smirked. He finally got his hands on a coveted golden leek.
1269 Activation
When he poked the other party, he had seen Karlot’s attributes. Karlot had now obtained his core talent, [Everlasting Martial Path]. It was an overpowered growth-type talent.
To put it simply, [Everlasting Martial Path] could evolve once every grade with the requirement being a new realization of the martial path. Before the evolution of the talent, the user’s leveling speed would be lowered by ninety percent. After the evolution, the user’s leveling speed would follow an inverted parabolic arc with the peak being at a thousand percent. It also provided an all-rounded boost to the user’s combat capability.
Ordinarily speaking, the stronger an individual, the greater the number of bottlenecks. However, Karlot was different. All of his bottlenecks would be during his pre-growth phase, and he would face fewer and fewer bottlenecks the stronger he grew. Past a certain point, his combat strength would snowball until he reached the peak of the grade. If he entered a new grade, he would have to restart the entire process again.
Karlot’s growth after every evolution in grade would be excruciatingly slow, and this also resulted in a firm foundation. In Han Xiao’s previous life, Karlot was an extremely famous Pugilist. His status within the Pugilist world was like the Mechanic Emperor’s status within the Mechanic world.
This little brat’s nickname in his previous life was the one and only ‘Martial Deity’!
Furthermore, [Everlasting Martial Path] could also strengthen all of Karlot’s Pugilist skills. It did not only increase the level of his skills but also adjusted his skills in a subtle manner as though the skills were tailor made for him. [Everlasting Martial Path] was a one-of-a-kind talent that could meld all kinds of Pugilist theories and school of thoughts together into one.
Han Xiao had never seen this talent in any other Pugilist before. If not for the lack of a suffix, Han Xiao would have thought that it was a talent unique to Karlot.
However, although the talent was extremely overpowered, it was useless to Han Xiao since he was not a proper Pugilist.
“I still need to find a teacher for him. Although there are plenty of Pugilists in the army, they are all of the Calamity Grade and a little too weak…” A few figures flashed through his head. “It’d be best if I find a Beyond Grade A to teach Karlot. Of all the people I know, the most suitable one should be Silver Shadow. These two individuals were good friends in my previous life and should have pretty good chemistry with each other. Silver Shadow should be a good teacher for him.”
Han Xiao stroked his chin.
After thinking for a while, he realized that he still had a few other backup choices. For example, he could hire some Pugilist teachers from the Underworld or let Gorutan out temporarily to teach Karlot.
With his current strength, Gorutan would not be too much of a threat to him. Furthermore, he should also let Gorutan out for fresh air once in a while, lest Gorutan ended up dying in the Spacetime Amber.
Karlot was the first individual who he poached from the three Universal Civilizations, and he would not be the last. Although the others did not have as much potential as Karlot, Han Xiao would not let go of them either.
He pondered while walking back to the office. After reaching the office, Han Xiao temporarily placed the matter aside and summoned Phillip to settle the affairs of the army.
He needed to arrange the posts of these Beyond Grade A seeds. There was another large group of Supers joining the army, and the HR department was currently filtering through the applicants.
After settling all these matters, Han Xiao took out his communicator to surf the net and let out a soft snort.
“There are definitely some high-grade Civilizations fanning the flames, hoping that the entire world will fall into chaos.”
There were rumors on the net that the Beyond Grade A Association would eventually unite the Super community and become the fourth ruler of the universe apart from the three Universal Civilizations. These rumors were intentionally created to push the association to the peak before finding an opportunity to kick them down back into the ravine.
Although the method was old fashioned, the effect was pretty good. As long as they could mislead the general public, this simple method would be extremely effective.
The current rumors surrounding the association were not a good sign for them. Being in the spotlight would put them on the opposite side of the three Universal Civilizations. Together with words like ‘the fourth ruler of the universe’, it was akin to grilling them over fire.
With the heated discussion on the net, it was not an appropriate time for Han Xiao to make a stand. Furthermore, even if the mastermind continued to fan the flames, the galactic residents would have a limited attention span toward a single event and be attracted by something else eventually.
Han Xiao knocked on the desk and pondered.
“The Beyond Grade A seeds have already entered the association and the high-grade civilizations gave up on the plan to cleanse the universe. The status quo should be maintained for the time being… I need some time to reorganize the association and collect keys. The three Universal Civilizations also need time to study the Sanctum Revival method and probably won’t do anything in the short run. Furthermore, they also have to prevent the Super Star Cluster Civilizations from creating trouble. Everyone needs time and will thus choose to maintain the current peace…”
Before having sufficient confidence, the three Universal Civilizations would not adopt extreme measures against the association and would only deal with Beyond Grade A seeds. The way Han Xiao saw it, the universe would still be peaceful for a while.
This peace would probably be maintained until the players returned.
“It has already been fifty years, and Version 5.0 is about to be activated. Because of my influence, the current situation is different from the Calamity of the Supers in my previous life. I wonder what the players will do.”
Han Xiao stroked his chin and fell into thought.
…
In the Central Galaxy, within the Crimson Dynasty Science Institute’s Wormhole Position Project Office, the research team leader walked into the conference room, where the researchers were waiting for him.
Compared to a couple of decades ago, most of the researchers had either retired or been transferred out. Thus, it was a set of new faces.
The team leader then looked around slowly and said, “The dynasty has issued an internal document to push forward technological research and provide information to the Sanctum Revival team. Every department will be receiving a large increase in funds.”
Upon hearing that, all the researchers were excited.
Research was extremely capital intensive, and the wormhole project was not as important as the other research projects. Ever since the start of the Flickering War, this project had been trying to sustain itself on a low budget.
When the cooperation between Han Xiao and the dynasty was in the honeymoon phase, the dynasty listened to Han Xiao’s suggestion and stopped the research on the wormhole coordinates to focus on dealing with the Super Star Cluster Alliance.
After the war, the wormhole project should have been back on track, but something went wrong along the way.
After the war, the dynasty was busy tying up loose ends, and the upper echelons did not continue the project. Perhaps because they forgot or wanted to be on the safe side, the project was never continued after that. After all, the location of the wormhole was only a small matter to the dynasty. Apart from the officials and researchers in charge of the project, there was almost no one who paid any attention to the project.
It was extremely normal for subordinates to follow the attitude of their superiors. With the attitude of the upper echelons being unclear, the researchers had plenty of apprehensions and did not dare take a risk. As such, they would rather play it safe. They did not ease up on the wormhole project, which resulted in a large amount of data that was still at the approval phase.
Such a situation had continued for a few years because of the ambiguous attitude from the upper echelons.
After a few decades, most of the original research staff had been transferred to other departments with the new research staff being inexperienced newcomers.
Throughout the Science Institute, the wormhole project was not the only team facing such a situation. There were projects being cancelled every year and also new projects being set up.
It was not uncommon for there to be factions within the Science Institute, relying on connections to obtain funding. As an organization grew larger, such occurrences were common, and the three Universal Civilizations were no exception.
The research team leader then gave out some instructions before leaving, leaving behind a room of excited researchers.
“We finally don’t have to be a team on the periphery.”
“Hurry up and report all the backlog data. We can finally make some proper progress in our research.”
“We have not submitted our equipment procurement list for this year yet. Quickly change it and purchase more long-distance space detection needles.”
…
Just as what Han Xiao had predicted, after failing to ambush the Beyond Grade A seeds, the three Universal Civilizations and Super Star Cluster Alliance showed some restraint. At Han Xiao’s orders, the association also did not openly announce the truth behind the Beyond Grade A seeds affair. It was as though they intentionally forgot about it.
Apart from fanning the flames on the web, the three parties maintained their current equilibrium and did not engage in open conflict. They were currently accumulating their strength and preparing various different means to deal with their enemies.
Perhaps the Super Star Cluster Alliance had thought about creating trouble but was not able to find the appropriate opportunity.
Although both parties had not erupted in open hostility, in the eyes of the public, the three Universal Civilizations and the association were on opposite sides with the thick smell of gunpowder ready to be ignited at any time.
Although the Super Star Cluster Alliance was frequently on the losing end, they were pretty professional at fanning flames. This was just like the saying of a prolonged illness making the patient a good doctor.
Under the calm silence of the universe was the raging undercurrent. The three Universal Civilizations gradually stopped their cooperation with the various Beyond Grade A organizations and also came up with some business strategies to suppress the association. Under Han Xiao’s reorganization, the association also gradually became more independent.
With the Super Star Cluster Civilizations fanning the flames from the background, practically the entire universe knew that the conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and association would not be settled peacefully.
A year slowly passed.
On Galaxy Calendar Year 782, Version 5.0 was activated again, and the players were back online!
1270 Black Star's Era !
In this past year, the three Universal Civilizations and the association’s relationship had dropped to a freezing point. The dynasty had not contacted him for a whole year now.
The three Universal Civilizations had issued an announcement a year ago that they had started studying the Sanctum Revival method. There was no follow-up news, and no one knew what stage they had reached. It seemed like their results were not too impressive.
On the side of the Holy Accord, they were still collecting the keys in secret. While they did not possess the intelligence channels of the three Universal Civilizations, causing the materials to be harder to collect, the problem was not big. It would just cost them more money and time. Now that the Holy Accord had more of the recipes of how to create keys, there were more opportunities for them, but a mere year was not enough to collect another key.
On the other hand, the military of the three Universal Civilizations had mobilized recently, seemingly getting ready to set off. This caught the attention of Han Xiao and the other members of the association, causing the atmosphere in the universe to become more tense.
The players’ return at this time could thus be considered timely.
Han Xiao rubbed the back of his palm as his eyes flashed.
“The time when the players come online will be my opportunity to quickly reach level 360. With the current deadlock in the situation, if I manage to break through my personal power level, it might serve as a turning point, becoming the entry ticket to breaking this entire game.”
The stalemate was exactly what he had predicted and what he wanted. Were it not for the Sanctum Revivals and the massive increase in strength of the association, perhaps the Calamity of the Supers would have long broken out like in his previous life. Right now, he was only suppressing it.
While the situation was akin to a gunpowder keg, which would result in a greater explosion the more he suppressed it, nothing was absolute. In his opinion, there were only a few opportunities to break the game. If he succeeded, he would really eliminate the Calamity of the Supers and prevent it from evolving into a large-scale war.
His current methods were all to stall time for the Holy Accord. Han Xiao was equally clear that there would be a battle between both sides, and the association would naturally have more casualties. This was his opportunity. As long as the unlimited counts of the Sanctum Revival were revealed by that time, most of their problems would be solved. The Sanctum Revival key was a necessity to break this game.
On this basis, he could use a higher level of personal power to frighten the three Universal Civilizations and also attract Beyond Grade A members. That would be killing two birds with one stone.
Just as he was analyzing his options, the long silent interface finally had some movement. There was a notification of a new update just like what the players would receive.
_____________________
Version 5.0 Activated!
Fetching data… Fetching data complete!
Player Forum Opened.
Welcome to ‘Galaxy’ Version 5.0—Black Star’s Era!
_____________________
“Hmm?” Han Xiao was stunned.
Why was the version not ‘Calamity of the Supers’‽
And it even used his name!
In the previous four versions, while he was a little butterfly flapping its wings and causing an impact, compared to the general trend of the universe, it was miniscule, still moving along with the changes in time.
But this time was different. He had single-handedly created a tornado with a flap of his wings, causing himself to become the pioneer of the changing times. Thus, even the name of this version had changed…
This also showed how important his position was in the universe at the moment, as well as his pivotal role in this storm.
“Even my name has been included into the version update. This is superb.”
Han Xiao’s expression twitched, before he revealed a perverted smile.
What was prestige and face? This was!
If the players saw this… heh, this was equivalent to a super compound fertilizer that would help him farm his leeks!
“It’s been fifty years. I really miss my cute little… moneybags.”
Han Xiao raised his brows, calling out the surveillance of the great hall and observing the situation.
…
At this moment, countless white lights flashed in the lobby of Black Star Palace’s great hall, and the large number of players that had been away for fifty years finally returned online.
The originally cold and empty great hall was suddenly packed to the brim, full of liveliness. Countless players were excitedly whooping and shouting.
“Wahaha, this master is back! Countless stars, prepare to tremble under my feet, for my huge cannon’s hunger and thirst can no longer be suppressed!”
“Dammit, it’s already the fifth version, so why is there still a bug that prevents us from stripping? Lousy!”
“Hehe, I can immediately tell that you’re not a pioneer. To this day, you’re still hung up over the fact that clothes cannot be taken off. You’re behind the times brother! Do you know the meaning of ‘clothes on the body but naked in the mind’? This older brother’s realm is one that you cannot hope to fathom!”
“How long has passed since the last version? I don’t see any changes in the base. It seems like we weren’t gone for too long.”
The crowd chattered and gossiped, opening their interfaces. Immediately came the shocked gasps.
“Hurry and take a look at the version’s name! I’m shooketh!”
“F*ck, the name of Version 5.0 is actually Black Star’s Era?”
“What the hell has he done during the update!”
The countless army players opened their eyes wide.
No one expected that their faction leader would actually turn into the main topic of this version!
Based on the impressions of the players, the version name indicated what the Main Storyline would be. In the previous few versions, it was either a disaster or a changing of the time, but to think that they would actually put a character as the Main Storyline!
What prestige!
Many of the players began to tremble with excitement, their hearts filled with strong curiosity—just what exactly did their Army Commander do during their absence‽
The bunch of professional players that just came online were equally shocked.
Frenzied Sword immediately opened up the calendar. What he saw made him suck in a deep breath.
“The version update actually took a whole fifty years this time!”
Everyone immediately turned to look at the date, full of surprise and shock.
“Wow, really fifty years!”
“I remember when we went offline, it was in the Year 734. Right now, it’s 782!”
“The span is too huge, more than double the previous updates.”
“I don’t even know if my wife Sylvia is still alive…”
“Do you want to eat sh*t? She’s obviously my wife!”
“Quickly, go on the internet and check, see what the situation is right now.”
The players immediately took out their communicators to search, wanting to check what exactly happened during the time they were away.
Following their searches, the news that the Flickering War had ended decades ago appeared on their pages, leading to more surprised gasps.
When they went offline, the Flickering War had still been raging, so they naturally thought that they would get to continue fighting the moment they returned online. To think that during the version update, the battle had already ended.
Reading on, the expressions of the players got even more confused. Some of them even catcalled.
The fall of Gaud, Sorokin escaping in fear of being sentenced for his crimes, Aurora entering the Beyond Grade A realm, the Sanctum Revivals leading to the Primordial Ones being resurrected, and the standoff between the Beyond Grade A Association and the three Universal Civilizations… A series of major events was shown before the eyes of the many players. Just looking at the description, many of the players could very well imagine the stormy situation that happened then.
“This… the change is too great!”
“Aurora has really entered the Beyond Grade A realm… Damn, who’s this blonde sister? I’ve fallen in love with her!”
“This is amazing. Germinal is really the strongest representing organization in the whole universe. One sect, three Beyond Grade As—who else is that impressive?”
“The Germinal spirit will never wither! Hooyah!”
“This is indeed worthy of a span of fifty years. The original structure of the universe has been completely subverted.”
“Black Star is too fierce. No wonder this version is named after him.”
Everyone was shocked. They felt as though they had woken up from a long sleep only to find out that everything around them had changed.
Seeing the actions of Black Star during the update, many of the players understood why the name of Version 5.0 was called ‘Black Star’s Era’.
Their Army Commander had become the ‘Leader of the Martial Way’. With his unparalleled courage and charisma, he led the Beyond Grade A class against the explored universe overlords. He was undoubtedly a leader of this era!
The title ‘Black Star’s Era’ was totally worthy of the name!
“So fierce, Old Blackie is indeed an extraordinary existence.”
“Army Commander is awesome! (voice cracks)”
“Next time, we shouldn’t call him Black Star. We’ll just address him as Black Deity.”
“I’m not sure why, but I feel as though I’m watching my own son having grown up…”
The players had lots of mixed feelings.
The figure of Black Star had been with them through several versions, and now, he had even become the Main Storyline of the version, leading to a new era. His identity was unique in this universe. In their eyes, Black Star was already confirmed as the ultimate protagonist!
Many of the old hardcore players had personally watched Black Star rise from an insignificant person, stepping into the glorified altar. Their hearts had a sense of gratification, as though they were witnessing the continuation of a legend.
Bun-Hit-Dog was so excited, his entire body trembled. He immediately pinched his assistant, Little Wheat, who was beside him as he babbled, “Quickly! Material! A lot of material! At least twenty episodes of videos can be released using this. Quickly record them all!”
Little Wheat hurriedly nodded and began to record.
Meanwhile, Frenzied Sword and the professional players controlled their emotions, quickly checking the attributes panel.
“It seems like the upper limit this time has been opened to level 180.”
“Speaking of which, most Calamity Grades usually enter the realm around level 160 and 170. While we’re weaker than them at the same level, level 180 should be enough for us to hit the Calamity Grade, right?”
“It’s possible. Maybe in this version, the strength of the players will be pulled apart. Those who can enter the Calamity Grade will definitely be able to slap and beat up a whole bunch of Grade Bs.”
Everyone discussed their levels fervently before they remembered something.
“That’s right. I remember that our main storyline for the Flickering War was not settled. Now that the war has ended, I wonder what has happened to the situation.”
In the previous version, the Main Storyline in the Flickering War for the Black Star Army was something that Han Xiao had created, and it had long been settled. What the other organizations’ players got was the true Main Storyline, which could only be settled after the war.
Hearing this, many of the players entered the forums, and with a glance, they almost laughed themselves to death.
They saw that the forums for the Flickering World were extremely lively, and many of them were crying blood and tears, especially those from the Limitless Financial Group.
[Fan Shuishui: Where’s my faction? Where’s my huge faction‽]
[Atlas: Madafaka, why has the entire Limitless Financial Group disappeared‽]
[Adventures of Tintin: Flickering World, ah Flickering World. The largest galactic consortium, the Limitless Financial Group, went bankrupt; the boss Sorokin owed up to 3.5 billion in debt for food, drinks, and gambling, and he took his mistress with him to go on the run! We toiled for half a year and didn’t even get a single paycheck. B*stard Sorokin, you’re not human!]
On the forums, there were a large portion of players who had lost their factions and were wailing. This was as good as them not having any contribution for the entire of Version 4.0.
Players who were in a smaller faction always lived on tenterhooks the moment they logged back in after a version update, fearing that their faction would be gone and all their effort wasted.
Originally, those players who had joined larger factions were not worried about this problem, but the Limitless Financial Group was no small faction, and it had actually disappeared, causing the players to feel immense regret.
If they had known this, they would have followed the other group of defectors to jump ship during the national war!
“Too unlucky.”
“That’s why choosing a faction is of utmost importance, just like picking stocks. One must be cautious!”
“It’s lucky our Black Star Army is resilient enough.”
Watching the scene, the army players could not help but laugh.
Even a behemoth like the Limitless Financial Group could crash. While the Black Star Army was strong, they had provoked the three Universal Civilizations, and thus, their futures were not too bright either.
Their Army Commander might be fierce, the association strong, and the Sanctum Revival miraculous, but their opponents were the three Universal Civilizations. Now that their original cooperative relationship had evolved to become enemies, many people did not have much confidence in battling them. If something went wrong, they might lose their faction like the Limitless Financial Group players.
“The battle between the Beyond Grade A Association and the three Universal Civilizations should be the Main Storyline of this version. We’re inherently on the side of the association, but can we really win?”
“That’s right. If the association loses, won’t the army disband? Won’t it be our loss then?”
Some people chatted in small voices, their stand wavering. These were all new players who had joined only in Version 4.0.
As for the veterans, while they were worried about the safety of the army, their stand was firm.
Most of the old players had long treated the army as their own faction, working hard to make it grow to where it was today. Even if the enemy was strong, they would not wish to switch to another faction. Anyway, they were not afraid of death, so it was still better to work for their own faction!
The army had shaped the sense of belonging for their players for many years, and the results showed. While players valued benefits, they sometimes went the opposite way instead. While benefits were important to them, the real core logic that determined a player’s actions could be summarized in one sentence.
I do what makes me happy!
Ding!
At this moment, the interface of every army player rang at the same time.
_____________________
You have triggered the S Ranked Main Storyline: Calamity of the Supers—Black Star Army!
1271 The Art of Managing Leeks
“Calamity of the Supers? What is that?”
“I guess it refers to the conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the association. I feel that this name is a little weird though. How could Supers cause a calamity?”
Everyone discussed the mission title.
The Calamity of the Supers should have been the name of Version 5.0, but now that it had its name changed to Black Star’s Era, no one was familiar with this term.
This mission was not issued by Han Xiao himself but rather automatically generated by the interface. This was similar to the Main Storyline of Version 5.0 in Han Xiao’s previous life, except for some subtle changes, such as Han Xiao’s presence.
Everyone went to read the Mission Introduction.
_____________________
This is a crisis that affects the entire Superpower class. There is a deep-rooted contradiction between individual power and collective civilization. Black Star chose the route of seeking peace through deterrence, taking the initiative to ignite the fuse and detonating this calamity in order to create a new era. As a Super, you should have your own position and philosophy in this storm. Choose your faction, and fight for it.
As a member of the Black Star Army, it is hoped that you will stand at the front of the army in such times of crisis, to complete the great goal of the Black Star Army.
_____________________
Everyone continued reading and saw that this Main Storyline was more of a faction struggle. As an S-ranked Main Storyline, it stretched for a long period, allowing players to continuously accumulate rewards. However, they were required to choose a faction to participate in this storm to fight for, and everyone’s faction there was preset as the Black Star Army. During this storyline, every time they completed the assigned missions given by their faction, they would obtain extra Contribution Points and Experience, which was very tempting.
“The rewards are plenty, and the mission rewards are even higher than the previous versions. The bar has been raised once again.”
“This is an incident that affects the entire Superpower class, so it feels more impactful compared to the previous version of Flickering World development. While the version also mobilized the entire universe, it focused on exploration, and most of the events were confined to a single Star Field. There was little impact on the other regions. Furthermore, this Calamity of the Supers seems very antagonistic at first glance, since Supers permeate across the whole universe. This will cause the entire Galactic Society to become turbulent.”
“Actually, I feel that this is pretty good as well. The Main Storyline came out as soon as the version opened, and our goal is clear.”
Everyone talked in small groups, feeling extremely delighted.
While it felt a bit sudden to get involved in such a big event as soon as they came online, the army players quickly accepted this reality, excited.
After marveling at Black Star’s deeds for a while longer, the players finally shifted their attention to the other aspects of version update changes.
“That’s right, fifty years have passed. The army should have upgraded a lot of their internal products. Let’s take a look.”
It did not take long for someone to open up the army’s faction store to check on the equipment and weapons provided.
The equipment sold by the army had always been the focal point for the players. While it was a little pricey, the quality was guaranteed, and its performance was excellent. After-care repair and enhancement services were even thrown in. A large number of players were thus using the army standard suits. Every time the Army Logistics Department launched a new series of equipment, it would be the time for the army players to collectively improve their overall combat capabilities. At the same time, they could also lose the weight in their wallets.
With a glance, the players all froze before shouting out in joy.
The number of products offered by the army had doubled compared to before the version update. There was a lot more equipment, including weapons, raw materials and special props that had never been seen before, and they were all high-quality items even when compared to the current update and iteration.
Many of this technology came from Jayz’s treasure trove, and Han Xiao merely picked up a few suitable ones to throw toward the logistics department, allowing them to greatly expand the scale of the faction’s unique products.
“Yo, the army has done a lot of research in the past few decades. There are so many new products now!”
“I’m still wearing the 7th Generation battlesuit, but they’ve already updated to the 12th Gen, and the performance has been optimized so much!”
“It’s over. My current suit is now outdated. Replacing it will require a large sum of money, and I still have to strengthen, refine, and enchant it… I feel that my wallet is going to die.”
The players’ eyes turned red upon seeing so much good stuff. Their desire to buy was unprecedentedly strong.
It was a pity that the national war and the Pro League at the end of Version 4.0 had emptied the accumulations of most people. They could only channel their desire to buy stuff into the desire to earn money.
At this moment, the players received an internal email from the Army Commander.
In the email, Han Xiao represented the army in welcoming the return of the Immortals, declaring that the current situation was sensitive, and thus, he hoped that everyone could be a little more low key. At the end of the letter, a note was also attached, indicating that their previous location for the national war, Planet Milton, had been purchased by the army and would be given to the Golden Alliance as a gift.
No one was expecting such a bombshell, and they suddenly felt dizzy from the surprise at their luck.
“This… Our Commander directly bought the national war planet to give to us? Am I dreaming‽”
“Maybe this is the legendary banknote ability…”
“Why did Old Black do this? He shouldn’t have known about our national war, right?”
“That’s hard to say. At that time, many of the galactic organizations were paying attention to us, even though they did not know about our national war. However, our Golden Alliance beat everyone else, so maybe Old Black thought that we were winning glory for the army.”
“That feels possible!”
Everyone was full of excitement.
As the stage of the national war, Planet Milton had the potential to become the Players’ Main City, so having the army directly buying it and giving it to the Golden Alliance meant handing over the sovereignty of this main city to the Chinese players. Originally, the management rights belonged to the NPC organizations, but unexpectedly, they fell into the players’ hands. This was not a small gift.
This would be the first time a player-managed guild owned a planet!
Many of the players participated in the national war, but none of them expected that there would be such additional reward. They could not help but feel surging joy.
Speaking of which, most of the Chinese players were also old timers who participated from Planet Aquamarine itself. This gift might be Old Black taking care of them.
Thinking of this possibility, people like Frenzied Sword started to feel emotional. This proved that Black Star had always paid attention to them!
Before long, this matter spread to the forums, where it caused envy among countless players.
“Another benefit of the Black Star Army! How can their faction be so good‽”
“Nasty, I’m so jealous of them!”
“Black Star is indeed the model of all factions, knowing how to win the hearts of the people. I also wish I could have such a faction leader.”
“Wuwuwu, lemons are also good (cries)”
Seeing this, the various foreign club players felt their sanity snap and their stomachs churn.
The national war had been over for quite a period of time, and these participants had also re-adjusted their mentality. While they had lost, there was no substantial loss to them. But at this moment, these players felt that their hearts had been stabbed once again.
Seeing the Golden Alliance happily receiving a planet as a gift, these foreign clubs only felt upset.
If we had worked harder at the last moment and won the national war, then this planet might have belonged to us…
Oh wait, we’re not part of the Black Star Army either way. Even if we won, the faction behind us would not have bought Planet Milton as a gift…
This was even more frustrating to think about!
As soon as the tens of millions of players returned, the long silent forum instantly turned lively.
Because the version had just been updated, everyone was busy trying to level and upgrade their equipment. Their top priorities were to enrich their wallets. After many of the army players understood the current situation, they could not wait to start.
…
At the same time, inside the Army Commander’s office, Han Xiao switched off the surveillance in the great hall, glancing at his experience bar, which had begun to rise rapidly once again after being stagnant for so long. He felt great comfort.
Ah, this is the fragrance of leeks…
Nice.
The players’ savings were almost all spent in the previous version, and now that the new version has just been released, they also have the need to upgrade themselves, so I can only use new products and discounts to stimulate consumption, maintaining my efficiency of harvesting experience.
Rubbing his chin, Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
His upgrade costs were astronomical. He had also accumulated some experience during the version update, and according to the normal harvesting efficiency during the opening periods of the version, he would take about eighteen months to three years to accumulate enough to reach the level 360 advancement. This would also depend on the speed at which the players accumulated experience.
If he used his own proficiency in leek management, he might be able to speed up the players’ efficiency.
Before his advancement, Han Xiao also planned to have his God’s Trait Transformation Void branch reach the maximum level. This would also need time as he needed to craft more Universal Treasures.
This Main Storyline was a battle of factions; thus, the association would appear more attractive to the players. Furthermore, with him as the head of the association, there was no need to be afraid of anyone trying to poach his people. The players would automatically join his faction.
“Now that the players have returned, the fuse for the Calamity of the Supers has been readied. We have to see how the three Universal Civilizations will respond,” Han Xiao muttered.
…
On the Federation of Light’s mother planet, in the President’s Office, Louis stood by the window. He turned back to look at his Head of Intelligence, his brows furrowed as he considered this sticky situation.
“The Immortals have returned? Tsk, another bunch of troublesome fellows.”
“Do you need us to take action?” the Head of Intelligence asked.
Louis slowly returned to his seat, stroking his chin as he thought.
“Immortals… Is their resurrection principle also related to the Sanctum Revival?”
In this past year, the three Universal Civilizations had studied the Sanctum Revival theory, but even with astronomical sums of money poured in, they were still far away from actual results. While the three Universal Civilizations might have been at the forefront of the explored universe in terms of Information Form technology, it was still not perfected.
The three Universal Civilizations leaders would inquire about the progress of the research every few days, so Louis started to think that the players’ resurrection abilities had something to do with the Sanctum Revival. In his opinion, both of them were strange methods to revive, which could be seen as a connection.
After thinking about it further, Louis said in a solemn voice, “The Immortals are impenetrable, and we are still unable to find out the reason for their resurrections… Increase the funding for the Immortals project. We might find a breakthrough there.”
“Understood.”
The Head of Intelligence recorded it down.
Louis paused for a while more before asking, “How’s the situation in the outside world now?”
“The Class segregation is going well. We have succeeded in shaping a group of Supers who believe that the association’s excessive ambitions have affected the order through different treatments and one-sided propaganda. These are basically people who have been affected and have lost their benefits, thus allowing us to split the Supers into two opposing voices. While the contrasting voices are not many at the moment, they are enough. As long as they exist, those that support the association will always try to one-up them, pushing the association toward breaking ties with the three Universal Civilizations.”
“Well done.” Louis narrowed his eyes. “The greater the height, the greater the fall. The association has too many expectations on them. The moment we can make them suffer a small setback, we will be able to obtain twice the result with half the effort, hitting the association’s prestige hard and shaking more people’s hearts.”
The three Universal Civilizations did not wish for a Super organization that would herd the rest as a pack leader to appear. Not only them, but the Super Star Cluster Alliance was also secretly adjusting their strategies, splitting the voices of the Supers through public opinion.
It was just that the time had yet to come, so there was no need to see this method to the end since the disadvantages would outweigh the benefits.
Waving his hand to dismiss the Head of Intelligence, Louis waited for a while before two remote projections appeared in the room. They were the ‘Mechanic Empress’ Mornisa and ‘Defender’ Romo, both of whom were Beyond Grade A mechanics directly related to the Federation of Light.
“You’ve come,” Louis said. “You asked to see me. Did you manage to discover the location of the Mechanic Emperor’s true body?”
The Mechanics in the Federation of Light had been searching for the location of Manison’s body all these years, but they had never succeeded.
Romo shook his head. “He’s hidden himself too deeply. We still have no news regarding this.”
“Then, why did you want to see me?” Louis frowned.
Mornisa took a step forward at this moment, slowly saying, “I used to study under the Mechanic Emperor, and thus, I am familiar with the style of his Virtual Technology. A while back, I made a breakthrough with my technology, so I would like to enlist the help from the three Universal Civilizations to aid me in raiding Manison’s database through Virtual Intrusion!”
Louis was a little stunned. “What’s the purpose of you doing this?”
Mornisa’s eyes flashed. “I’ve taken a fancy to the Mechanic Emperor’s technological treasures. I wish to obtain his life research!”
She used to be the Mechanic Emperor’s student and was more familiar than everyone else with just how deep Manison’s reserves were. She had long thought of owning Manison’s knowledge, and thus, their relationship had become more and more estranged, partly due to her attempting to steal a portion of his research. This was also why she had to flee to the Federation of Light as a direct descendant in order to obtain protection.
Ever since Manison lost his authority, Mornisa had again coveted his research. In the past, she was not so certain, but due to her sudden breakthrough a while back, her confidence had grown.
Based on her calculations, she believed that with the help from the three Universal Civilizations, her current Virtual Technology would have a more than fifty percent chance of invading Manison’s database… The Mechanic Emperor might be strong, but he would not be able to stop so many people from attacking him.
“If it’s just for this reason, then I cannot accept your request.” Louis shook his head. “Furthermore, the Mechanic Emperor’s reputation is not for show. Are you sure you can crack his Virtual Technology?”
“Hehe, I also remember that the Mechanic Emperor has always liked to secretly infiltrate the database of the Federation of Light. For so many years, it is unknown how much secrets he has stolen, but you guys have turned a blind eye for too long. Don’t you think that our Federation of Light should fight back? No one should be able to pick at us, and we can destroy all the secrets he has collected about the Federation of Light! In addition, we might even obtain secrets from the Super Star Cluster Alliance in the Primeval Star River, which is the true enemy of the three Universal Civilizations.”
Louis’ eyes gleamed. He was a little tempted.
The three Universal Civilizations did not wish to provoke the association, but if it was purely infiltrating the database of the Mechanic Emperor, it should be fine. The three Universal Civilizations might be jittery toward the association, but they had never stopped their small tricks. Plus, the Mechanic Emperor was no longer the president, and he had never been on good terms with Black Star.
At this moment, Mornisa coldly laughed as she added, “As for my ability… hehe, now that more than half of the Machinery Faith has been taken by Black Star, the Mechanic Emperor’s strength has decayed and is no longer at his peak.
“As long as the three Universal Civilizations assist me, I’m sure I can invade his database. After this event, the federation will be able to obtain all the copied technological information.”
Louis weighed the pros and cons for a while before slowly nodding.
“I’m agreeable to your request. I’ll help you contact the dynasty and the church. We can give this matter a try and test the reaction of the association. Don’t disappoint me.”
Hearing this, Mornisa revealed a delighted smile.
“Relax, I’ll make you so happy you won’t even be able to talk.”
1272 Progress and Acciden
There were tens of millions of Immortal Grade B Supers, and no one could ignore this strength, especially if a few million of them belonged to the Black Star Army. This made many of the large organizations, including the three Universal Civilizations, more vigilant. They were worried that the Black Star Army would take major action after the return of their powerful armed forces.
However, these organizations soon heaved a sigh of relief as they saw the Immortals just going about their daily tasks, without any huge changes in their schedules.
It was just that every time after they disappeared, the strength of these Immortals would grow. This was a law that had been discovered. Many of the top organizations had confirmed this through the intelligence that the Immortals strength was still growing, which led them to feel concerned.
While they were only at the Grade B realm, their strength was already terrifying. Every organization knew that if the Immortals continued to grow, it would inevitably impact the existing universe’s structure and produce unknown effects, which was not good.
Furthermore, the current galactic society was now also aware of the Sanctum Revivals, and thus, they unconsciously linked it to the immortal nature of the players.
On the internet, public anger, which had begun to cool down, once again flared up. The galactic residents discussed recent events, giving rise to much speculation. There were rumors that the reason Black Star had mastered the Sanctum Revival was precisely because he discovered some clues from the Immortals.
The speculation was reasonable, and got the widest acceptance, making countless people feel that they had stumbled across the secret of Black Star.
For a period of time, almost all organizations in the universe started to offer more generous conditions for the Immortals, enthusiastic to win them over so as to research the Sanctum Revivals through them.
However, with the lessons learned through the collapse of the Limitless Financial Group, as well as the version name being called Black Star’s Era, most players rejected the olive branches that the small and medium sized organizations offered and instead transferred over to the Black Star Army. The army once again ushered in a period of members skyrocketing.
As the saying went, better late than never. Because of certain factors, many players had already missed out several versions with the Black Star Army. Now that the new version had just opened, it was a good opportunity for them to start afresh, and many of them did not wish to throw away this opportunity.
The movements of the players attracted the attention of the entire universe, and countless organizations paid attention to this covetously yet fearfully.
…
In the territory of the Black Star Army, on the rocky, mountain-like surface, two figures were fighting each other at an extreme speed, leaving a series of afterimages. Each of their collisions resulted in a ring of compressed air exploding.
This was a secret training ground hidden on a barren planet.
Bang bang bang!
The two slammed into each other, much like an earth dragon rampaging amid the ground, kicking up choking sand and dust. Their Pugilist auras shot everywhere, exploding rocks and mountains alike.
Suddenly, the figure wearing heavy training armor seemed to have discovered a flaw in the opponent, raising his elbow before condensing his Pugilist flames at the point of contact. This skewed the opponent’s defensive posture, and taking advantage of this short opportunity, a sharp leg whip swept across like a tomahawk, creating a sonic boom from the speed alone as it closed the distance to the opponent’s chest in the blink of an eye.
Bang!
A silver figure was thrown out like a cannonball, smashing through three mountains before embedding deeply in the fourth. There was a loud bang as the rocks surrounding it crumbled, leaving behind a deep pit filled with smoke and dust.
“…Good fight.”
The silver figure shook himself, and the hill was blasted to pieces, turning into a rain of rocks.
He suspended himself in midair, his body akin to flowing mercury. The depression made in his chest was quickly recovering. This person was Silver Shadow.
His opponent did not pursue the attack, taking off his helmet to reveal an honest face. It was none other than Karlot.
Silver Shadow flew in front of Karlot and nodded. “Your progress is getting faster. It has been little more than a year, yet the current you can probably beat three of the you from a year ago. Within the Calamity Grade, your abilities are pretty good.”
“Am I that good?” Karlot scratched his head. He was a little embarrassed as he was used to being the worst performing.
“Your Pugilist potential is something I’ve rarely seen in my life. Given time, I’m sure your achievements will be higher than mine,” Silver Shadow said emotionally.
He had suppressed his strength to the Calamity Grade to battle with Karlot, but the latter’s performance completely surprised him, giving him immense pressure.
Initially, when Black Star had asked him to come teach Karlot, Silver Shadow was a little unwilling, but after a year of guidance, all negative thoughts had flown out of the window.
Karlot’s abilities soared upward at an incredible speed. If he was only an ordinary Calamity Grade in the past, right now, he was near the boss level, and this change only happened within a year!
Silver Shadow could feel a sort of Beyond Grade A potential coming from Karlot, so instead of rejecting his teaching, he instead became even more dedicated, almost unreservedly imparting his Pugilist experiences to Karlot. If Karlot became a Beyond Grade A, it would be a good thing for him too.
Black Star had a wide range of connections and had no shortage of friends who were experts in the Pugilist system. However, he actually gave such a good opportunity to Silver Shadow. Thus, Silver Shadow could not help but feel grateful to Han Xiao, thinking that Black Star was supporting him.
However, Silver Shadow devoted himself to teaching Karlot not just entirely out of goodwill of cultivating a younger generation. He was also extremely compatible with Karlot in terms of personality, and they got along very well.
“It’s because you have taught me well.” Karlot smiled in an honest manner.
“It’s not entirely my credit. You have to thank Black Star as well. His vision is truly too precise, and if he had not taught me how to guide you, I probably would not have a clue.” Silver Shadow shook his head.
Because Han Xiao had seen through Karlot’s growth mechanism in the interface, he had asked Silver Shadow to conduct targeted training, specifically explaining each Pugilist concept before training at high intensities. The result was that they achieved double the results with half the effort, creating this remarkable achievement of allowing Karlot to improve by leaps and bounds.
According to the original growth trajectory, Karlot was a late bloomer, but the main reason was that he was not clear about his own characteristics, so he could only slowly explore and accumulate, wasting a lot of time. If there was a targeted exercise for him at the very beginning, perhaps Karlot’s rise to power would have been much faster.
If they were to compare, Karlot was similar to the famed Hero Guo [1. Guo Jing, also known as Hero Guo, is a fictional character from Jin Yong’s novel “Legend of the Condor Heroes”], hiding outstanding talent under his simple and honest appearance. Both of them also did not meet the right teacher at the beginning, wasting too much time. If they had practiced the correct method from the beginning, their combat strength would have long soared and solidified.
Because the interface could list one’s advantages and disadvantages, in terms of training, there was no one in the universe more suited for guidance than Han Xiao.
Not only Karlot, but the hundreds of Beyond Grade A seeds who joined the Black Star Army also obtained some guidance, making tremendous progress in their cultivation. All of them had begun to treat Han Xiao as some sort of spiritual mentor.
At this moment, the very person being mentioned appeared beside Karlot and Silver Shadow in a remote projection.
“Your Excellency Black Star.”
Silver Shadow and Karlot immediately saluted him.
“How’s the training coming along?” Han Xiao smiled.
“He improved once again, and he can even break through my defense now.” Silver Shadow let out an appreciative smile.
“Dang, not bad. Keep working, you’ll soon step into the Beyond Grade A realm. At that time, I’ll find even more teachers for you to keep growing.” Han Xiao laughed cheerfully.
He had completely grasped the correct training method Karlot needed. The crucial factor behind [Everlasting Martial Path] was to accumulate Pugilist insight, and a shortcut was to have him interact with many Beyond Grade A pugilists to quickly improve his Pugilist insight. This would allow him to complete the transformation of his talent, allowing him to take the fast track to improving himself.
The moment Karlot reached the Beyond Grade A realm, Han Xiao planned to use his own personal connections to have Beyond Grade A Pugilists guide Karlot and teach him experiences and insights. With Karlot’s simple and honest attitude, Han Xiao was sure that his investment would not lose out but rather allow him to earn plenty in return.
After exchanging a few more words, Han Xiao wrapped up the conversation and left.
Karlot exhaled, feeling very heartened inside himself.
In this past year, no matter how busy Black Star was, he would call every ten days or so to inquire about his training progress. He even made a training plan specifically for him and invited Silver Shadow, a Beyond Grade A, to be his teacher. All this had shown the importance Black Star placed in him.
As the saying went, there was no harm without comparison. Thinking back to how the dynasty had treated him, even if Karlot was not a small-minded person, he could not help but feel that both parties were simply not comparable.
The kindness shown to him was firmly engraved in his heart. Even if one removed his idolatry for Black Star, his sense of belonging toward Black Star had already broken through the roof.
Since you treat me like a state scholar, I’ll be sure to repay this country with my life!
…
In Black Star Palace’s office, Han Xiao shut down the remote projection, smiling brightly.
“Karlot was really worth training. Just a year and his growth is already so high. If we follow this trend, he might even surpass Lothaire and reach the Beyond Grade A realm first.”
He could not be more satisfied with Karlot. This guy was indeed the poster boy of the future Pugilist system.
Lothaire was still stuck outside the door of the Beyond Grade A realm. This final step was the most difficult, and it was unknown how long he would take.
On the other hand, Evans had been cultivating diligently for several decades. Because the players were not online, he could not absorb any new abilities. He had only been polishing his core abilities and upgrading his realm. He had finally realized his potential, succeeding in entering the Calamity Grade as well.
Han Xiao was full of expectations for this new ‘EsGod’. Since the players had returned, they could finally add some new abilities to Evans.
In addition to these potential stocks, the army had expanded its advanced combatants by many times, hosting a large number of Beyond Grade A seeds, including many talented people worth training.
Oh, that’s right, there’s still that balding baby Sylvia.
A pity, that with her potential, the most she can reach will probably be the Beyond Grade A realm.
Han Xiao felt that she should actually just remain as the Chief Administrative Official…
Shaking his head, Han Xiao took out the communicator and scanned it.
Right now, the universe is reacting to the players’ return, worrying that if they continue to grow, they’ll become more lawless, shaking the order of the Galactic Society. It is actually true to think so. The fuse has already been lit.
The ancients used this phrase in the past: a pugilist could use his strength for evil. This trait was perfectly demonstrated by the players; as their strength grew, they became harder to control. This would allow one to understand why the Calamity of the Supers was named thus, which was accurate if looking from the players’ perspective.
“The three Universal Civilizations will be moving soon. I keep feeling that something is about to happen.”
Han Xiao rubbed his forehead as he frowned.
At this moment, a black flame suddenly appeared in front of his eyes, rapidly expanding into a projection of Oathkeeper’s soul.
Han Xiao raised his brows. “Why are you not saying hi? Did you come to me because you’ve collected another set of keys?”
“Not yet.” Oathkeeper’s tone was solemn. “Black Star, I have two pieces of bad news for you.”
“Oh? Say them.”
“There’s a traitor that has appeared among the group of avengers, who wishes to sell out the Holy Accord in return for the assistance of an advanced civilization’s help to seek revenge.”
Han Xiao’s expression sank. “How did this happen? Has the news been leaked?”
“Pangon is currently in pursuit of the traitor, and we’ve managed to intercept the intelligence temporarily.”
Han Xiao furrowed his brows. “Then the other bad news?”
“Someone used magic to spy on the Holy Accord. We’ve traced the source and discovered that it came from the secondary dimensions. Most likely, we’ve been discovered by some existence hidden in the secondary dimensions, but we’re still unclear as to who it is,” Oathkeeper said in a heavy tone.
Hearing this, Han Xiao calmly stood up, putting on his cloak.
“Give me the coordinates. I’ll go take a look.”
1273 Traitor
All of a sudden, blue brilliance flashed in the sandstorm, and a figure appeared out of thin air, falling to the ground.
This person wore a broken mechanical suit and was covered in blood, as if he was seriously injured. He struggled to stand up, raising his hand to eject a thin energy shield to ward off the surrounding high-speed sandstorm.
The next instant, a few rays of light flashed behind him, and Pangon as well as a few other Beyond Grade As quickly surrounded him.
Pangon coldly stared at the person, his tone full of murderous intent.
“Kotlin, you betrayed us!”
This Primordial One named Kotlin gasped for breath as he looked around the people surrounding him. He sadly smiled.
Everyone present was at the Beyond Grade A realm, so the spatial fluctuations and folds left by the teleportation and transitions were all clues for them to track him, leading to his inability to get rid of them. His communicator network was locked by the Mechanics around Pangon, so there was already no way for him to escape.
Pangon’s expression was stone cold, as he raised his fist and shouted, “I’ve said this before. Our principle of action is to not drag Black Star and Holy Accord down in our affairs. For you to try to exchange intelligence on them to the Super Star Cluster Alliance in exchange for assistance has already broken the original agreement. I can only get rid of you!”
He felt heartache yet grateful. Kotlin was a member of the Avengers, so he was saddened that his companion had deviated to another path, but he was also grateful that he managed to discover this before he and the Super Star Cluster Alliance formed deep bonds.
Kotlin exhaled before solemnly speaking. “Pangon, can’t you see it. With our meagre manpower, even if we develop ourselves silently for hundreds of years, we basically cannot complete the revenge plan. It is whimsical to hope so without external help. I can’t do it just by following you; it’s a waste of time!”
Pangon was silent for a moment before resolutely replying, “Even if hope is slim, I will not use this method of betraying Oathkeeper and Black Star. They’ve carried out the mission of the Holy Accord, reviving us and giving us a second life. You’re ungrateful to do so!”
“We’re all founders of the Holy Accord, and without our efforts in the early years, how could they be able to grasp the Sanctum Revival method now? I indeed owe Oathkeeper, but for Black Star… heh, he’s just an opportunist. How dare he put on a front as though he’s our savior? His position now was obtained through us!” Kotlin’s eyes flashed, and his attitude remained stubborn.
Another Beyond Grade A by the side coldly said, “Black Star is merely planning for the future of the entire class. While we’re not participating in it, we should not try to backstab him or get in his way. You’ve crossed the line.”
Kotlin did not seem to approve as he raged immediately. “What does the bullsh*t class struggle have to do with me‽ I only had one goal from the beginning, and that is to avenge my compatriots! For that, I could give up everything, including my life. This time, I didn’t even think about getting back alive! Since there’s only one chance for us to undergo the Sanctum Revival, to me, the Holy Accord and Black Star are now useless!
“If they did not affect me, I could have given them face and helped them keep their secret, but Black Star is obviously trying to find ways to coexist peacefully with the three Universal Civilizations, my enemy! In the future, he might even show his loyalty and destroy us! If he dares block my way, he can only scram!”
Hearing this, Pangon and the rest frowned.
The goals of each of the founding Primordial Ones in the Holy Accord were different. Not everyone did this to escape the war, and people such as Pangon and Kotlin wished to leave a lifeline to protect their civilizations one day after the war as assurance.
Pangon shook his head. He felt that there was no point wasting his breath on Kotlin anymore. The guy had been completely corrupted by his hatred, unable to accept any other advice. He just wished to take revenge at all costs.
He did not wish to waste his time by arguing over Kotlin’s personal beliefs. He changed the topic and coldly asked, “What benefits did the Super Star Cluster Alliance promise you?”
“We haven’t negotiated.” Kotlin did not hide anything either.
The secrets such as the way to open the Sanctums as well as the formula for creating the keys were firmly held by Oathkeeper and Black Star, and they had never been disclosed to the other Revivors. Kotlin could only trade a shallow layer of intelligence, such as the composition of the Holy Accord and the private deals between Black Star and the Holy Accord. However, just that was already very valuable.
Before negotiating conditions that fit both parties, Kotlin would naturally remain a stranger to them. It was not the first time he had dealt with such organizations, so he would not reveal his bargaining chips, otherwise he would lose his negotiation value.
Pangon mutely nodded before the Pugilist flames on his body re-ignited. He coldly said, “Alright, there’s nothing more to say. I’ll send you off personally.”
“I never intended to wait for death. If you wish to kill me, then come and try!”
Kotlin burned his life without reserving any, frenziedly exciting his fatigued cells.
The next instant, several silhouettes blurred and smashed into each other.
Boom!
Fierce shock waves swept across the surface, causing the planet to shatter.
…
In the secondary dimension world, Han Xiao shuttled forward at high speed, jumping through secondary dimensions repeatedly as he headed deep in.
After receiving the news from Oathkeeper, Han Xiao had taken the coordinates and gone straight in to track the peeping Tom.
Over the years, Han Xiao had constructed many new machines, and this mechanical suit he was currently wearing was a model that specifically allowed him to move through the secondary dimensions at high speeds.
As for the traitor on Pangon’s side, Han Xiao had no control over him for the time being. Pangon and the others could not take a Throne along as well, so he could not go there even if he wanted to. He could only leave it to Pangon to settle… While this person was a little reckless, his combat strength could not be faulted.
Moreover, none of the revivors knew any key information such as the method to open the Sanctums. Even if intelligence was leaked, the outside world would at most know of the existence of the Holy Accord and his connection with them. Such problems could be controlled, and there might even be advantages among the disadvantages.
The Holy Accord in his past should have met with a similar matter, but the offender was not anyone who was currently a Revivor. In the Calamity of the Supers version during his previous life, Kotlin acted normally, and it seemed that no information about the Holy Accord had been leaked.
“This could be the butterfly effect caused by me. In the past, the Sanctums were not exposed, nor was there an association, so he must’ve made a different choice.”
At this moment, a black flame materialized beside him, which took on the shape of Oathkeeper. As he followed Han Xiao, he spoke.
“Black Star, the problem on Pangon’s side has been resolved. The traitor has been killed.”
“Quite efficient.” Han Xiao nodded. “Did you manage to find out the reason?”
“Oh, Kotlin spoke like this…”
Oathkeeper recounted the incident to him.
Hearing this, Han Xiao silently nodded.
“No wonder…”
This was indeed related to him. In his previous life, the Holy Accord had always kept to the shadows, not participating in these political storms. The Revivors had all maintained a neutral stance in the past, but they had all been converted by Han Xiao to join the Beyond Grade A war. Thus, Kotlin’s mentality was altered.
However, this was a rare situation. Basically, the Revivors would not risk leaking any intelligence, as they knew that once the plan of Black Star and the Holy Accord was known, they would be hunted down and might even cost Black Star his life, wasting his ‘precious second life’.
People like Kotlin who were ungrateful and did not care about their lives were few. This binding of class interest and the safety of one’s life was enough to suppress most of them.
In actual fact, Law and Fay had privately suggested in the past that Oathkeeper use the Soul Flame as a way to seal their mouths. While it might not be a strong restraining factor, it could be used to sense when a Revivor was leaking intelligence. However, this suggestion was rejected by Oathkeeper.
Han Xiao also did not agree with this proposal. It would be easy if things could be that simple… The Holy Accord was able to suppress the second batch of Revivors, mainly because they relied on the support of the Primordial Ones in the first batch. Their identities were people who had originally founded the organization, so if this suggestion was carried out, the nature of the Holy Accord would change, and the Revivors would run away.
Han Xiao shook his head to clear his thoughts. “Traitors are hard to avoid; we just have to be more careful.”
“Kotlin was not like this… Sigh, hatred can really change a person completely. The next time we activate a Sanctum, let’s not count him in.”
“That’s only natural.” Han Xiao nodded.
The two of them were the only people who knew the true mechanism of the Sanctum Revival function. After this incident, they had removed Kotlin’s name from the list, and they would no longer consider reviving him in the future.
This b*stard thought that the revival only worked once, so he felt that the Holy Accord and Black Star were of no use to him, deciding to kick them to the curb since they had outlived their usefulness. As such, Han Xiao decided to grant him his wish, so Kotlin’s Sanctum Revival was limited to that once. He would never know what he had missed out on!
At this moment, the built-in secondary dimension coordinate tracker on the mechanical suit pinged.
Han Xiao followed its instructions and jumped through a few more secondary dimensions, after which he broke into the chaotic space stream, moving until he abruptly stopped outside a secondary dimension.
The outer wall of the secondary dimension in front of him was inscribed with countless magic array circuits, which protected the place tightly. This was obviously an artificial transformation, and the coordinates that were given to him also indicated this place.
“… It looks like a dimensional Mage Pagoda at first glance.”
Han Xiao carefully scrutinized his surroundings.
Because he possessed the coordinates provided by Oathkeeper, he had arrived very quickly. The Holy Accord had long deployed countless countermeasures against prying eyes. Once someone tried to snoop on them, they would be tracked. The magic and technology involved in this was akin to how one’s IP address could be tracked.
Han Xiao flew over and placed a hand on the magic protective shield on the outer wall of the secondary dimension, feeling the strong repulsion. This indicated that the strength of the shield was extremely tough.
“A barrier of this level would only be arranged by a Beyond Grade A, and not just a normal Beyond Grade A…”
Han Xiao secretly nodded to himself, his eyes gleaming.
This meant that it was likely secluded experts within the secondary dimension had known of his presence but did not take the initiative to greet him.
Tsk, were they pretending to be tortoises? Thinking it was safe so long as they remained within their turtle shell?
“It seems like I need to utilize some brute force.”
Han Xiao did not plan to use any force, but seeing the other party’s attitude, he could not help but raise his palm, a lump of psionic energy gathering.
At this moment, Han Xiao acutely felt the magic barrier of the secondary dimension fluctuate, opening a gap.
Buzz!
The next moment, a figure flew out of the gap, arriving near him. This person wore a platinum and gold mage robe, with a pointy mage hat, and had a long flowing white beard. His appearance was very similar to a famous violent, dual-wielding battle mage.
A mental message surged into Han Xiao’s mind. “How do you do, guest from afar?”
Looking over, Han Xiao raised his brows as a look of surprise flashed across his face.
This was simply because he recognized the ‘stranger’ that he had met for the first time.
Turns out to be this guy… Isn’t he the Beyond Grade A in seclusion who fought with the World Tree Army in the secondary dimension during the World Tree War in my previous life?
1274 Negotiations
There was, however, no such person within the galactic history. He had avoided the universe for a long time without leaving any record. The first time he appeared before the universe in Han Xiao’s previous life was during the World Tree invasion.
The Mage class was similar to the Mechanic class in that they grew stronger the more they accumulated and learned. For most, their age was directly correlated to their strength. Having stayed in the secondary dimension world for so many years, Joey had slowly accumulated his knowledge like how water droplets slowly accumulate in a bucket to the point that he had reached the pinnacle Beyond Grade A realm. However, due to a lack of talent, potential, and other factors involved, his level was likely lower than the pillars of each Universal Civilization. He would barely qualify to rank as a top-tier combatant in the universe. If one did not count the Revivors, however, he would definitely occupy a spot as one of the strongest Beyond Grade As in the world.
Han Xiao had a deep impression of him. During the World Tree invasion, the secondary dimension world was reduced to a battlefield, and all the secret organizations and hermits turned into objects of conquest, being bombed out of their hiding places. Unable to remain secluded, they banded together to resist collectively.
Joey was one of them. It was said that because the secondary dimension had received severe damage, he was forced to bring his base with him, employing guerrilla warfare tactics against the World Tree Armies. He was eventually killed and absorbed by the World Tree.
Various knowledge flashed through his mind. Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, sizing up Joey before casually speaking.
“Joey Terrain… I was wondering who it was, but it turned out to be you.”
Joey was about to introduce himself, but upon hearing his name being called out, he received a huge shock, surprise showing on his face.
“How did you find out my name‽”
He was a little befuddled in his heart. What sort of situation is this? I’ve hidden myself for so many years. No one in the main universe should be aware of my name. How did this guy recognize me?
Han Xiao laughed. “I guessed it. Isn’t it magical?”
Joey choked at his words, suddenly feeling a wave of depression.
He felt that Black Star’s character was a little different from the rumors. Secretly suppressing his depressed feelings, he coughed and said, “Well, whether you guessed it or not, you seem to already know who I am… I’m curious, why has the famous Black Star in the main universe come over to visit my homeland?”
“Oh, so it turns out that you recognize me. I thought you had completely secluded yourself and did not pay any attention to the changes in the main universe.” Han Xiao smacked his lips.
“… I just keep an eye on the news every now and then.” Joey became more suspicious in his heart, having that nagging feeling that Black Star had a deep understanding of him. However, he had never dealt with the other party before, which made him feel weird.
“Is that so?” Han Xiao did not agree nor disagree with him. “However, not long ago, you spied on my friend’s base. It seems like your focus is quite wide, not just about news.”
“So, it turns out that you came here for this matter.”
Joey came to a realization, his inner bells ringing in warning.
He had only just discovered Black Star in the secondary dimension and wondered why he had come over. He initially only wanted to wait in silence and guess his intentions, but the moment he saw Han Xiao raising his hand to break his magic enchantment, Joey could only come out to meet him.
He did not expect that the random object that caught his curiosity would be related to Black Star. Now, the master had come knocking, likely to seek trouble.
Since the other person came all the way here, they must have had some form of evidence. There was no use trying to hide.
Joey’s expression changed.
Seeing this, Han Xiao smiled and said, “As the saying goes, ‘a visitor from afar is a guest’. Are you not going to invite me into your secondary dimension to discuss this?”
Joey nodded when he heard those words. He made a gap in the barrier before gesturing Han Xiao in.
“Of course, please follow me.”
He led the way as Han Xiao flew into the secondary dimension. The world in front of him suddenly transformed, a peaceful world filled with lush nature coming into view. The huge city guarded a white tower that reached up into the clouds.
Passing by from a high altitude, Han Xiao overlooked the scene on the streets as the residents, who were the size of ants, bustled around. The city atmosphere was harmonious and lively.
The duo landed on the top platform of the tower. Joey lightly snapped his fingers, and two sets of high-end tables and chairs as well as a trolley filled with snacks and tea appeared out of thin air.
Han Xiao smiled by the side and muttered to himself, “Magic is really convenient.”
Joey glanced at him, not knowing what to make of his statement, before inviting him to sit. “… Please sit. Try my specialties.”
Both of them sat opposite each other.
Han Xiao took a sip of tea, and a strong fragrance swept across him. The tea was mellow yet rich, with a faint milky fragrance and an endless lingering aftertaste.
“Pretty good.” Han Xiao placed his teacup down before turning to gaze at the city below, smiling as he spoke. “This secondary dimension is not bad at all. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a peaceful place.”
“This is the place where I’ve secluded myself. Everything you see here has been built up by me bit by bit…”
When it came to this topic, Joey’s tone got a little warmer, as though he liked to hear others praise his achievements.
Han Xiao listened for a bit, smiling. “It’s good to live in seclusion here. You won’t feel lonely as well. It seems like you’ve transformed this into a Mage Pagoda as well. Does this place have a name?”
“Yes, it’s called…” Joey suddenly paused for a bit before finishing. “The Kingdom of God”.
Hearing this, Han Xiao secretly smirked.
This old man thinks that I don’t know this place is actually called the Land of Four Gods and did not say its actual name, afraid that I would guess there are three other Beyond Grade As hidden here.
The three of them hid themselves presumably as trump cards, just in case I create trouble. Then they can catch me off guard.
Han Xiao did not immediately expose the other party, instead changing his tone and replying playfully, “However, I saw that many of the residents here are actually the various galactic races in the main universe. You abducted a lot of people from the main universe to accompany you, right?”
Joey remained unmoved, sipping on his tea as he casually replied, “It’s not abduction. The universe is such a dangerous place. I only helped a few of them obtain some stability in their lives. Here, they can enjoy the peace that I created for them without fear. What’s wrong with that?”
“Sounds pretty good to me. This might be the life that many people dream of, but… heh.” Han Xiao only raised his brows but did not finish his sentence.
Dominating the lives of the ordinary was a matter of course for many of the Beyond Grade As. Regardless of whether the masses were willing to accept the arranged life or not, they had no choice either way. This mentality had long been ingrained among the Supers and could not be separated from power and authority.
Han Xiao did not have much to say about it but instead shook his head secretly in disapproval of Joey’s practice.
The Land of Four Gods seemed to be an independent paradise, but Han Xiao knew that under the iron hooves of the World Tree, this fragile peace could not even withstand a single blow from them and would forever be on the run. It was not so easy to remain detached from all worldly affairs.
Han Xiao rapped on the table as he leaned forward, getting into the main topic. “Alright, I’ve already drank your tea, so let’s talk business. The target that you used your spying magic not long before was actually my friend. I would like to have an answer for that.”
“What do you intend to do?” Joey inwardly tensed up.
Han Xiao waved his hands in dismissal. “There’s nothing about it. I just want to know your motive and objective, as well as how you did it.”
“You came in such a hurry. Could it be that the object of my spying is that important to you?” Joey frowned, secretly wondering why Black Star would make such a big move.
Han Xiao blinked as he sized up Joey’s expression before laughing.
From these words, he probably understood the details behind Joey. The old man likely did not know the full story behind the Holy Accord, but it was unknown how he managed to find the base of the Holy Accord to spy on. He probably did not have a strong motivation.
Because this guy had secluded himself for too long, he had become easy to read.
“Do you think I have a lot of free time?” Han Xiao turned the question back.
Joey seemed taken aback by this question, “No, with your position and authority, I suppose you must be very busy.”
“Then since I’m personally here, do you still need to ask about my attitude toward this?” Han Xiao shook his head, his smile vanishing. “Answer me, I don’t wish to repeat myself.”
Joey’s expression twitched. He was shocked by Han Xiao’s brief release of his strength and felt a little unhappy.
It was just that as someone who had hidden himself away, his personality was more pliable, so he suppressed the unhappiness in his heart, replying truthfully.
Han Xiao observed his expression, tone, even actions as he listened to his explanation.
According to Joey, this was a coincidence. He said that he did not know the details of this organization, and the reason for spying was because he discovered the Holy Accord capturing many Primal Esper Entities through his ‘messenger’, making him curious. He thus marked the very ‘concept’ of the Holy Accord, such that if there ever came a day where their fate string changed or became entangled with his, then he could observe them. This was a spell he had created during his seclusion.
Not too long ago, he had suddenly had a faint hunch, so he had followed his intuition to observe the situation of this mysterious organization. However, the ‘messenger’ he sent out was blocked, and he saw nothing.
“You said it was a coincidence?” Han Xiao could not prove otherwise.
Although this sounded unreliable, he could not dismiss it as a lie. The secondary dimension was bizarre, with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The Holy Accord had organized their secret activities for so many years; it was natural that a slight trace of their activities would be discovered. It was not strange for them to be seen by the experts by accident, but not everyone would be able to find out the details of the organization.
The high-level Mages usually had their own set of secret skills. After spending so many years in seclusion, Joey had also developed his own unique set of spells. According to the intelligence from his previous life, his research mainly concerned the environment in which he was located. His spells were extremely suitable for combat in the secondary dimension. On the contrary, it was unsuitable for combat in the main universe, where his strength would fluctuate.
Han Xiao believed around sixty to seventy percent of what he had said. Not only was he observing the actions of the other party, but he was also basing it on his behavior in his past life. This person was not a guy who liked to snoop around, nor did he work for other organizations. He seemed reliable.
It was precisely because of this that while Han Xiao did not know how much Joey had learned about the Holy Accord, he still stated outright that he was connected to the Holy Accord. This was because the moment he recognized Joey, he changed his initial strategy, planning to pull this man aboard.
Furthermore, Joey also recognized him quickly and was even being compliant. Han Xiao could roughly guess that the other side also wished to side with him in order to enjoy the Sanctum Revival.
All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, and since Joey had finished speaking, Han Xiao took the chance to sip on his tea before smiling lightly as he spoke.
“Ok, I’m now clear about this matter. It seems like it was just a coincidence.”
“It’s good that you’re willing to believe in me…”
Joey breathed out a sigh of relief. The reason he tried his best to comply was because he wished to resolve the misunderstanding, not wishing to clash with Black Star.
At this time, Han Xiao’s words took a change, and he meaningfully said, “However, this isn’t my true objective of coming today. Let’s talk about something else… You should be interested in the Sanctum Revivals, right?”
Joey was a little surprised. He did not expect Han Xiao to actually change to this topic. After a brief moment of hesitation, he nodded.
“That’s right. I am very interested.”
Han Xiao laughed. “If you wish for it, I can also include you.”
Joey was dumbstruck.
He originally intended to look for a chance to contact Han Xiao in the future and try to obtain an opportunity to have a Sanctum Revival, but he did not expect it to be so effortless, which made him feel a little lost.
This is the first time we’ve met, but you’re already giving me a chance to revive? Has Black Star always been so generous?
Seeing Joey’s expression, Han Xiao immediately knew what he was thinking. He helplessly sighed before saying, “Of course, this chance does not come for free. Right now, the relationship between the association and the three Universal Civilizations is pretty strained, with conflict ready to erupt at any time. I need to enhance the strength of the association, so as long as you join the association and stand on our side, you will have your share in the Sanctum Revival.”
Hearing this, Joey hesitated before whispering, “But I have long decided to live in seclusion. Matters of the main universe are not something I wish to interfere in… Can I join in name after the association has reconciled with the three Universal Civilizations?”
“You don’t wish to invest anything, but you expect returns. Don’t you think this sort of dream is too good to be true?” Han Xiao rolled his eyes as he replied.
For him to even say such nonsensical words, this person really had been in seclusion for too long.
Joey was a little troubled. “Can you change the terms?”
Han Xiao raised his brows in reply. “I don’t think you are in any position to bargain. Besides, what do you have that I actually need?”
Joey was speechless.
Han Xiao suddenly stood up and patted his clothes.
“Your hesitation mainly stems from the fact that you do not trust me, so you think that my chances of failure are high. I believe we need to spar for you to understand. How is it? Shall we exchange a few moves?”
“This seems a little too rushed…” Joey had an expression of surprise, but he did not refuse. “That’s good as well. I’m curious about your endurance. Let’s have a spar outside here.”
Black Star had an outstanding reputation, and since Joey had secluded himself for so many years, he also wished to see where he stood against Han Xiao. Making friends through battles had always been standard procedure for the Beyond Grade As.
However, Han Xiao shook his head.
“You’re mistaken. I wasn’t asking for spar with you one-on-one but with all of you.”
As he spoke, he turned away, speaking in another direction.
“The three of you, I believe you have eavesdropped enough. Please come out.”
As his voice sounded, three figures appeared a few seconds later. As they landed on the tower, they shared helpless glances.
These were the other three Beyond Grade As of the Land of Four Gods. They thought that Black Star did not discover them, but it turned out that he had known about it a long time ago.
Thinking of this, the trio could not help but feel embarrassed. Hearing how Black Star wished to take four of them at once, they got even unhappier.
“Are you sure you wish to go against all four of us?” Joey frowned, feeling that he was being underestimated.
“That’s right, otherwise I believe it will end too soon. There’ll be no excitement.”
Han Xiao chuckled softly.
He had already prepared himself to fight against all four together. Whoever had the strongest fist would have the most rights, so only when these four were convinced could he then facilitate the negotiations.
“You’re too arrogant.”
Joey’s tone was cold. He might have had a good temper, but he was also somewhat prideful. Being looked down on, his anger also soared.
Seeing their unsatisfied expressions, Han Xiao also wiped his smile off his face, his eyes transmitting electric arcs. His aura gradually rose, and golden Mechanical Force crackled around his body.
A voice laden with energy blasted out from his mouth.
“It is you guys who’ve stayed hidden for too long. You’ve already regressed. I don’t mind helping you clearly identify whose era it is now!”
1275 I“m the True Mechanic Emperor
Suddenly, a blue vortex appeared out of thin air. Han Xiao and the rest flew out of this portal.
Joey sent out a spiritual message. “This is a prototype of a secondary dimension that I’ve created. Generally, we all spar with each other here to improve ourselves. You have no problem with this, right, Black Star?”
“Sure.”
Han Xiao surveyed his surroundings before nodding in assent.
After reaching a consensus to spar, they decided to change the location due to the fear of destroying their own base. Joey opened a portal, leading everyone to his usual training site.
Advanced mages could utilize magic such as fantasy realization to artificially create secondary dimensions. This white world was merely an imperfect prototype, very simple to manufacture.
“While you might wish to fight against all four of us, we will not take advantage of you. At most, all of us will go one after another until one side admits defeat.”
Joey snorted as he dropped this sentence. He then rapidly withdrew, his comrades each flying to a corner.
Han Xiao merely smiled without talking, opening up his interface for a glance.
As expected, a notification popped up, telling him that a special mission had been activated. The format was similar to that of the Beyond Grade A Mission Requirements, which was to last for a certain amount of time in battle. The rewards were divided into different levels, with the highest rating allowing him to randomly draw an ability from any of the four, as well as to gain a talent named [Secondary Dimension Adaptor].
This talent would allow him to obtain bonuses based on the environment when fighting in the secondary dimensions, increasing his combat power slightly. It was just a general-purpose talent, but it was better than nothing.
“Heh, would be nice if I could receive such a surprise every time.”
Han Xiao smirked.
At this moment, Joey, who had opened up a good distance, finally stopped. He made a few hand seals, levitating before a series of magic circles, which turned into light gates. Countless monsters then surged out, with all sorts of varieties present within the various secondary dimensions.
“You want to compete with me in the Army Style?”
Han Xiao nodded.
The opponent had definitely heard of his reputation, so he would not allow him to close in easily. Thus, they wanted to use the Human Wave Tactic to go against his own Human Wave Tactic.
Joey was not a specialized Summoner, but having lived in the secondary dimension for such a long time, it was unknown how many strange secondary dimension creatures he had already seen, let alone the contracts he had signed. He could summon quite a lot of them, and most of them were very powerful.
Han Xiao guessed the other’s thoughts at a glance. He wished to use his solid foundation to fight against him, since he assumed that Han Xiao was lacking in accumulation, having only entered the Beyond Grade A realm relatively recently.
“Fine, I’ll play with you.”
Han Xiao did not mind. He pulled up his secondary dimension barracks, and the endless mechanical army poured out. Compared to the scattered formations of Joey’s monsters, the mechanical army queued up neatly, forming different formations. There was a unique sense of beauty within.
At the same time, he summoned his Divine Mechanical Throne, floating high up in the central area guarded by the machinery, like the commander of an army.
The mechanical army and the summoned monsters grew in volume, the battle line stretching out endlessly to form a confrontation.
While the array of summoned monsters frequently roared and screamed, the mechanical army was on the extreme end, totally silent.
Seeing that both sides had already deployed their troops, Han Xiao waved his hand as he commanded, “Do it.”
As soon as he spoke, the mechanical army moved as one.
The heavy machinery vanguards at the forefront immediately raised their shields, advancing neatly forward. As for the long ranged mechanical units at the back, they discharged all their firepower at once. The dense number of psionic energy beams seemed to combine into a curtain of light, directly targeting the summoned monsters. Han Xiao watched as the ranged regiment directly decimated the enemy’s lineup, spraying huge pieces of monster carcasses everywhere. In addition, the elite vanguard troops were engaging in three-dimensional combat, acting as independent guerrillas as they sought for opportunities to attack the weakness in the enemy’s formation.
At the same time, large swathes of golden lightning chains were emitted from the Divine Mechanical Throne, instantly connecting the various mechanical units, forming a spider web-like shape. The large number of mechanical soldiers dyed with the golden lightning received the buffs of the Mechanical Force, their performance increasing sharply by the naked eyes, as though they had entered a state of excitement.
Joey was unwilling to show weakness. With a wave of his hand, beams of magical lights spilled onto the summoned creatures, which also brought about a state akin to a blessing. The summoned creatures behaved like a flash flood, rushing toward the mechanical army!
While there existed a variety of summons, their formations were not scattered with the blessing from Joey’s spells. The different types of summoned creatures formed a formation with complementary abilities and tactical coordination, instead of rushing out as a swarm.
The two waves approached each other quickly, before slamming viciously at each other, akin to a comet smashing against Earth!
Boom!
Chaos broke out in an instant, and the scene blazed up. The teeth of both troops were intertwined with each other, as machinery collided with flesh and blood. They fought tragically, killing each other repeatedly!
However, the moment they collided, the mechanical army gained the upper hand, constantly squeezing the monsters back under their advancement.
“What a powerful mechanical army!”
Joey gulped in shock before hurriedly casting a temporary buff spell to stabilize his frontline troops. He also cast a recovery spell to heal their injuries.
It was a pity that all his efforts came to naught.
The Han Xiao right now was terribly strong, with his additions of God’s Trait Transformations, Machinery Faith, Proof of Leadership, and Mechanical Divinity. This gave him overwhelming Mechanical Force strength, which even the Mechanic Emperor could hardly match.
Moreover, his decades of research into Jayz’s technological treasures had allowed his Mechanical army to be updated and strengthened many times over. Not only were there many new models of combat machinery, all the machines had their performance raised by several tiers.
Han Xiao’s current combat power was probably at the very forefront of the universe. There was no need for him to burst his potential, and he could crush almost anyone in an upright manner.
As for Joey’s summoned creatures, they were in no way a match for Han Xiao’s mechanical army!
The battlefield quickly turned into a one-sided advantage, where the machinery attacked and retreated as they wished. Their formation remained tight knit as they travelled back and forth, constantly shattering the formations of the summoned monsters, slowly whittling them.
At the rear, Han Xiao remained firmly seated on his Divine Mechanical Throne, adjusting the type of Mechanical Force buffs. He had too much machinery now, and his Mechanical Force was not enough to cover all his troops, so he had to constantly adjust the focus of his buffs manually, using it as a means to control the overall situation and the battlefield.
At the same time, Han Xiao also opened a specific battle formation buff, which was a commanding skill commonly used by the Army Style. There were various combat methods, formations, and tactics existing in the form of different talents and skills, and this was a special command-type skill that provided an overall boost for the army. It would boost all attributes by at most ten percent, which was akin to adding wings to a tiger.
Very quickly, the summoned monster army experienced serious casualties, and Joey felt his heart ache. He raised his hand, drawing mana from the Mage Pagoda floating in the air, before slapping his palm against a portion of the machinery.
Buzz!
A huge golden magic circle akin like a lotus flower spread out, and the area in the mechanical army’s location suddenly collapsed. The chaotic space streams raged, but it was only restricted to this circular area.
The mechanical soldiers in the area seemed to have been erased by an eraser, disappearing into thin air in an instant. The soldiers that subsequently entered this area also disappeared into thin air.
Gazing over, Han Xiao’s eyes narrowed.
“Instant exile spells are actually being used to serve as traps. This is interesting…”
The disappeared machines were not destroyed but rather exiled by Joey’s spells into the chaotic space stream of the secondary dimension world. All of them were split up, so there was no knowing where they would end up. This effect was similar to the Dimensional Exile Bullet that the Holy Accord had, but its effect was better.
This was one of the reasons Joey was so suited to fighting in the secondary dimensions. He had a lot of self-made spells that could only take effect in this place and could not be used in the main universe.
Joey stretched out a few more palms, exiling a few more areas of machinery. At this moment, his senses suddenly rang in warning, and he did not hesitate to activate a short-range teleportation spell, leaving his spot.
Swoosh!
The next moment, a highly concentrated ray blasted over, penetrating the layers of magical barriers he had set up to hit his afterimage.
Flashing to the side, Joey turned to look at the origin of the beam. He discovered that Han Xiao had unknowingly donned a mechanical suit that was dyed black in color. He raised his fingers to point over at him, the fingertips of the mechanical suit still flashing with light.
“You really dodged it fast. I still thought of trying out the actual combat capabilities of this anti-Mage gamma splitting ray.”
Han Xiao’s tone was a little regretful.
The style of a normal mechanic was to prepare countermeasures against any sort of enemy. In the past few years, Han Xiao had developed a lot of new weapons against the five major classes, changing out his entire equipment set.
This anti-Mage gamma splitting ray was based on a highly concentrated gamma ray cluster imitating a gamma ray burst, supplemented by magic suppression energy through the reverse transformation of Psionic energy. It was hypothesized that when hitting those of the Mage classes, it would then impose a ‘magic activity inhibition’ state for several hours, greatly weakening the opponent’s spells and magics.
Han Xiao shook his head before standing up from his throne and disappearing.
Joey’s heart sounded with warning bells, and he immediately sent out a backhand filled with magical power behind him, barely blocking the fist of Han Xiao which jumped out from his Void Hyperdrive.
Boom!
As the hand and fist connected, a shockwave of blue and purple suddenly burst out!
Joey was about to borrow the force to increase the distance between them but discovered to his dismay that his palm was glued to Han Xiao’s fist. He saw that Han Xiao’s mechanical suit suddenly lit up with fluorescent blue phantom energy patterns, which pulsed like it was breathing.
Joey’s expression changed drastically at this moment, as he found out that the mana in his body was to flow into his opponent outside of his will, through their connected hands.
The Psionic energy agglomeration decay module was invented by Han Xiao. By stimulating the process of production and transformation of psionic energy, he was able to create an energy that could engulf all other energies. As long as the judgement requirements were met, it could assimilate and absorb the opponent’s energy, turning it into fuel for his energy furnace.
To put it simply, this was akin to the Star Absorbing Great Art!
Joey immediately made a decision, activating an enchantment and producing spatial turbulence, swallowing himself in it and getting rid of his controlled state as he disappeared without a trace.
“Oh, he really has many ways to escape.”
Han Xiao’s brows furrowed, and he turned his head to survey his surroundings. He saw a blast of chaotic space stream surge out from the extreme end of the battlefield, spitting Joey out. The chaotic space stream that seemed uncontrollable had actually been transformed into his own vehicle.
“Close shave… I lost around five percent of my total mana in just that brief contact.” Joey was secretly surprised when he looked into his own status.
This time, the blue lines on Han Xiao’s mechanical suit dimmed as he shook his head with a smile.
“It’s better for all of you to come at me at once. You alone won’t give me any pressure.”
Hearing this, Joey’s expression sank. The other three by the side did not have good expressions either.
In just that short exchange, Joey had personally experienced Han Xiao’s strength. He felt that he had no shortcomings, like an impassable mountain. He could not think of any way to defeat Black Star with just his own abilities.
Since Joey was the strongest out of the four of them, the other three of his comrades were secretly shocked to see his embarrassing performance. Even without going against Black Star, they knew that they would get the same result, or worse.
There was no point sending themselves up for the slaughter one by one!
Cognizant of this, the other three started to be tempted by Han Xiao’s suggestion.
Originally, they did not do so because they had to maintain their dignity as Beyond Grade As, but now that they would just be beaten up if they went one by one, it would be better to besiege Black Star and avoid making a fool of themselves.
As for their round robin arrangement at the start… that was what Joey said; it had nothing to do with the thoughts of the other three.
One of them coughed a little before solemnly saying, “Since you so strongly demand it, we cannot refuse your invitation. Let’s spar together then!”
Glancing at him, Han Xiao secretly gave a thumbs up.
What a shameless sentence, this has my style all over it. Thumbs up to you!
The three of them no longer watched by the side, joining the battle one after another to showcase their magic.
Seeing this, Joey blushed as he recalled his thoughts before fighting.
However, he knew in his heart that just relying on himself would be a lost cause, so he chose not to reject his comrades’ help. He would rather pretend and not say anything, cooperating with them in battle.
The five fought fiercely, clashing and tumbling around, causing the wall of the secondary dimension to tremble constantly. This dimension was not made to withstand the aftermath of their battle and soon became full of holes.
…
This battle lasted for several hours, and they had already cycled through three battlefields, with the fourth secondary dimension they were fighting in on the verge of breaking apart.
There was a huge floating island here, and at this moment, the entire island was stained red with blood, with broken corpses lying everywhere.
On the uneven ground, Joey was leaning on his staff, panting heavily and covered with cuts and bruises.
With horror in his eyes, he tremblingly raised his hand to signal to Han Xiao, hurriedly saying, “I, no, we have lost. Don’t come over anymore!”
Not far off, Han Xiao stopped moving, his voice laced with regret. “Just like this? I still have quite a few devices I haven’t tested out…”
It had taken him a long time to find such good opponents to spar, so he did not wish to make this battle a quick one. He took out all the equipment he had made in the past few decades to test out, torturing Joey and the others to the point he almost left them with psychological trauma.
This time, because he mainly focused on testing out his equipment, Han Xiao was not too serious in fighting and did not activate any of his aces. Even so, Joey and his gang could not cause him any trouble. The situation was always under his control, a one-sided victory.
He had a slightly clearer understanding of his own strength… If anyone were to fight head-on with him, without a dozen Beyond Grade As with an Energy Rank at 70,000 or above clashing with him, there would basically be no danger to him!
Han Xiao sighed in relief.
“This is not even counted as my warmup. I’ve given you guys a chance, but you did not use it well.”
Hearing this, the four of them were speechless.
If these words were spoken before the fight, they would have been unhappy, but now, they recognized the strength gap between the two sides. Knowing that Black Star could deal with all of them himself, the arrogance in their hearts dissipated.
The Beyond Grade As were realistic. If they could not beat someone, there was nothing they could do but endure it.
However, while Joey and the rest were being tortured by Han Xiao, they also saw the accumulation that Han Xiao showed. They finally understood why Black Star dared to fight against the three Universal Civilizations.
Black Star’s mechanical army was simply incredible, his accumulations too terrifying. His mechanical army was practically endless!
The title of ‘Mechanic Emperor’ obviously belongs to you instead!
1276 Achieving Nirvana
Han Xiao snapped his fingers, and the mechanical suit folded and contracted, merging into his body.
Joey took a breath, suppressing his frustration of being beaten up, before seriously speaking.
“… You’re indeed the strongest Beyond Grade A I’ve ever seen, but what you need to do is far from what can be achieved with an individual’s power. It may be okay for you to protect yourself, but others don’t have your ability. It’s too difficult to unite the entire Beyond Grade A class and become a force on par with the three Universal Civilizations!”
“At the core, you’re just unwilling to even bear the slightest risk.” Han Xiao pursed his lips.
Joey spoke in a low voice. “I witnessed the entire Tragedy of the Pinnacles. The three Universal Civilizations are not doing anything now not because they’re really afraid of you. Don’t be fooled by the current stalemate. The current strength of the Beyond Grade A Association is not enough to compete against the three Universal Civilizations on the same level, and they’re just looking for low-cost solutions to their problems. If they do not care about the consequences, the three Universal Civilizations truly have the power to destroy the current explored universe, turning it into a barren land.”
Han Xiao lightly shook his head. “Spare me your alarmist talk. Unless the three Universal Civilizations go crazy, this sort of situation will never occur. Thus, your assumption is meaningless. Who would ask to be euthanized after getting a slight cold or flu? The most suitable option for us right now is to fight for peace.”
“The three Universal Civilizations allow Beyond Grade As to exist, but they do not want us to unite…” Joey hesitated before tentatively saying, “Since you’ve mastered this precious Sanctum Revival technique, why do you have to use it to carry out such a dangerous business? With your strength, you can be completely independent, treating the Sanctum Revival as a form of business. You can cooperate with the three Universal Civilizations and the various Beyond Grade As. In any case, the Sanctum Revival is only limited to one time, so everyone can be satisfied!”
Han Xiao stared at him for a while before speaking calmly. “Everyone has their own goals and ambitions.”
He did not think it surprising that Joey would have this mentality. Most of the hermits preferred to be alone, but they still wished to enjoy the benefits of the Sanctum Revival, without the risk of any danger.
“Is there really no way around this?” Joey appeared a little disappointed. After hiding for so many years, he did not wish to expose himself to the eyes of the advanced civilizations.
Han Xiao waved his hands without answering. His intention was obvious.
Joey paused for a while but did not give up, trying to persuade Han Xiao further.
“Black Star, if the three Universal Civilizations really manage to obtain the Sanctum Revival technology, then that will be the day they take action. The three Universal Civilizations will definitely try to monopolize this technology and will attempt to neutralize this advantage of the association. The three Universal Civilizations just have to get rid of you and then revive you before anyone else does in order to not be challenged any more… I feel that you should stop walking down this path.”
Han Xiao frowned and spoke in a slightly offended tone.
“Do I need you to remind me of such things? You might think that it would be safer to join the three Universal Civilizations after they have mastered the technology, but think about it. The three Universal Civilizations’ target of revival will not be as loose as ours. They will not think much of Beyond Grade As after gaining this huge weapon, so Beyond Grade As will only become a tool for them to unify, and if they are unwilling to become tools, then they will not be able to enjoy the benefit that is the Sanctum Revival.
“Why else do you think the association is resisting? Only when we exist can the Beyond Grade As still achieve the maximum freedom. If you don’t choose to bet and contribute your strength now, how long will you wait? To have to constantly look forward and backward, afraid of this and that, don’t be naïve. There’s no surefire method to win. If you have a need for the Sanctum Revival, then you have to give something up. If you’re not interested, then stop wasting my time and continue your own escape from reality. Obediently stay out of the way until the end of your life.”
Joey’s expression was twisted, his emotions tangled, as he dully replied, “I did not mean that. Could you give us some time to consider instead…”
Hearing this, Han Xiao no longer made any noise but took out a few secure communicators, throwing them toward the four. “This can allow you to connect to me directly. If you make up your mind, inform me. Right now, the situation is still stable, so you have a lot of time to consider. I hope to get a satisfactory answer. If you only choose to continuously shy away from the changes of the times, in the end, you can only passively accept the final results. If you don’t fight and pay for yourself, who else can you count on?”
Finished, Han Xiao waved his hand, recovering his army into the secondary dimensional army box before disappearing in place with a single teleport. He had no intention of returning to the Land of Four Gods as a guest.
Seeing this, Joey and his party could not help but stare at each other. After a long while, one of them said, “Is Black Star fed up with us?”
“Seems that way… Joey, you seem to have annoyed him.”
“He wouldn’t be offended, right?”
The four of them were concerned about their gains and losses.
Their feelings were very complicated. On one hand, they wished to avoid all risks, tagging behind Black Star to ask until they were confident that it was completely safe, but they were also worried that this sort of questioning would make him unhappy.
This was especially so since they had just seen the opponent’s combat power. They subconsciously shrank back at the mere thought.
Joey gripped the communicator and helplessly said, “Black Star is right. My request might be too much… Let’s discuss it ourselves first. We shall not disturb him.”
…
His vision blurred, and Han Xiao was teleported back to his office in Black Star Palace. He took off his mechanical suit, sighing.
“My trip was worthwhile… I just don’t know if they will agree.”
Stroking his chin, Han Xiao felt curious.
He had a lot of experience in interacting with Beyond Grade As. With such people who had no ambition or motivation, rather than settling things amicably, it was better to show off his strength and influence.
These people had stayed away from the world for too long a period and had no ambition. They were soft tempered, and trying to persuade them with nice ways would take double the work to achieve half the effort. On the contrary, a person with strong authority would instill a psychological tendency to make up their minds and settle on a decision in them.
He knew Joey well, that this person was the type that would only regret when things were too late. He was an indecisive person, so it would be basically impossible to convince the other party to join the association on the spot. Even if the discussion went well, the other party would hesitate and ask many questions. Instead, it would be better for him to develop a tough attitude, rule over their tendencies and let them worry about their own personal gains and losses themselves.
After all, the association was full of talents, and there was no urgent need for the four of them to join. He was not begging them; it was rather the other way around.
Han Xiao himself did not fancy the strength of the four but their identities.
“If they are willing to join, then this will indirectly send a signal to all the recluses in the secondary dimensions. Perhaps they will lead us to find more secluded hermits, increasing the momentum of the association.”
In his opinion, succeeding in this was a good thing, but it would not be much of a pity if he failed.
Han Xiao didn’t take this matter to heart, turning his head and opening his interface to turn in his mission.
_____________________
You have received 65 billion experience.
You have received the talent ‘Secondary Dimension Adaptor’!
Secondary Dimension Adaptor: When battling in the secondary dimension world, you will gain bonuses of 3 – 6% in Attack, Resistance, Ability Strengthening, and all Attributes. This effect also applies to mechanical soldiers, summons, and subsidiaries.
_____________________
“The effect is not bad. Three percent is better than nothing.”
Han Xiao nodded, just focusing on the lower limit of the stat boost.
A prompt also appeared, asking him to select a subject to extract an ability from.
Recalling his combat information, of the four of them, there were two Mages, a Psychic, and a Pugilist. Their Molding Talents likely fitted with their own Classes, so it was impossible to obtain. He simply chose Joey as his target to obtain an Intellect talent.
_____________________
You have received the reward: Randomly draw an ability from Joey Terrain (Talent/Ability).
Remark: Joey Terrain is a Mage, not suitable for your Class, so the extracted skills will be appropriately adjusted.
Randomizing… complete!
Please select one from the five options below as the reward.
1. Melee Mastery – Talent: +1 Melee skills Level, +25% Melee attack power, +25% Melee attack frequency, +20% Melee parry rate. (As a qualified combat mage, it is reasonable to be good at melee)
2. Aura Wave—General Version – Ability: The commonly seen Super skill, by compressing one’s energy in the body then releasing it as a shock wave. The lethality is low, but it will give various negative statuses depending on one’s Energy Attribute. If one’s Class is a Pugilist, it will automatically be replaced by the Pugilist’s Shockwave Blast skill. Cooldown: 24s. Consumes 120 Energy.
3. Multiple Staff Strikes – Ability: When using a stick-based weapon (such as a Staff), you are able to unleash a continuous attack in an instant, gaining an extra 6 – 12% attack power bonus. The number of attacks depends on your Dexterity attribute, with a maximum of 12 times. Cooldown: 44s. Consumes 80 Energy and 270 Stamina.
4. Crisis Intuition – Talent: When you’re about to be attacked, you will receive a strong alert.
5. The Ancient Ones – Talent: A long life brings about precious spiritual wealth. +20% Intelligence, +10% Mystery, +2 all skill Levels.
_____________________
“This…”
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched. He did not know what to choose.
[The Ancient Ones], why is it always you?
This talent keeps popping out. Just how much does it love me?
Do you really want me to become an ‘ancient one’‽
Han Xiao glanced at the other options but only felt that they were too offensive. He almost wanted to curse out at the fact that a mage could possess the talent [Melee Mastery], totally not respecting the fact that they were a paper Class!
The five options were a jumbled mess, and there was no need to hesitate in his choice.
_____________________
You have chosen the talent [The Ancient Ones]!
_____________________
A wave of coolness spread through his mind, and Han Xiao felt revitalized. He could feel that his thought processes had become a lot quicker, as though he had been through a comfortable massage.
Compared to the four hermits, this talent was his biggest gain in this trip. Finally, he managed to obtain a positive fate with [The Ancient Ones] talent, which he had missed out on many times.
This time, he no longer needed the Old Man Manison’s Character Summon Card to reach the power of his explosive state.
Moreover, the Character Summon Card would still be useful. This would be similar to having double Perfect Mechanical Sense, having multiple The Ancient Ones stacked…
“Yo, I’ve gained quite a bit.”
Han Xiao had an expression of happiness as he switched off his interface and sent a message to Oathkeeper, telling him the problem was solved.
Kotlin and Joey both gave him a slight surprise, but there was no danger in the end. Everything was handled smoothly without anything being revealed.
However, this also caused him to have a sense of urgency.
“The longer I wait, the easier it is for such accidents to happen. I need to speed up the efficiency of harvesting experience…”
Han Xiao took a look at the movements of the army players before opening the book titled ‘Cultivation of Leeks’…
“Right now, the scale of players is too big. There are no big movements in the army, and the daily missions are also limited. It will not be easy for players to gain experience… It seems that the best method would be to scatter some ‘fertilizer’ to create more jobs for the players, accelerating their acquisition of experience. At the same time, I probably have to improve the internal welfare system of the army to better harvest their labor output…”
1277 Continuous Benefits, Leek Harvesting Skill
In the cabin, a group of players were busy with their own affairs. Some were playing cards, some browsing the forums, others browsing the army shop. The IDs above their heads showcased that they were all from the Rivervale Guild. Frenzied Sword and Maple Moon were among them. This spaceship held the core members of the guild as they were going toward a mission location.
At this moment, in a corner of the spaceship, Frenzied Sword was lecturing the team members.
“After coming online, we have not been training diligently. We’ve yet to get back to our peak state. While we’re currently travelling, we should not waste time and engage in entertainment before we arrive at our destination. Let’s all go through a dungeon copy and practice our tactical coordination.”
As he spoke, Frenzied Sword pulled out a few Nightmare-level Dungeon Crystals from his inventory.
Seeing this, everyone could not help but sigh.
“Captain, how long has it been since the previous Pro League? We have yet to get a good rest, and you already want us to start practicing like that now? It’s still early before the next league!” Maple Moon complained.
Frenzied Sword patiently explained, “With King Admiral from Dynasty and Sleepy Winter from Long Sky retiring, their teams will have new players and thus need to break in the coordination. Their strength will likely weaken, so our competitiveness will be even more obvious. This is a great chance for us to win the championship once again. We’ll need to work harder.”
“… I feel like you’re becoming like Hao Tian, only knowing how to grill us daily.” Maple Moon pursed her lips.
By the side, Bun-Hit-Dog snickered. “After all, he is the captain. Rivervale has lived up to its expectations to achieve good results, and credit is inseparable from his own serious responsibility. I still remember that in the first Pro League, Rivervale was a disgrace, but luckily, the superiors of Rivervale put Frenzied Sword as the cornerstone, allowing him to reform the team. Facts have proved that your club invested in the right people, with Rivervale now having the reputation of a top-five club in China.”
Frenzied Sword felt comfortable hearing himself get praised. He raised his thumb up. “Nice words. I’ll agree to an exclusive interview.”
“Alright, I have some goods now. This trip was not waste.” Bun-Hit-Dog laughed.
This group was still joking around when the President of Rivervale club, ‘Moon of Thousand Rivers’, walked in, approaching Frenzied Sword.
“Frenzied Sword, another NPC organization contacted me. They wish to poach us from the army.”
“Again? Who is it this time?” Frenzied Sword was curious.
“It’s people from the Federation of Light.” Moon of Thousand Rivers was a little helpless.
Recently, they had received many such private solicitations. There were all kinds of organizations involved and they all were offering generous conditions, with the hope that their club would pull out their roots and leave the army. It was not just Rivervale; all the affiliated guilds to the Black Star Army were experiencing such things.
“The Federation of Light wants to rope us in? Since when did our ranking become so huge…” Federation of Light murmured. “Don’t worry about it, we’re not planning to switch factions anyways.”
He was a hardcore supporter of the army, so even if the three Universal Civilizations wished to poach him, he was not interested in jumping ships. As far as he knew, most of the guilds in the army shared the same attitude, not liking such poaching tactics.
“Recently, all the major galactic organizations have been trying to poach players from the army. This intensity is greater than in previous versions. During this period, I’ve analyzed the current situation, and it is estimated that the war between the galactic civilizations and the association is inevitable. Thus, we ‘Immortals’ are the most suitable to be used for attacking, becoming the sweet pastry that all sides want to fight for. Otherwise, why would organizations on the level of the three Universal Civilizations specially send people to win us over?” Maple Moon thoughtfully said. While she had become a professional player, she still retained the same interest in analyzing the storyline.
At this moment, everyone’s communicators rang with the notification tone reserved for the army’s internal message.
“What’s this new announcement from the army?”
Taking out their communicators, Frenzied Sword and the rest opened the intranet. An internal document titled ‘Recent System Reform of the Army’ came into their sights.
Everyone quickly browsed through it, and their expressions changed to joy.
According to the announcement, the army had expanded the type of available positions for the Immortals, opening up more middle-tier positions and long-term official positions such as in logistics, instructors, captains, intelligence officers, and more.
To put it simply, they just opened up more channels for the players to be promoted. Originally, the players were only assigned mercenary and combatant roles, but now they could become part of the middle-tier officers in various departments, gaining power and leading a group of subordinates or commanding a group as their player identities. This appealed toward the players that loved to role play.
At the same time, such a position also represented formally entering the organization, which allowed them to receive a fixed salary from the army. This was also in line with the preferences of the Chinese players.
The requirements for promotion were to have a sufficiently high level of Faction Authority, which depended on one’s accumulation Contribution Points, as well as a purchase of a digital qualification certification named ‘Army Officer Registration Application Form’. The purchase required only a few Enaus and experience points, and they would then await the review of the various personnel in each department.
In addition, the army also released at the request of their members a new insurance service, named ‘Army’s Specialized Protection Scheme’. This gave them faction store discounts, free medical treatments, equipment repairs, enhancements, and free logistical services. Depending on their protection level, they could obtain various welfare guarantees such as loan qualifications, lower interest rates, lower renting costs, and so on.
Those members with a higher authority would be able to purchase more advance protections, but this was not a one-time cost. They required the player to renew it at regular intervals. However, the benefit of discounts was enough to stimulate the players to purchase this Specialized Protection. Not to mention the special services, one just had to look at it to know that they would make a killing!
This was especially so for the price of Dungeon Crystals, which had been reduced the most. They were currently the main source of experience for the players. It was akin to an inexhaustible vein of ‘experience ore mineral’, and the players were akin to the miners.
Adding on to this, the army also stated that they would increase the range of missions that Immortals could accept, as well as setting up special missions with rich rewards. The players would need to spend experience points and a certain amount of money as a ‘mission deposit’. The money would be returned upon completion but not the experience.
However, players would not care about this paltry amount of experience when they were being given missions. With the huge size of the army, the daily amount of disposable experience earned would be astronomical. With his experience quota being allocated to players through quests, Han Xiao then harvested that experience from the players, maintaining this positive cycle.
Han Xiao also put in the announcement that the Evolution Cube was now eligible to be used, requiring players to spend money and experience to purchase usages.
Because the players would only be able to reach level 160 in this version, the extra Race Evolution chance offered by the Evolution Cube would be useful, and the demand would not be too low.
Han Xiao was not just aiming at earning experience; he also planned to utilize the side effects of the Evolution Cube to curb the players’ speed of levelling so that the Calamity Grade players would appear at a later date.
During the side effect duration, many of them would feel that upgrading themselves would be a loss, so they would spend their experience elsewhere, so this could kill two birds with one stone, delaying plus conveniently letting him harvest them more.
After reading the announcement, Frenzied Sword and the others were stunned by this series of favorable policy changes.
“The army is probably sending out a response to the poaching of other organizations.”
“Indeed, the factions must fight before we will get enough to eat.”
“That’s great. Blackie values us like always.”
Frenzied Sword and company were overjoyed.
Most of the players had a close relationship with the army, akin to husband and wife. They did not wish to leave and did not expect any reaction from the army, but the latter actually responded with a series of benefits in response to the poaching, which made them feel wanted and happy.
The last part of the announcement was about a military exercise that would be held among the Immortals. The reward for this mission would be extremely rich, but quotas were limited, and the mission could only be undertaken by experience points.
This would be the only large-scale collective operation of the army in the near future. While this was only an exercise, the reward for this mission was extremely rich. Naturally, Frenzied Sword and the others did not hesitate to pay their experience to register.
In just five minutes, the hundreds of thousands of openings were cleanly robbed, which showed just how popular the army was.
The welfare announcement of the Black Star Army caused stomach ulcers in the players of other organizations. Their eyes were green with envy, and there were many complaints on the forums.
Han Xiao could guess the players’ reaction to these benefits even without paying attention. He had long mastered the G spot for the players, and this kind of harvesting means could be done with his eyes closed.
According to his estimates, this wave of harvesting should allow him to make up the amount needed to reach level 360 a few months in advance.
…
“Your Excellency President, our plan to win over the Immortals has had little effect. Few of the immortals from the Black Star Army are willing to change factions.”
“… What a bunch of troublesome guys.”
Hearing the report in the President’s Office, Louis frowned.
In order to study the Sanctum Revival phenomenon, the major galactic organizations were vigorously trying to attract Immortals to their cause. However, the movement of the Immortals showed that there was a higher tendency for them to gather around the Black Star Army than around them, which could not be explained.
They thought that using the name of the three Universal Civilizations as well as the large benefits would attract a lot of Immortals, but it turned out that there were not many people who bought into this.
He naturally did not know of the existence of the version name ‘Black Star’s Era’, so he would not know how much this name had helped Han Xiao.
Louis frowned and pondered for a bit before replying in a deep voice.
“This could be the influence of the Scattered Stars Return event… It has been a year, but the effect of it has actually not dissipated. Just in this year, the number of Supers that have gone under the wings of the Beyond Grade As are too many…”
He could not help sighing, feeling that it was a pity.
If not for the Super Star Cluster Alliance, the interception and killing of hundreds of Beyond Grade A seeds would have been successful. If the Scattered Stars Return event did not occur, their method of killing the chickens to warn the monkeys would have been effective. The negativity as a result of the assassinations would have made Supers more likely to compromise with the three Universal Civilizations… but this could only remain a fantasy.
The Chief Elder paused on his crutches before slowly saying, “This situation needs to be dealt with further. After a year of preparation, it is almost time for sanctions to be issued. The Beyond Grade A organizations will no longer be so comfortable. If we’re always trying to be scrupulous and openly creating contradictions, they will only continue developing.”
Louis nodded as well. “I really have to curb their momentum of development… I’ll talk to the church and the dynasty. I want to see how the Beyond Grade A Association can continue to grow when they are blocked by the entire galactic society!”
1278 Sanctions
The original intention was to hold a large-scale collection action for players as a reason to issue large-scale experience rewards, but given the sensitive situation, the military exercises of the army were interpreted differently by the outside world.
On the quantum network, many of the galactic residents believed that the army’s military exercise was an indirect demonstration to the three Universal Civilizations. Many of them believed that the Black Star Army was warming up, preparing for major action in the near future.
However, even if rumors raged, the Beyond Grade A Association remained silent, allowing the universe to continue their guessing.
After around half a month, just as the public opinion started to die down, an unexpected event happened suddenly, with almost no warning. The three Universal Civilizations jointly released a top level decree for the entire universe, of which the content was to activate sanctions against the Beyond Grade A Association!
The Beyond Grade A Association and the three Universal Civilizations had been fighting in secret for more than a year. While many of the galactic residents were simply watching the show, in public, neither side had ever openly challenged the other.
But right now, the three Universal Civilizations actually tore apart this facade, which was beyond the expectations of most people, yet at the same time reasonable.
Countless organizations’ heads saw the contents of the decree, and their pupils needled. They were startled by the harsh sanction, and everyone thought the same thing in their mind.
How vicious!
The three Universal Civilizations finally utilized their political and economic influence that had permeated throughout the universe, beginning a blockade against them.
…
In the Army Commander’s private workshop, Han Xiao was concentrating on studying a Gold Grade blueprint, working hard toward achieving the pinnacle of his God’s Trait Transformation—Void.
Suddenly, Phillip popped up, his little face full of anxiety. He hurriedly shouted, “Master, hum… something big has happened! The three Universal Civilizations have issued joint sanctions against us!”
Hearing this, Han Xiao’s eyes flashed, and he put down the document. With two fingers, he squeezed on Phillip’s head and brought him to eye level.
“The day has still arrived… Speak, what sorts of terms did the three Universal Civilizations issue?”
“Look at this, it’s so scary, hum!”
Phillip waved his little hand, and a virtual screen unfurled like a scroll. It revealed a densely packed document bearing the joint seals and signatures of the three Universal Civilizations at the bottom, proving that this was a valid decree that had been certified by the three Universal Civilizations. There was also a special note stating that the decree was effective at the date of signing.
Han Xiao read from start to end, and the beginning was a statement from the three Universal Civilizations, explaining their reasons for issuing this decree.
“In order to minimize the danger of an individual’s strength to the galactic civilization, the Ultimate Knowledges of each Super system have always been jointly controlled by the three Universal Civilizations, and other organizations cannot spread it at will. This is the requirement of the sixth section of the ‘Galactic Superpower Management Act: Knowledge Dissemination Agreement’. The Beyond Grade A Association (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Association’) has not obtained our permission but has been privately disseminating the Ultimate Knowledge of various Classes for many years. We have repeatedly asked the Association to rectify this, but they have ignored our requests many times. A year ago, our side issued a final notice to the Association, yet it was ignored. Thus, we have decided to impose sanctions in view of their negative behavior.”
“Humph, they indeed resorted to such an excuse. I thought the three Universal Civilizations might have something new up their sleeves.”
Han Xiao did not find this a surprise at all. He lightly snorted before reading onward.
In the document, the three Universal Civilizations righteously accused the association of violating the rules, extensively citing the regulations they flouted. Then they emphasized that the nature of the association was non-governmental, and thus, it was not affected by the Peace Treaty or other galactic civilization protection agreement.
This was followed by the three Universal Civilizations declaring that the Beyond Grade A Association would now be included in the list of ‘Unreliable Civil Organizations’ as well as the list of ‘Malicious Armed Organizations’.
These two lists were specially set up for some organizations with a doubtful business nature. While they were not as serious as wanted warrants, as long as one was included in the list, all their rights in the Galactic Society would be greatly affected, similar to having low credit ratings or being a deadbeat.
As for the Beyond Grade A Association, their sanctions encompassed a wide range of areas including politics, economy, and the scale of their armed forces.
In terms of politics and governance, most Beyond Grade As usually took care of their own parent civilization, and this decree required that the Beyond Grade A organizations were to stay out of the politics of their own civilization. Otherwise, the rights of the related civilizations would be downgraded. They stated a list of key planets under review, including Planet Aquamarine.
Those Beyond Grade A organizations that were part of a civilization were all subject to some restrictions. It was claimed that the Beyond Grade A had some sort of ‘unreliable cooperative relationship’ with them. Psyker’s Star Pupil Civilization was an example.
In the area of economics, the terms were much more complicated and cumbersome, occupying half of the content and encompassing all areas.
The first was a notice to the various regional civilizations, requesting them to cooperate with their orders and stop any form of cooperation with the Beyond Grade A organizations. They also would not provide public services such as stargate transportation to the Beyond Grade A organizations and would not open any trading channels to the Beyond Grade A organizations. Any existing resources of the Beyond Grade A organizations left in the civilization would at the same time undergo multiple checks, otherwise they would be personally questioned.
In the private sector, any consortium or enterprise that maintained business dealings with the Beyond Grade A Associations would have their Credibility Points downgraded in the Galactic Civilization Bank. Consortiums that had not corrected themselves would then be included in the list of untrustworthy enterprises. Only when their relationship was terminated would they be subjected to a review, restoring their credit, and they might even obtain certain subsidies. The three Universal Civilizations would protect the companies from threat of force by the Beyond Grade A Association, and they would also provide any judicial assistance in the violation of commercial contracts. There would be no need to pay compensation to the Beyond Grade A organizations.
The Credibility Points for all Beyond Grade A Organizations would be lowered, every fund transfer reviewed and supervised.
Other than these main points, there were also many miscellaneous provisions. The three Universal Civilizations had also attacked their allies this time, but since many of them did not follow them blindly, this was also something they had predicted.
At the end of the document, the three Universal Civilizations stated that the above terms were only for members of the Beyond Grade A Association and did not involve the neutral Beyond Grade As. As long as they withdrew from the association and were re-examined, normal treatment would be restored. As for the ordinary Supers, if they were willing to switch to the three Universal Civilizations or local civilizations, they would not only restore their credit but also enjoy more benefits and subsidies.
Throughout the decree, Han Xiao only had one thought.
How domineering!
Han Xiao shook his head.
Tsk, the three Universal Civilizations are really ruthless.
These clauses simply used their power to entrap the galactic society and block the association, so as to curb their development. It had little impact on the Beyond Grade As but was lethal to their organizations.
If one were to sum up the practices of the three Universal Civilizations, it would be understood as… ‘Football certifications, evidence, sponsors, and organizers of the match all belong to me. What are you going to use to fight against me‽’
I made this hypothesis many years ago, and alas, it still came true.
Han Xiao had long been mentally prepared for this. It was not surprising for them to come out with this measure, and since the three Universal Civilizations dared formulate such a clause, they were naturally confident in implementing it.
Even the Super Star Cluster Alliance did not face such ruthless measures. After all, they were also part of the Peace Treaty, and hence, they were afforded some form of civilization guarantee. The three Universal Civilizations would only be seeking trouble if they dared to violate those regulations. However, the Beyond Grade A Association was a non-governmental organization, not authoritative and thus not protected by any civilization guarantee agreements.
Since the development of Galactic Society, the three Universal Civilizations had long held hegemony in the financial, political, technological, and military sectors. Their influence radiated in all fields and was deeply tied to all civilizations at all levels. Seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages was an inevitable tendency for most civilizations, so Han Xiao could foresee that there would be many civilizations acting in response to this decree.
As for the civil organizations and the general public, those who dared to oppose the rulers of the universe were a minority. After all, the majority only wanted a decent job. If they tried anything funny and became marginalized in society, that would be too depressing.
“The three Universal Civilizations hesitated for a year but finally decided to bring this conflict to the surface. I don’t know if the players themselves have influenced it… but starting from this decree, the three Universal Civilizations have finally torn off all pretenses with us.”
The three Universal Civilizations dropping these sanctions were within his expectation, but even if he had predicted it, there was no good way to resolve them. However, in recent years, he had been committed to improving the independence of his consortium and had secretly made a lot of preparations in order to deal with this risk.
Beep beep!
Right at this moment, his communicator rang.
Han Xiao opened it and saw that it was Bennett calling.
Just as the communication was formed, Bennett immediately asked, “Black Star, have you seen the sanctions imposed by the three Universal Civilizations?”
“Yes.” Han Xiao nodded.
He then sized Bennett up.
After replenishing his vitality, Bennett’s life span had been extended by a lot. Even decades later, he was still alive, his bones still strong.
Every year, Han Xiao thought that this fellow was going to die, but Bennett would always jump out and shout, “I’m not dead yet!”
Following this trend, it seems like Nero would become a hundred-year-old prince.
“What do you intend to do?” Bennett was full of worry.
“Take it as it comes.” Han Xiao waved his hands and raised his brows. “Rather than me, it’s Planet Aquamarine that also falls within the scope. What are you going to do?”
Bennett gritted his teeth, solemnly saying, “After a while, our Planet Aquamarine will pull out from the Shattered Star Ring Civilization Conference, signaling that we are unwilling to accept such an arrangement!”
“You wish to accompany me to walk this treacherous path?” Han Xiao laughed.
Bennett had an expression of seriousness. “While Planet Aquamarine is still very weak, we also have our own dignity. We will not deny the great men in the history of our civilization because of such unreasonable demands!”
Han Xiao felt a little touched and warmly replied, “Hearing this, I feel your sincerity. Planet Aquamarine’s short-term development might be severely set back, but with my protection, you will not be in any danger. What you lose now will be earned back in the future.”
“It’s enough with your guarantee. I know I can believe you.” Bennett nodded, disengaging the communication.
Han Xiao exhaled, thought for a while, and turned to contact Kasuyi.
Very quickly, Kasuyi’s projection appeared on the screen with a solemn expression.
“Black Star, I’ve read the news. Do you have a plan?”
Stroking his chin, Han Xiao slowly said, “The three Universal Civilizations are doing this, so we have no need to be polite. Hold an emergency meeting. I have two things to announce.”
“Which two things?”
“Firstly, from now on, the association will not accept any form of help from the three Universal Civilizations. Secondly, we will also stop subsidizing the associations’ direct Beyond Grade A members, freezing their membership at the same time. This will temporarily deprive them of the right to participate in our regular meetings. We will tell the universe that unless the three Universal Civilizations revoke the sanctions, this situation will continue.”
Kasuyi frowned. “This will not hurt or itch the three Universal Civilizations at all. At most, it will display our unwillingness to retreat.”
“That’s enough. If it was so easy to resolve the sanctions, the three Universal Civilizations would have been ruling for so many years for nothing.” Han Xiao was nonchalant. “The cooperation with the civilization officials has always been an important point for many of the Beyond Grade As, and now that this channel has been cut off, what’s left will be obtaining resources from the Galactic Black Market. The three Universal Civilizations will definitely focus on this field, and friction will be inevitable.”
Han Xiao paused.
“Also, we might need to contact the Super Star Cluster Alliance now…”
There was no such thing as permanent enemies, only permanent benefits. He did not wish to help the Super Star Cluster rebel, but a simple deal was worth considering.
His goal was only to control the intensity of the Calamity of the Supers, stabilizing the situation, but he also knew that it was impossible for things to constantly be peaceful. The three Universal Civilizations would not give up, and the checks and balances would always go on. Even if he sought stability, he had to first show off his teeth and claws.
1279 Meetings and Backups
The Beyond Grade A Association had partners in practically all fields, so these sanctions were too far-reaching, involving almost all aspects of Galactic Society. It was no exaggeration to say that this would affect the entire workings of the universe!
Because the three Universal Civilizations had already ruled for many years as defenders of order, it was inevitable that they would gradually become rotten and conservative. Many people’s fear of the three Universal Civilizations stemmed more from their dominance and great power, but they had gradually forgotten their ferocity. This decree had now re-awakened the dusty memories of the many civilizations in history, and they remembered the bloody history of the three Universal Civilizations.
In the eyes of many civilizations, the three Universal Civilizations seemed to be wiping away the rust on their bodies, slowly regaining the cruelty they displayed eons ago. Many were secretly worried, not knowing how much of their edge the three Universal Civilizations would recover.
Public opinion was the rifest on the quantum network, and many of the Supers were in an uproar. They expressed extreme resentment toward this decree and felt that the excuse for sanctions used by the three Universal Civilizations was simple cr*p.
In their view, the association had not done anything heinous. The motive of the three Universal Civilizations was simply their need for control. This caused many of the Supers to feel extremely disgusted, thinking that it was a violation of freedom for the Supers.
For a period of time, the association’s voice among the Supers rose once again, and countless Supers went to support the association, thinking that this was unfair.
However, it would be unrealistic to say that the methods of the three Universal Civilizations were ineffective. The slogans of support shouted by the Supers were merely that, since no one wished to put themself in danger. Thus, those Supers who initially wished to join the association slowly retreated…
One could still use the internet to make themselves look and feel good, but their bodies were still the most honest.
It was just that this method had no effect on the players. Instead, it aroused widespread dissatisfaction. This was not limited to the players who were in the Beyond Grade A faction, but even players from the neutral faction and the three Universal Civilizations’ faction were annoyed.
To the players, while sanctions could be forced on others, the same should not apply to them. The three Universal Civilizations tried to force them to conform to their ideals, which sparked a rebellious mentality for some of the players.
So what if it’s the three Universal Civilizations? Why don’t they take a look at what the name of this version is? Do you think we’re all afraid of you?
The players were originally a part of the Super community, and thus, they were innately closer to the association. These sanctions also indirectly strengthened the determination of some players to join the association, speeding up the rate at which players from various organizations switched over to the association…
Anyway, since we’re not afraid of death, just try it!
At this time, while public opinion was raging, the Beyond Grade A Association held an emergency meeting under the call of Han Xiao.
…
In the association’s meeting hall, no one was late, and many Beyond Grade A projections sat there with solemn expressions.
Some did not attend, and some of the seats at the round table that should have been filled were vacant.
At this moment, however, everyone’s gaze was trained on Han Xiao at the main position.
Han Xiao surveyed the audience, both of his hands steepled in front of his nose as he spoke.
“The reason for me convening this meeting is clear, I believe. The three Universal Civilizations have imposed sanctions on us, so we must also reciprocate and counterattack.”
As he spoke, he gestured at the empty seats in the room.
“Everyone can see that the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations did not come to this meeting. I have temporarily terminated their membership rights, and we are no longer obliged to provide any form of help, including but not limited to Beyond Grade A military, technical support, and more. If you have any objections, please stand up now.”
Just as he finished speaking, the room echoed with a resounding, “Approve!”
The key behind these two commands was to obtain the consent of the Beyond Grade A allies. After all, while the allies were not direct members, not everyone was on bad terms with the three Universal Civilizations.
However, this time, the three Universal Civilizations did not differentiate, throwing everyone, even their allies, under the bus. This made the majority of the allies unhappy.
Only a few of the allies hesitated due to different concerns, but before the situation turned for the better, they could not leave the association since they were already riding atop the tiger. If they did not accompany the association in advancing and retreating, they would not be able to mix in with the rest of the Beyond Grade A circle in the future. In addition, the attitude the three Universal Civilizations had toward the Beyond Grade As was not worthy of their high hopes.
In the eyes of everyone present, the second life afforded by the Sanctum Revival was naturally more important than anything external.
The majority of strength held by a Beyond Grade A organization was judged by the strength of their leaders. So long as they were still helming the place, even if their organizations were hit by various problems, they would always make a comeback. They were people who relied on their abilities to feed themselves and thus did not panic.
Almost everyone knew that the goal of them uniting was in the interest of benefitting their entire caste. The three Universal Civilizations had already exposed all their cards, so if they did not unite to resist now, there would not be any more chances in the future. Temporary gains and losses were not important at the present. Only those with extreme short-sightedness would view such things with importance, thinking about how they could save themselves.
The association was playing the role that was originally envisaged, becoming the link for the unity of the Beyond Grade As. Even if someone had different thoughts and opinions, they could only stand with the association at this point in time.
“Since everyone agrees, these two orders will remain active until the three Universal Civilizations revoke the sanctions.” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
To be honest, he had long wanted to exclude the direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations but never had a good chance. Now they had just sent an excuse to his doorstep.
Milizaus stroked his beard before solemnly saying, “No matter what, the sanctions will pose a problem for us. Black Star, what are your plans?”
Han Xiao tapped the table. “Channels, territory, manpower, funds… These are all entry points for the three Universal Civilizations to restrain us. Withstanding the pressure will be our next focus. It is imperative for us to shrink our business and streamline the scale of our operations. Among them, the most affected would be the channels, as the sanctions practically deprive us of resources. Thus, the Galactic Black Market will be an important area for us… Secret Master, we’ll have to rely on you.”
Secret Master nodded.
As the administrators behind the Galactic Black Market were all Beyond Grade As, in the future, the black market would serve as the logistical core of the association. A new round of expansion and integration would inevitably occur in the black market, which would be beneficial to Secret Master and the other administrators.
Han Xiao paused momentarily before he continued. “Furthermore, not everyone in the universe will impose sanctions on us. These forces will also be the targets of our cooperation.”
“Like the Super Star Clusters?” someone probed.
Han Xiao flashed the person a glance, smiling. “If the bargaining chips are right, the Super Star Cluster will also be an option.”
Hearing this, some of the Super Star Cluster Beyond Grade As that were disguised as neutral parties brightened.
At this time, Kasuyi interjected. “The Super Star Clusters… It’s ok if they make trouble, but are you willing to cooperate with them?”
“That will depend on whether both sides can come out with a bargaining chip that they are satisfied with. Moreover, from another viewpoint, the Super Star Cluster also needs us to confront the three Universal Civilizations. While both of us are not to the point that we are mutually tied down, we each have something that the other can give,” Han Xiao said.
At this moment, Manison lightly snorted. “Initially, I cooperated with the Super Star Cluster Alliance, but the reaction from the three Universal Civilizations was not small at all. If we arrive at a deal with them, the three Universal Civilizations will definitely be riled up, and it will not be a simple matter to clear up.”
Han Xiao turned to him, raising his brows. “You scared?”
“Humph, what do I have to be scared of?” Manison snorted in disdain. “I’m just reminding you of the consequences.”
Han Xiao waved his hands. “It doesn’t matter. Since the three Universal Civilizations have decided to publicly impose sanctions, they must have also predicted that we will contact the Super Star Cluster Alliance. But they did not care, proving that they’re psychologically prepared, maybe even having the mentality to capture all of us in one go… Even so, we still have to contact the Super Star Cluster Alliance to let the three Universal Civilizations know that we’re not easy to handle.”
“I thought you would always remain loyal to the three Universal Civilizations.” Manison spoke coldly, apparently still having the Intelligent Plague incident at the back of his mind.
“I only aim to maintain order. I’ve never had any sort of loyalty toward the three Universal Civilizations. If I can maintain order in the universe, it doesn’t matter who I support.” Han Xiao rebutted.
Manison blandly replied, “That sounds nice to hear, but aren’t you just taking my old path? It seems like I’m still right after all.”
Han Xiao did not think much of it, smiling. “You endangered the entire Galactic Society with your actions. I only made the rulers fear our power. The two are different in nature. I’m much better than you.”
“Humph, excuses, excuses.” Manison avoided his gaze, no longer daring to speak.
Since things had already developed to this point, the fake Virtual Mutiny Virus he had developed over the years was practically of no use, so Manison felt that this was a pity.
However, in his opinion, it was still good as secret insurance. If the association could not withstand the pressure of the three Universal Civilizations, he would not mind using this assassin to help the association, turning it into the situation he originally envisioned.
Han Xiao did not bother with Manison either, carefully explaining the next steps of the plan. Right now, the association needed everyone to be united, not involved in their own private disputes. His current authority and words were already enough to make everyone obey.
At the very end, Han Xiao paused before instructing, “If we want to resolve this situation, we must either let the three Universal Civilizations revoke the sanctions on their own, or we open up a new form of development. We can progress in both routes simultaneously… but acting is one thing. We also have to maintain a balance, not implicating too many innocents. The purpose of our counterattack is to make the three Universal Civilizations feel pressure in facing us directly. The three Universal Civilizations are pressuring us so as to force us to make a wrong move, allowing them to prove that we pose a huge threat to the Galactic Civilizations.”
Everyone nodded in return. They also understood this logic, as such mind games in war were common. However, if they broke the baseline, then they would become the unreasonable ones.
This meeting lasted almost a whole day, and many of the members divided the labor among themselves. While the association was originally a loose alliance, it now felt more like an organization.
After the meeting ended, the projections disappeared one by one, leaving only Han Xiao and Kasuyi in the room.
Kasuyi’s expression relaxed as he smiled. “When are you planning to show your hand against the three Universal Civilizations? They seem thoroughly convinced that there’s only a limited number of revival opportunities in the Sanctums, or else they would be more radical.”
He was more confident than anyone else about this battle, as he held the secret of the unlimited times for Sanctum Revival. He had no fear of the sanctions from the three Universal Civilizations.
At the same time, Kasuyi felt that Han Xiao made the right choice by concealing this secret. Otherwise, the three Universal Civilizations would probably not adopt such a radical method. In his opinion, this was luring the three Universal Civilizations to make the wrong decisions.
“No worry, we’ll just wait for the opportunity.” Han Xiao waved his hand.
“Anyway, you know what to do, so I’ll leave it to you.” Kasuyi nodded before cancelling his projection.
Han Xiao shook his head, his eyes flashing.
“I estimate that the Super Star Cluster Alliance Beyond Grade As dressed as neutrals will have already conveyed my words to the Super Star Cluster Alliance…”
…
The leaders of the Super Star Cluster Alliance gathered together, listening to the report.
“Are you sure? Black Star said he wants to reach out?”
Many of the leaders were overjoyed.
“The association is now in a tight situation and urgently requires new channels. It also has to fight back against the three Universal Civilizations. Cooperating with us is naturally a good choice,” the leader of the Star Arc Civilization said, his eyes beaming.
While Black Star had some conflicts with them and they disliked each other, if they could obtain help from the Beyond Grade A Association through Black Star, that little grudge could not be considered much.
The stronger the Super Star Cluster Alliance became, the more uncomfortable the three Universal Civilizations would feel. The Super Star Cluster Alliance were most willing to have a new variable appear in this universe.
As for the offenses stated by the three Universal Civilizations when violating the sanctions, the Super Star Cluster Alliance did not give two hoots. Both of them were in conflict, so even without this extra reason, the three Universal Civilizations would still suppress them at every opportunity.
However, the association only cooperated with them at this point, after falling out with their ‘old bestie’ the three Universal Civilizations, treating them like a backup plan…
Thinking of this, many of the Star Cluster leaders felt a little awkward.
But they did not wallow in their anxieties for long.
Forget it. As long as we get the good stuff, so what if we’re spare tires?
We’re happy to be so!
1280 Withdrawal and Conditions
“… Regarding the sanctions from the three Universal Civilizations, there is too much content. In response to this joint decree, I suggest that the Shattered Star Ring Civilization Council supervise the implementation of the decree in the Star Field, ensuring the complete termination of all civilizations to the Beyond Grade A Association…”
A representative of a Star Cluster civilization sitting on a chair read out the proposal before throwing the question out and saying in a deep voice, “This is the current situation. Does anyone have an opinion?”
The moment he finished speaking, the scene turned silent, and the expressions of the many representatives present were complicated.
The power of the Black Star Army in the Shattered Star Ring was too large. This Star Field could practically be considered as their backyard. More than eighty percent of the civilizations there had different areas of cooperation with them, and they had always cooperated happily in a win-win situation. The sanctions were a trouble for them.
However, they were even more afraid of the three Universal Civilizations. In terms of interests, they were more intertwined with the three Universal Civilizations.
It was not just that, but the strongest seven civilizations of the Shattered Star Ring had already chosen their positions, expressing support for the three Universal Civilizations. No one knew what sort of agreement they had with the three Universal Civilizations, but even reluctant, all of them had no choice but to follow suit.
“… Agreed.”
“Seconded.”
Everyone was silent for a while before opening their mouths one after another. Many of them vaguely glanced toward the Planet Aquamarine civilization, their eyes complicated, with pitying, sighing, or gloating gazes.
The condition to access the Civilization Conference was to be a Star System level Civilization, but Planet Aquamarine was of a different breed. It ranked as a surface civilization, but its status was brought to it by Black Star. Just a Beyond Grade A was enough to propel them to the sky.
For a long time, many of the civilizations had envied and hated Planet Aquamarine. They could not cultivate a Beyond Grade A, but they actually had three of them. This was some bullsh*t luck!
With the promotion of Hila and Aurora, the status of Planet Aquamarine had risen rapidly in recent years. Even if the civilization was weak, they could afford to be rampant in the Civilization Council since all the civilizations in the Shattered Star Ring depended on the Black Star Army. They had taken good care of Planet Aquamarine, but without the protection of Black Star, Planet Aquamarine would be nothing in their eyes.
Since Black Star had fallen out of favor, many of the people in the room wished to see the Planet Aquamarine turn into a joke.
Very quickly, every civilization present either agreed or abstained from voting, leaving only the Star Pupil Civilization and Planet Aquamarine having not expressed their opinions.
At this moment, one of the Star Cluster level council members spoke up. “Representatives of Planet Aquamarine and Star Pupil Civilization, only you two are left.”
The expression of the Star Pupil Civilization Represent was conflicted, his lips twisting around. After a few long seconds, he finally answered in a low voice.
“… We abstain.”
Everyone could not help but glance at him, and a touch of surprise flashed across their faces. However, they understood the reason behind.
Only Planet Aquamarine was left, and everyone’s gaze fell onto Bennett.
“Planet Aquamarine Civilization, what about you guys?” The Star Cluster representative pressed on.
Bennett took a deep breath before solemnly speaking as he stood up.
“We strongly oppose these unfair sanctions and will never accept the unprovoked accusations and slander… From now on, Planet Aquamarine Civilization will withdraw from the Shattered Star Ring Civilization Conference!”
His tone was sonorous and powerful, without hesitation.
Everyone suddenly went into an uproar, looking at the expressionless Bennett in surprise.
They had thought that Planet Aquamarine would adopt a more roundabout attitude but did not expect them to be so stubborn, immediately speaking about leaving the council.
The Representative of the Purple Crystal Civilization could not help but ask, “Are you certain?”
“Black Star is one of the greatest figures in the history of Planet Aquamarine. We will not allow any person or organization to maliciously slander him. Even the three Universal Civilizations should not arbitrarily discredit the great figures of other civilizations!” Bennett’s tone was hard as steel.
Having said this, he directly lifted the remote projection, disappearing from the meeting. He expressed his attitude through actions.
Seeing this, many of the representatives exchanged glances, their expressions complicated.
They did not expect that Planet Aquamarine would be so resolute as to remain standing by Black Star’s side, willing to bear the hatred of the three Universal Civilizations…
In fact, in their eyes, Planet Aquamarine had a much better way to deal with this matter. They believed that Black Star would understand, but to take such a tough attitude and openly challenge the three Universal Civilizations, they would likely become a model for the latter to use as a lesson to learn for others.
Many of the representatives shook their heads and sighed, involuntarily glancing at the Star Pupil Civilization representative.
In their eyes, what the Star Pupil Civilization did was undoubtedly the right thing…
But in their hearts, all of them were unsatisfied toward the three Universal Civilizations, and seeing how someone actually dared to stick their head out filled them with admiration.
Almost every civilization wished to oppose the hegemonic decree from the three Universal Civilizations in a clear-cut manner, but unfortunately… no one had such confidence.
The representative of the Star Pupil Civilization secretly clenched his fists in a place where no one could see, as an expression of shame flashed across his face.
…
In his office, Bennett opened his eyes as his vision returned to the room.
He only saw a group of executive officials waiting there, staring at him for orders.
Bennett lightly sighed before solemnly ordering.
“We have already withdrawn from the Shattered Star Ring Council. Announce our decision to the whole civilization.”
“…Understood.”
No one said anything more, receiving the orders and leaving the room in a file.
It did not take long for this incident to spread across the entire Planet Aquamarine through their official media and social channels.
Bennett stayed within his office the whole time. After reading the news, he took out his communicator and logged onto the quantum network to check the public’s attitude on this matter.
Soon, messages came into his view.
“Well done! I’ve long gotten tired of seeing the three Universal Civilizations!”
“To dare discredit our greatest, what a bunch of garbage!”
“I sincerely support the decision of our federal government. The three Universal Civilizations are clearly bullying us. Did you think we were submissive people‽”
Seeing the messages filled with indignation and righteous fury from the citizens, Bennett’s old face crinkled into a smile.
Let’s hope that this was the right choice…
…
On the Star Pupil Civilization’s mother planet, Psyker stood in front of the window, overlooking the bustling city. Flying vehicles passed as they emitted trails of flames in the neighborhood, and the glow was reflected across his seven pupils simultaneously, like countless flashing meteors.
At this moment, a few of the upper echelons walked into his office.
“Has everything been settled?” Psyker blandly asked, without turning his head back.
“Yes… we’ve made them express their attitude in the council,” someone replied with a low voice. They seemed rather disappointed.
Psyker turned around and slowly said, “Get ready for my retirement ceremony as soon as possible.”
Upon hearing this, the expressions of several of the upper echelons became heavier. They revealed a sense of helpless sorrow.
Seeing this, Psyker smiled. “You will soon take over my authority. Don’t be so glum.”
One of them could not help but grit his teeth and ask, “Do you have to do this? Can’t we be like Planet Aquamarine and express our objections?”
Hearing this, Psyker fell silent. “… I’m not Black Star. He alone can make the three Universal Civilizations fear his presence. I don’t have that ability.”
Psyker was uncomfortable in his heart. He shook his head gently before looking out of the window again as he whispered, “If we wish for the civilization to avoid the attacks of the three Universal Civilizations, then I can only step down… In the end, we are all involuntary people trapped within the torrent of the times.”
The three Universal Civilizations’ sanctions specified that the Beyond Grade A could not interfere in civilization politics in any form, even if they had always been the leader of the civilization. Psyker attached importance to the Sanctum Revival, but he could not sit back and watch his civilization be sanctioned. Thus, he decided to surrender his power and step down.
As the saying went, when there were policies at the top, there would be countermeasures from the bottom. As long as the political connection between himself and his civilization was broken, the Star Pupil Civilization would not meet the standard to be sanctioned and would not be downgraded. After becoming a free man, he could also throw himself into the struggle of the Beyond Grade As without any baggage.
At the same time, Psyker was not completely letting go. Going rogue was just a temporary measure to avoid the limelight. If the association reached a balance with the three Universal Civilizations, he would still have the chance to regain power.
Furthermore, having led his civilization for so long, he wished to let go and take a break.
“I understand.”
The rest of the upper echelons helplessly nodded.
At this moment, someone thought of something and said, “By the way, the Shattered Star Ring Council passed a bill, asking us to cooperate with the sanctions. What should we do?”
Psyker’s eyes flashed, his tone playful, as he replied, “You guys decide. I’ll just remind you not to take it so seriously. The civilizations of Shattered Star Ring are cooperating with each other, but no one will do their best… because all of them are smart, knowing that both the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association cannot be offended. If we leave ourselves a way out, we will have better days ahead. Don’t worry about that. The civilizations themselves know what to do.”
…
In the Super Star Cluster Alliance remote conference room, the rest of the Star Cluster leaders gathered in a hall, everyone showing solemn expressions, displaying a majestic attitude.
Everyone was serious as though awaiting a distinguished guest. It was precisely Han Xiao.
A few days ago, after learning about the attitude of the association, the Super Star Cluster Alliance had issued a private invitation to Black Star to have a meeting with them and received a positive answer.
The leaders had made a show out of this meeting. On one hand, they wished to show their sincerity and cooperation to Black Star… Basically, they were willing to pretend and butter up to him.
Time ticked by, and Han Xiao’s projection suddenly appeared.
Surveying around, Han Xiao greeted, “Hey, everyone’s here?”
“Your Excellency Black Star.”
Everyone nodded.
This should be the first time all the leaders of the Super Star Cluster Alliance were speaking with Black Star. No matter what emotions they had, everyone suppressed them to be cordial.
In fact, most of the grievances between the Super Star Cluster Civilization and Han Xiao were only limited to the friction during the Flickering War, which was no deep hatred.
Only the Three Kings of Modo secretly clenched their fists, trembling in anger.
Their grudges with Han Xiao were the greatest, since they were directly kicked out of the Flickering War. There was also one of their leaders whom they suspected to have died in an assassination from the Black Star Army. The other party’s hands were covered in Modo blood.
If it were not for the overall situation, the Three Kings of Modo would have pounced on Han Xiao.
Han Xiao swept his gaze across the room, disregarding them as he slowly spoke. “I’m quite busy, and I believe everyone knows why, so let’s make this long story short. I also roughly understand the purpose of you inviting me to meet. From your standpoint, you also hope that there’ll be an organization that can resist against the three Universal Civilizations. Now that we have flipped the table with the three Universal Civilizations, the association needs new allies. As long as their price is right, cooperation between our two parties will not be a problem.”
“Very good, this is also what we want.” The leader of Star Arc Civilization coughed and expressed their agreement as the representative. “So, what do you want?”
“Channels, territories, resources, funds, intelligence networks…” Han Xiao listed the most urgent needs of the association, as well as hiding the rare materials needed for the Sanctum key openings within.
After discussion, the Star Arc Civilization’s leader nodded. “These things can be provided, and the share meets your requirements. Long-term supply will also not be a problem. In order to show our sincerity, we will give them to you as soon as possible.”
“Then your conditions?” Han Xiao calmly replied.
“First, we hope that the association will continue to confront the three Universal Civilizations and carry out more counterattacks.” The leader stretched out a finger.
“Sure.”
“Second, we hope to get assistance from the association’s top people, such as combat strength, techniques, and the like.”
“Okay.”
“Third, we hope the association can provide its own channels and special products. Working closely with the Super Star Cluster Alliance will help both of us achieve a win-win situation.”
“Okay.”
“Lastly… we hope that you will use the Sanctum Revival to resurrect all of our dead Beyond Grade As, especially those who were sacrificed during the Tragedy of the Pinnacles!”
As his voice sounded, everyone became more eager, staring firmly at Han Xiao.
The last condition was their core requirement. If they could resurrect their direct ancestors, then in terms of advanced combatants, the Super Star Cluster Alliance would be able to stand up against the three Universal Civilizations.
Moreover, the Tragedy of the Pinnacles was an eternal thorn in their hides. If this could be remedied, then it would all be worth it!
Han Xiao did not find it surprising. He stared at everyone with a playful smile, but a cold gleam seemed to flash across his eyes like that of a reaper’s scythe.
“The three Universal Civilizations gave the same conditions, and I rejected them. However, that was then, and this is now. I can consider this request… but the current price you are offering is far from enough.”
1281 Gains Without Risks
When they put forward this condition, they were a little nervous in fact. They were worried that Black Star would reject everything at once, since the three Universal Civilizations would have made similar requests, and the sanctions meant that Black Star had rejected them, probably because he did not wish to strengthen his enemies.
In all fairness, if they were standing in Black Star’s position, they would also firmly control the quota of the Sanctum Revivals and not easily resurrect the direct members of the other factions. Thus, they were not confident in their proposal.
But when they heard Han Xiao’s answer, everyone was finally relieved. It did not matter if the price was too huge, as long as there was room for negotiation!
“These can be discussed. I don’t know what sort of conditions you might have.” The leader of the Star Arc Civilization probed.
Han Xiao stroked his chin, slowly saying, “Since a Beyond Grade A can only be revived once, this is a one-shot deal, so every revival will be worth a lot. Does everyone here agree?”
Everyone nodded.
Han Xiao secretly smirked, but his tone remained casual.
“Thus, don’t expect me to resurrect all your direct descendants at once. I will only do it in batches, with a fixed number in each batch. As for the specific resurrections, it will depend on which civilization gives me the price I want. First come, first served… Of course, my needs at each stage will be different. It might be that, later, fewer things will impress me, so a larger amount of money will be needed.”
The leaders all revealed choking expressions.
This was practically trying to rip them off!
They were all allies, but each civilization would definitely wish to resurrect their own direct descendants first. Black Star’s move was undoubtedly a plot to make them outbid each other. This was the power of a monopolistic business.
However, the leaders present were mentally prepared for this. They knew that cutting off some flesh was unavoidable.
“What exactly do you want in general?”
Han Xiao casually pinched his fingers as he smiled. “High Grade Blueprints, unique technology, Universal Treasures, rare resources… it does not have to be all these, you can weigh the standard of the items yourself. After all, I don’t know what items each of you hold. You can discuss it among yourself. I don’t care, but don’t try any tricks. In here, it doesn’t mean that the highest bidder wins but rather that I have to be satisfied.
“Of course, I also welcome those who wish to operate in the dark and privately bid. I’m still a bit ethical and will not disclose your respective bids easily… In short, it depends on how much you are willing to fork out.”
Hearing this, the Star Arc Civilization’s leader exchanged a glance with everyone before nodding on behalf of them all.
“… Ok, we’ll accept this condition.”
“Then, I’m delighted to have reached a consensus with you all. I look forward to cooperating with all of you in the future.”
Seeing Black Star cancel his projection, the taut nerves of the leaders began to relax, their expressions resigned.
“Black Star has quite the appetite.”
“Humph, he’s just taking advantage of us.”
“What else can we do? Who made it that he would be the only one monopolizing the Sanctum Revival knowledge? We’ll have to discuss what price to pay now.”
Based on the situation, they could only play by Black Star’s rules and not anything else. They had finally opened this channel between both parties, so if they did something stupid for the sake of reducing costs and ended up offending Black Star, causing them to lose their Sanctum Revival privileges, that would be a disaster.
Universal Treasures, unique technological blueprints… these things might cause them to feel the pinch, but they could still afford it.
They intended to discuss who would resurrect their descendants first and who later on, arranging the order. They were unwilling to blindly bid and hurt their relationships.
…
After Han Xiao cancelled the communication, his vision returned to his office. His eyes flashed.
“Heh, god knows how much good stuff I can obtain this time. While I scammed the Super Star Cluster Alliance quite a bit this time, they should have sufficient treasures to meet my demands.”
Taking out a piece of fruit candy from his snack jar, Han Xiao fiddled it casually before throwing it into his mouth. The sweetness he tasted mirrored his emotions.
From the beginning, he had planned to cooperate with the organizations that had a need to resurrect others; it was the correct way to maximize the benefits of the Sanctum Revival. In the past, in order to maintain the mystery and to stabilize the situation, he did not engage in this business, but now, his situation had changed. He had to adapt to the changes and adjust his strategy.
The Sanctum Revival was a rare product, so Han Xiao was not worried that the Super Star Cluster Alliance would not agree to his demands. To him, this was a way to gain something without risking anything of his own. As long as he continued to pretend that the Sanctum Revival was only available once, he could drive the price up and trick them into giving him a lot of resources in exchange for the precious ‘one-off’ quota.
As for how and when to resurrect them, this was completely up to him. He just needed to say that the time was not yet right to turn away the dissatisfaction of the Super Star Clusters. These ‘leeks’ would have no choice but to only wait.
However, Han Xiao also did not intend to completely fleece them. He would resurrect a small portion of the Super Star Cluster descendants to give them a taste.
This move would not only allow the Super Star Cluster Alliance to taste the fruits of success, deepening their transaction cooperation, but it would also anger the three Universal Civilizations, causing both sides to go against each other. So long as the resurrected ones remained small, the situation would still be under the control of both the association and the Holy Accord.
After all, the Super Star Cluster was different from the three Universal Civilizations. Since there were more experts in the three Universal Civilizations, they naturally wanted to rule over everything, but once the advanced combatants of the Super Star Clusters returned, they would be able to pressure the three Universal Civilizations, which would indirectly benefit the association.
Thus, Han Xiao would only make this transaction with the Super Star Clusters and not with the three Universal Civilizations. Otherwise, this would only make the latter think that their sanction order had been effective, leading them to mistakenly think that they had succeeded in bending the association to their will.
However, if the war against the World Tree Civilization broke out, then Han Xiao would not mind resurrecting a lot of the old Beyond Grade As to deal with the invasion. The main thing was that he had to act on the spot and adjust his strategies flexibly.
Just as he was deep in thought, Phillip emerged from his table, holding a virtual screen several times larger than his body in both hands as he gruffly spoke.
“Master, master, many civilizations of the Shattered Star Ring have sent a communication request to you. Do you wish to answer, hum?”
Han Xiao came back to his senses, glancing at the caller ID on his screen before curling his lips.
“Heh, these people don’t dare to offend the three Universal Civilizations, and at the same time, they don’t dare to offend me either, so they ran over to apologize and explain… Let’s listen to what sort of rainbow farts they can give off.”
Han Xiao swept through the list before picking his old partner, the Purple Crystal Civilization.
When the representative of the Purple Crystal Civilization appeared, he did a customary bow before speaking. “Paying respects to Your Excellency Black Star…”
Han Xiao waved his hands in dismissal. “I’m a little busy. Just get to the point.”
“Alright, this time, I’m here to represent the Purple Crystal Civilization to apologize to you…” He snuck a glance at Han Xiao’s expression that was still calm before carefully following up. “Due to the sanctions imposed by the three Universal Civilizations, the Shattered Star Ring Civilization Conference has already passed the proposal, and we have no choice but to cooperate. The Purple Crystal Civilization Conference has been happily working with you for a long time, but with the severity of the situation now, I hope you can understand…”
“So, you wish to end all our partnerships?” Han Xiao raised his brow.
“Cough cough, please believe us when I say it’s temporary. You also understand. Given the chance, we would love to continue working with the Black Star Army, but the attitude of the three Universal Civilizations is too tough now. We’re just being safe. When the problem is solved, we’ll immediately resume our business dealings and will also give you compensation…”
The representative of the Purple Crystal Civilization spoke sincerely, emphasizing their helplessness.
Han Xiao did not agree with him in his heart, but he did not refute him, only verbally expressing his understanding.
He then followed by answering the communications of all the others in the Shattered Star Ring one by one. Everyone basically had the same attitude, which was to apologize and express that they had to cooperate with the sanctions.
After hanging up the last communication call, Han Xiao sneered.
“Humph, a bunch of fools who steer the rudder based on the wind direction.”
They cooperated with the army when they wished to have benefits, but now that they were under pressure, they kicked the army to the curb since they had outlived their usefulness.
Of course, the civilizations had to take care of themselves, and there was no point in them supporting the association either. Han Xiao understood this clearly, but it did not mean that he had to forgive them.
These civilizations blindly thought that the rule of the three Universal Civilizations over the Galactic Society was still stable, and thus, they would rather offend the Black Star Army a little than being marked by the three Universal Civilizations. For civilizations, between the Black Star Army and the three Universal Civilizations, it was easy to decide which to trade off.
Thus, Han Xiao could not be bothered to force the civilizations to choose his side, or else it would only turn nasty. It was better to keep this current state of getting along and make the other party feel as though they owed him something. While it might not be of any use, it was better than making more enemies.
He snorted as he chewed on his candy.
“Once the sanctions of the three Universal Civilizations lift, you’ll be the ones who bleed… Heh, you think that the Galactic Society will remain stable so long as you are under the rule of the three Universal Civilizations? The moment a foreign enemy invades, you’ll know how fragile this peace is, and by then, let’s see if the three Universal Civilizations that you trust so much will have the energy to protect you.”
After cursing a while longer, Han Xiao reined in his emotions, calling his secretary and letting him handle the handover procedures of the civilizations.
He then opened the organization territory distribution version of the star map, looking at it as he muttered.
“Expanding and controlling the Galactic Black Market in various places will be our next focus. The three Universal Civilizations will definitely not sit back and watch, however. It will likely turn into another secret war, which will cause quite a high death rate. Thus, the players will be the best to send in for the mission of obtaining the black markets. Not only is their strength good, but they are also not afraid of death. It is sufficient to take on this mission.”
As he spoke out loud, Han Xiao marked down this idea on the star map, deciding to issue this order in a few days to send the players collectively to perform the mission.
“Furthermore, in terms of advanced combatants, we have to put more pressure on the three Universal Civilizations. I previously promised them that I would not casually resurrect any historical Beyond Grade As, but now that they’ve done this, I have to be ‘courteous’ and respond in kind. It’s a pity that the keys to the Sanctums have not been fully gathered, so I cannot simply just resurrect a batch of new ones…”
Han Xiao’s thoughts flew rapidly.
“The Holy Accord can come in handy, since there are still many of them hiding within the organization. It’s better to pull a portion of the Beyond Grade As into the association, pretending to have done a new resurrection… Having a trump card is indeed convenient, and I don’t know how the three Universal Civilizations will react…”
…
Meanwhile, the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders met up in a joint meeting room to secretly discuss matters.
“The association has frozen the membership rights of our direct Beyond Grade As and also announced that they will not accept any tasks from us. These are all expected counters, but they’re meaningless,” the Pope said indifferently.
Louis nodded. “The association’s next move is expected to be the integration of the black markets. This will be their main resource channel in the future, but we will have long set the ground and will not let them succeed so easily.”
Marbruce then spoke in a deep voice. “This is not the main point. The key is to test if Black Star can indeed perform Sanctum Revivals at will.”
“Well, with his character, he will inevitably take countermeasures, such as contacting the Super Star Cluster Alliance and cooperating with them. The Super Star Cluster Alliance will likely also propose resurrection as a bargaining chip, and it is hard to say whether Black Star will agree to that. But even if the deal is not reached, Black Star will also try to recover other historical Beyond Grade As to put pressure on us. Now, it’s up to him whether he can do so.”
“If he cannot do this…” The Pope’s eyes gleamed. “Then whatever he’s doing now is undoubtedly playing for time!”
The sanctions by the trio were not just to contain the expansion of the association but also to test Han Xiao’s control over the Sanctums.
This was not a whimsical thought but rather a conclusion they reached as a result of much research in the Sanctum Revival Research Institute. They had confirmed that the Sanctums were immensely difficult to open and needed some sort of catalyst as well. Thus, the Sanctum Revival could not be casually done.
Based on this idea, the trio had introduced the current sanctions. If it was proven that Black Star could not resurrect people at will, this would be the best time to implement the cleansing plan. Otherwise, if they waited too long, it might allow for another wave of Sanctum Revivals.
However, even if Black Star resurrected newcomers, it might be an opportunity for them as it would cause Black Star to waste a valuable medium and cause the resurrection method to enter another cooldown.
Of course, they did not rule out the fact that Black Star had seen through them and deliberately kept his hand hidden. This was a danger to them.
This was undoubtedly risky behavior for them, which would not only make them pay a huge price but also go against their need to maintain order. Thus, they had yet to make up their minds, only wanting to probe Black Star.
At this moment, the Pope glanced at Louis, before asking, “By the way, how are your preparations for Manison’s operation?”
Louis calmly nodded. “It’s almost ready, thanks to your help. The things we promised you will be delivered back to you soon.”
“That’s good,” the Pope replied blandly.
When the federation came knocking on their door for help, he had suggested returning the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter back to them.
Because they were unable to crack apart the Spacetime Amber even after so many years, the federation finally agreed to this request and chose to return the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter in its seal back to the original owner.
At the same time, the federation also had their own expectations. If the Arcane Church could manage to unblock or duplicate the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter by chance, then in the future Beyond Grade A cleansing operations, this would come in handy.
1282 Entering the Black Marke
Ever since the return of the Immortals on March 10th, in just a short month and a half, the situation of the Galactic Society had been changing rapidly, full of turbulence. The Beyond Grade A Association had found new allies. The Super Star Cluster Alliance opposed the sanctions and issued a righteous criticism, believing that the three Universal Civilizations were abusing their power. Thus, the Super Star Cluster turned to support the Association, and this resulted in the open confrontation of the Association with the three Universal Civilizations.
Because of the response from various civilizations, many of the Beyond Grade A organizations started to shrink, their branches and bases established in the civilizations also having to relocate. Some moved into the desolate universe belt, while some shifted to the Flickering World as an industrial relocation. The Beyond Grade A organizations that originally had a territory in the Flickering World were like sweet rice cakes, causing the other Beyond Grade As to congregate there like ants.
Among them, some of the Beyond Grade As who had established organizations within the three Universal Civilizations suffered even more, having their industries and bases temporarily closed.
The three Universal Civilizations had mobilized the entire Galactic Society to seal off any development of the Beyond Grade A Association. A large number of Beyond Grade A Organizations had thus been hit, their scale shrinking. The stock prices of their listed consortiums were also plummeting.
At the same time, the organizations that support the Association had also been targeted by the three Universal Civilizations. Among them was Planet Aquamarine, which had their diplomatic relationships completely cut off, forcing them to be self-sufficient. The weaker the organization, the more serious the targeting. In contrast, the Super Star Cluster Alliance did not feel as though there was much impact. They were already used to being targeted, so the situation was already so bad that making it worse made no real difference.
A portion of people believed that the goal of the sanctions was to cut off the wings of the Beyond Grade As. If they had no more followers and industries, then the influence of the Beyond Grade As would be suppressed to the lowest level, isolated from the rest of the Galactic Society. However, others believed that while the three Universal Civilizations were decisive in their actions, this was not a permanent cure, and it might not be able to deal with the Beyond Grade A themselves, let alone attack their organizations.
Both theories had a large number of supporters, but the undisputed fact was that the smell of gunpowder was growing ever stronger in the Galactic Society. As the times became more sensitive, the emotions of the interstellar citizens gradually turned more fanatical, manipulated by propaganda.
Beyond the sight of the majority, the Galactic Black Market in various regions had become a secret battlefield, with frequent incidents and fights. A tug of war for control of the black market had begun.
…
At a neutral transit station planet in the Shattered Star Ring…
Among row after row of high-rise buildings, several low-altitude, flying vehicles whizzed through the city at high speed, disrupting the flow of traffic and frequently causing accidents.
These vehicles belonged to two groups of people, those fleeing and the pursuers. The pursued had superb driving skills and constantly made use of various difficult maneuvers to avoid obstacles along the way. They drove extremely fast in the complicated road conditions.
“Faster, they’re about to catch up!”
“Shut up, don’t distract me!”
In the escape vehicle at the front, a lizard man covered in red scales was jumping around anxiously. He kept looking at the rear-view mirror while a burly man in a mechanical suit was operating the vehicle with a solemn expression. In the rear cabin were a group of passengers swaying from side to side.
This group of people were a group of local black-market operators. On the surface, they had a legal shell corporation, but in reality, they had a few secret black market business channels in their hands. They belonged to a group of social clubs that had a name on the black-market organization. As a low-level distribution channel, they had always been living on this neutral planet, enjoying life like gods.
However, not long ago, the social clubs were infiltrated by spies from unknown organizations. Their territories and businesses were attacked by unknown militants one after another, and they suffered heavy losses. The core members of the clubs were also hunted down and could only resort to hiding.
Just a moment ago, their hiding place had been discovered, and they had hurriedly escaped with their vehicles. A few teams of armed enemies had been chasing them relentlessly, and both sides had been running for their lives in the bustling city.
“Who are these people? When we fought them, they were clearly well trained. They don’t look like they’re scattered soldiers. They’re probably professional armed organizations. Why would they come to us?” The burly man’s tone was solemn.
The Lizardman was furious. “What sh*t do I know? These people appeared out of nowhere. I don’t even know how and when I provoked them!”
“Could it be that our competitors invited mercenaries?”
“I don’t care what happens to him. All I care about now is whether I can escape!” the Lizardman shouted.
Just as he finished speaking, the flying vehicle passed by an intersection. Suddenly, a pursuer that had circled to the front appeared out of nowhere and crashed into them.
Boom!
There was a huge shock, followed by a sudden force. The passengers in the cabin did not have time to react and were all slammed into the cabin wall.
The high-speed vehicle was knocked over by the other party slamming into its waist. It rolled in the air before smashing into the outer wall of a building. Sparks flew and metal was torn apart. The vehicle was embedded into the wall, emitting black smoke. The anti-gravity engine flickered a few times before it turned off with a hum.
Everyone was dizzy from the crash.
Clutching his head, the burly man crawled up and kicked open the deflated hatch. He saw that the pursuers had already surrounded him, and the two sides of the enemy’s vehicle were loaded with live bullets, aiming at the immobile target.
The traffic accident had attracted a lot of spectators, and they all drove their vehicles to watch from afar, forming a circle. However, the pursuers did not seem to mind shooting in the middle of the city, as if they did not care about the security forces on this planet.
Seeing this, everyone in the cabin looked terrified and desperate.
These gray people who ran the black market also did not dare start a battle in the city. However, these people did not have any scruples at all and were even more vicious than them. They were simply lawless brutes.
“I still have three million Enaus in my savings. I can’t accept this!”
The Lizardman was scared out of his wits. He collapsed to the ground and could not stand up.
At this time, the burly man grabbed his collar and took out a palm-sized metal ball from his arms. He pressed the button on the top of the metal ball, and the ball lit up.
“Don’t! This thing will blow up the entire street!”
The Lizardman immediately tried to snatch it back but was kicked to the ground by the burly man.
“Don’t be silly. Didn’t you bring this bomb just in case? Since they want to kill us, let’s see if they will die together with us!”
The burly man had a vicious look on his face. He raised the bomb high and turned around, preparing to shout.
However, right at this moment, the sound of a meteor falling suddenly rang out as it rapidly approached!
Pew! Boom!
A figure shrouded in red flames descended from the sky and kicked out at one of the pursuers, akin to Buddha’s Pa… no, Feet.
A huge force burst out, and the carrier plummeted to the ground, exploding into flames.
This figure jumped and landed in the huge pit created by the vehicles of the people in the black market. He gave a thumbs up and a wide-toothed smile as he stood in front of lizardman and company, protecting them.
“Don’t be afraid. You’re safe now.”
Hearing this, everyone put on an uncertain expression. The burly man turned to look at the Lizardman and asked, “You called for reinforcements?”
“No…” The Lizardman looked confused, doubting himself.” Did I?”
The burly man’s face twitched, and he turned to look at this sudden support. “Who are you? Why did you save us?”
“Don’t ask me. I’m just doing a mission. As for who I am, you should recognize this emblem, right?”
This person turned around and showed a symbol on his clothes. Everyone looked at it and shivered.
There was almost no one in the universe who did not recognize this pattern.
“You’re from the Black Star Army‽”
“To be precise, I’m one of the Army’s Immortals. You can call me Crispy Chicken Wings.” This person grinned. He was indeed a player.
Hearing this, everyone was shocked.
Why have the infamous Immortals suddenly come to help? We clearly had no contact with the Black Star Army at all!
“Wait till I get rid of these people. Stay behind me obediently.”
At this moment, the pursuers suddenly opened fire, and densely packed bullets rained down on them. The bullets were extremely fast, almost forming a line. As soon as Crispy Chicken Wings spoke, a blue shield popped out, protecting the paralyzed vehicles of the black market.
The next second, the Pugilist flames on Crispy Chicken Wings gathered in the palms of his hands, forming a red energy wave.
Boom!
A blazing red beam of light pulsed outward like a whip, hitting all the vehicles.
The next moment, these vehicles turned into fireworks in the sky and the people within were killed instantly, scaring the crowd away.
To Grade B players, this was a common occurrence. There was no difficulty involved.
Crispy Chicken Wings clapped his hands and chuckled. “Problem solved.”
Seeing this, the Lizardman finally had the strength to get up. He snatched the bomb back from the burly man’s hands and turned it off, glaring at him before walking toward Crispy Chicken Wings. “You saved my life. How should I thank you?”
“You don’t have to thank me. From now on, I’m your boss.”
The Lizardman was stunned for a moment before he exclaimed in surprise, “Are you recruiting me to join the Black Star Army?”
“In your dreams. Do you think you can enter the army just because you want to?” Crispy Chicken Wing did not stand on ceremony and rolled his eyes. “What I mean is, I will temporarily take over your black market business. This is an order from the higher-ups. This is the certificate from your black market organization.”
As he spoke, he took out his communicator and displayed a document.
Everyone browsed through it, only feeling shock and surprise.
This was a permit that was recognized by the black market organization. The document stated that the three Universal Civilizations had begun to infiltrate the black market on a large scale, and many of the black market channels had already been uprooted. Therefore, in order to maintain the stability of the galactic black market, the black market organization would send some people to temporarily take over the black market and requested for them to cooperate as much as possible.
Usually, black market organizations would not interfere with ordinary black market operators, but this time, they issued a rare notice.
The people who took over the black markets were all members of the Beyond Grade A organizations, and the players of the Black Star Army were among them.
While everyone was still processing, Crispy Chicken Wings opened the interface and looked at his mission list.
_____________________
Army Transfer Order: Takeover of the Black Market (1)
Mission Introduction: Due to the sanctions of the three Universal Civilizations, the Beyond Grade A Association plans to further control the galactic black market. The Black Star Army has decided to send you to take over and integrate the black market channels of a planet. However, your contact seems to be in danger and needs your help.
Mission Requirements: Rescue the black market operators who are being chased.
This mission is part of a series of related missions. The final reward depends on the mission rating.
Current Mission Status: Completed
_____________________
This was a mission issued by the Black Star Army not long ago, and many players had accepted it. They split up and went to different planets to take over the local black market. Because the players rarely had the chance to be independent, they found it interesting and refreshing.
Furthermore, compared to exploring the Flickering World, taking over and integrating the black market of a planet had a lot more problems to consider. The mission environment was more complicated, which was more challenging to the players.
This was just a corner of the black market, and the same thing happened on many planets in the various Star Fields.
…
“The players have already entered the black market. The situation is not bad…”
In the Black Star Palace office, Han Xiao looked at the star map, nodding as he observed the movements of the players.
The Galactic Black Market was currently the focus of the battle between the association and the three Universal Civilizations. The three Universal Civilizations did not personally take part in the battle, and the people they sent to infiltrate the black market were not direct descendants but subordinates of subsidiary organizations. They had already clashed with the many people sent by the Beyond Grade A Association, both sides suffering from casualties.
Among them, the progress of the army was the smoothest. The players were as useful as ever, unlike the other organizations, which could not be as extravagant as the Black Star Army.
Han Xiao gave this mission to the players. It served two purposes, to provide fertilizer for the players and to allow the players to enter the frontlines of the battle and maintain their interest.
Scattering them out on different planets to manage their own black market businesses was akin to letting them be birds flying in the sky, free as the wind. He was also curious about how these players would react.
At this moment, his communicator vibrated. An officer had sent a message.
“Commander, someone is here to visit you. She doesn’t have an appointment, but she claims to be an old acquaintance of yours.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao raised his brows.
“Someone I know? How close? What’s their name?”
“She said her name is Rossellin.”
“Why is she here? And why didn’t she tell me?”
Han Xiao was stunned.
This woman was not a good person. She had left the Black Star Army decades ago and followed the Silver Revolutionary Army to cause trouble. Now that she had suddenly returned, no one knew what she wanted.
“Commander, will you see her?”
“…Let’s just meet her for a bit.”
Han Xiao nodded. He was quite curious about Rossellin’s intentions.
After the butterfly effect he caused, the Silver Revolutionary Army basically did not have the chance to evolve into a big version event like in his previous life. He did not know what would happen to this group. Could Rossellin have come to him for help?
While guessing, Han Xiao stood up and walked out of the office. He walked along the corridor to the reception room. On his way to the logistics department, he called Reynold, who was working extremely hard, and brought him to see his sister.
Very quickly, the two of them arrived outside the guest room. The door opened, and they saw Rossellin.
“Long time no see.”
Han Xiao casually greeted Rossellin as he sized her up.
It had been many years since they last met, and Rossellin’s appearance did not seem to have changed much. She was wearing a dark blue teacher’s robe, and her temperament was even calmer than decades ago.
“That’s right. It’s been so many years, and you’ve already become a legendary figure in the universe. Even the three Universal Civilizations view you as the most dangerous person. Thinking back to your honeymoon period with the dynasty, it’s truly a pity.” Rossellin smiled.
Han Xiao sat opposite Rossellin and casually replied, “What’s there to be sad about? Different positions will have different problems to consider. The development of any matter always spirals upward, but it’s very normal to experience rise and fall.”
“But this isn’t a spiral rise, right? If not for the Sanctum Revival you created, this era wouldn’t have become what it is today. As expected of you, you easily accomplished what I couldn’t. Your ability to turn the situation around is much stronger than mine. Don’t you feel any sense of achievement?” Rossellin batted her eyes and teased him.
“You’re not yet worthy of letting me feel a sense of achievement.” Han Xiao smiled.
Rossellin was not angry. She smiled and turned to look at Reynold as though she had just noticed him. She pretended to be surprised and said, “Hey, little brother, you’re still alive. I thought you would’ve died from overworking by now.”
Reynold did not know how to respond.
Although you are my sister, if you continue to spout nonsense, do you believe that I won’t give you a firm slap?
Han Xiao shook his head and smiled. “Let’s not talk about me for now. You, on the other hand, have not made a single move in decades, at most only helping me a little in Modo. How’s your so-called career?”
“Nothing much. What you’ve done has indirectly obstructed our career. What else can we do? But that’s none of my business. I’ve already quit.”
Rossellin shrugged with a nonchalant tone, as if she did not care about wasting decades of her time.
The Intelligent Plague incident had consolidated the hearts of the three Universal Civilizations, and the recent sanctions against the Beyond Grade A Association had also received the approval of a large number of ordinary people who hated the strong. The Silver Revolutionary Army could not break the foundation of the ordinary citizens in the three Universal Civilizations, and thus, their career had come to a standstill.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
This woman actually quit the Silver Revolutionary Army… This was out of his expectations.
“So, why did you come back today?”
Hearing this, Rossellin spread her hands out and smiled.
“I can’t stay idle. When I lose my job, I have to find a new job. What do you think, O Great Commander? Will you accept me?”
“If I say no, what will you do?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“Then I can only pester you…” Rossellin rolled her eyes and deliberately acted like she was about to cry. “With our relationship, you can’t bear to see me fall into someone else’s arms, right?”
“…Speak properly, don’t talk about such things.” Han Xiao coughed. “Now that the three Universal Civilizations are punishing us, you must have some other reasons for suddenly coming back.”
Rossellin clapped her hands twice symbolically before smiling. “I really can’t hide it from your eyes. You also know that my goal is to deal with the three Universal Civilizations, but recently, I suddenly realized that joining the association’s faction seems to be more promising.”
Han Xiao was speechless.
That seemed to be the case. To a certain extent, the Beyond Grade A Association had already achieved a part of the role of Silver Revolutionary Army in his previous life. Now that they had formed an opposing faction with the three Universal Civilizations, the commotion they caused was not much smaller than what the Silver Revolutionary Army caused back then.
However, the Silver Revolutionary Army in this lifetime did not improve at all, which made Rossellin feel that her future was bleak. Thus, she ran back to join her old employer, resorting to another method to deal with the three Universal Civilizations. Her goal did not change, and with her personality, she would definitely do such a thing.
And if this ‘soul character’ left, the Silver Revolutionary Army would only have two or three little kittens left. There would be no chance to rise up.
This meant that although he did not deliberately target the Silver Revolutionary Army, it seemed like the butterfly effect he triggered indirectly killed them in the end.
So, was Rossellin abandoning the dark to embrace the light?
Han Xiao shook his head before emphasizing his seriousness as he spoke. “…Alright, since you’re willing to bear the brunt and return to the army, I can let you in. However, from now on, you can no longer have any contact with the Silver Revolutionary Army. If you leave the army again, even with Reynold around, I won’t let you come back. Do you understand?”
He did not mind recruiting Rossellin again. Although this woman’s mind was dangerous, her ability was indeed rare and had strategic significance. She was practically a trump card to overthrow someone’s rule. It was best to keep such a talent in his hands.
“Alright, I won’t leave you this time.” Rossellin batted her eyes again.
Reynold frowned when he heard this.
This woman was not quite right. Was she seducing Black Star to make the Army Commander his brother-in-law?
Damn, how shameless!
Han Xiao remained unmoved, standing up as he spoke. “Alright, I’ll get someone to arrange your duties. You two have not seen each other for many years, so you should have a lot to talk about. I still have things to do, so I’ll take my leave now.”
As he spoke, he turned and walked out of the guest room, leaving behind only his shadow.
After watching Han Xiao leave, Reynold turned to look at Rossellin and said with a frown, “Let me warn you, if you come back with bad intentions, I will be the first to catch you!”
“You don’t trust me?” Rossellin raised her brows.
“Humph, I know very well what kind of person you are!” Reynold crossed his arms and said expressionlessly, “Also, I advise you to be more respectful to the Army Commander. A subordinate should act like a subordinate!”
“Yo, it’s been decades since we last met, and you’re so loyal to Black Star?” Rossellin clicked her tongue in wonder. Suddenly, she rolled her eyes, lowered her tone, and chuckled. “How about it? Do you want to have a brother-in-law?”
“What are you doing?” Reynold frowned even more.
“I think a man like Black Star who can turn the universe upside down suits me very well. What do you think?” Rossellin teased.
Reynold snorted in disdain.
“Those who are eyeing Black Star can circle around this base six times. With just you? Go queue up!”
Rossellin’s return was just a small interlude, and Han Xiao left it to his subordinates to make arrangements.
After returning to his office, Han Xiao pinned the surveillance of the army players entering the black market before opening the forums to check the response of the players.
The forums were very active, and the posts regarding the controlling of the black market occupied a large number of pages. The situation on every planet was different, with the environment, characters, and events varying, causing the situation that each individual encountered to be unique.
Some people managed to save their targets in time, like Crispy Chicken Wings, obtaining a group of professional assistants that could continue to develop according to the original black market channel. Some players came a step too late and did not manage to connect with the black market personnel. They would have to build a new black market channel from scratch, which was equivalent to them fumbling in the dark. Many players of the army were sharing the situation that they had encountered, and there were many confused requests for help.
A small number of players who had started to come into contact with the black market also shared their experience and insights on the forums. This was because when Han Xiao issued this mission, he had set it as a collective mission with a comprehensive completion rate, depending on the total degree of control over the black market.
Every player’s mission results would be calculated into the overall completion rating. Therefore, it was not enough to just complete the mission alone. If the players wanted a higher reward, they needed others to be on equal grounds with them. Thus, many of the pioneers at the black market were happy to share and help the other army players take over the black market. It was a win-win situation for all.
“The current development seems to be more positive than expected. With the model now, the players might inject new energy into the Galactic Black Market and help the black markets in various areas connect with each other.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
Due to the fact that they could not be seen in public, there were very few large black market organizations that could cross Star Systems, let alone Star Clusters. Black market managers like Secret Master were even rarer. Most of them were small black market organizations that were limited to one or two Star Zones, akin to local tyrants.
Even though there was a black market organization that managed the black market in name, the overall structure of the Galactic Black Market was still very scattered.
As for the local black market forces, their partnerships were basically fixed over a long period of time. Most people only knew about their own small territory, and it was difficult for them to expand outward. There were many reasons, one of them being that the flow of information between the small black market forces in different regions was limited.
The way Han Xiao saw it, if the players took over the black markets en masse, they could use the information on the forums and private chat channels to become catalysts, becoming the glue of many black market organizations.
With the incentive of cumulative progress of the mission, most players would be more than willing to cooperate with other players. In that case, the regional black markets that were dominated by the army players might have a chance to build a bridge of cooperation with each other, which was much easier than using any normal methods.
In this manner, the goal of ‘integrating the Galactic Black Market’ that he had proposed to the association back then could be advanced in a quick manner.
“This is a good move. I’ll make the best use of the players’ characteristics and hit a few birds with one stone…”
Han Xiao’s lips curled up. With all his developments, he had already turned into a chess player behind the scenes, and the chessboard was getting bigger and bigger. Now, it was truly akin to the starry sky.
The players still needed more time. Han Xiao closed the forums, took out his encrypted communicator, and called Oathkeeper.
A few seconds later, the communication was connected, and Oathkeeper appeared on the screen.
“Black Star, what’s the matter?”
“You know about the recent sanctions, right?”
“Yes, we all watch the news every day.” Oathkeeper nodded. “But you only contacted me now. Do you need any help?”
“You can say that. Since the three Universal Civilizations have decided to restrict me, as the only one in control of the Sanctum Revival, I have to retaliate. What they’re most afraid of is that there will be too many Beyond Grade As, so it’s best to revive some more people to pressure them.”
“But we haven’t gathered all the keys yet, so there’s no way to revive any more…” Oathkeeper was in a difficult position.
“No, the Sanctum Keys are so precious. Even if I gather all of the necessary parts, I won’t use one for this reason… I mean to pull out some more Holy Accord members. After all, your side is the reserve of Beyond Grade As in this battle, and now is the time to use the Holy Accord.”
Without waiting for Oathkeeper to reply, Han Xiao quickly continued.
“Furthermore, I feel that the three Universal Civilizations are probably trying to see if I can revive any more Beyond Grade As, so it’s best to give them a response. The more Beyond Grade As there are, the more uncomfortable the three Universal Civilizations will be, making them feel that the cost of trial and error is too high. Only then will they be more cautious, and similar tests will be decreased in the future.”
“There is indeed such a possibility…” Oathkeeper hesitated for a moment. “I don’t object on principle, but you’ll have to talk to them about who will come out. There should be quite a number of unreliable people in the second batch. It’s best to be cautious.”
“I know.” Han Xiao nodded. He already had a demographic in mind. Among the second batch of Revivors, the neutral unlucky ones who died in the Calamity of the Pinnacles were the best targets. He could also show them to the Super Star Cluster Alliance and increase their confidence in the deal.
Speaking of which, it had been quite a few days, and the list of resources that the Super Star Cluster Alliance promised to compile in exchange for the resurrections had yet to arrive…
Just as this thought appeared in his mind, a notification popped up on his communicator.
Ding! Ding!
Han Xiao opened the interface and saw that it was the list of resources that the Super Star Cluster Alliance had sent over for the Sanctum Revival.
“Hey, speak of the devil. What a coincidence,” Han Xiao muttered to himself and nodded at Oathkeeper. “This is probably the situation. I’ll talk to the Revivors in a while. Help me convey my intentions in the next few days so that they know what to do. Also, give me a reliable list based on their performance over the past year.”
“Alright then.”
Oathkeeper felt weird.
They were clearly partners, but he felt like he was the subordinate instead…
After giving some more instructions, Han Xiao ended the communication and browsed through the list the Super Star Clusters sent.
He only offered ten slots for the first batch, but the Super Star Cluster Alliance was generous and took out quite a number of good items. They were basically all Universal Treasures and Gold Grade blueprints.
All the Super Star Cluster civilizations were after all victors of the exploration era war, and they had fought many against civilizations. While they might not be as rich as the three Universal Civilizations, they were still well off, not lacking in Universal Treasures or Gold Grade blueprints.
However, Han Xiao had hidden the benefits he had gotten from Jayz’s treasure and the Sanctums very well. People who were not familiar with him would not know about his current foundation, so the list of resources that the Super Star Cluster Alliance made with confidence did not catch his eye at all.
Han Xiao chose three of the more attractive offers and gave them three slots. He then returned the rest to the Super Star Cluster.
Not long after the message was sent, the Super Star Cluster Alliance contacted him.
“Black Star, your appetite is too big. Don’t push your luck. We’re already very sincere!”
Hearing this, Han Xiao secretly smirked.
Who were they talking to? Did they not know who had the upper hand?
“I’ll decide if you’re sincere or not. There are seven more slots. If you don’t want them, forget it. Don’t buy them if you have the guts.”
“…We’ll buy it.”
“By the way, payment first.”
“…You win!”
The contact from the Super Star Cluster Alliance went offline.
There was nothing he could do about it. Having a monopoly of the market meant he could be that domineering. One could complain about it, but they had to buy what they needed.
After rebuffing the contact, Han Xiao turned off the virtual screen and was about to continue studying the Gold Grade blueprints in the workshop.
However, at this moment, his private communicator suddenly received a message from Aurora.
“There’s a huge discovery. Come quickly!”
Han Xiao was stunned for a moment before he turned curious.
Aurora was still traveling with Feidin, and they had not contacted each other for quite some time. Usually, she would not contact him if something happened. Now that she had suddenly called him, he did not know what was going on.
However, Feidin was wearing an external Lucky Halo. No matter what happened, Han Xiao felt that he would not be surprised.
…
“By the way… where did you bring me?”
Inside the spaceship, Aurora swallowed her saliva and looked outside the porthole with her eyes wide open.
“I don’t know either. It suddenly became like this outside…”
Feidin looked in the same direction with shock.
The two of them were originally piloting the ship leisurely in the universe, but then the environment outside suddenly changed, and the starry sky disappeared, turning into a pitch-black space without a trace of starlight. It was as if they had passed through some barrier, entering an unknown territory.
However, the spaceship’s alarm did not react at all, nor did the monitor show any abnormalities.
The two of them were shocked and immediately controlled the spaceship to retreat. However, this pitch-black space seemed to have no concept of distance. Even though the spaceship had accelerated to its hyperdrive state, it remained in its original position and could not leave this vast area of space.
The reason they discovered this was because there was a single coordinate system reference object in this pitch-black space, which was also the source of their surprise.
Looking out the window, they saw a broken mechanical body floating quietly in this dark space. Its size was terrifying, many times larger than the Mechanical Deity they had seen before.
Compared to it, the spaceship was akin to a speck of dust on a normal person’s body.
The structure of this body was similar to that of an upright organism. Its flesh and blood were intertwined with machinery, and its skeleton was crisscrossed with metal. However, it was severely damaged, riddled with holes.
What shocked Aurora the most was that her Esper Ability actually felt a weak life force from this body.
This thing… seemed to be alive!
Buzz!
At this time, the Throne in the cabin that was collecting dust suddenly flashed, and Han Xiao appeared.
The helmet opened, revealing Han Xiao’s face. He asked in a curious tone, “What important discovery have you made that’s worth calling me here?”
“You’re an expert Mechanic, quick, take a look at the big guy outside.” Aurora pointed outside the window.
Actually, there was no need for her to tell him. The moment Han Xiao asked the question, he noticed the abnormality of their environment. Following Aurora’s finger, he immediately saw this strange body.
“Yo, it’s huge! Flesh and machine are fused together. It’s a little like grafting, but it doesn’t seem to be the case… What is this? Where did you guys find it?”
Han Xiao was shocked.
He did not know what this thing was either. It looked to be many times larger than the normal size of his Mechanical Deity. Its body was covered in wounds, as though it had experienced all kinds of cosmic disasters.
“This is what we suddenly encountered. This space seems to be a sealed domain…” Feidin explained.
Han Xiao nodded as he stroked his chin.
“From the sound of it, this body seems to have been maintaining a strange domain, and you guys accidentally barged in. If it’s mechanical technology, it should be a high-level usage of spatial technology, creating a fixed field of folded space around the body or changing some physical constants in this field. This is high-end technology.”
“But there’s no reaction from the spaceship’s detector.” Aurora patted the control panel.
“Let me see…”
Han Xiao checked and realized that all the devices were operating normally. His eyes gleamed.
“Hmm, either the device is affected by virtual interference or the other party has some kind of amazing concealment technology. Either way, the technology is extraordinary…” Aurora’s spaceship had gathered quite a lot of Jayz’s technological treasures, but for it to have been blinded, Han Xiao naturally took it seriously.
“Could it be a Space Wonder?” Feidin was curious.
“Don’t jump to a conclusion so quickly…” Han Xiao waved his hand and took over the controls. “Since the spaceship can’t retreat, let’s see if we can approach this big guy.”
“Are you sure?” Aurora was a little hesitant. “I felt a weak life signal from it, but no matter how I tried to send it a message, it did not respond…”
“This big guy is alive?”
Han Xiao was stunned for a moment before his interest was piqued. He knew Aurora’s ability very well and would not make any mistakes.
Initially, he had thought that this was the remains of a gigantic mechanical body thrown around by some civilization or Mechanic who did not care about public morals. However, since this mechanical body was alive, things became much more interesting… “Let’s go take a look.”
Han Xiao only hesitated for two seconds before making a decision. He controlled the spaceship to move forward.
As expected, this dark area seemed to only allow them to advance but not retreat. The spaceship slowly approached the target.
The closer they got, the stronger the contrast between their sizes. The details of the body were enlarged in their vision, making them feel how small they were.
After a while, the spaceship stopped at a long and narrow hole on the finger of the mechanical body. It was like a huge cave that extended thousands of meters into the interior.
The hatch opened, and the few of them got out of the spaceship, stepping onto the rugged ground.
The flesh and machinery beneath their feet were intertwined with each other, making it unsuitable for normal walking.
Han Xiao squatted down and inserted his fingers into a piece of flesh to experience the sensation it gave. He then observed the muscles and veins before nodding.
“Muscles, tendons, and fat. They all look like normal biological tissue, not artificial biochemical tendons…”
As he said that, he exerted some force with his fingers, and a little bit of blood seeped out from the muscle.
Han Xiao looked up and saw that there were solidified bloodstains all around the flesh and blood tissues. They looked black and splattered outward, like blood that was suddenly sprayed out by a slash.
His eyes flashed, and he suddenly thought of Old Man Manison’s criminal technology. This body was a little similar to a criminal’s biological modification and biochemical prosthetics.
At this moment, Feidin said, “Black Star, I’m not feeling too good…”
Han Xiao and Aurora turned around, only to see Feidin holding onto his chest with his brows furrowed.
“What’s wrong?”
Han Xiao’s heart tightened.
He reached out and poked Feidin, triggering the combat information. After seeing it clearly, his expression changed slightly.
In Feidin’s status bar, a negative status called [Dissolution] appeared. The effect would take 0.01% to 0.5% of his health, energy, and stamina every second. However, under the influence of his Lucky Halo, Feidin only suffered the weakest negative effects.
Why didn’t he have such a reaction before? Could it be that this happened after entering this body?
Han Xiao opened the interface and realized that he did not even have the (Dissolution] status. He did not have any notification about judgment being made as well.
Could it be that this effect only targeted those below Beyond Grade A? Was it limited to life forms or dead objects?
He turned to look at the spaceship parked at the side, and after a simple inspection, he realized that the exterior armor of the spaceship was showing signs of rusting and dissolving. The material used to make this spaceship was extremely tough, and even a portion of the Black Star alloy was mixed in. It had its own recovery ability, but even this was not immune to the (Dissolution) state…
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes as a hypothesis started to form.
“This area can only be entered but not left. Whether it’s a living thing or an inanimate object, everything will start to dissolve upon entering the body. Interesting, this feels like a flytrap. This is probably a trap that drifts through the universe, and those who accidentally bump into it will not be able to escape and will become its nutrients…”
Luckily, there was a healer with sufficient power in the team. Otherwise, it would have been slightly troublesome.
He signaled Aurora to treat Feidin while he took out a metal needle and stabbed it deep into the flesh on the wall, attempting to cause damage. If this big guy was an individual, it should be able to display combat information on the interface.
Ding!
The next moment, a notification popped up on the interface.
Han Xiao opened it, and his expression changed.
The level, species, and abilities of this body were all question marks. Only its name was not a question mark, but there was no difference. It was called (Unknown Polymerized Entity).
This thing’s level is actually so high
Even if it was Manison or Sorokin, who had a higher level than him, he could still see a portion of the other party’s information. The information of this body was almost all question marks, which could only mean that the difference in level was too big. In the explored universe, Han Xiao estimated that only Wuornos had reached such a level.
“Where did this thing come from…”
Han Xiao’s curiosity grew stronger.
He really did not have any impression of this body in his memories. Logically speaking, such a strange thing should not have been unknown in his previous life. He did not know if it was not discovered or hidden by someone.
Han Xiao did not have time to care about Aurora and Feidin, focusing on studying the thing. He tore off a lump of flesh from the ground, broke off a few mechanical parts, and then activated the material detector in his mechanical suit to scan and analyze them.
Not long after, the two analysis reports were shown.
The first was the analysis result of the mechanical parts. It showed that its microscopic structure was very novel. There was no matching material in the database, which proved that the material of this mechanical body seemed to be composed of some unknown alloy. The second document was an analysis of the flesh sample. No matching biological genes were detected, which proved that the source of the flesh sample was most likely not a known species in the explored universe. However, the existence of the Super Gene was detected from it, which was highly compatible with the Mechanic class. Although the cell activity was extremely weak, it also seemed to contain extremely weak electromagnetic energy.
Han Xiao had a theory, immediately tearing off a few more chunks of flesh to test. Every single one of them had Super genes, and they were all Mechanic cells.
“The flesh and blood came from Mechanics…”
Han Xiao recalled the size of this body, and his face twitched.
If the flesh and blood of the body belonged to the same person, it would be fine. But if it came from different individuals… How many Mechanic bodies did it take to construct such a large body?
“Why don’t we test it out?”
Han Xiao shook his head and weighed the flesh in his hands. After hesitating for a while, he activated the [Bold Explorer) skill.
This skill was useless against the character itself, but this body seemed to be different. A piece of flesh that had already been separated could very likely pass the judgment.
As expected, the next moment, the skill took effect.
Buzz!
The world in front of Han Xiao suddenly changed, and images that he had never seen before began to flash back.
It was as if a starry sky had opened up in front of them, and an incomparably glorious galactic civilization appeared before their eyes. As fleets traveled through the starry sky, the territory expanded outward. Planet after planet turned into colonial areas, and cities rose from the desolate planets. Countless spaceships came and went among the planets, and it looked like a prosperous civilization.
However, the next moment, a series of wormholes suddenly appeared in the sky, and an unknown fleet invaded. The flames of war spread to this peaceful civilization, and blood, slaughter, and screams replaced the original prosperity. As the invader advanced, dark green roots extended out of the void and pierced the planets of the invaded like straws. These planets melted, shrunk, and died at a rate visible to the naked eye. In the end, they all turned into liquid nutrients and were sucked away by the roots, leaving nothing behind.
“This is…”
Han Xiao’s pupils constricted.
He was all too familiar with this scene. It was the same as the World Tree War Version!
The World Tree Civilization had invaded this unknown civilization!
Before he could analyze further, the illusion in front of him changed and arrived in a universe.
A large number of Mechanics were gathered there, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the starry sky. Behind them were their own mechanical armies, forming a magnificent formation. Around them were ring-shaped mechanical devices that covered the entire area.
A Mechanical Deity suddenly appeared in the middle of the crowd, releasing a strange energy wave that enveloped the entire area, resonating with the ring-shaped mechanical device.
All of a sudden, the bodies of all the Mechanics in the area exploded, turning into pure flesh and blood, mixing together with their respective armies and then turning into a torrent, pouring into the Mechanical Deity in the center… The size of this Mechanical Deity grew larger and larger, eventually turning into a colossal body. Its flesh and metal fused perfectly, and its appearance was like an indomitable mechanical prosthetic giant!
However, before Han Xiao could be surprised, the scene changed again. The gigantic mechanical body that was still intact a second ago suddenly became tattered, as though it had gone through countless battles. Its appearance was very familiar. It was the mechanical body that Han Xiao and the others had met.
This damaged machine seemed to have been scrapped. It lost all its momentum and slowly drifted in the universe. In the end, it was captured by a huge black hole and swallowed, disappearing without a trace.
At this time, his perspective zoomed out once again. The unknown civilization’s territory had completely turned into darkness, almost cleaner than the desolate universe belt.
The fleet of the World Tree Civilization was like a customer who had eaten his fill. They retreated in satisfaction, leaving behind an empty universe.
This was the last scene of the illusion.
Han Xiao shivered. The effect of the skill disappeared, and his vision returned to normal.
His eyes were still filled with shock as he muttered to himself, “I seem to have discovered something incredible…”
The information brought by (Bold Explorer] was huge. Han Xiao was both shocked and curious.
What he knew about the World Tree Civilization was only limited to the information available during the war in his previous life. As for the detailed history of the World Tree Civilization, he only knew it briefly, mainly because the information the players in his previous life knew was also quite limited.
However, he did know the basic situation. The growth of the World Tree Civilization was basically filled with war. They kept exploring the universe, conquering and destroying countless civilizations and races. The three Universal Civilizations were not the first to be discovered; they were not special from the World Tree’s perspective, just more prey on their path of conquest.
Through the images he saw earlier, Han Xiao roughly figured out the origin of this mechanical body.
This unknown civilization should have been the ruler of a certain area in the unexplored universe. According to what he saw, its scale was not inferior to any one of the three Universal Civilizations. The three Universal Civilizations only ruled this area of the explored universe. Other civilizations existed in the wide unexplored universe, exploring further and expanding their territory just like the three Universal Civilizations.
Although the explored universe had already entered the galactic society era, in an infinitely bigger perspective, the entire universe was still in the ‘exploration era’. In the past, the World Tree Civilization discovered this unknown civilization. Hence, they traveled through space and invaded, stirring up the flames of war, biting off their territory bit by bit… The way the World Tree Civilization invaded was not just simply occupying the target civilization’s territory. Most of the time, it devoured the enemy’s planets completely. Therefore, lost territories were almost unretrievable.
The opponent had to either defend against the World Tree Civilization’s attacks or yield their territory gradually, losing resource-rich planets that would become the World Tree’s fertilizer, forming a vicious cycle. In Han Xiao’s previous life, the three Universal Civilizations faced this exact situation.
Clearly, this unknown civilization was no match for the World Tree in terms of military power. Hence, it tried to find a breakthrough in the form of individual strength. Through some kind of unique fusing technology with Beyond Grade As as the core, countless Mechanics willingly sacrificed themselves, hoping to create an even stronger individual being.
Although the illusions Han Xiao saw were the only source of information, he had a feeling that this unknown civilization’s goal should be to artificially create a Super that exceeded the Beyond Grade A territory!
However, the illusions did not show if it worked. All he knew was that the mechanical body was defeated, fell into a black hole, and disappeared without falling into the hands of the World Tree. This unknown civilization was destroyed in the end, devoured completely along with its territory, not leaving any traces behind. It became another victim of the World Tree Civilization.
“Such a horrifying enemy…”
Han Xiao mourned for this unknown civilization for a few seconds and then sighed.
God only knew how many revolutions and disasters a civilization had to experience and overcome to grow to the universal level. After conquering all these obstacles step by step and creating a glorious civilization, the inheritance and hard work of countless generations were destroyed so easily, disappearing in the universe forever.
Countless years of hard work vanished overnight.
Although he had witnessed the terror of the World Tree Civilization before, seeing this again, Han Xiao still felt pressured.
If not because he knew how horrifying the World Tree was, he would not have done everything he could to delay the World Tree’s arrival. Even though he had many trump cards he never had in his previous life, he still could not say that they would win this war with full confidence.
“Now’s not the time to worry about this. What’s going to come will come sooner or later. It’s just a matter of time…” Han Xiao shook his head, exhaled softly, and put his focus back on this mechanical body.
“This big guy’s level is very high, probably above four hundred. But it doesn’t feel like it has reached the higher territory to me…”
Han Xiao pondered.
Although he had yet to enter the higher Grade, he already had some ideas and knew that the God’s Trait Transformation was something he had to overcome.
The method this unknown civilization used was to forcefully stimulate quality change using quantity and complete the evolution. Therefore, they sacrificed tons of Mechanics. However, the life hierarchy of this mechanical body did not seem to evolve.
Even though Han Xiao could not understand the principles of the technology this unknown civilization used for the time being, it did not stop him from intuitively feeling that this was the wrong path. It was more of a bet than an actual attempt.
Therefore, this thing’s total level was most likely not an accurate indicator of its strength. It was like having many ‘subclasses’, which gave it a lot of levels, but its actual strength did not undergo a revolution.
Nonetheless, it was definitely an improvement. It might have touched the edge of the higher territory… Even so, it was still beat up this bad by the World Tree. It was indeed quite horrifying.
“This mechanical body contains the essence of tons of Mechanics of an unknown civilization. I should be able to derive a lot of new technology from it, especially this unique fusing technology that’s somewhat similar to the Felon technology but quite different in its own way…’
wn
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
The value of this mechanical body might be on par with Jayz’s technology treasure. It was filled with the technical essence of different Mechanics.
Among them, the most valuable should be this fusing technology. This exact technology might not be useful to him, but it could give him some insights to come up with something new.
While his thoughts were spinning, Aurora, who was standing to the side, saw that Han Xiao did not say anything despite studying it for quite a long time. She could not help but curiously ask, “Any discovery?”. Han Xiao nodded, smiled, and said, “You’ve really brought me a big surprise this time.”
Then, he gave Feidin a meaningful look with an even more content expression.
Feidin was really his lucky star!
He guessed that this mechanical body should have drifted in the universe and finally fallen into the explored universe through a wormhole.
This Star Field’s name was Blackhole Edge. It was a place where large wormholes frequently appeared, so things like this were not rare.
In Han Xiao’s previous life, this mechanical body was never discovered. However, it might not have been because no one found it. It was also possible that it was not thrown into the explored universe by the wormhole. This should have something to do with the butterfly effect he caused. After all, wormholes were always very random.
Now, however, Feidin had come across this big guy… Han Xiao could not help but be amazed by Feidin’s luck. He was like a walking portable ‘adventure trigger’.
Aurora came over and stuck around Han Xiao to keep asking him about what he discovered. Han Xiao thought about it, skipped most of the information, and explained the nature of this mechanical body ambiguously, acting as if he discovered this information through technological analysis.
“This means that this big guy should now be asleep because it’s severely injured?” Aurora’s eyes spun, and she said with anticipation, “Should I send in life force and help him recover?”
As soon as she said that, before Han Xiao replied, a notification popped up on the interface.
You have triggered the hidden mission (Visitor from Afar)!
Mission Introduction: You accidentally discovered the wreckage of a unique mechanical body from an unknown civilization. There seems to be a weak sign of life in this wreckage. It should have a lot of secrets, and you might be able to acquire some valuable intelligence from it.
Mission Requirements: Repair the mechanical body and awaken it.
Basic Reward: 5 Billion Experience, 2 Random Rewards, and 1 Character Summon Card.
Bonus rewards will be given based on the Mission Rating. Mission Rating is given based on the extent of the mechanical body’s repairs.
Remarks: This mission might affect the developments of some events and cause unpredictable impacts. Please choose carefully.
“A mission?” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
This mechanical body was unconscious and heavily damaged. Who knew if it still had an individual consciousness? If he asked Aurora to heal it, it might create many unstable factors.
The unknown impact mentioned in the remarks of the mission should consist of mainly two things. Firstly, the World Tree’s information might be leaked all over the world by this guy. Secondly, this guy’s strength was unknown, which might be a threat.
Furthermore, if this mechanical body regained its ability to move, how was he going to reverse-engineer it? Of course, studying an immobile object was the easiest. He could do it in any position he wanted!
Whether emotional or logical, Han Xiao did not plan to have his plan disrupted by this mission. He shook his head.
“No need, keep it this way. I’m going to study this thing thoroughly first.” “Alright then, call me when you need me.” Aurora did not mind.
Although she was the first one to discover this mechanical body, she did not mind letting Han Xiao decide what to do with it. It was a sensitive time, and she did not want to cause trouble for Han Xiao.
Han Xiao nodded. He came to the edge of this long wound and tried opening the secondary dimensional army box outside it.
Mechanical Force lightning bolts jumped around like dancing golden snakes, opening a gate. Tons of mechanical soldiers flew out. This strange area did not seal up the secondary dimensions too like when he was in the Celestial Star Alliance dimension.
Very soon, these mechanical soldiers spread out like ants moving on the surface of this mechanical body, searching for the core that maintained this territory.
Han Xiao planned to store this mechanical body first in case someone discovered it while it drifted in space. This territory sealed up usual movements but not the quantum network, otherwise Aurora would not have been able to send him a message so easily.
Scanning reports were sent to Han Xiao one after another. Not long after, the entire mechanical body was scanned. The mechanical devices in most areas were no longer working, except for a small area at its chest. One of the devices in it was what activated this territory.
The mechanical soldier rapidly dug a hole in the mechanical body’s chest and turned off the device from inside.
Buzz!
The next moment, the territory was shut down. The black space around disappeared and returned to the normal cosmic space.
“It’s deactivated.”
Han Xiao nodded, summoned the engineering machinery army, planted a directional wormhole generator, and set the target coordinates as the mechanical life civilization in the Black Star Army’s territory
After a while, an enormous wormhole appeared. The mechanical troops pushed the mechanical body into the wormhole. A few minutes later, Han Xiao received a message from Psionic Prime saying he had received the cargo.
Then, Han Xiao retrieved all of his troops, cleaned up any traces, turned to look at Aurora, and said with a smile, “Your discovery this time is very helpful to me. You’ve done a great job.”
Aurora’s eyes sparkled. “Do I get a reward then?”
“What do you want? I will grant it as long as it’s not too overboard.”
“Hmm… I haven’t decided yet. I’ll tell you when I have.” Aurora giggled.
“Alright then, take it as I owe you a favor.”
Han Xiao shook his head, swapped into the King, and teleported home right away. He could not wait to study the technological secrets of the mechanical body.
He had a feeling that he might be surprised by what he would obtain from this mechanical body.
Aurora and Feidin remained in place and looked at each other.
After half a minute, Aurora softly said, “What are you looking at? Go to the ship.”
“…Are we going to continue traveling?” Feidin’s lips twitched.
“Of course! We’ve helped Black Star again this time. We might discover more things!
Aurora was thrilled.She had lived too long under the protection of Black Star and Hila. She always wanted to help Han Xiao. Now that she finally had, she felt full of motivation and passion for adventures.
“Can you swap me with Nero?” Feidin said weakly.
He had already followed Aurora for more than a year. If he had known he would be kidnapped by Aurora like this for so long, he would not have separated with Chen Xing back then.
In the past, they spent all the time together in his mind, but now it had become a long-distance relationship…
If he had to describe how it felt, he would say it was a decision he regretted very much!
Planet Apostle was located at the center of the Sigma Star System. It was an enormous planet and the home of Black Star’s mechanical life civilization. Crisscrossing mechanical buildings filled its surface, and mega buildings were everywhere. It was full of the sense of industrial beauty.
As the mother planet of the mechanical life civilization, it went through modifications many times. The mechanical lives emptied the insides of the entire planet using planetary engineering technology, replacing the majority of the planet with metal. It had become almost fully mechanical; the Planet Apostle was basically a portable galactic war fortress. With the population of the machinery civilization rocketing, the size of the planet also increased. At the start, it was only normal-sized; now, it was gigantic.
Four enormous satellites surrounded Planet Apostle. They were mainly used as galactic mega machinery by the mechanical lives.
At this time, an enormous wormhole crack appeared beside one of the satellites. A mechanical army dragged the gigantic unknown mechanical body out like ants.
Streams of light flew out from Planet Apostle and hovered not far from the mechanical body. It was the Apostle Weapons, including Psionic Prime.
With the increase of Han Xiao’s technology level, these Apostle Weapons also actively updated their body parts time and again. They looked very different from before. If their original appearances were like ordinary free players, they now looked like whale players.
At this time, a flash of light flickered beside Psionic Prime. Han Xiao arrived through teleportation. The various Apostle Weapons had received word earlier and all greeted him.
Light flickered in Psionic Prime’s electronic eyes. He looked at this mechanical body, and a virtual screen with a curious emote appeared on his head as he asked monotonously, “Lord, what is this?”
“A mechanical wreckage that contains unknown technology. It’s for my study. I’m leaving it with you for the time being. I don’t want too many people to see it, so I can’t put it in Black Star Palace,” Han Xiao replied.
Psionic Prime nodded. “I’ll have a secret lab built just to store this mechanical body. Should I document it now?”
“Hmm, go ahead. This big guy’s name will be SWY-001 from now on.”
Han Xiao casually gave it a code. There was no special meaning to ‘SWY’. It was just the initials of the Pinyin for ‘no idea what this is’. He felt this code name relayed the idea very clearly and decided to use this code for anything unknown in the future he came across.
While SWY-001 was being transported, Han Xiao turned and took a look at the machinery civilization and nodded in his mind.
After developing for about eight decades, with the army providing resources, the machinery civilization expanded tremendously in the Sigma Star System, displaying their galactic industrial level of growth. They achieved self-sufficiency and were thriving. Plus, its population was exploding; it had already become one of the important sources of army staff for Han Xiao.
Even without the bonuses of his Mechanical Force, the machinery civilization was more than capable of dealing with an ordinary Star System civilization. After all, the biggest advantages of machinery civilizations were their highly efficient resources distribution, highly united mindsets, and close to zero need for reproductive and entertainment activities. Yet, they would not come across negative societal problems like normal civilizations would. Everyone in the civilization was a perfect soldier. It could be said that the industrial system of machinery civilizations was made for war.
Han Xiao could not help but think of the Black Spirit Race, which was developing in the neighboring Ednea Star System. They also had a hive mindset that allowed them to possess the ability to distribute resources extremely efficiently, learn the technological skill tree collectively at an incredible speed, and come up with new directions for their technology at the same time. They were also developing extremely rapidly; they had already started to send their people into the galaxy and were transforming into a Star System civilization.
With the astonishing learning ability they possessed because of the mental network, the Black Spirit Race raised many scientists and had already provided a lot of talents to the logistics department and the Super Academy.
However, due to the differences on the individual level, the Black Spirit Race took a path that varied from the war machine path of the machinery civilization. It created a new culture. Comparatively, the Black Spirit Race was more recognized as a civilization by the galactic society.
Both civilizations were growing rapidly. With these two civilizations hand in hand, the Black Star Army’s self-sufficiency ability was quite outstanding. Han Xiao was rather satisfied with the growth of the two civilizations. They only spent decades catching up to the standard of a Star System civilization, which was astounding. Although this was partly because of the Black Star Army’s full resources and technological support, under the same circumstances, Planet Aquamarine was still very far from becoming a Star System civilization.
“Comparisons sure hurt. Planet Aquamarine probably has no other advantages other than having bred many talents…”
While he was sighing, the engineering team finally transported all of SWY-001 over. The directional wormhole then spun, shrunk, and disappeared.
Han Xiao focused his mind and ordered the mechanical army to quickly build a lab around SWY-001.
The Galactic engineering technology was very efficient. In a short time, the brief structure of a gigantic lab was already built that wrapped around SWY-001.
“Let me see what treasure lies within you…”
With a delighted mood, Han Xiao walked into the research area and could not wait to summon all kinds of research devices. He instantly threw himself into the reverse engineering process.
The first step he took was to search the memory module of SWY-001. Very soon, he discovered a damaged memory chip module and an enormous organ with brain tissue. However, be it the mechanical technology or the biological technology, they were all beyond his expertise.
Han Xiao made the mechanical assistants take out the memory chip, placed it into a specially made data analysis device, and started reading the information inside it. At the same time, he also ordered another group of assistants to bring out a needle-shaped cable and push it into the pale brain fluid of the organ. It then started to read the memories stored within.
Very soon, reports appeared on the screen. Due to the fact that this mechanical body was created by fusing many Mechanics, the memory module seemed to contain the life experience of all these Mechanics who sacrificed themselves. The memory files of SWY-001 were heavily damaged and contained tons of meaningless information, so the analysis was quite slow.
Han Xiao had a few research targets. One was to directly obtain the blueprint knowledge of these Mechanics through digging deeper into the memory module. If successful, it would save him a ton of time, and he would not have to reverse engineer all the parts of SWY-001’s body.
Letting the device continue to read the information, Han Xiao searched and found the master artificial intelligence control module. There was a very high possibility that it contained the logs of all this mechanical body’s functions. It was basically like an instruction manual for him.
However, the master artificial intelligence control module was protected by a virtual firewall that used the basic code of this unknown civilization, which was different from the galactic society’s virtual technology. He also had to break it down to the fundamentals like with the Virtual Mutiny Virus from the Intelligent Plague.
This was not difficult for Han Xiao now; it only had to take his time.
According to SWY-001’s traits, it was very possible it had two consciousnesses. The soul consciousness that was sleeping in the biological brain and the artificial intelligence consciousness stored in the mechanical memory chip. Therefore, as long as he could penetrate the firewall and rewrite its artificial intelligence, he might be able to brainwash it.
After all, Han Xiao had learned the Felon technology, so he was no stranger to something like this.
While he was being busy, a notification suddenly popped up on the interface.
You have acquired some insights from the current research.
+16.4% Unique Talent Progress.
Current Progress: 61.1%.
“Progress for my Unique Talent? Today is really my lucky day!”
Han Xiao’s movements paused, and his eyes sparkled.
In the past decades, he had only triggered progress for his Unique Talent three times. Now its progress finally increased again. Had this notification not popped up, he might have forgotten about it.
During the version update, his Experience inventory was tight, so he did not use Awakening Points to progress his Unique Talent development. However, since the players had returned, he would consider taking this route.
Nonetheless, Promotion was his priority now. Han Xiao did not plan to use his Experience in other areas; he planned to accumulate enough for his Promotion before using the remaining Experience to increase the levels of his abilities and obtain Awakening Points.
After all, he did not know what the requirement of stepping into the higher territory was and had decided long ago to increase his Energy Rank as much as possible before his next Promotion. The God’s Trait Transformation was one route; acquiring another Unique Talent was not bad too.
Having obtained SWY-001, Han Xiao’s research focus shifted. He spent most of his time analyzing SWY-001 in the lab, using some leisure time to speak to the Holy Accord members one by one, convincing some of them to only appear in public when the time was right.
Meanwhile, in the outside world, the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association did not continue fighting on the surface. However, their fight in the black market became more and more intense as time went on. The players who took over the various areas of the black market received challenges time and again. Most people overcame these obstacles by working together and slowly pushing the progress of uniting the black market.
In the Endless Nebulae, at a certain transit station planet in the Didora Star System…
Kaching… kaching… The sound of footsteps that sounded like someone was stepping on shattered glass echoed in a dark room.
Army Commander’s Big PP leaned against the wall. His body was covered in wounds, and a puddle of blood had formed under his feet. He was in the heavily injured and immobile state; all he could do was open his eyes wide and glare in the direction the footsteps came from.
Very soon, the footsteps approached. The outline of a large silhouette gradually became clear under the dim lights. It was a man holding a blood-colored mechanical heavy axe that was dripping with blood.
Behind him was a mess. The floor was covered in corpses, and blood was splattered everywhere. The walls were riddled with bullet holes, and tons of shells and metal fragments scattered across the ground. An intense battle seemed to have happened here.
This was a base in the black market that had been taken over by Army Commander’s Big PP not long ago and had started to operate properly.
However, today, one man had come and single-handedly destroyed this black market channel, killing every single person in the base. Army Commander’s Big PP was the only one left alive. He had been killed many times and depleted his revival count. He was completely powerless because…
This man was a Calamity Grade!
The mechanical suited warrior stopped before Army Commander’s Big PP and opened his helmet, showing a face covered in brown scales like a pangolin with the face of a man. He said coldly, “You’re the last…”
“Dafis, we never had problems in the past. Why are you doing this? Were you hired by the three Universal Civilizations’ subsidiary organizations?” Army Commander’s Big PP clenched his teeth.
Having operated the black market for quite some time, he knew about the organizations around. This pangolin looking guy in front of him was the leader of a renowned civilian armed force, a Calamity Grade Mechanical Pugilist!
Hearing this, Dafis giggled with mockery. “Do I have to tell you before killing you?”
“You arrogant prick! You destroyed my mission. I’ll remember you, so just you wait!” Army Commander’s Big PP clenched his teeth and snarled angrily.
“What? You want to take revenge? As a Grade B Super? Just because you’re a so-called Immortal?”
Dafis’ face was cold. He was unaffected.
Then, he slowly raised the heavy axe in his hand and said coldly, “You’re too weak. It doesn’t matter how many lives you have… It’s your honor to die by my hand.”
As he said that, the axe slashed down, and blood spilled everywhere.
This time, Army Commander’s Big PP did not revive again. He had used all of his revives for these six days. Seeing this, Dafis turned around and walked away without turning back, leaving only corpses behind.
Army Commander’s Big PP was forced to log out immediately and could not log in again for one day. He could only access the forums.
“F*ck, you forced me to do this!” Army Commander’s Big PP was filled with rage.
He had worked hard to take over this part of the black market, but now that it had been destroyed by a Calamity Grade, his mission was over. He could only start again in another area.
was
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got!
Filled with flames of fury, he could not take it anymore. He clenched his teeth, opened up the group chat on the forums, and said in the army channel, “My black market got destroyed by a Calamity Grade! Brothers, we’ve kept a low profile for so long. Anyone interested in fighting a boss and earning some glory for the army commander? I’m willing to pay!”
The channel remained silent for a moment, then messages filled the screen like a waterfall. The things they were saying were all similar.
Who?
Where?
When?
How much?
With one arrow shot into the sky, millions of warriors answered the call!
The post about fighting a Calamity Grade became popular very quickly on the forums. As the players’ strength kept growing, they started eyeing up the Calamity Grades. Now that someone had brought it up, it immediately triggered the impulses tons of players had suppressed in their hearts.
The last time they killed a Calamity Grade was in Version 3.0 during a big operation organized by the army. After that, the army never organized anything like it. The post received a lot of responses.
However, as the public stargates everywhere were closed to all Beyond Grade A organizations, most players displayed their regret of not being able to help due to distance issues. After all, most people still had to look after their own black markets. Plus, this was only a proposal of a player, not a big mission, so it had limited rewards. As such, most people were only willing to show support on the forums.
However, there was also a group of people who were strongly interested in this matter.
In the base, Jupiter closed the private chat window on the interface, turned around to look at the room of pillars and elites of the Guild of Gods, and nodded firmly.
“I’ve already spoken to that player. We’ll be in charge of this operation. The boss’ activity area is the Didora Star System of the Endless Nebulae, not far from us… We happen to have many guild members nearby operating the black markets, so it’ll be easy to dispatch them.”
The guild’s pillar Poseidon hesitated and asked, “This will affect the mission progress of many guild members, won’t it? Plus, this is not even a mission. Is it worth it for us to put in this much effort?”
Jupiter nodded heavily. “Of course! This is an amazing opportunity to gain fame. Our club hasn’t achieved much in the last few Pro Leagues. If we can make some achievements on our side and increase the popularity of the club, everyone will get a bonus!” The Guild of Gods guild was the professional guild under the Temple of God club. As their professional team did not achieve good results on the professional scene, the guild had not had a great time in the past few versions. All the fame was grabbed by Dynasty, Long Sky, and Rivervale.
As versions changed, the guilds accumulated more and more strength. They started having ambitions for things they never dared to think of in the past. If they could eliminate a Calamity Grade, the club would also benefit from it.
“Are you sure it’ll be effective? The players already killed a Calamity Grade in Version 3.0. It won’t be as sensational to do it again, will it?” Poseidon was hesitant.
“Stupid! How did that Atimo die in Version 3.0? It was a faction event organized by the Black Star Army. Way too many people participated, so no one got famous because of it. However, if our guild kills a Calamity Grade on our own, it will be completely different! It’ll be the first guild kill!” Jupiter poked Poseidon’s head heavily.
Hearing this, the guild pillars present all agreed.
Although the army already used the ‘Human Wave Tactic’ to kill a Calamity Grade, the first guild kill meant something different. It would definitely be remarkable.
The only superior achievement would be a solo kill, but everyone knew that no one in the players was that strong yet.
“Poseidon, isn’t it too risky? Can we really kill a Calamity Grade on our own?” Poseidon scratched his head.
“We’ll have to try it. I think there’s a chance. After all, it’s no longer Version 3.0 now,” Jupiter said in a deep voice.
When they killed Atimo, the army created an environment where Atimo could not escape. With hundreds of thousands of players reviving again and again, they finally killed him using the ‘Human Wave Tactic’. After all, the difference between Grade B and Calamity Grade was far from the difference between Calamity Grades and Beyond Grade As, so the Human Wave Tactic was still effective.
Of course, as a guild, they could not just send as many people as the army did. However, the average strength of the players now was unlike in the past; they were thirty levels higher on average, and the elites were all above level 150. They were now seniors among Grade Bs.
Plus, the Black Star Army had always been updating its equipment and technology. The equipment and weapons the players were using now were also much stronger than during Version 3.0. They even had trump cards like the Evolution Badge, so their combat capability was quite impressive. Therefore, Jupiter felt that the guild should have the capability to kill a Calamity Grade, and it was worth gambling.
Hearing his explanation, the guild pillars were convinced. They were all thrilled and filled with anticipation.
This was not a mission, but they did not care.
Jupiter looked around and loudly said, “Since no one has any objections, we shall go fight the boss now. Let’s go!”
In the Didora Star System was the Heavy Iron Guards headquarters.
It was a huge galactic fortress that looked like a base made of countless rectangular blocks of various sizes. Its structure was very neat, layered, and edged.
A huge pattern was engraved on the front armor of the galactic fortress. It looked like the helmet of a heavy mechanical suit. This was the organization symbol of the Heavy Iron Guards.
The Heavy Iron Guards was a renowned civilian armed force in the Didora Star System. Most of its members were Mechanical Pugilists. On the surface, it was just a civilian armed force, but it was said that it had a strong background and a secret indescribable connection to the Feeney Civilization that ruled this Star System.
The leader of this organization was ‘Earth Core’ Dafis. Rumor had it that he was a claw of the Feeney Civilization who did immoral jobs for them.
At this point of time, inside the office at the main base, Dafis was attending to a distinguished guest. They were having a great chat, and laughter came out of the room from time to time.
“Haha, thank you for personally escorting this batch of cargo. I’ve already had my people check it. It looks quite great,”
Dafis’ tone was filled with satisfaction as he spoke with a smile.
In front of him was a man wearing a dark yellow robe who also looked like a pangolin and was a member of the Feeney race as well. However, a large portion of his body was prosthetic, and his electronic eyes were shining with a red light. His body sank deep into the sofa, clearly showing how heavy he was. His organs and limbs were almost all prosthetics, and his body was covered in metal.
“Of course, when did we ever send you any cargo that was bad quality? This batch contains all our new official military weapons the military specially approved to sell to you. Others couldn’t buy it even if they wanted to.”
This prosthetic man spoke with a vocal device at his throat with a simulated enthusiastic tone.
He was the emissary of the Feeney Civilization who had been in charge of contacting the Heavy Iron Guards on behalf of the upper echelons. The two of them were indeed working together; the Feeney Civilization provided Dafis with resources, and in exchange, Dafis worked for them.
The Feeney Civilization had a liking for mechanical prosthetics, seeing prosthetics as the definition of beauty. It had always been a top market for mechanical prosthetics. Almost everyone had some prosthetics. Some civilians even changed their entire body into different machines except for their brains. Mechanics also made up the majority of Supers in the civilization, and Mechanical Pugilists were mainstream.
“Don’t worry, I know why you’re here. I’ve taken your things, so of course, I’ll complete the mission properly.” Dafis grinned. “I’m about done with what you guys asked me to do last time. According to the information you provided, I’ve already gotten rid of the nails the Beyond Grade A Association has planted in the black markets in the nearby Star Zones. There are only a few planets left.”
“Oh? Many of them are Immortals of the Black Star Army, so they can’t be killed. Are you sure you’ve handled all of them?” the emissary asked casually. He grabbed the glass on the table and drank the black, sticky liquid inside. This was a heavy metal drink especially designed for prosthetic people that would be dissolved into different elements through their prosthetic organs. It was very nutritional for them.
“Immortals, so what? As long as their black-market channel is destroyed, they’ll have to either start from nothing or piss off.”
Dafis was not concerned. The emissary put the glass down and said curiously, “I heard from your subordinates that some of those Immortals you killed said they’ll take revenge. Aren’t you afraid?”
“Can they? These people are powerless. They only dare to talk that way because they won’t die, or they would’ve tucked their tails and fled. If they try to take revenge, I’ll just kill them again.”
Dafis snorted, expressing his disdain while also sounding a little sour.
With his strength, he looked down on everyone with inferior strength. However, any Super would envy the players’ immortality, and he was no exception. Therefore, he never held back when fighting them.
He could not get it, so he had a twisted sense of hatred toward them, feeling uncontrollably sour.
“I have nothing to worry about then.” The emissary nodded. “Nonetheless, this is a mission from the three Universal Civilizations, so it’s best to be cautious. Plus, the black market was originally controlled by us and provided us a lot of profits. The Beyond Grade A Association thinks they can send some random people to take over our black market just because they have the black market administrators’ support. They’re just daydreaming.”
Some of the upper echelons of the Feeney Civilization were the umbrella of most black markets in this Star System, making their own wallets thicker from them. However, when the Beyond Grade A Association planned to unite the black market, it disrupted their money-making.
At this sensitive time, the three Universal Civilizations spoke with multiple Star System civilizations and asked them to work with them to disturb the association’s people in the black market. The Feeney Civilization was one of said civilizations.
The Endless Nebulae was very far from the Shattered Star Ring, so the Black Star Army’s hands could not extend that far. Plus, they were a Star System civilization protected by the Peace Treaty. Holding on to the three Universal Civilizations was much more beneficial than fawning over the Beyond Grade A Association. Therefore, the Feeney Civilization supported the three Universal Civilizations and told Dafis to eliminate the people the association sent to operate the black market, killing two birds with one stone.
“They won’t be able to with me here.” Dafis waved casually. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes and said, “Don’t forget what you promised after it’s done…”
The emissary chuckled and said, “Don’t worry, we’ve been working together for so long. The people above never thought of going back on their word. As long as you can handle this problem properly, not only will we support you to continue expanding, but we’re even willing to let you become one of the controllers of the black market behind the curtains. You will get your dividends from the black market as promised too.”
“Of course I trust you guys.” Dafis smiled with satisfaction.
He had chosen to take the risk of offending the Black Star Army, of course, for his own interests. No way was he going to risk his life without enough profit.
Due to the Feeney Civilization’s liking of mechanical prosthetics, the profit the black markets of this area earned through smuggling machines every year was an outrageous figure. Dafis had been tempted by it for a very long time. Now, he just had to remove the nails the outsiders had planted there, and he would be able to take a bite of this huge cake. To him, this was a perfect opportunity.
Thinking of the bright future where he could earn more than enough cash to swim in, Dafis was so overjoyed even his cells felt more active than usual.
However, at this time, a change suddenly occurred!
Boom!
A huge explosion suddenly sounded in the base. The two of them both felt the base tremble. The glasses on the table fell onto the floor, and the heavy metal drink spilled all over like a puddle of black oil.
Then, a blaring alarm rang, and the warning lights lit up, painting the entire room red.
Dafis stood up instantly, summoned his aide-de-camp, and yelled, “What’s happening?”
“Boss, the base just got bombarded. The enemy’s ship cannons are too strong. The protective shield cracked, and some of them already charged into the base. The artificial intelligence center is now sending troops over!” the aide-de-camp hastily replied.
“Who dares to attack my headquarters? Are there Calamity Grades?” Dafis was shocked and furious.
“I—I don’t know, there’s no symbol on their spaceships but no Calamity Grade energy source has been detected…”
“They have no Calamity Grade, yet they dare attack my headquarters?”
Dafis was enraged. He pushed the aide-de-camp aside and headed out of the room.
This time, the emissary said with a worried tone, “Should I hide for now?”
“What’s there to be afraid of? I’ll handle the problem and come back in no time.”
Dafis walked out without even looking back.
The aide-de-camp was just about to follow behind when the emissary suddenly grabbed his arm.
He turned and saw the emissary said, “Er… I’d better hide. Do you have a safehouse here?”
More than ten completely black battleships hovered outside the base, continuously launching attacks.
Boom!
Dark red beams from cannons dashed right across and landed on the protective shield of the Heavy Iron Guards’ space base, creating countless cracks.
Charge cabins and airdrop cabins covered in shields continuously shot out from under the battleships, bolting onto the surface of the base through the cracks. Some were destroyed in midair by the base’s artillery cannons, but some penetrated the base’s armor, leaving holes behind.
“Keep sending people down! All those who board the enemy headquarters successfully, remember to bind your revival flag!”
Inside the main ship’s command room, Jupiter issued orders loudly with excitement.
All the people in this fleet were players of the Guild of Gods, which took quite some time to gather secretly. After obtaining enough intelligence, they charged toward Dafis’ headquarters.
In order to kill a Calamity Grade, the Guild of Gods went all out. These battleships were all assets of the guild that were equipped with tons of war weapons. Although there were not many of them, their technology was very advanced and very high quality. It was basically overkill to use them against a civilian armed force, all just so that the members could quickly board the enemy base.
At this time, the guild channel was filled with messages that refreshed the screen every second.
“Nice, I got in!”
“People behind, come quickly! The enemy’s reinforcements are here.”
“Mages and Psychics control the battlefield. Give the Mechanics time to summon their machines!”
“Don’t waste time on minions. Force the boss out!”
Inside the base, the players who had boarded were on a slaughter. They were all high-level Grade B Supers, killing tons of guarding troops like harvesting crops.
At this time, a huge pressurizing presence rapidly approached.
With a loud bang, the metal wall on one side was broken open, and Dafis rushed in holding that heavy axe in his hands.
Dafis looked around and locked his eyes onto Army Commander’s Big PP-he had an impression of this guy whom he had killed ten times. He was furious.
“It’s you?”
Army Commander’s Big PP crushed a Grade C Mechanical Pugilist with a cannon attack, turned around, and grinned.
“Surprised? I told you I’d be back!”
Before Dafis could reply, Army Commander’s Big PP pointed at him with his gun and yelled, “Brothers, that’s him. Get him!”
The next moment, the eyes of everyone focused on Dafis. The excitement of seeing a prey appeared in their eyes.
Even with how experienced Dafis was on the battlefield, being stared by a ton of Grade B Supers still made him intuitively shiver.
However, the next moment, the rage in his body exploded. He raised his mechanical heavy axe and charged right into the battlefield, blasting away two players in his path.
“You’re all… looking to die!”
On the side of the players, they yelled almost simultaneously, “Team MT! Go!”
Boom!
Explosions occurred nonstop, and beams of flames blasted from inside the base, penetrating its armor and creating countless holes. The location of the explosions kept changing, and the battlefield was shifting rapidly.
Inside the base, the troops of the Guild of Gods were already in an intense battle with Dafis while more and more players were landing from above like pouring rain to join the battle.
Swoosh…
The enormous blade of the axe detached from its handle, covered in blue Mechanical Force electric sparks and spinning like a rotary saw. Everywhere it passed, blood and flesh spilled, and shattered mechanical parts were all over the place. A silver spinning chain connected the blade and the handle, dancing like a wild dragon. It looked messy, but it actually controlled the movements of the blade to a highly precise degree.
Mechanical Pugilists were masters in technological weapons. They created their own techniques based on their weapons, which became their special ‘styles’. Therefore, Mechanical Pugilists who used the same styles basically all used the same mechanical weapons. This axe style Dafis used was called ‘RC-03 Rope Axe’. The essence of it was controlling the chain. It was great for fighting in complex environments and was one of the styles Dafis excelled in.
Ka-cha!
The spinning axe blade flew past the players, winding through them on the way and burying into the chest of a player who turned into an Aberration. It continued spinning and sliced open large pieces of bones and flesh.
“I caught him!”
This player adjusted his pain senses to the lowest, so it did not hurt at all. He grabbed onto the spinning axe blade, ignoring how it made blood gush out of his hand like a river.
The Aberrations of the MT team all pounced over, each grabbing onto a part of the chain and pulling it, while the damage output team poured all of their attacks on Dafis’ body.
Dafis twisted his waist and created a yellow spinning energy shield around him that blocked the players’ attacks. Amid the colorful explosions, the shield was rapidly filled with cracks.
In this short moment, Dafis made a command in his brain. The neural signals flowed into the control module of the axe. In an instant, the chain tightened. A plasma wave appeared around the chain and knocked away the hands of the many Aberrations.
Then, the axe suddenly went into overload mode. With a loud bang, the spinning speed of the blade rocketed, instantly cutting off the hands of the player who grabbed it and retracted along with the chain, slashing all the Aberrations on the way in half and returned to the handle. Dafis swung it around his body, sent out a silver shockwave from the axe blade, and blasted away many Pugilist players who wanted to get close to him.
Although he was tremendously outnumbered, Calamity Grades were much stronger than Grade Bs. The players had no choice but to fill this strength gap with their lives. Before Dafis got exhausted, the players would have almost no chance of catching him off guard. “Keep going, Secondary Tank team, go!”
“Damage team, remember to spread out!” “Teams on the outside, stop the minions and don’t let them come in!”
The Guild of Gods’ formation was shattered time after time, but they went back to charging forward without fear. The captain commanded the battle efficiently in the team channels.
To players, the most troublesome part was that they could not control who the boss attacked. The only thing they could do was send the MT team forward and make a line of defense with their flesh.
Even so, Dafis would still choose to go around the MT team to attack the fragile backline. Most of the time, the players could only adapt and improvise. Luckily, the Black Star Army’s armor was very tough, so the damage dealers would not be killed instantly. Above the base, the Guild of Gods’ fleet was clashing with the Heavy Iron Guards’ fleet.
On this battlefield, they were the ones who were outnumbered. The Guild of Gods’ fleet was at a small disadvantage. However, with the aid of the more advanced technology on their ships, they could still continuously disrupt the opponent’s formation and hold on.
The command room was shaking nonstop. Jupiter’s hands pressed on the command table as he stared closely at the fight with Dafis displayed on the screen. He said with a deep voice, “This won’t work. The efficiency of the siege is too slow. This won’t last long… Ignore their fleet, aim all weapons at the boss, and provide firepower support!”
“What about the people around him?” Poseidon asked.
“We don’t have the leisure to mind the casualties on our side. Tell them to be mindful and dodge the attacks as much as possible,” Jupiter said decisively.
As the order was given, the more than ten guild battleships turned their cannons at the same time and locked onto Dafis, who was inside the base. Light beams and tracking missiles fired one after another.
A loud alarm rang on the internal radar inside Dafis’ mechanical suit. Irritated, he hastily dodged aside. The next moment, beams of light penetrated where he was earlier and chased after him.
The players had been warned earlier and dodged the attacks, but some still did not make it and were turned to ash.
If the opponents were only a group of Grade B Immortals, it would actually not be a big problem for Dafis. However, with the accurate fire support of the fleet, he was troubled.
The players were not afraid of being killed, but he was. Ordinary Calamity Grades could not last long under the high energy ship cannon attacks, and he was only a Mechanical Pugilist, which did not have the highest defenses, nor did he dare to test it out.
The fight went on intensely. The base was a mess. The Guild of Gods’ fleet was restrained by the enemy ships, only able to provide support occasionally. The shockwaves of the bombardments gradually created wounds on Dafis.
Seeing the Immortals getting killed by the attacks of their allies while the rest were still charging forward, Dafis’ mouth twitched uncontrollably.
“Tsk, these maniacs…”
He could not help but feel a little bit regretful like he had poked the hornet’s nest.
Weird, I’m not the only Calamity Grade the three Universal Civilizations bribed, and there are Calamity Grades hunting the Immortals everywhere. I’ve never heard of anyone who faced their revenge. Why am I so unlucky?
Dafis dodged five explosions and looked at the corpses of his subordinates all over the floor. His expression became more and more gloomy.
Although he was not afraid on his own, the others in the base were not as strong as him. Grade B Supers were already the backbone of the Heavy Iron Guards, yet they were almost powerless under the attacks of the Guild of Gods. A ton of officers who followed him for many years had died.
They were all talents he had put in a lot of efforts to recruit; it was not worth it at all!
“These Immortals came prepared. If this goes on, my energy and stamina will keep dropping. Things won’t look good then. Plus, they’re here for me. If I keep fighting here, it’ll only kill more of my men…”
Dafis hesitated for quite some time before taking a deep breath and making the decision. The next moment, the energy inside his body started boiling. He swung his axe and spun it like a gyroscope, releasing an arc-shaped vibrating shockwave that expanded from the axe blade.
Swoosh!
A blue shockwave exploded and expanded rapidly. The powerful shockwave instantly blew away all the players nearby. Most of them were stunned momentarily.
The players who recovered first hastily got up and were surprised to see that Dafis did not continue attacking. Instead, he broke through the wall and sprinted out, quickly disappearing in everyone’s sights.
“He’s fleeing?”
Their expression changed as they hastily started chasing.
However, they realized that Dafis had already flown into space and changed his mechanical suit into galactic travel mode. Thrusters shot out flames from behind. His speed kept increasing, and he fled further. “Stop him!”
Jupiter’s expression changed. He quickly commanded the fleet to ignore the incurred damages and penetrate the Heavy Iron Guards’ line of defense, wanting to chase after Dafis.
However, at this time, alarms suddenly rang on all the battleships’ radars.
A small fleet appeared at the edge of the battlefield and rapidly approached. Their exterior armor had the symbol of the Feeney Civilization. They said in the public channel, “This is the Feeney Civilization police patrol. We have detected unusual energy reactions here. Everyone stop where you are and prepare for a check!”
The law enforcement is here too? Dafis, who was fleeing, thought.
His headquarters were in the Feeney Civilization’s territory, so, of course, there was law enforcement there. Usually, they minded their own business. He did not know if they wanted to stop him too.
While Dafis was pondering, he suddenly received a communication from his mechanical suit. It was the Feeney Civilization emissary who visited him and was in the safe house of his base.
“You keep going and leave. The law enforcement won’t bother you.” The emissary cut to the chase.
“You called them?” Dafis understood.
“Who else? Or are you going to protect me?” The emissary was not in a good mood. “I’ll tell them to buy some time for you. Get as far away as you can. I can’t help you if they chase you after that!”
He was just there as a guest and never expected to be in such danger, so he blamed Dafis for it.
As he was afraid of being killed by the aftershock, he urgently used his authority to call the law enforcement to stop the battle, at the same time forcing Dafis away… From the way he looked at it, since these Immortals were after revenge, as long as Dafis left, they would be lured away too. This way, he would be safe.
“I’ll go now.” Dafis nodded. He initially wanted to eliminate the enemy together with the law enforcement, but now he had no choice but to agree to leave. He did not want to see the emissary in danger too.
The emissary hesitated for a moment and said, “Planet Burger is just around the corner. That’s a colonial planet for low value citizens. I’ve already spoken to the manager of the planet, so you can go to Planet Burger. Although they don’t have a large garrison there, those enemies won’t dare violate the Peace Treaty and attack a colonial planet.”
“Okay.”
Dafis hung up the communication and accelerated at full power output. Although the Guild of Gods had set up spacetime stabilization anchors and limited his hyperdrive, his regular flying speed was fast enough. He turned into a stream of light and gradually disappeared in sights.
Seeing this, Jupiter panicked. We’re only halfway through and the boss has just escaped, what do we do now? “Aiyo, I told you your plan wasn’t reliable. They can escape even if they can’t win. You think we’re in a dungeon?” Poseidon sounded unhappy.
Although they could weaken a Calamity Grade with their lives or even have the chance to kill him, it was very difficult for them to stop a Calamity Grade if he wanted to run. After all, the desperate situation Atimo was in was tough to replicate. Plus, Dafis was not a naïve kid who could not read the situation; he fled as soon as he saw the situation was not good for him. No way he was going to stay here and fight head-on with a ton of Immortals like an idiot.
“Shut up!” Jupiter scolded him. Veins popped up on his forehead. He then opened the public channel and shouted, “Black Star Army carrying out business, please let us through!” “I don’t care who you are! This is the Feeney Civilization’s territory. No one can do whatever they want! Stop your ships and be checked immediately, or we’ll see it as a crime!”
Having received orders from the emissary, the captain of the law enforcement force did not back down. He continued commanding his troops to stop the guild’s fleet. “Then, why didn’t you stop that guy who ran away?” Jupiter was extremely annoyed and marked Dafis’s direction.
“None of your business! This is your last warning. Stop your ships immediately!” the captain yelled angrily.
Jupiter clenched his teeth. Having spent so many resources, giving up halfway would be a huge loss. He planned this operation, so he would definitely take the blame for it. He immediately made up his mind.
“We’re going to finish this boss today no matter what! Advance! Get rid of whoever’s in our way!”
As he said that, the guild fleet no longer hesitated and fired at all the enemies, be it the Heavy Iron Guards or Feeney Civilization’s law enforcement team, trying to open a path.
Some of the players who were still in the base returned through traction beams. Some simply used up all their energy by attacking randomly and killed themselves to revive in the ships. The two sides fought for some time. Most players returned to the ships except for a few who were still in the base. Army Commander’s Big PP’s was one of them.
“Fu*k, since you ran away, your home will vanish!”
Army Commander’s Big PP was extremely annoyed by the fact that Dafis had fled. He took out a sphere portable bomb right away.
This was a small dark energy annihilation bomb he had spent quite a lot of his savings to purchase. Before the Guild of Gods contacted him, he originally wanted to use this thing to ‘die together’ with Dafis, and now he decided to just activate it.
The next moment, a dark red explosion erupted!
Boom!
Light rapidly expanded and devoured the entire base, turning the metal of the base into atoms.
The emissary who was in the safe house waiting for the law enforcements to pick him up was blown to ashes before he could react. He died on the spot painlessly.
Not only him, all members of the Heavy Iron Guards in the base were reduced to atoms. No one survived.
The law enforcement force captain was shocked.
“Are these people crazy? How dare they use such a dangerous weapon here?”
Just like the psionic bombs, the dark energy annihilation bomb was also a highly dangerous weapon prohibited by most civilizations and severely punished when discovered.
Even some wanted criminals did not dare do this. Was the Black Star Army not in the Lawful Faction? Were they not afraid of damaging their reputation?
The law enforcement captain was intimidated. The emissary was already blown to pieces anyway, so he decided to let the guild fleet through, afraid that these maniacs might send him a dark energy annihilation bomb too.
Without the law enforcement’s obstruction, the guild broke through the siege and chased after Dafis.
Battleships were designed for galactic travel; they were much faster than Dafis. The distance between the two sides quickly decreased.
Dafis noticed the battleships chasing behind him. Complaining that the law enforcement fleet could not even slow them down in his head, he had no choice but to keep running.
Having left the spacetime stabilized area, the two sides entered hyperdrive mode at the same time, turning into two streams of light, one thin and one thick.
Not long after, a planet appeared in their sights. It was the low-value colonial planet of the Feeney Civilization, Planet Burger.
The residents on this kind of colonial planet were all those who were not willing to work, using the government’s money to maintain the lowest standard of life. Almost all civilizations had planets like this that usually had zero visitors.
“I’m here!” Dafis looked overjoyed as he quickly sent a request to land.
As the emissary had already informed Planet Burger of his arrival, his request was instantly approved. The garrison fleet outside the atmosphere did not stop him. Seeing this, Dafis dashed into the atmosphere without hesitation and headed toward one of the cities.
At this time, the Guild of Gods fleet finally caught up and stopped outside the planet. The garrison fleet of the planet gathered in front of them and stopped them from advancing.
Their spaceship suddenly received a message. A prosthetic man appeared on the screen. He was the planet manager of Planet Burger, and his attitude was very cold.
“I’m the manager of Planet Burger. You’re not welcome on this planet. Please leave immediately, or I’ll contact the nearest garrison to banish you.”
Hearing this, the guild pillars inside the main fleet looked at each other and were in a dilemma.
“President, what do we do now? This colonial planet clearly wants to protect our target.” Poseidon looked at Jupiter, whose eyes were glowing red, and said cautiously, “We should retreat for now. According to the laws of the galactic society, we can’t attack colonial planets…”
Jupiter looked troubled. He then clenched his teeth and forced out the following words.
“I don’t care! We’ll kill the target today no matter what! Don’t let him run again. Fire!”
Meanwhile, Dafis landed in a city. The streets were quiet with only a few pedestrians who were looking at him confused.
Ignoring them, Dafis looked up at the fleet hovering outside the atmosphere. Frustration and irritation flashed through his eyes.
This was a huge loss. A ton of his officers were killed, so his heart was bleeding.
If not because of the concerns he had, he would have tried to kill all those Immortals. He did not want to seek help from a planet at all.
“Never mind, I’ll let these people live for today, then find them one by one in the future…”
Dafis clenched his teeth and took out the communicator to contact the emissary. He had fled very quickly earlier and still did not know that his headquarters were already destroyed.
As he made the call, no one answered.
While Dafis was feeling confused, he suddenly had a sense of danger and hastily backed away!
Boom!
The next moment, cannon beams fell from the sky like pouring rain. The entire street was shattered!
“What?”
Dafis’ expression changed drastically. He looked up at the fleet that was firing at the city with disbelief.
They fired at a colonial planet just to kill me, ignoring the civilian casualties?
Don’t they know what kind of deed this is? Even the Beyond Grade A Association that’s fighting head-on with the three Universal Civilizations wouldn’t do something like this!
A chill shot up his spine to his brain, and his flames of rage were instantly frozen.
Dafis’ heart was filled with shock.
These people are lawless!
Ta ta ta!
Rounds of ship cannon attacks landed in the city following Dafis, creating craters one after another. Everywhere the attacks landed, tall buildings turned to ruins, flames rose from the ground, and screams echoed. Along with the pouring bombardment, airdrop cabins descended from the sky, penetrating the buildings like meteors and partially burrowing into the ground.
The hatches opened, and Guild of Gods players swarmed out like a black tsunami to surround Dafis. An intense battle erupted once again.
The planet’s garrison fleet was also startled. They hastily fired at the guild fleet. The two sides exchanged intense crossfire outside the atmosphere. The anti-aircraft weapons and railguns of the planet were also activated. Closely packed electromagnetic rail cannon attacks bolted across the sky toward the guild fleet. Looking down from above, the garrison bases around the city that was attacked shot out anti-gravity carriers one after another, carrying ground troops to prevent the battle in the city.
Although Planet Burger was a low-level colonial planet, it still had a military defense force. However, in terms of individual strength, the strongest defender was only Grade B. After all, the Feeney Civilization was just a Star System level civilization with only ten or so Calamity Grades; they did not have the luxury to station a Calamity Grade on such a low-level colonial planet. On the communication screen of the guild’s main ship, the Planet Burger manager’s expression changed drastically. He was both shocked and enraged, and he yelled, “How dare you violate the Peace Treaty? Are you trying to become the Feeney Civilization’s enemy? I demand you stop immedi…” Before he could even finish, Jupiter slammed the button and hung up the communication right away. His eyes red, he yelled, “All backup teams! Enter the charge cabins and take over all the garrison fleet on this planet! Attack whoever’s in our way!”
Since he had made up his mind, he might as well do it till the end and attack the troops of the colonial planet too, eliminating all obstructions of the first guild kill.
Although the guild’s fleet was outnumbered by the planet’s garrison, their biggest advantage was individual strength. As long as one or two players could board the enemy battleship, they could kill the whole crew in it and take over the ship, increasing their own strength. After all, there was no way this kind of low-level colonial planet could put one Grade B on every battleship.
“He’s lost it. He’s lost it…” Poseidon mumbled on the side, saying what all the guild pillars were thinking.
Jupiter suddenly turned around, stared deadly at him with a dangerous look, and said word by word, “What did you say?” “Brothers, with me, charge!”
Poseidon’s expression instantly became firm. He waved his hand and headed toward the charge cabin with a group of elites. It looked like he was bravely heading into a battle with no return. His emotional change was very smooth.
Very soon, charge cabins carrying players shot out like missiles, biting into the enemy ships. The garrison’s battleships fell into the Guild of Gods’ control rapidly one after another, turning around to fire at the ground, making Dafis’ situation worse. Some airdrop cabins even landed on the base that controlled the anti-aircraft weapons. Tons of players charged forward to paralyze Planet Burger’s military force. There were battles happening in many places on the planet’s surface and outside the atmosphere. Explosions appeared continuously as cities were blown into ruins one after another. It was complete chaos.
Planet Burger’s manager was both furious and panicking. He hastily requested support from the nearest galactic garrison base while reporting the attack on the planet to the artificial intelligence core of the Feeney Civilization through the emergency military channel. He also sent the report to the various key departments.
About two minutes later, he quickly received a serious call from an upper echelon. “What are the details? Who are the enemies?”
“The enemies are a group of Immortals. According to the law enforcements’ report, they claim to be the Black Star Army’s men and are chasing after a Calamity Grade…” The Planet Burger manager quickly described the situation, stating that the cause of all this was that he received a message from the emissary to protect Dafis.
He actually did not know about the relationship between Dafis and the Feeney Civilization, but since the emissary’s position was higher, he could only obey. He kept subtly hinting that he was only obeying orders and was not the one to be blamed.
After hearing the explanation, the Feeney Civilization upper echelon seriously said, “I’ve understood the situation. Go restrain the attackers for now. The nearest garrison base will send troops over right away and arrest them!”
Hanging up the communication, Planet Burger manager heaved a sigh of relief. Protected by his bodyguards, he quickly walked to the safe house underground while telling the secretary to contact Dafis on the way.
At the same time, inside the city that already became a battlefield, Dafis suppressed the shock in his heart and fought intensely with the Guild of Gods players. In order to dodge the attacks from the sky, he could not fight at his full strength and planned to retreat. He was appalled by how absolutely lawless the players were. From the way he looked at it, it was unwise to keep fighting with these maniacs. Dafis felt more and more regretful about having messed with these people. At this time, the internal communication device of the mechanical suit suddenly rang. It was a call from the planet manager’s secretary relaying the planet manager’s message. Dafis’ eyes sparkled. “You’re saying that reinforcements are on the way, so I have to restrain these Immortals as much as I can so that when they arrive, these brutes will all be eliminated?”
“Yes, the upper echelons have already dispatched the garrison. Reinforcements will arrive very soon.”
The secretary’s tone was respectful. Although Dafis was the one who caused this, he was the only Calamity Grade at the scene and was a member of the Feeney Race too. Planet Burger needed his help for the time being. “… Okay, I’ll stall them.”
Dafis hesitated for a moment but agreed in the end.
It would not be easy for him to escape. The mechanical suit’s travel speed was no match for the guild’s fleet. If he left Planet Burger and lost the help he had, he would be in an even more dangerous situation. He felt it was better to stay there and work with the Feeney Civilization, wait for the government troops to arrive, and wipe out all the Immortals. Anyway, he was in a good state for now. These enemies could not threaten his life for the time being. Furthermore, a ton of his subordinates had died, and he was filled with anger. His desire to fight back was tough to suppress. Hanging up the communication, Dafis stopped getting distracted by the thought of retreat, raised his mechanical chain axe, and charged into the players’ formation. Everywhere he passed, electronic sparks exploded, and blood poured everywhere.
At the same time, in the SWY-001 research lab…
“Master, hum… Something’s happened!”
Han Xiao, who was studying the nervous system of SWY-001, received the message from Phillip. He moved his eyes away from the research report and turned to Phillip.
“What happened?” “In the Endless Nebulae Star Field, a group of army Immortals are attacking the colonial planet of a Star System civilization…” Phillip switched to the surveillance footage and explained the situation. “What? They challenged a Calamity Grade on their own?”
After hearing the full situation, Han Xiao’s eyes narrowed, and a complicated expression appeared on his face. “This day still came…” He had known long ago that as the average strength of the players grew, they would challenge Calamity Grades on their own sooner or later. It was destined to happen.
Players were always the representatives of anarchism. The stronger they became, the more uncontrollable they were as they would gradually ignore all kinds of restrictions. The reason they had always seemed peaceful was that they did not have enough strength to really influence anything, and he had managed them well.
However, at Version 5.0, the players’ peacefulness had almost reached the limit, and chaos started to surface. In his previous life, this was one of the key fuses of the Calamity of the Supers. Even with his influence now, there was no way he could change the players’ nature. “Tsk, this won’t be easy to settle…”
Han Xiao shook his head and sighed.
He understood the situation. The enemy was someone who obstructed the players from taking over the black market. There was no problem with the players grouping up to attack him, and Han Xiao was not going to oppose that.
However, the part that troubled him was that they violated the laws of the galactic society… At least be mindful of your image when attacking a boss! This meant that there were disadvantages to both rewarding them and punishing them. The former would make the players even more unconcerned with the laws, while the latter would hurt the leeks’ feelings and damage their sense of belonging to the faction. Neither were things he wanted to see.
The person Han Xiao was most annoyed by was none other than the moron Jupiter…
‘Black Star Army carrying out business, please let us through’? Is your face even bigger than mine? Did you eat the Face Face Fruit too? Even if you decided to fight a boss no matter what, at least don’t expose who you are!
Han Xiao was speechless. He exhaled and slowly said, “… Too reckless. No matter what, it’s best not to take the blame for this. The top priority now is to clean the evidence as much as possible.” While speaking, Han Xiao pressed between his brows and entered the quantum network. With Phillip as the transit station, his data stream quickly arrived in the guild battleship.
The battle on Planet Burger became ever bloodier. The defenses of the planet were mostly shattered by the Guild of Gods. Tons of their battleships were seized and made the guild stronger. The battlefield around Dafis kept shifting on the planet surface. Four cities had already turned into ruins. Facing the guild players’ unending chase, Dafis’ energy and stamina were depleting very quickly. He started to feel exhausted, and wounds no longer regenerated on his body. His status gradually worsened, and his combat capability unavoidably weakened. Boom!
Dafis spun and swung his axe, flattening a Pugilist player on the wall, and hastily gasped for air. Not daring to stop, he quickly took many big steps backward and dodged the attacks of more than a dozen Cannon Masters. The place where he stood moments ago became a crater.
on
Not only were his muscles sore, but his brain was hurting like it was stabbed by needles too. After all, the mind was not the Mechanical Pugilists’ strongest suit. The Psychics and the mind Mages of the Guild of Gods contributed a lot, attacking Dafis’ consciousness every second. He basically could not dodge them at all and could only take the damage head-on. These attacks made up at least sixty percent of all the damage he took.
“Hu… Hu… The reinforcements are still not here.”
Dafis checked his status and was not looking too good. From the moment he fell from his peak state, the issues began to snowball. He was almost at his limit.
One who had never been surrounded by the players could not understand how horrifying it was, and Dafis finally felt it now. He initially thought he could last a very long time. Only now did he realize that he had completely underestimated just how difficult it was to deal with these maniacs. He misjudged the strength difference between him and the players. If reinforcements don’t come soon and I keep staying here, this might be the end of me…
The thought of wanting to retreat appeared in Dafis’ mind again.
However, at this time, he suddenly felt something and looked up at the atmosphere, surprised. “Finally!”
An enormous fleet was quickly approaching. Its formation was neat and fearsome. It was indeed the government military army the Feeney Civilization had sent. There were almost two thousand battleships. The guild fleet had no chance of matching up to it! The Planet Burger manager who was hiding in the underground safehouse saw the images of the battlefield and was overjoyed. “The army is here! Hahaha, these brutes are done for!”
In the guild main fleet, Jupiter noticed this hostile army too, and his heart sank.
Sh*t, this looks like the local government army! We took too long. Seems like I underestimated the difficulty of this Boss. A Calamity Grade who’s free to move around is too tough to deal with. Is this mission still too difficult for the guild?
Looking at the huge reinforcements, Jupiter began to despair. However, he then clenched his teeth and ordered the fleet to continue firing at Dafis. “President, are we still not going to retreat?” Poseidon asked in the channel.
“Retreat, how? We’re already here. How can we give up halfway? If we leave, the resources we’ve spent will really all be wasted… All members! We must kill the boss today even if it costs all our revival counts!” Jupiter clenched his teeth and told the troops to get ready to fire at the reinforcements.
However, this enormous army suddenly stopped at the edge of the battlefield. Not only did they not fire, but they did not even move anymore. As minutes passed, Dafis, the Planet Burger manager, Jupiter, and the players all became confused.
What, are these reinforcements here just to watch the show?
The Guild of Gods was lost and had no idea what was going on. However, since these reinforcements did not attack them, they did not attack these reinforcements either and focused on attacking Dafis.
The Planet Burger manager panicked. “What are they waiting for? Why are they not attacking?” He was panicking hard. He tried to contact the reinforcements many times but received no response at all. The joy on Dafis’ face gradually froze. He was at a loss and could not understand what was happening
Under the influence of shock, he could not help but making wild speculations
Why aren’t the reinforcements firing?
There’s a big problem!
If not because he was waiting for the reinforcements, he might not have stayed to fight with the enemy. Yet, when the reinforcements had arrived, they only watched on the side and did not seem to want to join the battle…
Is this the Feeney Civilization’s plan? Keeping me here with an excuse so I’ll be murdered in cold blood by the Immortals, killing two birds with one stone? Is it because they feel I know too much, and now that they had no use of me, they’re deliberately letting me die?
Dafis was shocked by his own speculation, and he immediately panicked!
“Damn it, I’ll be done for if I keep fighting. I can’t rely on the Feeney Civilization. I have to leave!”
Dafis clenched his teeth and went into overload mode. His powerful energy blew the surrounding players away. Then, taking a round of focus fire head-on, he charged up into the sky. His mechanical suit’s thruster operated at full power output. He turned into a stream of light and flew toward the atmosphere, wanting to escape the battlefield. However, at this time, the Feeney Civilization reinforcements at the edge of the battlefield suddenly fired, shockingly aiming at Dafis, who had just escaped the atmosphere!
“What?”
Extremely shocked, Dafis hastily turned on his shield.
The next moment, he was entirely engulfed by the attack and took the full damage of it. Boom! After a chain of explosions, he fell from the sky and crashed to the ground, stirring up tons of dust.
Ka la ka la…
His already heavily damaged mechanical suit turned into pieces and shattered all over the floor. Dafis lay in the middle of the enormous crater facing up as blood gushed out from all the organs on his face. His entire body was suffering from burns. Some parts were even charred and giving off white smoke. The bones and organs in his body were a mess. He was severely injured. A ton of players rushed here from afar. Seeing this, Dafis clenched his teeth and forced his body to stand up. He was still shaking and had yet to recover from the stunned state the powerful attack had caused him. He could barely stand properly. Looking at the Immortals surrounding him, Dafis felt the terrible state of his body, and a bitter smile appeared on his wounded face. “Ahem… so this is it, getting tricked by the Feeney Civilization in the end…”
Dafis coughed with pain and knew that this was his final moment.
Thinking of the bright future the Feeney Civilization had promised him, Dafis was filled with only regret.
In the end, I trusted the wrong people… Taking a deep breath, Dafis felt like a hero facing his doom. Filled with frustration, sorrow, and rage, he yelled at the nearby Immortals, “You want my life? Come take it! I won’t stay here and…” Before he could finish, the players around him attacked from all directions.
Boom!
Chains of explosions flooded Dafis.
At the moment he lost consciousness, Dafis was filled with even more regrets.
Couldn’t you… wait for me to finish my last words?
The explosions lasted for more than ten seconds before everything stopped. Dust settled, and air became clear. A completely burnt corpse lay on the ground with absolutely no signs of life. Seeing this, the many players paused for a second and suddenly started cheering.
“Nice! We finally killed him!”
“We got the first kill! First kill!”
“That was so f*cking exhausting. This boss knew how to give himself more screen time. I was so confused.” “Did anyone record the entire thing? Send me a copy!”
Inside the guild main ship, Jupiter saw the guild kill Dafis with his own eyes and was finally relieved. The anger that filled his mind was finally gone. Having earned the first guild kill, all their efforts and the resources spent for this mission were not wasted!
Jupiter looked at the Feeney Civilization government army on the side that had an unknown goal and frowned again.
The consequences of killing the boss without caring about anything else seemed quite severe. He now had to think about escaping, and that fleet was probably not going to watch them leave…
He knew that the chances of escaping were extremely low and almost negligible. Jupiter scratched his head. How about we… all just die here?
On the ground, the Guild of Gods players posed and took pictures with Dafis’ corpse. After being overjoyed for a little while, they all quickly realized the same thing and knew that this was not the end yet. They quickly wiped the smiles off their faces, took out their weapons, and looked at the Feeney Civilization’s army in the sky.
Jupiter stared closely at their fleet. Once they made any move, he would immediately tell the others to flee.
However, the two fleets looked at each other like this for as long as five minutes, yet the Feeney Civilization still did not attack them and remained at the edge of the battlefield. It was as if they had made up their mind to just watch the show.
Jupiter’s expression also turned from grave to confused.
He realized he could not figure out the Feeney Civilization’s position anymore. At the start, they protected Dafis, yet they watched him die when their army was here, even firing at him, nailing his coffin and helping them to complete the kill. Once the dust had settled, the Feeney Civilization’s army still watched on the side and did not seem to want to arrest them…
Whose side are you on really?
“President, they’re all intimidated by your presence.” Poseidon’s fawning voice appeared in the channel.
Humph, you’ve been disagreeing with me and disrupting the morale of our people all this time, but now you finally thought of fawning upon me? It’s too late!
Jupiter snorted in his mind, contemplated, and said, “Retrieve the players on the ground, but keep an eye on the movements of the enemy fleet at all times. If things don’t seem right, immediately kill yourself and revive on the ships.”
As the order was given, the guild fleet started using retraction beams to retrieve the players on the ground while paying full attention to the Feeney Civilization’s army. As soon as they showed any signs of attempting to stop them, they would turn around and flee right away.
However, the Feeney Civilization never reacted at all. They just remained stationary and watched the Guild of Gods clean up the battlefield and retrieve their players. Seeing this, the guild fleet became more daring and sped up the retrieving of the players.
Even when the guild fleet had retrieved all the players, the Feeney Civilization still did not make any move.
“Weird, why aren’t they doing anything?”
Jupiter was confused.
Nonetheless, since they were not going to stop them, he did not plan to stay there any longer. Suppressing the confusion in his mind, he ordered the fleet to retreat.
The guild fleet rapidly left Planet Burger and disappeared. At this point, the Feeney Civilization army finally moved. Part of its fleet chased after the guild fleet, while other ships landed on the surface to clean the city ruins and rescue the survivors.
The command ships stopped at the dock, and the hatch opened. The fleet commander walked down the gangway with a frustrated expression and saw the Planet Burger manger walking toward him angrily right away.
After the guild fleet retreated, only then did the Planet Burger manager dare climb out of the safehouse underground. He had been waiting there for quite some time and started questioning the commander immediately.
“What was going on? You didn’t pick up my communication request, nor did you pick up my calls. Didn’t the people above say they sent you here to assist us? Why didn’t you attack? Even letting these brutes leave? What the hell are you people here for?”
The fleet commander did not look happy either. Suppressing the frustration in his heart, he explained, “All of the fleet’s artificial intelligence systems stopped working earlier. Someone took over all our ships. We could not control them at all. Plus, our communication channels with the outside world were all cut off too. We could not contact anyone.”
The Planet Burger manager’s enraged expression froze. He said with shock, “What happened?”
“Someone paralyzed our fleet, most likely a Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic…” The fleet commander lowered his voice subconsciously.
Startled, the Planet Burger manager quickly looked around as if he suspected someone was monitoring him.
“Don’t be so nervous, I’m just speculating,” the fleet commander said.
He was filled with frustration. Initially, the order he received was to work with Dafis to capture these brutes. However, when he arrived at the scene, he was shocked to realize that the fleet’s artificial intelligence system was not working at all. Not only that, someone even controlled their spaceships to launch a round of fire at Dafis. He could do nothing but watch Dafis die and those brutes leave. Only after that did he regain control of the spaceships.
The enemy’s hacking was untraceable. The crew of the fleet had absolutely no way of fighting against it, and they could only stare at the ‘Candy Crush’ on their screens.
If these brutes really came from the Black Star Army, Black Star might have done this personally… It was because of this speculation that the fleet commander did not dare to make any extreme moves. Even after he regained control of the ships, he only sent a small fleet after the enemies while he cheekily remained on the planet. “Then… What do we do now?” The Planet Burger manager was still shocked.
The fleet commander sighed. “I’ve already reported what happened here to the upper echelons. Let’s wait for their response. This is not a decision we can make.” At this time, his communicator rang. An upper echelon of the Feeney Civilization came online, looked at the two of them, and said with a deep voice, “This was a private battle. The two sides conflicted in Dafis’ headquarters, and the law enforcement went to investigate. Dafis used the law enforcements to escape all the way to Planet Burger and landed on the planet surface without having obtained approval, wanting to make use of the planet’s garrison fleet to stop his enemies. Because of that, he brought disaster to the planet’s residents. Before we could banish him, the second group of brutes came and attacked the planet. Understood?”
The Planet Burger manager was stunned for a second, then understood the meaning behind this and hastily nodded.
Planet Burger suffered huge casualties, and it became a big matter in the civilization. The upper echelons wanted to reduce its influence and remove their responsibility for the matter. Therefore, from now on, Dafis had absolutely no connection with them; everything he did was based on his own will.
The emissary did not exist, nor was he, the planet manager, ordered to protect Dafis. As long as they did not say anything, on the surface, Dafis was using them and brought the disaster to Planet Burger. Planet Burger was just the victim… This way, the rage of the Feeney Civilization citizens would be transferred onto these brutes, and the upper echelons did not have to take the blame for it.
“What about us?” the fleet commander asked.
The upper echelon glanced at him and slowly said, “You guys were dispatched to stop this disaster. Dafis brought the disaster, so the army prioritized killing him, successfully eliminating the brute who caused this. After that, you let the other group of brutes leave because they took citizens of the Planet Burger hostage. Hence, your army let them leave for the time being, only chasing after them later, shifting the battlefield, all to reduce the civilian casualties, understood?”
“Understood.”
The fleet commander heaved a sigh of relief while giving the upper echelon a thumbs up in his mind.
It was still the same matter, but just by changing how they described it, it felt completely different. Not only were most of the responsibilities removed from them, but they also emphasized their image of protecting the safety of their citizens. Marvelous!
At this time, the upper echelon suddenly changed his tone. He said with a bit of anger, “Of course, this is just to calm the citizens down. As for those Immortals, we will openly condemn their actions and bring the attention of the public to them. We will also report to the Civilization Conference and ask the three Universal Civilizations to give us an explanation!”
“Emphasize that they’re the Black Star Army’s men?” the Planet Burger manager asked.
“No, we can only say they might be from the Black Star Army. Just emphasize that they’re Immortals…” The upper echelon clenched his teeth.
The fleet was taken over instantly. It was most likely the doing of a Beyond Grade A Virtual Mechanic and not just an ordinary Beyond Grade A; it might very likely be Black Star himself.
The reason the Feeney Civilization was not afraid of offending the Black Star Army was that the army was too far from the Endless Nebulae. However, since Black Star might have acted personally, they had to hold back to a certain extent.
However, the Feeney Civilization was not going to just put up with this. They suffered severe civilian casualties, so as the victims, they had the moral high ground. They were definitely going to make a big deal out of it. Of course, they also considered the possibility of Black Star having the evidence of them protecting Dafis.
However, this risk was not enough to turn them into cowards. The Feeney Civilization clearly knew that even if they were found out to have protected Dafis, they would still have the moral high ground. The side that actively slaughtered civilians would always be the side that was wrong. Them protecting Dafis would not be the main cause of it, but the fact that these Immortals did not retreat and still attacked… This was the logic of the galactic society, the rules set by the Peace Treaty.
Actually, the upper echelons very much wanted to insist these Immortals were from the Black Star Army. However, when they tried finding evidence earlier, they discovered that all evidence that pointed toward the army disappeared. This group of Immortals suddenly became a ‘ghost team’ with unknown origins.
These upper echelons knew that someone had erased the evidence. While they were frustrated, they could not do anything about Black Star.
Nonetheless, the fact that they were Immortals was already a clue. After all, the entire universe now knew that the organization with the most Immortal members was the Black Star Army… The Feeney Civilization was only giving the three Universal Civilizations ammo for their conflict with the association. As long as this happened, their plan could be executed even without solid evidence.
Several days later, an announcement made by the Feeney Civilization in the Endless Nebulae caused a sensation in the galactic society.
The topic of the announcement was the Planet Burger Massacre, where a large number of citizens were killed. The Feeney Civilization expressed strong condemnation for such a violent deed, stating they would find whoever was responsible and make them pay. Driven by those with motives, the message that it was a group of Immortals who were suspected to be members of the Black Star Army who attacked the colonial planet was spread quickly, attracting wide attention. If it was wanted criminals who attacked a colonial planet, this would be a police matter at most, and the galactic residents would not dwell on it much.
However, the big boss of the Beyond Grade A Association was suspected to be involved in this. As a giant organization of the Lawful Faction, they violated the Peace Treaty and slaughtered civilians. At such a sensitive time, this matter immediately became a political issue and sparked intense public discussion!
That was especially so when the Feeney Civilization reported this to the Civilization Conference, crying and asking the three Universal Civilizations to pressure and question the Black Star Army, hoping to investigate and find out the truth. The matter became even bigger.
In the next few days, the three Universal Civilizations took the ammo from the Feeney Civilization, fully activating their propaganda machine, and started to verbally condemn the Black Star Army in all directions. At the same time, they increased the matter to involve the Beyond Grade A Association too, strongly questioning the association’s purpose and its ‘justice’.
The Star System civilizations were within the protection range of the ‘Peace Treaty’. Such a violent act of slaughtering civilians on a colonial planet caused everyone to be enraged. Even the Super Star Cluster did not dare show support to the association at this point of time and remained quiet.
Emotions needed a place to vent. Driven by the advanced situations, although the Feeney Civilization only claimed that the brutes were suspected to be from the Black Star Army and had no proof, ordinary people did not care about that. They directly assumed that the Black Star Army was responsible for it. Their fear and hatred toward the Supers and Immortals that had been suppressed for a very long time turned into overwhelming verbal condemnations… After all, they had the most Immortals in the entire universe, so who else could they scold?
Han Xiao became the main target of the condemnation. With the advanced civilizations controlling the tempo, tons of civilians ignored what he did in the past and infinitely exaggerated the importance of this matter. They started to question why a leader who allowed his subordinates to do such horrible acts could receive the ‘Stuarts Peace Prize’ and the ‘Galaxy Medal’. How could he possibly have the right to be respected by the galactic society? There was no way the three Universal Civilizations were going to let such an amazing opportunity slip past. They started to go all out to damage Han Xiao’s image-as long as they could take away the ‘reputation amulet’ that they had once built for Han Xiao, they would have the ‘moral high ground’.
With the operations of the advanced civilizations, the Planet Burger massacre became a fuse that intensified the conflicting emotions of the ordinary people and the Supers.
Countless galactic residents were worried. As ordinary people, no one wanted to be dragged into wars between Supers and die for no reason.
The influence this matter had on the ordinary people was that they supported the three Universal Civilizations’ pressure toward the Beyond Grade A Association more and more. From their perspective, of course, they wished that all Supers could be strictly controlled by civilizations so that disasters would not fall onto them one day for no reason.
Suddenly, the people’s request to attack the Beyond Grade A Association received more and more support… However, that was where it stopped. The three Universal Civilizations only used this opportunity to damage their reputation; they did not plan to make a move yet.
Faced with such aggressive accusations, the Black Star Army only made a simple announcement, saying it would investigate internally and only make an announcement when they come to a conclusion. Plus, the Black Star Army warned the Feeney Civilization not to accuse them without evidence. Then, they remained quiet no matter how noisy the outside world got.
…
In a desolate universe belt in the Endless Nebulae, the Guild of Gods fleet was slowly flying Tons of guild pillars were standing and sitting around while looking at the forums casually, giggling with joy from time to time.
“President, look, our deeds have already been written into the Galaxy Chronicles. Our first guild kill has been acknowledged.”
Poseidon was overjoyed. Jupiter looked at the forums. The Guild of Gods making the first guild kill of a Calamity Grade had filled the pages for many days and gained a ton of fame for the club. He was also rewarded by the upper echelons of the club because of this.
However, looking at the praise on the forums, Jupiter was not that happy but distracted.
Poseidon noticed and asked, “What’s wrong? You don’t look too happy.” Jupiter shook his head and said with a worried tone, “Don’t you all watch the galactic news? It’s a mess out there. We caused big problems for the army this time…” The emotions of the galactic society got worse day by day, and Jupiter was very worried. However, he did not regret it. After all, achieving the first guild kill was too amazing an achievement. He would probably make the same choice even if he went back in time. Only, he could not help but be worried about how the army would deal with this.
Those members who caused problems for the army in the past did not end up well, so he had examples to learn from. Although the Guild of Gods did not do this on purpose, since the matter had become so big, Jupiter was unsure what the army’s stand was on this.
He had been waiting for the army to contact him all these days, but it never did, and he became more and more anxious.
Buzz!
Suddenly, the spaceship’s communication system suddenly activated on its own, attracting everyone’s attention. Han Xiao’s remote projection suddenly appeared in front of them. “Army Commander?”
The various players present, including Jupiter, were all startled. They did not expect Black Star to come so suddenly.
Han Xiao scanned over everyone and stopped at Jupiter. With a poker face, he cut to the chase and said, “Don’t you owe me an explanation?”
Jupiter’s heart skipped a beat, and a resigned expression appeared on his face.
He knew he was in the wrong. What he did caused huge problems for his faction. Facing the questioning of the leader of his faction whom he had spent five versions with, he did not know what to say.
Seeing that he did not say anything, Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and purposely paused.
When he secretly saw that some of the guild players around started recording, he then continued
“You acted on your own without reporting to the army, which is why things escalated to this point, giving our enemies reasons to make the public condemn us. I’m very dissatisfied with this.”
Hearing this, their hearts sank.
However, Jupiter expected this. It would be weird of Black Star did not react to such a huge matter.
He sighed.
“… How will the army punish us?” Han Xiao looked around, viewing everyone’s expressions, snorted, and said, “I’ll be straightforward. This time, the army won’t give you any punishments. We’re all old comrades from the Planet Aquamarine, so just this time… I’ll settle it for you! But if there’s a next time, don’t blame me for following the rules!”
Everyone was stunned.
Seeing Han Xiao’s tone earlier, they were all mentally prepared to be punished by the faction. When they suddenly heard this, they froze.
Jupiter originally thought he would be heavily punished this time but was stunned. Suddenly, his memories since Version 1.0 resurfaced. He was both relieved about not having to be punished and touched by Han Xiao’s words. As a professional guild leader on a salary, what he had in mind had always been how to operate the guild better. Although he also had some emotional attachment to the Black Star Army after so many years, he did not see the army as his own faction like the normal players. The interests of the guild were his priority.
However, at this time, he still felt great warmth in his heart. He felt a sense of nostalgia in Han Xiao’s words.
However, though touched, Jupiter still could not help but ask, “Is this really ok? We caused bad influences after all…”
Han Xiao waved. “I understand the situation. If you people attacked a colonial planet out of nowhere, the army would strictly follow the rules and deal with you. However, your target was an enemy who kept disrupting your mission, and your mission in that area could not be carried out if you didn’t kill him. Since I told you guys to take over the black market, I gave you some freedom. Although I’m not very satisfied with how you guys overdid it… since the Feeney Civilization chose to protect your enemy, they’re an obstacle to our progress of taking over the black market, and they have to deal with the consequences of it. I can’t let them bully my men.”
“But the public opinion…”
Han Xiao interrupted him and casually said, “Although you guys were the fuse, the main conflict is still between us and the three Universal Civilizations. Even without this incident, they would find something else to shift the public opinion against us. I’m not going to punish the army’s members because of my opponent’s method of fighting us. Therefore, you guys don’t have to pay for the pressure from the outside world this time.”
Jupiter coughed and softly said, “But you became a target of the public too. Aren’t you worried about your reputation…”
Han Xiao shook his head and said, “I hope you guys can reflect on your mistake this time. It’s perfectly fine to eliminate enemies. If you come across enemies who disrupt the army’s mission again, do what you need to, but be mindful of the impact it might cause and make sure to do it cleanly. Unless left with no choice, don’t drag civilians into it. Request the army’s assistance if you need to, but don’t act alone again like this time and cause a large impact.”
Then, Han Xiao looked around at everyone’s pleasantly surprised faces and nodded in his mind. He believed these b*stards all understood his hint.
Ever since the start, he never wanted to completely forbid things like this but allowed it. He only wanted to guide them and make sure they did things cleanly, which he could not say out loud directly.
From the way he looked at it, what had happened had already happened. No matter what explanation he gave the outside world, it was not going to end up well. Therefore, he might as well ignore the public opinion guided by the three Universal Civilizations and let the army members do what they wanted to do, increasing the threat of the ‘Cancer of the Universe’ while removing the positive image the army had. Before he opposed the three Universal Civilizations, the three Universal Civilizations had always been promoting him and increasing his reputation, making the galactic residents give him all kinds of titles and auras. They did these things both to praise him and restrain him; it was a double-edged sword.
With reputation, the actions of the army were restricted. If they did something that violated the rules, they would suffer for it. This was the rope the three Universal Civilizations tried to put on the army.
Han Xiao knew very well that as the form of conflict became more complex, remaining in the rules set by the opponent would only make things more difficult. Therefore, although the players caused a big mess this time, it could be a chance to adjust his strategy.
Wanted criminals like EsGod did tons of extremely evil things, but most people were only afraid of them and did not dare say anything. This was because they knew they were evil villains and did not dare mess with them. One of the important reasons the outside world dared to condemn and scold the Black Star Army was that, in their hearts, the Black Star Army was once ‘good’, and ‘good’ entities could be messed with.
After being ‘good’ for too long, others fear him less and less… Those many civilizations who responded to the call of the three Universal Civilizations and obstructed the association from uniting the black market more or less had this attitude. They felt that they had the Peace Treaty ‘amulet’, so they thought the Black Star Army would not dare violate the rules and do anything to them.
Clearly, this mindset was part of the reason the Feeney Civilization used its colonial planet to protect Dafis. If they really cared about the casualties of their citizens, they would not have done that.
If the other civilizations learned from them and improved on it, the association’s work would only get tougher as time went on.
If the threat of the Cancer of the Universe increased through the Planet Burger incident and the outside world could see that there were a group of violent brutes in the army who were not afraid of violating the rules, some civilizations and Calamity Grade organizations would think twice before deciding to stand against the association…
Play and mess around all you like, but don’t take the Cancer of the Universe lightly!
As long as things like this happened several times and they became afraid and intimidated, a lot of trouble could be avoided, which was beneficial to speeding up the takeover of the black market.
However, these things could not be said out loud. Therefore, the army was not going to admit to any accusations and would insist they were false. As for the truth, the outsiders would have to guess.
As for the public opinion… the three Universal Civilizations controlled the most powerful promotion tool, so his reputation would be damaged sooner or later. Han Xiao was already prepared for it. There was definitely a price to pay for standing against the three Universal Civilizations. Plus, his reputation and image were unreal.
Armed organizations were not civilizations, after all. The things they cared about were different. In the current situation, public opinion did not matter at all. No matter how bad it got, when it came to what mattered, the three Universal Civilizations would not dare make a move.
When he was working with the three Universal Civilizations, a positive reputation was beneficial for the army to obtain more partners and create a profit network. Now that the three Universal Civilizations had made a law that prohibited any civilization and consortium from working with the association, reputation no longer played a part. The image of being ‘good’ was useless; instead, being ‘bad’ worked better.
Because of exactly this, Han Xiao did not mind switching the army’s reputation. To him, they were just different paths. As long as it could help him reach his goal, he would use whichever was better.
When the World Tree war broke out, the negative image would be meaningless. No one would care about such trivial matters then.
Of course, even though he decided to take the ‘bad’ path, there was still a limit to things. Therefore, he still had to restrain the players’ actions to a certain extent. Hence, he personally criticized Jupiter and the others to subtly express his attitude. Causing small scale accidental casualties when fighting bosses was fine, but doing it deliberately was not allowed.
With what had happened, if the players crossed the line again in the future and he ‘followed the rules’ to punish them, most players would accept it.
Since he was going to insist that the army was not involved to the outside world and not stop the other players from imitating it, plus the Guild of Gods made the symbolic first kill which received much more attention among the players and acted within the limits, there was no need to give them any punishment today. Of course, he was not going to reward them either. The guild had to pay for the cost of fighting a boss.
Although this somewhat went against the ‘punish all mistakes’ rule, there was no right or wrong to most decisions made in complicated situations, only what was suitable or not. The rules had to be adjusted often.
Another reason for this was that Han Xiao knew very clearly who the teammates worth earning currently were—the players were the foundation of his rapid growth. His level 360 Promotion was extremely crucial and had to be done as soon as possible. Therefore, knowing his priorities, there was no need to hesitate.
As the enemy started it, unless the players retaliated too strongly, Han Xiao was neither going to stop them nor punish them. Otherwise, he would give them a feeling that they could only get beaten and not fight back, which would impact their sense of belonging to the faction severely, making them frustrated and possibly leave the faction.
Back in Version 4.0, the Black Star Army fought with multiple small factions. The small factions chose to restrain them and blame the players, while the Black Star Army protected its members and poached their players. Han Xiao was an expert in harvesting leeks; he was not going to make such a rookie mistake.
After all, players could not be easily restrained by simple management methods. Them challenging Calamity Grades was something that was bound to happen. Han Xiao knew the players’ mindset very well.
Since we can’t fight bosses properly here, we can just leave this faction. No way are we not going to fight bosses.
Han Xiao knew that not everyone had a strong sense of belonging to the faction.
As players grew stronger, their need for the faction would gradually decrease. Strength was what mattered most. With strength, they had the right to negotiate their prices and could be treated well anywhere. Plus, Han Xiao never doubted the players’ interest in creating their own factions. At this stage, the importance of profit had decreased among the factors that attracted the players to remain in the army. Instead, sense of belonging and habits proportionally increased. His long-term investments in the past netted more and more returns.
Therefore, Han Xiao spoke with the Guild of Gods personally to promote his ’emotional attachment’ to the forums.
He already controlled the spaceship artificial intelligence, so the players could only use their interfaces to record. Therefore, this video would only circulate between the players. No one else would be able to see it.
“I understand. We’ll definitely report to the army in the future for operations like this,” Jupiter answered.
“Hmm, good.” Han Xiao nodded. “Work hard and control the black market of this area soon.”
After saying a few more words, Han Xiao ended the communication, and his remote projection disappeared.
The Guild of Gods exchanged looks and were all smiling with relief.
This feeling of being protected is amazing!
“Poseidon, I recorded the conversation. Should I put it on the forums?” Poseidon asked.
“Yes!” Overjoyed, Jupiter waved and said, “This is Black Star’s personal stand, which means we have new information that’s beneficial to everyone. Post it on the guild’s behalf!”
The Guild of Gods’ first Calamity Grade kill remained popular on the forums. Players were talking about it all the time. Although the Temple of God team had gotten quite a lot of blame in the past few years, they finally recovered from this first kill. Many players acknowledged and praised their achievement while feeling curious about the army’s attitude toward this matter.
Although the galactic society was condemning this incident, the players did not give a damn. They all saw the post the Guild of Gods posted, which showed the entire incident, and Dafis clearly opposed the army. Plus, the Feeney Civilization protected Dafis first. From the way they looked at it, the Feeney Civilization deserved it and brought it upon themselves.
However, the condemnation from the outside world did indeed bring trouble to the army.
Therefore, many players were waiting to see what the army would do to the Guild of Gods.
Meanwhile, seeing that the Guild of Gods started it, the other large clubs also had the same thoughts.
Although the first kill was gone, killing a Calamity Grade boss was a display of a guild’s strength. The way the clubs looked at it, when more and more guilds killed Calamity Grade bosses, it would most likely become one of the basic criteria of becoming a big guild. When recruiting new members, if they saw that this guild had not even killed a Calamity Grade boss before, they would instantly be less attracted. Clearly, the big guilds of the various countries did not want to lose competitiveness.
However, their thoughts were only limited to that for the time being. Since the Guild of Gods did it first, the other guilds were waiting to see how the army dealt with it. They were going to make plans based on the army’s stand. One way or another, they had to fight bosses, only with different methods.
Observed by many players, the Guild of Gods’ official account released a video. The content of it was their conversation with Han Xiao. In just a few minutes, it was pinned to the top manually and received wide attention on the forums.
The players were surprised by Han Xiao’s attitude and excitedly discussed it.
(The Germinal Organization Leader Is Always Watching: No punishment, Old Black is so generous!]
(Coolest Kid on Planet Aquamarine: Hahaha, I knew the army commander would be sensible. Otherwise, anyone could just hide on colonial planets after attacking us, and we wouldn’t be able to attack them. This is the right decision.)
[Princess Feet: The army commander expressed his intention clearly. As long as we don’t go overboard when fighting back, the army will back us up. Nice.]
[Army Commander’s Big PP: Thank the Guild of Gods brothers for avenging me, amazingly done!)
(Poseidon: Now this is a reliable leader. Old Black never changed.)
(Bun-Hit-Dog: I’m new here, is this how he treats his old comrades? I’m so touched.]
The many players analyzed and discussed on the forums, confirming Black Star’s intentions.
Firstly, when the guilds fought bosses, as long as it was an enemy, not only would the army not stop them from doing it, but it would also encourage it to a certain extent. For example, the army could provide some technological support, help them to create an undisrupted environment, and trap the target.
If they accidentally caused casualties while fighting bosses, as long as they had a reason such as someone protecting their enemy and they did not overdo it, the army would not punish them. Although Black Star did not clearly state what would be considered overdoing it, with the Guild of Gods example, as long as they did not go beyond that, it would definitely be fine.
Many Chinese players were very touched by Han Xiao’s words. As for the majority of players who joined in the later versions, although they did not have much emotional attachment toward Black Star personally, they still felt good about the army’s way of dealing with the incident.
Many guilds were also less worried.
They were worried that the Guild of Gods might be heavily punished, such as getting sealed by the Spacetime Amber. They did not want their guild pillars to face the risk of having their accounts ‘banned and would have no choice but to consider leaving the army. But since the faction’s stand on this was sensible, they did not have to prepare for the worst.
Over the next ten days or so, the three Universal Civilizations continued to stir up public discussion about the topic. All kinds of verbal condemnations kept increasing. The public wanted the Black Star Army to give them an explanation and get rid of those who were involved.
However, the Black Star Army remained firm. The Black Star Army could explain how the Feeney Civilization protected Dafis on purpose, but there was no need to. They only stated that they were still investigating the matter and would not give in to such an accusation that had zero evidence, completely ignoring the public opinion the three Universal Civilizations deliberately stirred up.
The civilizations in the various Star Fields searched for the details through all kinds of channels. None of them believed what the three Universal Civilizations pushed the public to believe easily. They knew that there were definitely some things that were not publicized, and the truth could not possibly be as one-sided as the public believed. However, Planet Burger was indeed attacked. Even if there was more to the incident, the laws were indeed violated. Hence, the various civilizations were only watching and did not do anything
Seeing the Black Star Army’s attitude in this storm, many Star Systems sensed something.
The Peace Treaty set by the three Universal Civilizations had always been their protection. Anyone who violated the laws would be strictly punished. This was one of the key reasons they remained the rulers. For all this time, the Black Star Army had been following the laws like a tiger hiding its teeth and claws. The public gradually forgot about just how dangerous this tiger was out of habit… However, in a special time like now, if the Black Star Army no longer followed the laws strictly, could the three Universal Civilizations restrain them?
The answer was clear-hardly, if at all.
Currently, the three Universal Civilizations had used the laws against the association and closed the galactic society toward it. This was much more severe than the punishment of violating the laws. However, with that, the three Universal Civilizations had no further method of punishing the association anymore other than to start a war, which the association was not afraid of at all… The various civilizations knew that if the three Universal Civilizations were willing to start a war, they would not have waited this long. In this situation, the various civilizations no longer felt that the three Universal Civilizations had the ability to force the association to follow the galactic laws. This meant that the strength of the protection from the Peace Treaty would definitely decrease.
Of course, judging from the Black Star Army’s attitude, they probably did not intend to openly violate the galactic laws. However, as for the things that were in the gray area, Black Star most likely no longer held back. As for the three Universal Civilizations, they would definitely make a decision that caused the least problems for them. As long as the association did not deliberately attack a civilization, the three Universal Civilizations would most likely only make the public condemn them. The three Universal Civilizations doing something about it was not going to happen.
Having understood these things, many civilizations that answered to the three Universal Civilizations’ call started to hesitate. If the Black Star Army no longer restrained themselves, the effects of the laws decreased tremendously. Clearly, continuing to oppose the association was no longer wise. Even if they stood on the three Universal Civilizations’ side, they would only be used and would have to deal with the damage on their own in the end.
Facing this situation, many civilizations made similar decisions.
When these two giants fight, we’re the ones suffering. We can’t mess with either side, so it’s better to keep a low profile. Responding to the three Universal Civilizations is one thing, but we’d better turn a blind eye regarding the Beyond Grade A Association’s act of uniting the black markets everywhere. The three Universal Civilizations can send their own people to stop them all they like. We’re not going to put in as much effort anymore.
This decision quickly circulated between the upper echelons of the various galactic civilizations. Even the Feeney Civilization was no longer as confident when seeing this. When they were interviewed by the media, although they still condemned the act, their word choice became less extreme and more cautious.
“Cancer of the Universe…”
Holmes browsed the messages on the quantum network and had a grave look.
He was a Calamity Grade super who operated an armed force in the Sea of Star Spirits. He was quite famous in the local Star System.
Ever since the Planet Burger incident got so big, Holmes had paid close attention to it.
He had come to know Dafis when he went to the Endless Nebulae on business in the past. The two of them became friends and occasionally chatted. Because of that, he knew about Dafis’ recent work.
Inspired by Dafis, Holmes also secretly worked with the local civilization and did what Dafis was doing. Through obstructing the act of uniting the black market, he obtained resources and benefits from the civilization.
However, this incident startled Holmes.
He was not as strong as Dafis. When Dafis messed with the Cancer of the Universe and got chased all the way till he was killed, he became alarmed too.
While secretly obstructing the association, Holmes had killed some Immortals too. He could not help but be afraid of the Immortals grouping up and targeting him. He was not as arrogant as Dafis and did not think he could deal with the revenge of tons of Immortals.
There were risks to opposing the association to begin with. Holmes only agreed to working with the local civilization because they promised to protect him when needed.
However, the Black Star Army’s response to the Planet Burger incident scared him. The Cancers of the Universe were very firm about taking revenge, so much so they were willing to violate galactic law. While the Black Star Army refused to admit anything… how useful could the protection the local civilization promised him be?
“The risk is getting higher. If the Cancers of the Universe come to take revenge, my life will be in danger too… I can’t keep doing this.”
With a worried expression, Holmes took out the communicator and called his contact in the local civilization.
Very soon, the contact appeared on the screen and smiled respectfully.
“Your Excellency Holmes, what can I do for you?”
Holmes cut to the chase and said with a grave tone, “From now on, our partnership will be terminated. I will no longer deal with the association’s men taking over the black market for you guys.”
The contact was stunned, surprised. He said hastily, “This is… so sudden. Is there anything you’re not satisfied with in the agreement? We can talk about it. I’ll…”
Holmes interrupted him and said with a deep voice, “My mind is set. Tell your upper echelons, the partnership stops here. I quit.” As he said that, not giving the contact a chance to reply, Holmes hung up the call right away. He stood up, walked back and forth in the room, and was still a little worried.
Hesitating for a while, Holmes clenched his teeth and walked toward the dock.
“I can’t stay in my headquarters. The enemies might come. I shall go somewhere to hide for some time.”
In the Central Galaxy, the three Universal Civilization leaders’ conference room…
“Hmm, the Black Star Army’s response is expected. Black Star indeed won’t fall for this.”
Louis looked at the report from the Public Opinion Control Department and nodded at the other two.
“Humph, of course. If Black Star was naive enough to respond and sell out his men, he’d be too easy to deal with. We wouldn’t have to put in this much effort.” Marbruce crossed his arms and snorted.
The Feeney Civilization provided them with an opportunity, and they took it; that was all. They only wanted to damage Black Star’s positive reputation and never expected to force Black Star to obey using the public opinion. That would clearly be daydreaming.
The church’s pope tapped the table and said, “Although Black Star’s positive reputation is decreasing and we have the moral high ground, he also used this to defuse the locks we had on him, which will only make the various civilizations fear him more. Instead of causing problems for him, it’s become a problem for us.” “Using the cancers of the universe to do the dirty work and intimidate others, what a good plan.” Louis frowned. “According to the intelligence, many Star System civilizations are already unwilling to continue sending people to hold the black market. Looks like we have no choice but to send our Immortals too.”
“Hmm, cancers of the universe against cancers of the universe, it’s the most efficient way.” Marbruce nodded.
The three Universal Civilizations had raised some Immortals too. To them, letting Immortals fight each other was clearly more efficient than spending their direct troops. After all, they would not feel hurt if the Immortals died.
The church’s pope said with a deep voice, “But the Immortals are very difficult to control and restrain. If they make a mess…”
The three of them exchanged looks and were all troubled.
The players in the three Universal Civilizations were just as difficult to control. They caused quite a number of problems, but the three Universal Civilizations did not have any good methods of dealing with them. They had punished them many times, but some of them just left the faction and joined some other organization. Some even became wanted criminals. Because they controlled these Immortals too strictly, they lost quite a number of them.
As Version 5.0 began, the strength of the players started to increase again. The three Universal Civilizations realized the seriousness of the matter too and suspected the Immortals had the potential to become Calamity Grades.
If that day ever came, the cancers of the universe would be the most suitable opponents for the cancers of the universe. Therefore, they had to have enough Immortals in their hands and could not afford to lose any more of them. Hence, the three Universal Civilizations gave the players special treatment, not punishing them unless absolutely necessary. However, they still could not stop the Immortals from leaving. The three Universal Civilizations had always been beleaguered by this matter.
Hence, the three of them were very envious of the Black Star Army. The Immortals who they could not control were already very obedient in the Black Star Army’s hands. In the entire universe, the Black Star Army restrained the Immortals most effectively.
Now, the Black Star Army showed signs of taking away this restraint, and if it really did it…
Marbruce shook his head, changed the topic, and said, “Sigh, let’s skip this for now. The most important matter now is to confirm if Black Star can freely use the Sanctum Revival.”
The other two shook their heads but still looked grave.
If the Black Star Army’s Immortals continued to grow, it was very likely that in the future…
Black Star would become the one to decide how peaceful the Galaxy was!
Chapter 1294 Memory File and First Unique Talent
As time passed and the galactic civilization saw that the three Universal Civilizations still did not make any move, they realized the situation. Knowing the three Universal Civilizations could not do anything to the Black Star Army, the public gradually condemned the Black Star Army less.
On one day, the Super Star Cluster Alliance received an anonymous piece of information that stated how the Feeney Civilization protected Dafis. The Super Star Cluster Alliance then released this piece of information without hesitation and promoted it, quickly shifting the public opinion in another direction.
At this point, the masterminds behind this incident basically all got what they wanted and stopped making moves. Without those who guided the public opinion, very soon, voices online quietened down. The galactic society was never in shortage of topics and news, other new events quickly attracted the attention of the galactic residents.
However, the impact this incident caused remained.
The various civilizations adjusted their strategy, no longer willing to participate in the conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the association. They stopped part of their disruptions of the black market, making the work of the various Beyond Grade A organizations easier.
Without the local civilizations working for free, the three Universal Civilizations dispatched their own Immortals to interfere in the black market conflict and deal with the Black Star Army’s Immortals.
The conflict between players had no restraints. In the next month or so, the two sides fought intensely. Many planets with black markets became battlefields. With the technological aid from the army, the various big guilds eliminated hostile Calamity Grade Supers one after another. The Cancer of the Universe title became more and more recognized.
Han Xiao, however, did not pay attention to how boisterous it got in the outside world. While the two sides were fighting night and day, he spent most of the time in the lab, reverse engineering SWY-001 continuously while building new Universal Treasures to increase his God’s Trait Transformation stage.
One day, he finally made a breakthrough in the reverse engineering of SWY-001.
In the bright research lab, SWY-001’s enormous body was fixed in the middle covered in tons of operating multifunctional mechanical arms, doing all kinds of reverse analysis.
Mechanical assistants flew around SWY-001 in midair, transporting parts from time to time like bees.
Han Xiao hovered in midair at the same height with SWY-001’s head. Beside him was a round anti-gravity worktable. Tons of neatly arranged virtual screens surrounded him, showing all kinds of parameters nonstop. He commanded the various research teams through this worktable.
“The deciphering is finally done…”
Han Xiao let out a deep breath.
After more than a month, he had finally deciphered the many modules of SWY-001. Of course, the memory file was the most important among them. He already deciphered it completely and turned it into readable data.
On the virtual screen, tons of information was displayed. The meaningless data was all filtered out, leaving only the essence of SWY-001.
Han Xiao browsed through. The useful information could mainly be classified into three groups. One was the various technology this mechanical body used, another was the blueprints in the memories of those Mechanics who sacrificed themselves, and the last was their memories about that unknown civilization.
The name of this Universal Civilization eliminated by the World Tree Civilization was ‘Karma Republic’ after translating it into the galaxy common language.
Unlike the explored universe, the Karma Republic was the only Universal Civilization in the area it was in. It took over all the other races in its area, turning them into its own subsidiary civilizations and had absolutely control over them. The Karma Republic even distributed all of their territories and lands.
They created a surveillance system and came up with Civilization Levels. They made the rule that the results of the research and developments of all civilizations had to be reported, copied, and given to the Karma Republic. If they made breakthroughs, they would gain ‘Civilization Points’. With enough points, the civilization would be allowed to level up and receive better privileges with the Karma Republic’s approval.
If a civilization could not make any technological breakthroughs in many years and could not reach the minimum point of a certain period, that civilization would be downgraded. The Karma Republic would retrieve all kinds of privileges including its territories.
The galactic society level of the Karma Republic was very strict. Although the competition between civilizations gave them a certain amount of motivation, overall, the atmosphere of the entire society was still quite boring. After all, all of their developments were monitored and controlled by the Karma Republic. They could see the end of their path right away. Most civilizations had no choice but to spend the majority of their resources on research projects to maintain their level or level up. As for the lives of their citizens, it was kept at the minimum.
Most citizens were only surviving too. Under
control of the Karma Republic, the cost of violating the law was way too high, so there was no point in doing it. The Super knowledges were also strictly controlled by the Karma Republic and could not be spread freely. The only way to learn them was legally. If things went on normally, the Karma Republic’s civilization strength would continue to rise as time passed, absorbing the nutrition of so many subsidiary civilizations at the same time. Sadly, they met the World Tree Civilization and were wiped out in the end.
As Super knowledges were strictly controlled, the Karma Republic had firm control over the various civilizations under them. However, because of that, they lacked high level combatants and had fewer than twenty Beyond Grade As. Plus, due to the lack of conflict, there were only two peak Beyond Grade As.
Both had its pros and cons. The three Universal Civilizations were worried about individual strength going out of control but accumulated tons more high-level combatants because of it. Chaos would breed more strong individuals. The Karma Republic did not have such worries, but when facing an exterior enemy, they ended up not having enough high-level combatants.
Facing the overwhelming attack of the World Tree Civilization, the high-level combatants of the Karma Republic almost collapsed on the spot. In the end, they were forced to use a technology called ‘Fusion Mechanical Ascension’ that only Mechanic Supers could use.
Through focusing the strength of one peak Beyond Grade A, tons of Grade As and Grade Bs, they aimed to help this peak Beyond Grade A break through the limits and turn into a real ‘Mechanical God’, stepping into the higher territory. However, it failed in the end. Although they did obtain a much stronger individual, he did not evolve and was defeated in battle surrounded by the people of the World Tree Civilization.
Han Xiao looked at the information of the technology. The interface showed that the name of the blueprint was (Fusion Mechanical Ascension). Other than the functions he already knew, the side effect was that the user’s personality would change and become a collective consciousness.
“This technology can’t reach its planned goal, but it is a breakthrough for them nonetheless. It’s not very useful to me on its own, but the modules formed after the fusion are very powerful. Maybe I can reverse engineer them, imitate their structure, and create a new Mechanical Deity?”
The SWY-001 was the combination of flesh and machinery. The flesh provided tons of Super cells that gave the machinery the Mechanical Force it needed. He had (Polar Channel Flow— Blood Rage), so he should be able to achieve the same effect if done correctly.
If he could successfully imitate SWY-001’s form, he had a feeling that his Mechanical Deity would undergo a huge change.
Other than (Fusion Mechanical Ascension], Han Xiao also obtained tons of blueprints from the mechanical body’s memory file. However, only the peak Beyond Grade A’s memories had a few Gold blueprints.
Han Xiao recorded all that technology before looking at the decipher page of the memory chip.
He was done deciphering the quantum network code of the Karma Republic and broke through the firewall long ago, so he could already rewrite SWY-001’s artificial intelligence program.
Han Xiao hesitated for a while before closing this page. He did not want to make modifications to it before finding out the connection between the artificial intelligence consciousness and SWY-001’s biological consciousness.
“Speaking of which, I’m not sure if there’s some kind of bonus to studying SWY-001 or not, but the trigger rate of my Unique Talent is quite high for some reason.”
Han Xiao looked at the interface. In the past month of studying SWY-001, the progress of obtaining a Unique Talent was triggered again and was at 75.8% now.
According to the previous progress it made every time it was triggered, a Unique Talent would be formed after triggering it two more times.
However, he had no idea when these two times would happen. Since he was only a quarter away from completing the progress, Han Xiao leaned toward completing it using Awakening Points. He did not do it in the past because his progress was too low, but now that he was very close to completing it, the cost became much lower.
The players had already been online for quite some time, and he had accumulated quite a lot of Experience. Although he was still far from the Promotion at level 360, leveling up a few levels was not a problem. Plus, when he used Random Rewards to try to acquire Mission Completion Cards, he sometimes got lucky and obtained Awakening Points too.
“Let’s try it. It should be doable.” Han Xiao put all his Experience into leveling up all the way to level 344 before it ran out.
He took out one Awakening Point, put it into his Unique Talent, and a notification popped up.
Use 1 Awakening Point to increase the progress of Unique Talent? (Confirm/Cancel]
Confirmed.
According to the level of this Unique Talent, 1 Awakening Point = 2.8%-3.2% progress.
Unique Talent Progress +3.02%.
Current Progress: 78.82%.
“A three-percent increase for one point on average…”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. This was much better than expected.
He would be able to obtain a Unique Talent with just about seven or eight more Awakening Points this way.
According to the rules of the Awakening Points, a hundred points could activate the basic structure of a Unique Talent, and the accumulation of progress would only start after that. Converting one Awakening Point to three percent, the cost of obtaining a Unique Talent from nothing would at least be 134 Awakening Points.
He had naturally activated the basic structure of his Unique Talent, then slowly accumulated the progress to about seventy-five percent, meaning he saved 125 Awakening Points.
“At most eight Awakening Points, which I have right now and don’t even have to level up abilities for. The cost is completely acceptable. I’ll do it.”
Han Xiao rubbed his hands. With excitement, he put one Awakening Point after another into the progress of his Unique Talent.
Very soon, with enough Awakening Points, the progress finally reached a hundred percent!
A notification popped up on the interface.
Unique Talent Awakened.
Please select one main focus for the talent from the three options below.
Basic Attributes.
Special Resistances.
Main Class Enhancements.
“Oh? So, this is how it is…”
Han Xiao raised his brows. He had thought the effects of a Unique Talent were completely random, but it turned out that he had a certain extent of freedom in choosing his preferences. This reminded him of creating his Racial Talent back when he became a Beyond Grade A.
There were not many choices. It was probably because the Unique Talent progressed naturally.
Maybe if he used Awakening Points since the start, he would be able to completely design it to his likings.
Han Xiao hesitated for a while, then chose the Main Class Enhancements.
Main focus confirmed.
Please select one secondary focus for the talent from the three options below.
Machinery Building.
Virtual Technology.
Machinery Combat.
“The two Unique Talents of old Manison are building and Virtual Technology, which should be strong enough for me…”
Han Xiao considered for a while, then chose the third choice.
Secondary focus confirmed.
Please replace one of the bonuses from the three options below.
Long-range Attacks.
Mechanical Force Enhancements.
Machinery Efficiency Enhancements.
“Replace one effect, huh? This means that these last three options are the bonuses given by the talent in the end.”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, pondered for a few seconds, and chose the first one. It was the only one that was slightly weaker than the other two.
Replacement complete.
(Long-range Attacks) randomly switched to (Class Main Attribute Bonus).
All preferences confirmed, creating Unique Talent…
Creation complete.
You have received Unique Talent ((Unnamed) – Han Xiao]!
(Unnamed)—Han Xiao: +10% Intelligence. In battle, +1.2 Mechanical Force multiplier, +1.3% machinery efficiency multiplier. All multipliers are applied after other bonuses
Remarks: (To be filled).
You have received your first Unique Talent. Difficulty of activating the next Unique Talent increased. Initial level of the next Unique Talent increased, meaning higher bonuses and more preferences.
“Overall multiplier bonus, huh? Quite powerful.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
The bonuses of this talent clearly reached the Molding Talent level.
Given his current Intellect, the ten-percent Intellect increase would give him a few thousand Intellect points. With the Mechanical Force strength and the Machinery Efficiency bonuses, his actual combat capability increased significantly. One of his Apostle Weapons could now fight a high level Beyond Grade A for some time.
Judging from the interface’s description, the difficulty in awakening Unique Talents increased each time he obtained one, but the effects would also be stronger. Old Manison had both a single bonus talent (Virtual Technology Innovation) and a large-scale bonus talent (Billion Mechanic Empire). Clearly, Manison obtained the latter many Unique Talents later than the former. Yet, Han Xiao acquired it easily.
“Sigh, Old Manison, oh Old Manison, how sad for you…”
Han Xiao sighed and was so sad he laughed.
Since his Unique Talent would get stronger after each one he acquired, he could not complain about his first Unique Talent. Only, he had no idea when he would trigger the brief structure of the next Unique Talent.
“I wonder if Old Manison has talents that increase the chances of awakening Unique Talents…”
Han Xiao subconsciously licked his lips and was tempted.
Thinking back, he had to admit that Old Manison really had a rich inventory. Sadly, he was an ally on his side now, or he might really be tempted to hack into Old Manison’s database… After all, others’ databases were way too tempting to Mechanics.
Putting this impulsive thought behind, Han Xiao looked at the interface. The name and the remarks of the talent had yet to be filled up, and he had a headache about it.
As an ‘expert’ in naming things, he had extremely low confidence in his ability to name things.
“What should I call it? I have to think of a proper name this time, or what will happen if the players get this talent through Character Summon Cards one day?” Han Xiao pondered for a while and filled in a name he felt was acceptable.
Having confirmed the name, the content of the talent was updated on the interface right away, and he could not change it again.
Emperor of War-Han Xiao
Remark: Born for wars.
“This name should be normal for this kind of fighting talent.”
Han Xiao felt it was fine, but he was not very sure about his naming sense. However, since he had already named it, he stopped dwelling on the matter.
As he was about to leave the lab and try out his new talent at a desolate planet nearby, his communicator suddenly rang.
He took out to look at it, and to his surprise, it was the head of the Land of Four Gods, the elderly whom he beat up before, ‘Mystery Mage’ Joey Terrain.
He accepted the communication request, and Joey appeared on the screen.
“What is it? Have you contacted me because you guys made up your minds?” Han Xiao sounded interested.
Joey looked a little gloomy, took a deep breath, and said softly, “We agree to join the Beyond Grade A Association, but we hope to keep our freedom. Plus, the coordinates of the Land of Four Gods must remain a secret to the other members. We’ll attend the plenaries, and if something important happens, we’ll also provide assistance, but we won’t be forced… Is this okay?”
Han Xiao smiled.
These four b*stards finally made up their minds. This was probably their limit.
“Sure, this is a good start. With you guys, the association will become stronger. I won’t publicize the coordinates of your secondary dimension, and the association doesn’t force its members to do anything. However, I’ll mention you guys are Beyond Grade As who retired. Plus, you guys have to be at the venue yourselves when showing up for the first time. Is that ok?”.
“Sure.” Joey nodded and hesitantly said, “So, about the Sanctum Revival…”
“Don’t worry, you’re one of us after joining the association. If you guys die, I’ll revive you.”
“That’s good…”
“Alright, send me all of your information later. I’ll register you guys into the association and arrange for your welcome ceremony.”
After chatting a bit longer, Han Xiao hung up the call. About ten seconds later, he received the personal information of the four of them and told Phillip to arrange the procedures to have them join the association.
He thought for a while before calling Oathkeeper. He had already spoken with some of the Holy Accord members to have them appear in public when the time was right. Since Joey and the others were joining the association too, he might as well have them join at the same time so that it would be easier and more convenient.
Very soon, Oathkeeper appeared on the screen.
“Black Star, what is it?”
“Hmm, it’s about the welcome ceremony of a new batch of Holy Accord members. I’ve already made the arrangements, so you can have them come to the Flickering World now,” Han Xiao said.
“I’ll tell them.” Oathkeeper nodded. He hesitated for a moment before suddenly saying, “Black Star, there’s one thing I have to tell you. The second set of the Sanctum keys have almost all been collected.” “… So soon?”
Han Xiao was surprised.
Oathkeeper was in charge of this matter, and Han Xiao did not pay close attention to it. He thought the Holy Accord would need a few years to collect the second set of keys. He did not expect them to be this efficient.
“Yes. The resources list the Super Star Cluster Alliance provided included quite a number of materials for the Sanctum keys that are very difficult to purchase elsewhere, but these advanced civilizations had them. Some more sensitive materials that are banned from circulating on the market are surprisingly circulating on the black market, and you gave them to us, which increased our progress greatly,” Oathkeeper explained.
“I see.” Han Xiao understood and felt relieved like invisible weights were lifted off from his shoulders.
He would only really be confident about facing the cleansing with the second set of Sanctum keys. He no longer had to act like it in front of the three Universal Civilizations.
“Which Sanctum?”
“The First Sanctum this time.”
Han Xiao was delighted.
The Third Sanctum he entered the last time contained knowledge mostly about biology, genes, and Esper Abilities. Although he acquired quite a lot of knowledges, it was not very compatible with his class. However, the First Sanctum seemed to be closely connected with machinery technology. If he could enter it once, he would probably obtain the technology that suited Mechanics best, which would be incredible.
It just so happened that his authority level in the First Sanctum was even higher than the Third Sanctum. He currently had seven fragments. Entering the First Sanctum would give him one more, meaning he would have level eight authority when he entered and would be able to do many more things while inside.
“What about the collection of the keys of the other Sanctums?”
“I’ll show you…” Oathkeeper sent him a set of data.
The Holy Accord recorded the progress of the several Sanctum keys, so it was easier to see. At this point, other than the First Sanctum key, which was at ninety-two percent, the second highest was the Third Sanctum key, which was at sixty-seven percent. The others were all around forty percent, except for the Sixth Sanctum, which was only at seven percent.
Han Xiao looked at the progress before looking at the material lists of the various keys. “I’ll pay attention to these materials too. Keep up the good…” “Hmm, you keep up the good work too. The organization will treat you generously.” Oathkeeper said it and felt extremely good. Before Han Xiao could respond, he hung up the communication right away.
Han Xiao placed the communicator down, scratched his head, and had a weird expression.
Usually, he was the one who spoke like that to Oathkeeper. However, this time, Oathkeeper suddenly changed his tone and took him by surprise.
Interesting, he’s not happy with being ordered around by me, so he wants to gain small advantages over me verbally?
Humph, childish…
I’ll definitely say it quicker than you next time!
Han Xiao curled his lips and decided not to be concerned. Besides, everybody knew who was making the calls.
“The second set of keys is almost ready. I can consider showing some of my cards to the three Universal Civilizations now…”
Han Xiao focused and pondered.
According to his judgement of the situation, one of the most effective ways to defuse the stalemate between the three Universal Civilizations and the association was to seek peace after a war. Let the three Universal Civilizations start the cleansing and let the two sides fight all they wanted. When the association suffered from severe losses, they would revive all their members and display the truth about the Sanctum Revival not having a limited number of uses.
This way, while learning a painful lesson, the three Universal Civilizations would realize there was no way they could restrain the Beyond Grade As. Then, they would most likely abandon their current strategy and focus on studying the Sanctums. The balance achieved through this should last for a very long time.
However, although this method would have limited damages to the Beyond Grade A Association, the three Universal Civilizations would suffer severely from it. After all, the destroyed fleets, armies, and killed soldiers could not be revived. If the three Universal Civilizations’ direct members died in this war, even though the Sanctum Revival could revive them, Han Xiao was definitely going to postpone their revival to after reviving the association’s members.
He had two goals, one to deal with the World Tree, another to protect the Beyond Grade A class to not take the Celestial Star Alliance’s path. The former was more important.
“Before the World Tree war breaks out, it’s best not to cause too much damage to the military force of the explored universe. Therefore, the intensity of the conflict has to be controlled; the association can’t start a battle, and the current situation has to be maintained. This plan can only be executed if the three Universal Civilizations actively start a cleansing…”
Han Xiao let out a deep breath.
From another perspective, stopping the cleansing was possible. In order to avoid damaging the explored universe’s strength, he might have to go against his initial plan and share the World Tree Civilization’s information in advance so that the war would break out earlier…
However, whether the three Universal Civilizations believed it or not was not for him to decide.
“Hope the three Universal Civilizations don’t play with fire. Maintaining the current state is good enough…”
In the Primeval Star River, somewhere in a desolate universe belt, a spherical galactic fortress hovered. It looked like an enlarged metal brain. This was a Super Long Range Virtual Mind Wave Enhancer. On its surface were matrix-style quantum network bases that could hide the data sent to a certain extent and enhance the strength of a Virtual Intrusion.
Two round mechanical devices flew around it. This was the Federation of Light’s Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device. Outside it, highly advanced stealth devices hovered like buoys and shrouded the area, preventing all kinds of detection means, including prophecies.
At this point of time, the avatars of Mornisa and several Beyond Grade A Mechanics sat inside the Virtual Mind Wave Enhancer on their own seats. They were all direct members of the three Universal Civilizations.
After preparing for about two to three months, the three Universal Civilizations finally agreed to this operation. The participants were all direct Beyond Grade A mechanics. Led by Mornisa and assisted by the three Universal Civilizations, they had gone to the Primeval Star River to hack into Manison’s database.
The three Universal Civilizations took out many cutting-edge devices, even sharing the computing power of their civilizations’ main artificial intelligences to help with the intrusion, all to successfully break into Manison’s database and take him by surprise.
“Virtual Mind Wave Enhancer and Intrusion Style Quantum Network Base Matrix operating at full power output, Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device entering preheating stage… Federation of Light, Crimson Dynasty, Arcane Church main artificial intelligence computing power shared. Hacking route adjusted. Preparation complete. Please give the command.”
The emotionless voice of an artificial intelligence sounded in the room.
Mornisa looked around at the teammates present, and a red light flashed across her avatar as she firmly said, “Guys, let’s do it!”
Inside the wide factory filled with mechanical devices, many mechanical arms were working constantly. Teams of mechanical assistants worked day and night, and countless assembly lines produced all kinds of machines.
Manison hovered midair in the factory and meditated with closed eyes. Golden electric arcs jumped on his body like snakes. His brain was operating rapidly, focusing on training his computing power. This was something most Virtual Mechanics did every day.
While he traveled in the sea of data, an alarm suddenly rang from the firewall at the link between his mind and the quantum network, echoing loudly in his mind!
“Alert! Alert! Abnormal data detected, infiltrating the database firewall!”
Manison suddenly opened his eyes, his focused state interrupted.
“Someone’s hacking into my database?”
He frowned and subconsciously thought of Han Xiao.
The last time someone did this was many years ago. Could it be that b*stard Black Star this time?
Although they were now on the same side, Manison never stopped expecting the worst from Black Star.
His consciousness sunk into the quantum network. Through the network nodes, he instantly jumped to the firewall that was hacked. The next moment, the scene before his eyes changed drastically, and he came to a virtual world formed of data streams.
In front of him was a thick firewall like layers of translucent protective shields, and endless code flowed on its surface. This was what protected his virtual artificial intelligence center and his multiple databases, making it invisible on the quantum network so that ordinary people could not find it.
Anyone who could hack into it would either be a Beyond Grade A or the main artificial intelligence of an advanced civilization or a large organization. Regardless, the attacker did not come with good intentions.
At this time, a large pile of slightly illuminated dark purple data stream was stuck to the surface of the firewall like a slime, rolling and moving nonstop to corrode the firewall. Large portions of purple spread out. At a micro perspective, the two sides’ data codes were slaughtering each other at the point of contact. The shattered bits of the firewall reformed and became the purple data stream’s bits, devoured and assimilated by this strange data stream, causing its size to slowly grow.
Inside the firewall, a data stream rose from the ground and turned into the appearance of Manison’s Virtual Soul. He looked at this with narrowed eyes, extended his palm, and grabbed a data stream. The two sides of the data stream extended outward, and it turned into the shape of a staff in Manison’s hands.
He tapped the ground with the staff, data streams rose from the ground like lava and quickly became a fully armored AI soldier army, standing behind him.
Having completed the preparation for battle, only then did Manison speak with a poker face. “Dare to invade my territory but don’t dare show yourself?”
As soon as he said that, Mornisa’s virtual figure appeared outside the firewall. Looking at Manison who was protected by the firewall, she coldly said, “We meet again… teacher!”
“So, it’s you.” Manison narrowed his eyes. “What, you still haven’t given up?”
In the past, Mornisa tried to secretly steal his technology because she found out some secret routes from him, so her ambition pushed her to do it. However, back then, Mornisa was not strong enough and failed; Manison discovered her plan and scolded her heavily. Afterward, Mornisa joined the Federation of Light, and this matter was left unsettled.
In all these years, Manison had taught many Mechanics, Mornisa being the most talented one among them. After Mornisa became a Beyond Grade A, he originally wanted to support her to found her own organization, make her his ally, and indirectly expand his forces. Sadly, Mornisa stabbed him in the back, and this plan was abandoned. Since then, the two of them had been colleagues instead of teacher and student.
However, although their relationship was not good, they did not instantly become enemies. On the contrary, the two of them maintained a certain extent of information partnership all this time. Mornisa occasionally provided some not so crucial internal information to Manison, from the way Manison looked at it, she was her way of fawning upon him and keeping him from attacking her.
He considered himself as someone who knew the personality of this student quite well. She was someone who would not give up easily once she set a goal for herself and would definitely find all methods possible to achieve it. She was not going to give up stealing his technology so easily.
Therefore, Mornisa’s invasion was out of Manison’s expectations but within his understanding.
Hearing this, Mornisa snickered. “Teacher, times have changed. Black Star’s rise took away the faith of the Machinery Faith; you’re no longer the invincible Mechanic Emperor you were decades ago.”
Hearing Black Star’s name, Manison snorted in his mind and did not refute it. He said, “Even so, beating you will still be easy.”
“I’m not so overconfident to think I’m capable of fighting you alone…” A sarcastic smile appeared on Mornisa’s face as she said, “I came with help this time!”
As soon as she said that, unusual data streams rose simultaneously from a few other directions and suddenly crashed into the firewall. Tons of code fragments shattered. Along with the data streams, a few other Beyond Grade A Mechanics appeared.
With the support of the part of the computing power of the main artificial intelligence of the three Universal Civilizations, the speed at which they broke through the firewall received astonishing bonuses. Defense blocks were shattered one after another, and layers of firewalls were filled with holes.
He was surrounded instantly! Manison’s expression changed slightly. These people were all direct members of the three Universal Civilizations. This was clearly a joint operation from the three sides.
Dealing with the invasion of several Beyond Grade A Mechanics was already troublesome enough, yet on top of that, the three Universal Civilizations even shared part of the computing power of their own main artificial intelligence to assist them.
The main artificial intelligences of the three Universal Civilizations had the highest computing power in the entire universe. They were improved and updated by Beyond Grade A Mechanics one generation after another, even fusing the memories, experience, and part of these Mechanics’ consciousnesses. They could be considered the strongest tools in the Virtual Technology field. Without them, the three Universal Civilizations’ core database would have been infiltrated many times.
However, usually, most of the computing power of the main artificial intelligences had to be used to maintain the operation of the civilizations’ affairs, so their strength was not displayed. If all of their computing power was focused in one, it would be extremely horrifying
Since the three of them were working together to assist several direct Beyond Grade A Mechanics, this kind of power was tough for one person to match up to. Sure, Manison was strong, but he still had limits.
Plus, because of Black Star, he was no longer at peak strength. He could not help but feel powerless.
“The three Universal Civilizations really think quite highly of me, huh,” Manison said with a deep voice. “Blame yourself for being so cocky in the past, always trying to steal the Federation of Light’s secrets. The federation has put up with you for a very long time, only letting you off because you were their loyal ally. You should’ve known this day would come. I only made the suggestion to the three Universal Civilizations and made it come sooner.
“They want to cleanse the secrets you stole and the intelligence of the various civilizations in the Primeval Star River you collected… As for your technology, they’re just rewards for me.”
Mornisa’s tone was filled with mockery and glee.
Manison snorted. Knowing there was no point in saying anything, he stomped the ground with his staff.
The next moment, the artificial intelligence soldier army charged forward to stop their invasion, while Finette appeared with many artificial intelligence lives and joined the battle.
At the same time, beams made of data streams suddenly shot out from the firewall, evaporating large portions of the invading data stream. The firewall’s formation also started to shift. The traps within were activated one after another to stop the enemies’ data streams.
As he opposed the three Universal Civilizations back during the Intelligent Plague, Manison planned ahead and reinforced his firewall afterward, as well as added a lot of Virtual Technology measures, all to prepare for this situation.
“You’re still the same. But, even if you made preparations in advance, can you stop us today?” Mornisa’s eyes flickered.
“Try me.” Manison was not affected.
The enemies’ invasion was stronger than he expected. He had already used all measures he had and was still unsure if he could hold on.
The two sides’ data stream continued slaughtering each other, analyzing and defusing each other’s tricks. The amount of information processed every second was unimaginable.
The passage of time in the Virtual Domain was different. It relied on the speed of the individual’s mind. To the Beyond Grade As, every second felt countless times longer.
Facing the powerful attacks, Manison started to show signs of defeat. The thickness of the firewall kept getting thinner, holes started to appear, and part of the low-level data at the exterior of the database was exposed.
The enemy’s data needles penetrated through these holes and stirred up a tsunami within, sending out data streams even deeper… The secret database at the most inside was their key target of this battle.
Although the situation was not good, Manison’s mood was still unaffected. He carefully tightened his line of defense, fighting the enemies firmly and accurately, cleaning out their data streams.
While Mornisa controlled her data stream and tried to penetrate Manison’s defenses, she taunted with a mocking tone, “Teacher, your abilities have become quite a lot weaker. Losing the bonuses from ruling the Machinery Faith and falling from your peak strength sure doesn’t feel good, does it?
“Why don’t you seek help from Black Star? Black Star would probably generously help someone he defeated… Oops, almost forgot, we blocked all communications to the outside world. We will have gotten what we came for by the time you send a rescue message.
“Black Star has been suffocating you, taking away what belongs to you time after time. I’m only surprised by how you can put up with how he treats you. If it were in the past, how could you let him be? Tsk tsk, you’ve really gotten more cowardly now you’re older, or did Black Star scare the sh*t out of you?”
Harassment came one message after another, all hitting where it hurt in Manison’s heart.
However, he maintained a poker face. His computing power was unaffected, and he coldly said, “… You done?”.
Hearing this, Mornisa suddenly felt as if a blood red ‘danger’ appeared above her head.
Just as she was about to react, Manison’s Virtual Soul lit up and locked onto her.
The next moment, a strange data stream appeared.
Mornisa’s sight turned blurry. Her Virtual Soul was dragged into a silver data world filled with countless machines by an irresistible force. An enormous silver giant stood before her; it was indeed Manison.
Manison looked down, his eyes like a god looking at mortals. He opened his mouth, and his voice echoed in this world.
“Are you prepared for a beating?”
Mornisa mocked, “Since I dared come to you, I prepared long ago. Getting beat up in exchange for your technology is worth it. Plus, this is just Virtual Paramount. How long can you trap me here?”
“Not long… but more than enough to thrash you, rebellious student!”
Manison bent his waist. His fist fell instantly and bashed Mornisa’s Virtual Soul into a patty.
The entire world shook!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Countless cannons roared, launching attacks toward Mornisa. The silver giant Manison thrashed Mornisa’s Virtual Soul.
In the Virtual Paramount territory, Mornisa was completely powerless and could do nothing but take Manison’s thunderous attacks. Agony rushed into her mind like a tsunami, wave after wave. Her mind almost stopped working. Her Virtual Soul was buzzing with white noise and looked extremely unstable.
“Argh!” Mornisa screamed and wailed. Although she was mentally prepared to get a beating from Manison, when her consciousness felt such intense pain, she could hardly endure it. She could feel the murderous intent from Manison’s attacks.
This pain reminded her of the lesson Manison gave her when she failed to steal his technology for the first time.
Back then, Mornisa had just become a Beyond Grade A. It was a time when she was arrogant and overconfident, and she did not know much about how strong the senior Beyond Grade As were. After she failed, she got absolutely crushed by Manison; all attempts to fight back were meaningless. She was just as helpless as she was now, being tortured like a powerless doll.
At that time, Manison adjusted her perception of reality, and the deep fear pushed Mornisa to join the Federation of Light.
This humiliating memory had been suppressed at the bottom of her heart. At this time, this mental scar of hers was reopened. Mornisa could almost feel her soul shivering intuitively. She clenched her teeth and endured the torture, hoping Manison would soon stop.
After an unknown period of time, Mornisa, who was doing her best to endure the pain, suddenly felt refreshed and left the Virtual Paramount territory, returning to the Virtual Intrusion battlefield where an intense battle was still carried out.
Mornisa’s mind almost collapsed. Although the actual amount of time she was controlled was very short, she felt like she had been tortured nonstop for more than a decade. It felt like countless mixers were stirring up her brain, turning her brain tissues into a mess.
Furthermore, in order to keep hacking, she could not stop working her mind and had no choice but to remain conscious, making the pain even worse.
In the moment right after she left the Virtual Paramount territory, her mind still remained stunned for a second. Her computing power plummeted, and the attacks on the area she was in charge of suddenly slowed down.
In this short instant, Manison who was prepared for it suddenly released a sea of data streams, attempting to break through the communication lock and send a message to the outside world.
Buzz!
Suddenly, layers of light curtains rose at the edge of this virtual battlefield. The data lock barrier formed by the main artificial intelligences of the three Universal Civilizations cut off the data sent to the outside world. These enormous streams of data bumped into the barrier and exploded like countless mosquitoes rushing onto an electric net, instantly vanishing.
“Ahem, don’t think you can easily send a message out while I’m wounded. I expected this…” Mornisa was still in a weakened state, but she still snickered when she saw this.
Maintaining the same poker face, Manison waited for Virtual Paramount to cool down while fighting against the invasion as well as trying to send a message to the outside world by any means necessary.
With his Virtual Technology, it was almost impossible for them to lock him down completely, but he still needed some time to break through.
Mornisa endured the pain in her mind and intercepted a message sent to the outside world. It was a distress signal sent to the Beyond Grade A Association.
Seeing this, though wounded, she still sneered. “That egotistical Mechanic Emperor finally learned to ask people for help? Where did your pride go?”
Manison glanced at her and did not respond.
He knew that after this distress signal was sent, Black Star would most likely be the one to come. God only knew how he would ridicule him.
If possible, he did not want to have any connections with Han Xiao, mostly to prevent Han Xiao from seeing his database. After all, (Virtual Purification-Restore) was his nemesis. However, in this situation, it was tough for him to hold on, so he had no choice but to call for help.
One side was resisting and trying to seek help, while the other side was invading and locking down the information. The situation remained in a stalemate for quite some time.
Despite Manison’s efforts to continuously mend his firewall, his line of defense kept shrinking in the face of the Beyond Grade A enemies and the main artificial intelligences of the three Universal Civilizations. More and more needles stabbed into his databases one after another, stealing the data he had accumulated over many years.
Virtual Paramount went off cooldown many times, and Manison used it every time on Mornisa and gave her a heavy beating.
It was not like Mornisa could suggest that Manison target her other teammates, so she had no choice but to endure all of it. Her injuries got worse and worse. If not for her teammates who were helping her, her consciousness would have been very close to being unable to maintain the intrusion.
Suddenly, an invading data stream finally penetrated the firewall and infiltrated the secret database. It only lasted for a short instant before being wiped out by Manison.
However, in that short time, this data stream absorbed a ton of nutrients and transmitted part of Manison’s secret data back.
A Mechanic sent a message to his teammates. “We got his key technology data!”
“Keep going!” Mornisa’s heavily damaged consciousness suddenly became energetic like she was on steroids.
It was like suddenly finding gold after mining for a very long time; all the torture she had gone through felt worth it!
However, Manison, who had remained calm, found a gap in the barrier and finally sent out a distress signal.
“Sh*t, he managed to send out a signal!”
Mornisa’s joy only lasted for a few seconds before her heart sank.
Her tone was arrogant, but she was actually quite worried inside. If the association’s Mechanics came to help, this mission would definitely fail.
That was especially so if the unfathomable Black Star came. That was a man who kicked her teacher who she once admired more than anything down from the top. Just thinking about it made her feel fearful.
If Black Star came, Mornisa would flee instantly… She dared to backstab Manison, who was no longer at his peak, but she did not dare touch Black Star, who was right at his peak.
“Don’t panic, we still have some time,” a teammate said with a deep voice.
Mornisa focused her mind, clenched her teeth, and tried her best to steal as much information as possible before reinforcements arrived. At the same time, she removed a large portion of the three Universal Civilizations’ main artificial intelligences’ computing power from the message blocking barrier and moved them to focus on invading.
Since Manison’s distress signal was out, there was no point spending so much effort to block his communications. The others also all focused on invading.
With no time to spare, their invading strength increased again. Data stream needles stabbed into one key database after another. Manison could only frown and resist with all he had.
After some time, a direct Mechanic who was calculating the time suddenly said, “That’s about time. If we remain here, reinforcements are going to arrive.”
“Retreat!”
Mornisa clenched her teeth. They were far from turning Manison’s database upside down, but she did not dare continue.
Glancing at Manison’s hole-filled firewall, they retrieved their computing power and retreated the way they came. At this time, Manison’s Virtual Paramount went off cooldown again. Before the invaders left, he dealt Mornisa another heavy blow.
Mornisa shivered. Her Virtual Soul became even more faint as she retreated and disappeared with her last shred of consciousness.
In the Virtual Mind Wave Enhancer somewhere in the Primeval Star River, their consciousnesses returned to their bodies.
“Go, quickly…”
Mornisa only had time to say two words before her avatar collapsed onto the floor and her Lord’s Descent got deactivated.
She had been Manison’s focus and was already at her limits at this point. As soon as the mission was over, her consciousness returned to her main body right away, and she almost fainted… It would take her at least a year to recover from the injuries she had suffered.
Judith glanced at her avatar on the floor, shook his head, and said, “Leave her alone and retreat with the data we stole. The Mechanic Emperor might come any time.”
The others nodded and activated the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device right away.
The two rings around the Virtual Mind Wave Enhancer started spinning and accelerating, and their afterimages formed a sphere.
The next moment, with a flash of blinding light, the entire Virtual Mind Wave Enhancer left through teleportation while the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device self-destructed and shattered into ash.
Inside the Virtual Domain, Manison looked at the mess the enemies made in his territory and slowly said, “Count the losses and give me a report.”
“…Understood.”
The main artificial intelligence responded and started checking the status of the various databases.
Very soon, a list was given to Manison.
He looked at the enormous losses on the list, closed his eyes with resignation, and sighed. His expression looked like he was laughing at himself.
Karma finally came…
About eighty percent of the information of the various large organizations he stored in his databases was stolen. He had obtained this information through monitoring these organizations for many years. Quite a big portion of the information was secret, especially the information of the few Super Star Cluster civilizations of the Primeval Star River.
A ton of the blueprints he accumulated through research over all these years were also stolen. The only good news was that core technology such as the Felon and the Indestructible Mechanic Empire were all memorized in his mind and had never existed in the database, or his loss would have been even bigger.
Buzz!
At this time, a data stream appeared out of nowhere and turned into a man. He looked at the wreckages, tutted and said, “Yo, what a refreshing scene. The Mechanic Emperor, who once invaded the databases of people everywhere, got invaded today. How the tables turn.”
Manison looked up, and who else could it be but Black Star?
He was not in the mood to respond to Han Xiao’s teasing and said, “You’re late.”
“I’m not telepathic. I came fast enough. You should say the enemies fled in time.”
Han Xiao landed before Manison, looked around, rubbed his chin, and said curiously, “How many of them came to be able to do this to you?”
“Several direct Mechanics and the main artificial intelligences of the three Universal Civilizations.” Manison gave a simple description.
“Wow, they really think of you quite highly.”
Han Xiao raised his brows.
Even he was not confident he could deal with this if he was in the same position as Manison. After all, his Indestructible Body was not very useful in the Virtual Technology field. It was no surprise Manison lost so much.
Manison frowned and said, “I would’ve crushed them if this was in the real world.”
Although he was strong in battles in the Virtual Domain, it was nothing compared to his full combat capability. After all, Virtual Technology was an independent ability, and mechanical armies were useless in the Virtual Domain. With the inventory he had, he would have completely trashed these invaders in a few minutes in the real world.
In the real world, he and Black Star could fight ten enemies at once, but no one possessed this amount of overwhelming strength in the Virtual Domain.
Han Xiao shook his head and asked, “What have you decided to do next? Eat this up or retaliate?”
Manison glanced at him and said, “Depends on you.”
“Depends me on?” Han Xiao was stunned.
“Aren’t you the Beyond Grade A Association president? I’m a member of the association too, so you’ll make the call.”
“… Who are you? Release the real Manison!”
Han Xiao was taken aback.
What the hell? You made such a big loss, but not only are you not suggesting fighting back, but you’re even respecting my opinion as the president? This isn’t like you, Old Manison!
It’s over, either this b*stard’s soul got swapped, or his heart was too heavily damaged, so his personality became twisted! Looking at Han Xiao’s expression that was filled with disbelief, Manison said impatiently, “What look is that? What’s so hard to believe? Anyway, this matter will be dealt with depending on your suggestion.”
Of course, Manison was not happy about his database being invaded, but he was not so enraged that he had to take revenge.
One reason was that the loss was not unrecoverable. His core technology was all stored in his mind and was not leaked. Another reason was that it was now a sensitive time. With concern for the big picture, he did not want to disrupt the tempo of the fight between the association and the three Universal Civilizations.
Although he had made a loss this time, the three Universal Civilizations had worked together on this mission against him. They committed so much effort and so many resources to it that Manison had to admit his defeat. Plus, after his position in the Machinery Faith was snatched by Black Star, he gradually had lower and lower requirements for his reputation. He felt he had become calmer inside, no longer concerned about the title of the strongest Mechanic in the Galaxy. It had not belonged to him for a very long time anyway.
Manison sighed in his mind. Maybe because I’m really getting old, my temper keeps getting smaller…
“Your personality has really changed…” Han Xiao said before turning serious. “Don’t worry, this is a matter of the three Universal Civilizations robbing an association member’s private assets. They won’t get away with it easily.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Hmm, condemn them first and see how they respond.”
“They’ll just say I stole the Federation of Light’s secrets before and claim this is just punishing me for it.”
Manison shook his head.
“Oh, this is indeed a good reason. They have the moral high ground, after all. If that’s the case, the question will be thrown back to the association… Doing this to you at this time, the three Universal Civilizations are testing us.”
Han Xiao pondered and said, “The three Universal Civilizations’ so-called ‘punishment’ is simply cover. They’re testing to see if the association will retaliate for you and see how confident we are. If we only condemn them and don’t act, it’ll look like we don’t have any confidence. If we retaliate, the extent of it will reflect how confident we are.
“This was also to continue damaging the association. They have the moral high ground, so if the association retaliates for you, we’ll look tyrannical, and they’ll be closer to ‘justice’. If the association doesn’t do anything, the association members would be worried and unhappy, which is not good for unity.”
Hearing this, Manison nodded in agreement.
The three Universal Civilizations had made a move on a core member of the association at such a sensitive time; their intentions were clear, but the association had to deal with it.
However, at this time, Han Xiao suddenly said, “However… We have not considered a colossal change that might occur. If this change occurs, the three Universal Civilizations will not react as I just said.”
“What change?” Manison frowned.
Han Xiao looked at him and calmly said, “Let me ask you a question, and you must tell me the truth… The data you lost this time, did it include the Virtual Mutiny Virus you secretly faked?”
Absolutely not mentally prepared, Manison froze.
Then, his expression suddenly changed drastically, and he stared at Han Xiao in confusion.
When the f*ck did you find out my secret?
“What are you talking about?”.
Manison glared at Han Xiao. Having his biggest secret exposed, a storm was happening in his heart.
He had never told anyone he secretly studied the Virtual Mutiny Virus, so how did Black Star know?
Prophecy? Doesn’t make sense, my base is covered in Information Form disruption devices, so others can’t even find where my main body is, let alone that I’ve been studying this technology.
Is he faking it?
“Don’t lie. Since I’ve pointed this out, of course, I’ve obtained solid information,” Han Xiao added. “As the president, I have to know my key members well. What you thought is a secret is no secret to me. Plus, I also know your research has already shown results… This is very important, so tell the truth.”
Manison looked at Han Xiao’s calm expression and felt a chill in his heart. Suddenly, panic appeared in his mind for the first time in an extremely long time. He felt as if all his secrets were transparent to Han Xiao.
No matter how dangerous the situation he was in earlier when being invaded, his emotions remained completely unaffected. Now, just speaking with Han Xiao, his calm mood was broken instantly, and his mind was shaken.
This *sshole Black Star… is really my fated nemesis.
Manison clenched his teeth in his mind.
He was in a dilemma. He really wanted to insist on hiding it, but he decided to tell the truth in the end.
“Since you knew, why didn’t you stop my research?”
Han Xiao smiled in his head. It’s not like I can control what you research about… Plus, what I have is better.
The Virtual Mutiny Virus Manison made was only a semi-finished product. As for him, when he completed the [Intelligent Plague] mission with an S Mission Rating back then, he obtained the original (Domino Virus). Though incomplete, it was not something a mere forgery Manison created could compare to.
However, there was no need to tell Old Manison this. Han Xiao coughed and said, “Only because there was no need to.”
Hearing this, Manison started making guesses and narrowed his eyes.
“Humph, I got it. You actually wanted this insurance too, but because you wanted to be elected president, you deliberately watched me do the dirty work. You don’t oppose us having this dangerous technology, but it won’t affect you this way.” “… Whatever you think.”
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched. To be frank, he liked talking to people who loved making speculations. He did not even have to come up with excuses, and the other person would do it for him. It was really quite convenient.
“Humph, we’re the same, after all.” Manison snorted.
Han Xiao thought he might as well follow Manison’s speculation, so he said seriously, “But I still don’t agree with the path you wanted us to take. That hasn’t changed.”
Manison subconsciously wanted to argue, but as he thought of the Sanctum Revival method Han Xiao revealed that was indeed much more effective than what he planned to do, he could only shut up.
Seeing this, Han Xiao paused and continued, “The Virtual Mutiny Virus is a weapon of mass destruction to the galactic society. It’s more than powerful enough to overthrow all order and turn the entire explored universe into chaos. Back when I personally shattered the virus core, in the eyes of the public, this dangerous technology disappeared forever, so they stopped worrying. However, if the three Universal Civilizations find out this technology surfaced again, things will be different.”
“I think the three Universal Civilizations will be more wary.” Manison did not seem concerned.
“You still want to be so stubborn and take one path to the end. It’ll soon be too hard to turn back…” Han Xiao sighed.
Though the association was confronting the three Universal Civilizations, the two sides were only intimidating each other, which formed a balance. However, if the Virtual Mutiny Virus appeared again, it would be seen as holding the entire galactic society hostage. Even if the association had no intention to use the virus, the nature of this conflict would change completely.
After all, the Virtual Mutiny Virus was too powerful. It could shatter the order of the galactic society and turn into a universal level disaster. When this technology was controlled by an individual and turned into a modifiable virus weapon, its threat would multiply tremendously once again. The individual could totally invent countless generations of the virus and release them all at once, crushing the galactic society’s average artificial intelligence technology.
Without even having to think about it, there was absolutely no way the three Universal Civilizations would allow anyone other than themselves to have a hold of such a deadly weapon. It would be the equivalent of giving someone else the power to control the life and death of the galactic society.
Furthermore, Han Xiao would be affected too. The outside world all thought that he had destroyed the virus, so if Manison was discovered to possess it, even if Han Xiao was not related, conspiracies would definitely receive a lot of recognition. The outside world would think Han Xiao only put on a show back when he destroyed the virus core, while he actually formed a partnership with Manison behind the curtains.
This way, his image would shift to the complete opposite side and he would really become the common enemy of the universe. The association would be dragged down along with him too… Fighting the domineering three Universal Civilizations as the oppressed side would be a justifiable battle for their rights and would receive a lot of support. However, if the association forced the three Universal Civilizations to obey through holding the entire galactic society hostage, the entire situation’s nature would change, and the number of people supporting the association would plummet.
“There’s never been a way to turn back to begin with,” Manison said slowly. “You’ve always talked about intimidation and balance. When will all that end? If we don’t obliterate the three Universal Civilizations’ ambitions completely, they’ll never give up controlling the scale of individual greatness. A balance without strategic deterrence isn’t sustainable. Isn’t it good to let the three Universal Civilizations know we are capable of rapidly destroying the entire galactic society?”
Han Xiao rubbed his temple and said, “Sure, the galactic society is very important, but when their rule is strongly threatened, the three Universal Civilizations will be willing to pay any price to eliminate their enemies. Although it’s not easy to form a galactic society, at least it can be rebuilt. But if they lose their ruling position, the three Universal Civilizations would rather wipe out everything and start anew. The three Universal Civilizations are acting cautious and fearful now, but once something crosses the line, they’ll have the decisiveness to destroy everything and be reborn. They’ll never be threatened. This is not something we want to see happen.”
Having spent so many years in Galaxy, he had seen things clearly. The production power of the galactic era was astonishing. When the production chains of the society no longer needed people to participate, to some advanced civilizations, population was only a renewable resource that was not even that valuable. They granted their people the rights they enjoyed only because of the functions they provided, not the people themselves.
Most of the time, the more advanced and stronger a civilization was, the less it had to care about the wishes of its people because there was nothing the people could do anymore. The three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster civilizations had already reached this level, only they did not do it. One reason was their traditions and regulations, and another was so that the society would remain in a virtuous cycle. This was not their weakness.
Therefore, Han Xiao had never doubted that the three Universal Civilizations would flip the table if pushed too hard. To them, people dying was no big deal. They only were not willing to flip the table, not that they could not.
“Hehe, if it were in the past, maybe you’re right. But now you’ve brought the Sanctum Revival to the association, along with the intimidation of the Virtual Mutiny Virus, I don’t think the three Universal Civilizations will still be as daring… Anyway, I hid this technology to back the association up. You’re the president now, so deal with it,” Manison said unhappily. “The fundamentals of this technology are in my brain, so these people can’t steal it. But they stole some related lab records and logs. Although there is no clear description of the technology in them, whether they can link the records to the Virtual Mutiny Virus or not, I don’t know.”
“… Tell me the truth, did you do it on purpose?”
“It’s already happened. On purpose or not, does it matter?” Manison’s tone was calm. “I hid this trump card mainly to prepare for the worst. Since the association wants balance, them finding out about us having this trump card is much better than finding out when we use it. At least it won’t be the worst situation.” “… Really good job, and I thought you’d really respect the path I want to take as the president.”
Han Xiao gave him a meaningful look, turned around, and left right away.
Manison watched Han Xiao disappear in his sights. His lips seemed to have moved faintly, but he then went back to focus on repairing his firewall.
As his consciousness returned to his office in Black Star Palace, Han Xiao opened his eyes.
“Mechanic Emperor… what an ass.”
Regardless of whether the three Universal Civilizations stole it or Manison deliberately leaked it, there was quite a high chance the existence of the Virtual Mutiny Virus was going to be discovered by the three Universal Civilizations. This meant that the association had no choice but to deal with it.
Although the second set of Sanctum keys were collected now and he did have plans for an all-out war, he wanted it to come as late as possible. He thought the balance could last for a long time, but this sudden incident probably sped up its arrival tremendously. Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
One way or another, it had already happened, and he had to prepare for it.
In the Joint Conference Room of the three Universal Civilizations…
“Oh? Mornisa did it, nice.”
Seeing the report, Louis nodded with satisfaction.
“Nothing to be happy about. If all of our main artificial intelligences couldn’t deal with just one Mechanic Emperor, that would be strange,” the pope said calmly. “You’re right.” Louis looked at the remote projections of the Beyond Grade A Mechanics in front of him and wondered, “Where’s Mornisa? Why isn’t she here?”
“She was heavily wounded by the Mechanic Emperor and is resting now. She doesn’t have the energy to deal with other things,” ‘Defender’ Romo said with a deep voice.
“Hmm, send her my regards then.” Louis waved. “What did you guys get this time?” “All data has been sent to the Science Institute. They’re reorganizing and stitching the information. The results should come in very soon,” Romo replied.
The data fragments they stole from Manison’s database were not in order. It was a violent invasion, after all. Quite a large portion of the data was incomplete and had to be put together like puzzles. Only then would they know what data they had acquired.
Louis nodded. As he was just about to speak, an emergency report popped up on the virtual screen on his table. It was from the Science Institute.
“So soon?”
Louis raised his brows and looked at the report. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically.
The report consisted of the incomplete experiment records of Manison’s research and developments of the Virtual Mutiny Virus. The Science Institute was still adding in more information as quickly as possible. However, just from the test results of these records, one could see that Manison had already achieved some results.
Marbruce and the pope saw his expression and turned to him. “What is it?”
“… Take a look yourselves.” Veins appeared on Louis’s forehead as he sent the report to the two of them.
The two of them looked at it. Their expressions suddenly changed too, and rage appeared on their faces.
Romo and the other direct Beyond Grade As were curious.
What information did the Science Institute piece together from the data they collected that was able to make all three leaders so furious?
This time, Louis closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and looked at the curious Mechanics. He waved and turned off the remote projections. Only the three leaders were left in the room.
Seeing that the outsiders had left, Marbruce coldly said, “Mechanic Emperor never gave up and is still studying the Virtual Mutiny Virus, achieving some results even… I wonder if Black Star shattered the virus core back then just to put on a show for us.”
“If not because we hacked into the Mechanic Emperor’s database this time, god knows when we would’ve found out about this.” The pope had barely suppressed his rage.
Louis looked at the two of them and said slowly, “The nature of the matter has changed. We have to prepare for the worst. Get ready for war.”
Chapter 1299 Arriving Storm
“… These are the new members who’ll join the association today. We’ll be comrades on the same side from now on.”
At the Beyond Grade A Association headquarters, Han Xiao introduced these newcomers to everyone present with a smile. They were Joey’s group and the new batch of Holy Accord members.
After Manison got hacked by the three Universal Civilizations, he quickly arranged the time for them to join the army, and it was that day.
Hearing Han Xiao’s introduction, the various Beyond Grade As present sized these newcomers up and looked surprised.
Although they already knew the Sanctum Revival’s existence, they were still astonished when they saw a new batch of revivors.
Plus, not only were there revivors who were joining the association this time, but Black Star even attracted a few others who were avoiding the world previously to make the association stronger. From the way they looked at it, this was undoubtedly Black Star’s measure against the three Universal Civilizations’ plans, and they were excited by it.
At the same time, this proved that Black Star could use the Sanctum Revival more than once, which was what the majority of people present cared about and were pleased by.
“We’re all friends now that you’ve joined the association. Please, sit,” Kasuyi said with a smile.
Joey and the others sighed and sat in their seats. Although they had a bit of social anxiety, they still tried to chat with the other Beyond Grade As.
The Holy Accord members exchanged looks and chatted as if this was the first time they had met.
The people chatted with the newcomers for a while. The atmosphere was harmonious like a big family.
Han Xiao waited for a while. Seeing that everyone chatted about enough, he smiled and said, “Alright, now that you guys have gotten to know each other, other than welcoming the newcomers, there’s actually another matter that needs to be discussed today.”
Hearing this, the room immediately became quiet. Everyone turned around and looked at Han Xiao, waiting for their president to continue.
Seeing this, Han Xiao changed into a serious expression and said slowly, “Not long ago, the three Universal Civilizations worked together to hack into Mechanic Emperor’s database and succeeded. The three Universal Civilizations are both testing and provoking us. Therefore, I’d like to hear everyone’s suggestions today about how we should respond.”
The people subconsciously glanced at Manison and saw that Manison was resting with his eyes closed. “I know about this. I received the distress signal back then too,” Kant said with a deep voice, “Manison is a member of the association, so we should stand up for him.” “That’s right. Although Manison is despicable, dishonorable, wretched, petty, old, ugly, and shameless, he’s one of us. He was attacked by the three Universal Civilizations for no reason, so the association can’t act like it never happened,” Sun Hunter said.
“I agree.” Secret Master nodded. Sun Hunter turned and glanced at him. “Which part?”
“… All parts.” Secret Master’s eyes twitched and felt a bit of his luck had disappeared.
Manison snorted, opened his eyes, and said, “Focus on the matter. Don’t insult others.”
“Come on, is telling the truth illegal?” Sun Hunter said with a surprised tone.
Manison took a deep breath and calmed his emotions down. Calm down, calm down, no point getting angry… Han Xiao gave Sun Hunter a look of approval and asked the others for suggestions.
More than ninety percent of the people agreed to stand up for Manison. It was not because they were good friends with old Manison, but it was not a personal matter. They hoped to receive the same treatment if something similar were to happen to them in the future.
“… Since the majority agrees, the association will condemn the three Universal Civilizations’ actions tomorrow and demand that they give an explanation. At the same time, everyone, dispatch your armed forces. When necessary, we might have to take military action on the three Universal Civilizations.”
Hearing this, the people were slightly stunned.
They thought just verbally condemning was about it, or a group of Mechanics causing trouble for the three Universal Civilizations’ vassal organizations at most. Why did Black Star sound like he was about to start a war?
However, their surprise only lasted for a few seconds, and they did not oppose it.
With the Sanctum Revival, most people were quite confident. Starting a war was not impossible to do. Plus, most people felt that Black Star was just planning to make it an exercise to intimidate them. After all, the situation was balanced for the time being and did not look like a war was about to break out.
“Hmm. Also, to prevent things like this from happening again, I suggest having everyone’s original body gather in the Flickering World and not give the three Universal Civilizations a chance to take us out one by one. Of course, this is not compulsory. If some people don’t want to come, they can choose not to, but they’ll have to deal with the consequences of that themselves…”
While saying that, Han Xiao glanced at Manison.
Manison closed his eyes again and acted like he did not hear it. He was definitely not going to show his well-hidden original body in front of others.
Most people had no problems with this. Quite a number of them had come to the Flickering World recently to begin with, operating their forces here, so they did not have to travel far. The Beyond Grade As in the other Star Fields also had no problems with staying there temporarily.
They discussed for a while more to confirm the arrangements before going offline as the meeting ended.
Very soon, Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Ames were the only three left in the venue.
Han Xiao glanced at Ames and said, “Aren’t you going offline? I have some private matters that I need to speak with old Kasu.”
Ames shook her head, sighed, and said, “Aesop told me to tell you. He saw a confrontation that attracted the attention of the entire universe. The two sides confronting each other were the association and the three Universal Civilizations. The future he saw stopped there. He only knows that the results of it will change the fate of the entire universe. He wants to tell you to deal with it cautiously.”
“The old man saw a prophecy again, huh?” Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, nodded, and said, “Got it, wait for me at home. I’ll fetch you with the King after the meeting ends.”
Ames smiled and went offline.
Now, only Kasuyi and Han Xiao were in the room.
Kasuyi heard the conversation from earlier and softly said, “Black Star, are we going to start a real fight with the three Universal Civilizations?”
“Very likely.” Han Xiao casually explained the matter about the Virtual Mutiny Virus.
Kasuyi’s expression changed uncontrollably, and he did not know what to say. After quite some time, he sighed and said, “The Mechanic Emperor is still too stubborn, but there’s nothing we can do about it, since you aren’t telling him that the Sanctum Revival can be used an infinite number of times… Without the Virtual Mutiny Virus, your plan could have been carried out steadily. This added deterrence will only make things worse and change the nature of the entire situation.” “Hehe, even if he knew the truth, he’d most likely think the Sanctum Revival and the Virtual Mutiny Virus are a perfect match.” Han Xiao curled his lips. “Never mind him. Anyway, be prepared. Tell your Void Dukes to monitor the three Universal Civilizations’ armies in the various big secondary dimensions. If they send troops to fight us, they’ll definitely go all out.” “Understood.”
Kasuyi nodded and went offline.
The confrontation between the Beyond Grade A Association and the three Universal Civilizations already lasted for quite some time, the galactic society already gradually got used to this uptight atmosphere.
However, on this day, the Beyond Grade A Association openly condemned the three Universal Civilizations for hacking the database of its member, Manison, and demanded an explanation. The Federation of Light retaliated and claimed that Manison had stolen their secrets multiple times. This was just a late debt collection and a punishment that should have happened long ago.
The galactic residents were already used to seeing conflicts like this and thought this was another joyous day of the two sides verbally fighting each other. However, what happened next made many people sense it was different this time.
According to the past experiences, the association and the three Universal Civilizations would condemn each other back and forth a few times, and this matter would be over without much happening. Even if there were any punishments, it would at most be like a new law to target the Beyond Grade A association.
However, this time, the galactic residents and the various organizations shockingly realized that the two sides seemed to have decided to do the real deal.
After the announcement was made, the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association surprisingly both dispatched troops on a large scale. The three Universal Civilizations’ fleets rode out from the Central Galaxy and stationed themselves at the various Star Fields, while the Beyond Grade A Association’s people mainly gathered in the Flickering World.
A storm was brewing.
Even ordinary people could see that something was wrong. Although the three Universal Civilizations did not continue to make announcements after making the initial response, they were clearing sending the message that they would start a war any time.
Since the two sides confronted each other, most galactic residents were only watching a show, but now they were all nervous.
Most messages online of hoping the three Universal Civilizations could cleanse the Beyond Grade As were just people venting their emotions. When it seemed like it was really going to happen, many people panicked a little and were worried such a large-scale battle might affect them too.
Suddenly, the atmosphere of the entire galactic society became tense. Countless pairs of eyes paid close attention to the two sides.
“Weird, why are the three Universal Civilizations so daring all of a sudden?”
Inside the conference room of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, the various leaders were all surprised.
According to their analysis, due to all kinds of reasons, the three Universal Civilizations would not easily start a war, same for the association. Why did both of them suddenly become so headstrong?
If they assumed Manison was the fuse, they did not think it was that big of a deal. All that happened was some of the information in his database was stolen. Manison had not been killed or anything. Was there a need to escalate the situation this much?
“Did the three Universal Civilizations change their strategy and want to eliminate the problems no matter the cost?” someone pondered aloud.
“Probably not likely. Don’t forget, we’re still here. If the three Universal Civilizations and the association both get heavily damaged, won’t that be giving us an opportunity to rise?” the Star Arc Civilization’s leader said hesitantly.
Their existence was the exact reason a weak balance could be maintained. If not because both sides were worried about the Super Star Cluster Alliance, they might have acted long ago.
“What do we do?”
“Just watch. If they’re really going to fight, it’s a good thing for us…” the Star Arc Civilization leader said. “But we need to be careful about the three Universal Civilizations dragging us in. It won’t be the first time they’ve done something like that. We’d best station heavy troops at our borders. Don’t have to interfere with their war, just protect our territories.”
The Super Star Cluster leaders discussed their options quietly. They all sounded excited. Although they had no idea why the three Universal Civilizations and the association both suddenly became so impulsive, it was not bad news for them.
Time passed by quickly in the intense atmosphere. Under the close attention of the galactic society, both sides dispatched their troops more and more frequently without hiding their movements at all. They set up their formations like playing chess but never clashed with each other as if they ignored each other’s existence.
However, neither of the two sides made any announcements, which caused all kinds of rumors to spread, leading to panic everywhere.
The population flow of the various Star Fields showed the public’s reaction. The galactic residents in the Flickering World left in large numbers, causing the stargates to jam. The number of people going to the Central Galaxy and some border Star Fields to take refuge increased tremendously day by day. Under the eyes of the entire world, an enormous joint fleet of the three Universal Civilizations advanced into the Primeval Star River and right toward the Mechanical Race’s territory.
At the same time, the three Universal Civilizations finally made a new joint announcement.
“Through the Science Institute’s analysis of Mechanic Emperor’s database, we have acquired solid evidence that proves the Mechanic Emperors has been privately studying the Virtual Mutiny Virus, hoping to replicate this possible source of a universal level disaster. He has already achieved results and could attempt to bring catastrophe to the galaxy.
“On behalf of the galactic society, the Federation of Light, the Crimson Dynasty, and the Arcane Church have made a joint warning to the Mechanic Emperor-give up the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology immediately and destroy all backup data under our supervision. We will protect the safety of the galactic society no matter the cost!”
On the day this announcement was made, the dark clouds of the Intelligent Plague once again shrouded galactic society and the hearts of countless galactic residents. Panic swept one Star System after another at an unbelievable speed.
The Virtual Mutiny Virus is still in this world
Someone produced this monstrous virus capable of threatening the entire universe again for his own interests?
The galactic society exploded!
Along with shock and fear, there was incomparable rage. The Mechanic Emperor deserves to die!
“Hehe, the three Universal Civilizations have really done it now. Looks like they’ve made up their minds…”
In the guest meeting room of Black Star Palace, more than a dozen Beyond Grade As gathered and looked at the virtual screen on the wall of the room that was playing the news about the three Universal Civilizations’ announcement.
They were all looking worried except for Han Xiao, who was holding his chin and had a poker face.
Bang!
Someone suddenly slammed the table. The others looked over and saw Kant had a gloomy expression, and his fist was planted into the cracked table.
“Manison is forcing us to waste our one chance at the Sanctum Revival!”
The people present all had hostile expressions on their faces.
The two sides’ military forces had made frequent movements. These were all core members of the association invited by Han Xiao to gather in Black Star Palace.
At the start, they thought this was another trick played by the three Universal Civilizations, till Han Xiao briefly explained what had happened when Manison was attacked. They were shocked both by the fact that Manison really produced the Virtual Mutiny Virus and Manison leaking the lab records deliberately.
With the Sanctum Revival backing them up, they were not afraid of fighting. However, being willing to fight and being forced to fight were two different things.
Initially, after the three Universal Civilizations invaded Manison’s database, the association standing up for him would be normal. However, with the Virtual Mutiny Virus’ appearance, the nature of the matter changed. The association became the side in the wrong. Furthermore, Manison most likely did it on purpose to drag them down.
At this time, they were all very unhappy with old Manison. After all, there was only one chance to use the Sanctum Revival, and no one wanted to use it too early.
“Black Star, what are we going to do? The three Universal Civilizations brought this matter up. Will the association still back Manison up?” Kasuyi asked. He did not react much to it as Han Xiao had told him long ago.
Han Xiao rubbed his chin and said with a deep voice, “Based on my speculation, after the three Universal Civilizations found out about the Virtual Mutiny Virus’ existence, there were a few possible paths they’d take, and what they’re doing now is one of them. After announcing it to the galactic civilization, they sent an army to surround the Mechanical Race’s territory, threatening and trying to force Manison to give up the technology.
“If the association backs the Mechanic Emperor up and holds onto the virus technology, the three Universal Civilizations will only have to push the public opinion slightly, and the neutral image and reputation the association has built will collapse instantly. At the same time, an all-out war might erupt, and the three Universal Civilizations are probably ready for it.”
“How about we give up Manison?” someone asked. “The situation is different now. I believe most members understand. After all, we really had no idea about the Virtual Mutiny Virus. The Mechanic Emperor did it on his own, so it’s not our concern.”
Han Xiao shook his head and said, “The three Universal Civilizations have already shifted the public opinion against us. They created a sense of fantasy and fanaticism the Supers have in us. At this point in time, if we back off like this, even if it is sensible and logical, it’ll mean we have lowered our heads to the three Universal Civilizations. We’ll very likely lose our special guiding position among the Supers, which will be very difficult to regain in the future… To the three Universal Civilizations, eradicating the Supers’ admiration and fantasy for the association will be a good result.”
“Is the association really going to take the blame for Manison? Why not insist that this is the three Universal Civilizations framing us and is nothing but a lie, or could we say they were the ones who created it first and Manison only stole it?” Sun Hunter widened his eyes.
Han Xiao cut him off and said, “They have a ton of evidence in their hands. It’ll be tough to push it back to them, and it might make our situation even worse. Also don’t forget, in many people’s eyes, the civilizations can touch some things, but civilian organizations can’t. Even if we claim the three Universal Civilizations created it first, they don’t have to explain much. Plus, they can totally say that if not because the Mechanic Emperor had ulterior motives, why would he have stolen this technology? It’s too easy to find such reasons.”
Then, he paused before continuing. “The moment the Mechanic Emperor gave them this leverage, we were already in a dilemma. At this point, the matter has exceeded the verbal argument stage, and the public opinion is only an add-on. Either they step back, or we do; there’s no way any of us can dodge the core of the issue by playing tricks. It all depends on if we protect Manison or not, or if we give them the technology… I’ll say this, we are going to protect Manison, and we are also not going to give up the technology to them. At most, we’ll make what we do sound better in words.”
They exchanged looks.
“What do we need to do now?”
“I’ve already spoken to Manison about sending your troops in the Primeval Star River to the Mechanical Race territory to form a line of defense, stopping the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet. As for yourselves, stay here for now. I’ll go to the Primeval Star River with the King. If a fight breaks out, then I’ll bring you guys over to help.” Han Xiao shook his head.
Hearing this, the others had nothing to say and left the room with a lot of things on their minds. They needed some time to digest the sudden changes.
Han Xiao leaned back in his chair, took out his communicator, and looked at what was going on online. The terror of the Virtual Mutiny Virus was carved deep in everyone’s heart. The entire galactic society was in a panic. Almost all the messages were scolding Manison for how ambitious he was and how what he did threatened the universe once again.
After the virus incident, Manison’s reputation had been poor. His goal of developing this technology was clearly to weaponize it. Almost all galactic residents were terrified and furious.
Even Han Xiao was dragged into it. His act of destroying the virus core was doubted by countless people. Many people felt that if Black Star still had the same mindset as before, he should once again destroy or give the virus technology to the three Universal Civilizations. Otherwise, what he did back then might be an act of destroying the technology on the surface to avoid the three Universal Civilizations’ attention while working with Manison behind the curtains. “Tsk…”
Han Xiao curled his lips and did not say anything. He then closed the tabs and called Manison.
Very soon, Manison appeared on the screen.
“Black Star, when will you be coming?” Manison cut to the chase.
“Wait for a while.” Han Xiao said with a poker face, “Are you really not going to migrate the Mechanical Race?”
“No, leave them be.” Manison was unconcerned.
“… Wait for me to go over then.”
Han Xiao did not want to say anything else to Manison. He ended the call, stood up, and left the room.
Over the next few days, the explored universe remained stormy. The three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet advanced toward the Mechanical Race’ territory without hiding their movements at all, while the troops the association had in the Primeval Star River also started to gather around the Mechanical Race’s territory.
Fleets from Beyond Grade A organizations were stationed at half a day’s distance from the Mechanical Race territory around it, forming a spherical defense formation, and blocked all routes toward the Mechanical Race territory, allowing no one to pass. They did not hide their intention. They were clearly blocking the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet’s path.
At the same time, responding to the three Universal Civilizations’ announcement, the association also made an announcement to the galactic society.
“The association did not know about the Mechanic Emperor developing the Virtual Mutiny Virus before this and is now investigating it. As everyone knows, solving conflicts between Beyond Grade As and restraining the actions of Beyond Grade As are the purpose of the association’s founding. If the Mechanic Emperor is found to possess the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology, the association will certainly take actions and ensure this technology won’t damage the order of the galactic society.
“However, the association won’t interfere with one’s freedom to research and grow, nor does it agree with how all dangerous technology must be controlled by the three Universal Civilizations. If the Mechanic Emperor does indeed possess this dangerous technology, the association will restrain him and tell him to seal this technology up and never use it, ensuring the safety of the galactic society all the same.
“Also, the association strongly opposes the military actions the three Universal Civilizations are currently taking against Manison’s people. This is an immoral act. The association hopes the three Universal Civilizations will remove their troops immediately and not escalate the issue. When the association completes the investigation, it will give the galactic society an answer. There’s no need for the three Universal Civilizations to interfere.”
As soon as this announcement was made, it shocked the galactic society once again.
Many people originally thought the association would back away this time for sure; they did not expect them to be this firm.
Although the Beyond Grade A Association said that they were investigating, their attitude of not backing down was clear. They directly expressed the fact that this was an internal matter, and they would not let the three Universal Civilizations interfere. Plus, their point was sensible…
The three Universal Civilizations can monitor things, so can we.
The galactic residents trusted the three Universal Civilizations more, but since the association claimed to ensure that the galactic society would not be damaged, though many had doubts, as onlookers who knew nothing about the truth, they could not accuse the association of having ulterior motives.
After all, the Beyond Grade A Association was no ordinary civilian organization, it had a certain authority. At the same time, the outside world could not find out if Manison’s personal research was done with the association’s support. Therefore, at least the reason the association gave made sense… As for whether their monitoring would really work, words could not prove it.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance that was watching earlier jumped out again at the sight of opportunity, supporting the association’s decision. They questioned on what grounds could one guarantee that giving the technology to the three Universal Civilizations would be safe and that it was just an excuse to rob the technology from others.
It was not weird for them to do this. The Super Star Cluster Alliance was probably the last group that wanted to see the three Universal Civilizations have the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology. If not because they were not in the position to, they would have suggested to be the third party to ‘monitor’ this technology.
To countless galactic residents, the situation of the world changed way too rapidly. It felt like only yesterday when everything was peaceful, and suddenly, a war was about to break out.
When the intense atmosphere spread throughout the entire universe, the joint fleet of the three Universal Civilizations finally came into contact with the defense circle the Beyond Grade A Association had built up around the Mechanical Race territory.
Inside the bright night sky, the enormous joint fleet slowly advanced. The exterior defense circle outside the Mechanical Race’s territory was already in sight. The defense circle was formed by fleets, temporary fortresses, and portable satellite bases. From one look, it appeared to extend infinitely. Psionic protective shields were set up in a formation and formed an enormous protective shield, extending all the way out like a wall made of energy, dividing the two areas.
Inside the main fleet’s command room, Fleet Commander Simon Tagman stood in front of the porthole and stared closely at the defense circle that was getting closer.
He was a high-level military commander of the Federation of Light who was appointed as the main commander of this joint fleet.
The aide-de-camp looked at the radar and whispered, “Commander Simon, we’ve already reached their defense circle. They’re blocking the way. Should we stop?”
Without even turning around, Simon calmly said, “What’s the order?”
“Surround the Mechanical Race’s territory.”
“Is this the Mechanical Race’s territory?” Simon asked.
“N-no…”
“Then why stop?”
“Understood!” The aide-de-camp took a deep breath and ordered in the communication channel with a deep voice, “All ships, continue to advance and get ready for battle. If anyone tries to stop us, fire at will!” The order was quickly passed down. Cannon barrels extended from the battleships of the joint fleet and aimed forward, ready to fire any time.
The front of the joint fleet gradually entered the attack range of the defense circle. The distance between the two sides kept reducing, and the atmosphere kept becoming more and more intense. Almost every crew member held their breath.
Ding!
At this time, a remote projection suddenly appeared in the command room. It was a military officer of the combat command department.
“Order from above, all fleets stop advancing immediately.”
“Stop.” Simon raised his hand.
The aide-de-camp immediately passed the order down.
Very soon, the joint fleet slowly stopped only a short distance from the defense circle. The battleships at the front could almost see the crews of the other side through the portholes.
Seeing this, the atmosphere in the command room relaxed a little. Everyone was relieved.
Seemingly not surprised at all, Simon looked at the remote projection of the military officer and asked, “Any other orders from above?”
“… Spread out, surround them, and standby. Wait for the results of the negotiation.”
In the Mechanical Race’s territory, Manison’s Lord’s Avatar looked at the remote surveillance screen and smiled.
“You guessed right. The three Universal Civilizations are not willing to start a war right away.”
Han Xiao sat opposite him with his eyes narrowed and casually replied, “The three Universal Civilizations definitely did not send a fleet so openly here to start a fight. If they really wanted to attack the Mechanical Race territory, they would have used the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device long ago. Plus, your original isn’t here, so attacking the Mechanical Race won’t do much. This should be their last test.”
This had already become the center of the storm, and the attention of the entire universe was focusing on the situation here. He had arrived not long ago. He and Manison were the only Beyond Grade As there at the moment.
“Although they’ve made up their minds, they’re sadly not decisive enough.” Manison shook his head.
Han Xiao glanced at him and said, “Things have become like this because of you. Don’t you have anything to say?”.
“… What are you trying to say? You want to get off the boat now?” Manison paused.
“Nothing, but now that I’m backing you up, at least act like the one who’s being helped.”
“Humph, what a strange thing to say. Do you like to see me put down my pride that much?” Manison was not in a bad mood now, so he did not mind it. “Alright, help me settle this matter, please.”
Han Xiao’s eyes moved subtly and glanced at the interface. He then grinned faintly for a short instant.
He slowly stood up.
“Let’s go. It’s time for me to meet my old boss.”
At the Mechanical Race territory’s defense circle, the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet and the Beyond Grade A Association had been standing opposite each other for quite some time, and the atmosphere was very intense.
At the edge of their fleets, spaceships with symbols of differing galactic media groups were broadcasting the situation live. None of the sides banished the battlefield reporters.
As this place might become a battlefield, these media groups only sent unmanned spaceships to carry out remote broadcasting. This place had become the eye of the storm, and the entire universe’s attention was focused there, so the audience count had already broken records.
“The three Universal Civilizations’ fleet has been stopped. The two sides have not fired… though the reason is unknown, a battle did not break out. We sincerely hope things will come to change…”
In the broadcast channel of a galactic media, the host spoke with a serious expression. Countless viewers watched the images nervously and anxiously. With all the comments online, the majority of people already knew that what was about to happen would be the turning point. If the two sides started a battle, it might lead to an all-out war between the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association, and countless people were terrified of that.
At this time, two streams of light appeared in the broadcast, dashing quickly from inside the defense circle toward the middle area, showing themselves in front of everyone.
“The center of all this, the Mechanic Emperor has finally appeared. The person beside him is the Beyond Grade A Association’s president, Black Star. Did he come personally to stop the three Universal Civilizations?”
Hearing the host’s introduction, the eyes of the countless galactic residents focused on the two of them. Many felt complicated toward these two people who caused the situation of the entire universe to become like this.
Han Xiao stepped out of the association fleet’s formation, came to between the two armies, and hovered in the center, instantly becoming the focus of everyone’s attention. The battleships of both sides all focused their cameras on him and displayed his enlarged image on their screens.
He glanced at the enormous fleet of the three Universal Civilizations, opened the public channel, and said to everyone,
“You’re neither fighting nor retreating. Bring out someone who’s in charge. I believe no one wanted to see things escalate to this point. If we can come up with a plan we can all accept, no one will want to solve problems with violence.”
As he said that, the battlefield became silent for some time. Then, three beams shot out from the main ship, forming the remote projections of the three Universal Civilizations in front of Han Xiao, entering the public channel at the same time.
As soon as the communication was picked up, Louis cut to the chase and said with a deep voice, “Black Star, are you going to hold on to the Virtual Mutiny Virus that might endanger the entire explored universe and protect the malicious Mechanic Emperor?”
Han Xiao shook his head. “The Virtual Mutiny Virus was destroyed long ago. The Mechanic Emperor only studied it and achieved some results. It’s his innovation to begin with. Although this technology is dangerous, we have no obligation to submit it to the three Universal Civilizations, nor did it ever endanger the galactic society. How is it malicious? On the other hand, attempting to threaten the Mechanic Emperor to give up his technology by sending an army to surround the Mechanical Race territory isn’t all that honorable.”
“Judging from past experiences, the Mechanic Emperor’s motive to study this technology is suspicious. Out of safety reasons, we need to obtain this technology, as well as control the Mechanic Emperor himself. This is all to protect the galactic society. That’s where the duty of the three Universal Civilizations lies,” Marbruce said with a serious expression.
With the same calm expression, Han Xiao said, “Back during the Intelligent Plague, multiple Beyond Grade A Mechanics worked together to defuse the disaster, which proved that the association is also protecting the safety of the universe. We will ensure that this technology won’t endanger the galactic society all the same. This is the internal matter for the association to handle; we won’t accept the three Universal Civilizations’ interference.”
The church’s pope said seriously, “The Beyond Grade A Development Union is only a civilian organization. Its promise doesn’t mean anything. The three Universal Civilizations have the authority to carry out needed measures and monitor anything that might endanger the galactic society. This is within the boundaries of the law. The Mechanic Emperor must submit the Virtual Mutiny Virus!”
“Impossible.” Han Xiao rejected it instantly. “The association has already stated its stance in the announcement. Its members have the freedom to research what they want, and we won’t accept forceful measures. The association will restrain the application range of the technology. We hope the three Universal Civilizations will retreat immediately!”
Louis paused and said with a louder and more serious voice, “We will pull our army back as soon as the Mechanic Emperor submits the technology. Before that, we won’t terminate this operation for any reason. You have ten days. We hope the association will think carefully in this time and not make the wrong decision.”
“There’s no need to talk further then?”
“You have ten days.”
Han Xiao nodded and said with a serious voice, “Since that’s the case, I’ll stay here from now on, and if you want to force the association to submit the technology, you’ll have to get past me!”
Then, he crossed his legs and hovered in the center between the two armies. Although he was alone, it was like he had drawn an invisible line that extended out infinitely.
The three Universal Civilizations leaders gave him a deep look before their remote projections disappeared.
The two sides had spoken in the public channel, so everyone present had heard it, including the media.
The expressions of countless galactic residents changed.
“Does this mean the negotiation failed?”
“Neither side is willing to take a step back. Looks like they’re really going to fight!” “There’s still ten days. I wonder if I have enough time to take refuge.”
The galactic society was in fear.
Han Xiao looked around at the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet. Seeing that they were still on standby, he shook his head.
As the president, he represented the association. There was no way he was going to step back and submit the technology. It was the same for the three Universal Civilizations; they were not going to retreat before achieving their goal.
“Ten days…” Han Xiao mumbled. This was the time the three Universal Civilizations had given him. In ten days, if they still could not come to an agreement, a fight might really break out. The three Universal Civilizations probably made up their minds this time and were willing to accept the consequences of starting a war.
He glanced at the interface. In his mission list, a new mission was pinned to the top. It was the mission he had triggered from Manison. The requirement was to defuse the danger the Mechanical Race was in by any means necessary. As long as he could make the three Universal Civilizations retreat, the mission would be considered complete.
Maybe because Manison personally ‘asked him to help’, other than the high experience, the reward also included one chance to draw an ability from Manison.
Of course, Han Xiao was not going to let this opportunity slip.
He casually opened the forums. The stand he made earlier was also recorded by the players in the fleet.
Unlike the galactic residents who were panicking, the players were all looking forward to it. They were all excited about the current situation.
Beep beep…
This time, his communicator suddenly rang. It was surprisingly a call from Marbruce.
Han Xiao was not surprised at all. The open negotiation was more to express their stand to the outside world. The real negotiation still had to be carried out privately.
Picking up the communication, the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders appeared on the screen inside the mechanical suit.
“Black Star, do you really want to start a war?” Marbruce questioned.
“I should be asking you guys that.”
“Don’t be overconfident just because you have the Sanctum Revival. You’re leading the Beyond Grade As to their deaths,” Louis said coldly.
“Isn’t that exactly what you guys want to see? If not because you’re worried about the damages a war might cause, why would you contact me privately now?”
“Hehe, we have already come to some results in our research. We know that using the Sanctum Revival will consume some special resources, and it’s not free; you can’t bluff us. Plus, these revivors have already used their one chance of revival. If a fight really breaks out, you guys will incur damages too. No one wants that,” the pope said.
“What great ideas do you have then?” Han Xiao curled his lips. “We want the Virtual Mutiny Virus and the related information of the Sanctum Revival. In exchange, not only will we pull away our army, but we’ll also void the new law against the association and support your developments. We can even provide you with more than enough Universal Treasures and blueprints, and we can promise that no one in the Black Star Army will be on the cleanse list in the future. These deals will be done privately and not shared with the public. We can say we pulled out our army because we were intimidated by your strength, so your reputation will become even higher…”
“You’re daydreaming, good-freaking-bye.”
Before they could respond, Han Xiao hung up the communication right away.
This was the first time he had hung up on the call from the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders. He would have never done it if it were in the past before the association and the three Universal Civilizations became complete oppositions. He felt great doing it.
“… Hmm, okay, understood.”
After hearing the orders from above, Fleet Commander Simon put down the communicator, returned to the command table, and calmly ordered, “Pass down my orders. Engineering team, start to assemble the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device. Start preheating in twelve hours and connect with the other side.”
“We’re getting reinforcements?” the chief staff sergeant on the side asked.
“Hmm.”
Simon turned around and looked outside the porthole at Han Xiao, who was sitting alone in the cosmic space. He said with a meaningful one, “Orders from above, we’re going to receive the direct Beyond Grade As who will be sent here.”
“How many?”
Hearing this, Simon looked at him.
“All of them.”
In Black Star Palace’s guest hall, a group of Beyond Grade As gathered and watched the news broadcast of what was happening at the Mechanical Race territory with varied expressions, discussing the matter softly. “Black Star’s stand is too strong. There won’t be room for negotiation like this.” Milizaus was worried.
While adjusting his gun, Sun Hunter said, “Bullsh*t negotiation, this fight is unavoidable. Black Star isn’t just putting on a show by standing there. I’m guessing he’s waiting for the three Universal Civilizations to send their direct members to fight him. Be it duels or fighting them all at once, he’ll accept it. He’s doing this on purpose to intimidate them.”
“Can he do it alone?” Kant frowned. “If the three Universal Civilizations go all-out, Dark Lord and Golden Ring will definitely be there. Those who are stationed in the secondary dimension bases will most likely be called back too. No matter how strong Black Star is, he has limits. Plus, even God Chooser might go.”
“Black Star should be able to deal with the others, but God Chooser…” Kasuyi hesitated. “If he uses the Arcane Church’s National Treasure, Black Star might have problems.”
Hila crossed her arms, put one leg on top the other, and said coldly, “You don’t have to be concerned about Black Star. His skin is thick enough. Better think of the threat we’re facing right now. The three Universal Civilizations’ army have already locked down the Flickering World’s entrance, the Dawn Star Cluster, so they could attack us any time There are probably already at least ten thousand Super Long Range Planet Annihilation Weapons aimed at this place now.”
“Ten thousand? You’re underestimating the three Universal Civilizations way too much.” Sun Hunter snorted.
Kasuyi shook his head. “We’ve done what we needed. We can only wait for the results at the Primeval Star River. The three Universal Civilizations won’t fire at the other areas before they do anything to the Mechanical Race’s territory at least.”
The others sighed. Although they knew this would happen sooner or later, when it really did, they still were not confident about it.
No matter what, their opponents were the rulers of this universe. The fear in their hearts that had lasted for so long in the past could not be cleared this easily.
The situation turned way too quickly. Even many Beyond Grade As could not get used to it. However, the changes of time were always sudden. Rarely did it give people the time to adapt. They could only accept the reality.
Many military base planets were stationed in the Dawn Star Cluster, filled with countless deep holes that had enormous caliber Super-Long-Range Psionic Planetary Obliteration Cannons that were aimed at the nearby Star Clusters—the Garu Star Cluster, Crown Star Cluster, and the Renault Star Cluster. These were all areas of the second exploration phase and were now prosperous areas with many Beyond Grade A Organizations stationed in them. Of the Planetary Obliteration Cannons, Black Star’s territories had the highest number of them aimed at them.
The Dawn Star Cluster was the area the Crimson Dynasty had taken over the earliest. Many of the planets there were military restricted areas. In the past few decades, these planets had all been modified into weapons.
After the first Meeting of the Gods a few decades ago, the Crimson Dynasty had secretly started carrying out this project, planning for the future. What was happening today was exactly what they had been preparing for. If a fight broke out, this Star Cluster could immediately become the bridgehead of the war. At the same time, the regular route between the Flickering World and the explored universe would be sealed up.
Fleets belonging to the three Universal Civilizations stationed in the various places of the Dawn Star Cluster, while the three Universal Civilizations’ temporary combat command center also moved from Planet Lighthouse to a military planet at the heart of the Dawn Star Cluster.
“Maintain the highest alert level in the next ten days. Once the joint fleet starts to fight on the Mechanical Race’s territory, that’ll be our signal to fire at all Beyond Grade A organizations, including the Black Star Army’s territories.”
Inside the temporary combat command center, Euwan Fabick looked around at the many military officers in the room with eyes as sharp as an eagle.
He was a high-level military officer of the Crimson Dynasty who had taken over the position as the Marshal of the dynasty’s exploration army after Tarrokov retired. Due to all the things happening lately, the three Universal Civilizations classified the Flickering World as an independent key war zone, and he had become the commander of this war zone directly, in charge of the military operations of the three Universal Civilizations in the Flickering World.
“Understood,” the others replied simultaneously.
Euwan turned to one of the military officers and said, “Due to shortage of manpower, the people above can’t send direct Beyond Grade As here to help. How’s the setup of the defense measures doing? After the battle starts, the Beyond Grade As will definitely try to assassinate the people in the command center. If we can’t stop them from invading the Dawn Star Cluster’s core, the situation is going to be very tough.”
“The engineering team is setting up the defense measures as quickly as possible. They’ve also left traps and quick support routes. If the Beyond Grade As go too deep, there’s a chance we can surround and eliminate them…”
“Give me a report later.” Euwan raised his hand and stopped him. He then asked about the progress of other things.
Whether the three Universal Civilizations would end up fighting the association or not, this was not something he cared about. He only cared about his own duty, making sure the strategy could be carried out if a battle did start.
In some desolate universe belt in the Dawn Star Cluster, many hovering shrouding devices circled around a small planet and orbited in the exterior atmosphere, putting out illusions to shroud what was happening on the surface so that it would not be detected by others.
From the outside, this was just a desolate planet. However, the real look of the planet would only show when entering the atmosphere. This was a mechanical fortress that was armed to the teeth, filled with countless battleships and mechanical armies.
In the past few decades, the Black Star Army was not only operating its territory but also setting up many secret bases in other areas, and this was one of them.
At the top of a building, Aurora stood at the edge of the balcony looking at the enormous white mechanical ring far away. This was a new fixed directional teleportation technology Han Xiao had obtained from Jayz’s treasure that could transport troops on a large scale. It was not yet activated.
Behind her was a huge crowd. Everyone’s body was giving off a faint light. They were all Hero Spirits who had acquired a physical body. The eight Hero Spirit Kings stood in one row in front of thousands of Calamity Grade Hero Spirits, followed by countless Grade B Hero Spirits.
As early as when Manison’s database was attacked, Han Xiao had urgently recalled Aurora, who was traveling at the time, and given her a secret mission. She was to hide in one secret base and keep using her ability. Other than eating and sleeping, she spent all her time summoning Hero Spirits of the Underworld.
Aurora’s life in this period of time was summoning Hero Spirit, resting, and recovering. Then she would continue summoning more Hero Spirits and repeat. By doing that every day to the limits of her stamina, she finally summoned so many Hero Spirits.
The amount of time these Hero Spirits with a physical body could exist relied on the speed their body was losing vitality. Basically, as long as they were not killed or Aurora did not take away their body, they could last for a very long time. That was especially so when they were in the standby mode as they were now. The speed they were losing vitality was negligible. This was how Aurora had accumulated such a huge army.
Aurora turned to look at the Hero Spirits and softly said, “Black Star said that you guys will have to make a big mess in the Dawn Star Cluster before the ten days are up. Destroy as many of the three Universal Civilizations’ Planetary Obliteration weapons as possible.”
Sorokin snorted. “He really likes to order people around.”
After spending more than four decades as a Hero Spirit, he had accepted his fate and gotten used to his identity. However, he had never given up his hobby of making money. In order to satisfy that, he had found a way to change the societal environment of the Underworld.
As Hero Spirits basically had zero physical needs when they were in the spirit form, through observing over a very long time, Sorokin discovered what they all needed. Hence, he created a concept currency system based on ‘Promises’. One promise meant one owed another person a favor, while the promises from Hero Spirits of different levels and identity represented different values.
When a Hero Spirit gave promises to one or more other Hero Spirits, it was the equivalent of printing money. Sorokin designed a special credibility system to prevent the Hero Spirits from giving out promises without restraint, which would have led to inflation, at the same time solving a series of problems associated with ‘damaged promises’. Plus, the number of promises every Hero Spirit could create in a certain period was limited. Also, this kind of ‘promises’ currency was allowed to be sold to others, similar to giving others one’s ‘debts’.
Sorokin worked quite hard to promote this system. He even convinced Aurora and Onicelu to semi-relate the monetization of this currency with the chances of reviving and the duration of being revived. This way, the Underworld Hero Spirits who usually had nothing to do gradually accepted this system.
Having created a market, using the capitalist methods he was most proficient in, Sorokin harvested a ton of promises. Currently, the Hero Spirits of the Underworld owed him 0.37 Promises on average. He became the ‘wealthiest’ person in the Underworld… Although this did not mean much, seeing his ‘wealth’ increase was satisfying to him on its own.
This war made Sorokin see an opportunity to largely monopolize the promise currency. After all, if a war broke out, the Underworld Hero Spirits would definitely be revived frequently. Although they were summoned for a war, it was much better than staying in the Underworld and doing nothing.
As for the conflict between the association and the three Universal Civilizations, Sorokin was not interested. His position was no longer the same; it was not his problem to worry about anymore.
Aurora turned back and continued to look in front. Facing away from the many Hero Spirits, her expression became worried.
Both the three Universal Civilizations and the association had set up secret bases like this in the various key Star Fields. Once an all-out war erupted, tons of places would be drawing in blood, and she did not really want to see that.
“If a war really breaks out, I hope I can save more people with the Underworld…”
Back in the Mechanical Race’s territory, the media and news groups were still broadcasting the situation. A lot of time had already passed after the failed negotiation. Han Xiao sat in the middle as if he was dividing the fleets of the two sides. None of them moved.
Looking at the broadcast that was like a still image, the countless galactic residents kept feeling more anxious.
More than half a day had already passed, yet neither side had made a move. Were they going to just keep looking at each other for ten days? If that was the case, their stand would not change even after ten days.
While many were feeling pessimistic, a change happened in the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet. The Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device was suddenly activated. After rapidly spinning for a while, it released a bright light, and a small fleet arrived through teleportation.
“Reinforcements?”
Countless galactic residents were excited. Although they did not know what the three Universal Civilizations were doing, change was good.
Through the broadcast, countless people’s eyes followed this small fleet as it passed through the fleet’s formation and arrived at the main ship of the joint fleet.
At the same time, inside the command room in the main fleet, all crew members including Simon stood up to welcome the people who were arriving.
As footsteps approached, a group of people with varied appearances walked into the command room.
Seeing this, thrilled chatter sounded among the crews, naming these people like reading off a list.
“The Crimson Dynasty’s ‘Dark Lord’ Clotti, ‘Thunder’ Guzar, ‘Army Leader’ Padro, ‘Army Flag’ Enid…
“The Federation of Light’s ‘Golden Ring’ Oulou, ‘Super Mentor’ Verena, ‘Defender’ Romo… “The Arcane Church’s ‘God Chooser’ Wuornos, ‘Mechanical Catastrophe’ Francisco, ‘Holy Disciple’ Mornan… It’s them!”
The people who had just arrived were indeed all the direct Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations. There were as many as dozens of them. They had all been urgently summoned.
Simon took a few steps forward, nodded at them, and said, “I won’t say much. I believe you’ve already been given orders and know what to do.”
Hearing this, they all turned to look outside the porthole and focused on Han Xiao.
Oulou grinned with a tint of cruelty.
“Don’t worry. We’re here now. He won’t be arrogant for long.”
“I’ll leave Black Star to you guys.” Simon nodded.
The fleet firing was the signal to start an all-out war. Before the ten days period ended, the three Universal Civilizations were not going to do that. However, since Black Star had come out on his own, they could test him. Therefore, the three Universal Civilizations had summoned their direct members and planned to pressure the association.
This time, Verena looked around at everyone and said slowly, “Black Star is very strong and difficult to deal with, but if we fight him together from the start, it won’t look good. Only Clotti, Oulou, and Wuornos here are capable of fighting Black Star alone. Which of you will go first?”
Hearing this, everyone focused on the three of them. Most people were looking at Wuornos, who was known as the strongest.
Wuornos’ eyes were closed, and he remained silent, not looking interested in this mission. It was true. If not because the church pope had called him here, he would not have left the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods at all.
Seeing that he did not speak, the others turned to look at Clotti.
“You used to work with Black Star. You should know about his abilities more than us,” Verena said.
Clotti frowned. “I don’t know more than you do. He…”
This time, Oulou interrupted him.
“I’ll deal with him. I’ve been wanting to fight Black Star for a long time. Maybe I can take him on the spot.”
Seeing this, the others nodded and did not fight with him for the spot.
This time, Verena tapped her forehead with her finger. A pure white glow flew out and landed on Oulou. Suddenly, Oulou felt the energy in his body start to boil. His ability strength kept increasing
“Hehe, I can deal with Black Star without this enhancement.”
Oulou was not very thankful.
“It’s for just in case,” Verena replied calmly.
She was the principal of the Federation of Light’s Super Research Institution. She had a utility Esper Ability that leaned toward supporting others, enhancing the abilities of other Supers. She could also analyze the target’s ability’s growth path and design comprehensive training plans for them. This was why she was given the nickname of ‘Super Mentor’.
A few minutes later, Han Xiao, who was resting in the battlefield, slowly opened his eyes.
In his sights, a familiar person stepped out of the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet and hovered not far from him, giving off a powerful presence that was exclusive to peak Beyond Grade As.
“Oulou?” Han Xiao said softly in the public channel.
Oulou narrowed his eyes. “I heard that in order to make the association submit the technology, we’ll have to get past you?” “As long as you can defeat me, I can consider it,” Han Xiao answered casually.
Hearing this, Oulou’s eyes flickered, and he said with a deep voice, “Then you can start considering that option now!”
After that, his presence rapidly grew. Tons of golden rings appeared behind him, linking to a bright golden world, giving him seemingly infinite energy. It was indeed the ‘Golden Treasure Ship’ dimension he was known to have.
Seeing this, Han Xiao shook his head and slowly said, “Do you want to consider joining the association to enjoy the Sanctum Revival chance? You won’t get killed for nothing that way.”
While Han Xiao and Oulou were looking at each other, the galactic residents who were watching the broadcast all heard their short conversation in the public channel and were excited.
“Heard that? As long as they can defeat Black Star, he’ll consider compromising.”
“This is an opportunity! If Black Star keeps his promise, defeating him will avoid the all-out war.”
“Come on, the three Universal Civilizations, the peace of the universe relies on you guys!”
“I’m not sure about this. Can the three Universal Civilizations really deal with him? Plus, his attributes on his Wayne Card are way too high now. I don’t think Oulou is his match.”
“Is this really the time to talk about cards? We can’t know who will win till they fight!”
“Speaking of which, if they could decide this with a game of cards, it would be much easier…”
Countless galactic residents were looking forward to it.
It did not matter if Black Star was telling the truth or not, they could only put their hopes on this statement. No one wanted a war; any change was welcome.
At this time, in the eyes of the many galactic residents, Black Star seemed to have become the big villain, and defeating him would protect the peace of the world. Countless people cheered for the three Universal Civilizations in their hearts and hoped to see Black Star defeated the next second.
Inside the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet’s main ship, the other direct Beyond Grade As were all in the command room watching the two of them.
“Do you guys think Oulou can beat Black Star?” someone asked.
“He has less than a fifty-percent chance. If Black Star was that easy to deal with, the people above wouldn’t have sent us all.” Verena shook her head.
“Then why did we let him go alone? Although ganging up on him isn’t good, losing a duel will be embarrassing too, won’t it?” Guzar wondered.
“We never expected Oulou to win,” Francisco said. “Given Oulou’s strength and Verena’s enhancement, he’s more than capable of matching up to Black Star. This was mainly a test.”
Verena nodded and explained, “That’s right. It’s already been decades since Black Star last fought. With his growth speed, the data from the past is outdated. Oulou will be able to force out Black Star’s full strength to collect information for us, which will help in making plans. We have ten days anyway, so there’s no need to hurry. Intelligence is crucial in combat.”
The others nodded with agreement.
Having made his name in the universe decades prior, Black Star was already recognized as extremely strong among the Beyond Grade As. Not many people dared underestimate him.
Oulou was a peak Beyond Grade A among the top tier in the universe, one of their strongest. Letting him be the first to test Black Star was already an act of taking Black Star seriously enough.
While the many direct Beyond Grade As had their own thoughts, Han Xiao and Oulou who were in the middle of the battlefield suddenly moved like lightning!
Oulou’s eyes turned bright as he activated the Golden Treasure Ship dimension. The next moment, countless golden beams of light shot out from the rings behind him like a fountain.
Unaffected, Han Xiao’s body shook. Mechanical Force lightning bolts spread instantly, and the mechanical army he hid in his body using (Compressed Orb Innovation -Armed Body] shot out, instantly turning into an enormous mechanical army. The mechanical army set up thick psionic shields in front of Han Xiao, forming a barrier.
Thunderous golden light beams bombarded the psionic barrier. Golden light dust splashed everywhere, and blue-purple electronic bolts danced.
Seeing this, Oulou immediately summoned more golden rings and shot out burning golden light beams nonstop at Han Xiao’s mechanical army, as if he had infinite energy.
His Esper Ability allows him to link with the Golden Treasure Ship dimension and use its energy. He’s another one with infinite mana who excels in large scale attacks, using his infinite energy to exhaust the enemy time after time. The Golden Treasure Ship is a special secondary dimension. The nature of its energy is very destructive, and it also has other utility functions.
Oulou’s information flashed past Han Xiao’s mind as he opened up the secondary dimensional army box, and more mechanical troops swarmed out.
The psionic barrier became many times thicker instantly. No matter how powerful Oulou’s attacks were, the guarding troops in front of Han Xiao stood firmly. Without the need to dodge any attacks, Han Xiao summoned his Divine Mechanical Throne and sat on it to command his troops.
At the same time, the long-range troops in the mechanical army retaliated. Under the lead of the Apostle Weapons, the melee combat troops also charged toward Oulou from various directions.
The two sides entered an intense battle, dishing out countless attacks at each other without restraint. The battlefield was filled with all kinds of explosions and beams.
The three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet had to move back a certain distance and activate their shields to avoid being accidentally damaged.
Sitting on the Divine Mechanical Throne, Han Xiao looked at Oulou.
Although having infinite mana was one of the special traits of Beyond Grade As, from the way he looked at it, this ability had a weakness that was not really a weakness-no matter how much energy these people had, their power output was still limited. Oulou’s Energy Rank determined his damage output.
Oulou’s Energy Rank was undoubtedly at the top tier, comparable with Kasuyi. After receiving Verena’s enhancements, his Energy Rank even increased by a portion once again. However, compared to Han Xiao’s Energy Rank now, it still came up short.
After spending decades keeping a low profile and growing stronger, the bonuses he received from his talents were massive. His combat capability was astonishing and had the upper hand without even having to use any Character Summon Cards. This was the difference in raw strength.
Han Xiao only took out ten or so Apostle Weapons that chased after Oulou, and Oulou was already having quite a difficult time. With Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force bonuses, the combat capability of his Apostle Weapons was already steadily at the Beyond Grade A level. They could even go a few rounds with high level Beyond Grade As.
There was no need for flashy plays with such a huge advantage! One word could describe the situation of this battle.
One-sided!
“This guy is no match for me. His defeat is only a matter of time… Hehe, all these talents I’ve put in so much effort to obtain would be for nothing if I couldn’t easily beat guys like you.” Watching the battle for a while, Han Xiao grinned, shook his head, and looked at the interface casually.
Not long after Oulou challenged him, the Beyond Grade A Challenge Mission appeared once again. Clearly, this challenge received enough attention to trigger a mission.
The mission requirements and the rewards were still the same, requiring him to last for a certain amount of time, and the best reward was still a Character Summon Card and one of Oulou’s abilities or talents.
“How I love duels. They’re really doing me a big favor.”
Han Xiao laughed in his mind.
While he relaxed on his throne and patiently commanded the army, his talents were activated one after another, continuously increasing his status, and the battle became easier and easier.
Meanwhile, Oulou had a more and more difficult time.
In the eyes of others, the mechanical army was like a swarm of bees surrounding Oulou and attacking him. While the golden light beams that Oulou used with no restraint could wipe out piles of the mechanical army from time to time, the empty areas were filled up very quickly by other mechanical soldiers. Plus, the broken machines also very quickly reassembled and returned to the battlefield right after.
Oulou looked like an insect trapped by a spider’s web who could only struggle meaninglessly, breaking through the siege time after time, then getting surrounded again every time.
Oulou’s expression had already changed. It was grave.
It was not that he had never fought with a peak Beyond Grade A Mechanic, but his attacks would have usually already overwhelmed the opponent’s mechanical army. However, Black Star’s mechanical army never showed any signs of defeat or flaws, wrapping around him like he could not tear it open no matter what.
These ten or so Apostle Weapons were especially strong, making him not only feel quite tired but also unable to let his guard down at all. Any flaw at this point might be fatal for him.
Protracted battles were originally his expertise, but he was losing this one.
Seeing that the situation was not going well, Oulou could not help but to look at Black Star, who was behind the mechanical army, seemingly having some ideas. Coincidentally, his eyes met with Han Xiao’s eyes that had a tint of anticipation.
In just one look, Oulou’s heart shivered, and he immediately gave up the thought of charging toward Han Xiao’s original body.
… I almost forgot, this guy isn’t an ordinary Mechanic. If I really go so close to him, who knows who’ll be beating up whom?
Not being able to find a solution, Oulou became more and more irritated. He had no choice but to continue the bombardment. More and more wounds appeared on his body as time passed.
The battle lasted for quite some time, and it remained simple all the time.
Then, suddenly, Oulou’s energy exploded. Golden energy formed a tsunami and blew away the mechanical soldiers around, helping him to get out of the encirclement once again. However, instead of charging toward Han Xiao, he fled in the opposite direction instead and rushed into the formation of the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet. Using the battleships as cover, he quickly left the battlefield.
Seeing this, Han Xiao made the mechanical troops stop and did not chase into the joint fleet.
Watching Oulou flee into the main ship, only then did Han Xiao speak in the public channel with a slight mocking tone.
“Is that it?”
Right after he said that, Han Xiao waved and retrieved the mechanical soldiers from the field, as if what he had done was nothing worth mentioning.
Then, he sat back on his Divine Mechanical Throne, held his chin with his hand, and looked at the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet.
“Next, and please let someone who can warm me up come.”
Seeing this, the many galactic residents who originally had high hopes for Oulou felt like their tinder of hope was instantly extinguished.
“H-he lost just like that?”
“Black Star didn’t move from the start to the end, right?”
“Was it too easy for him…”
Countless galactic residents felt a sense of suffocation in their chests.
They thought they would see a close battle; never did they expect to see Oulou lose so easily. Oulou was incompetent, and their passion was wasted.
Most people could not understand the details of the battle. They only knew that Black Star sat on his seat without moving an inch, and Oulou was beaten so badly he had to flee. The two of them had no physical contact at all. It was embarrassing beyond words.
They did not know how strong Beyond Grade As were and could only judge from what they saw. Hence, a question popped up in the minds of many galactic residents…
Is Oulou too weak, or is Black Star too strong?
In the main ship of the three Universal Civilizations joint fleet, the direct Beyond Grade As who saw this were all silent. Doubt and shock flickered in their eyes.
As Beyond Grade As, they were the only ones who could see the details of this battle that looked like it was completely one-sided, and they were terrified.
The strength of Black Star’s Mechanical Force had increased the performance of his mechanical army to a higher level. His Energy Rank crushed Oulou’s!
“How can the difference be this huge!”
Verena widened her eyes with disbelief.
She knew that Oulou’s chance of winning was not high, but never did she expect Black Star to win this easily. Originally, they all hoped Oulou could force Black Star to use all his strength so that they could collect some intelligence. To their absolute surprise, Oulou could not even complete the mission of testing Black Star and was thrashed by Black Star head-on, unable to make Black Star use even one of his trump cards.
Oulou was someone who had top tier strength, not just some nobody. Yet, he lost so pathetically and did not gain an upper hand at any point of the battle at all.
How strong is Black Star now?
“… He wasn’t this strong before,” Clotti said with a grave expression. “The only explanation for this is that he became stronger in the past few decades again and kept it a secret.”
“This won’t be easy,” Guzar said with a serious expression. “Even you probably won’t be a match for Black Star.”
Clotti remained silent and did not refute it. He had no confidence either.
If not because he knew Oulou’s personality well, he would have suspected that Oulou was acting.
“We still underestimated this guy. His feathers have matured…”
Clotti exhaled slowly with a heavy heart.
At this time, the hatch opened, and Oulou walked in.
As he was really afraid that Black Star might kill him, he had fled when things were not going well. He was not heavily injured, but he looked confused and could not accept how easily he had lost.
Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
The others glanced at him with complicated looks and did not know what to say. Brother, you asked for this. Thanks for being so brave…
Beep beep…
At this time, Verena’s coded communicator rang. The face of the federation’s president, Louis, appeared on the screen with an unsatisfied expression.
The leaders of the three Universal Civilizations were watching the broadcast too and were just about as unsatisfied as they could be about the battle earlier.
“What are you doing? I told you guys to go there to help, not to get beat up!”
“Sorry, we wanted to test Black Star’s strength, but he’s much stronger than the intelligence says…” Verena explained. “… Don’t be so careless again. Oulou losing this easily isn’t good for the federation’s reputation. I don’t want to see it happen again,” Louis suppressed the shock and rage in his heart.
“Okay.”
Verena hung up the communication and sighed.
They had only lost one battle, and their bosses were already scolding them. Usually, these upper echelons would not be as impatient as this, but they were probably shocked by that battle too and could not keep it in any longer, so they quickly hinted for these direct members to not hold back.
She knew very well why the upper echelons summoned all the direct members here. They thought that with so many of them working together, they could at least suppress Black Star by outnumbering him. At the start, Verena was filled with confidence, but not anymore.
The upper echelons had this idea based on the records of Black Star’s strength. However, the last public battle Black Star was in was decades ago when he fought Manison. Back then, the two of them had fought intensely, and Black Star had quite a hard time defeating Mechanic Emperor’s Lord’s Avatar.
Hence, in the eyes of the three Universal Civilizations, Black Star was a bit stronger than Manison at his peak, but not a lot stronger. Therefore, the three Universal Civilizations felt that as long as they sent all their direct members, it would be more than enough to teach Black Star a lesson. After all, they had three peak Beyond Grade As, and God’s Chosen was acknowledged by all as the strongest who could defeat even Mechanic Emperor. There was no reason they would fail.
However, the strength Black Star had just displayed refreshed the three Universal Civilizations’ knowledge. Oulou, whose strength was also in the top tier, lost so embarrassingly, and Black Star did not even use his full strength.
Although they knew that Black Star had remained low profile for decades and that their intelligence was already outdated, the difference was way too huge! “… What now?”
The people suppressed their emotions and exchanged looks.
Being shocked was one thing, but they still had to execute the mission given to them.
Verena pondered for a while and said, “The target’s strength is beyond expectations. Dueling will do nothing. Looks like we have no choice but to fight him in groups. Let’s all discuss how we should deal with him.”
They started discussing it as if they were facing a terrifying enemy.
They were all intimidated by Han Xiao’s strength. Even though they were going to fight him together, they did not dare strik carelessly before coming up with a reliable plan.
Wuornos stood at the edge of the crowd and did not participate in the discussion. He looked through the porthole at Han Xiao, who was hovering in the cosmic space. His eyes kept flickering, and he mumbled in his mind, 11,000 Energy Rank minimum, at least one God’s Trait Transformation route fully completed… Worthy target to turn.
Inside the Mechanical Race’s main ship, the many crew members were thrilled by the results of this one-sided battle and started cheering.
In front of the porthole, Manison looked at Han Xiao’s back in silence. Although his avatar was expressionless, a tsunami was roaring in his mind.
How is this guy so strong? Manison was naturally shocked. His impression of Han Xiao also remained in the last time they fought. It had been a very long time since he saw Black Star fight anyone.
Although he knew he was probably no match for Black Star, he never thought the difference would be so huge. Even if he had to fight Oulou, he could not have done it so easily and casually. It would be an extremely intense and suspenseful battle.
Black Star is becoming more and more unfathomable. How the hell does he become stronger so quickly?
Having realized that Black Star was already so much ahead of him and that he could no longer figure out Han Xiao’s limits, Manison could not help but feel complicated and a little sour.
However, after being down for a few seconds, Manison let it go and sighed.
Maybe only someone like this was capable enough of leading the Beyond Grade As into a higher level… Having a leader like this was a blessing for the Beyond Grade As of this era.
The only thing Black Star lacked was probably accumulation…
Manison’s eyes spun, and he made up his mind.
He was not a petty man. If Black Star had needs, he did not mind lending his machines to Black Star.
With Black Star’s strength and my inventory, he’ll probably have no match in the universe.
“I knew it. The three Universal Civilizations are overconfident. How can they possibly bring out someone who can fight Black Star?”
The four old hermits including Joey were watching the broadcast and looked relieved.
They had fought Black Star only about a year ago and were the ones who knew Black Star’s strength the best in the universe. Back then, their confidence was absolutely crushed and still had yet to recover; they felt shivers every time they saw Black Star.
Earlier, when they saw the three Universal Civilizations only send Oulou to fight Black Star, they were surprised. They thought the three Universal Civilizations had hidden some direct members who were as strong as Black Star, and that made them uneasy.
However, when they saw the one-sided battle, Joey and the others knew that they were overthinking it and worrying for nothing
“The three Universal Civilizations’ intelligence is way too outdated. One peak Beyond Grade A is probably nothing to Black Star.” Joey shook his head.
“They’ll have to fight as more than one if they want to win, just like what we did…” Joey felt a little awkward. “Black Star seemed relaxed when fighting the four of us too. God knows what his limit is.”
“… Do you guys think he expected this long ago, which is why he kept a low profile for decades?”
“Who knows?”
The few of them softly gossiped.
After defeating Oulou, the three Universal Civilizations seemed to be shocked and did not immediately send someone new in right after. Han Xiao sat on his throne and waited patiently.
“Looks like the three Universal Civilizations’ expectation of my strength was not high enough.”
Seeing the three Universal Civilizations fleet that was not making a move, Han Xiao curled his lips.
In the past few decades, he had kept a low profile and quietly accumulated his strength. Only the Holy Accord, Joey’s group, and Kasuyi had seen his strength; the outside world almost knew nothing about it.
The main reason was that there was not really a chance for him to fight publicly. The Beyond Grade A circle was quite small, and there were only a few he could fight.
More than a year ago when he beat up Joey and the others, Han Xiao had gained a rough estimate about his own strength. It would take at least a dozen high-level Beyond Grade As to cause any threat to him.
For now, not only were his growth talents growing steadily, but he had also even obtained (The Ancient Ones) and his first Unique Talent, and he had acquired some new technology from SWY-001. His strength had grown even higher, and the number of Beyond Grade As it would take to cause any threat to him increased once again.
Fighting Oulou was nothing but an appetizer to him. He had gone there with the mindset of starting a ‘slaughter’, showing the outside world the strength that fitted the identity of the leader of the Beyond Grade As while getting some talents. Stepping up on his personal behalf at such an important occasion, he was certain there would be opportunities for him to fight.
Seeing that the three Universal Civilizations were not making a move, Han Xiao opened the interface. The Challenge Mission triggered by Oulou was already shown as completed. Since he could not leave at this point and could not acquire some luck, Han Xiao chose to conclude it on the spot.
(Beyond Grade A Challenge Mission-‘Golden Ring’ Oulou) completed!
You have completed all the mission requirements. You have received 86 Billion Experience!
You have received (Character Summon Card – ‘Golden Ring’ Oulou)!
Character Summon Card – ‘Golden Ring’ Oulou: (Golden Treasure Ship-Ram]— Condense the energy of the Golden Treasure Ship dimension in your body and carry out a long-distance charging attack. You’re immune to any Crowd Control abilities during the charge. Deals a high amount of melee combat damage. Usages: 0/3
“Aiyo, a distance closing ability, nice.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
Sadly, Oulou did not use this ability earlier, or he would have had the chance to do some stretching
“If there’s a chance in the future, I shall try to see if I can get some taunt-type ability. I feel like this is what my combat style needs…”
If he could just yell, “Come here, ya coward!” and the enemy actively went to him, it would be amazing
Shaking his head, he put these thoughts behind and looked at the rest of the notification.
You have received a reward: Draw one of Oulou’s Abilities/Talents.
Note: Oulou is an Esper, so part of the abilities/talents are adjusted according to your class.
Randomizing… complete!
Please select one from the five options below as the reward.
(Energy Control Precision] – Talent: Tremendously increase your ability to control energy, +10% Energy Resistance. 2. (Secondary Dimension Affinity) – Talent: Increases the chance of you building a connection with some secondary dimensions, grants you comprehensive bonuses when using the power of a secondary dimension.
(Liveliness Increase] – Ability: By stimulating your cells, temporarily increase the activity of your cells. +10% – 20% Health, Energy, and Stamina; +50% – 100% basic recovery speed of Health, Energy, Stamina. Duration: 15 minutes.
[Exquisite Taste] – Talent: +15%. You gain the Favorability of some people more easily.
(Phase Blink] – Ability: Using the secondary dimension, move by phasing and temporarily dodge most attacks. Cooldown: 6 minutes.
Han Xiao tutted. “My luck is ordinary as always without touching Feidin.”
After all, due to the difference in class, most of the core abilities of Espers were unobtainable. A surprise like with Gaud would not happen every time.
Looking through, Han Xiao made a decision very quickly.
You have received the talent (Secondary Dimension Affinity]!
He had a link with the Void Dimension and the Underworld, and his Racial Talent was also related to the Void Dimension, so choosing this talent would indirectly enhance his Racial Talent. As for the other options, they were either too ordinary, or he already had something similar.
Comparatively, the ability of this Character Summon Card was quite good. After all, it gave immunity to Crowd Control abilities, which might be amazing in some scenarios.
After concluding the reward, seeing that the three Universal Civilizations still did not make any move, Han Xiao started looking at the forums.
More than half a day passed like this. When only eight and a half days were left till the end of the three Universal Civilizations’ ultimatum deadline, they finally struck the second time.
A total of thirteen direct Beyond Grade As stepped up and walked out. Only then did Han Xiao close the forums and size them up. He saw that Clotti and Oulou among them, clearly the leaders.
This was a horrifying enough team. In a direct head-on battle, other than God’s Chosen who no one knew what his limits were, no one else in the universe could match up to it. Plus, there were no actors among these people; they had the same goal and would not hold back at all.
“Yo, no more duels?” Han Xiao said with a mocking tone.
Oulou looked ashamed. He had already adjusted back to normal after the humiliating loss, and he could not have been more embarrassed.
This time, Clotti slowly said, “Black Star, you are indeed strong. However, since you stepped up to take challenges, you won’t mind us fighting you in a group, will you?”
“Whatever. No matter how many Beyond Grade As you send, as long as you can defeat me.” Han Xiao did not mind.
Clotti nodded. He suddenly changed the topic and said, “His Excellency told me to ask you a question… Gaud, you killed him, didn’t you?”
As he said that, the other direct members were surprised. Even the many onlookers were stunned.
The Gaud incident was huge back then, and many people still had an impression of it. Now that it was brought up, many people were reminded of it once more.
“Oh? I’m warning you. We might be enemies, but I won’t just let you frame me like this,” Han Xiao said with a poker face.
Clotti added with a deep voice, “Originally, we didn’t suspect you because you were the dynasty’s ally. However, there were way too many suspicious parts about that incident back then. In recent years, you’ve become more and more lawless, so our suspicion of you has grown as well. You had plenty of reasons to attack Gaud… Sorokin might not be the culprit, just someone you framed!”
Han Xiao waved, interrupted him, and said casually, “What you say means nothing without evidence. I’ve never even thought of killing Gaud.” “You think you can clear your suspicion?” “Hehe, I’m not guilty.” Han Xiao did not mind it.
Of course, I never thought of killing Gaud. I only sealed him up. He’s still alive, so this isn’t a lie.
Plus, other than him, probably no one else knew about the fact that Gaud was EsGod. He never regretted capturing that guy; it was only a pity no one knew his contribution.
While speaking, Han Xiao stood up from his throne. The gates of the secondary dimensional army boxes opened behind him.
Even Han Xiao did not dare act overconfident facing this situation. None of these thirteen direct members were ordinary. The three Universal Civilizations had probably given each of them Universal Treasures, so they might have some trump cards. Plus, when fighting together, their strength would not just add up but multiply. However, taking the opponents seriously was one thing, but he was not going to say it out loud.
“Thirteen Beyond Grade As… it’s at least enough for me to warm up a little.”
As he said that, the swarm of mechanical army appeared once again. This time, they gathered around Han Xiao and quickly assembled into a Mechanical Deity.
Seeing this, Clotti and the others spread out and formed an encirclement. Their energy presence became unrestrained and clashed with Han Xiao’s energy presence. The energy readings in the area rocketed, and the spacetime stability started to fluctuate.
In this extremely tense moment, another Mechanical Deity suddenly appeared in the Mechanical Race’s fleet. It was Manison, and he instantly attracted everyone’s attention.
The next moment, Manison suddenly threw out the Emperor Mechanic’s Sacred Trident at Han Xiao, the rest of the Universal Treasures on the body of his Mechanical Deity also detached and flew toward Han Xiao.
Han Xiao caught the Emperor Mechanic’s Sacred Trident that was covered in electronic sparks. The various Mechanical Deity exclusive weapons of Manison also attached to his Mechanical Deity’s body, assembling perfectly. The controls of these equipment were transferred to Han Xiao, and his Mechanical Deity looked more magnificent right away.
He turned around and looked at Manison. He then heard Manison speaking in their channel.
“Since they’re fighting you as more than one, I’ll lend you my weapons.”
“… I don’t need it, but thanks.”
Han Xiao weighed the Emperor Mechanic’s Sacred Trident and felt complicated.
Old Manison had always taken the secrecy of his technology extremely importantly and treated these Universal Treasures almost like his wives.
I could only secretly steal them, but now he’s willing to lend them to me… Damn, I’m touched.
Han Xiao turned and looked at Clotti and the others. Psionic energy spun around the blade of the trident, leaving ripple-like afterimages as Han Xiao swung it.“Old Manison, since you’re so generous this time, let me show you something new.”
As he said that, blood-colored energy erupted and entangled around the Mechanical Deity’s body. Its appearance changed subtly. It was as if these streams of blood energy were forming flesh on the Mechanical Deity’s body!
A strange energy ripple spread, giving the Beyond Grade As even greater pressure.
Clotti, the others, and Manison all looked with surprise at Han Xiao, whose appearance was changing rapidly.
“This guy’s Mechanical Deity… why does it look different from the others’?”
In the blink of an eye, the black Mechanical Deity’s appearance changed. Flesh grew out from the gaps of the mechanical parts like roots of a plant rapidly digging into the ground. The Mechanical Deity’s body seemed to have become the bones, wrapped in firm and strong flesh tissues. It turned from a mechanical giant to a biochemical prosthetic giant.
During the shapeshift, the energy presence Han Xiao was releasing was also enhanced. The radars of all the battleships around were shocking record-breaking individual energy readings.
At the same time, the blood-red energy and the golden Mechanical Force electronic arcs entangled each other, releasing from the Mechanical Deity’s body like water vapor. It was very flashy. The mechanical army around reflected the light from it and painted the battlefield gold and red.
Clotti and the others looked at this in dismay. They felt a sense of pressure, and fear surfaced in their hearts uncontrollably, awakening memories that had been buried for a very long time… This feeling was like the life hierarchy pressure they had experienced before when they were young, and it had been a very long time since they felt it after becoming Beyond Grade As!
“What the hell is that? I’ve never seen a Mechanical Deity like this!” Oulou’s expression changed drastically.
Clotti’s expression was grave. “I’ve never seen other Mechanics use this. This is probably Black Star’s own innovation. It has some similarities with the Polar Channel Flow, so it should be some kind of burst ability… It doesn’t look simple. Stay alert!”
Manison’s eyes were opening wide, and his heart was filled with shock.
“What ability is this?”
As a senior Mechanic, he was shocked to realize he could not figure it out right away, and he was filled with questions.
This doesn’t look like a Mechanic’s ability!
What has Black Star been studying?
However, as he looked closer, Manison discovered something.
There are signs of the Felon technology… Did Black Star reverse engineer the Felons?
Manison was astounded.
While everyone was shocked, the spacetime suddenly shook, and a ring of energy suddenly exploded at where the Mechanical Deity was standing. The next moment, the Mechanical Deity’s enormous body disappeared. Dragging a chain of electronic tracks behind, it came right before Clotti and the others. Its dash was almost as quick as teleportation, and its size did not make it slower at all.
Wrapped with blue psionic energy, the tip of a trident instantly appeared in front of Clotti’s eyes!
Getta Hadoken-Vortex Blade!
In the blink of the eye, Clotti took a deep breath, absorbed the dark energy that was everywhere in the universe, and released it at the blade of the trident like a tsunami.
Boom!
The next moment, a ring-shaped shockwave exploded from the point of impact!
Clotti’s body shot out like a cannonball, turning into a stream of light, and penetrated battleships one after another.
In just one move, the Crimson Dynasty’s National Pillar, Dark Lord, was blown away!
The many direct Beyond Grade As reacted instantly. Not having the leisure to be shocked, they immediately worked together and attacked Han Xiao. The battle broke out in a flash!
At the same time, Clotti’s serious toned voice sounded in their team channel. “Don’t fight him head-on!”
Clotti finally stopped himself from flying backward and charged back toward the battlefield, covered in a crystal yellow prism-shaped shield that was now filled with cracks.
This shield was not his ability but a protective Universal Treasure with an extremely high defense that was triggered. Since the three Universal Civilizations had sent them to fight Black Star, they were not going to be petty with their Universal Treasures. They had given several Universal Treasures to each direct member.
Although he was not injured, this attack from Han Xiao still shocked Clotti.
While the defense capability of this protection type Universal Treasure was not invincible like the Spacetime Amber, it was still exceptional. If the attack damage did not reach a certain standard, it could almost block all damage. Even he had to charge his attack for some time to penetrate it. It was a complete surprise to Clotti how Han Xiao casually broke it with one attack.
Hearing Clotti’s words, the direct member Beyond Grade As spread out and moved swiftly in the battlefield. The Mechanics brought out their armies, and the Mages pulled out their summoned creature armies too, covering the skies and restraining Han Xiao. At the same time, Han Xiao’s mechanical army arrived and joined the battle.
Both sides used the Human Wave Tactic, and the battle instantly became a huge brawl.
Turning into a Mechanical Deity, Han Xiao swung the Mechanic Emperor’s Sacred Trident speedily and slashed his way in the crowd. Everything his attacks landed on was either heavily damaged or broken instantly. The blade of the trident shattered piles and piles of enemies. He looked invincible.
His ranged weapons were also firing nonstop, chasing the direct member Beyond Grade As everywhere. His body was also covered in electromagnetic and space fields, so anything that got close was either immobilized or shattered.
This form of Mechanical Deity was what Han Xiao had invented from imitating SWY-001. Its name was (Mechanical DeitySemi-living Body). It was a special shapeshifting technology he innovated by using SWY-001 as the foundation and adding in more technology. It was an upgraded version of the Mechanical Deity, and all of its performance parameters were superior compared to the normal version.
The prerequisite was not only (Polar Channel Flow-Blood Rage] but also Hila’s death energy and Aurora’s life energy. In the past few years, through using the Gaud Character Summon Card’s (Energy Analysis), he had studied the principles and nature of these two special types of energy. He had achieved some results and fused them into this technology. Only then was he able to turn blood energy back to flesh and tissue. At the same time, he did indeed use some of the Felon technology’s concepts, successfully fusing the Super cells and the machines together, which made the flesh tissues increase the energy output tremendously.
It was only ‘semi’ because the functions of the flesh tissues were not complete. His ideal goal was to achieve the level of SWY-001, meaning the flesh tissues could both increase energy output and provide energy, balanced and whole like an independent living body.
Unfortunately, Han Xiao could not completely duplicate this mechanism. The flesh cells that covered the Mechanical Deity could only increase the Mechanical Deity’s energy output but not provide energy, which meant that the Mechanical Deity’s energy consumption increased but its maximum energy remained the same, so the balance was broken. He did not know if the reason was because the flesh tissues came from only one person or not, he just could not reach a balance like SWY-001 could. This led to the energy consumption of (Mechanical DeitySemi-living Body] being extremely outrageous; even peak Beyond Grade As could barely afford it.
However, Han Xiao was already at the top of the Void Race system and had linked with the Void Dimension. He could use the Void energy like Kasuyi could. Even without getting beat up, he had almost an infinite amount of mana, so this was not a problem for him at
all.
Han Xiao’s burst strength was too incredible, chasing the direct Beyond Grade As all around the battlefield. However, after their initial shock, Clotti and the others gradually adapted to this amount of pressure. The two sides fought intensely.
Clotti and Oulou were both top tier peak Beyond Grade As whose Energy Rank was above 90,000, and they had received a lot of enhancements. Although they were no match for Han Xiao alone, as they fought together, their combined strength multiplied.
Both their Esper Abilities were AOE types that were amazing at this type of large scale battle. Plus, mana was also no issue for them. With all kinds of Universal Treasures, they took care of more than half of Han Xiao’s attacks.
Furthermore, Clotti and Oulou had a group of teammates who were quite strong too. They were not the only two who had above a 70,000 Energy Rank; those stationed in the secondary dimension bases were mostly elites, only they did not appear in public often.
Buzz!
Enormous electromagnetic bolts formed dancing lightning chains crisscrossing between the mechanical army, causing tremendous damage. Covered in bright blue lightning arcs, Guzar stirred up a lightning storm like the god of thunder. Every time he raised his hand, electromagnetic cannons were released and landed on Han Xiao’s protective shield, causing countless explosions.
He was someone from the same generation as Clotti. Although his potential was not as high as Clotti’s, he was still a very powerful Beyond Grade A. If not, he would not have been sent by the dynasty to defend a secondary dimension outpost.
‘Holy Disciple’ Mornan, who was wearing a monk outfit, teleported continuously within the mechanical army with the help of some kind of teleportation type Universal Treasure. His fists and legs struck at an ordinary speed, as if they were hitting a transparent barrier. The particles in large portions of the cosmic space resonated, dealing continuous large area vibration damage to Han Xiao’s mechanical army. Although he was a Pugilist, the many Universal Treasures he had made up for what he lacked.
‘Army Leader’ Padro summoned countless creatures and magic colossuses nonstop, fighting with Han Xiao’s mechanical army. There were also many boss level units that attempted to retrain Han Xiao by any means necessary without having a care about their casualties. At the same time, ‘Army Flag’ Enid activated her abilities all the time, providing all kinds of enhancements to her allies present.
The thirteen direct Beyond Grade As were not only powerful but their coordination was amazing too. Along with the Universal Treasures they had, they could match up to Han Xiao, even enduring the pressure of dozens of Apostle Weapons.
With the Universal Treasures he had built in the past years, Han Xiao did not show signs of defeat even when facing such a luxurious team.
Once again blowing Clotti away, Han Xiao looked around the battlefield and pondered.
The situation was in a stalemate, but he did not feel pressure at all, which was mainly because the enemies posed a limited threat to him. Although he could not break away from these people for the time being, he was not in a dangerous situation. He had the absolute upper hand in terms of individual strength. Any time he had the opportunity to get into a one versus one battle, he would crush the opponent. Be it Clotti or Oulou, no one could stop his powerful attacks. However, when that happened, the others always came to restrain him and defuse their teammate’s danger.
“I need to aim for the weak spot and find a breakthrough.”
The essence of fighting a group was to target and chase after one person. Without hesitation, Han Xiao changed his attack target and charged toward a comparatively weaker direct Beyond Grade A.
The others saw and hastily came to focus fire on Han Xiao. Han Xiao bathed in attacks and ignored them. His Sacred Trident swung heavily up and down. Every attack seemed like it could shatter space itself.
Boom!
The enormous trident blade slashed down once again, painting a blood rose in midair. This direct member Beyond Grade A was sent out flying, heavily injured.
As Han Xiao wanted to end him, the other dozen Beyond Grade As ignored the damage they took and held him back with their lives while a traction beam shot out from the three Universal Civilizations joint fleet’s main ship and took the wounded away.
The next moment, three more direct Beyond Grade As flew out of the main ship and joined the battle. Han Xiao’s opponents increased to fifteen. The situation went back to a stalemate, and the pressure he faced increased again.
Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed.
He understood what the three Universal Civilizations were planning. They brought a group of direct members here. Anyone who was heavily injured by him would be pulled back and healed up, and more would be sent into the battlefield. Using the advantage of their fleet not being attacked, they could give their direct Beyond Grade A members time to recover.
After all, Han Xiao was alone and could not take a break, while the three Universal Civilizations had dozens of direct members. They made up their mind to exhaust Han Xiao by any means.
They wanted both to win and not suffer any casualties.
“Tsk, dirty enough.”
Han Xiao curled his lips and did not say anything. After all, nowhere was there a rule that said the three Universal Civilizations could not do this.
“Since you all want to do it like this, let’s see who can last longer.”
He shook his head, got rid of these thoughts, and focused on the battle.
The two sides fought intensely for six days and six nights.
The battlefield had shifted multiple times. Everywhere was filled with machinery fragments and carcasses of summoned creatures. The size of the armies on both sides had shrunk tremendously. Be it Han Xiao’s mechanical army or the direct Beyond Grade As’ all kinds of armies, they all suffered severe damage.
The Mechanical Deity that Han Xiao turned into was still fighting intensely with Clotti and the others. However, comparatively, Han Xiao was still very energetic, while many of his opponents were already showing signs of being exhausted.
The number of direct Beyond Grade As in the battlefield had increased to twenty-one. Having fought with everything they had for six days consecutively, most people were exhausted, and their status dropped unavoidably. Even though some of them exchanged shifts more than a dozen times, they could not take it much longer.
The entire process was broadcast live by the media.
Not many galactic residents could keep watching in front of the screen all the time. However, whenever they turned to this channel, the intense fight was still going on.
God knew how many people were praying night day for Black Star to be defeated. However, despite facing such a grand team, Black Star was still as strong as he was at the start, not showing any signs of defeat at all. The feelings of many galactic residents changed from shock to despair, then numbness, watching the intense battle on the screen with an empty mind.
What monster is Black Star? Doesn’t he get tired!
Seeing that there was no hope the war could be avoided, many galactic residents became irritated and started to condemn Han Xiao. It was as if strength became a sin. They found a way to vent all their rage, panic, and dissatisfaction at Han Xiao, like the roars of the powerless.
While the three Universal Civilizations’ soldiers present at the scene’s morale kept dropping in the past few days. They were dumbfounded by Black Star’s strength.
Their high-level combatants put down their pride and used such an unethical strategy just to outnumber Black Star. Changing shifts to fight him was already embarrassing enough, yet not only could they not take Black Star down, but some of them even got killed.
They were still getting thrashed!
The Beyond Grade As who were watching from various channels were even more shocked. They knew how difficult this was more than the others, and as if this was the first time they met Han Xiao, they were all astonished.
Although we knew our president was strong all along, isn’t this too strong?
In the entire history of Supers, there did not seem to be anyone who ever achieved something like this. The many Beyond Grade As were astounded.
It seemed to them that the strength Black Star was displaying probably exceeded any Beyond Grade A ever recorded in the history of the explored universe. He was on an entirely new level.
“What the f*ck? Is old Black still a human?”
“I finally understand the meaning of the version name… Is this the definition of the Age of Black Star?”
“Who’s next!”
Compared to others, the players were the most excited. Having watched a six-day-long action movie, their passion was boiling.
No matter how the others responded, the battle still carried on.
Clank!
The blade of the trident slashed down time after time chasing after a direct Beyond Grade A, shattering his shield and spilling blood.
Just as Han Xiao was about to give him the last hit as usual, Clotti and Oulou stood before him. Dark energy and golden energy gushed out and clashed with the trident!
Boom!
A blinding explosion erupted. Clotti and Oulou were pushed back afar as blood poured out from their mouths. Their injuries got heavier once again.
At the same time, the already heavily damaged Sacred Trident finally reached its limits and shattered into fragments.
Han Xiao looked at his empty hands and then looked around. All the direct Beyond Grade As who were surrounding him were wounded and looked visibly exhausted.
“Looks like you guys can’t last much longer.”
Han Xiao clenched his fist and pulled out a melee mechanical weapon that looked like a spear. It was black and gold, and its tip was pyramid shaped, like the spear of a cavalry. This was also a Universal Treasure. It came from Jayz’ technology treasure.
Clotti coughed a few times, spitting out a cloud of blood. He forced himself to stay alert and said with a deep voice, “You don’t have many troops left either.”
“I have enough. On the other hand, Oulou and you seem to have reached your limits. The others can swap with the rest, but not the two of you. Can you still fight?”
Han Xiao did not mind it.
Clotti remained silent. He could not disagree.
The other direct members could swap with the others and rest. However, without Clotti or Oulou, their team had no chance of fighting Black Star; the others would only be crushed.
Therefore, for the past six days, the two of them did not rest either and were covered in wounds. Although they were not short on energy, their wounds were getting more severe. They were close to their limits.
It would be great if God’s Chosen was willing to step in. Sadly, he had been watching on the side for the past six days and never did anything, as if he was really there just to watch.
There were only two days left till the end of the ten-day warning period the three Universal Civilizations gave. They probably could not complete the mission given to them anymore…
When Clotti was about to give everything he had left, a sigh suddenly sounded in their team channel.
A person flew out from the main ship of the three Universal Civilizations joint fleet and entered the battlefield.
The others turned to look at him and were shocked. It was Wuornos, who had remained silent till then.
Ignoring his teammates, Wuornos looked at Han Xiao, sighed with resignation, and said, “Black Star, although we’ve only met once, I actually have quite the respect for you and don’t want to fight you. Unfortunately… I’m a direct member of the Arcane Church, and I can’t disobey orders.”
After that, ignoring everyone else’s reactions, Wuornos raised his hand, aimed his finger in Han Xiao’s direction, and tapped softly.
As an invisible energy was released from his fingers, a pale-golden light suddenly flew out from inside the Mechanical Deity’s body and entered Wuornos’s body.
At this instant, an enormous shadow of the Mechanical Deity came out of his body from his back.
The next moment, this Mechanical Deity detached from his body and quickly materialized. It had Wuornos’s face, but its appearance was extremely similar to Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity, as if they were twins!
In the torn-up battlefield, the second living Mechanical Deity appeared. The weapons and equipment it had were almost exactly the same as Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity, like a carbon copy of him.
This replica Mechanical Deity had a poker face and stood opposite Han Xiao. Powerful energy was released from its body continuously.
This startled countless galactic residents, and their shocked eyes all focused on Wuornos.
“Another new Beyond Grade A? I don’t seem to recall seeing this person before.”
“What ability is this? Seems strong…” “I know this guy! He’s the Arcane Church’s Grand Priest!”
Countless galactic residents opened their eyes wide. The extinguished hope in their hearts was rekindled.
Among the Beyond Grade As, Wuornos was an oddity. He rarely fought others or appeared in public, nor did the Arcane Church promote him. His presence in the outside world was not high at all. Without deliberately searching for his information, ordinary people would not even know he existed in the universe. However, in the Beyond Grade A circle, he was recognized by all as the strongest.
Seeing Wuornos arrive, Oulou heaved a sigh of relief but was also a little unhappy.
“You’ve finally decided to come. I thought you’d just watch till the end.”
Tsk, we’ve been exhausting ourselves and fighting Han Xiao for six days and six nights. Did you deliberately only now join us to ‘turn the tide’ alone?
Wuornos looked around at the many direct members, sighed, and said, “You guys have fought hard. I’ll take it from here. Go and rest.”
“You still want to fight him alone?” Clotti frowned.
“I don’t like to bully the few.” Wuornos shook his head. “You think we like it?” Clotti frowned. “This is an order from above. If you join the fight, we’ll have the highest chances of taking down Black Star. Aren’t you too cocky to want to fight him alone now?”
Wuornos glanced at him and calmly said, “Earlier, I was given an absolute order to help, but I told them I won’t join the fight unless I’m fighting alone. They agreed. If you have objections, you can convey them to the Crimson Dynasty’s Ruler. If you guys don’t need help, I’ll be going back to the ship.”
Clotti frowned, opened the channel, and shared a few words with the dynasty’s upper echelons. He then gave Wuornos a deep look, turned around, and flew back to the main ship without saying a word.
The others also received orders from above, glanced at Wuornos with complicated looks, and left the battlefield.
Suddenly, other than the wreckages everywhere, Han Xiao and Wuornos were the only two people left on the battlefield.
Han Xiao had been watching on the side. Seeing that the other direct members had left, his eyes gleamed, and he said, “Your ability is interesting.”
Wuornos did not respond to this. He changed the topic and said slowly, “I’ve been observing you for the past seven days. You’re probably already half a step into the higher territory. I’m not someone who likes to fight. If possible, I really wouldn’t want to fight you, but…”
This time, Han Xiao waved his hand and interrupted him.
“We don’t know each other. You don’t have to explain anything to me. Many people have been saying you’re recognized as the strongest Beyond Grade A. I’ve always wanted to see how strong you are personally.”
He turned to look at the other living body Mechanical Deity, narrowed his eyes, and said, “I have to say, with this ability, you can indeed be considered the ‘strongest’. However, a fake will always be just that, a fake.”
When Wuornos used his ability earlier, a notification had popped up on Han Xiao’s interface too. It showed that he was affected by an ability called [God EmbodimentGranted). Although the ability worked, it did not deal any damage to him or any debuffs.
Planning ahead, before the Mechanical Race territory was surrounded, he had already expected that he might have to fight Wuornos. Hence, he had asked about the detailed intelligence of this person from Kasuyi and the others, finding out that ‘granting Gods’ was one of Wuornos’ abilities. He could materialize the concept of some ‘Gods’ into powerful physical forms, which were called ‘God Embodiments’.
The God Embodiments were independent from their original body, usually called by the name of the original God. They had the various abilities the original ‘God’ conceptually had but not all of them. The number of abilities and their power were not only related to Wuornos’ strength but also the number of believers that worshipped this ‘God’ and the depth of their faith.
However, the targets Wuornos could grant also included anything that was deified. Therefore, peak Beyond Grade As who were going through the God’s Trait Transformation were also included. When the target of the granting was not a ‘concept’ but something with physical form, the God Embodiment would then be able to inherit the target’s most strength and abilities, even without believers of faith.
According to the upper echelons of the association, if they were to fight Wuornos, they would have to first face a mirrored version of ‘themselves’ while at the same time fight with Wuornos’ other God Embodiments. This was one of the reasons he was recognized by all as the strongest; he would become stronger against stronger opponents.
Furthermore, what was more disgustingly strong was that, if a God Embodiment that had a physical original body was destroyed, the damage would be reflected back to its original body. This meant that when peak Beyond Grade As killed their mirrored ‘self’, they would suffer damage too.
A few Ancient Ones shared a secret. Very long ago, Wuornos’ success rate of granting Gods was limited, and it did not work every time. However, Wuornos’ ability was nothing short of a perfect fit with the Arcane Church. After being given many Universal Treasures related to his ability by the Arcane Church and forming strong Soul Links with them, the success rate of his granting ability was fixed at a hundred percent. In the players’ terms, this basically meant that the judgement process was skipped.
The Universal Treasures given to him also included a core treasure seen by the Arcane Church as their ‘National Treasure’. It could be said to be the foundation of how the Arcane Church united all the religions in galactic society. Wuornos matched with it perfectly, as if he was born for it.
The only good news was that when the interface showed he was ‘Granted’ one time, it also showed that he received a prolonged immunity to it. This meant that Wuornos could not continuously ‘Grant’ the same target in a short time. Plus, the time the God Embodiments could exist also had limits.
Even with Han Xiao’s knowledge, he had to say that Wuornos’ ability was extremely powerful, almost like a cheat, like himself! Scary, this ability is somewhat like a weird version of the Character Summon Cards…
Han Xiao was surprised.
Seems like we’re both professional cheaters… Our battle will be legendary!
As all kinds of information flashed past his mind, Han Xiao’s movements were no slower. He gathered the remainder of the mechanical army and launched attacks at Wuornos.
At the same time, controlling the Mechanical Deity, he charged forward and struck with his spear.
At this time, another mechanical spear stopped in the path of Han Xiao’s spear, the tips of the spears clashed.
Bang! A powerful psionic shockwave erupted, the two spears stacked together and stopped each other.
“Your opponent is me.”
The fake Mechanical Deity with Wuornos’ face spoke coldly.
“Yo, you can even speak.”
Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed. He suddenly twisted the handle of the spear. The spear started spinning rapidly. Tremendous energy erupted and instantly pushed the other spear away. Then, like a drill, it penetrated into the fake Mechanical Deity’s chest. Compressed psionic energy gushed out from the tip of the spear, launching flesh and metal everywhere.
However, like it had no sense of pain, the fake Mechanical Deity instantly retaliated, swinging its heavy spear forward. Seeing this, Han Xiao pulled back his spear and blocked it. Blinding electronic arcs exploded from the point of contact, and the powerful force pushed Han Xiao back.
Han Xiao looked up and saw that the fake Mechanical Deity had a gory wound on its chest that almost went all the way through his body. However, the next moment, the flesh and machines near the wound started to move and slowly grew back.
Han Xiao tutted. “Tsk, as expected, it’s as difficult to kill as me.”
His own extraordinary regenerative ability was also duplicated by this God Embodiment. The fake Mechanical Deity had an Indestructible Body. Only a few abilities were not duplicated. Although its strength was a lot weaker than him, from the way it looked, it definitely had an Energy Rank above ten thousand. It was stronger than top-tier Beyond Grade As like Clotti and Oulou, definitely capable of fighting him.
At the same time, the Apostle Weapons who were all wounded started to focus fire at Wuornos’s original body, and attacks rained like a storm.
Wuornos calmly put his hands together like he was praying. Colorful spiritual lights appeared on his body and rapidly expanded, turning into bright symbols, forming an enormous protective shield, and protecting him from the rain of attacks.
He separated his hands. Eight faint-gold spiritual lights appeared and jumped into his mouth.
The next moment, eight God Embodiments with varied appearances detached from Wuornos’ body, all giving off the presence of powerful Beyond Grade As. They charged toward the mechanical troops around and displayed their strength.
“I’ll have to worship these again when I get back.”
Wuornos shook his head. Having summoned eight God Embodiments at once, he felt a little heartache.
A few days ago, when he got urgently summoned, he had harvested the ‘deifications’ of about ten God sculptures from the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods and stored them in the church’s ‘National Treasure’ in his body. When he had to fight, he could summon the God Embodiments any time. If there was no need to fight, he could put the ‘deifications’ back.
He was the only one who knew that every time he summoned the God Embodiments from the God sculptures in the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods, it would consume the ‘deifications’ in these God sculptures that took a long time to accumulate, and he would not be able to summon another God Embodiment from the same sculpture again in a short time. The Gold sculptures’ ‘deifications’ would only recover through praying and worshipping for a very long time. Only then would he be able to summon God Embodiments from them again.
The strength of these God Embodiments also relied on how many ‘deifications’ their sculptures had, and accumulating ‘deifications’ was extremely troublesome and time consuming. To him, the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods he was stationed at was his weapon inventory, and the God sculptures were his ammo… However, he liked to think of the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods more as a farm, every God sculpture as a crop that needed to be taken care of every day. Unless absolutely necessary, he did not want to harvest any crops.
Knowing himself well, he knew he could not easily grant eight God Embodiments at once easily. However, the Church National Treasure already fused with him perfectly. Even if he did not use it actively, the passive bonuses it gave him still increased the strength of his ability to an unbelievable height.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, suddenly charged forward with his body, and knocked the fake Mechanical Deity away. Drill-shaped machinery shot out from his waist and bit onto the fake Mechanical Deity’s waist like charge cabins. The Psionic Deterioration modules were activated immediately, absorbing the fake Mechanical Deity’s energy.
As the fake Mechanical Deity was restrained, Han Xiao suddenly turned and swung his spear toward Wuornos. He planned to target him first.
Seeing this, Wuornos released two more God Embodiments. This time, these two God Embodiments did not materialize but melted and fused with Wuornos as if he was possessed.
His energy presence suddenly rocketed. He raised his energy-covered arms in front of him, not dodging the attack at all.
The next moment, the heavy spear swept onto him like a truck ramming toward an ant.
Clank!
An enormous shockwave exploded. However, the result was completely different from when Clotti got sent flying.
Wuornos’ hands remained in the same position; his body did not even move back a single inch. Instead, the enormous mechanical spear was stopped. It was as if the ant had stopped an entire truck.
Wuornos glanced at Han Xiao and did not say anything. He only put down his hands and slowly backed off, as if he did not take the attack earlier seriously at all and was not worried about Han Xiao continuing to attack him.
“It’s tough to beat, as expected of the National Treasure of the church…”
Han Xiao frowned.
According to the description of someone who knew about the church’s National Treasure, it had the trait of ‘Unbreakable’ and extremely high resistance, which were given to Wuornos too.
God only knew what percentage of Wuornos’ strength came from the church’s National Treasure. Fighting with him was not just that but also fighting with the pinnacle technology of a Universal Civilization!
Tere
Therefore, when Beyond Grade As were compared with each other, they rarely ever considered Wuornos because it would simply be unfair!
At this time, the fake Mechanical Deity got rid of his restraints and pounced at Han Xiao again, dragging his Mechanical Deity back.
Having fought for six days and six nights, Han Xiao was not at his peak. His mechanical army had suffered heavy casualties; most of it had been sent into the Dimension Factory for repairs. At this point, only about twenty percent of his army still had combat capabilities. Plus, all of them had gone through a few times of Waste Modifications. In the face of Wuornos’ many God Embodiments, the battle was getting tough. Dealing with the fake Mechanical Deity’s attacks, Han Xiao glanced at the worsening situation on the battlefield and narrowed his eyes.
“Wuornos indeed deserves the praise. Looks like it’s going to be a tough fight… Luckily, I have more things up my sleeve!”
In the three Universal Civilizations’ main ship, Clotti and the other direct Beyond Grade As had already finished attending to their wounds. They were all gathered at the bridge watching the intense fight between Black Star and Wuornos.
Seeing how Wuornos could match up with Black Star who fought all of them alone, they all felt bitter.
“How many years has it been since we saw God’s Chosen fight? He’s still extraordinarily strong.” Guzar sighed.
“Humph, if I had a Universal Treasure as strong as the church’s National Treasure, I could be that strong.” Oulou’s tone was sour.
“That’s given that the Federation of Light can build one like it.” Francisco shrugged.
“Who you looking down at?” Verena snorted.
They chatted casually, slightly flushing away the heavy atmosphere.
Oulou turned around, realized that Clotti was not speaking, and said, “We fought Black Star for six days and nights, exhausting him. Now that Wuornos has come out to fight him alone, maybe he just wants to have the fruit of victory for himself. If he defeats Black Star, not only will he gain all the reputation, we’ll even be his steppingstone. Aren’t you angry about that?”
Clotti glanced at him and said with a poker face, “I don’t care about these trivialities, as long as the mission given to us is completed. As for who defeats Black Star in the end, it doesn’t matter.”
“Tsk. If words get out that Wuornos defeated someone we couldn’t even defeat together, we’ll be humiliated. You might not care about face, but I do!” Oulou clenched his teeth.
Clotti gave him a weird look and said, “You fled with your tail tucked between your legs after fighting Black Star alone. Your face is already non-existent. What are you talking about?”
“… F*ck!”
Oulou wanted to argue, but a change suddenly occurred!
Suddenly, an even stronger energy presence suddenly exploded from Black Star. His energy readings rocketed visibly, breaking the record every second!
Black Star’s Mechanical Deity’s strength soared. The next second, the enormous fake Mechanical Deity was thrown out into the formation of the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet, toppling rows of battleships!
As if they were on steroids, the Apostle Weapons and the mechanical troops’ power suddenly shot up. The God Embodiments that were originally overwhelming them suddenly could barely fight back, and their wounds grew rapidly.
Then, Han Xiao turned around and slashed down with his spear. The one God Embodiment he attacked instantly shattered and turned into light particles, as if it suddenly evaporated!
“Hmm?” Wuornos’ calm expression disappeared immediately.
The sudden change startled Clotti, Oulou, and the other direct Beyond Grade As. Their sights were instantly attracted by Han Xiao. Everyone opened their eyes the widest, their faces filled with shock.
He became stronger? He clearly held back earlier! At this point, they shockingly realized one thing, and shivers shot up their spines. “We fought with all we had for six days and six nights, yet we couldn’t even make him go all out!”
Boom!
Wild thunder raged like dragons, dancing around Han Xiao.
The mechanical spear turned into an enormous bolt of lightning and struck again, targeting another red God Embodiment.
Restrained by the Apostle Weapons, this red God Embodiment could not dodge the attack in time. It hastily went into a defensive stance and knocked the side of the shield with its hammer. The shield instantly lit up and released an energy shield that enlarged thousands of times, blocking in front of the spear.
Bang!
The spear crashed onto the shield. The shield that looked indestructible shattered instantly like a fragile piece of paper. A shockwave expanded in a flash and triggered a loud explosion in everyone’s mind like the sound of glass shattering.
With an enormous bolt of lightning, a light beam-like shockwave released from the tip of the spear. With this one attack, half of this God Embodiment’s body was instantly shattered!
At this time, Wuornos teleported from afar, focused his strength at his elbow and deviated the direction of the spear, dodging the second round of damage. He then dragged the heavily damaged God Embodiment aside, saving it at the last point.
Wuornos sized Han Xiao up once again. Feeling the even stronger energy presence of the Mechanical Deity, complicated feelings flashed past his eyes.
“Is this your full strength? Looks like I still underestimated you… No, I should say you hid your strength too well, just like the rumors. No one really knows just how many trump cards you have and where your limit is.”
“Why have I never heard of this rumor?” Han Xiao replied casually. While he had been fighting with the three Universal Civilizations, he had been suppressing the impulse to use his Character Summon Cards, all to make sure he could use them if Wuornos showed up.
Wuornos could summon Gods, but he had Character Summon Cards too.
He had activated double Mechanical Sense and double the Ancient Ones, instantly entering into his explosive state. If he had activated the Character Summon Cards earlier, the three Universal Civilizations’ direct members probably would not have lasted as long as six days. Even if they could, there would have been many more of them dead in his hands.
“A hundred years is just a blink of an eye to Beyond Grade As; it’s no more than a child’s age. Yet, at such a young age, you’ve obtained such extraordinary strength… There has never been anyone in recorded history who was as talented as you are. I can hardly imagine just how bright your future is.”
Wuornos sighed, took out his last few God Embodiments, and sent them into the battlefield to fight the mechanical army.
He had brought more than a dozen God Embodiments this time. Initially, he did not want to use the rest of them, but the situation now did not allow him to do that.
“Just a few? They’re probably far from enough to defeat me.” Han Xiao raised his brows.
These God Embodiments had varied abilities. Although they all had high level Beyond Grade A’s strength, they had a common weakness too-they were comparatively more fragile. His strength in the explosive state exceeded the knowledge of ordinary people. He could easily crush high-level Beyond Grade As. As long as these God Embodiments did not have any special defense, dodge, or regenerative abilities, he could shatter them in seconds. It was much easier than dealing with those direct Beyond Grade As with multiple Universal Treasures.
“Try me.”
Wuornos held his hands together. His body suddenly expanded and enlarged, turning into a giant. Earlier, his size compared to Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity was like an ant and a mountain. Now, he was the same size as Han Xiao’s Mechanical Deity.
Despite how large he became, the Grand Priest robe on his body was not torn but expanded with his body. Magic circuits that filled all of its surface started lighting up. Clearly, it was Universal Treasure-level enchanted equipment; only then did he not have to go nude in front of the entire universe.
This guy can grow bigger?
Han Xiao’s eyes gleamed. This was not mentioned in the intelligence he had.
nos
As if he saw Han Xiao’s doubts, Wuornos slowly explained, “My God’s Trait Transformation has already reached the maximum. My Giant blood is at its peak. This is my first time using this ability.”
Having trained in the Arcane Church for many years, as the church’s National Treasure and his own ability were related to divinity, his God’s Trait Transformation progressed countless times faster than the other peak Beyond Grade As. He had completed both God’s Trait Transformation routes long ago, but he had never told anyone.
Wuornos had the Giant bloodline, so the God’s Trait Transformation on his race’s side tremendously enhanced his Giant blood, turning it into the most optimized form. It was as if all the pros of the Race Evolution were gathered into one.
“Your luck is really incredible. Not only is your ability a perfect fit, but you even received the support of the church.” Han Xiao frowned.
This b*stard was probably a protagonist-type character who most likely had Advanced Luck Glow, only he kept a low profile for countless years and hid his true strength. It was like he was the monk who swept the floors of a temple.
He looked at Wuornos’s empty hands and said, “Are you planning to keep fighting me with your fists?”
Hearing this, Wuornos remained silent for a while, sighed, and said, “… You have already sealed up my weapon.”
Han Xiao was stunned for a second, then it occurred to him.
Damn, the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter is this b*stard’s equipment!
Specifically, Wuornos only shared the right to use it; the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter still belonged to the Arcane Church. Sadly, it was sealed up by the Spacetime Amber. It made sense. This Universal Treasure also matched Wuornos’ ability perfectly. It would not be weird for the church to let him use it… only he did not have the chance to use it now.
At this time, the fake Mechanical Deity finally returned to the battlefield after being blasted away in the fleet’s formation. It pounced at Han Xiao fearlessly, clearly very headstrong.
Han Xiao turned around. The mechanical spear shapeshifted rapidly as if it had turned into a whip. He swung it backward, stirring up bright lightning bolts everywhere.
In the explosive state, the speed of strength of the Mechanical Deity increased tremendously. This attack was as fast as lightning; it instantly swept onto the fake Mechanical Deity’s waist, almost cutting it half, sending it away flying and rolling once again.
A scorching wave of energy came from behind. Han Xiao turned around and placed his spear horizontally, stopping Wuornos’ fist.
Boom!
A shockwave erupted!
The strength of both sides clashed. Han Xiao’s thrusters operated at the maximum power output, gaining the upper hand and slowly pushing into Wuornos. “The giant blood is quite strong indeed. Your strength is comparable to a Pugilist.” Han Xiao snorted.
“And you.”
Wuornos suddenly retracted his fist. The next second, afterimages of his fists filled Han Xiao’s sights.
Not willing to take a step back, Han Xiao spun his spear and blocked each attack accurately. Shockwaves exploded in the cosmic space continuously.
This time, the fake Mechanical Deity returned and joined the battle again, then got blown away once more before charging back to the battle time and again. Wuornos had the church’s National Treasure to protect his body, while the fake Mechanical Deity inherited his own super strong regenerative abilities. Currently, the only breakthrough point in the battlefield was the other God Embodiments, which was what Han Xiao was planning to target exactly. Only, he was stopped by the two giants and had no choice but to endure their attacks to eliminate the God Embodiments.
As the battle reached this stage, there were no more shortcuts to be found, only head-on combat. The battle had already reached the climax.
Watching the live footage, the hearts of countless galactic residents rose to their throats as they watched the screen with all their attention.
“What a powerful Beyond Grade A, he must be the ace of the three Universal Civilizations!”
“God bless, please let Black Star be defeated… This is probably our last hope.”
The galactic residents secretly prayed. Meanwhile, the players were thrilled, completely the opposite of the galactic residents.
“Aiyo, I know this. The boss has entered stage two!”
“Clear the minions before fighting the boss, Old Black knows his dungeons.”
“Anyone betting? I’m betting 30,000 Enaus on Old Black, anyone?”
The many army players discussed the fight with excitement. The forums were already filled with the videos of those who were at the scene. The edited footage and recordings of Han Xiao’s battle in the past few days had filled up more than ten pages, like it was an incredible VFX movie.
In the main ship of the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet, the many direct Beyond Grade As looked outside the porthole with bitter expressions.
“I never thought Black Star held back against us… If he’d used this power earlier, many people in this room would probably not be breathing now.” Verena smiled bitterly. Hearing this, many Beyond Grade As glanced at her and felt complicated. Originally, they thought they could at the very least match up to Black Star together. However, the truth was, that was only what they thought. Not only were they exhausted from fighting Black Star, they even had to appreciate Black Star for not going all out…
Having realized that, their mood became even heavier, and their confidence was severely damaged.
Having held back for a very long time, Oulou finally squeezed two words out between his teeth.
“Two monsters!”
Even as a peak Beyond Grade A, Oulou had to admit that these two people were terrifyingly strong. Not only was Black Star crazily powerful, but Wuornos was much stronger than many years ago. The two of them had surpassed the others and were on a completely different level from them.
This time, Guzar frowned and said, “There’s only two days left till the warning period ends. Are we really going to let them fight one on one and watch?”
Hearing this, Clotti said seriously, “Of course not! When the warning period is about to end, we’ll all strike together.
Just ignore Wuornos, we must defeat Black Star no matter what, so get to recovering as fast as possible. If Wuornos still can’t settle the battle by tomorrow, we’ll have to fight again.”
The others nodded solemnly.
Time passed quickly. Under countless pairs of eyes, Han Xiao already fought intensely with Wuornos for more than a day, the situation was already becoming clear.
Han Xiao finally eliminated all the God Embodiments except for the fake Mechanical Deity, and he paid a ton of mechanical troops as the price for that.
Although he was restrained by Wuornos and the fake Mechanical Deity, in his explosive state, his attributes were clearly superior. He continuously broke through the two of them, ignoring his injuries and eliminating the God Embodiments one after another, causing the strength difference between two sides to increase as time went on, making the situation easier and easier for him.
The last few God Embodiments were not even killed by him personally but by the mechanical troops and the Apostle Weapons. The remaining mechanical troops were already free to surround Wuornos and the fake Mechanical Deity, the only ones left.
Clank!
The two of them clashed once again. Wuornos moved back a certain distance, casually blasting away an Apostle Weapon, and suddenly sighed. “You have killed all the God Embodiments I’ve brought here today, looks like I can’t do much more.”
“What, is that it?”
Han Xiao slapped the fake Mechanical Deity away once again and snorted.
“… We’re the only two left. We won’t be able to decide a winner if we continue.” Wuornos shook his head.
“There’s only one day left anyway, doesn’t matter to me.”
Han Xiao did not mind it.
Although he had killed all the God Embodiments, he could neither penetrate the church’s National Treasure nor eliminate the fake Mechanical Deity, and Wuornos could not threaten his life either.
Conservatively, he could still fight Wuornos for half a month or so without resting.
“If that’s the case, we’ll call it here,” Wuornos said softly.
“You think you can make the call?” Han Xiao curled his lips.
Wuornos glanced at him and softly giggled. His enormous body shrank back to his original size, and he opened the public channel.
“I’m no match for you. I admit my loss.”
Han Xiao was stunned. He did not expect Wuornos to do this.
Admitting loss in front of the public went against the direct Beyond Grade As’ goal of fighting for the three Universal Civilizations. Plus, no one showed any signs of defeat at this point; it was a tie at most. Why did he admit defeat?
Wuornos snapped his finger. The fake Mechanical Deity suddenly stopped and then exploded from the inside. He got rid of this God Embodiment on the spot.
Han Xiao frowned, raised his hand, and made the mechanical army stop attacking.
“…What are you doing?”
Wuornos disconnected from the public channel, looked at Han Xiao with a meaningful expression, and said, “Black Star, you’re the most talented Super to have ever existed. You have the highest possibility of opening the gate to that next territory. Like I said in the beginning, I don’t want to be your enemy.”
“What is the meaning of this? Aren’t you afraid of the Arcane Church having problems with you because you admitted your loss in front of the public?” Han Xiao frowned even harder.
“I’ve already done what I can. As for my goal… maybe you’ll find out one day.”
Wuornos gave him a strange smile, turned around, and flew toward the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet.
Han Xiao made the mechanical army open a path and did not stop him. He silently stared at Wuornos’ shrinking back view and realized that he had no understanding of Wuornos’ personality and mindset.
In Han Xiao’s previous life, both Dark Lord and Oulou died in the World Tree War; only Wuornos never even participated in it. Han Xiao would never believe for a second that the Arcane Church did not give him any orders. He had no way of knowing what this guy was really thinking
… Never mind, I can’t guess what he’s thinking. I got the mission reward, anyway.
Han Xiao exhaled, opened the interface, and looked at it with a satisfied smile.
The Beyond Grade A Challenge Mission for Wuornos was shown as ‘completed’.
He retrieved the mechanical army, deactivated the Mechanical Deity, sat on a new Divine Mechanical Throne, looked at the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet, and said in the public channel, “Who’s next?”
As he said that, the entire channel went dead silent.
As soon as Wuornos returned to the main ship, the many direct Beyond Grade A surrounded him with rather hostile looks.
“How could you admit loss publicly!” Clotti questioned loudly.
“I couldn’t win, so of course, I admitted my loss,” Wuornos replied casually.
“You think we’re all blind?” Verena said with an angry tone. “You showed no signs of defeat at all. You could’ve totally fought Black Star for much longer!”
Wuornos glanced at her and coldly said, “Then what? Keep fighting like this till the end of the warning period? I seem to recall I said I was going to fight Black Star alone, but you guys were going to ignore my request and were planning to fight him together, weren’t you?”
Hearing this, they immediately did not know what to say.
“I can guess what you guys are planning to do with my eyes closed.”
Seeing this, Wuornos shook his head, pushed his way through the crowd, and left.
He did not want to participate in the battle to begin with. Originally, he wanted to watch till the end. However, the church had given him an absolute order, and he had no choice but to fight.
However, Wuornos did not plan to defeat Black Star. What he really wanted was to see and experience Black Star’s true strength, do his best to fight him to the extent that it was enough to give the church some results.
He was not lying about respecting Black Star, but he did not admit loss because of that. It was because of another reason.
Wuornos did not want to stop the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association from starting a war; he wished to see it happen instead!
This was his core motive!
For many years, Wuornos had been stuck at an invisible ceiling. He realized that no matter what, his strength could barely grow anymore. It was as if there was some kind of higher power that prevented him from stepping into that higher territory of power
He believed that only competition and pressure could breed the strong. Back during the exploration era, Supers slaughtered each other every second. Only then were the Beyond Grade As born. When the first Primordial One appeared, like a signal, more and more Beyond Grade As appeared one after another.
From the way he looked at it, the evolution of individual greatness might require an extremely talented pioneer to break that ceiling. Only then would the others be able to follow and enjoy the benefits.
This was how Black Star, whose growth rate broke every record, had entered his sights. Black Star was the person who had the highest possibility of becoming that pioneer in his eyes.
Wuornos did not like the peaceful atmosphere of the Beyond Grade A Association; he liked to see Beyond Grade As fight everyday more, breeding stronger individuals. Hence, the three Universal Civilizations targeting the association matched with his goal. In this respect, Wuornos had the same fanaticism as EsGod, only he took a different path. Compared to EsGod’s selfish style, Wuornos hoped to see the entire universe’s strong individuals working hard.
After all, given the mechanics of his ability, the stronger individuals there were in the universe, the stronger his peak strength would be.
All kinds of thoughts flashed past his thoughts, Wuornos closed his eyes and thought, I’ll give you this reputation today. Let me see how far you can go.
At the same time, the image of Wuornos admitting loss was broadcast to countless people.
At this moment, the hope that had just been rekindled was completely extinguished.
All the galactic residents who were hoping to see Black Star defeated collapsed onto their seats and looked hopeless.
Not a single person in the entire three Universal Civilizations could defeat Black Star. Even by shamelessly fighting him in groups, they still lost. Embarrassing!
Before long, the countless galactic residents turned from pessimistic to nervous. They knew that today was the last day of the warning period given by the three Universal Civilizations. If neither side decided to take a step back, a war was most likely going to break out!
Seeing that there was no hope, many galactic residents suddenly stopped worrying. They started to vent their rage born from powerlessness and fear online, as well as the hatred toward Black Star for not ‘losing like they wanted’.
Suddenly, support for the three Universal Civilizations grew tremendously once again. No longer were they hoping to stop the war; they went in the complete opposite direction, almost supportive of starting a war. They only had one core reason… for the three Universal Civilizations to crush the Beyond Grade A Association and clear the unstable factor of the galactic society!
The loss of hope, increase of fear and panic were always accompanied by rage. Wuornos’ act of admitting defeat caused public opinion to explode. They had been looking forward to the three Universal Civilizations sending someone to break Black Star’s arrogance. However, reality shattered their illusion. No one could defeat Black Star. The many galactic residents were both afraid and angry, then their humiliation turned into rage.
Okay, you’re strong as a person, no one in the three Universal Civilizations can match up to you. But we still have fleets; we still have armies! I don’t believe we can’t deal with you! Since the three Universal Civilizations had lost in terms of individual power, tons of galactic residents turned to believe in the three Universal Civilizations’ collective strength. They found a new excuse to convince themselves and took it as a new source of confidence.
It was already the last day of the warning period. The public opinion had become extreme in supporting the three Universal Civilizations to wipe out the association.
“The Beyond Grade A Association is nothing but a civilian organization. How dare they fight with the three Universal Civilizations? It’s clearly a criminal act. Think about it, the government wants to control you, and if you don’t obey, isn’t that violating the law? What, just because you founded a civilian organization, you can ignore the law? What makes you think you can do that? Just because you are strong?” “All things aside, the Beyond Grade As have always been unstable factors. They enjoy the privileges but don’t take the laws of the galaxy seriously. They should either all be monitored by civilizations or killed! That way, they won’t endanger society; today will be a lesson!”
“Hehe, Beyond Grade As are just representatives of the Supers. All Supers should be monitored and controlled; only then can order be maintained. Just think about how many crimes are related to the Supers. Without them, society would be a much better place!”
Ever since the appearance of the Sanctum Revival, the three Universal Civilizations had been guiding the public opinion and deliberately inciting the conflicting emotions between the ordinary people and the Supers. This had lasted for more than a year. These suppressed emotions kept getting tighter. At this turning point, the dissatisfaction the tons of civilians had toward the Supers finally erupted.
Countless galactic residents vented their rage without restrain, hoping all the Beyond Grade As and Super would just die.
Although this was very extreme, it was the true feelings of some galactic residents. Their genes dictated the fact that they would be ordinary their entire life, which was more depressing and impossible to cross than the difference between the rich and the poor. Almost all of them had a certain amount of hatred and frustration toward their destiny. When given the chance, most people would not mind expressing their hatred toward Supers.
However, the raging comments online meant absolutely nothing to Han Xiao; it had zero impact on what he was going to do.
Han Xiao sat in the middle of the battlefield and looked at the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet. After Wuornos admitted his defeat, the other direct members seemed to have gone silent. Shockingly, they did not meaninglessly fight him again on this last day of the warning period.
“Looks like they’ve finally got a grip of the situation.”
Han Xiao let out a deep breath.
All things considered, this was quite a successful decision. After keeping a low profile for many years, he had shocked the world once again and showed the universe his overwhelming strength, not only giving the association members confidence but also affecting the enemies’ morale.
At this time, the mechanical suit’s communicator rang. It was a call from Manison.
“… Your growth always exceeds my expectations.”
Manison felt complicated. He was shocked by Han Xiao’s strength and could not help but feel sour.
“It’s alright, nothing extraordinary.” Han Xiao took a humble approach.
Uh huh, still as shameless as always.
Manison was speechless for a moment. He then adjusted his emotions and said curiously, “Your Mechanical Deity is a little different. Is it new technology? There seem to be signs of the Felon technology in it.”
“Uh huh, I did use some of the Felon technology.” Han Xiao nodded and admitted
Manison fell silent.
Ah, another trump card got stolen by Black Star…
My heart hurts!
He wanted to get angry, but to his complete despair, he realized he was used to his abilities being stolen… Taking a deep breath, Manison stabilized his mood and said with a low voice, “What’s the principle of this technology? Can you share it with me?”
“Sure, I can, but you won’t be able to learn it…” Han Xiao shrugged. “This technology was tailor made for me. You need to have an extremely strong physique to learn it, but you’re too fragile.”
Isn’t it normal for Mechanics to have a fragile body? You’re the only exception.
Manison pressed on his heart, calmed himself down, and did not want to continue discussing this subject.
He then changed the topic and said with a serious tone, “Today is the last day of the warning period. I’m ready for a war. How are things on your side?”
Han Xiao nodded. “The association’s members are already stationed at the key strategic areas of the various Star Fields. Some people might have already started making moves.”
“War is a shortcut toward peace. After today, let’s hope the generations will extend in our hands.” Manison sighed.
Han Xiao curled his lips.
After a few words, Manison was about to hang up the communication when he suddenly thought of something.
“Erm… my spear broke, but the other Universal Treasures I lent to you didn’t. You put them all away. When will you be returning them to me?”
“Hey, come on, what’s our relationship? Would I just take your Universal Treasure like that? What kind of person do you think I am?” Han Xiao complained.
Manison snorted instantly.
You don’t do anything that’s related to being a person, yet you ask me what kind of person you are?
You’re not a person at all!
“Just tell me when you’ll return them.”
“When I’m done… ahem, after the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet retreats, I’ll give them back to you when I have the time.”
Excuse me, you were going to say you’ll return them after you’re done studying them, weren’t you!
Manison snorted and turned off the communication.
His temper was already depleted by Han Xiao, and after knowing him for so many years, he was mentally prepared for this long ago.
Just what I expected from you, Black Star!
Han Xiao turned off the communication. Seeing that the three Universal Civilizations were not making any moves, he opened the interface and looked at the mission reward.
Fighting the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations did not trigger individual Challenge Missions but instead triggered the sparring kind of mission like when he sparred with Joey and his friends. The mission reward relied on how long he lasted. The highest Mission Rating gave seven Character Summon Cards and five chances to draw abilities or talents from a target of his choice.
As for the duel with Wuornos, it triggered the regular Beyond Grade A Challenge Mission. The rewards were one Character Summon Card and one chance to draw his ability or talent.
“Looks like I won in the end.”
Han Xiao felt much better.
With a war around the corner, he was quite tempted. However, after thinking about it, he still suppressed his impulses.
His goal of intimidating the enemies was already achieved. If a war were to break out the next day and the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet attacked, all the direct members would most likely strike too. Of course, Han Xiao would not be facing them alone. Therefore, he was not in a hurry to accept the mission rewards.
“If only I could make the three Universal Civilizations take a step back…”
Han Xiao shook his head and thought of an idea he had some time ago. He caressed the communicator, hesitating on whether or not to call the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations and tell them about the World Tree Civilization, shifting the conflict away.
The most ideal situation would, of course, be the three Universal Civilizations believing what he said, temporarily lowering their hostility and working together with him against the external enemy. Although this would cause the World Tree war to arrive in advance, it would save a huge portion of the explored universe’s strength… However, given the current uptight situation and the relationship between the two sides, he felt there was an extremely low chance the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders would believe him. They would most likely think it was an excuse to avoid admitting defeat or a made-up reason for both sides to take a step back.
If he could not convince the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders, a war would still break out, and the three Universal Civilizations would very likely secretly investigate the authenticity of the information about the World Tree Civilization. Not only would the explored universe lose a ton of military power, but the World Tree war would still arrive in advance, meaning the three Universal Civilizations would have close to no time to recover before facing such a powerful enemy. Therefore, Han Xiao was hesitating. It was almost impossible for him to predict the butterfly effects this move might cause.
“Sigh, tough.”
In the online chat room of the Beyond Grade A Association, the remote projections of a group of Beyond Grade As gathered. Shock still remained on some of their faces.
“Even Wuornos can’t defeat Black Star… It’s hard to believe how strong he’s become after not showing his strength for just a few decades.”
“Black Star is really an unbelievable guy. I thought he would lose this time. Who could’ve predicted he would actually hold on?”
“Fighting the three Universal Civilizations alone, suppressing all direct members. I would never have believed this is true if I didn’t see it with my own eyes!”
The many Beyond Grade As discussed excitedly.
They had watched the broadcast of Black Star fighting the three Universal Civilizations’ direct members alone from the start to the end, feeling more astonished each day. After Wuornos admitted his defeat, all of them were dumbfounded.
Even Wuornos, who was recognized by all as the strongest cheater, could not defeat Han Xiao, astounded the entire Beyond Grade A circle. In their eyes, this crown no longer belonged to Wuornos and was shifted to Black Star’s head…
Not only was he the president of the Beyond Grade A Association, but he was also undoubtedly the strongest Beyond Grade A, which made his position as the president even more deserved.
“Seeing how strong Black Star is, I’m less concerned.” Kasuyi relaxed.
Many people nodded and smiled.
The three Universal Civilizations had tons of trump cards. Many association members had been worried that something might happen to Black Star, which would lead to no one being able to use the Sanctum Revival, and that would be very unfortunate for them. Seeing that Black Star was unbelievably strong, many people were relieved.
Kasuyi looked around, wiped the smile off his face, and said with a serious tone, “Alright, don’t get too relaxed. Today is the last day of the warning period. Everyone, be ready and standby. Wait for Black Star to teleport us over for war!”
Hearing this, the expressions of the others also became serious. Sun Hunter pulled the bolt of his gun, snorted, and said, “Finally, my big cannon is thirsting for blood!”
In the three Universal Civilizations’ joint conference room, Marbruce, Louis, and the church pope looked at the screen. Their expressions were furious.
Marbruce hit the table heavily and said with a tone filled with dissatisfaction, “Ridiculous! All of our direct members can’t even take down one Black Star. How are we going to deal with the other Beyond Grade As?”
“Their loss has embarrassed the entire civilization! We’ve become stepping stones for Black Star’s reputation!” Louis was furious.
“We can’t really blame them. Black Star is illogically strong.”
The pope frowned tightly. He was very unhappy with Wuornos’ act of admitting defeat, but what was done was done. There was no use in blaming Wuornos now. He was a little bit regretful of forcing Wuornos to leave the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods to participate in this.
Looking at Black Star, who sat in the middle of two sides, the three of them suddenly felt powerless, angry, and frustrated.
In terms of individual strength, they really had no ways of dealing with Black Star. Even the three of them were out of ideas.
“The only way to deal with him now is through armies and war weapons…” Louis looked at the other two with a serious expression. “Once the warning period ends, we’ll start a war instantly. Are you two absolutely sure about this?”
“This day would’ve come sooner or later. I only regret how late we made up our minds to do this. We’ve let the Beyond Grade As roam and grow freely for too long. That’s how they’ve turned into such huge threats,” the pope said slowly.
“We’re already here. There’s no way we’re going to go back on our word.” Marbruce nodded.
“Okay. Pass the order down to your armies at the various locations to execute as planned…”
Before he finished, the sound of an urgent alert from a communicator suddenly rang in the room.
Louis stopped and looked at Marbruce. It came from his communicator.
Marbruce took out the communicator and looked at it. It was an urgent report from the dynasty’s main artificial intelligence, Heroic Soul.
The reports of the various departments were all analyzed by the main artificial intelligence, then given to different departments to take care of depending on their priority level. Given how the main artificial intelligence sent this to him even during his meeting with the other two leaders, it meant that from the main artificial intelligence’s judgement, this message was extremely urgent.
“What report is th… hmm?”
Marbruce’s expression changed drastically the moment he saw the title of the report. He then finished reading it in silence.
He pondered for about half a minute before turning to look at the other two.
“You guys might need to take a look at this…”
On this last day of the warning period, the timer passed in an extremely uneasy atmosphere. Seconds felt like years to all the soldiers present and countless galactic residents watching the broadcast.
As the last moment of the warning period got closer, the fleets of the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association started to fidget. The atmosphere kept getting more and more intense.
In the Black Star Army’s fleet, the tons of army players were filled with anticipation.
“It’s here! It’s here! War!”
“I’ve seen more than enough cutscenes. The main storyline is finally about to begin.”
“For the army!”
The army players could not wait for the two sides to start fighting.
One reason was that they loved to see a chaotic world and hoped to participate in the main storyline. Another reason was that many people saw the comments online too and realized that there were so many people insulting, condemning, and scolding them, the ‘Immortals’.
Of course, many players were quite enraged by that.
However, at the same time, they also had a deeper understanding of the ‘Calamity of the Supers’ mission name, as well as the conflict between the ordinary and the Supers.
As Supers, the players who had a lot of interest in the storyline were exhilarated. They felt like the curtains of the new era were unfolding right in front of their eyes.
“All crews, prepare for combat!” The voice of the commander spread in the battleships. Countless warriors tightened their body and looked at the clock.
In this apprehensive wait, time passed seconds by seconds as it got closer to the end of the warning period. The hearts of the soldiers of both sides and countless galactic residents were all at their throat.
In this extremely intense atmosphere, the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet suddenly moved.
Without any warning, the entire joint fleet suddenly moved back, leaving the conflict area batch by batch.
This stunned the Beyond Grade A Association’s armies and all the galactic residents. They were lost.
The warning period is almost here. Why did the three Universal Civilizations suddenly retreat? Plus, without saying anything?
Didn’t they firmly say they’ll never give in? Why did they go back on their word all of a sudden?
On the quantum network, the comments calling for the three Universal Civilizations to wipe out the association suddenly went silent. As they realized that things did not go as they imagined, they suddenly did not know what to do.
Is it because Black Star defeated all direct Beyond Grade As single-handedly and the three Universal Civilizations are afraid?
It was difficult for them not to think this.
At the same time, a similar speculation also appeared in many people’s minds.
“Could it be that the three Universal Civilizations only wanted to intimidate the association, scare them, and pressure them into compromising to begin with? And once they realized this method is useless against the association, they could not continue the show and retreated like a coward on the last day of the warning period that was claimed by themselves!”
Many galactic residents did not know what to say and felt very complicated.
We all supported you guys in wiping out the Beyond Grade A Association and defusing the source of the instability of the galactic society, yet you guys are afraid?
Although not starting a war was fortunate, many people felt embarrassed. Their all-out support for the three Universal Civilizations now felt like a slap to the face, by the three Universal Civilizations themselves.
Han Xiao was also confused by the three Universal Civilizations’ neat retreat too.
After a bit of hesitation, Han Xiao actively called the dynasty ruler. However, it was not picked up, which made him wonder even more.
“They’re retreating just like that? Doesn’t fit them at all. The three Universal Civilizations shouldn’t be this cowardly… or did something happen?”
A few days ago, at the dynasty’s Science Institute, the team members of the wormhole analysis team all gathered in the activity room, watching the fight between Black Star and Clotti’s group on the screen with worried expressions. In the past few days, they had stopped all projects on hand and focused on the developments of this event. This was closely related to their everyday life.
In the crowd, someone softly whispered, “Looks like a war is going to break out…”
Sighs sounded in the room one after another, filled with worries.
All the researchers present opposed starting a war. One reason was that they were worried that their project would be stopped once again when the war started, meaning they would have nothing to do. Another was because as people with virtue, they intuitively opposed wars. “Only if someone could stop this war…” someone softly mumbled.
Hearing this, the project director’s eyes suddenly gleamed. He clenched his teeth, turned around, walked out of the activity room, and returned to his office.
He searched through the database and brought up a special wormhole detection report that he did not have time to submit lately due to how much attention he paid to the recent events.
“I hope this works…”
The project director swallowed his saliva and modified this report, changing the ‘suspected existence of an unknown advanced civilization’ included in the report conclusion into ‘confirmed existence of an unknown Universal Civilization’.
After doing all this, the project director did not send it to the audit department but directly skipped this procedure and submitted it to the dynasty’s main artificial intelligence’s database. He knew that skipping the fixed procedures would definitely get him into trouble.
“No idea if this will work…” the project director mumbled with a worried expression.
In order to stop the possible universal war that might break out, he was willing to do whatever he could in his power.
He was not sure if this trick would work, but he felt that if everyone only watched and did nothing, no change would come.
The three Universal Civilizations’ sudden retreat right before the warning period ended completely shocked the entire galactic civilization. Everyone was lost.
The comments supporting the war on the quantum network disappeared, and all kinds of sarcastic comments started to appear instead.
“Yo, weren’t the three Universal Civilizations unshakably firm? What happened?”
“Tsk, looks like that’s what the three Universal Civilizations are. Their dominance is only an act.”
“Y’all still supporting the war? Why don’t you take a look at how much the three Universal Civilizations care about you people?”
Public opinion shifted once again. Looking at these sarcastic comments, the tons of galactic residents were frustrated but had nothing to say.
These sarcastic comments came not just from some Supers who could finally vent their emotions but also from some organizations that were secretly inciting the public opinion. The Super Star Cluster Alliance had always been keeping a low profile, and once they saw the chance, they immediately jumped out to display their traditional skill, sh*t-stirring.
Compared to the galactic residents, the players were even more dumbfounded.
“Is that it?”
“I watched ten days of cutscenes, and now you’re saying there won’t be a war?”
“What happened to full-out war? Coward!”
Under the fearful sights of the other crews, the many army players yelled, shouted, stomped the floor, and bashed their chests, hating the fact that a war did not break out.
The three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet turned into closely packed streams of hyperdrive lights and retreated hastily. Seeing this, Manison flew out from the fleet, stood beside Han Xiao, and watched the three Universal Civilizations leave.
“That’s weird. They just left without saying anything?” Manison was confused.
Han Xiao caressed his chin and mumbled, “There’s definitely something wrong with this. The three Universal Civilizations did not bring this many forces here just to put up a show to intimidate us. It’s absolutely certain they were really prepared to start a war. However, they are now retreating even when it means they’re going back on their word, knowing this will cause their reputation to plummet. Something huge must have happened.”
“Hmm… or maybe they really got scared?” Manison said, the shook his head, knowing clearly that the possibility of that was extremely low. “Maybe the three Universal Civilizations thought it through and believe that having an all-out war with the association has more cons than pros? So, they changed their mind… Does that mean the strategic goal of leaking the virus technology worked out?”
“No idea. The three Universal Civilizations should give a response to the galactic society, so let’s just see what they have to say. I’ll try to find out some inside information too… or maybe the three Universal Civilizations will actively contact me after some time.”
Han Xiao’s eyes flashed.
Hearing this, Manison turned to look at him.
“Do you know something?”
“Just some guesses that can’t be confirmed without enough information.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
At this time, the communicator rang. It was from the communication channel of the Beyond Grade A Association. “Black Star, what’s going on over there? Do the three Universal Civilizations not want to fight anymore?” “What do they mean by this?”
“Are we going to continue our plan?”
As soon as the call was picked up, the many Beyond Grade As started questioning continuously.
The many association members were confused too. They were all mentally prepared for a bloody war, yet their opponents fled at the last second. It felt like they had bought a sports car and were just about to test it when they saw a cop car beside them, leaving them no choice but to suppress their urges.
“Standby for now. We’ll have to see what the three Universal Civilizations are going to do next. But don’t let your guard down. It might be a trick. If they really are going to attack, they might use the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device to launch surprise attacks on key strategic locations directly…”
Han Xiao said a few words, telling the association members to stay on alert, and then hung up the call.
The three Universal Civilizations surrounding the Mechanical Race territory was only a signal; attacking this place was actually not useful at all except for declaring war. He still could not find out what the three Universal Civilizations were planning at this point… Retreating on the surface but charging back later using the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device was possible, so he had to consider it.
Seeing that Han Xiao had finished the call, Manison said, “What now? The three Universal Civilizations retreated, so should we dismiss the troops here?”
Han Xiao thought about it but shook his head. “Don’t dismiss them. Shrink the defense circle, and continue to guard the Mechanical Race territory. Only dismiss the troops when the three Universal Civilizations’ joint fleet is confirmed to have left this Star Cluster. I need to make a trip back.”
Manison nodded, flew back to the main ship, and sent down the orders.
Han Xiao changed into the King and disappeared.
Swoosh!
The next second, he returned to a secret army base. This was a hideout for some officers who were not participating in battles.
Some army officers and the many members of the Floating Dragon sat in the room, including Ames who was there in case of anything. They were all watching the news broadcast.
Seeing Han Xiao suddenly appearing, the sights of the various officers all focused on him. The admiration and respect in their eyes were not just a little bit stronger than before; it was as if they were looking at a god.
Ames crossed her legs, leaned slightly forward, and pressed her elbows on her knees and her hands under her chin. She tilted her head slightly, letting her soft hair down, and said with a faint smile and a joking tone, “You’ve been very manly the past few days.” “Don’t you know best how manly I am?” Han Xiao raised his brow.
Ames smiled and said, “You should have a lot of things to deal with. What are you doing here?”
“Just came to take a look and make sure everything’s okay here.”
Han Xiao casually made up an excuse, looked around at the officers, and accurately stopped at Feidin. He immediately smiled, took a few big steps forward, and rubbed him.
With a speechless face, Feidin did not resist at all.
Seeing this, Aesop coughed and said, “You defeated all the three Universal Civilizations’ direct members, and even Wuornos could not defeat you. So, they definitely gave up fighting you with individual strength. I don’t know if this is part of the reason the three Universal Civilizations retreated, but they don’t seem to want to start a war anymore. What are you going to do next?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao said with a serious tone, “I’ll first have to figure out what happened. Anyway, don’t celebrate yet. If I guessed correctly, things might get even worse from now on.”
The ten-day confrontation between the three Universal Civilizations and the association attracted the attention of the entire universe, but not many expected it to end as it did. After the joint fleet retreated, the three Universal Civilizations went completely silent. Not only did they pull back some of the armies they had sent earlier, but they did not even publicly explain the reason for their retreat yet. The public opinions got more and more intense; all kinds of speculations surfaced one after another.
Originally, they all thought this would be the fuse of an all-out war. However, the three Universal Civilizations extinguished this war at the last second, so this confrontation elevated Black Star’s reputation. He was now firmly recognized as the strongest Beyond Grade A. If one had to define who the winner was, only Black Star could be considered.
Some were glad that a war did not break out; some furiously condemned the three Universal Civilizations for being cowards; some laughed at the galactic residents for thinking their opinions actually mattered. There were all kinds of opinions, but they all shared one thing in common. They were all curious as to what made the three Universal Civilizations choose to take a step back.
Due to the three Universal Civilizations’ silence, no one knew the answer to this question. Even the Beyond Grade A Association did not make an announcement; they were watching silently too. Countless people were intrigued.
The three Universal Civilizations’ Joint Conference Room…
“… We’ve already checked the authenticity of this report multiple times. Through the wormhole detection needles, we did indeed discover signs of activity of an unknown civilization. The data itself is completely legit. Only the conclusion is not fully definitive.”
The remote projection of the dynasty’s upper echelon in charge of the scientific research stood in front of the three leaders and reported with a serious tone.
“So, we can’t confirm that this unknown civilization is a Universal Civilization for the time being?” Marbruce confirmed.
“That… is right. However, they definitely are an advanced civilization. The extensive data collected by the multifunctional spacetime detection needles we have been frequently sending over proves their advanced technology level.”
“… Got it. Continue to collect data while keeping yourselves hidden. I need to know the details of this civilization.”
After a few more words, Marbruce ended the communication. The other two civilizations’ leaders and him were the only ones left in the room.
“Looks like our decision to retreat back then was correct,” the pope said with a deep voice.
“Hmm, or we’d be beleaguered by now. This report came way too timely,” Louis added, a little relieved.
On the last day of the confrontation, they were originally going to strike as planned, but this wormhole report from the dynasty’s Science Institute had shaken their decision.
The three Universal Civilizations had always been exploring the unknown areas of the universe; this wormhole report claimed to have discovered an unknown Universal Civilization, which would be an enormous threat if true.
In this respect, the three Universal Civilizations were very experienced. Once an outside enemy appeared, they had to carefully deal with internal conflicts. This was clearly not a good time to deal with the unbalance of individual strength.
Back then, there was not a lot of time for the three of them to discuss matters. In the end, they decided not to take the risk. They stopped their plan and chose to step back from the association. In turn, they spent tons of resources authenticating this wormhole report. They knew their priorities.
This set of wormhole data was one of the things EsGod had left behind. As EsGod had been sealed for many years, it had become an unimportant project long ago. However, with this astonishing discovery, it became a top-priority project. Its progress was directly monitored by the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders.
The final results were, although the conclusion of this wormhole report was slightly exaggerated, the data was completely legit. An unknown advanced civilization was indeed discovered, only it was not confirmed to be a Universal Civilization.
If it was true… this would be a priceless ‘exaggerated’ conclusion. Marbruce knocked the table and slowly said, “The priority now is to collect information about this unknown civilization and confirm their strength, societal structure, attitude toward outsiders, and so on. Everything else can be put aside for now.”
Louis and the pope nodded.
The three Universal Civilizations had a strategic plan for this kind of situation. No way were they going to directly make contact or start a war. Once they discovered an advanced civilization in the unexplored universe, their top priority was to carefully collect intelligence without exposing their presence. Afterward, only then would they choose different approaches depending on the strength, culture, and many other factors of this civilization.
Although the explored universe had entered the galactic society era, from the entire unexplored universe’s perspective, it was still in the ‘exploration era’. Discovering the enemy before being discovered was an enormous advantage, so of course, they were going to use it to its fullest potential. “Don’t forget to carry out measures against all possible scenarios before exploring further,” the pope said.
“I know.” Marbruce nodded.
The measures the three of them were speaking of were mainly preparing for war, as well as preparing to send strategic annihilation weapons toward this unknown civilization’s territory through the wormhole. In extreme situations, they would not mind directly destroying its territory, turning it into a desolate universe belt, wiping out all lives of this unknown civilization, not showing any mercy at all.
“This matter is extremely important. If a war really breaks out, the Beyond Grade A Association will be a powerful force too. Should we tell them about it now?”
Louis brought up this sensitive question and asked the two of them for their opinions.
Though the existence of Beyond Grade As threatened their rule, they were also a powerful force against outside enemies. Since the situation had changed, their mindset changed too. There was no such thing as an eternal enemy in their eyes.
The pope pondered for a moment, waved, and expressed his opinion.
“Let’s just be cautious. We haven’t figured out the state of this unknown civilization; there’s no need to tell it to the association now. Think about it. If we can coexist with this unknown civilization that happens to be a Universal Civilization, once they take in the galactic society system, the association will have another choice of becoming allies with them, which will impact the structure of the galaxy… We can’t guarantee the association’s loyalty, so we should keep it a secret for the time being.”
“Make sense.” Marbruce nodded. “Let’s not announce this publicly for now. We’ll secretly investigate the situation, then consider whether or not to publicize it depending on the situation. It won’t be too late to tell the association about it when we need their help.”
From the way the three of them looked at it, there was clearly no need to immediately tell the other organizations about this for now. They were all unstable factors, and who knew what trouble they would cause?
“Since that’s the case, let’s put aside our conflict with the association first,” Louis suggested. “Calm these Beyond Grade As down, don’t let them cause any trouble, and make peace with them temporarily… This is their goal too. Find a reason to agree with their goal, relay our intention of stopping the conflict, and make the association think we decided to compromise.”
The other two nodded in agreement. Although they could not deal with the association, as long as the Beyond Grade As did not cause troubles, it was enough for them.
At this time, Marbruce suddenly thought of something
If I remember correctly, Black Star has this set of wormhole data left behind by EsGod too. I seem to recall he even specifically asked the dynasty about our progress of studying this set of data…
Now that I think about it, does Black Star know something?
As this thought flashed past his mind, Marbruce shook his head.
He felt the possibility of this was very limited. Compared to asking Black Star, it was better to obtain intelligence through investigating themselves.
Furthermore, they had just agreed not to leak this secret to the outside world. Therefore, even if Black Star might know something about it, he did not plan to ask him. After all, Black Star was the leader of the organization opposing the three Universal Civilizations for now, so they were no longer allies.
In a certain Black Star Army base, an enormous star map hovered in the room. On it were marks of the movements of the three Universal Civilizations’ various armies, drawing out many arrows.
Han Xiao stood before the star map and carefully looked at it.
Quite some days had already passed since the three Universal Civilizations retreated from the Mechanical Race territory. In the past few days, the three Universal Civilizations’ armies’ movements had been very abnormal. Originally, they were stationed at the various Star Fields, prepared to deal with the Beyond Grade A Association at any time. However, now, they were all recalled back to the Central Galaxy, as if they had no intention of starting a war at all.
If that was all, he would not be so troubled. The weirdest part was that the three Universal Civilizations had remained silent all this time, neither making any announcement nor contacting him to relay their intentions. It was extremely odd, as if they had no time to deal with him.
He had been trying to find out what was going on behind the curtains. However, the three Universal Civilizations kept their secret extremely well hidden this time, and he did not discover anything at all. “Did I really guess right?” Han Xiao murmured.
What could make the three Universal Civilizations change their decision last minute?
At this point in time, there were not many possible scenarios. However, the butterfly effects he caused had changed countless things. One of them was that EsGod had given the dynasty the key toward the World Tree Civilization’s territory long ago, which was an unstable factor.
From his perspective, the most likely situation was that the three Universal Civilizations had discovered the World Tree Civilization. Due to the existence of an external enemy, the three Universal Civilizations retreated so quickly without any warning.
“If that’s really the case, the three Universal Civilizations will definitely investigate the wormhole thoroughly. They might tell me about it, but they might also keep it a secret… Given the three Universal Civilizations’ way of doing things and my current position, the latter is more likely.”
Han Xiao frowned, bit his nails, and did not feel good about this.
If the three Universal Civilizations chose to keep it a secret and secretly explored further, given how ignorant they were about the World Tree Civilization, the risk of them being exposed was extremely high. If making contact was already unavoidably brought forward, him continuing to hide the information about the World Tree would increase the risks. Now might be the best time to share what he knew.
However, he might have guessed wrong. If the three Universal Civilizations retreated not because they discovered the World Tree Civilization, it would be horrible.
“So, this is a gamble. It all depends on whether I’m willing to take the risk…”
Han Xiao’s expression changed rapidly.
Di di di…
At this time, his communicator rang.
He took it out. It was surprisingly a call from a dynasty emissary.
“Greetings, Your Excellency Black Star.”
As soon as the communication was picked up, the dynasty emissary nodded in a friendly way, looking quite respectful.
Han Xiao sized him up and cut to the chase. “Finally decided to explain what you guys did?”
“That’s humorous of you. I’m here to negotiate with you on behalf of the three Universal Civilizations this time. We are willing to accept the association’s proposal. We will allow you to restrain the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology on your own…”
The dynasty emissary said a ton of things. At its core, what he meant was that the three Universal Civilizations were willing to take a step back. They no longer required Manison to submit the virus technology and trusted the association’s integrity, allowing it to control this kind of high-risk technology. In short, they would no longer interfere.
“Oh?” Han Xiao raised his brows. “Since you guys have accepted that the association’s promise is effective, you’re recognizing the association’s correctness. What about the trade laws against the association?”
“They won’t be removed for the time being, but it can be discussed.” The dynasty emissary smiled.
Looking at his emotionless smile, Han Xiao acutely sensed the strange attitude of the three Universal Civilizations. He was filled with conflict.
His intuition felt stronger. He felt he might really have guessed the truth.
After a few seconds of silence, Han Xiao took a deep breath.
I’ll take the bet!
As he made up his mind, Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and slowly said, “I’ve received your message. Please relay this message to Marbruce.”
“What is it?”
“… From how strangely you guys are acting, it looks like you guys have finally deciphered the wormhole data left by EsGod, right?”
Chapter 1310 Truth
One hour later, Han Xiao’s remote projection entered the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders’ joint conference room, and he immediately saw three old men staring dead at him with grave faces.
“Yo, you’re all here.”
Han Xiao was not in a hurry at all and greeted them casually. This was the first time he had been called into a meeting like this since the two sides’ relationship reached the freezing point.
“Black Star! What the hell do you know!”
Marbruce was in no mood to chitchat at all and cut to the chase.
An hour ago, when the three of them were waiting for the dynasty emissary to report Black Star’s stand toward the three Universal Civilizations’ proposal of peace to see if they could calm the association down, to their absolute dismay, what they received was the news that Black Star shockingly immediately called out the secret of the wormhole.
The three of them were all completely dumbfounded.
Where did Black Star find out about the fact that they had decrypted the secret of the wormhole? Who leaked the information? Was there a mole?
If not, how did Black Star find out? Did he know about the wormhole data’s secret all along?
There were so many unanswered questions!
Marbruce, Louis, and the pope were anxious.
Since Black Star had specifically told the emissary to relay this message to them, it did not matter how he got such surprising information. The matter was of the utmost importance and had to be taken extremely seriously. The three of them held an emergency meeting where they decided to speak to Black Star, hence this meeting.
“I know lots of things.”
Han Xiao looked around and deliberately gave them a meaningful expression while feeling relaxed inside.
He was also unsure what was going on, so he did not directly reveal the World Tree Civilization’s name but instead pointed it out ambiguously.
Nonetheless, since he had been called to this meeting, Han Xiao knew he had won the bet and indeed guessed the truth. He was glad he did not make things worse.
“You mentioned the wormhole data left by EsGod. How much do you know about it?” Louis asked with a deep voice.
Han Xiao arranged his emotions, glanced at him, and said casually, “You guys discovered a civilization on the other side of the wormhole, right?”
The three of them exchanged looks with extremely serious expressions.
Marbruce frowned and asked, “Where did you get that information from?”
“I know what you guys want to ask me…” Han Xiao raised his brows. “No, I didn’t steal your internal information.”
Hearing this, their expressions became even more grave.
By saying that his source of information did not come from the three Universal Civilizations, Black Star was basically saying that he had uncovered the wormhole’s secret long ago and had information about it the three of them did not possess.
Marbruce took a deep breath, put down his pride, and said solemnly with even a slightly respectful tone, “I’m sure you know the nature of this matter. We hope you can tell us the truth. This is absolutely crucial to the entire universe.”
“Sure.” Han Xiao nodded. Since this had happened, there was no point hiding what he knew. It was time to tell them the truth. He had to make sure that the three Universal Civilizations were aware of how dangerous the World Tree was.
“… This wormhole leads to the territory of a civilization called the World Tree Civilization. That’s an extremely powerful civilization that loves war and expanding their territory. Decades ago, due to some reasons, EsGod sent a doppelganger to attack me, which led to his doppelganger falling into a wormhole and coincidentally discovering the World Tree Civilization. After that, EsGod sent his men to steal this wormhole data to figure out a way to pinpoint the World Tree Civilization’s coordinates. Some things happened, and I became the only person who knows about this…”
Of course, Han Xiao hid the fact that some of this information came from his previous life and described the matter in another way, emphasizing how powerful the World Tree Civilization was. He basically shared almost everything he knew about the World Tree Civilization.
The three of them listened till the end with frowns on their faces, full of doubts.
Marbruce asked, “Did EsGod tell you all this? Putting aside why EsGod told only you about this, why do you know this much about the World Tree Civilization? This is far from what EsGod could’ve found out in one trip.”
“I understand your doubts.” Han Xiao nodded. This was not a matter to be taken lightly. If he made EsGod the reason for everything, all they had to do was question EsGod, and his lies would be discovered.
Without an incomparably solid source of information, there was no way the three Universal Civilizations were going to believe all this.
However, he had come up with a reason long ago that just so happened to explain why he knew so much about the World Tree Civilization.
“Actually… I have something left behind by a certain civilization that was wiped out by the World Tree Civilization. It contains a ton of information. What I know about the World Tree Civilization mostly comes from that.”
As he said that, Han Xiao summoned the remote projection of SWY-001 and displayed the information he had prepared beforehand on the screen.
The expressions on their faces changed as they hastily browsed the information. The more they looked at it, the more shocked they became.
SWY-001’s memory module recorded the tragic state of the Karma Republic when it was being invaded as well as the World Tree Civilization’s unique and extremely strong way of war. Furthermore, it also showed that the World Tree Civilization was a Universal Civilization that was almost impossible to coexist with. Everything proved that what Han Xiao said was true.
Without this big treasure, even if Han Xiao could explain the source of this information, it would not be convincing enough.
Man did this thing come at a good time… Han Xiao thought in his mind.
There was nothing he could say but… Damn, Feidin!
The three of them spent some time reading all the information, and shock still lingered in their eyes.
“Devouring everything in their way, the World Tree Civilization is really the enemy of all intelligent civilizations. To think there’s such a hunter like this in the universe…” Louis mumbled. “Luckily, we sealed EsGod long ago. If he’d led the World Tree Civilization here…”
Suddenly, before he finished his sentence, his expression froze.
At this moment, Marbruce recalled that sealing EsGod up was something Black Star strongly proposed and made happen. The fact that they were still not discovered by the World Tree now was all thanks to Black Star.
Back then, Black Star insisted on sealing EsGod up no matter what. Was he already secretly trying to protect the explored universe from being invaded?
Marbruce’s heart skipped a beat. He looked up at Han Xiao and could not help but ask, “Was this the reason you insisted on asking us to capture EsGod back then?”
Han Xiao tutted and asked back, “Why else would I? You really think I had so much hatred against him that I had to kill him?”
Marbruce’s expression changed slightly. He looked at Han Xiao and could not help but feel a bit of admiration and appreciation toward him. The doubt in his heart instantly lessened.
If not for Black Star, this galactic society would have already been invaded. Technically speaking, the entire universe owed him a favor.
However, Black Star did not share this at all and silently hid this honorable achievement, letting it collect dust in history. No one knew about this colossal contribution he made.
How noble!
Han Xiao’s image immediately got taller in Marbruce’s heart.
Suddenly, the pope said, “Black Star, since you knew about the threat of the World Tree Civilization and had all this information long ago, why didn’t you share it till now?”
Han Xiao shook his head.
“I know you guys all too well. If you guys had found out there is a powerful unknown civilization in the unexplored universe, would you guys ignore its existence? Sharing it with you would only lead to making contact even earlier. It was best to keep this a secret. In fact, if not because you guys had made results studying the wormhole data, I wouldn’t have said all this even now.”
The three of them had nothing to say.
Indeed, even if they did not know about it, if they found out the threat of the World Tree, the three of them were fully certain there was absolutely no way they were going to simply ignore it. They would definitely want to strike first and attempt to take the World Tree Civilization by surprise; never would they have acted the same way they were now.
Attempting to find out more about the World Tree would mean they would be at risk of being exposed too. Despite that, based on their positions, striking first was a certainty. Otherwise, they would simply be relying on fate and waiting to be attacked.
Being aware of such a powerful enemy existing in the unknown universe would make the three of them sleepless, worrying about one day being discovered and invaded every second. That would be no way of living, so of course, actively erasing this threat was more in line with the three Universal Civilizations’ needs.
If both sides were unaware of each other’s existence, they could still coexist like two parallel lines. However, once one discovered the other, the two sides would rapidly collided
“I have to admit that makes sense…” Louis sighed. “But isn’t that betting on the enemies not discovering us first too?”
Han Xiao shook his head and did not reply.
He was confident in this because he knew exactly when the World Tree would be invading, only there was no need to explain that. Plus, it would neither be easy to explain nor be convincing enough.
At this time, the pope frowned and said, “But how can we be certain that the information from this object is true and not made up?”
“Are you doubting me?” Han Xiao glanced at him.
“I’m just being careful. It’s not personal.” The pope waved his hand.
Louis thought about it and added, “Indeed, the source of your information is very convincing, but its authenticity is still unclear… We’re not doubting you, but we can’t fully trust this information. Although it looks very real, who knows if this information was made up in the first place? We can’t just assume…”
“Black Star, we’ll carefully refer to this information you have provided, but we’ll still have to see the results of our reconnaissance,” Marbruce said.
Damn, you three are troublesome!
Han Xiao curled his lips but was not surprised.
It was normal for the three Universal Civilizations to be careful from their perspective. After all, there was indeed the possibility of this information being made up, just like what happened to the Kunde Race. Who knew if this information might be ‘bait’ too?
Han Xiao caressed his chin and slowly said, “This civilization relic still has vital signs. It’s only asleep. If we wake it up, we should be able to get more information.”
He had a mission on him to awaken SWY-001, but he did not complete it all this time because he did not want to deal with the possible trouble. However, now that he was sure that the three Universal Civilizations had made contact with the World Tree in advance, he no longer minded waking up SWY-001. Instead, it might even be helpful to do it.
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you then. This is very important… By the way, you’ll help us, right?”
Marbruce nodded. He suddenly paused and realized that the association and them were still on opposite sides.
The other two realized this too and looked a little uncomfortable.
The situation had changed, and they needed the association now. However, not long ago, they were attempting to wipe the association out, yet now they were asking for their help. The three of them felt awkward and even slightly embarrassed.
However, the three of them only felt awkward for a few seconds before quickly adjusting their mood, looking at Han Xiao with passionate eyes.
Han Xiao glanced at the three of them and smiled.
“The World Tree Civilization can’t coexist with us. We’re all on the same boat here, so working together is the only choice.”
“… It’s great you can understand that.”
The three of them felt relieved. They needed to unite all forces at this point, and they were really afraid the association might do something irrational.
Seeing that Black Star easily looked past their conflict, the three of them could not help but think back to their conflict with the association in the past years. They felt complicated.
Black Star had always been trying to reach a balance and peaceful coexistence; never did he trigger any conflict.
In the past, the three of them thought the association was delaying the time to accumulate more strength. However, in hindsight, the three of them shockingly realized there seemed to be another explanation to Black Star’s actions… Was he trying to save the explored universe’s forces?
Due to many reasons, the three of them kept oppressing and targeting the association, and Black Star had been trying to maintain a fragile balance. While the three of them were busy dealing with internal problems, Black Star was very likely making preparations against the external enemy, the World Tree Civilization.
Unfortunately, the leakage of the Virtual Mutiny Virus had led them to make up their minds on starting a full-blown war…
“We almost walked down a path with no return!”
Appalled, their backs were covered in cold sweat. They were glad.
Luckily, they stepped back at the last minute. If they had started a war, Black Star’s efforts to maintain the explored universe’s forces would have been wasted.
Having thought of this, the three of them looked at Han Xiao again with very complicated emotions in their eyes. There was shame and regret, as well as appreciation and admiration.
We misunderstood him…
Knowing Black Star’s real motive, it was as if this was the first time they had met him.
Black Star’s image became alive in their minds. It was as if the three of them saw the back of a man walking alone in the world, carrying heavy responsibilities no one knew about, attempting to defuse conflicts, yet no one understood his true motives…
Black Star… your contributions to this universe have been more than noble.This thought flashed past Marbruce’s mind, along with the same thought Urranrell once had.
If only Black Star was a direct member of the dynasty…
The problems they had with Black Star evaporated. At this point, the three of them knew that continuing their internal conflict was idiotic. They knew that Black Star had already displayed his compassion; it was time they showed theirs.
The three of them looked at each other and understood what one another meant. They slowly nodded.
Marbruce coughed, looked at Han Xiao seriously, and said with a solemn tone, “Black Star, on behalf of the three Universal Civilizations, I officially invite you to be the Special Safety Consultant again. What do you say?”
Looking at the solemn expressions of the three of them, Han Xiao raised his hand and shook his index finger.
“You don’t want to?” Marbruce’s expression became nervous.
“No, I mean it’s… not enough.”
Han Xiao looked calm but tutted in his mind.
You guys really are incomparable in terms of being shameless. Only not long ago you were still targeting the Beyond Grade As with all your forces, now you changed your attitude right away and want to work with us? Although your motive is right, do you guys think the Beyond Grade As are tools at your disposal anytime?
Ever since the new law was made, the association had suffered severe losses. Even though they were on the same boat now, since the World Tree had yet to attack, there was no way the association was going to help the three Universal Civilizations without anything in return.
Considering the association members’ interests was part of his duty too; he was not going to let the three Universal Civilizations ‘morally kidnap’ him.
“What’s your suggestion then?”
The three of them narrowed their eyes and leaned forward slightly.
No matter how much they admired Han Xiao’s contribution, when it came to matters like this, they were not going to agree to everything Han Xiao said.
Maybe, with respect to the fact that they were on the same boat and that Black Star actively shared the information about the World Tree, they could consider compromising. However, if the terms were too over the line, the three of them were still not going to agree with it. Han Xiao nodded and said, “Though we’re working together for the big picture’s sake, I hope you can understand that I’m the association’s president, which means I have to give my members an explanation… The trade sanctions have caused severe losses for the Beyond Grade A members of the association, so firstly, they have to go. Furthermore, their losses have to be made up for. What do you guys think?”.
“Sure.” The three of them nodded. This was already within their expectations.
Han Xiao then continued, “Also, the association requires compensation for the time wasted and the emotional damage caused, in the form of resources. In our future partnership, the three Universal Civilizations will also have to continue providing us with resources. Although we have a common enemy, you guys are the rulers of the explored universe, which means we’re protecting your territories for you. We won’t be working for free.”
The three of them pondered for a moment and agreed as well. “That’s not a problem. The exact numbers can be discussed.”
Han Xiao paused before slowly saying, “Lastly, the three Universal Civilizations have to approve the Beyond Grade A association’s authority. It shall no longer be a civilian organization but an official Super organization. This means that our independence and the sanctity of our territory will be recognized. We’ll be allowed to openly share all Super knowledges, and our political position will be on the same level as the advanced civilizations, having the same rights. All of this will also be written into galactical law… Furthermore, at the edge of the explored universe, the association shall be given a territory, of which it has the full rights of governing.”
Hearing this, the three of them frowned in their minds.
One of the most crucial reasons they could openly suppress the Beyond Grade A Association was that it was still a civilian organization that was not protected by galactical law, including the Peace Treaty. Never had any civilian organization been treated the same way as advanced civilizations, not even the powerful Beyond Grade A organizations. This request meant they had to make the first exception in history.
Plus, this was not just a verbal agreement but had to be added into the laws. By doing this, the Beyond Grade A Association would be attempting to become the true authorized and official Super Organization. Once they approved that, the association’s rocketing reputation would be able to almost monopolize all the Supers. Plus, if the association was protected by the law, tons of methods they could use against them before would no longer be effective. It would be very troublesome.
At the same time, by asking for a territory it had the full rights to govern, it would almost be like forming a civilization on its own. Furthermore, asking for it to be located at the edge of the explored universe was most likely because it would allow the association to retreat away anytime, preventing the possible cleansing that might happen again in the future.
Han Xiao waited for a while. Seeing that the three of them looked like they were contemplating, he tutted and added, “Don’t take it the wrong way. This is a request made with the association’s safety in mind. I believe the three Universal Civilizations are willing to satisfy the association’s wish of keeping itself safe, right?” The three of them exchanged looks and quickly exchanged opinions in their private channel.
After not long, Marbruce tapped the table and said, “If the information regarding the World Tree is true, we’ll agree with this condition. At the same time, if a war against them breaks out, the association will need to contribute all of its forces. We’ll confirm the detailed terms later.”
“Good then. When you guys fulfil your side of the agreement, we’ll have more bases to work together.”
Han Xiao nodded. He was crystal clear in his mind that this was an exchange of interests and gamble of risks.
Even with the knowledge of an exterior enemy existing, life had to go on. The three Universal Civilizations would undoubtedly plan for what to do after the exterior enemy was banished. Then, they would still have to solve the problem of too many Beyond Grade As existing. Agreeing with this term would make their future cleansing plans tougher.
However, due to the pressure of an exterior enemy, the three Universal Civilizations had no choice but to compromise to a certain extent. If they disagreed with this request, their motive would be too obvious. Even if the association still worked with them, they would not be trusted. This request was one they could not reject despite knowing the consequences.
Furthermore, it was completely unexpected for Black Star to know about this, which disrupted their plans. Satisfying Black Star was even more important than keeping the association steady.
The three of them pondered for some time and agreed in the end. Other than this being a compromise, they were also betting on another possibility-rather than doing the cleansing themselves, they were hoping for the exterior enemy to reduce the number of Beyond Grade As. This was a more suitable path.
The Beyond Grade A Association suffering heavy casualties in the war against the exterior enemy was the most ideal result for them, much better than internal conflicts. Not only would it temporarily solve the problem of individual strength being out of balance, but it would also get the most value of these Beyond Grade As’ deaths. This way, the side effects of agreeing with Black Star’s request would be reduced. They would have more than enough time to consider what to do before the individual strength in the universe next went out of balance.
Han Xiao knew what the three Universal Civilizations were thinking too, but causing heavy casualties to the Beyond Grade A Association was also one of his goals.
The core reason for that was that Sanctum Revival could be carried out an infinite number of times. He claimed it was a one-time thing; when he exposed the truth, only then would his goal of making the three Universal Civilizations fearful be achieved.
In order for the Beyond Grade As to die, there were only two ways-internal conflict and external war. It was not he could make them collectively commit suicide.
Comparatively, of course, fighting an exterior war would maximize the profits. No keys would be wasted, no internal losses would be incurred, and the effects of the Sanctum Revival could be shown.
The three Universal Civilizations only had to see the effects of the Sanctum Revival to know just how important and extremely threatening it was to them. He intended on fighting the World Tree Civilization and intimidating the three Universal Civilizations at the same time, killing two birds with one stone.
Also, he planned to add some Sanctum key materials in the compensation list. Given the rich inventory of the three Universal Civilizations, they definitely had them.
This was basically the equivalent of using their raw materials to make ‘weapons’ that would be used against them, which was nice.
Making contact with the World Tree was already a certainty, so Han Xiao changed his plan to maximize the profits. Of course, the three of them did not know that; they probably still mistakenly thought he was ensuring their safety. With varied plans in their minds, the two sides reached a temporary agreement.
“Also, about the World Tree Civilization, don’t announce it yet. The fewer people who know about it, the better, or it would cause chaos,” Marbruce said.
“I know, of course.” Han Xiao nodded. In the World Tree war in his previous life, the ones who fought were only the advanced civilizations, the armed force, and the Supers. The civilians were all protected and had limited use. It was not the time to announce it publicly yet; the public knowing about it would only add trouble.
Han Xiao paused. “By the way, since you guys invited me to be the Special Safety Consultant, I’ll have to monitor this matter too. I’ll need you guys to share your exploration report of the World Tree Civilization.”
“No problem.”
Marbruce agreed very quickly this time. After all, they had even less information than Black Star.
Han Xiao received the research report of the wormhole data from the dynasty’s Science Institute right away and started reading it on the spot.
He agreed to come back to being the Special Safety Consultant because he wanted to monitor the three Universal Civilizations’ exploration progress and acquire firsthand information. Currently, he was the only outsider who had the right to interfere with the three Universal Civilizations’ exploration of the World Tree Civilization.
Quickly looking through it, Han Xiao’s eyes locked onto the first report. On the ‘Confirmed existence of a Universal Civilization’ conclusion, there was a question mark beside. He then looked back at the data and realized that this conclusion was not really accurate.
“Hmm? What’s with the researcher who wrote this conclusion? This data isn’t sufficient to prove it’s a Universal Civilization. Though he guessed it right, it’s too assumptive.” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“Which is why I fired him. It’s too careless.” Marbruce nodded.
Han Xiao had a guess.
Did this guy do it on purpose? He sighed in his mind. Even insignificant people can change the world.
Han Xiao arranged his emotions and jokingly said, “No matter what, that guy made a huge contribution. Don’t wrong him.”
Marbruce glanced at him and did not reply.
Seeing this, Han Xiao smiled, skipped this topic, and got back to business.
“Based on the current progress, I have a few suggestions…”
This meeting lasted many hours. After achieving the ‘remain in close contact’ agreement, only then did Han Xiao deactivate the remote projection.
As Han Xiao’s sight returned to his office, he exhaled deeply, rubbed his cheeks, and mumbled, “Luckily, at least the internal war has been avoided for the time being…”
He knew the three Universal Civilizations were certainly not going to completely let go of their hostility toward the Beyond Grade As. However, at this point, they surely knew their priorities. As long as an agreement was made, they would forget yesterday’s matters and make up. As long as there was a need, the relationship between the two sides did not matter, and an exterior threat was exactly what created that need.
The two sides did not turn from enemies to friends, only temporary partners at most, working together to solve the main and shared problem.
From today onward, we’ll step into a new stage of fighting the exterior enemy together. It’s time to prepare for war against the World Tree Civilization.
This matter had been troubling him for close to a century, and it was finally time to face it
One day later, on Planet Apostle, Han Xiao and Aurora walked into the research lab, stopped before SWY-001, and looked up at this enormous mechanical body.
Aurora turned and looked at Han Xiao. “Are you sure about waking this big guy up?”
“Hmm.” Han Xiao nodded.
“Why the sudden change of mind?” Aurora asked.
“I’ve already finished studying it. There’s nothing valuable left in it. It’s time to wake it up and see if we can communicate.”
Han Xiao made up a random reason.
“Alright then, whatever you say.” Aurora rubbed her hands and said with anticipation, “Shall I start now?”
Han Xiao nodded, snapped his finger, and Mechanical Force flowed out. Mechanical soldiers appeared one after another, holding their weapons up in battle stances. At the same time, all the devices used to restrict SWY-001’s movements also started to operate at maximum power output. Seeing this, Aurora extended her arms with her palms up; life energy appeared and flowed into SWY-001. In her senses, SWY-001’s almost extinguished tinder of life started to quickly come alive.
Even without the life energy Esper ability, Han Xiao could sense an enormous energy presence slowly awakening. In his senses, SWY-001’s cells started generating Mechanical Force, and the countless slumbering mechanical modules inside its body gradually started to operate.
SWY-001’s broken mechanical body started regenerating at a visible speed. The mechanical devices used to restrain him started to break down as if they were going to become materials for SWY-001 to recover its own body.
Ka la ka la…
Mechanical parts awakening could be heard in SWY-001’s body. The core reactor activated along with a deep and weird roar, like the sound of a beast awakening.
Aurora cautiously moved back a bit while Han Xiao moved forward and stood in front of her, staring closely at the various parameter changes SWY-001 was going through during the awakening
Suddenly, an enormous Mechanical Force exploded on the mechanical body and instantly flowed through its entire body. SWY-001’s eyelids flickered, and its eyes slowly opened. There was no color in its eyes, as if it had slept for too long and its mind was blurry, trying to recall who it was.
After staying frozen for a very long time, it finally recalibrated its consciousness and started moving its body. SWY-001 looked around, looked down at Han Xiao who was also giving off a powerful energy presence, opened its mouth, and sent out deafening sound waves as if it was speaking.
“What is he saying?” Aurora asked. Without even turning around, Han Xiao casually explained, “This is the language of his civilization. He’s asking who we are and where this place is.”
He obtained a lot of information from SWY-001’s memory file, which naturally included the various languages of the Karma Republic.
Han Xiao was relieved about this too. Luckily, SWY-001’s consciousness was still intact. Otherwise, he probably would have had no choice but to use the Sanctums.
As he was just about to speak with SWY-001, a change suddenly occurred.
Boom!
Boundless Mechanical Force exploded. The restraining devices instantly shattered and were devoured by SWY-001. Its enormous mechanical body dashed like a giant beast, instantly shattering the wall of the lab and backing away. At the same time, the shattered parts rapidly turned into all kinds of weapon modules that attached to its body and started firing at Han Xiao.
Beams shot out one after another at Han Xiao. Without even moving, the mechanical troops around him summoned shields and blocked the attacks.
“He’s running away.” “It’s normal given he’s just woken up. Plus, he can’t run,” Han Xiao said casually. The last thing SWY-001 remembered was being defeated by the World Tree Civilization, so he probably thought he had been captured by them.
Having expected this possibility, Han Xiao had disassembled SWY-001’s many weapon modules long ago and stationed tons of mechanical life soldiers nearby.
The two of them entered space through the hole SWY-001 created and immediately saw what seemed to be an infinite number of mechanical troops surrounding this SWY-001 in the middle, who was about to attempt to escape. At this time, dozens of Apostle Weapons suddenly stepped forward. Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force landed on their bodies from some distance away, and these Apostle Weapons charged toward SWY-001, quickly gaining the upper hand.
After the fight with the three Universal Civilizations ended, Han Xiao had the Dimension Factory repair damaged soldiers every hour of the day, prioritizing the Apostle Weapons. The Apostle Weapons had almost fully recovered.
With the muscles on his body bulking, blood gushed out, weaving into flesh. The mechanical soldiers around swarmed toward him, and the evolved version of the Mechanical Deity instantly appeared.
He did not hold back and charged forward, pouncing at SWY-001 and beating him up fiercely. It was like two gigantic mechanical beasts fighting.
Han Xiao had the upper hand in all of his attributes, while SWY-001’s modules were disassembled, and it was far from its peak state. It was completely overwhelmed and no match for Han Xiao.
Since he fought the direct members of the three Universal Civilizations, Han Xiao had concluded the missions from then and received 520 billion Experience, eight Character Summon Cards, and six new skills.
Among them, two were normal talents, two were high-level talents, one was a rare ability, and one was a Molding Talent, which came from Wuornos. The Molding Talent’s name was (Divinity Enhancement). The effects increased the strength of some of his abilities and tremendously enhanced the bonuses of the various God’s Trait Transformation levels while enhancing the bonuses of talents related to religion, including (Key of Adeptus Mechanicus).
These missions also brought him three Universe Legendary Points. They were [Strongest Beyond Grade A), (Creator of the Most Legendary Battle), and (The Three Universal Civilizations’ Source of Fear).
Other than that, he also completed Manison’s request mission by forcing the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet to retreat, so he got one of Manison’s skills too. It seemed like all the luck from Feidin was concentrated into this draw. He once again obtained one of old Manison’s Unique Talents. Its name was (Ultimate Mechanical Force-Manison). It enhanced the Mechanical Force itself, tremendously increasing his Machinery Affinity and the strength of his Mechanical Force. It also increased the attributes of his Mechanical Force and his maximum energy.
Though the talent was great, having already obtained three of Manison’s Unique Talents, he felt more and more like the Mechanic Emperor himself.
All these bonuses gave him a total 2,740-Ona increase in his Energy Rank. Bringing his Energy Rank up by such a considerable amount even at his current level, the impact on his combat capability was visible. Compared to back then, he was much stronger. The battle with the three Universal Civilizations became the nutrients for his growth.
Peak-state Han Xiao versus SWY-001, who did not even have a complete body—there was no suspense to the battle at all. The best method of convincing someone was usually with his fists. After a beating, SWY-001 was finally forced to speak calmly.
While beating SWY-001 up, Han Xiao sent messages at the same time to explain the current situation.
“Stop resisting. This is not the World Tree Civilization; we’re another advanced civilization. You dropped into our territory and were found by me…”
After explaining repeatedly, along with the very convincing fists of his, SWY-001 finally stopped resisting and communicated back, though still doubtful.
In the quantum network, the data exchange between the two parties was completed in a blink of the eye. SWY-001 knew that Han Xiao had looked at his memory module, and he also saw some information about the galactic society. He believed Han Xiao for the most part but still said in a panicky tone, “I can’t stay here. My civilization is waiting for me…”
His voice was like a mixture of the voices of countless people, strangely ethereal. His memories remained at when he was attacked and collapsed, so did not see the Karma Republic destroyed.
Han Xiao shook his head and said, “I’ve tested your age. You’ve already drifted in the universe for a very long time. In the terms of our time, what happened to your civilization was 600 years ago. Your civilization is long gone.”
SWY-001 froze as if he was lost.
Protecting his civilization till his death was the top priority written into him, as well as the reason he was born in the first place.
“I need to confirm,” SWY-001 replied.
“If you’re willing to provide the coordinates, we can help you check it… but we need your help too. It’s an equal trade.” “Help?”
“We’re facing the same threat; you’re the only survivor we know, so we need your help… Your civilization is destroyed, but if you want revenge, we can work together,” Han Xiao explained.
SWY-001 thought about it for a while then nodded in the end. He did not have much of a choice anyway, since he could not defeat Han Xiao. “… If that is true, I’ll help you.”
Plus, in his fundamental logic, there was code for revenge too—while keeping himself alive, he should take revenge against the World Tree Civilization if his civilization was destroyed. Furthermore, if his civilization was really wiped out, he would have nowhere to go anyway, so fighting alongside another civilization against the World Tree Civilization matched his goal.
“I’ll arrange to have you meet the rulers of this territory after some time then. I need you to convince them of some things and help them to see the threat of the World Tree Civilization.”
Han Xiao paused for a moment.
“I gave you a name, but you probably wouldn’t like it. What do you want me to call you?”
“… Just call me Herberlon.”
The communication between the two of them happened very quickly. Herberlon no longer resisted, letting the several Apostle Weapons take him away. There were still a lot of things he had to learn about galactic society, but Han Xiao was not going to let him connect to the internet freely; he had sealed it up using his Virtual Technology.
Only then did Han Xiao deactivate the Mechanical Deity and relax.
“That went smoother than expected… Hmm, probably thanks to my strength.”
If he was not able to control Herberlon, Herberlon would have definitely run away seeking the answers on his own. However, with his strength, this problem was solved easily. The method was simple, brutal, but effective. No way would Herberlon be so easily convinced had Han Xiao not defeated him.
Han Xiao opened the interface; (Visitor from Afar] was already shown as complete. The rating depended on how much SWY-001 had recovered, so the rating was very high. Although he disassembled a ton of his mechanical parts, because of Aurora, the rating increased tremendously. The reward of this mission itself was not high; the most useful reward was only a Herberlon Character Summon Card. The key to this mission was the unknown impact waking Herberlon up would cause to the current situation of the explored universe.
While Han Xiao was concluding the reward, Aurora slowly flew over to him with her face filled with curiosity. He did not know what Han Xiao talked to Herberlon about, nor did she know where Herberlon came from.
“What did you just say to him? What’s with this big guy?”
“He comes from a lost civilization, a wanderer who lost his home. As for the details, it’s a secret. I have plans for him.”
“Tsk, fine.”
Knowing Han Xiao did not want her to ask more, Aurora curled her limps and snorted.
Aurora then said, “By the way, what are the Underworld Hero Spirits I revived going to do? They’re still standing by; do you want me to revert them back to their spirit forms?” “No need, keep them this way as a secret army. They’ll be of use one day.” “Is it to guard against the three Universal Civilizations?” Aurora asked subtly. The outside world did not know what was going on between the association and the three Universal Civilizations now.
“It’s part of the reason but not the main one.” Han Xiao shook his head. “I’ve already spoken to the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations. If things go well, the two sides are probably going to call it a truce.” Shocked, Aurora said, “What? What agreement did you guys make that the three Universal Civilizations are even willing to take a step back!”
“It’s a secret for now, so I can’t tell you… but I’ll host a plenary after some time to explain the detailed terms. You’ll know then.”
More than half a month passed quickly. With concentrated attention of the galactic society, the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association seemed to have really stopped fighting and were minding their own business.
As all kinds of speculations were blooming, the three Universal Civilizations who had remained silent for more than half a month finally made a joint announcement, causing an earthquake in the entire galactic society.
The three Universal Civilizations claimed that when the situation was spiraling out of control, they decided to take a step back, with the safety of the galactic society in mind. After thorough consideration, in the end, they decided not to burn the galactic society with the flames of war.
At the same time, they stated they had agreed with the association and came up with reasonable measures to deal with the virus… As for what exactly that was, not a single thing was mentioned.
As for the Beyond Grade A Association, they gave the three Universal Civilizations face and agreed with this claim, stating it was the truth and that there was no conspiracy.
At least on the surface, the reason the three Universal Civilizations made this huge military move was the Virtual Mutiny Virus. As long as this problem was ‘solved’, it made sense for them to retreat, despite the claims being quite ambiguous to say the least. They just called it confidential, and there was nothing the galactic residents could do about
However, what caused an uproar among the galactic residents was the second half of the three Universal Civilizations’ joint announcement—they shockingly removed the trade sanctions against the association all of the sudden!
Everyone was dumbfounded. They were almost at war not long ago, yet they were making peace with each other? What in the world happened?
Had the three Universal Civilizations given up dealing with the imbalance of individual strength? What agreements did the two sides make? Were the three Universal Civilizations so afraid they dared not strike?
Many people subconsciously thought of how Black Star single-handedly defeated all of the three Universal Civilizations’ direct members. Although they knew very well the three Universal Civilizations most likely did not retreat because of how unbelievably strong Black Star was, they could not help themselves from thinking in this direction… Were the three Universal Civilizations really afraid?
Seeing how the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association quickly turned from aiming at each other’s throat to peace, countless members of the public felt complicated and somewhat discouraged. They felt like their feelings did not matter at all.
When eras changed, for better or worse, they could only accept it.
However, although the two sides stopped fighting, since the three Universal Civilizations expressed such a firm and aggressive stand earlier, this result undoubtedly made people feel like the Beyond Grade A Association had won.
This was one of the extremely few examples of a civilian organization forcing the three Universal Civilizations to take a step back. The reputation of the Beyond Grade A Association that had been reducing over the time suddenly rocketed, attracting all the attention in the galactic society.
Although voices of cursing the Supers never disappeared completely, they were lost in the sea of compliments. Many people’s faces were hurting from this hard slap of an ending, no longer daring to voice out against the trending public opinion.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance was really the most dumbfounded party.
That’s it? You guys aren’t breaking up anymore?
How are we going to have a chance with the association if you guys don’t quarrel?
Are we going to be abandoned again?
Being a spare tire… is so bitter!
At the Beyond Grade A Association headquarters, the first plenary since the three Universal Civilizations decided to back off was underway. All the Beyond Grade A members arrived early at the venue, and none were not curious about what agreement Black Star had achieved with the three Universal Civilizations. They were all waiting for the president to give them an explanation.
“Frankly, this is all quite sudden for Black Star to just come to an agreement with the three Universal Civilizations. We heard nothing about it at all,” Kasuyi complained.
“I wonder what kind of agreement the president made with the three Universal Civilizations. Given Black Star’s personality, we shouldn’t be the ones losing more than we have to gain.” Kant’s tone was uncertain.
Of course, no one present believed the three Universal Civilizations’ public announcement. They all knew that Black Star had definitely made a deal with them privately; only, no one knew anything about it.
Psyker turned around. “By the way, Ames, you’re close to Black Star. Did he tell you anything?”
“He didn’t tell me anything.” Ames turned to look at Hila, smiled faintly, and said, “But Hila might know a thing or two.”
“… I have no idea either. I haven’t seen him lately.” Hila shook her head.
The people chatted for a while before Han Xiao’s remote projection finally appeared in the main seat. He looked around and smiled.
“Since everyone is here, let’s jump right in. I’ve summoned you guys mainly to tell you about the agreement I’ve made with the three Universal Civilizations, as well as the next steps for the association.”
Han Xiao looked around, and seeing that everyone was listening attentively, he continued.
“The three Universal Civilizations have agreed to my terms. They’ve decided to remove the trade sanctions against us and will compensate us very generously for it. Also, they’ll admit the official position of the Beyond Grade A Association, granting us the same rights as advanced civilizations. This will be written in galactic law. At the same time, we’ll receive a territory at the edge of the explored universe that we’ll have full rule over. That’s roughly it.”
As he said that, the entire place became completely silent.
The Beyond Grade As members were astounded, looking at Han Xiao with disbelief.
It was not that this agreement was bad but that it was way too good. They did not expect Black Star to be able to negotiate such outstanding terms, not to mention the fact that the three Universal Civilizations actually agreed with it.
A usual truce would be reasonable, but this was not a truce from the three Universal Civilizations at all. It was basically a surrender! No one would compromise this much unless there was a gun pointing at their productive organ! Originally, they thought it would be good if the three Universal Civilizations were even willing to give any compensation. To their surprise, these terms solved more than half of the problems that had been bothering the association all this time.
“How did you do it?” Kasuyi could not help but ask.
Han Xiao subtly glanced at those Beyond Grade As from the Star Clusters and said, “I know you’re all curious as to why the three Universal Civilizations agreed to such terms, but this is quite a complicated matter that doesn’t have a definitive result yet. Plus, these benefits are not given to us for free; they’re part of the deal, and the price is that we’ll have to help the three Universal Civilizations in some situations.”
Hearing this, everyone exchanged looks.
Seeing this, Han Xiao nodded and said, “If you guys have any ideas, feel free to bring them up. The foundation of the existence of our association is respecting the opinions of all members. If you guys aren’t satisfied, we can discuss it.”
Beiger coughed and made his stand, saying, “I think this is quite good. After all, us Revivors have already died once and can’t use the Sanctum Revival again. It’s good we don’t have to take the risks of fighting a war.”
Hearing this, quite a number of Revivors nodded. Completely convinced by Oathkeeper, they thought if they died again, they would have no choice but to live a meaningless life in the Underworld.
Dylan, however, snorted with disdain and said, “Tsk, what a disappointment. I thought a massacre was about to begin so that we could teach the three Universal Civilizations an unforgettable lesson to pay them back for what they did to us back then. Who would’ve thought that after a few hundred years, the three Universal Civilizations became cowards too? Black Star, why did you even bother to negotiate? The three Universal Civilizations are definitely in a difficult situation if they’re willing to compromise, so we should’ve used this opportunity and made their situation even worse. I used to think you’re a cruel and decisive person; I was wrong about you!”
“Hmm?” Han Xiao raised his brows and made a sound.
Dylan snorted and said with still a strong tone, “To think you’re not a despicable person I thought you are but a wise man with vision, generosity, and greatness. No wonder you’re our leader.”
“Hmm.” Han Xiao nodded with satisfaction.
The others looked away with despise and ignored Dylan’s voice.
Kasuyi stepped out and said with a smile, “These terms are all pleasant surprises, so we have no problems with it. But, Black Star, the three Universal Civilizations are only saying all these things for now. They have yet to acknowledge our independence publicly. Are you sure they’ll live up to the agreement? I still think they won’t compromise easily.”
“I’m sure for the most part, but we’ll have to wait for some time.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
He had already gotten Herberlon to speak with the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations, making what he said more convincing. When the three Universal Civilizations came to some results in their exploration, they would carry out the terms.
Furthermore, this matter was the center of attention for now, so the three Universal Civilizations planned to not bring more attention to it for some time. They only planned to announce it after the matter had cooled down to reduce its impact.
“I hope so.” Kasuyi nodded before asking, “What are the next steps for the association then? Do you have any ideas?”
Han Xiao shook his head. “Continue to rest and accumulate our forces. We’ll deal with the future by the time the three Universal Civilizations carry out the terms.”
He recalled another idea he once had. When their political position is recognized and their territory was granted, the association’s reputation among the Supers would reach a new level. Maybe they could then create a nation belonging exclusively to Supers, taking in all free Supers in the universe, making the association the ruling parliament of the nation.
One reason was that in order to develop further, they had to expand the size of the association and recruit more members. Of course, as the ‘seeds’ of Beyond Grade As, the more Supers, the better. Another reason was to maintain independence. Ordinary Supers living under the three Universal Civilizations’ rule would have many worries, but if they had a new place to go, they would have a choice, and there would definitely be people who would be willing to become this nation’s resident.
Furthermore, the conflict between the ordinary people and Supers had been getting worse and worse; both sides hated each other. Maybe giving Supers an opportunity to live away from the other side would be beneficial for both sides. Of course, the three Universal Civilizations would undoubtedly be unhappy with this. Therefore, Han Xiao would not carry out any part of this idea before the threat of the World Tree Civilization erupted.
“All races are welcomed as long as they’re Supers… Hmm, why does this idea sound so familiar?”
Han Xiao scratched his head.
If I remember correctly, this is quite similar to a character in an ongoing comic in my previous life, ‘Big Mom’.
What am I then? Big Dad?
Putting this random thought behind, Han Xiao continued discussing with the others.
The meeting only ended after discussing matters for more than an hour. Everyone left relaxed and excited.
Han Xiao deactivated his remote projection. The moment his sight returned to the office, Phillip popped up. “Master, hum… you have an advanced encrypted message. It’s from the Super Star Cluster Alliance, hum…”
“Yoho, looks like their patience is running out.”
Han Xiao opened the message, and it was an invitation from the Super Star Cluster Alliance to meet him in person.
He was not surprised. The association was originally working with the Super Star Cluster Alliance against the three Universal Civilizations. Now that it had stopped fighting the three Universal Civilizations, the Super Star Cluster Alliance became alone again.
Plus, the Beyond Grade As belonging to the Super Star Cluster Alliance who were in the meeting earlier definitely passed on the information about the agreement, and the Super Star Cluster Alliance would certainly be worried that the association and the three Universal Civilizations might work together again. Hence, they hastily came to test his stand.
Ten minutes later, in the Super Star Cluster Alliance conference room, the various leaders gathered and sat in their seats apprehensively.
Han Xiao’s remote projection appeared in the room and immediately felt all the eyes focusing on him.
The Star Arc Civilization leader said with a deep voice, “Black Star, we agreed to fight the three Universal Civilizations together. What’s all this?”
Han Xiao shrugged and said, “The goal of conflict is peace. The association’s goal has already been achieved, so of course, there’s no longer a need to continue fighting the three Universal Civilizations. This is beneficial for the association.”
“What about our agreement?”
Han Xiao said slowly and calmly, “Our agreement consisted of four terms. Other than the first one being fighting the three Universal Civilizations together, the other three are all related to resources partnerships, which we can continue to do.”
The Star Arc Civilization leader could not help but ask, “What if the three Universal Civilizations have a problem with that? Will you ignore our agreement because of it?”
“Since the three Universal Civilizations have recognized that the association can take care of the virus itself, it’s an indirect way to admit that others have no right to interfere with the internal affairs of the association. Which galactic law did we violate by forming an alliance with you guys? So what if they have a problem with it?” Han Xiao shrugged. “Maybe we can change one of our terms from fighting the three Universal Civilizations together to the association not attacking the Super Star Cluster Civilizations actively other than to retaliate. Besides, the Sanctum Revival allocations I promised you guys are still effective.”
They were quite surprised to hear this. They were already prepared for Black Star to stab them in the back, but for now at least, Black Star seemed to have no intention of doing that.
Han Xiao smiled and said, “Frankly, we don’t trust the three Universal Civilizations, so we need to have a backup plan, which is why we’re willing to maintain a good relationship with the Super Star Cluster Alliance. Also, you guys provided help when the association was troubled by the trade law, so personally, I’m willing to continue working with you guys. I have that much decency.” “I see…” The Star Arc Civilization leader was relieved.
Although this felt as wrong as cheating, Black Star keeping the promise of the Sanctum Revival allocations given to them was good enough.
After the participants made their stands, no matter how wild the conspiracies were, the matter calmed down very quickly. The galactic residents and the organizations gradually went back to their normal lives.
As the trade law was removed, the various channels of the association reopened, gradually regaining business. However, the plan of uniting the black markets was still ongoing and carried out by the players. Big things happened every day, but life for ordinary people still had to go on. The issues between the three Universal Civilizations and the association went on and became just something people talked about over the dinner table, no longer brought up every single day.
However, under the calm surface, a storm was brewing. The three Universal Civilizations were secretly preparing for war while exploring the wormhole data left by EsGod that was named ‘World Tree Path’.
With Han Xiao’s warning, the three Universal Civilizations were very cautious. They had yet to discover any life belonging to the World Tree Civilization.
At the same time, taking Han Xiao’s suggestion, the three Universal Civilizations formed a joint expeditionary army to enter the deep layers of the secondary dimensions in search of the so-called main body of the World Tree.
At one of the dynasty’s outposts in the secondary dimensions, an enormous expedition fleet had gathered, carrying out its last checkup before departing. The dock was filled with the three Universal Civilizations’ soldiers with serious expressions on their faces.
Han Xiao stood on the dock and watched this.
Harrison stood beside him carrying a backpack. Not knowing what to do, he said softly, “Your Excellency Black Star, what is the fleet searching for? Why do I have to participate in it?”
Han Xiao patted his shoulder. “Searching for something that will affect the fate of the explored universe.”
“Must I go?” Harrison was on the verge of tears.
He was still young, yet to be that experienced senior explorer from Han Xiao’s previous life. Plus, the World Tree war had not broken out yet, so people were not all on their highest alert, nor could he prioritize other things above his life.
Traversing into the deep layers of the secondary dimension was no easy mission. They had to pass through countless strange secondary dimensions, so god only knew what situations they would run into. Any mistakes could cause severe damages. Plus, communication was not convenient, meaning they would be like a fleet that advanced deep into enemy territory without having stable communication with the rest.
“What are you so afraid of? Didn’t I give you a lot of equipment? They’re more than enough to protect you in times of danger. You even have a Lord’s Avatar and a Throne with you. I can teleport over anytime.”
Han Xiao slapped his forehead.
“I’m scared I’ll die before I can call you.” Harrison looked discouraged. “Plus, there are so many people participating. With or without me won’t make much of a difference, will it?”
Han Xiao sighed but could not reply. In his previous life, Harrison discovered the main body of the World Tree, but this time, who knew if the Goddess of Luck would help him again?
Furthermore, the World Tree’s main body was not without protection. Countless armies were stationed in the secondary dimensions around it; it was extremely dangerous. Once the fleet discovered them, it would be when they were discovered by the World Tree too.
However, without finding the World Tree’s main body, the chances of winning were extremely thin. Sending an expedition army in advance was already being one step ahead. Han Xiao was currently the only outsider working together with the three Universal Civilizations to find the World Tree. Other than Harrison, he had picked some trustworthy people to join the first batch of the secondary dimension expedition army, most of which were mechanical lives, along with some members of the Black Spirit Race.
As he comforted Harrison, the expedition fleet was finally ready.
Looking back several times every step he took, Harrison still entered the spaceship in the end.
Accompanied by the roaring engines made for travelling in the secondary dimensions, the joint expedition fleet slowly took off, turned into flashes of light, and disappeared in everyone’s sights, heading toward the unknown future.
After sending off the expedition team, Han Xiao stood at the dock for a while. At this time, Guzar, who was wearing a dynasty military uniform, walked over from behind and stood side by side.
The bearded Guzar took out a red cigarette from his shirt pocket, wiped his fingers, lit the cigarette, and took a deep breath. Then, he spat out a cloud of smoke and twisted his mouth a little before speaking. “This is only the first batch. There will be a second and a third expedition team in the future. The deeper dimensions are unpredictable. I hope that the World Tree’s main body that you mentioned really exists. Don’t let them sacrifice for nothing.”
“Don’t be too pessimistic. Maybe they will come back safe,” Han Xiao replied casually.
Guzar did not comment. He took out another cigarette from his pocket and passed it to Han Xiao. “This is a product specially provided by the dynasty’s upper echelons. You can’t buy it on the market. Try it?”
“I stopped smoking.” Han Xiao waved his hands.
“Is that so?” Guzar put away his cigarette and shook his head. “Speaking of which, I’ve never heard of you having any hobbies. Don’t you Mechanics have any entertainment needs?”
“How can smoking and drinking be more fun than machines?” Han Xiao glanced at him. “Just say what you want to say.”
“Can’t I talk to you?” Guzar shrugged.
Although Black Star had beaten them up not long ago, the two parties had now come to an agreement. The battle before was purely official business, and there was no enmity between them.
Most Beyond Grade As admired the strong, and the direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations were no exception. They all respected Black Star’s achievements and abilities.
“Next time. I’m quite busy.” Han Xiao patted Guzar’s shoulder.
Guzar sighed and said, “Alright, I’m here to tell you that His Excellency the Ruler is waiting for you online. He wants to talk to you about something.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Han Xiao turned around and walked into the dynasty’s outpost base. He went to the private communication room and picked up Marbruce’s call.
“Ruler Marbruce, what’s the matter?”
“Our exploration has made some progress. The probe has collected the exact coordinates. The Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device can already reach the territory of the World Tree Civilization, but we have no intention of sending troops for the time being.” The Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device of the Federation of Light had extremely high strategic value, so it was extremely useful.
It was a pity that the three Universal Civilizations only allowed him to interfere in limited areas. Most of the time, they only treated him as a consultant and did not allow him to use the World Tree passageway to send anything.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“We plan to bury some detection equipment and strategic killing weapons in uninhabited areas. For this, we need more intelligence, such as the star map on the other side and the division of factions… The efficiency of our detection is low, and as the detection range expands, the risk of encountering the creatures of the World Tree Civilization will also increase.”
“So?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“We plan to try to connect to the other party’s network after we’re done with our preparation and see if we can steal some of their information,” Marbruce said. “We’re here to ask for your opinion.” Han Xiao thought for a while and said, “If it’s only superficial information, as long as we enter from an unimportant terminal node and erase the data before letting the Beyond Grade As analyze the other party’s basic code words, the risk is controllable.”
This was not hacking into the other party’s network but browsing through the information on the internet. Therefore, the difficulty was not high. The World Tree Civilization also had a communication system in the form of a quantum network, which was basically standard for advanced civilizations. However, the foundation of the communication method was not a quantum network but a mental network that the World Tree had. It was just that the latter was too transparent and simple, not as diverse as the quantum network.
“Then let the Beyond Grade A Mechanics take the lead and use the computational ability of the main artificial intelligence to gather the surface information of the other party’s network. When the time comes, the intelligence will be shared with you.”
After chatting for a while, Marbruce hung up the call. His purpose of calling was mainly to inform him of the exploration plan.
Han Xiao put down the communicator and curled his lips.
“Other than the secondary dimension expeditionary army, they did not allow me to interfere with other exploration tasks. It seems like they are still wary…”
The current situation was far from the stage of unity in his previous life. Although it was not to the extent of scheming against each other, they could not completely trust each other like they did in his previous life and cooperate without any worries.
After leaving the dynasty’s outpost and returning to the army base, Han Xiao summoned Phillip and issued a special summoning order to the hundreds of Beyond Grade A seeds in the army.
As the three Universal Civilizations strictly controlled the World Tree passageway, he did not have much preparation to do at the moment. Other than improving the Void God’s Trait Transformation and allowing his assembly line to churn out soldiers all day long, he could only wait for the players to work hard and slowly provide Experience.
Therefore, he planned to use the advantage of the interface to give the hundreds of Beyond Grade A seeds that had transferred to the army a year ago a long period of special training. He hoped that a new Beyond Grade A would be born from these people and strengthen the association’s top-tier strength.
After sending the message, Han Xiao left the room and walked around the base for a while. Suddenly, he came across Jenny.
Han Xiao stopped in his tracks and said, “Ames has already returned to Floating Dragon. Why are you still here?”
Jenny crossed her arms and snorted. “It wasn’t easy for me to get a holiday because of my refuge. I don’t want to go back so soon to work overtime. Let Ames take care of it herself. I’ll have some free time.”
“So, you’ve rested well. No wonder your hairline recovered a little. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“If you don’t know how to talk, you can keep quiet. No one will think you’re mute.” Jenny rolled her eyes. “Then have a good rest here. However, if Ames comes to ask for you, don’t expect me to help you.” Han Xiao shook his head and smiled before taking his leave.
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard Jenny speak again. This time, her tone was a little hesitant.
“Um… I haven’t seen Harrison in a while. He hasn’t replied to my messages either. Where did he go?”
Han Xiao turned around and looked at her with surprise. “The two of you really hooked up? I thought you rejected him, but it seems like you’re the same as Ames; your body is more honest than your mind.”
“Bullsh*t!” Jenny was furious. “I have nothing to do with that annoying fellow! I’m just curious!”
Han Xiao did not believe her at all, only casually saying, “He went on a secret mission. You probably won’t see him for a long time.” “Secret mission?” Jenny hesitated. “Is it dangerous?” “Of course,” Han Xiao replied straightforwardly.
Jenny choked and hesitated for two seconds before whispering, “Then please tell him…”
“Tell him what?” Han Xiao immediately became alert.
Damn sister, be careful. Don’t set up a flag so easily. It will lower Harrison’s survival rate.
Jenny gritted her teeth, turned her head, and stubbornly said, “Just ask him, when will he return the money he owes me?”
“Tsk, your words don’t even match what you’re thinking.” Han Xiao exposed Jenny mercilessly.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to help me!” Jenny was furious.
“I’ll ask… but I might not be able to contact him at the moment. Let’s talk when there’s a chance.” Han Xiao waved and left.
When he turned the corner, he looked back and saw Jenny still standing there with a lost expression.
“Tsk, and you dare say that nothing’s happened.”
Han Xiao smacked his lips and was about to leave when Phillip suddenly jumped out with a face full of surprised joy.
“Master, hum… Another army officer has become a Beyond Grade A!”
“Hmm? Let me see!”
Han Xiao was overjoyed and immediately switched to the surveillance interface.
In the image, a figure with Pugilist flames burning all over his body was sitting in the middle of the galaxy like a small star. It was Lothaire, who had been in seclusion for decades.
“After holding it in for so long, this guy finally gave birth… Bah, he advanced.”
Han Xiao was relieved.
Initially, he thought that Lothaire would need a few more years to complete his transformation, but he did not expect him to break through this barrier so quickly.
Could it be that he got inspired by seeing me defeat the three Universal Civilizations?
After swapping into the King, Han Xiao teleported to Lothaire’s personal training hall. The moment he looked up, he saw Lothaire completing his final evolution.
Han Xiao summoned his mechanical army and set up an energy shield around him. After waiting for a period of time, the Pugilist flames on Lothaire’s body slowly retracted. They seemed to take on a consistency like a solid crystal, and just by looking at it, one could feel an oppressive sharpness.
The nature of Pugilists’ energy was ever-changing and varied. Lothaire’s core energy attributes were ‘Sharp’ and ‘Armor Penetration’.
Lothaire opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings, immediately seeing Han Xiao. He quickly flew down and landed in front of Han Xiao.
“Your Excellency Black Star, I didn’t disappoint you.”
Lothaire’s attitude was still respectful, and he did not lose himself due to the sudden increase in strength.
Han Xiao squeezed his shoulder and said with a smile, “You’re a Beyond Grade A now, so you can address me as an equal. What do you think? Do you want to start your own organization?”
“I’m still willing to be your blade in the shadows. If not for your nurturing, I wouldn’t have my current achievements.” Lothaire shook his head and continued to address him respectfully.
Usually, Beyond Grade As would not continue to be under others, but Lothaire intended to repay the favor. Furthermore, the Black Star Army was an anomaly, and there were already two Beyond Grade As working as subordinates. With their seniors as an example, those who came later would be more accepting.
“Don’t underestimate yourself. I helped you because you have potential.” As Han Xiao spoke, he punched Lothaire’s chest, creating a dull thud.
Lothaire took a step back and rubbed his aching chest.
Seeing this, Han Xiao shook his head. “You have to continue training your body. You’re still too weak right now. In the eyes of ordinary people, Beyond Grade As are already at the peak, but in the eyes of us veterans, this is just the beginning. You’ve just stepped into this threshold, so there’s still a lot to train. I can fight dozens of new Beyond Grade As like you.”
“I saw the live broadcast of your confrontation with the three Universal Civilizations, and I have no doubt about that.”
Lothaire nodded. He was also convinced by Han Xiao’s performance back then and was filled with respect.
“Since you’ve become a Beyond Grade A, let me give you a gift. I’ll get you a Universal Treasure weapon in a while. What type do you want? If you don’t want mechanical equipment, I can ask a Mage to help you build equipment with Enchantments,” Han Xiao said.
Lothaire thought about it. “A pair of daggers will do.”
“Alright, send me the specific requirements after you’ve thought it through. I’ll customize it for you.”
Han Xiao smiled and suddenly changed the topic.
“By the way, I have a mission for you.” “Where? Who’s the target? When’s the deadline?”
Lothaire immediately became serious, displaying the professionalism and discipline he had instilled in himself. “Sigh, don’t keep thinking about fighting and killing. It won’t be good.” Han Xiao coughed and said, “There’s a genius Pugilist with extraordinary potential who is undergoing special training here. He already has a Beyond Grade A as his teacher. I hope you can train him for some time too and teach him some experience.”
Karlot’s bottleneck was still in the early stages, and only by accumulating more insight would he be able to level up quickly. However, the insight provided by each expert was different. Silver Shadow was almost completely squeezed dry of his insights, but Lothaire, who had just been born, would be a new crop field to harvest.
“Alright, I will do my best to teach him.” Lothaire nodded. He was also curious.
The potential of a genius Pugilist who could make the Army Commander find a Beyond Grade A to be his teacher, just how shocking would it be?
In a turquoise space, the intertwined roots of the turquoise trees acted as the ground, and they were translucent. One could see the energy that was like light bubbles flowing within the roots, giving off a sense of green vitality.
In the middle of the space, a large number of roots rose up and formed a huge throne. A tall figure sat on it with his eyes closed as though he was sleeping. Vine-like roots crawled all over his body, and the blue and green fluorescence flowed along his body like lively little elves.
Suddenly, this figure trembled slightly and slowly opened his eyes. He raised his hand and gently patted the armrest of his seat.
The next moment, the roots on the ground moved on their own, intertwining and transforming into a flower bud. Then, the flower bud opened, and a tall figure appeared out of thin air, clad in a gorgeous robe.
As soon as he appeared, the tall figure bowed to the figure on the throne and softly asked, “What can I do for you?”
Hearing this, the figure on the throne leaned forward slightly and slowly said, “An abnormal reaction has occurred in the information state warning network. There might be an unknown Information Form that has interacted with us. Someone might be spying on us. Go and investigate.”
“Understood, Your Excellency Tree King.”
In a certain part of the World Tree Civilization, an artificial teleportation wormhole suddenly appeared and expanded. A few unmanned engineering ships flew out and quickly set up camouflaging and communication relay stations.
After the temporary base station was completed, the three direct Beyond Grade A Mechanics of the three Universal Civilizations used it as a springboard to send the data over.
In the data field, the quantum souls of ‘Defender’ Romo, ‘Quantum Demon Spirit’ Judith, and the other appeared. In their sights were the quantum network nodes that formed something akin to a resplendent sea of stars.
“Pay attention to the data disguise. If anything abnormal happens, cut the link immediately.”
Judith gave a few stern instructions.
After the initial preparations, the three Universal Civilizations were officially carrying out their espionage plan. They sent out three direct Mechanics to make use of the various civilizations’ main artificial intelligence computing power to browse the World Tree Civilization’s network.
The World Tree passageway was only used as a springboard. Currently, the coordinates of the wormholes leading to the World Tree Civilization that the three Universal Civilizations had obtained were not limited to the data that EsGod had left behind. For safety reasons, they would rarely use the same wormhole coordinates twice.
This was the first time these coordinates were being used. They had also planned to temporarily seal it after stealing the intel.
The three of them did not waste any time, immediately using the basic translation language that they had deciphered not long ago, working together with their teammates to infiltrate a quantum network node. They began to collect data on a large scale and search for public information on the internet.
Every second, a huge amount of data would be sent to the advanced encrypted information processing warehouse created by the three Universal Civilizations.
The three Universal Civilizations monitored the situation from afar, and their efficiency was extremely high. The operation was completed very smoothly. The engineering ship immediately dismantled and retrieved all the equipment, leaving behind a few strange-shaped bombs before returning to the explored universe through the wormhole.
The moment the engineering ships returned, the three Universal Civilizations closed the World Tree passageway on the other side of the wormhole. The artificial wormhole rapidly shrank and disappeared.
Immediately after, the bomb that was left in this area exploded at the right time. Chaotic energy waves spread out, covering the area and erasing all traces.
The area regained its calmness as though nothing had happened.
After an unknown period of time, a spatial rift suddenly appeared, and a translucent turquoise root emerged from within.
Ripples appeared on the surface of the roots, and a fleet flew out. At first, it was a little ethereal, like a phantom, but when it completely left the roots, the appearance of the fleet turned solid.
In the command room of the main ship, the captain stood beside a tall figure and respectfully said, “This is the abnormal reaction area shown on the information state alert. Holy Tree Emissary, should we start the inspection?”
This tall figure’s name was Barbani, and he had a ferocious appearance. He looked like some kind of arthropod, clad in a suit armor, and his body exuded a weak blue-green energy. He was not of the same species as the surrounding crew. Within the World Tree Civilization, the Holy Tree Emissaries were a special group with a high status and were the executors of the highest will. Only individuals who had a deep connection with the World Tree could take on this role. They could use some of the World Tree’s abilities, such as warping, transformation, and so on.
“Activate the Information Form camera and see what’s going on here.” Barbani’s voice was short and sharp.
This device could trace back what had happened in an area at the Information Form level. The more power injected into it, the longer it could trace back, and the clearer the details.
The order was given, and the fleet started operating very quickly. They could only see light green light beams scanning the surroundings, but there was no reaction from the areas they passed.
“There are no traces of any information form, so we can’t know what happened here… We can basically confirm that an outsider has infiltrated this area.”
The captain looked at the scan results and quickly came to a conclusion.
“Even the traces of any past Information Forms have disappeared. This means that the outsiders have a certain level of Information Form technology. Their level of civilization should not be low.”
“Looks like we have new prey.” Barbani was excited.
The captain looked at the time and analyzed, “Based on the time difference between us arriving at the scene, the target of the outsiders’ infiltration might be entering our quantum network to steal intelligence.”
“This is a good thing.” Barbani did not care at all.
He was not worried that the information on the internet would be leaked. There were no key secrets hidden there. At the same time, this served as bait.
The Information Form warning network covered the entire World Tree Civilization’s information collection, and it could detect if an outsider was spying on them. As long as they were entangled with the foreign information gathering, they would send out a warning. However, it was only limited to the alarm, and there was no way to steal the other party’s information. Therefore, they could only discover that there were outsiders spying on them, and they did not know the exact situation of the other party.
However, this was not a problem. The World Tree itself had the nature of a high-dimensional information entity. The more outsiders knew of its existence, or the deeper the pilfering of data, the more obvious the connection would be.
As long as the interaction reached a certain standard, the World Tree would obtain a signal and sense the location of the other party’s information gathering. Then, it would send the long-distance team to search in the direction of the other party.
This was similar to the soul connection of a Universal Treasure. It could be remotely located, but this relationship was reversed.
Most Universal Treasures would find it difficult to establish a soul connection, and they were extremely cold and aloof. Even if they acknowledged their master, they would only give in halfway. The Evolution Cube and the Spacetime Amber were both like this, but the World Tree was a Universal Treasure that accepted almost everyone.
However, outsiders would only be able to ‘rub against the outside’ and would not be able to obtain any substantial benefits from it. Instead, they would expose themselves.
This was similar to how if you said my name, I would be able to obtain information about you. It was similar to the characteristics of certain life forms in the universe, as though they had divinity.
Therefore, the intelligence of the quantum network was a kind of bait. It was to catch the ‘fish’ in the universe that had the ability to discover them and find prey.
However, the intelligence on the internet was not fake data. It was indeed true information left behind by the daily activities of countless citizens. However, all the secrets regarding the World Tree itself were strictly restricted and could not be uploaded.
“Alright, your mission is complete.” Barbani let out a sharp laugh. “I’ll suggest that the Tree King activate all the Information Form Foreseers and see if they can predict any information on these outsiders. Let’s go.” As his voice fell, the turquoise energy on his body suddenly surged. The gigantic root that was quietly lying on the side seemed to have received a signal. It suddenly curled up and swallowed the fleet before quickly retreating into the spatial rift.
The next moment, the spatial rift quickly closed, as though it never existed.
A few days later, on a secret training planet in the Black Star Army’s territory, Han Xiao floated in outer space and looked down at the two meteors chasing each other on the ground. They collided time and time again, leaving huge potholes in the ground. One of them was Lothaire, and the other was Karlot.
Lothaire controlled his strength and continuously trained Karlot in actual combat. While imparting his comprehension of martial arts, he was also practicing precise control of his strength. Karlot was like a sponge, rapidly absorbing the essence of the training to enrich himself.
“Now that I’ve found the right training method, this guy’s improvement is tremendous.”
Han Xiao nodded with satisfaction.
Karlot was not the only one. In the past few days, he had also been training the other Beyond Grade A seeds. He was teaching them according to their talents and providing them with a customized cultivation plan. The effect was not bad. He felt that if this continued for a long time, there should be many seeds that could ‘sprout’.
Beep beep…
At this time, his communicator rang.
Han Xiao took a look and saw that it was a message from the three Universal Civilizations. It contained the intelligence from the World Tree Civilization’s network.
He raised his brows, and his spirits immediately perked up.
As the players’ intelligence channels were limited, it was difficult for them to be involved in high-level secrets. His understanding of the World Tree Civilization came from the war in his previous life, and it was basically common knowledge.
He knew very little about the situation of the World Tree Civilization at this time, and this information could help him to understand more.
“…Before the war, the daily life of the World Tree Civilization was similar to that of the galactic society. Speaking of which, in my previous life, the three Universal Civilizations only dealt with the invasion and never attacked the territory of the World Tree Civilization. This is the first time I’ve seen the detailed star map of their territory.”
Han Xiao looked through it carefully and realized that it was all ordinary information. None of it was more important than the World Tree itself.
He found the three Universal Civilizations’ names at the end of the message, saying that they would fulfill the agreement and acknowledge the association’s position.
Although they did not verify the accuracy of the secret that I provided, the other ordinary intelligence reports have all been matched. The three Universal Civilizations should no longer be suspicious…
Just as he was reading the message, his communicator rang again. Han Xiao looked at it, and it was from Oathkeeper. The content made his heart tighten.
“An abnormal reaction from Destiny’s Child?”
Han Xiao’s eyes twitched.
If he did not remember wrongly, the last abnormal reaction of Destiny’s Child was when the Intelligent Plague erupted in advance. Furthermore, it had created a new batch of sub-bodies, one of which was in his hands.
This was something that Oathkeeper had told him personally after he had formed a good relationship with him.
At this juncture, for Destiny’s Child to cause problems again, he vaguely felt that something bad was going to happen.
At the Holy Accord Organization’s secret base, Han Xiao, who was wearing the King mechanical suit, teleported to the exclusive Throne Teleportation Platform. Law and Fay were already waiting there.
“Your Excellency Black Star,” the two greeted.
“Where’s Oathkeeper?” Han Xiao looked around.
“He’s waiting for you in the Destiny’s Child lab. This is very sudden. Please follow us.”
The two of them did not have much and led the way. Han Xiao followed them to their destination.
Walking into the laboratory, the room was filled with busy operators. Han Xiao immediately saw Destiny’s Child locked in the transparent container and Oathkeeper standing beside it.
At this time, Destiny’s Child had already woken up from his deep sleep. His body was curled up, trembling nonstop, and white spots kept flashing like a projection when the signal was not good. He turned blurry every now and then, and Oathkeeper had to constantly release his Soul Flame as if to comfort him.
The researchers in the room were sweating profusely as they operated the apparatus, activating the binding force field at full power and stabilizing his anchor in reality.
Han Xiao came to the device and looked at the various parameters. “What’s the situation now?”
Oathkeeper frowned. “Destiny’s Child has woken up and is now in a state of Information Form disturbance. The amplitude is the highest so far, almost breaking through the containment and turning into a High Dimensional Information Form. It’s not over it yet.”
“Have you found the reason?”
“Not sure yet. We can only communicate after he stabilizes.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao clicked his fingers and summoned a set of stabilizing anchors. He set them up around him to provide assistance, and at the same time, he carefully sized up Destiny’s Child. This was the first time he had seen his true body.
Every time Destiny’s Child activated his ability, there would be an information state disturbance, which would cause the prophetic ability seeds to be planted randomly across the universe. Lodi, who had been receiving treatment, was one of the children who had awakened after the last disturbance. There had already been a breakthrough in stopping the transformation process.
At this time, Destiny’s Child suddenly stopped shaking and turned to look at Han Xiao as though he was observing in curiosity. Suddenly, he raised his hands and pressed them on the inner wall of the container, releasing a happy mental wave. Everyone heard a child-like laughter materialize out of thin air.
Destiny’s Child stared at Han Xiao like that. Not long after, his flickering body gradually stabilized and returned to normal.
Seeing this, Oathkeeper stopped what he was doing and looked surprised.
“How did you settle this the moment you arrived? He seems to like you very much.”
“This is the first time we’ve met. You’re too unreserved… Speaking of which, why do you sound like you’ve been robbed of your love?”
“…What nonsense are you talking about?”
Han Xiao teased Oathkeeper, but he himself was secretly surprised as well.
Destiny’s Child seemed to be strangely close to him. Could it be that his (Primal Esper Ability Affinity) and (Perfect Energy Affinity Physique) had a part to play in this?
There was such a possibility. After all, the Primal Chaos Mysterious Energy has thought that I was attractive on more than one occasion, and it even wanted to mess around with me…
Perhaps to a Primal Esper Ability Entity, these two talents are like catnip to a feline. No wonder Destiny’s Child was attracted to me the moment he saw me. Who told me to make myself so attractive toward energy life forms?
Han Xiao thought to himself for a while before knocking on the container. Destiny’s Child immediately imitated it, and the two of them interacted happily.
This scene made Oathkeeper a little frustrated.
In the past, Destiny’s Child liked him the most, and he would personally do all the comforting work. He did not expect Black Star to only come once, and Destiny’s Child, whom he had nurtured their relationship for so many years, immediately ignored him.
The most infuriating thing was that even before Black Star appeared, Destiny’s Child would never take the initiative to get close to him…
It’s clearly me that’s supposed to be the one… Forget it, let’s not talk about this.
After watching for a while, Oathkeeper said, “Alright, whatever the reason, it’s enough to stabilize it. I’ll ask him what’s going on.”
As he spoke, he pushed Han Xiao away and gathered his Soul Flame to communicate with Destiny’s Child.
A few seconds later, Han Xiao heard Destiny’s Child’s intermittent words.
“I feel… the feedback of the sub-bodies… a convergence of information… threat…”
As Destiny’s Child spoke, Han Xiao’s mind was filled with chaotic and blurry images. Han Xiao’s eyes narrowed. In these complicated images, he suddenly saw information about the World Tree, such as the image of the World Tree roots spreading across the galaxy, or a group of robed people wreathed in turquoise energy meditating on the ground.
Oathkeeper did not know about the existence of the World Tree, so he could not understand it.
“What is this?”
“Wait, let me ask you a few questions…” Han Xiao did not have the time to explain to him. He asked a few random questions and received a reply very quickly.
After listening to Destiny’s Child’s reply, Han Xiao quickly pieced the information together and analyzed it.
The sudden abnormal reaction of Destiny’s Child originated from the World Tree. Both parties were entangled in the information state, and it sensed that the World Tree was using some method to locate their explored universe.
The reason he had a reaction was because of its affinity with the sub-bodies. The sub-bodies he once produced were randomly distributed across the entire universe. Not only did it affect the explored universe, but there were also Destiny’s Children on the World Tree’s side, which triggered its foresight ability.
To Destiny’s Child, these sub-bodies were like his eyes, ears, and antennae, collecting information about the outside world.
Not long ago, the child of the World Tree activated its foresight ability. Because the medium was connected to the information gathering from the explored universe, the two parties had crossed paths. Because the explored universe was also where the main body was, it immediately triggered the warning mechanism. Therefore, Destiny’s Child activated his ability to foresee the future and shared the memories and vision of his sub-bodies with the rest.
During this process, Destiny’s Child felt the threat from the World Tree, akin to that of a natural enemy. He even foresaw the possibility of him being swallowed by the World Tree, thus leading to him almost wanting to turn into a high-dimensional information form and flee, which explained his previous actions.
In that case, the World Tree is using a prediction method to sense the explored universe, and the three Universal Civilizations are already exposed?
Han Xiao’s heart tightened.
Indeed, as long as they had any sort of contact, the situation was already irreversible. They would be able to quickly sense each other sooner or later. The World Tree Civilization was stronger than the three Universal Civilizations, and even the three Universal Civilizations in his previous life did not know all the abilities and technology of the World Tree. It was too ideal to completely hide their tracks.
In his previous life, the three Universal Civilizations had been beaten to a bloody pulp. Even if they had won in the end, they had not completely understood the World Tree. Some of the auxiliary skills such as the Information Form warning alarms had not been used in the war, so the three Universal Civilizations were unclear of the full scope of their abilities.
Because the World Tree had taken the initiative to invade, their Information Form warning network that was used to prevent outsiders from spying was basically useless. Even the three Universal Civilizations did not know about it, let alone the players in his previous life.
The only good news now is that the World Tree Civilization only detected the existence of outsiders, and it does not have much information. Therefore, they are using the Information Form to search for us, which resulted in their interaction being discovered by Destiny’s Child…
Han Xiao’s brain worked quickly.
Luckily, Destiny’s Child had scattered his body all over Galaxy itself, or else he would not even know that he had been discovered. At that time, even he would have been caught off guard by the other party’s sudden attack.
Destiny’s Child referred to the World Tree as his ‘natural enemy’. One was a Primal Esper Ability Entity, while the other was a Space Wonder. Both of them had information-type abilities, but their focus was different.
According to the explanation of Destiny’s Child, it could share information about the contact of the child. Because the child was connected to the World Tree, it could observe the overall movements of the World Tree Civilization to a certain extent, but there was also the risk of being exposed.
Only when the sub-body actively used its foresight ability and was entangled with the information form would the main body be able to use it as a disguise to obtain information from the sub-body. Otherwise, it would be easily discovered by the World Tree.
Even so, Destiny’s Child was probably the only low-risk channel to monitor the movements of the World Tree. It was more convenient, more secretive, and more efficient than the detection methods used by the three Universal Civilizations.
Such an intelligence channel was a pleasant surprise, and there was no reason to ignore it.
Han Xiao thought about it and said in a deep voice, “You don’t want to be devoured by the World Tree. Helping us is the best choice. Only by eliminating the other party can we eliminate the threat once and for all. Otherwise, even if you escape far away, there will still be risks.”
Hearing this, Destiny’s Child shook his body, his voice ethereal.
“How… can I help you?”
“Just try to hide yourself, monitor the other party’s movements, and tell me everything.”
“I… can do this.”
Destiny’s Child did not reject him. He suddenly clapped his hands together, and a small white ball of light separated from his body and floated in the container, drifting toward Han Xiao and sticking to the inner wall of the container.
Han Xiao understood and raised his brows.
“Is this for me?”
“Use it… to create a sub-body… and extend my senses…”
In his mind, Destiny’s Child explained the use of this light cluster.
When it activated its ability, it could give birth to a sub-body in the entire universe, or it could give birth to a sub-body in a designated area. However, the latter had a prerequisite. It had to use its own energy to circle an area in advance and turn this area into an independent ‘information assembly location’. Only then could it be designated as the birthplace of the sub-body.
To put it simply, this was akin to a hose running around its area… or rather, it was like a dog peeing on its territory.
Just as Han Xiao finished listening to Destiny’s Child’s explanation, a notification appeared on his interface.
You have triggered the mission (Destiny’s Child’s Plea)!
Mission Introduction: Destiny’s Child has a good impression of you. Because it feels threatened, it has decided to seek your help.
Mission Requirements: Head to the designated location and use the energy of Destiny’s Child to circle a sufficiently large area.
Reward: 120,000,000 Experience, +25 Destiny’s Child Favorability, 1 Random Reward, milestone talent (Deep Within Enemy Territory). [Deep Within Enemy Territory]: When you are operating within your enemy’s sphere of influence, you are not easily discovered. At the same time, you will obtain a 3% buff to all Attributes.
“You want me to go to the World Tree Civilization?”
Han Xiao was stunned.
By limiting the birth area of Destiny’s Child to the territory of the World Tree Civilization, the number of children would increase, which meant that more information would be intercepted.
Although the ability to encircle land had a time limit, its duration was measured by years. This could be used for a long period of time.
“It seems like I’m the most suitable person for such a hit-and-run mission. It seems like I’ll have to apply to the three Universal Civilizations to head to the World Tree Civilization…”
Han Xiao nodded.
He got Oathkeeper to temporarily open the container and took out the ball of light.
As soon as it came into contact with him, the ball of light entered his palm and turned into a mark that stored the energy Destiny’s Child had lent him.
“What’s going on? What are you guys talking about?”
Oathkeeper’s face was filled with confusion.
Han Xiao thought about it, pulled Oathkeeper aside, and briefly explained the situation.
“You’re saying that the three Universal Civilizations discovered an even stronger Unknown Civilization?” Oathkeeper was surprised, but he soon understood what was going on. “No wonder the three Universal Civilizations made so many concessions.”
“It’s good that you know about this. It’s not suitable for you to tell anyone for now. Remember to keep it a secret,” Han Xiao instructed.
With the help of Destiny’s Child, he naturally could not avoid Oathkeeper, so he told him the truth and made him understand the importance of the matter. Only then would he cooperate.
In addition, Oathkeeper’s character had been tested, and he was quite trustworthy. There was no harm in letting him know.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about this.”
Oathkeeper’s expression was solemn. He suddenly paused and softly asked, “You mentioned in the meeting that the three Universal Civilizations acknowledged the association’s position, and we will have to help at some point. Is this what you mean?” Han Xiao nodded. “That’s right. If a war breaks out, the members of the association will have to participate in the war with all their might to fight against the foreign enemies. This is the deal, and we don’t have any choice. Therefore, I need you to prepare more Sanctum keys.” “…I understand your plan. I will cooperate with you.” Oathkeeper exhaled.
If the Beyond Grade As went all out to fight, they would probably suffer heavy casualties. Black Star probably wanted to use this opportunity to show everyone the truth of unlimited Sanctum Revivals. As someone who knew the truth, he felt that this was a very feasible plan.
While he was thinking, Han Xiao suddenly patted his shoulder.
“Then work hard. The organization will not treat you badly after this is done.”
Oathkeeper frowned.
Tsk, I was so busy digesting the information that I forgot to steal the lines!
Chapter 1317 Dispute
The two of them chatted for a while before reaching a consensus. Han Xiao left a Throne and a Lord’s Avatar in the Destiny’s Child laboratory and interacted with Destiny’s Child for a while before leaving the room. He turned around and went to visit the Revivors who were living in seclusion in the Holy Accord, gathering them for a meeting. The current President of the Beyond Grade A Association had pointed out in the meeting that the Holy Accord Organization had to take the mental states of the Revivors seriously and help the Revivors follow the pace of the times. They had to follow the basic principles of people as their core and implement the ‘two for one’ requirement, which was to ensure the best treatment of every Revivor, yet not lose their vigilance.
The founder of the Holy Accord organization, Oathkeeper, praised the association’s current achievements and emphasized that both parties had always worked together to contribute to the Beyond Grade As. He hoped that the association would continue to work together with the Holy Accord.
Many of the revivors expressed their admiration for Black Star’s contributions to the Beyond Grade As and unanimously welcomed Black Star to come and give guidance to the Holy Accord.
No matter what, both parties still had a good exchange of opinions. After the daily communication, Han Xiao then left the Holy Accord Organization base and teleported back to Black Star Palace, which was a few Star Fields away.
Returning to his office, Han Xiao rubbed his chin. Without any delay, he contacted the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations and sent the information he had obtained from Destiny’s Child through the encrypted channel.
Not long after, his communicator rang, and he received an invitation.
Han Xiao turned on the remote projection and arrived at the joint office of the three Universal Civilizations. He immediately saw the three leaders.
“Black Star, where did you get this information from? Is the situation true? You have to be responsible if you spout nonsense!”
As soon as they met, Marbruce fired off a string of questions. His tone was extremely serious, as if he was doing an interrogation. The intelligence provided by Han Xiao showed that the World Tree Civilization had already discovered the traces of the outsiders and was trying to track them in reverse. This was a huge matter that affected the entire strategy, and they could not afford to be careless.
This piece of intelligence did not contain any evidence, so it looked like an irresponsible guess. Furthermore, even they only dared to carefully explore the uninhabited areas and had no clue about the World Tree Civilization’s movements. Where did Han Xiao’s intelligence come from? The three of them could not help but doubt its authenticity.
“I have a special intelligence channel. This is a special Primal Esper Ability Entity called Destiny’s Child. It has extraordinary abilities at the Information Form level…” Han Xiao explained Destiny’s Child’s ability.
“Destiny’s Child?”
The three of them looked at each other with doubt in their eyes.
This Primal Esper Ability Entity did not exist in the known Super High Risk Esper Ability Table, nor was it recorded in the secret database of the three Universal Civilizations. This was the first time the three of them had heard of this Primal Esper Ability Entity.
“So, you guys really don’t know?” Han Xiao was helpless.
He had once tried to find out more about Destiny’s Child. There were no records in the dynasty’s database, so he thought that the information might be stored in a secret database. It seemed like the three Universal Civilizations did not know about Destiny’s Child either, but they were indeed good at hiding their existence.
“The Destiny’s Child is in your hands now? Is it reliable?” Louis asked.
“It’s indeed in my hands, and there’s no problem with the intelligence.”
Han Xiao nodded and hid the existence of the Holy Accord.
Hearing this, the Pope of the Arcane Church said with a deep voice, “Words have no evidence. We can only confirm its authenticity after checking it. Furthermore, this kind of intelligence channel should be controlled by us.”
Han Xiao shook his head, and his tone became solemn.
“At this point, you guys still have doubts about me? Who provided the secret information about the World Tree? It was me, right? I showed my sincerity, but what did you guys do? In order to confirm that the information is true, you guys went to explore the World Tree Civilization through the wormhole, and in the end, you were exposed… Of course, from your standpoint, this is understandable. I understand you guys, but it’s also a fact that you were discovered by the enemy. No matter how correct your motives are, there’s no way to change the predetermined bad outcome… Because I knew that you guys might mess up, I didn’t tell you about the World Tree beforehand.”
The three of them were stunned.
Marbruce coughed and took the initiative to explain.
“It’s not that we doubt you, but we can’t just trust the authenticity of the information. If we don’t confirm it beforehand, it will be too late when a problem arises…”
“This isn’t the first time you’ve said this, but what happened in the end? You’re still following the confidential information I provided. The so-called confirmation is just unnecessary in my eyes. It will only increase the risk of exposure.”
The three of them opened their mouths, not knowing what to say.
“Black Star, don’t get too emotional,” Louis said. “We have always been cautious and did not meet any life forms of the World Tree Civilization. With just the senses of a Primal Esper Ability Entity, I don’t think we can be completely sure that they have already detected our presence…”
“You still want a hundred percent confirmation?” Han Xiao’s eyes widened. “Then why don’t you just show yourself and ask the World Tree Civilization? That will definitely be a hundred percent.”
Louis’ mouth twitched, and he stopped talking
Marbruce said helplessly, “But the intelligence…”
Han Xiao cut Marbruce off.
“I know you’re worried, and I don’t expect you to completely trust me. However, you stole the intel from the network, so you should have confirmed the World Tree’s attitude toward the outside world. Since everyone is prey, we’re on the same side. Do you still need to worry about me having any bad intentions and remain specially guarded against me?
“The threat is imminent. Now is not the time for internal speculation. We all have to believe that what we’re doing is for the same goal. We will not deliberately cause trouble. If I cannot confirm the authenticity of this information, would I dare say it? If you insist on checking and this information channel is exposed, what should we do?”
The three of them frowned.
That was true. They were comrades who were united against the enemy. They should at least trust each other.
However, since Black Star had made such a statement, could it be that he did not want them to confirm it on purpose so as to hide the fishy side of this intelligence? They had no choice but to think in this direction.
Seeing their reactions, Han Xiao knew what they were thinking and shook his head in disappointment.
“At the end of the day, the countless years of peace have made you arrogant, thinking that you can deal with any situation… Maybe my intelligence gave you too many misconceptions, making you feel that you have an advantage and can control the situation. It’s a huge mistake! I hope you guys can recognize the reality. The World Tree is stronger than all of you combined. As long as it finds us to start a war, the situation will instantly go out of control. We can be wiped out at any time and become the next Karma Republic!”
“… What do you suggest?” Marbruce asked.
“I’ll be straightforward. I will never give you this information channel. Even if you don’t believe me now, you should consider dealing with this situation. The World Tree Civilization has advanced unknown detection methods and has discovered the traces of outsiders. They have entered a state of alert, but they have yet to succeed in tracking us down… Therefore, I suggest that we stop the regular exploration and reduce the chances of further contact. We will standby for the time being and give the secondary dimension expedition team more time to find the World Tree’s main body.”
“But if we don’t explore, how will the intelligence come?” “With all due respect, most of the intelligence that you guys have obtained so far is meaningless. Since there are no results, you might as well stop and use the channels of Destiny’s Child.”
“It means that we don’t have to do anything but listen to you obediently, and take whatever you say… Do you think that’s possible?” The head of the church, who was standing at the side, spoke with a dissatisfied tone. He paused for a moment before adding on.
“You can either give us Destiny’s Child or let us send some researchers to study it together to prove that the intelligence is reliable.”
Han Xiao smiled.
“Are you forcing me now? Yes, I can make concessions for the sake of righteousness. We can study Destiny’s Child together and dispel your suspicions. If I don’t do this, it will appear to be my fault. Because I have the channels, I have to make concessions and give in to benefits. If I don’t let you guys have a share, you won’t accept my opinion.”
“You misunderstood. We…” Marbruce felt that the atmosphere was a little off and wanted to explain.
Han Xiao interrupted him once more, his smile turning cold. “You three dogsh*ts, I’ve already tolerated you all for a long time! You guys don’t seem to have figured out who here needs whom. Do you really think I have no other choice? I’m willing to protect the Galactic Society; that’s why I’m helping you, since both of you are closely related. However, the universe is so big. Do you think I really need to stay here? If you anger me, I can just leave with the Beyond Grade A Association and the organizations under me. It’s fine if I move to the unexplored universe or the secondary dimensions, leaving you guys to deal with the World Tree Civilization alone. Do you want to try?”
The three of them were shocked.
They almost forgot that the Beyond Grade A Association had a way out. With their abilities, they would be able to live very well even if they escaped into the unexplored universe. To the three Universal Civilizations, this was definitely the worst outcome.
As long as the Beyond Grade As made up their minds, they could completely abandon the galactic society that they had lived in for a long time. To be honest, even if all the living beings here died, it would have nothing to do with most Beyond Grade As. There was no reason for them to stay and fight.
If news of the World Tree spread, there would definitely be people who would choose to escape. If even Black Star, who had the Sanctum Revival, was not willing to stay, then the other Beyond Grade As would definitely choose to escape.
With such influence, Black Star was not a partner with no way out. He was an equal who held the bargaining power, a force that they had to fight for.
Marbruce could no longer sit still. “Don’t be angry. That’s not what we meant.”
“Black Star… Your Excellency, our doubts are just a matter of fact. We don’t have any thoughts about benefits,” Louis quickly comforted.
Even the Pope had no choice but to lower his head in frustration. “…I didn’t choose my words correctly and caused a misunderstanding. Please don’t take it to heart.”
We’re the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations. When have we ever been so humble?
Seeing this, Han Xiao stopped being angry and regained his poker face as he slowly stated, “I will continue to share the intelligence, but whether you believe it or not is your problem. I can’t be bothered. Also, I will be going to the World Tree Civilization’s territory in a while to increase the surveillance of Destiny’s Child. Remember to prepare the World Tree passageway or the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device… If we don’t even have this bit of trust, I think there’s really no need for us to cooperate.”
“Alright, we will deal with it,” Marbruce answered. Now was not the time to continue bargaining
Han Xiao nodded and suddenly added, “One more thing. Hurry up and fulfill your promise, admit the independence of the association. Don’t think of delaying it. Don’t think that you can get away with it when the war breaks out. As I said, I’ll just leave.”
With that, the communication was cut off. and the remote projection disappeared.
There were only three people left in the room. They looked at each other with complicated expressions.
“I didn’t expect to be scolded by him in person. Did we push him too hard?” Louis smiled bitterly. “Don’t look down on him. How could someone as ambitious as Black Star lose his cool so easily? He’s just using this as an excuse.” The Pope shook his head, paused, and said helplessly, “However, he did hit the nail on the head.”
“Black Star is really…” Marbruce hesitated for a moment before sighing. “His wings are completely spread open.”
When Han Xiao returned to his office, he snorted and threw the communicator aside.
“These three are definitely born in the year of the dog. If I didn’t give them two slaps, how would they understand who their daddy is?”
As the saying went, if the sky collapsed, there would be a tall man to hold it up. Currently, only the three Universal Civilizations and Han Xiao were stopping the World Tree Civilization from pressuring the Galactic Society.
Under the surface of peace, undercurrents were brewing. Half a month quickly passed, and it was time for the Galaxy Central Civilization Court Assembly.
The Galaxy Central Civilization Court was hosted by the three Universal Civilizations, and the participants included the Super Star Cluster, Star Cluster, and Star System Civilizations.
Unlike the regional Civilization Conference of the various Star Fields, the Galaxy Central Civilization Court was the most authoritative Civilization Conference, the core of the entire galactic society. It was solemn and respectful, also known as the ‘Central Council’.
Every year, there would be a fixed meeting period that lasted several months. During this period, there would be frequent meetings to review the issues submitted by the various civilizations, to coordinate the development of all the galactic civilizations, to mediate disputes, to discuss the management of the galactic society, and so on, including many topics such as civilian life, economy, military, and disaster relief.
However, the galactic residents did not pay much attention to this matter because they had meetings every year. Most of the time, they only talked about some old topics. Most of the galactic residents only looked at the brief news coverage after the meeting.
The venue of the Galaxy Central Civilization Court was shaped like a flower petal. In the center was the chairman’s board, and around it were the representatives of the three Universal Civilizations. There were rows of fan-shaped seats that were arranged according to the level of the civilization. The Super Star Cluster Civilizations sat in the inner circle, and the Star System Civilizations sat in the outermost circle. The invited news reporters had a dedicated broadcast area.
At this moment, the venue was filled with diplomatic envoys from various civilizations. This conference had been going on for quite some time.
The president had just finished a round of voting and rejected a proposal to increase the security budget of the region. He then flipped to the next topic and looked at the representatives of the three Universal Civilizations. He cleared his throat before speaking
“Then the next topic is a joint proposal by the Federation of Light, the Crimson Dynasty, and the Arcane Church. This proposal believes that the Beyond Grade A Development Association plays an indispensable role in maintaining the galactic society and has extraordinary influence. At the same time, it is dedicated to maintaining the peace and stability of the Galactic Society and has made an indelible contribution. This proposal is to revise the universal laws of the universe such as the Peace Treaty and make an exception to accept the Beyond Grade A Development Association, allowing it to enjoy an independent official position. Its rights and benefits are equivalent to the treatment of the advanced civilizations. May the proposer of the proposal come on stage to explain.”
The president finished reading the topic according to the script. The venue, which was originally filled with small discussions, suddenly became silent.
Other than a portion of the subsidiary civilizations that were in close contact with the three Universal Civilizations, the other representatives were all stunned.
The three Universal Civilizations had made peace with the Beyond Grade A Association not too long ago, and now they were eager to help?
Not to mention the inside story, there had never been such a precedent in history for a civil organization to have the same official position as a civilization. The three Universal Civilizations’ proposal had opened a new path, and the rebound from the outside world could be imagined.
What made the three Universal Civilizations willing to pay such a price to obtain political benefits for the association?
Most of the civilizations’ representatives were dumbfounded. They thought that this was just a routine meeting, but they did not expect the three Universal Civilizations to suddenly throw out such a bombshell.
The news reporters immediately perked up.
This was juicy news!
Under the attention of everyone, the dynasty’s diplomatic representative stood up and walked up the stage. He looked around the venue and slowly explained the reason for the proposal, emphasizing the unique position of the Beyond Grade A Association in the current galactic structure. His speech was full of praise, as though he wanted to praise the association to the skies.
After listening for a while, the expressions of the various civilization representatives turned strange.
Why does it sound so familiar? Did you guys just slack off and simply just change the negativity of the trade sanction declaration into positivity?
After the representatives of the three Universal Civilizations finished their respective statements, the president announced the start of the debate and consultation. A large number of civilization representatives immediately requested to speak. Although the Galaxy Central Civilization Court was presided over by the three Universal Civilizations, if they wanted to add a new clause in the Universal Civilization Law, they still had to put it to a vote.
However, as the final winner of the exploration era, the three Universal Civilizations naturally would not be so stupid as to hand over too much power. They all gave themselves the privilege of having one veto and one decision vote.
The veto vote would negate the voting result of an issue, returning it to the proposal stage, to repeat another round of presentations, debates, amendments, and voting, and so on until they were satisfied with the result. If the decision vote power was used, the voting stage was skipped directly, but the priority was lower compared to the veto vote, which meant that only the three major civilizations could exempt each other’s decision vote power.
However, the number of times the three Universal Civilizations had used their privileges could be counted on one’s fingers. As long as it did not involve their own benefits, they would not interfere. Most of the time, they only acted as the judges and rarely took part in the battle.
The representatives of the three Universal Civilizations easily dealt with the questions of the participants, and they answered the sharp questions with one sentence.
Among them, the Super Star Cluster Civilizations were the calmest. They had long received this news, and while watching coldly, they were secretly trying to figure out what was going on between Black Star and the three Universal Civilizations.
Amid the excitement of the crowd, it was soon time for the voting. The civilizations’ representatives who did not know about this earlier all had different opinions, and no one wanted to be the first to take on this issue.
The result of the vote was shown on the virtual screen. There were a lot of objections, and they did not meet the criteria to pass the draft.
The president took a look and said, “We don’t have enough votes, so we shall reject this…”
Before he could finish, the Federation of Light representative knocked on the table and said, “My side will use our right to veto.”
The president nodded, not surprised at all. “Then, let’s enter the proposal stage again. Please…”
However, before he could finish, the Crimson Dynasty representative slowly said, “My side will exercise the decision vote.”
The moment he said that, the Federation of Light and Arcane Church expressed their agreement.
Seeing this, the representatives of the various civilizations did not find it out of their expectations, but they were still surprised.
They had expected that the three Universal Civilizations would use their privileges, but no one expected them to use two privileges.
The three Universal Civilizations had basically never used two privileges at the same time. After a single veto, they would usually let everyone re-evaluate their decision and do things like lobbying during this period to fight for votes. This would more or less make the other civilizations feel they had a sense of participation. However, after vetoing the proposal, a decision was immediately made. The representative’s attitude was very firm, implying that this proposal had to be approved. It was unquestionable and very overbearing, as though they did not mind performing a one-man show.
“Are the three Universal Civilizations so determined to stand up for the Beyond Grade A Association? What exactly is going on?”
The representatives of the civilizations felt an inexplicable itch to understand the situation.
As many media outlets fought to repost the news, the news that the three Universal Civilizations were fighting for the Beyond Grade A Association’s official identity spread like wildfire in the Galactic Society!
The conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association had just ended, but another shocking news story broke out, instantly turning into the hottest topic.
The majority of galactic residents could not understand what the three Universal Civilizations were doing.
Not long ago, during the peace negotiations, although the three Universal Civilizations had given in, they at least had a dignified reason. How could they explain this now? Just reconciliation was not enough, and they even had to help the association to be promoted. What were they doing? Compensation for what?
First, they attacked aggressively. In the end, they were so scared that they took the initiative to give in. This was already embarrassing enough. He did not expect the three Universal Civilizations to compensate the association and furthermore insist that they were not cowards… Only a fool would believe that!
As soon as this proposal was exposed, it was met with strong opposition from a large number of galactic residents. Originally, they had already suppressed their dissatisfaction toward Beyond Grade As, but seeing that the association was about to become an official organization, many people could not take it anymore and started attacking the association. The most mainstream argument was that the association did not have the right to become an official organization and that they should not allow a Beyond Grade A group to have such an identity.
Due to the escalation of the class conflict, the Beyond Grade A Association had already become the main target of hatred. Seeing that the association was going to develop further and even be ‘purified’, many galactic residents were furious. This mentality was akin to seeing their enemy living a good life.
On the contrary, most of the Supers in the various Star Fields were excited. They had been looking forward to the Beyond Grade A Association being their leader, but they did not expect it to really come true. Furthermore, it was the first time in history. No matter how the association did it, many Supers were full of admiration.
With the official position, the three Universal Civilizations could no longer promote the association’s illegitimacy. Supers no longer had to worry about losing their citizenship after joining the association.
Due to the three Universal Civilizations having a say in the Galaxy Central Civilization Court, many civilizations expressed their opinions through various channels. They first acknowledged the important influence of the association, but they tactfully felt that giving them an exception was a little too much. They claimed that they did not know about the private transactions between the three Universal Civilizations and the association and expressed their dissatisfaction.
Comparatively, the reaction of the players to this news was a little delayed, mainly because most of them did not quite understand the meaning behind it. In their eyes, it was enough as long as the Beyond Grade A Association was strong enough. These political things seemed meaningless. However, after some storyline-loving players explained it on the forums, the players finally understood the difference.
“Treating a civilization as a country, which means that the Beyond Grade A Association used to be a company but is now a country?”
“Does this mean that the Beyond Grade As are building a nation?”
“More or less. Initially, no matter how powerful the association was, it was still a civilian organization. Now, it has finally evolved.”
“I’ve figured it out! The main storyline should be based on the Beyond Grade A nation as the main body to witness the birth of a different Super civilization. Black Star is the highest leader, so it’s called the Black Star Era?”
“66666, I understand.”
“Sigh, as an old player who fell into this rathole in Version 1.0, I personally witnessed Old Black starting from nothing and climbing to his current position step by step. I’m so touched. It’s like I’m recalling my youth… No, I have to watch Bun-Hit-Dog’s Black Star Army series from the start!”
“Previous poster, please cover your ID when you’re advertising yourself. Thank you for your cooperation.”
On the forums, many players were extremely excited.
When the three Universal Civilizations and the association were in a standoff, many players thought that the main storyline would be a battle between the two sides, but they did not expect it to end with a truce. Now that a Beyond Grade A nation had been founded, the players felt that the main storyline missions would definitely revolve around this point, and they could not possibly be wrong this time!
While the outside world was abuzz with the news of the association being promoted, Han Xiao was already prepared and headed toward the territory of the World Tree Civilization.
At the border of the Abyss of Stars, an enormous fleet surrounded a Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, which was currently heating up. Han Xiao was the only one inside.
“We have set the coordinates, which lead to a location that has never been activated. It’s located in an uninhabited area. If what you said is true, then the World Tree Civilization has an unknown detection method. It’s best if you leave immediately when you reach the other side and find a way to hide yourself…” In the communication channel of the mechanical suit, Fleet Commander Simon was carefully instructing him on what to take note of.
“You guys can just send me there. I’ll take care of the rest,” Han Xiao replied. Simon nodded. “Hmm, since you have the King mechanical suit, you don’t need us to pick you up. Just adapt to the situation.”
In the end, the three Universal Civilizations agreed to send Han Xiao to the territory of the World Tree Civilization. Because Han Xiao had the King, there was no need for them to wait and receive him.
To Han Xiao, as long as he left behind a Throne in the past, he could teleport to it anytime in the future. This was the reason the three Universal Civilizations did not allow him to participate in the previous exploration.
However, he was worried that the connection between the King and Throne would serve as a clue to his location, so he placed many Thrones in different secondary dimensions. Furthermore, he had to choose his location carefully when leaving the Throne in the World Tree Civilization’s territory.
I hope I can achieve something this time…
Han Xiao’s brain worked quickly.
This trip to the territory of the World Tree Civilization was only one of the goals of helping Destiny’s Child. Besides, the World Tree Civilization had already discovered the outsiders. So long as he did not leak any information about the explored universe, he might be able to act more boldly. If there was a chance, he wanted to see if he could find clues about the World Tree’s main body on the other side. This was extremely important. Just relying on the expedition fleet left too much to chance.
At the same time, he also wanted to see if (Virtual Purification-Restore) was effective on the members of the World Tree Civilization.
Just as Han Xiao was thinking, the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device finally finished its preheating and began to spin rapidly, turning into a circle of light.
“Cut off all the links,” Simon said in the channel before turning off the communication network.
Han Xiao activated the silenced mode of his mechanical suit, blocking all network links, including Phillip. Very soon, the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device reached its maximum speed.
Buzz!
All of a sudden, there was a flash of light, and the teleportation device rapidly slowed down. Han Xiao’s figure had disappeared in front of everyone’s eyes.
The Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device felt almost the same as the King’s Teleportation. His vision blurred, and his body became light. The figures of the three Universal Civilizations’ soldiers around him disappeared, and he reappeared in an empty space in the universe.
This is the territory of the World Tree Civilization… Let’s determine my location first.
Han Xiao quickly activated all kinds of detection devices to observe the surroundings. It was indeed a deserted region.
The exploration of the three Universal Civilizations was not completely useless. At the very least, they had stolen the star map of the World Tree territory from the internet, which gave him a lot of assistance in his infiltration.
However, because it was not convenient for him to connect to the network of the World Tree Civilization, he could not enjoy the GPS positioning of the network. He had to find a planet as a reference to confirm his exact location. Then, he would use a backup artificial intelligence synchronized star map model and utilize the space measurement technology as well as the calculation formula of star distance and vision to create a self-made navigation device. He had no need to rely on a network link. Although there would be some errors, it would be precise enough.
As he had come to the territory of the World Tree Civilization alone, it would not be convenient for him to communicate with the explored universe. Therefore, he could not obtain remote assistance at the moment and could only act on his own.
Han Xiao entered the quantum network but did not connect to the node. Instead, he used this method to check for densely packed areas of the node to determine where there were people.
I wonder what the World Tree Civilization’s detection method is…
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. Ever since he came to the territory of the World Tree Civilization, there was a faint sense of danger in his heart, as if just staying in the territory of the World Tree Civilization was a dangerous thing.
Just relying on this intuition, Han Xiao could guess the reason for the three Universal Civilizations’ exposure.
Just staying here makes me feel out of place, as if I’m being spied on. The World Tree has a powerful information state ability, so maybe it’s a detection method specifically for foreign information states?
Logically speaking, the three Universal Civilizations had never come into contact with any life forms of the World Tree Civilization, and the areas they had explored before were all uninhabited areas. They had made sure to conceal themselves, so they should not be discovered. However, if the World Tree Civilization had set up an unknown information network in its entire territory, the situation would be a different case.
According to Han Xiao’s understanding, the progress of the three Universal Civilizations’ research in the Information Form state had always been slow, and there was no related technology to it. If their roles were changed and the World Tree Civilization used the same method to spy on the explored universe, the three Universal Civilizations would most likely not discover it.
I hope the mark of Destiny’s Child will be of some use.
Han Xiao looked at the mark on his hand.
Destiny’s Child was also an expert in the Information Form field, and he had the trait of being unobservable as a High Dimensional Information Form. This temporary mark could activate the corresponding concealment function, achieving a ‘closed information loop’ like Rody. It would not be observed by ordinary people, and it might be able to hide from the unknown surveillance methods of the World Tree Civilization to a certain extent.
However, the three Universal Civilizations had already alerted the World Tree to detect the presence of outsiders. The main reason he hid his tracks was to make it easier for him to carry out missions. As long as he did not reveal any information about the explored universe, it would not be a big deal if he was discovered. It was fine as long as he could escape in time.
Let’s set up the map.
Han Xiao calmed himself down and activated all kinds of concealment devices before picking one direction.
After sailing in the direction of the quantum node for a period of time, a yellow planet finally appeared in his vision. It seemed to be a colonial planet. A few spatial cracks had opened up near it, and translucent turquoise roots extended out from within, inserted into the planet. They kept expanding and shrinking as though they were breathing.
The roots of the World Tree…
Han Xiao stopped and used this planet to calibrate his position in the star map, finally creating a navigation module.
He only looked from afar and did not approach.
If he could obtain a portion of the roots and use it to find the location of the World Tree’s main body… It was a pity that his previous life had proven that this method would not work. He had to think of a different method.
Han Xiao looked at the yellow planet again and nodded.
This should be a planet that has been transformed.
Everything that the World Tree devoured would turn into information form storage after digestion, which could be remade into a physical entity. A planet being devoured did not mean that it would disappear, but it existed in a different form. The World Tree could build it again, and it only required a certain amount of energy and resources.
However, the resources needed to materialize did not require matching materials. The World Tree had an inseparable relationship with psionic energy. Psionic energy could be decomposed into many forms of energy, and it was often treated as a form of ‘universal energy’. The World Tree also had a similar function, involving changes in matter.
For example, the materials used to make steel through the World Tree could be wood, seawater, or all kinds of random things. With enough energy, a series of unknown transformations within the World Tree would eventually turn into solid steel, like a high-level alchemy product that no one could understand.
Although the World Tree had a will, it was also a tool-type Space Wonder that was used by the civilization. After many years of experimentation, they had managed to calculate the synthesis requirements of countless objects.
It was because of this characteristic that the World Tree Civilization’s war strength was extremely strong. They had almost never been disadvantaged, and their army was endless.
Many resources came from planets, and the World Tree Civilization would convert those valuable planets back in their main camp, allowing them to continue evolving and produce all kinds of materials. From there, they would accumulate more resources. Swallowing a planet in one go was like getting a one-time deal, and after it was converted, there would be a long-term harvest.
Now was not the time to cause trouble. After Han Xiao activated the navigation star map, he immediately left and disappeared. After a long time, ripples suddenly appeared on the roots of the earth yellow planet, and a fleet quickly materialized.
In the command room, Barbani looked at the yellow planet curiously. “There seems to be an abnormal reaction in the vicinity? Could it be that the outsiders are not satisfied with exploring the outskirts and wish to spy on our planet?”
The captain shook his head. “I’m not sure. The reaction of this information state alert is very weak. I don’t know if it was a false report.”
“Let’s take a look at the Information Form camera first.” Barbani waved his hand.
Very soon, the fleet activated this device, and the light green light screen quickly scanned the surrounding area. The results showed that everything was normal, and there was no situation where all traces of Han Xiao were cleared like the three Universal Civilizations.
The captain looked at the results, nodded, and said, “The traces of the information state are intact, and there are no abnormal clues. Given how the outsiders cleared all their traces last time, it’s either a false report, or this time, the outsiders have even higher level Information Form technology.”
“Could it be new prey?” Barbani got excited again.
“Hmm, I can’t rule out this possibility. The level of the later intruder’s Information Form technology is clearly higher than the outsiders who cleared all the traces last time. They might be two different groups of people… However, there’s the World Tree Root beside them. If the outsiders cleared all traces here like the previous time, they would have been discovered immediately. I’m more inclined to it being misinformation.” The captain analyzed the situation for a moment before speaking out again. “To be safe, since the camera has lost its effectiveness, the other party might have used a high-dimensional information form, so we need you to personally investigate.”
Hearing this, Barbani nodded and flew out of the cabin, entering space with just his bare body.
Then, a turquoise light emerged from his body and concentrated on his visual organs, emitting a hazy green light. He patrolled the area while scanning the surroundings.
Suddenly, Barbani stopped and looked in a certain direction. It was the area that Han Xiao had stayed in previously.
The green light in his eyes gradually grew stronger. At this time, within the range of the light, a blurry shadow that looked like water ripples suddenly appeared. It was like a cluster of glowing particles, just extremely dispersed.
“I see it. It’s indeed a high-dimensional information form.”
Barbani perked up.
The high-dimensional information state had an unobservable nature, and the related technology was very advanced. Even if one stood in front of it, ordinary people would not be able to detect it, and the information state camera would not be able to detect it either. The disguise provided by Destiny’s Child’s Mark was the high-dimensional information form state.
However, as the Holy Tree Emissary, Barbani could use the high-dimensional information vision of the World Tree to offset the ‘Closed Information Feedback Loop’. He could view any High Dimensional Information Forms were previously unviewable to the eyes of others. That was how he discovered the trail.
Just by borrowing the high-dimensional information vision, he was unable to completely reverse the situation like a camera. He could not obtain any specific information and could only detect certain traces of movement.
“The number of outsiders is unknown, so there shouldn’t be too many. They stayed around for a few seconds…” Barbani suddenly exclaimed in excitement. “Eh, this outsider seems to still be here.”
In his vision, this light particle-like trail extended in two directions, pointing in the directions the outsiders had come and gone in. This meant that the outsiders had not teleported away but had continued staying in the territory of their civilization.
“Holy Tree Emissary, what do we do next?” the captain asked in the channel.
“Humph, wait in the tree. I’ll chase after them and see if I can capture this outsider alive.”
Barbani could not wait to move. He turned into a turquoise beam of light and chased after Han Xiao.
Meanwhile, Han Xiao was speeding through the universe, looking for a suitable starting point according to the star map. Just as he was focused on his journey, the interface suddenly pinged.
You have triggered an urgent mission: Nowhere to Hide!
Mission Introduction: In the territory of the World Tree Civilization, outsiders have almost nowhere to hide. Your whereabouts have been discovered. Someone is following the clues you left behind.
Mission Requirements: Face the pursuers.
Reward: Unknown
Han Xiao frowned. “I had the concealment device activated and even used the high-dimensional information form of Destiny’s Child’s Mark, but I was still discovered so quickly. Is the World Tree’s surveillance method so penetrative?”
The mission notification said that in the World Tree territory, there was almost no place for outsiders to hide. Han Xiao was now even warier of the World Tree’s unknown detection methods.
Han Xiao frowned. The World Tree Civilization has far more control over their territory than the three Universal Civilizations. If I don’t figure out what’s going on, I’m afraid I won’t be able to move an inch here…
Since his whereabouts had been discovered, he would only be pursued if he continued to escape. With the convenience of the World Tree’s mental network, the pursuers could share information and surround him. It would be quite troublesome for him.
Looks like I have to adjust my plan. It’s not suitable for me to carry out the mission now…
If they did not figure out what the detection method of the World Tree Civilization was, they would not even know how they were exposed, much less know how to avoid it.
Since the pursuers were behind him, he had no choice but to get rid of them. He wanted to see if he could find out the principle of the detection method from them. Furthermore, since he originally wanted to see if the virtual purification would work on the people of the World Tree Civilization, this was a good opportunity.
Due to the mechanism of the mental network, when he came into contact with the people of the World Tree Civilization, the scene of him taking action would be observed. There were many risks, such as the other party calling for reinforcements, and he might have to abandon the mission and leave.
However, this was not a big problem. It was not like he could only go to the World Tree Civilization once. There was no time limit for this marking mission. If he could not deal with it this time, he could do it next time. On the other hand, if he could learn about the World Tree detection method from the pursuers, it would be more valuable to him. At the very least, he would not have to poke around blindly in search of it.
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. “Although I’ve been discovered, I still have an advantage…”
The current situation seemed to be that the enemy was in the dark while he was in the light. However, the pursuers had discovered him, but they probably did not know that he had detected the enemy through the interface mission. From another perspective, perhaps the enemy was in the light while he was in the dark.
Although he did not know what was going on with the pursuers, they were likely following his movements. He might be able to ambush them from the opposite direction and quickly end the battle so that the pursuers would not see too many of his methods.
“Tsk, I wanted to move stealthily, but you just had to force me.”
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched, but he did not continue forward. Instead, he turned around and flew a distance before beginning to set up his scheme.
A green beam of light streaked across the sky, speeding forward. Barbani had been constantly activating his high-dimensional information form vision to track the traces left behind by Han Xiao. In his eyes, a path formed by light particles extended out.
“What guts you have, how dare you stay and try to gather more information? You’re courting death.”
Barbani was not angry but excited. Although the Holy Tree Emissary had a high position and power, most of the time, he had nothing to do. After all, the World Tree was connected to everyone, and there were no criminals or rebels. There were basically no internal conflicts, and these experts had nothing to help with. Other than training and enjoying material benefits, there was nothing else they could do. Many of them did not even bother to show themselves and had been sleeping in the tree, living in the virtual world.
Now that he had finally encountered something interesting, Barbani was overjoyed.
“I hope these outsiders have some ability. Let me have some fun.”
However, just as he was fantasizing, something out of the ordinary happened!
The space around him suddenly shook, as if it had solidified in an instant. Barbani’s speed plummeted, as though he had fallen into a swamp.
At the same time, dozens of points of starlight suddenly appeared in his vision. The next moment, dozens of huge blue and white beams of light came from all directions, attacking from a distance. Barbani was at the intersection point of the beams, and the dazzling light instantly swallowed his body.
“This is an ambush?”
The intense pain of his flesh evaporating like a volcanic eruption instantly swept through every nerve in his body. Barbani felt that his body was dissolving, and his life force was rapidly flowing out. The power of the attack exceeded his expectations, and he was shocked and furious.
Other than the outsiders, there was no way it could be anyone else. Barbani could not believe that this group of outsiders had sensed his pursuit. Not only did they not escape, they even wanted to attack him!
Barbani was shocked and furious. Just as he was about to struggle out of the restraints, a red light suddenly appeared from within the dozens of blue and white light beams. The next moment, the red light suddenly expanded and dyed the light beams red. The output power increased exponentially.
The intersection point of the beam exploded like the dawn from a red sun!
Barbani’s figure was sent flying. He was covered in wounds and looked like he was burnt. He looked horrific.
The lethality of this round of attacks gave him a shock. He did not expect that with his ability, he would be heavily injured in a single exchange. He did not even see the enemy.
The outsiders this time actually had such powerful strength!
“I can’t solve this alone. I have to call for help!”
Barbani was about to take action, but at this moment, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in his vision and swept across his body.
His body suddenly froze, and he revealed a blank expression.
Han Xiao, who was looking at this area through a remote device, raised his brows in surprise.
“The virtual purification worked?”
Han Xiao had set up an ambush at the place he had passed by earlier and used a bunch of technology from Jayz’s treasure to conceal it as much as possible. These dozens of high-intensity light beams came from a special hovering weapon array. It was a Universal Treasure-level machine, one of the parts of the Mechanical Deity.
Han Xiao had originally thought that the pursuers might be a fleet, so he had planned to launch an attack after failing the ambush. However, he found out that it was only a single person. According to his understanding of the World Tree Civilization, this person was most likely a Beyond Grade A Super like the Holy Tree Emissary or the Ancestral Spirit. It was impossible for him to be one of the Five Tree Kings.
Without saying a word, he launched an ambush and obtained the other party’s combat information through the interface. He secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
Barbani’s level was far lower than his, and his energy level was around 53,000. He was only an ordinary Beyond Grade A, and even if he could borrow some of the World Tree’s power, he would still not be able to fight back.
Therefore, after using (Virtual Purification, Restore), Han Xiao was prepared to kill it immediately. However, the combat information made him stop. The interface indicated that the Virtual Purification was effective!
“It actually worked!”
Han Xiao took a deep breath.
When he obtained the skill (Virtual Purification-Restore), he had suspected that this move might be effective on the World Tree, but he did not expect it to actually come in useful.
The mental network of the World Tree connected everyone. To him, it was like an enormous smartphone, processing, distributing, and monitoring the information of every individual. All the lives devoured by the World Tree had their thoughts rewritten. No matter how much hostility they had, they would ultimately be loyal to the World Tree. The negative memories did not disappear but were diluted.
(Virtual Purification-Restore) purified intelligent targets infected by a virus, and the nature of those life forms that had been swallowed by the World Tree would also change, becoming some kind of symbiotic relationship. Even if they did not have a physical body, they could still live in the virtual world created by the World Tree, similar to an artificial intelligence. Therefore, Han Xiao was not sure if this would work, but it seemed like his hunch was right.
However, Han Xiao was not happy for long before he realized a problem.
The Virtual Purification only temporarily restored the other party’s original thoughts, but the other party was still an individual devoured by the World Tree. This connection would not be broken, so the World Tree could rewrite the other party’s thoughts at any time, covering the Virtual Purification effect. This meant that this move might only temporarily wake the other party up.
Furthermore, this move could only be used on those enslaved targets. If the target was originally loyal to the World Tree, it was obviously useless.
Fortunately, this guy called Barbani was not a native race of the World Tree Civilization but an enemy that the World Tree Civilization had devoured during their universe wars.
“This is…”
Barbani was stunned on the spot. Countless memories collided in his mind, and the memories of his civilization being destroyed by the World Tree’s iron hooves came back to life. He even remembered that after he was devoured, he had become an accomplice in destroying his civilization, and countless of his own race had died at his hands.
His twisted mind quickly corrected itself, and his view of things returned to normal. The long-lost hostility and anger gushed out like a volcanic eruption.
“World Tree! What did you make me do?”
Barbani covered his head with his hands, his entire body trembling. It was a furious roar, but it also sounded like a sorrowful howl. The pain contained within made Han Xiao shiver.
However, right at this moment, Han Xiao activated the short-range teleportation device and appeared beside Barbani in an instant.
“Are you awake? Time is of the essence, and I don’t have the time to waste with you. Tell me the secrets you know while you’re still clear-minded!”
Barbani withdrew from his grief and indignation, as he immediately recalled what he had been doing before he regained consciousness. These memories would not be erased by the virtual purification.
Without further explanation, he instantly understood the intentions of this outsider and his current situation.
Without any hesitation, Barbani immediately told him the secrets of the World Tree that he had. After he regained consciousness, no matter who this outsider was, as long as he became enemies with the World Tree, he would be someone worth helping.
Seeing that the other party was so understanding, Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief and focused on memorizing the content.
Barbani quickly explained the important secrets of the World Tree. Not long after, his expression suddenly changed, and a look of struggle flashed across his face.
“They’ve noticed. Leave quickly. The people of the World Tree will arrive at any time… It’s monitoring everyone and has discovered that I’ve regained my will. I can’t resist it and will soon have my thoughts rewritten.”
Han Xiao also saw that the duration of the virtual purification in the status bar was rapidly decreasing, and his heart skipped a beat. He knew that the World Tree had already noticed this ‘uncontrollable’ individual.
He released his grip and was just about to retreat when he realized that Barbani had taken the initiative to raise his hand and push him away. Immediately after, his entire body lit up with lights that seeped through cracks in his body. He was going to detonate all his energy.
When the light was at its highest point, Barbani looked at Han Xiao deeply and said firmly, “We’re hopeless. No matter who you are, don’t lose!”
Boom!
The next moment, a violent explosion spread out, and Barbani exploded, turning into bright fireworks.
Han Xiao was slightly moved.
The actions of this ‘awakened’ were far more decisive than he had imagined. Only strong hatred could drive him to make such a choice.
I might have underestimated this move…
However, there was no time to think about it. Han Xiao quickly put away the mechanical equipment and activated the short-range teleportation device.
After a while, a spatial rift suddenly appeared in this area and out extended the roots of the World Tree. A huge fleet sailed out and quickly turned from illusory to solid. Several Holy Tree Emissaries descended and checked the scene.
“The Information Form alert has just issued the highest warning, indicating that the most serious information leak has occurred!”
The Holy Tree Emissaries had solemn expressions. They had rushed over as soon as they received the alarm.
Not long ago, the World Tree had shared what it had seen through the mental network, causing them to all be shocked.
“Barbani betrayed us? How is that possible?”
“He actually leaked the secret!”
“What happened? How did the outsider bewitch him?”
“He has turned back into a seed. We’ll have to wait for him to mature again before we can ask him what’s going on.”
The Holy Tree Emissaries could not understand this situation because no one had ever betrayed the World Tree, not even having the thought of betraying it.
At this time, more and more spatial rifts opened up, and roots extended out, sending batches of fleets and experts over.
Suddenly, the Tree King’s cold voice sounded in everyone’s mind. “Kill him; don’t let this outsider leave alive!”
In the bright star space, Han Xiao’s figure was speeding away.
“So, that’s what happened. Information Form alert…”
Thinking back to the information he had just received, Han Xiao’s expression was grave.
Barbani had told him quite a lot of secrets, including the Information Form warning networks, high-dimensional information vision, and so on. Han Xiao finally knew how the other party had discovered him, and he could not help but have a headache.
Unless he possessed Information Form technology that surpassed the World Tree, such detection methods were almost impossible to solve. No wonder the three Universal Civilizations had exposed themselves so quickly. It was indeed difficult for outsiders to do anything in the World Tree Civilization’s territory.
When he triggered the alert, it should have been because he had observed the earth yellow planet and the World Tree Root at a close distance. As an outsider, he had interacted with the World Tree Civilization’s information gathering, so he had been discovered. That was why the Holy Tree Emissary had come to check, using his high-dimensional information vision to track the traces he had left behind. Even with the mark of Destiny’s Child, it was not effective in completely shielding him.
It was like having an extremely strong sixth sense. Anyone looking at him would allow him to be able to sense the direction of their gaze, and it might even be able to allow him to pinpoint their position.
“This won’t be easy. I don’t think I’ll have a chance to complete this mission…”
Most importantly, as long as the alarm was not triggered, the World Tree would not be able to detect it even if he left a trace.
However, now that he had been discovered, the World Tree Emissaries could follow the traces and track him. Under such circumstances, if he used the energy of Destiny’s Child to encircle the area, he was worried that he would be discovered by the high-dimensional information vision, and this would make it inconvenient for him to even leave a Throne behind.
According to the system of the Information Form Alert Net, it was not impossible to avoid it. As long as he had the awareness to avoid the interaction of information and only flew within the barren universe, not coming into contact with anything related to the World Tree, it was still possible to hide. Just like when he first teleported over, there was no information entanglement, so the World Tree did not discover it.
However, this was easier said than done. At the very least, the alarm had already been triggered this time, so there was basically no chance to hide anymore.
As for the other secrets, Barbani had also told him some of them. Some of them were already known by Han Xiao, and some were unknown to him.
The most important thing to him was the ability of the World Tree to sense the external locations where there was information about it. The more people who knew about it, or the deeper the conflict between the two sides, the more accurate the directions to the explored universe would be. This was not good. “Although the three Universal Civilizations hid the information, they still let a portion of their people know about this in order to explore in secret… If we don’t take further measures to keep it a secret, the number of people who know will only increase.” Han Xiao’s eyes twitched.
The more one knew, the easier it would be to sense them. The World Tree’s anti-tracking ability was too troublesome.
It was a pity that this information did not contain the coordinates of the World Tree’s main body. According to Barbani, he had never read any related information in the mind network. None of the Holy Tree Emissaries or upper echelons that he had come into contact with knew anything about it either.
Even so, the value of this intelligence exceeded all the results of the previous explorations. It was probably the biggest gain of this trip. Only after uncovering the various methods of the World Tree could they take measures against it.
“Luckily, virtual purification is effective. Otherwise, I would not have been able to obtain these secrets.”
Han Xiao thought that he was lucky. The intelligence that he had now exceeded that of his previous life.
After witnessing Barbani’s resolute action, he realized that the effect of virtual purification might be beyond his expectations. There were many foreign races that had been assimilated by the World Tree. If everyone received the same awakening through purification, they could all become potential spies.
The World Tree would definitely target this move once it was prepared. Once someone ‘lost control’, it would immediately rewrite their mind and cause the duration of the virtual purification to plummet. However, at the very least, they should be able to have some time for self-destruction. This way, the foreign experts that the World Tree devoured might not be of any use.
However, the emissaries of the World Tree would not completely die. Once one died, they would turn into a seed and return to the World Tree, falling into a deep slumber. The World Tree could consume resources and time to mature the seed, allowing them to reawaken and revive. The mechanism was somewhat similar to the Underworld, but there were also subtle differences.
The foundation of an Underworld Spirit’s existence was its soul. By obtaining a physical body, it could recover its combat power. As long as the Hero Spirit existed, it did not matter if its body died because it was still ‘alive’.
The revival mechanism of the World Tree was different. It was an information-type ability, and every individual was unique. Because of the World Tree’s connection, the information was refreshed in real time. When an individual died, they would not be able to maintain their consciousness like Hero Spirits, and their thoughts would become dormant as though they had really died, turning into ‘seeds’. Only when the World Tree replenished their nutrients could they be revived.
From this perspective, the revival of the World Tree and the Sanctums had similarities. However, the revival of the Sanctums only required the activation of the Sanctum and did not require additional resources and time. The revival of the World Tree required a lot of resources and time, which meant that as long as one died, they would not be able to revive in a short period of time.
Han Xiao could not help but think of the ‘military barracks’ of the strategy games he played in his previous life. The production units needed to be trained, and the stronger the unit, the longer it would take.
“The revival principles of the World Tree and the Sanctums are related to the information form, but there is a unique principle. What will happen if the Sanctums revive the expert that has been devoured by the World Tree first? Will the connection still exist?”
Han Xiao could not help but be curious.
If it was possible, the Sanctum Revival might be able to continuously take away the powerhouses controlled by the World Tree, causing the strength of both parties to even out.
However, the possibility of failure could not be ruled out. After all, the individual had a symbiotic relationship with the World Tree, so even if the individual died, as long as the individual’s information form template still existed, the individual who died might be judged by the Sanctum as still alive. That way, they would not be able to revive and would forever be enslaved.
Furthermore, according to the mechanism of the World Tree, Han Xiao even suspected that the World Tree was like the previous owner of the Underworld, keeping the information form of his subordinates and not allowing them to enter the Sanctum. Thus, there was no way for them to revive.
Han Xiao pondered. “For now, I can only guess. I’ll only know if I try it myself… Hmm, but it’s not convenient to take the risk now.”
Since Barbani was dead, Han Xiao did not want to take the risk of using the Sanctum Revival. If the connection between the World Tree was not broken because of this, it would bring many more risks. This could be tested after the war broke out. At that time, he would not have to worry about being discovered.
All kinds of thoughts flashed through Han Xiao’s mind. After digesting the new information, he opened the interface.
The mission (Nowhere to Hide] that he had triggered previously had been completed, and he immediately collected the rewards.
A notification popped up on his interface, showing that he had received 210,000,000 Experience, two Random Reward chances, and a Barbani Character Summon Card. However, the card was an offensive skill and was not very useful to him.
Other than that, it also indicated that the Favorability of the World Tree Faction had greatly decreased. At the same time, a new mission was activated.
You have triggered the urgent mission: World Tree’s Rage!
Mission Introduction: Your actions angered the World Tree, and it sees you as a huge threat. It has decided to launch a large-scale operation to hunt you down.
Mission Requirements: Face the pursuers and escape from the territory of the World Tree Civilization.
Reward depends on mission rating. Mission rating depends on the amount of resistance put forth while escaping.
Remarks: The moment you activate this mission, it means that the World Tree has remembered you. No matter when it discovers you, it will hunt you down. This will take effect permanently.
“Heh, I really poked a hornet’s nest.”
Han Xiao clicked his tongue.
It seemed that the virtual purification had left a deep impression on the World Tree, and it saw him as the number one threat. As long as he was discovered, the World Tree would immediately chase after him.
The mission itself was very simple. If he wanted to escape, he could just use the King suit to escape. However, the rating depended on resistance. If he completed the mission so easily, he would probably get the lowest rating He did not have a chance to complete his original mission this time, so he could only come again at some point. However, Han Xiao thought for a while and did not plan to retreat immediately.
Since he had been discovered, he might as well use virtual purification to obtain more intelligence and kill some of the World Tree powerhouses at the same time, allowing them to return to their seed state and temporarily reduce the World Tree’s advanced combat power. It was a pity that he did not know what would happen to the connection between the World Tree and the individual after the Spacetime Amber sealed the target. He did not dare take the risk at the moment, afraid that he would be remotely located after taking the amber away.
“However, this is the enemy’s base camp after all. There are many strong people here, and there are many factors that can threaten me. If I treat this too casually, I’m afraid I’ll fail.”
Han Xiao calmed himself down and took out bombs that were specially used to remove traces. As he sped forward, he set them up along the way.
This type of bomb could remove the usual traces of information form, other than the high-dimensional information forms, preventing the information form from being read by the Information Form Camera.
Setting up these bombs could also expand the area that the World Tree Army could not detect, which was beneficial to him.
Behind Han Xiao was a huge fleet in pursuit.
In the command room, a group of Beyond Grade As looked out the window, using the power of the World Tree to light up the high-dimensional information traces.
“The outsiders have begun to eliminate their traces on a large scale. The other party already knows about the existence of the Information Form Camera from Barbani’s mouth. This is most likely a targeted measure… Send more people to search the area to prevent the outsiders from leaving anything behind.”
The tall figure standing at the front slowly spoke with an unquestionable tone. Everyone present followed his lead.
Tedrian, a Nine Leaf Executive Officer, was in charge of this chase and was the highest ranked person present.
There were five Great Tree Kings in the World Tree, and each of them had two Executive Officers who were ranked from One Leaf to Ten Leaf.
The Tree Kings were usually in a deep sleep, absorbing the power of the World Tree to strengthen themselves. Therefore, these Executive Officers were the highest Executive Officers who dealt with the affairs of the World Tree Civilization. Not only did they have a high position and authority, they also had powerful personal strength. None of the Executive Officers under the Kings were below the pinnacle Beyond Grade A level.
Other than him, there were other pinnacle Beyond Grade As in the room.
“If we just chase from behind, it will be easy for the other party to escape. I’ve already informed some Holy Tree Emissaries to use their roots to intercept them,” a person beside him said with a deep voice. This was a high-level Holy Tree Emissary. He had a deeper connection with the World Tree, as well as stronger personal strength. He was far from what Barbani could compare to.
“There seems to be only one outsider. He’s very strong, at least at the level of an executive officer. Be careful not to let him ambush you,” another person said. This time, it was an ancestral spirit. This identity was usually responsible for matters related to faith.
The person who spoke was not an ordinary ancestral spirit but a member of the Thirteen Ancestral Spirits’. This represented the strongest thirteen of the ancestral spirits, all of which were at the pinnacle of Beyond Grade A.
“Don’t worry, His Excellency Tree King has been paying attention. If the situation isn’t right, he will come personally,” Tedrian replied coldly before looking back.
“Barbani was bewitched by others, but there are no weak-minded people who are following me in this pursuit. I hope all of you can resist the strange bewitching methods of the outsiders.”
Everyone nodded.
Although the World Tree did not know the theory behind the virtual purification, it felt threatened when it saw the performance of Barbani through the mental network.
To be on the safe side, the people who were sent to chase after the World Tree were all individuals who were loyal to the World Tree. There were no ‘outsiders’ who had their mindset overwritten.
Right at this moment, the World Tree experts in the command room suddenly stopped moving. The movement in their High Dimensional Information Vision suddenly split into seven and headed in different directions.
“The outsider threw out bait to confuse our tracking; they are trying to disperse our manpower. It seems like they have the intention to retaliate.”
Seeing this, Tedrian narrowed his eyes and said with a solemn tone.
One of the thirteen Ancestral Spirits, Roxilian, stroked his beard-like small tentacles on his chin out of habit and said slowly, “In this case, we can only split up. We can’t ignore any trail.”
Although the High Dimensional Information Vision could see through ‘Information Closure’ and track the traces, it could not trace back to the specific details like the Information Form camera.
The World Tree still had its limits, so they could not immediately tell which one of the seven tracks Han Xiao was on. Only by collecting enough information samples could they differentiate the traces. This would take some time, and they would have to follow the trail and collect samples to lock onto the outsider.
If the goal of the outsider was to escape, scattering thousands of trails was a good way to mix things up, and it was enough to stall for more time. However, since there were only seven trails, Tedrian guessed that the outsider had not given up and wanted to fight back.
Even if the other six trails were just bait, they had to deal with them to prevent the outsider from leaving their troops or other dangerous things in the territory of the civilization.
“Then let’s gather more people. Our reinforcements are very fast anyway.”
The high-level Holy Tree Emissary Offerman nodded in agreement.
The group did not have any objections. In the territory of the World Tree Civilization, they could travel quickly on the World Tree roots. As long as someone discovered the target and shared their location through the mental network, the others would arrive quickly.
“Leave some people to act as mobile support troops. The rest will split up.”
Tedrian nodded.
Not only were they chasing from behind, but they were also following the direction of the trails, allowing some troops to pass directly to the front and intercept them. After confirming the changes in the trail, they would keep on shrinking the range.
The troops of the World Tree were constantly mobilized, gradually forming a large encirclement.
A fleet followed one of the trails for quite some distance, and the Holy Tree Emissary on the ship focused on maintaining the High Dimensional Information Vision.
At this time, a message came from the mental network. The sender was the intercepting troop in front of this trail.
“There’s no follow-up information trail ahead. We’re turning back and heading toward you, narrowing the search radius. Be careful.”
Hearing this, the Holy Tree Emissary immediately perked up.
They were some distance away from the intercepting troop. Since the trail ahead had been cut off, it meant that the target was likely within this distance, and it was very likely that they would meet each other.
“Be careful. The enemy is close,” the Holy Tree Emissary instructed the crew. He carefully sensed his surroundings and was a little angry.
It was a pity that the Information Form Camera was of no use this time. Otherwise, they would have no need to be so careful regardless of what the enemy had planned.
After traveling for some distance, an alarm suddenly sounded on the spaceship’s radar.
“High energy attacks detected. Shield activated. Please watch out!”
At the same time, beams of light shot over from afar, penetrating the fleet’s formation and quickly destroying many battleships.
“Enemy attack!”
The Holy Tree Emissary shuddered, and without hesitation, he called for reinforcements through the mental network before immediately activating his energy shield to protect himself.
A small mechanical troop surrounded by golden Mechanical Force suddenly charged over from the distance, closing in rapidly and firing continuously.
In the High Dimensional Information Vision, the source of this trail was this troop, but the outsider did not seem to be here.
“It seems like the trail I’m chasing is just bait.” The Holy Tree Emissary had a frustrated expression, as though he was regretful that he had not caught up to the outsider.
At this time, spatial rifts appeared around them, and many roots extended out. Reinforcements quickly arrived, and several Beyond Grade As arrived.
Seeing this mechanical troop fighting with the fleet, everyone knew that this path was not where the outsider was.
“One trail removed; there are six left.”
“Let’s get rid of these mechanical troops first. Let the Holy Tree swallow them and analyze the information.”
Without any hesitation, they charged forward, planning to end the battle quickly.
However, at this moment, one of the mechanical soldiers suddenly self-destructed, and a blue psionic light burst out, instantly swallowing the surrounding mechanical soldiers. The light expanded rapidly like it would never stop. “Damn it, it’s Primordial Psionic Energy!” The expressions of the World Tree experts changed drastically; they hurriedly stopped and retreated The encircling fleet also dispersed and turned to leave immediately. However, there were still some spaceships that could not escape in time and were swallowed by the Primordial Psionic Energy.
The larger the sphere of light was, the faster it expanded. All matter and energy that came into contact with it were assimilated, and psionic energy expanded continuously.
However, at this moment, spatial rifts appeared once again. The World Tree roots extended from the cracks and stabbed into the psionic energy ball and absorbed its energy rapidly like sucking a jelly. Only then did the psionic ball stop expanding and slowly shrink until it disappeared.
Everything that had been devoured by the psionic energy before was completely destroyed.
The World Tree experts who had run far away finally stopped, their faces ashen.
This was not the stable secondary psionic energy but the violent Primordial Psionic Energy and quite large at that. Although they were Beyond Grade As, they did not want to test the Primordial Psionic Energy’s strength with their bodies.
The Holy Tree Emissary had a lingering fear in his heart, and he angrily said, “That outsider must have set up Primordial Psionic Energy on all the bait to blast the pursuers to oblivion. Tell the others to be careful!”
The news quickly spread from the mental network to their comrades. Every chasing team immediately became cautious.
“A troop has already detonated…?”
Han Xiao was speeding through the universe when he suddenly sensed the Mechanical Force feedback.
Not long ago, he had sent out six mechanical troops to split up. On one hand, they were to split up the forces of the pursuers, and on the other hand, they served to act as a ward to see the size of the pursuers. The mechanical army did not enjoy the protection of the Destiny’s Child’s Mark, which meant that all their actions would be seen through by the Information Form Camera. However, after receiving the Mechanical Force link, the mechanical army would be able to share the disguise of the Destiny’s Child’s Mark and become bait.
Han Xiao had left some tricks with the bait, and the Primordial Psionic Energy was one of them. He did not mind spreading psionic energy pollution in the World Tree Civilization’s territory. Planting mushrooms in the enemy’s home would not only damage the pursuers but also wipe out his own troops, preventing them from being swallowed by the World Tree.
However, he did not count on the Primordial Psionic Energy causing too much damage to the other party. After experiencing the war in his previous life, Han Xiao knew very well that the World Tree’s ability to devour energy was just as effective against the Primordial Psionic Energy. This way of dealing with the psionic pollution was much more convenient than the three Universal Civilizations’ method.
At this time, Han Xiao suddenly felt something. He turned around and saw a spatial rift not far ahead from which a World Tree fleet appeared.
“Found him!”
The Holy Tree emissary leading this intercepting fleet was both surprised and delighted. He immediately sent the location through the mental network.
Seeing this, Han Xiao turned around to attack. Golden Mechanical Force was released, and a large mechanical army emerged, bombarding the fleet unreservedly.
With his current energy level, the destructive power of his mechanical army was already shocking. It destroyed this small intercepting fleet almost instantly.
The Holy Tree Emissary hurriedly dodged and defended, but he was unable to withstand the firepower of the mechanical army. He was riddled with wounds immediately and was scared out of his wits.
At this time, spatial rifts appeared around him one after another. The first batch of reinforcements from the World Tree Civilization quickly arrived, and Han Xiao sensed five Beyond Grade As’ energy.
However, he did not care. His energy erupted as he charged forward. A portion of his mechanical soldiers quickly gathered and turned into a small Mechanical Deity, almost instantly arriving in front of the injured Holy Tree Emissary.
Splitting rays were released from the fingertips of the Mechanical Deity, tearing apart the defense of this Holy Tree Emissary in the blink of an eye. Han Xiao activated the device in his palm; a spatial shockwave shot out, temporarily freezing the target in midair. Then, he threw a punch at the horrified Holy Tree Emissary.
Boom!
Shockwave erupted. The accumulated power of [Charge-Endless Potential] hit the Holy Tree Emissary’s body with full force. The powerful force crushed his muscles and bones, and even his cells instantly withered.
Green blood exploded in midair. This Holy Tree Emissary’s body disappeared, leaving only bloodstains on the mechanical fist.
With one punch, his HP was emptied! “You aren’t even an S+ rank, yet you dare to block my path. Do you think I flew so far for nothing? Let’s start this by killing one!”
Han Xiao grinned.
The combat information showed that this Holy Tree Emissary’s Energy Rank was less than 50,000, slightly weaker than Barbani. He had moved quite far, and the power of [Charge—Endless Potential] had stacked quite a lot. Together with the focus fire of the mechanical army, he insta-killed this Holy Tree Emissary.
He did not waste any time and immediately changed his target. He led his mechanical army and charged toward the five World Tree experts who had just arrived. The upgraded Celestial Punishment Edge was unfolded in his hands and slashed. The surging psionic energy turned into a sharp blade. “Dodge!”
Seeing how Han Xiao had insta-killed their comrade, the expressions of the five World Tree experts changed drastically. They did not dare take the attack head-on and quickly left the fleet behind to escape.
Boom!
The fleet could not dodge in time. The battleships along the path were crushed by the Celestial Punishment Edge, instantly exploding into fireworks. The fragments of the battleships were swept up by the blade, turning into hot lava that splashed on the surrounding spaceships and burned their shields.
Han Xiao used Virtual Purification on the five of them. However, the five of them only swayed slightly before returning to normal. They did not look lost like Barbani.
“Is the World Tree on guard? It didn’t send foreign races to chase after me. It reacted quite quickly.”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, but he was not surprised. He turned his blade and locked onto the weakest of the five people shown by the combat information. He charged forward, scaring the other party so much that he turned and fled.
The other four people hurriedly launched long-range attacks from the side, trying to restrain Han Xiao. However, it was like scratching an itch. Their focused fire could not even penetrate the Mechanical Deity’s shield; Han Xiao could not even be bothered to block.
At this time, more and more reinforcements arrived. When these World Tree experts saw this, they immediately joined the battle. The number of people surrounding Han Xiao rapidly increased to double digits, and it was still rising
However, what shocked the many World Tree experts was that even though the number of attackers had reached double digits, this outsider was still able to run amok as though there was no one around. He ignored the damage and only attacked without defending. He endured the focused fire of so many people and killed an Ancestral Spirit that he had locked onto. This gave them the second casualty!
However, as more and more reinforcements arrived, the group finally managed to tie down this outsider and stop his killing spree.
Not long after the battle, Tedrian and the others also arrived on the battlefield on the World Tree Express. They immediately saw the Mechanical Deity, which was protected by a large number of mechanical soldiers, fighting dozens of World Tree powerhouses without being suppressed.
“This outsider’s combat strength is too excessive!” Tedrian’s expression changed slightly.
“Could it be that he comes from a civilization with extremely advanced individual strength?” Offerman was shocked.
Looking at the chaotic battlefield, Roxilian was terrified. “It seems like I was too conservative in the past. He’s definitely at the level of a Tree King!”
The three of them had previously judged Han Xiao’s combat strength from what happened to Barbani, but now, they realized that this outsider’s strength was a little frightening, far beyond their expectations. “The situation isn’t right. I have to summon the Tree King.”
Tedrian made a prompt decision and immediately contacted his superior through the mental network.
This time, the Mechanical Deity suddenly unleashed its full power, temporarily forcing back the surrounding people.
The next moment, the Mechanical Deity disintegrated and revealed Han Xiao. The mechanical troops around him shrank rapidly and were absorbed into his body.
Han Xiao looked at the situation on the battlefield. There were more than thirty Beyond Grade As who had come to help, and there were even a few peak Beyond Grade As. Under such circumstances, there was basically no chance for him to continue killing. Furthermore, the World Tree was still sending in reinforcements, and if he stayed there, he would definitely be kicked around like a ball. Furthermore, the World Tree did not lack top-notch individual strength, and the five Great Tree Kings were each stronger than the last.
He turned to look at Tedrian and the others and narrowed his eyes.
“Tedrian, Roxilian, Offerman… Hehe, they’re all familiar faces.”
During the war in his previous life, there were casualties among the experts of the explored universe and the World Tree Civilization. Han Xiao naturally knew some of the powerful figures of the World Tree.
If he did not remember incorrectly, all three of them had blood of Beyond Grade As on their hands in his previous life. The previous owner of the Spacetime Amber had his head smashed by Tedrian, causing this Universal Treasure to fall into the hands of the World Tree Civilization. Later on, he was killed by Karlot.
Just as Han Xiao was recalling, something happened. Another World Tree root appeared, and a powerful pressure far exceeding that of the others spread out.
The next second, a tall figure with an imposing aura descended. His long white hair hung loosely, and his eyes were cold. His entire body was surrounded by blue-green light, mixed with dark-red electric arcs.
This person had a light green mark on his forehead, shaped like a burning flame. He was currently staring at Han Xiao. “Yo, here comes a strong man.”
Han Xiao raised his brows.
One of the five great Tree Kings, ‘Subduing Tree King’ Saint Grace Bellandor, a Pugilist. In his previous life, he caused huge casualties in the explored universe. ‘Dragon King’ Milizaus and ‘Beast Ancestor’ Gorutan had both died to him. In the end, Karlot and ‘Love Carrier’ Silver Shadow merged and killed him with great difficulty, almost dying together.
In his previous life, during the war, he had personally witnessed the Subduing Tree King attacking many times, and he had even been killed more than twenty times just by the shockwaves. It had left a deep impression on him.
“If I can kill you, the revival time will definitely be quite long…” Han Xiao had this thought, but after looking at the dozens of World Tree experts around him, he immediately dismissed it. If it was a duel, he would not be afraid of the other party. However, in the enemy’s base camp, it was basically impossible for him to do this.
At this time, the World Tree experts who had been forced back earlier were about to surround him again.
However, right in front of everyone’s eyes, Han Xiao’s figure suddenly disappeared, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
“How did he disappear? Has the space anchor lost its effect?”
Tedrian was shocked.
In order to prevent the outsider from teleporting away, they had locked this space during the battle. Logically speaking, other than the World Tree Express, which was unique to the civilization’s territory, no other teleportation methods should work.
However, he soon received a reply from the others on the mental network, saying that the space lockdown was normal.
“He actually escaped in this almost impossible situation?” Roxilian was unhappy.
“It seems like he has some kind of special teleportation method that can ignore a spacetime anchor… Then we have no choice.” Offerman frowned.
The group was instantly discouraged. They had finally surrounded their prey, and even the Tree King had personally descended. But they actually failed at the crucial moment.
Tedrian had no choice but to bow to the Tree King. “Your Excellency Tree King, we did not do our job well and let this outsider escape.” The Subduing Tree King glanced at him and said indifferently, “He escaped quite fast. Otherwise, I would have given him to the Mother Tree to devour and grasp the location of this foreign civilization.”
“Sorry, I ruined your plan. It’s my… Hmm?”
Tedrian was about to continue his self-reflection when he suddenly stopped, his expression turning interesting.
At the same time, everyone present received the same message through the mental network.
The pursuing troops that had gone to chase after the other ‘bait’ had suddenly encountered the outsider and were completely wiped out. The Holy Tree Emissary, who had led the team, only had time to send out a distress signal before the sound disappeared. He was dead.
Tedrian’s face turned dark with anger.
“This outsider did not leave! He finished another troop!”
At the same time, at the location of one ‘bait’ mechanical troop, Han Xiao grabbed a dying Holy Tree Emissary and broke his head.
Then, he took back the Throne that this mechanical troop was carrying and smirked.
He did not just put Primordial Psionic Energy in these ‘bait’ teams; he had also given each team a Throne without caring about the losses.
This time, he did not bring much equipment with him when he came to the territory of the World Tree Civilization other than bringing many Kings.
After so many years, he had used his banknote ability to accumulate a large number of Kings, so he did not need to worry about them.
Throwing away the corpse, Han Xiao licked his lips.
“Indeed, we have to fight in other people’s homes.”
Just as Han Xiao was about to use the King suit to teleport and finish another fleet, spatial rifts appeared around him, and the troops that had surrounded him earlier rushed over again.
However, before Tedrian and the others could arrive, Han Xiao changed into another King and disappeared in front of everyone. This time, he was teleported to a ‘bait’ team that had yet to be caught.
When the Tree King, Tedrian, and the others arrived, they were only left with the wreckage of the fleet and the corpse of another Holy Tree emissary.
“Damn it!”
Tedrian was furious.
Even though the World Tree Express’ reinforcement speed in its territory was already fast enough, they were still a step too late, allowing the outsider to kill another one of their companions. The other Holy Tree Emissaries and Ancestral Spirits also had gloomy expressions.
High Dimensional Information Vision had locked onto the target. Everyone had thought that this outsider had nowhere to run, but they did not expect him to have such a method, catching them off guard. Although the other party’s trails were still visible, he teleported to another bait team that had yet to be caught, so they could not immediately lock onto Han Xiao’s position. They had to retrace the trails.
The three Universal Civilizations did not know much about the World Tree, but equally, the World Tree Civilization had even less of an understanding about the explored universe. This was also the first time they had seen the King’s teleportation method. “If that’s the case, the outsider might appear in other bait trails at any time. The trails are dangerous, and it’s very likely that the pursuing troops will be killed instead…” Roxilian’s face turned grave.
When they thought of the outsider’s strength, they could not help but feel a chill down their spines. They could chase after him, but it was hard to say who would be the unlucky one.
“This outsider definitely wants to use this method to chip away at our forces. As long as we split up and chase after him, there will be a risk of us being killed. However, we have to chase after him and not let this level of strength roam freely in our territory… Speaking of which, what kind of civilization does he come from? To actually send out a Super of this level to take the risk alone, could it be that this civilization has many high-level combatants of the same level?” Offerman said with unease.
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When they thought about how the outsider was not only strong individually but also had this kind of powerful mobility method, most of the people present felt a deep sense of fear.
Just one person had caused them so much trouble, running amok in their territory. This was a provocation to the entire World Tree Civilization.
Originally, it was a one-sided hunt, but not only did the outsider not flee, he even treated them as prey. They did not expect to fall into a passive situation in their own territory. This was something that had never happened before.
After fighting in the universe for so many years, which hostile civilization would not make careful probes when coming into contact with them? They had never seen such an arrogant guy.
“… No matter what, we have to solve this problem,” Tedrian said with a deep voice. “Wake up those guys who are not showing themselves and join the pursuit!”
For the time being, he did not think of a way to deal with the strange teleportation ability of the outsider. However, since the target of the outsider was to kill the lone troops, it was a good idea to increase the manpower of every pursuing force to restrict the other party so that he could not deal any damage before the reinforcements arrived.
However, Tedrian was very worried that the outsider would send out another batch of bait to force them to split up. Initially, he could have collected a high-dimensional information sample to lock onto the outsider’s route, but the other party’s teleportation method made it possible for every ‘bait’ to turn into the main body, so there was no way to tell.
With that, Tedrian turned to look at the Tree King and nodded. “Your Excellency Tree King, what do you think?”
The Subduing Tree King had been listening to the discussion and did not interrupt. He then said slowly, “Notify me when you surround him… Also, I will clear out this Star Field and lock it down. There’s no need to care about the losses.”
After saying that, Subduing Tree King turned into a turquoise stream of light and disappeared among the World Tree roots.
He had already made a wasted trip this time, and it was likely that he would not be able to get rid of the outsider anytime soon. He did not want to be messed around along with the others.
Hearing this, Tedrian and the others heaved a sigh of relief.
The planets in the World Tree Civilization’s territory were not formed naturally. Instead, they were high-value planets that the World Tree had ‘regurgitated’ using Information Form. They could freeze the current evolution at any time, swallow it back, store it in the information state, and restore it in another location.
With this characteristic, the World Tree was like a mobile base, taking away the entire civilization and relocating its base in the universe to deal with all kinds of situations. It was almost born for war.
Clearing this Star Field meant letting the World Tree take back all the planets and creatures in this area. This way, they did not have to worry about the outsider wreaking havoc everywhere.
Only the Tree Kings were given this level of authority by the World Tree and could give such an order to the World Tree. The others did not have the authority to do so.
However, the World Tree could not leave as it wished. After changing the location of the base camp, it had to ‘take root’ in this area from the beginning and turn into its own information assembly points, ‘fusing’ with each other. Some abilities could only be used in areas after fusion, such as the World Tree Express, which could only travel quickly in one’s own territory like the stargates. In other places in the universe, it was impossible to arrive as casually as now.
Ohm!
At this moment, spatial rifts appeared again, and many troops that had received Tedrian’s summons came to reinforce them.
Among them were many high-level Holy Tree Emissaries and Ancestral Spirits who had woken up from their deep sleep. There were also a few executive officers who had arrived, as well as some high-ranking military generals who were in charge of foreign battles. The size of the group was snowballing.
Although the opponent was only one person, the World Tree gave him a very high level of treatment. An army of this size was more than enough for a universal war.
The pursuit battle continued, and ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the past few days, Han Xiao had been kiting around this Star Field to deal with the encirclement of the World Tree’s troops.
He split up the bait troops time and time again, constantly using King’s teleportation to cut through the pursuing troops of the World Tree. Sometimes, he set up a Throne, but sometimes, it was just Primordial Psionic Energy bombs mixed with fake ones. At the same time, he also used the King’s positioning function to repeatedly warp around, making the World Tree troops suffer. The King was like a god of guerrilla warfare. Using this tactic, Han Xiao obtained some results, killing six Beyond Grade As. However, as the World Tree experts gathered, it became more and more difficult to kill the enemies in every battle. Every pursuing force had a sufficient number of experts, enough to restrain Han Xiao for a short while. In the blink of an eye, dozens of Beyond Grade As would appear as reinforcements. With the peak Beyond Grade As appearing, Han Xiao was forced to reduce the time of each battle, not daring to stay in one place.
Furthermore, the size of the World Tree fleet was too large, and they surrounded the entire Star Field. Han Xiao’s guerrilla warfare range also decreased, and the time it took for the pursuing troops to catch up to the bait was getting shorter.
At the same time, Han Xiao also realized that the navigation star map had lost its effect. The planets in this area seemed to have disappeared, and he could not locate them accurately.
“Could it be that the World Tree swallowed all the nearby planets? To deal with me alone, it actually paid such a large price.”
In the empty space, Han Xiao sped forward alone while pondering.
This was somewhat out of his expectations. Only the World Tree had such rich assets and did not care about such a small loss, resolutely clearing out the field.
After more than ten days of guerrilla warfare, he had already fought the World Tree experts almost a hundred times and met a lot of ‘acquaintances’. Other than the Tree King, almost all the pursuers had fought him.
Although he did not get the chance to kill the enemies later, Han Xiao was able to obtain a lot of information about the attributes of the World Tree experts through combat information. He also learned about the specific abilities of many of his opponents, which was all extremely valuable information.
“My guerrilla warfare range is getting smaller and smaller. If this goes on, I’ll be blocked very soon. Furthermore, I can’t kill the enemy’s experts now. There’s no need to continue guerrilla warfare…” It was true that the World Tree could not restrain the King’s guerrilla tactics, but this was their base camp; they could destroy all tactics with their army.
Although guerrilla warfare was good, when faced with the overwhelming strength of the World Tree Civilization and the rapid reinforcement system, it was reaching its limits.
“Time to slip away.”
Han Xiao nodded inwardly.
Although he did not complete the map this time, the harvest was beyond his expectations. Not only did he obtain a lot of important intelligence, he also sent several World Tree experts to heaven. This was more than he had expected, so he could retreat. It would not be good if he stayed.
However, before he left, Han Xiao wanted to find an opportunity to meet the Tree King and find out more about the other party’s combat information.
“All the bait has been cleared, and there’s only one high-dimensional information trail left. The outsider has not sent any more bait, so we can lock onto his main body.”
In the command room of the main ship, Tedrian looked at the current situation; his gloomy expression that had lasted for over ten days finally disappeared.
“We’ve finally surrounded him. This outsider is too difficult to deal with.”
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. God knew how they had spent the past ten days. An outsider had disturbed their peace.
The number of World Tree experts participating in the chase was much higher than ten days ago. There were six high-level Holy Tree Emissaries, seven of the thirteen Ancestral Spirits, and a few military commanders and executives. There were about twenty peak Beyond Grade As with an Energy Rank above 71,000, which was equivalent to two-fifths of all the peak Beyond Grade As of the World Tree Civilization.
At this moment, a high-ranking general in a military uniform coldly said, “Don’t be too happy yet. Since he has such a teleportation method, there’s a high chance he can escape.”
Hearing this, everyone was a little helpless. They naturally understood this logic, but after researching for more than ten days, they still could not crack the teleportation method of the outsider. Their requirements had already decreased from killing the outsider to banishing him.
“Let’s chase the outsider away first before considering what happens next. This might be the strongest civilization we’ve ever encountered,” Tedrian replied with a frown.
At this time, everyone’s mental network suddenly received a message. The pursuing troops had finally caught up to the outsider’s main body and shared the coordinates.
“Go!”
The faces of everyone present turned dim. They immediately activated the World Tree’s Express and quickly moved through the roots.
Not long after, they arrived at their destination.
The outsider was floating in space and did not attack the pursuing troops like before. The pursuing troops were waiting for reinforcements and did not dare take the initiative to attack. For a time, there was no movement on either side. Seeing this, many World Tree experts turned into streams of light and shot out of the fleet, landing around Han Xiao and forming an encirclement. More reinforcements were also arriving unceasingly. The number of Beyond Grade As present quickly approached a hundred, surrounding Han Xiao like a tiger eying its prey. Due to the elimination of all the bait this time, the outsider could no longer use guerrilla warfare to trick them. Tedrian then informed the Subduing Tree King. Boom!
The next moment, the Tree King’s figure descended rapidly, and his oppressive might swept through the entire place.
“Your Excellency Tree King.”
Tedrian and the many World Tree experts greeted him in the mental network. The Subduing Tree King looked at the situation and nodded. “You have finally surrounded him. Why aren’t you attacking?”
“This outsider seems to be fearless. He will probably use that teleportation method to escape our territory,” Tedrian explained.
Just as the two of them were conversing, Han Xiao suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the Subduing Tree King. He then curled his finger; energy fluctuations increased steadily, locking onto Subduing Tree King.
Seeing this action, everyone present understood what the outsider meant. He was provoking their Tree King.
The Subduing Tree King looked at Han Xiao with an expressionless face. He casually raised his hand and waved it down.
“Get rid of him.”
Ten minutes later, in a certain space deep in the secondary dimension world, a light suddenly flashed; a figure fell out of nowhere and landed on a boundless, white sea of sand. It was as if it lost its balance and staggered. Han Xiao barely managed to stabilize himself. He took a deep breath and put away the dark gold King mechanical suit, revealing his body that was covered in wounds. Blood spurted out from his wounds and seeped into the sand. Very soon, the ground was dyed golden red. There were large scorch marks on his body, and his cells were dying.
“Phew… almost lost my life. One against a hundred is indeed too much. Ouch, it hurts.”
A burning pain filled his entire body, as though every single cell in his body was screaming in pain. Han Xiao’s face trembled slightly. He took out a syringe and injected a tube of highly concentrated life essence from Aurora into his body. A numbing and comfortable feeling immediately swept through his body, suppressing the pain and filling his body with warmth.
The pale golden light surged, and the wounds on Han Xiao’s body quickly closed up, restoring his body to its peak state. There were only congealed blood stains left.
It was quite a close call just now. The combined strength of more than a hundred Beyond Grade As had exceeded his limit, and there were more than twenty peak Beyond Grade As, as well as experts at the level of the Tree Guardian King. However, he was fighting alone.
They were all Beyond Grade As, so even if his combat capability was off the charts, as long as he did not break through to a new level, he could not completely ignore the difference in numbers. Just the Subduing Tree King alone would be difficult to deal with, and he was the strongest Pugilist he had fought so far. Furthermore, he had the help of a group of experts.
There was no need to elaborate on the process. It was impossible for him to have the upper hand, and it was also an extravagant hope to ask for a draw. The combined damage of so many experts had already exceeded his recovery speed, his HP fluctuating up and down like a roller coaster. At the most dangerous moment, his HP had even dropped below sixteen percent. If it were any other Beyond Grade As of the explored universe, they would already have died, and even Wuornos with Church National Treasure would most likely not be able to take it.
However, Han Xiao did not plan to fight to the death. He had hidden many abilities, mainly to achieve his goal and obtain the combat information of Subduing Tree King. Although the other party’s level was higher and some of his attributes were question marks, many of his abilities were exposed. The value of the information was not small. If he met the Subduing Tree King again, he would have a rough gauge in his heart. After receiving the information of the Subduing Tree King, Han Xiao did not continue fighting. He immediately changed into the King and left. He came to the temporary secondary dimension where the King’s Throne was buried and escaped from the siege.
“With the secondary dimension as a buffer, it will be safer.”
Han Xiao patted his chest, shaking off the bloodstains on his body, and changed into a new set of clothes.
Although the probability of King’s Teleportation being tracked by the World Tree was very low, to be safe, he still used the secondary dimension as a transit zone and did not directly teleport back to the explored universe.
Then, Han Xiao took back the throne and left behind the secondary dimension destruction device, shattering this secondary dimension and allowing it to be devoured by the chaotic space flow, removing all trails.
After doing all this, Han Xiao opened the interface to take a look. The (World Tree’s Rage] mission was completed.
As expected, the bigger the ruckus he caused, the higher the mission rating. He had already reached the highest rating, and the reward was quite generous. Just the Experience alone was 740 billion, which was more than the Experience he had gained from defeating the three Universal Civilizations. With a large amount of Experience, he was closer to the level 360 Promotion.
Another reward notification popped up.
You have received 5 Random Rewards and the milestone talent (World Tree Nemesis).
(World Tree Nemesis]: When fighting enemies of the World Tree faction, damage increased by 12% and a certain probability of triggering [Fear] status.
You have received 5 God’s Trait Transformation Points.
You have received 1 Universe Legendary Point.
Universal Legendary Point: (Mysterious Outsider]—You have made a name for yourself in the World Tree Civilization. Countless people know about you, a powerful and mysterious outsider, and they are shocked. Your deeds are being spread around here, awing the World Tree, and able to make children stop crying.
“Sweet.” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled. There was no need to talk about (World Tree Nemesis). It was a faction targeting talent, similar to (Elderly Killer). Although its effect was simple, it was quite useful.
Five God’s Trait Transformation Points was exactly what he needed. It was equivalent to building five Universal Treasures. Currently, the God’s Trait Transformation-Void had reached the thirteenth level, and he was just short of the last two points to level up. This windfall was enough to raise the God’s Trait Transformation—Void to the fourteenth level and still have some surplus that would push him close to the fifteenth level. This reduced his workload.
Finally, this Universe Legendary Point had clearly left a deep impression on the World Tree Civilization, and they were filled with fear of him. The next time they met, the people of the World Tree should be able to recognize him immediately.
There was also the last reward notification on the interface. Han Xiao looked at it and saw that it was a piece of each Sanctum fragment. This meant that his level of authority in each Sanctum had increased by one level. This was the bonus reward for the highest mission rating.
“Yo, good stuff!”
Han Xiao was stunned for a moment before he was pleasantly surprised.
Sanctum authority was something that he needed urgently. The higher the authority, the closer the time flow of the Sanctum was to the main universe. It was a pleasant surprise to be able to level up the authority from the mission. Suppressing his excitement, Han Xiao left with his bountiful harvest.
In order to be safe, he planned to travel in the deep layers in secondary dimensions for some time before returning to the explored universe.
In the World Tree Civilization’s territory, the battlefield was a mess. The wreckage of the World Tree fleet was everywhere. Roots were sweeping the battlefield and swallowing all the debris.
In the command room of a flagship not far away, many World Tree experts who had participated in the siege surrounded the Subduing Tree King. Their expressions were solemn and somewhat horrified. A portion of them had injuries on their bodies.
Tedrian pressed down on the table and said with a surprised tone, “There’s no doubt about this outsider’s combat strength. He’s one of the strongest individuals we’ve seen in our many years of fighting in the universe. It’s unbelievable that so many of us couldn’t even kill him… It’s basically certain that none of us are his match in a one-on-one fight. Even His Excellency, the Tree King, will find it difficult to gain the upper hand.” Many of the World Tree powerhouses felt a lingering fear, and many peak Beyond Grade As fell silent.
Even the expressionless Subduing Tree King did not refute and only shook his head.
Facing the siege of more than a hundred people, this outsider actually dared to stay behind and fight head-on. This was already very shocking to them, but they did not expect him to still have the strength to fight back and even injure quite a number of them.
Although they had the absolute upper hand in the siege just now, this outsider was unbelievably tough. He endured the focus fire of more than a hundred people and held on for more than ten minutes before retreating with the strange teleportation method.
Although the enemy had been expelled, the strong performance of the outsider had been deeply imprinted in everyone’s hearts, almost becoming a trauma. Every time they thought about it, many of them could not help feeling deeply shocked.
“Although we chased this outsider away this time, we can’t guarantee that he won’t come again. This is very tricky,” Roxilian said with a deep voice.
Tedrian nodded, his tone grave.
n COIIe
“If we can’t restrict the other party’s special teleportation method, our territory will become the other party’s backyard. He can come and go as he pleases, putting us in a passive position… We can’t always clear out the Star Field and send so many people to chase after him.”
As he spoke, his expression became even more shocked.
“Furthermore, only a civilization with extremely strong individual strength will produce Supers of this level. Who knows how many high-level combatants there are in this foreign civilization? We’ve leaked too many secrets this time. If they send more Supers of the same level next time, we’ll be in trouble.”
Hearing this, everyone was worried. Han Xiao’s astonishing combat strength made them make the wrong judgment. They thought that there were more experts of the same level in the explored universe, and they could not help but be frightened.
They had always been conquerors, and they were basically the ones who took the initiative to invade. However, at this moment, they felt a rare sense of fear, and they even had thoughts of escaping
“Then, what do you suggest?” an Executive Officer asked.
Tedrian clenched his teeth and said, “This unknown civilization has already grasped our coordinates. My suggestion is to clear out all the Star Fields and move our base immediately. This way, we can avoid being harassed by them. Then, we will think of a way to find out more about them.”
“This is indeed a method, but we can’t use our advantage…” someone objected. “If we stay here and let the enemy continue to harass us, information will become more connected. This way, we will be able to locate this unknown civilization faster. “.
Before Tedrian could speak, someone else interrupted. “I don’t think that’s possible. This outsider used some tricks to bewitch Barbani. Now that the other party knows about the secrets of these abilities, they will definitely avoid more information connection.”
Hearing this, everyone had a helpless look on their face. The biggest problem now was not that the outsider was strong but that the intelligence gap was too big. Their side had leaked too much information, but they knew almost nothing about the outsider. The group was divided into two factions. One side suggested migrating while the other suggested staying. Both started arguing.
Tedrian turned around. “Your Excellency Tree King, what do you think?”
Everyone stopped discussing. In the end, it was the Tree King who would make the final decision.
The Subduing Tree King closed his eyes and pondered for a while before opening them again.
“There’s no need to migrate. The loss of territories is not important, but the information connection is crucial. Now that we have had some interaction, I will speed up the sensing speed of the World Tree. At the same time, I will inform the Information Form Foreseers to increase the frequency of the prophecies. Then, I will get the expedition team sent out in recent years to speed up their journey…”
Subduing Tree King paused before continuing.
“Also, strengthen our internal surveillance and set up more detection devices. The outsider has already obtained some of our confidential information. We can’t just rely on the Information Form warning network… If you find the outsider again, inform me immediately.”
Despite the calm expression on the Subduing Tree King’s face, his heart was actually racing. Han Xiao’s strength had also shocked him, but he did not show it on his face.
Although he did not say anything, the Subduing Tree King had already engraved Han Xiao in his mind and was looking forward to fighting him again.
It was because of the fighting spirit that was compulsory to a Pugilist. But more than that, the World Tree had expressed its desire for Han Xiao…
In the face of all new things, the mother tree had an extremely strong appetite. It requested that the Subduing Tree King send this outsider into its mouth as a tribute.
As one of the executors of the World Tree’s will, the World Tree’s request was his mission, and he could not reject it.
After staying in the deep layers of the secondary dimension world for a few days, Han Xiao returned to the explored universe and immediately visited the Holy Accord Organization to ask Destiny’s Child about the World Tree Civilization’s movements. As he arrived at Destiny’s Child’s laboratory with ease, the staff around looked at him before lowering their heads and continuing with their work.
“You came to see me…”
Destiny’s Child sensed something and turned toward Han Xiao. He pressed his hands on the inner wall of the container and let out a happy mental wave.
Han Xiao smiled and knocked on the container.
Destiny’s Child noticed that the mark on Han Xiao’s body had yet to fade. He tilted his head and said, “You didn’t… set the area?”
“There was an accident, so I didn’t have a chance to do this.” Han Xiao shook his head and said, “I need you to tell me what the other side is doing.”
“Okay…”
Destiny’s Child did not reject and shared the information in the mental link.
Han Xiao quickly browsed through the images. He could almost see the real-time movements of the World Tree Civilization.
He soon saw that the World Tree Civilization had been stimulated by him during the few days that he stayed in the deep layer of the secondary dimension, and they were looking for clues related to him. They had also increased the frequency at which the Foreseers activated their abilities, indirectly increasing the surveillance of Destiny’s Child.
His trip had left a deep impression on the other party. The reactions of the World Tree Civilization entered his eyes through Destiny’s Child’s surveillance, so he was not completely clueless about the developments in the World Tree Civilization. Destiny’s Child was the most important intelligence channel at the moment. Observing the real-time movements of the other party would allow him to make targeted arrangements ahead of time. Like two players in a real-time strategy game, one side removed the fog of war while the other side was still trying to figure out the opponent’s position. The difference was obvious.
Seeing the World Tree Civilization’s disordered movements, Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief.
At this moment, black flames surged, and Oathkeeper arrived. “Black Star, why didn’t you tell me before coming?”
As he spoke, Oathkeeper’s gaze swept between Han Xiao and Destiny’s Child. His expression had the feeling of ‘you guys had a rendezvous behind my back’.
“I’m just here to ask about the surveillance. I’ll come over more often in the future. If I have to tell you every time, it will be too troublesome. Just get used to it.”
Han Xiao waved his hands.
Do you think you’re the leader? Inspecting whenever you want… Oathkeeper cursed silently.
“Alright, that’s all. I have other things to do, so I’ll take my leave.” Han Xiao nodded. Without waiting for Oathkeeper to speak, he changed into another King suit and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Oathkeeper helplessly retracted his gaze and turned to look at Destiny’s Child.
Destiny’s Child also ignored him. Seeing that Han Xiao had left, he went back to sleep. There was no initiative like when he met Han Xiao earlier, as if he was treating Oathkeeper like air; the discrimination was obvious.
Seeing that Destiny’s Child was not giving him any face, Oathkeeper’s mouth twitched. He took a deep breath, suppressed his heartache, and turned to leave.
In the conference room of the three Universal Civilizations…
Marbruce sized up Han Xiao’s remote projection and said with a confused tone, “Black Star, you’re finally back. What took you so long?”
Louis and the church leader were also curious.
After sending Han Xiao away, they had thought that Han Xiao’s first exploration would not take too long, but half a month had passed in the blink of an eye, and there had been no news from him. If not for the fact that Han Xiao contacted them, they would have been unaware that Han Xiao had returned.
In the past half a month, the three of them had been living on tenterhooks. Because they were unable to contact Han Xiao, who was far away in the World Tree Civilization’s territory, they had been worrying every day, thinking that something had happened to Black Star.
Seeing that Han Xiao had taken the initiative to contact them, the three of them heaved sighs of relief. They were curious about what Han Xiao had done during his long stay in the World Tree Civilization.
“There was an accident along the way, and I was delayed. Let’s not talk about that for now. I got some intelligence on this trip. Take a look.”
Han Xiao waved his hands. He was too lazy to chat with the three of them and went straight to the point, sending the World Tree secrets that were revealed by Barbani to the three of them.
A virtual screen appeared on the table, and the three of them could not take their eyes off it.
“This… this is all information you obtained from this trip!”
Marbruce’s eyes widened in disbelief to the point of being stunned.
The three of them originally had limited expectations for this intelligence. They felt that since Han Xiao had gone to the enemy’s headquarters, it would be difficult for him to move easily. Even if he did gain something, it would not be too shocking. However, what was with this piece of intelligence? It was all unheard-of secrets!
Information Form warning network, Information Form camera… a ton of important strategic intelligence. It was obvious that this was not information that could be easily obtained. Could it be that Black Star had hacked the World Tree’s secret database?
The three of them could not help but feel a little dazed.
How many times had they explored the World Tree Civilization? The best they could have done was steal some general information from the internet, but it was all superficial. Black Star had only gone there once, but he had already obtained an explosive harvest. Be it the quality or quantity of information, it was countless times greater than theirs!
The repeated explorations of the three Universal Civilizations were not as good as Black Star’s one trip… The three of them looked at each other with complicated feelings.
Black Star had given them a headache when he was their opponent, but he was extremely reliable when he was their teammate. If not for the confidential intelligence that Black Star provided, they would not have known how passive their three Universal Civilizations were. Suppressing the shock in their hearts, the three of them focused on browsing through the secrets of the World Tree that Han Xiao had shared. Their expressions kept changingsometimes grave, sometimes surprised, and sometimes frustrated.
Very soon, the three of them read through the information and showed complicated expressions.
“So, this is how we were exposed…”
Louis sighed. After seeing the Information Form warning network, they finally understood how the World Tree Civilization discovered them.
“This kind of technology is impossible to guard against. The World Tree Civilization’s research standard is much higher than ours regarding Information Form.” The Pope frowned with concern.
“Looks like Black Star is right. We’d better stop the regular exploration…”
The three of them looked at the intel and felt immense pressure. At the same time, they were glad.
It was all thanks to Black Star for stealing these secrets. If not, they would have continued exploring without knowing what was going on, and they might have suffered a heavy blow one day. Now that they knew about the World Tree’s detection method, they would be able to deal with it.
Marbruce could not help but ask, “… Black Star, how did you get this information?”
The other two also pricked up their ears.
“Nothing much, I just fought them and interrogated some people… By the way, I recorded the abilities of all the high-level combatants of the World Tree I fought. I am sending the files to you.”
Han Xiao did not reveal his ability and gave a simple explanation. After thinking for a while, he shared the intelligence about the World Tree experts with the three of them. The information recorded was not as detailed as the combat information on the interface, but it was enough to roughly understand the abilities and combat strength of more than a hundred World Tree experts.
Gathering this information was not for his own use but also to let the Beyond Grade As in the explored universe gain a basic understanding of the enemy so that they would not be caught off guard. There was no need to hide it. Seeing the data of over a hundred World Tree experts, the three of them were stunned.
Damn, did you go to infiltrate or to fight?
Having fought over a hundred high-level combatants in someone else’s base camp, your life is really full of excitement!
“Isn’t this too radical?” Louis could not help saying
Han Xiao looked at him and spread out his hands. “If I did not do this, do you think those secrets would fall from the sky? Don’t worry, although I fought the enemy, all traces were cleared. My intelligence channel monitored the real-time movements of the World Tree Civilization. They did not discover anything.”
Marbruce was speechless and somewhat moved.
“Black Star, you took such a huge risk to gather intelligence. Everyone will remember your contribution…”
From his point of view, if not for collecting strategic intelligence, Black Star would not have taken the risk to fight the World Tree experts, resulting in him being pursued. All of this was for the big picture.
The other two also nodded and sighed.
Han Xiao raised his brows.
Seeing that the three of them had misunderstood his motives, he did not bother to explain himself. He was more than glad for them to think that way since there was no harm in it.
“No matter what, this piece of information you brought has extremely high strategic importance. It can provide an important reference for our strategic direction.”
The three of them sighed for a while before getting excited.
Whatever the case, the intelligence that Black Star had obtained this time had solved their urgent needs. It was more than enough to change their strategic deployment.
The three of them began to discuss the next step of the plan, asking for Han Xiao’s opinion from time to time.
Hearing that the three of them had finally accepted the suggestion and decided to stop the regular exploration, Han Xiao let out a sigh of relief. He had finally convinced the three Universal Civilizations not to do anything unnecessary, and his trust level had increased.
Somewhere in the unexplored universe, two spindle-shaped, dark-green spaceships sped through the endless desolate universe. Their concealment devices covered the trajectory of the hyperdrive light. In the cockpit, more than ten operators sat in their seats and worked. No one spoke, and the room was silent other than the operating sounds. The cabin looked clean and tidy, but traces of time could still be found in some subtle areas.
Every once in a while, the World Tree Civilization would send out exploration teams in different directions in an attempt to find other civilizations in the vast galaxy. These two spaceships were one of them, and the crew could not remember how many years they had flown for. It was like they were silently wandering in the cold universe. Suddenly, the radar that had been silent for many years made a sound.
“Unknown metal object detected, direction…”
The people in the room were stunned for a moment, but they quickly reacted and immediately controlled the spaceship to fly in the direction indicated by the radar.
The two spaceships dragged streams of light and turned around. Very soon, the object locked onto by the radar entered their sights.
Not far away, an egg-shaped metal cabin was slowly traveling through the universe while letting out low-power exhaust flame. Its outer shell was mottled and had traces of cosmic radiation erosion, as if it had been sailing for a long time.
The people present looked at the metal cabin on the observation screen and had the same thought.
“This looks like… an escape pod?”
The group of them turned on the vital sign detection device; the extremely high level of technology penetrated the outer shell of the escape pod, detecting the life signals inside.
The appearance of the life forms in the escape pod was quickly displayed on the screen.
After obtaining the secrets of the World Tree, the three Universal Civilizations accepted Han Xiao’s suggestion and adjusted their strategy. They would no longer send any detection devices to the World Tree Civilization’s territory, reducing the possibility of an information link forming between the two sides, and they increased their investment in the secondary dimension expedition team.
Han Xiao rested for a period of time. With the help of the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, he made another trip to the World Tree Civilization’s territory. Because he had the intelligence advantage this time, he carefully avoided contact and completed the mission safely, obtaining the reward (Deep Within the Enemy Camp). After that, Han Xiao did not continue to infiltrate the World Tree Civilization’s territory and harass them. He also reduced his contact with the World Tree Civilization and stayed in the explored universe to build machinery every day. Occasionally, he would go to the Holy Accord Organization to check on Destiny’s Child’s surveillance. On the surface, he returned to his normal life.
In the short term, he did not plan to go to the World Tree Civilization again. Now that the enemy was prepared, he was also afraid of getting into trouble. Furthermore, he had enough intelligence for the time being, so Han Xiao did not plan to provoke the enemy anymore and concentrated on expanding his strength.
The unaware Galactic Society maintained the pace of normal life. As time passed, the buzz created by the news of the three Universal Civilizations acknowledging the Beyond Grade A Association’s independence also gradually cooled, but it did not disappear. The dissatisfaction of the galactic residents toward the three Universal Civilizations settled down and remained in their hearts.
After the political position was written in the galactic laws, the Beyond Grade A organization had a much better life. No matter how complicated the civilizations of the various Star Fields felt about this, they still acknowledged this point. They treated the Beyond Grade A Association like they would treat a civilization and increased their cooperation with the association.
Initially, all the organizations thought that the Beyond Grade A Association would take action, but the association continued to develop as usual and kept a low profile, as if they were not the recent topic of discussion.
Whether the Galaxy was chaotic or not was up to the big shots. Since the top organizations did not want to do anything, the life of the Galactic Society gradually returned to normal. Time slowly slipped away in this atmosphere.
In the Flickering World, more than ten small battleships with the army’s insignia slowly landed on the Kunde Race’s planet no. 77. They docked at a parking platform with three large transport ships. The wind pressure kept blowing out, blowing away the tiny dust on the ground. Landing gears propped out of the bottom of the ships, latching onto the Magnetic Force Suspension Lock and stopping steadily.
The cabins opened one after another, and groups of Kunde Race members wearing the standard armor of the Black Star Army alighted from the spaceships. Leading them was a tall Kunde Race member wearing the special uniform of the logistics department. It was Barton, who had been imprisoned and released by Han Xiao.
There were already groups of people waiting on the ground. They took the initiative to welcome them, and both sides exchanged greetings.
Barton was used to it. He waved his hand and said, “The supplies have been delivered. Help me unload them.”
His prestige here was very high here. When the people heard his words, they started to work. They unloaded batches of goods from the transport ships, loaded them onto the transport vehicles, and sent them to different cities.
Barton stood at the side with his hands on his hips. At this moment, a Kunde Race member wearing a robe walked to his side and smiled. “How long are you planning to stay this time?”
“…Half a day at most. The army’s logistics department has a very important mission. I can’t delay it. I’ll leave after sending these supplies.”
Barton looked back. The person who had spoken was someone he knew. It was the person in charge of this planet, a feudal lord-type figure.
Over the past few decades, the Kunde Race planets had been freed one after another, but due to some interference, there was no unified regime. Every planet had a feudal lord, and they were only responsible for the affairs of the planet. They allied with each other like a union.
After tens of years of adaptation, the Kunde Race gradually integrated into Galactic Society and got used to the various rules and regulations. However, they were still very weak and developed slowly. The industrial system was not complete, so relying on Supers to feed them was still their main way to obtain various resources.
In the past few years, a large number of the Kunde Race members had chosen to join the Black Star Army and acquired various resources through working for the army. As the subsidies for the various planets were decided by these Supers, their status was extremely high, and the various Kunde Race Lords had to fight for the support of the Kunde Race Supers, forming a dependent relationship.
“Yes, the army’s work is more important. I was thinking of hosting you properly, but since you don’t have the time, let’s postpone it for next time,” the supervisor said.
“We’re already acquaintances. There’s no need to specially entertain me.” Barton shook his head.
“That won’t do. You’re a famous person from our planet after all. Planet No. 77 has been developing quite well all thanks to you,” the supervisor said warmly.
“…Alright, you won’t miss out on the supplies for the next period.”
Barton sighed. He knew what the other party meant.
A few decades ago, after he was pardoned by Han Xiao, he had joined the army without a second word, determined to support his race, and slowly climbed up from the bottom.
As he was a Mechanic, Barton joined the logistics department after passing the internal assessment. He was initially a low-level researcher, but after successfully advancing as a Super to Grade B, he was promoted to a middle-level officer in the logistics department. He was one of the highest ranking Kunde Race Supers in the army. Due to his position, his purchasing of resources was discounted. Thus, Barton’s position in the Kunde Race was very important and prestigious. Every planet’s feudal lord wanted to please him, and he was already used to it.
“How are the thoughts within the race now?” Barton changed the topic.
Hearing this, the supervisor turned to look at his people who were working and smiled. “We have been carrying out ideological reformations. There are fewer and fewer radicals, and most people now yearn for peace.”
“That’s good.”
Barton nodded and looked at the Kunde Race members who were full of vitality. He could not help but feel gratified.
They had a grudge against the Crimson Dynasty for destroying their homeland, but the difference between the two sides was too great. Barton had always been using his position to request the feudal lords of the various planets to strengthen their ideological education so that their descendants would not be influenced by hatred.
After so many years of hard work, the Kunde Race had finally taken a positive development path, and the radicals were rare, unstable factors. Who knew what kind of trouble they would cause under the influence of hatred? Barton did not wish for his race to be implicated by a small group of radicals, destroying the peaceful situation that was obtained with much difficulty.
Luckily, the past few decades had changed the minds of most people, and the number of radicals seeking revenge had decreased. Most of the Kunde Race were satisfied with their current lives and had hope for the future.
“If only we could maintain this peace.”
Barton sighed in his heart.
The courtyard of Bennett’s residence on Planet Aquamarine was like a transparent greenhouse, filled with rows of plants. Bennett walked among the plants, holding a watering pot and slowly watering the plants. He was wearing regular clothes like an ordinary old man, and it was difficult to tell that he was the leader of a civilization.
“Father, we’re here to see you.”
The sound came from afar. Nero pushed open the door while holding Mia’s hand. The two of them walked into the courtyard.
Bennett put down the watering pot and looked back. A kind smile appeared on his wrinkled face. He waved and said, “You guys are here. It’s rare for you to have the time to come and see an old man like me.”
“Don’t say that. Your body is strong; you will still live for a long time. Today is your birthday, so don’t say such things.”
Nero brought Mia to Bennett and pretended to grumble.
“He-hello…” Mia greeted shyly. She was a Calamity Grade Super who killed without batting an eyelid, yet she was so nervous right now.
“You’re here too. Don’t just stand there. Let’s eat together today. Have a taste of my cooking.” Bennett looked at Mia with a satisfied expression as if he was sizing up his daughter-in-law.
Nero had brought Mia to meet his parents before, and Bennett knew that Mia was currently in a relationship with Nero. He did not interfere with his son’s choice, and he was rather satisfied with Mia. Bennett brought the two of them to the dining room beside the courtyard before returning to the courtyard to pick some fresh plants. He personally went to the kitchen to cook a table of dishes and hosted them with a smile. One was the leader of a civilization, and the other two were Calamity Grade Supers. The three of them ate at the same table, talking about family matters like ordinary people.
After chatting for a while, Nero took out a tube of medicine from his pocket and said with a smile, “This is the birthday gift that godfather told me to bring over. It’s a life potion personally made by Her Excellency Aurora. It can extend one’s life and maintain one’s youth.”
“Please thank Black Star for me.”
Bennett smiled and accepted the potion.
“Godfather expected you to say that. He wants me to tell you that with your relationship, you don’t have to thank him.”
“Alright, that’s his style.”
Bennett laughed and shook his head. He then turned to look at Mia and smiled.
“What about you guys? Do you have any plans to have children?” Mia’s face instantly turned red, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito. “That… I don’t have such thoughts for the time being…” Nero scratched his head and said embarrassedly, “It’s mainly because the higher the life level of an individual, the harder it is for them to give birth to a child. Mia and I have tried many times and used all kinds of positions, but unfortunately, we were unable to…”
Bang!
Before he could finish speaking, a shy iron elbow landed on his ribs, causing Nero to almost suffocate.
“D-don’t talk nonsense!”
Mia flew into a rage out of humiliation and subconsciously gave Nero a loving elbow strike. She immediately thought of Bennett and quickly returned to her lady-like sitting position like an innocent person.
“…It’s good to be young.” Bennett wiped off his cold sweat. The elbow strike from a Calamity Grade had made his hair stand on end, and he could not help but look at Nero.
Dear son, you’ve worked hard.
“It’s… it’s fine. I like this kind of play…”
Seeing Bennett’s complicated expression, Nero quickly defended Mia and rubbed his ribs for a while, feeling pain and joy together.
After coughing twice, Nero changed the topic and said with a serious expression, “Oh right, godfather also told me to tell you something important.”
“What is it?”
“Godfather said that he might migrate everyone on Planet Aquamarine.”
“Moving the entire Planet Aquamarine?” Bennett was shocked. “Where to?”
“He didn’t say. He just wants you to be mentally prepared,” Nero replied.
Hearing this, Bennett’s smile disappeared, and his expression became serious. He rubbed his chin and pondered, trying to figure out what Han Xiao meant.
To suddenly migrate Planet Aquamarine, could it be to move into the territory promised by the three Universal Civilizations to the Beyond Grade A Association? Or was it an emergency refuge?
If he was talking about refuge, could it be that some kind of battle was about to break out? But wasn’t everything going well?
“I don’t think it’s a good thing…”
All kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind, and Bennett was secretly worried. At the same time, on a wasteland on Planet Aquamarine, Hila and Aurora were walking slowly.
Not far away, there was a huge crater with rubble obliquely inserted into the ground like fragments thrown by a violent explosion. It was the ruins of the Germinal Organization, which was now protected as a historical document.
The two of them had originally come to visit Ames, but because they had come at the wrong time, they had been chased out. Suddenly, they wanted to revisit their old place, so they came to the Germinal Organization’s ruins to take a stroll “Do you remember? I was locked up here in the past. At that time, I thought I would never be able to escape.”
Aurora picked up a piece of metal and played with it.
Hila looked at her surroundings, and the memories of the past came back to life. She softly said, “That’s right. I did so much dirty work for the Germinal Organization, saying that it was to save you. In fact, I was just as lost, sinking deeper and deeper like a walking dead. If not for Black Star, I probably would not have survived.”
After experiencing so many things, the two of them could finally face the painful memories of the past. Looking back at the past, it was like a dream.
Aurora suddenly laughed and said, “Speaking of which, Black Star was so young back then, unlike now.”
“Humans have to grow.”
Hearing this, Hila’s lips curled up slightly. She remembered the time she tortured Han Xiao for more than half a year, and when she thought of the infamous Black Star, she had a feeling of joy at having seen the big shot at his weakest. Although they were not really childhood sweethearts, they were old friends.
However, Hila’s smile quickly disappeared, and she sighed with complicated emotions.
Aurora turned to look at her sister.
“What are you sighing about?” “… I was thinking, if I had chosen to go with him when he first entered the galaxy, maybe now… I wouldn’t be late.”
Hila had a complicated expression on her face.
On Floating Dragon Island… “Are you leaving?”
“Hmm, when I rushed over, the machinery was only half done. I have to go back and finish it.”
Han Xiao put on his clothes, buttoned up his shirt, and covered his strong chest muscles, preparing to leave.
At this moment, two fair fingers grabbed onto his shirt and tugged gently.
“Accompany me for a while more.”
“…Alright.”
Not long later…
On the other side of Floating Dragon Island, in Aesop’s residence, the plates on the table moved slightly, and the juice spilled onto the table.
Aesop held onto the cutlery and looked at the corner of the ceiling helplessly. The wall was trembling slightly, and dust was falling. “Sigh, it’s shaking again…”
Half a day later, a light green force field rolled up a set of clothes and brought it into the air. Han Xiao reached out and put it on. He rubbed his tired waist, came before a mirror, and rubbed his cheeks.
Ames untied her hair and ran her fingers through it, letting her black hair flow down like a waterfall. She opened the fridge with her force field and took out a half-finished bottle of hard liquor. She poured it into two glasses and walked to Han Xiao’s side. She sat on the edge of the table and handed one glass to Han Xiao with a smile.
“Have a drink?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao looked at her and took a sip of the wine. Ames smiled, tidying Han Xiao’s clothes and straightening his collar.
“You’ve been quite busy recently. I tried to look for you some time ago, but I couldn’t reach you.”
“When am I not busy?”
Han Xiao licked his lips and tasted the wine; the sweet and cold taste filled his mouth.
Ames took a sip of wine elegantly and said with a teasing tone, “Be honest, where did you go a few days ago? Did you go to the secondary dimensions with someone else?”.
“Nonsense. I’ve only entered the secondary dimension with you. At most, I’ll add Kasuyi.” Han Xiao finished the wine in one gulp, put down the glass, and casually combed his hair with his fingers.
Ames shook her cup and said with a smile, “You can be considered successful now. You’ve won independence for the Beyond Grade A Association. The three Universal Civilizations have acknowledged your identity once again. Most of the goals set by the association are completed. You can relax now, right?”
“It’s still early. It’s not the time to relax yet.”
“Why? Are you still not satisfied and want to continue climbing up?” Ames raised her brows. “You’re already one of the top big shots in the universe. It’s a little dangerous for you to continue climbing up. Could it be that you want to steal the position of the rulers of the three Universal Civilizations?”
“You’re thinking too much. I’m not referring to that but some other things. There’s still a huge threat that hasn’t been resolved, but I can’t tell you yet.”
Han Xiao glanced at her helplessly. He did not reveal too much information about the World Tree, not even to those close to him.
“Alright, you always have big plans anyway… but you won’t be so busy all the time. You’ll have to stop sometime.”
“If this matter can be resolved successfully, I should be able to rest for a long time.”
“Then I’ll wait. Don’t go back on your word.” Ames smiled.
“We’ll see how it goes. If I am free, I’ll spend more time with you.”
Han Xiao casually chatted for a while and was about to change into a King suit and leave when his communicator suddenly rang.
When he took it out, Han Xiao was delighted to see that it was Aesop. “Heh, it’s the old man. His timing is really accurate.”
Ames looked over and said indifferently, “He must have called you because the earthquakes stopped.”
“Do you want to come along?” Han Xiao waved his communicator.
“He’s looking for you, not me. He probably has some prophecy to talk to you about, so I won’t be going. I still have to see Hila and the others later. Go see the old man yourself. I’m going to take a shower.”
Ames waved her hand lazily and patted Han Xiao’s butt before leaving the room.
Han Xiao shook his head and left Dragon Emperor Palace. He arrived at Aesop’s house with ease and was quickly welcomed in by the AI butler.
The moment he entered, he saw Aesop sitting on the sofa and raising his eyebrows at him.
“You’re out?”
“You’re asking the obvious.”
Han Xiao curled his lips, picked up a piece of fruit from the fruit plate on the table, and threw it into his mouth. He sat on the sofa beside Aesop, placed one arm on the back of the chair, crossed his legs, and casually asked, “Why’d you call me?” “Don’t make so much noise next time.” Aesop sounded helpless. “It’s not the first time. When did you start to care so much?” Han Xiao looked at him strangely.
“I’m saying pay attention to the impact it causes. Every time you guys are done, the logistics department has to repair it. They even thought that Ames was training, and they’ve complained to me more than once. They told me to tell her not to keep causing trouble for Floating Dragon.”
Aesop shook his head.
He knew that the relationship between Han Xiao and Ames had been going on for a very long time. Although Ames was his adopted daughter in name, he knew that this kind of private matter had nothing to do with him, so he did not interfere nor did he have the ability to. Furthermore, Black Star had always satisfied him.
As an Ancient One with a rich romantic history, Aesop was quite open-minded in this respect, and he was not surprised at all that Ames had hooked up with Black Star. In his eyes, the two adults of the galactic era had known each other for close to a hundred years, and their statuses were on the same level. They had experienced many things together and found each other pleasing to the eye. Sleeping on the same bed was just a matter of time.
As for the fact that the two of them were not married, it was not a big deal in Aesop’s eyes. The old marriage system had gone out of fashion a few thousand years ago. Galactic races had long lifespans, and they lived colorful lives. Lifetime monogamy was a backward system that many galactic civilizations had eliminated. Now, the mainstream marriage contract type was usually the legal polygamy system, as well as contracted monogamy system. However, no matter which type of marriage it was, it was no longer a necessity for galactic residents. Due to the strong population circulation, the identity registration of most galactic civilizations had long been simplified. The household registration was very simple, and many galactic residents raised their offspring before marriage. The civilization gave them high subsidies and even built a public foster home.
Han Xiao was speechless.
“You didn’t call me here just for this, did you? If there’s nothing serious, I’m going back.”
“I’m not that bored. Of course, I have business to discuss with you.”
Aesop calmed himself down, threw away the distracting thoughts, and said solemnly, “I recently saw a new prophecy. I saw an ominous cloud looming over the galactic society, containing blood and fire, roars and screams. It’s very likely that a disaster is brewing… Do you still remember my prophecy? Endless wormholes opened, and countless fleets invaded. The two seem to be related, and an unknown war might break out in the near future.”
“Is that so?”
Han Xiao raised his brows. Aesop’s prophecy probably referred to the World Tree.
“You don’t seem surprised?” Aesop blinked.
“Since you saw a prophecy, there’s no need to hide it from you. You must be very curious about the reason the three Universal Civilizations compromised so much. This is the reason.” Han Xiao shrugged.
Aesop was shocked. “So there are enemies. This makes sense. The three Universal Civilizations had no choice but to unite their forces, so they reached an agreement with you.”
“That’s about it. I can give you some information. The enemy this time is very difficult to deal with. It might be the strongest enemy the three Universal Civilizations have seen in all these years. As for the details, I can’t tell you for now. Just be mentally prepared,” Han Xiao said.
“…So a universal war is about to break out. Sigh, the days of peace are always so short. If it’s an external enemy, it won’t be a small war. Who knows how many people will die then?” Aesop sighed.
As he spoke, his expression turned solemn. “Black Star, if the situation isn’t good, I hope you can leave with Ames. There’s no need for you to be buried with the three Universal Civilizations.”
“… How tragic was the scene you foresaw that made you so pessimistic?”
Han Xiao raised his brows.
Aesop said with a serious expression, “I’m just taking precautions. Remember, if the situation isn’t right, don’t walk down the wrong path.”
In the Void Dimension, at Kasuyi’s palace, Kasuyi sat at one end of the table, facing Manison’s remote projection. On the table was a virtual interface of Wayne Cards. The two of them were playing cards and chatting casually. Kasuyi casually threw out a card and slowly said, “Now that the association has an official position, according to Black Star’s personality, he should strike while the iron is hot and carry out the next step of the plan. But he’s keeping a low profile and has yet to start a new plan. This isn’t like him.”
Manison looked at his cards and casually replied, “Black Star definitely has his own plans.”
“Recently, he’s been acting mysteriously, connecting with the three Universal Civilizations. I don’t know what he’s doing. Speaking of which, the three Universal Civilizations’ concessions are quite strange.” Kasuyi crossed his arms.
Manison did not mind. “The three Universal Civilizations’ choice is obviously due to pressure, and there are only a few scenarios where pressure would worry them. Based on the current situation, the most likely scenario is the invasion of the enemy. Black Star should have reached an agreement with the three Universal Civilizations to fight the enemy together. Let’s just wait.”
“Not necessarily.” Kasuyi shook his head.
Because he had information about the Iterations, he thought more about it. Other than the possibility of foreign enemies, he also felt that the three Universal Civilizations might have discovered the existence of the Iterations and thus dropped the conflict. However, this was all speculation. No matter what, he supported Han Xiao’s current actions.
Although Han Xiao did not reveal the truth of the World Tree, many Beyond Grade As had thought about it over the past few days and roughly guessed that the reason for the current situation was the existence of external enemies.
However, since Black Star did not announce it, many of the association members had a tacit understanding and pretended not to know. In fact, many Beyond Grade As were already secretly preparing for battle.
Somewhere in the unexplored universe, the World Tree exploration team’s spaceship had changed direction and was moving at full speed in hyperdrive. The crew in the cockpit were all excited, and there were a few trembling old Kunde Race members tied up in the corner.
“After so many years, I’ve finally found some prey.”
The captain stared at the coordinates on the screen with excitement.
After wandering in the universe for so many years, they had been searching for unknown civilizations alone. The universe was so vast, so their chances were like finding a needle in a haystack. To the long-distance fleet, this was akin to a punishment of exile, and they only had a harvest today.
Not long ago, they discovered an escape pod with low technology and captured the beings inside. Through various methods, they obtained information from the memories of these intelligent creatures who called themselves the Kunde Race.
When the dynasty defeated the Kunde Race civilization, there were batches of people who escaped through the escape pods. After many years of travel and some chance factors, some survivors left the explored universe, and this escape pod was one of the escapees.
The Kunde Race’s memories of the explored universe were only at the stage of the war between the Crimson Dynasty and them. Because they were a native civilization of the Flickering World and had never integrated into the galactic society, they did not know much about the explored universe.
However, to the World Tree exploration team, the most valuable information was the coordinates recorded in this escape pod, as well as the navigation records of the past few years. This gave them a navigation target that pointed to the original location of the Kunde Race civilization, which was the Flickering World Star Field.
Due to the uniqueness of the World Tree mental network, every exploration team was a universe coordinate recorder that was connected in real time. The coordinates of every location would be sent to the World Tree simultaneously.
This meant that as long as the exploration team arrived at their destination, they would be able to obtain the coordinates of their enemies. After the World Tree base analyzed it, it would be able to use the wormhole generator to send a large number of troops over. The three Universal Civilizations had also used this method when entering the World Tree Civilization’s territory for the first time. It was basically a spatial technology that the advanced civilizations used.
At the same time, the exploration team was also responsible for carrying out intelligence work. They would infiltrate the unknown civilization and collect information about the other party. The World Tree would only invade on a large scale if they knew about the other party’s state. They would not start a war the moment they discovered their prey. “I wonder what level of civilization the prey we discovered this time is. Could it be the nest of the outsider who recently caused a ruckus in our territory? Tsk, I have to be careful!” The captain muttered to himself and was extremely vigilant. He had also learned of Han Xiao’s battle in the World Tree Civilization.
If the coordinates were really the hometown of that brave outsider, the danger level would be raised to the highest!
In a certain restricted military area of the Black Star Army, two large Mechanical Deities were clashing like interstellar beasts in close combat. With every clash, sparks flew everywhere, and shockwaves spread out like endless ripples.
Bang!
Among them, the black and gold Mechanical Deity with a thick psionic shield slammed into the opponent’s abdomen, causing light fragments to fly everywhere. Taking advantage of this collision, it opened up a small distance; countless light beams shot out from the cannon barrels on its shoulders, condensing into a golden beam of light that pushed the opponent away.
The Mechanical Deity that was sent flying rolled in space for a while before quickly stabilizing its body. Its flickering shield blocked the attack, and it was not injured.
“You are recovering well.”
The black and gold Mechanical Deity did not chase after him. Its body opened and closed like scales. It retracted its weapon and spoke in the channel. It was Han Xiao himself.
The other Mechanical Deity was Herberlon. Hearing this, he stopped, stretched his shoulders, and said, “This configuration needs to be readjusted. The power output is not enough.”
After waking up to prove the existence of the World Tree, Herberlon repaired his body with Han Xiao’s help and recovered his combat capability. He then added various weapons and equipment to form different sets of equipment, constantly adjusting his state of operation. From time to time, he would spar with Han Xiao to test the combat capability of different configurations.
“I think this set of close combat equipment suits you quite well. Just add a few more sets of reactor modules. Although you can’t beat me, you should be able to fight on par with the Mechanic Emperor.” Han Xiao smiled.
To him, sparring with Herberlon was a good leisure activity. After all, most Beyond Grade As would not be able to withstand his size, and Herberlon was about the same size as him. At the same time, he was also durable and could fight freely.
Although Herberlon had once been defeated by the World Tree powerhouses, the situation he faced was one against many. His strength could not be underestimated. After recovering his strength, he would be able to enter the first tier of the Beyond Grade As in the explored universe, and he would even be able to reach the top tier. He would be a great help.
Hearing this, Herberlon disarmed himself, removed a metal tube from the groove on his arm armor, and threw it to Han Xiao. “Another mutated carrier.”
Han Xiao took the metal tube and sized it up. He sensed some special structures from it, nodded, and put it away.
Although he was now a living body Mechanical Deity, that was a cheap trick, and it did not completely replicate the uniqueness of Herberlon.
Herberlon’s body was extremely strange. Flesh and blood life combined with mechanical life, and the mechanical parts that were assembled over a long period of time had a chance to undergo a natural mutation like biological tissues, turning into special equipment similar to Apostle Weapons.
A body like Herberlon was a treasure in the eyes of the average person. Any piece of it would contain a shocking amount of technology. However, Han Xiao only needed the mutation module; he made Herberlon dig out the mutated body tissue from time to time and give it to him for research. This was one of the rewards for testing Herberlon’s body.
After doing all this, Herberlon asked, “How’s your contact with the World Tree going?”
“Not too bad. I have obtained quite a few secrets now, so I’ll temporarily hold back and accumulate my strength…”
Han Xiao briefly explained the process of him stealing the secrets of the World Tree, as well as his current strategy. This was the information that he said he would share when he invited Herberlon to fight the World Tree together.
Hearing that the three Universal Civilizations had gained an advantage in intelligence with Han Xiao’s help, Herberlon hesitated for two seconds before saying, “The three Universal Civilizations are really lucky to have someone like you…”
If one were to ask Herberlon how he felt right now, it would be envy and jealousy.
The Karma Republic that he was in did not react until they were attacked by the World Tree Civilization. They were caught off guard and easily defeated. He could not help but envy the fact that the explored universe had Black Star. If the Karma Republic had Black Star’s help, at least they would not have lost without any resistance…
Herberlon had mixed feelings as he said, “It’s a pity that we didn’t have such luck and did not have someone like you.”
“Cough, it’s not that bad…”
Han Xiao was helpless.
Why are you suddenly flattering me? Did I ask you to flatter? Just as he was about to comfort, his communicator rang.
He took it out and saw Oathkeeper’s message.
There are new discoveries in Destiny’s Child surveillance. Come quickly!
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and immediately lost the mood to chat.
He casually bade farewell to Herberlon and teleported to the Holy Accord with the King.
His vision blurred, and he arrived at Destiny’s Child laboratory. This time, Oathkeeper was waiting for him in the room.
“What’s going on? What’s the situation?”
Han Xiao looked at Destiny’s Child and walked to Oathkeeper’s side. “Things have changed. Take a look.”
Oathkeeper had a serious expression and was not in the mood to joke. He moved aside.
Han Xiao turned around and connected with Destiny’s Child. Information flowed into his mind, and his expression changed.
“The World Tree exploration team got our coordinates?”
This information was somewhat unexpected, and Han Xiao’s mood immediately became heavy. Destiny’s Child’s surveillance came from the interaction of information when the sub-bodies activated their foresight ability. This time, the intelligence that was caught was that an exploration team of the World Tree had found the coordinates of a new unknown civilization. The World Tree used all the information that this exploration team had as a medium for foresight and organized a large number of foreseers to activate their abilities. Therefore, Destiny’s Child knew about the situation of the exploration team.
As such, Han Xiao saw in the intelligence that the World Tree exploration team had discovered a group of Kunde Race members, as well as the information they had obtained from them. The coordinates pointed to the old location of the Kunde Race civilization, which was in the middle of the Flickering World.
The surveillance intel showed the origins of these Kunde Race individuals. They were the survivors of the war. Although the refugees knew almost nothing about the galactic society, causing the World Tree to not know if this unknown civilization was the same group as the outsiders who were spying on them, the coordinates’ exposure was a fatal matter. The World Tree would definitely investigate thoroughly before letting the matter rest. Then, they would be able to find out more about the three Universal Civilizations.
Han Xiao frowned. “For such a thing to occur…”
In his previous life, the World Tree invasion had been unstoppable, and they had come prepared. It was obvious that the exploration team had discovered the three Universal Civilizations long ago, but they had been secretly stealing intelligence and only started fighting when they were ready. No one knew when the World Tree first discovered the three Universal Civilizations, but to Han Xiao, it did not make sense for it to be so early. It was most likely due to the butterfly effect. Due to his influence, the path of the Kunde Race refugees had changed, and they had unfortunately run into the World Tree exploration team.
Without the coordinates, it would be difficult to find something. If they knew the location, their efficiency would be multiplied countless times, not to mention in the vast galactic universe. The World Tree exploration team had the same logic. In his previous life, the exploration team had most likely searched aimlessly, finding a needle in a haystack, and coincidentally arrived in the explored universe. Now that they had the navigation coordinates, they could directly travel in the direction of the explored universe. The time to arrive in the explored universe would definitely be much earlier, exposing the three Universal Civilizations in advance.
“What do you plan to do?” Oathkeeper asked with a deep voice.
Han Xiao came back to his senses and frowned.
“If that’s the case, I can only interfere. I can’t let the World Tree find us easily.”
Destiny’s Child’s surveillance showed the location of the exploration team. The only thing he could do now was intercept the exploration team halfway and try not to let the World Tree figure out the three Universal Civilizations’ details. He would win some time and let the three Universal Civilizations mobilize their forces publicly, officially turning into war mode to face the enemies.
However, no matter what he did, the World Tree had already obtained the coordinates, and finding the Flickering World was a foregone conclusion. Even if he destroyed this exploration team, there would be a continuous stream of reinforcements.
“I thought there was still a lot of time, but plans can’t keep up with the changes…”
Han Xiao shook his head helplessly.
He had finally managed to convince the three Universal Civilizations to follow his suggestion and reduce their contact with the World Tree Civilization, giving the secondary dimension expedition team more time. However, the unexpected factors turned out contrary to expectations. The Kunde Race Civilization had once been destroyed by the dynasty, and now, the refugees brought an even greater disaster to the three Universal Civilizations. It was like a cycle of fate; no one could be blamed.
Sighing, Han Xiao composed himself.
No matter what, it had already happened. He could only think of a way to deal with it and accept reality.
“The World Tree has discovered our coordinates?”
In the conference room of the three Universal Civilizations, the three of them received Han Xiao’s intelligence and were shocked.
“As for the details…”
Han Xiao explained the whole story. After he left the Holy Accord, he had immediately shared this intelligence with the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations.
After hearing the explanation, the three of them looked solemn.
The three of them did not have any other thoughts about the Kunde Race escapees leaking the secret. At most, they would curse that they were unlucky. They were more relieved that Han Xiao had the surveillance channels to discover the World Tree’s movements this time.
After all, they did not have the overpowered information network like the World Tree. If they were infiltrated, no one would be aware of it.
After pondering for a while, Marbruce said in a serious tone, “Black Star, I’ll leave the exploration team to you… Everyone, from now on, we have to enter a state of war.”
Chapter 1329 Interception
Somewhere in the unexplored universe, Han Xiao’s figure appeared out of thin air with a flash of light.
“This is where the exploration team passed by…”
Looking at the coordinates, Han Xiao mumbled to himself.
The World Tree used all the intelligence of the exploration team as a medium, which naturally included the route of the exploration team. Destiny’s Child also intercepted the detailed coordinates, so Han Xiao used the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device to enter the coordinates and teleported to this unexplored area that the three Universal Civilizations had never set foot in.
The exploration team had passed by this place recently, so they were naturally not far away.
“According to the coordinates given by the Kunde Race, the exploration team is heading this way…” Han Xiao took out the interstellar locator, adjusted his position, and locked onto a direction.
With the navigation coordinates, the exploration team would most likely advance in a straight line. Therefore, he could confirm the direction of the other party. Although the exploration team was very fast and had already run ahead, he could use this method to give chase.
With a flash of his Mechanical Force, the gate of the secondary dimensional army camp opened, and a large number of mechanical troops rushed out. Han Xiao led a group of troops and chased after them in a straight line to the navigation coordinates, while the rest of the mechanical troops scattered in different directions.
This was partly to be safe, as they were afraid that the exploration team would take a detour. Also, their task was to set up a stargate terminal nearby. The three Universal Civilizations had set up a terminal on the other side of the stargate, allowing the two sides to connect.
This was related to the next step of the plan that they had discussed before they set off. Due to the World Tree’s devouring mechanism, the three Universal Civilizations did not wish to start a war in their own territory. This would be too passive, so they decided to use the stargate to send a large number of troops to this area and build a defensive circle along the exploration team’s route. At the same time, they would stop the World Tree’s subsequent exploration teams and increase the difficulty of infiltration.
Between the defense circle and the Flickering World, there was still a large area that had yet to be explored as a buffer zone. Even if the World Tree broke through the defense line, it would not be able to immediately attack the territory of the explored universe. This way, the three Universal Civilizations would be able to bombard the area as much as they wanted with their strategic weapons. They would try their best to eliminate the World Tree’s strength to reduce the number of enemies attacking.
These were all necessary preparations. However, from Han Xiao’s perspective, an all-out war would not erupt just because of this. He had learned about the World Tree’s habits from Barbani. Even if it discovered that they had built a defensive circle, the World Tree would not attack rashly. It would most likely take a detour and find a way to infiltrate their base to steal intelligence instead.
The World Tree mainly focused on invasion. It looked very aggressive, but that was not the case. After Barbani’s explanation, the World Tree’s biggest advantage was that it had an endless supply of troops and its amazing radar technology, which was its hard strength and intelligence ability. Why was it always able to launch an all-out invasion? It did not rely on brute strength but more on having detailed information about the enemy before the battle, understanding their weaknesses and accurately striking straight at the hearts.
As Han Xiao calculated in his mind, he brought his mechanical army and activated hyperdrive, turning into streams of light that flew across the galaxy. All of them were equipped with high-speed hyperdrive engines, and with the support of Mechanical Force, they were even faster than the exploration team. After chasing for a long time, the two spaceships of the exploration team appeared in his radar.
“It’s indeed in this direction…”
Seeing that his target had appeared, Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief. Destiny’s Child was indeed powerful, or things would not have gone so smoothly.
The exploration team had activated a concealment device, but they could not avoid his detection, and he would not be easily discovered by a small exploration team.
Han Xiao had no intention of going up to communicate with them. He waved his hand and ordered a group of mechanical troops to set up a Space Stabilization Anchor to force the exploration team out of the hyperdrive mode. He then raised his long-range weapons and locked onto the two spaceships. Not long after, the two spaceships of the exploration team crashed into the trap set up by the mechanical army. With a sudden jolt, their speed plummeted and returned to normal mode. Han Xiao opened fire without hesitation, and a thick stream of high-energy particles shot out from the muzzle and swept past the two spaceships.
The shields of the two spaceships shattered in the blink of an eye, and the bodies of the spaceships melted, disappearing without a trace. In an instant, both the spaceships and the personnel on board were annihilated. A small exploration team naturally could not withstand Han Xiao’s attack.
Seeing that the target was successfully eliminated, Han Xiao shook his head, but he could not be happy. He knew that this was only the beginning
Due to the connection of the World Tree’s mind network, it was basically impossible to mislead this exploration team. Right now, the World Tree base camp definitely placed a lot of importance on the progress of the exploration team, so if anything went wrong, the World Tree would discover it. It was equivalent to the ‘mainframe’ having all the data prepared. He could hack the exploration team, but he could not hack the World Tree’s main body. It was very easy to detect tampered data. By getting rid of the exploration team, he could only buy some time.
Han Xiao did not leave immediately. Instead, he gathered the spatial coordinates around him and summoned the construction team to set up the location.
At the same time, in the World Tree Civilization…
“… The mental network connection of the exploration team has been cut off. The members of the team have all been turned into seeds. They are suspected to have been attacked.”
In the main hall of the Tree Kings, Tedrian stood under his throne and reported the situation with a shocked tone.
Due to the discovery of their prey, the World Tree Civilization had been paying close attention to the progress of the exploration team and had been communicating with the team telepathically. The moment the exploration team lost contact, the upper echelons noticed it.
“Enemy attack? Could it have been done by this unknown civilization? How did they discover the exploration team?”
The Tree King frowned.
At this moment, another Tree King sitting by the side laughed and slowly said, “It seems like this unknown civilization isn’t simple. They either have a special anti-surveillance method similar to the information state alert network, or they built an outpost outside their territory… It’s also possible that the refugees discovered by the exploration team were just a trap.”
There were five thrones in the hall, each corresponding to one of the five tree kings. At this moment, three of the thrones were empty, and only two tree kings had appeared. One of them was the Subduing Tree King, and the one who spoke was the Heart Tree King, Minacho, a pinnacle Beyond Grade A Psychic. After Han Xiao caused a huge ruckus, the World Tree Civilization entered a state of alert, and the Heart Tree King woke up from his deep sleep. Two of the tree kings were on standby, and the other three were also observing the current situation.
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At this moment, there were still a few executives waiting in the hall. Hearing this, one of them asked, “Trap? Are you saying that the coordinates obtained by the exploration team are problematic?”
The Heart Tree King did not comment directly, instead casually replying, “The coordinates and intelligence provided by this group of refugees might have been specially forged by an unknown civilization. Their goal might be to lure the enemy in and lead outsiders into the trap they have prepared… After all, the universe is so big; we’re not the only hunters.”
The executives’ expressions became more solemn.
The exploration team had only just discovered the coordinates when they were wiped out. They had no choice but to be wary of this unknown civilization.
In the process of conquering the universe, it was not as if they had never met a tough opponent. They had seen civilizations that were also focused on invasion, and they had always been on guard against such existences.
This time, Tedrian exclaimed and said, “That’s not right. If this is a trap to lure the enemy, there’s no need for this unknown civilization to attack the exploration team. This will only alarm others. They should be showing their weaknesses instead.”
The Heart Tree King smiled and nodded. “That’s right, so the possibility of it being a trap isn’t high. This unknown civilization probably doesn’t wish to come into contact with outsiders and is afraid of being exposed. However, their actions have also exposed some things… After the unknown civilization discovered the exploration team, they immediately attacked without any intention of capturing them alive. Isn’t this suspicious?”
Hearing this, the eyes of many executives flickered.
“Logically speaking, if a civilization discovers an exploration team of unknown origin, there’s a high chance that they will capture them alive and try to obtain intelligence…”
The Heart Tree King nodded and slowly said, “That’s right, but this unknown civilization did not do so. Maybe it’s because they’re cautious, but it’s more likely that they have intelligence on us and know that the World Tree has a mental network link, so they don’t dare show their faces, afraid of being observed… Think about it, if they didn’t know about our mental network, what are the chances of them destroying a foreign exploration team so carelessly?”
Tedrian was shocked. “So what you’re saying is that this unknown civilization might be the hometown of the outsider who stole a lot of our secrets?”
Everyone’s expression changed.
The psychological trauma that Han Xiao had left on them was not small, and it was still fresh in their minds. Just the mention of him made many World Tree members feel pressured.
“All of this is just speculation. As for what exactly happened, we’ll have to verify it first.” The Heart Tree King waved his hand and calmly said, “The next step is to locate the coordinates that this exploration team has recently passed by and reopen the wormhole tunnel. We’ll send advance troops there, continue the exploration, and advance toward the navigation coordinates… Whether it’s a trap or not, this is the only clue we have at the moment. We have to investigate it thoroughly.”
“That was also my intention.” The Subduing Tree King nodded.
The executives bowed in unison. “Understood. We will assemble the fleet now.”
Somewhere in the Central Galaxy, a few enormous stargate devices were placed in the middle of the galaxy. At this time, the channel was not opened, so it only existed as a gigantic circular mechanical device.
In front of these stargate devices, there was a fleet that stretched endlessly. The armies of the Federation of Light, the Crimson Dynasty, and the Arcane Church had been waiting there for a long time.
These stargates were a set with the stargate terminals that Han Xiao had taken away. As long as Han Xiao completed the terminal connection, the two sides would be able to build an express channel.
After learning of the World Tree’s existence, the three Universal Civilizations had been secretly gathering troops. Currently, most of the armies were on standby, ready to move out at any time.
While Han Xiao was dealing with the exploration team, the three Universal Civilizations efficiently gathered their troops and waited to set off.
“With Black Star’s efficiency, it should be soon.”
In the main flagship of the Federation of Light, the commander-in-chief, Simon, was playing with an antique replica pocket watch, looking down at the time from time to time. The surrounding crew members all had solemn expressions on their faces, and the atmosphere was stifling.
At this time, the few stargates outside the window activated one after another, and a dark blue space vortex appeared within the ring device. Starlight sparkled, and it led to the exit on the other side. Seeing this, Simon closed his watch and placed it into his pocket.
“All troops, move out!”
In the area where the exploration team had been wiped out, Han Xiao’s mechanical army had already set up the stargate and activated the channel. The space vortex slowly spun, and not long after, batches of troops from the three Universal Civilizations flew out from the stargate.
Simon immediately saw the mechanical base floating in the starry sky outside the window. This was a temporary stronghold built by Han Xiao.
Simon sent Han Xiao a message. “We’re here.”
“I see you. Here is the exploration team’s projected route. I’ll leave the rest to you,” Han Xiao replied casually before sending the intelligence to the various commanders.
Simon nodded. Without exchanging pleasantries, he turned and gave the order for the fleet to start moving. The allied troops of the three Universal Civilizations immediately split up, and the construction team built the prototype of the defense circle on the spot. The mechanical army then followed the exploration team’s route, setting up a space stabilization device along the way. Because the World Tree could only take coordinates based on the exploration team’s route to open wormholes, the three Universal Civilizations’ method was a perfect counter.
Looking at the three Universal Civilizations’ fleets working in an orderly manner, Han Xiao nodded.
Although both sides had come into contact in advance, compared to his previous life, the three Universal Civilizations were in a much better position. The World Tree had yet to grasp their strength and was not prepared, so they could not invade from the secondary dimensions. Therefore, the three Universal Civilizations only needed to pay attention to the battlefront of the main universe for the time being, which saved them a lot of time and energy. Furthermore, they still had the upper hand at the moment, managing to keep the enemy outside their territory. The situation was quite good.
Everyone was engrossed in their preparations for a long time. Suddenly, a spacetime anomaly occurred somewhere on the exploration team’s route, attracting everyone’s attention.
A wormhole vortex appeared out of thin air. However, along the way, the wormhole was disrupted by the stabilizing anchor nearby. The process was interrupted, and the wormhole was destroyed. “The teleportation of the World Tree failed.”
Seeing this, many of the officers of the three Universal Civilizations were overjoyed. This was obviously because after the exploration team died, the World Tree had tried to send the next batch of troops. This proved to the three Universal Civilizations that their current plan was effective, able to successfully stop the World Tree’s teleportation team.
This way, the World Tree could only choose to teleport to further coordinates and keep trying until it succeeded. At that time, the three Universal Civilizations, who were prepared, would naturally surround and intercept them. Since the plan was effective, Han Xiao did not keep an eye on it. The three Universal Civilizations would be in charge of this. With more people, the efficacy would naturally be higher.
Leaving behind a Throne, Han Xiao changed into the King and returned to the explored universe. He still had many things to do.
After Han Xiao returned to the Beyond Grade A Association headquarters, he immediately called an emergency meeting. The association members received the news and all attended.
Ever since the three Universal Civilizations’ ban was lifted, Black Star had not summoned everyone so urgently. In the venue, many Beyond Grade A projections landed on their seats and gazed at Han Xiao curiously.
Kasuyi turned and asked, “Black Star, why did you call us for an emergency meeting?” Han Xiao looked around and said with a deep voice, “I know that all of you have always been curious about the basis of our ceasefire with the three Universal Civilizations. Previously, due to the confidentiality agreement and some strategic considerations, I did not disclose it to the outside world. However, the situation has changed. I can tell all of you that… because the three Universal Civilizations discovered a foreign civilization that lives on aggression and threatened the safety of the entire galactic society, they chose to compromise with us at the crucial moment. They hope to work together with us to fight against the foreign enemy.”
Hearing this, the expressions of the Beyond Grade As present changed. Some came to a realization, some were shocked, and others remained unsurprised.
Many people had already faintly expected this possibility, so they did not show a great reaction.
Manison’s eyes flashed, and he slowly said, “This is the deal that the three Universal Civilizations gave us for our independence?”
“That’s right.” Han Xiao nodded.
“How strong is this enemy?” Kasuyi was curious.
“Because of some reasons, it’s not convenient to reveal the details for the time being, but the overall strength is very strong…” Han Xiao briefly described the size of the World Tree.
After hearing the introduction, many people looked at each other and frowned. They were afraid of the strong enemy that Han Xiao described.
“I never thought that I would have to fight alongside the three Universal Civilizations in the blink of an eye.”
“The enemies are so strong. Can the three Universal Civilizations win?”
“Even if we win, it will probably be a tragic victory.”
Many people whispered to each other, worried. Dillon frowned. “In other words, we still have to work for the three Universal Civilizations?”
Han Xiao waved his hand and said, “It’s just a deal. Furthermore, we’re also the prey of the foreign enemies. We have nothing to do with the three Universal Civilizations.”
“Bullsh*t! The three Universal Civilizations can’t even take care of themselves, so we can definitely leave on our own. They won’t dare stop us at this juncture, but aren’t they using our lives to protect the three Universal Civilizations?”
Dillon was clearly dissatisfied. His hostility toward the three Universal Civilizations was very firm.
“If we join the battle, who knows how many people will die? Even if there’s the Sanctum Revival, I think…” Beiger hesitated.
The majority of people there were willing to fight the three Universal Civilizations for the treatment of the Beyond Grade As because of what happened in history, but for them to ally and fight alongside the three Universal Civilizations, it was the exact opposite.
Among that group, the Revivors took the lion’s share. They felt that since they could no longer enjoy the Sanctum Revival, losing their lives for the three Universal Civilizations was not worth it.
Protecting the people was not a priority for a portion of the Beyond Grade As. After all, the strength of an individual was different from that of a civilization. If they did not need to rely on the masses, they naturally did not have much obligation to protect them.
Now that the problem of the Beyond Grade As was basically solved, many of the Revivors had achieved their goal, and their mentality was inevitably going to shift toward being independent.
Han Xiao took in everyone’s expression and said, “These are the terms of the deal. If we don’t participate in the battle, the association’s independence and status will be nullified.” Dillon snorted. “Come on. It’s not even certain if the three Universal Civilizations can win. We’ll be risking our lives to fight, but if the three Universal Civilizations lose, these agreements will still be useless. To us, it’s a bloody loss… There is clearly a method to gain something without risking our lives!” “You’re right, but there are two sides to everything. This is also an opportunity. Furthermore, we were all born from this galactic society, so this is not the time to abandon our homeland. Escaping should not be the first choice.” Han Xiao shook his head. “Alright, let’s assume that we’ve defeated the enemy. But what if the three Universal Civilizations take the opportunity to wipe us out again? Will we still have the strength to fight back then?” Dillon questioned.
“Of course, I’ve considered this. Don’t worry, we won’t be the main force fighting against the foreign enemies. The three Universal Civilizations will only suffer greater losses than us. By then, the association will still be able to retain enough strength or come out even stronger.”
Dillon snorted coldly. “It’s easy to say. I don’t care about the others, but I won’t agree. You want me to fight for the three Universal Civilizations? No way!”
Han Xiao ignored him and looked at the others. “What are your thoughts?”
Listening to the argument between the two, many Beyond Grade As had different expressions. Some were hesitant, while others remained calm.
“Black Star is right. This is a deal with risks and benefits. We’re not fighting for the three Universal Civilizations but for our homeland. At least for me, I’m already used to living here. If it’s not necessary, I don’t want to watch the galactic society be destroyed,” Kant said slowly.
Kasuyi nodded and said, “No matter what, it’s too early to discuss escaping before the battle starts. I believe that Black Star’s intention is not to fight to the death. If the situation is truly irreversible, with his style, he will not lead us down a path of no return.”
“That’s right.” Secret Master nodded expressionlessly.
Other than the Revivors, most Beyond Grade As understood Han Xiao’s actions. After all, not everyone was willing to abandon their hometown. Furthermore, as a Beyond Grade A, even in the face of a universal war, they still had the confidence to protect themselves and would not panic. Being scared away by the enemy was not within the consideration of most. Whether they could win or not would only be known after they fought.
Hearing this, Han Xiao nodded before looking at Dillon and the others. “The war has yet to break out, so you still have plenty of time to consider. The association respects the opinions of every member and will not force anyone to participate in the war… Of course, if you change your mind one day, I welcome all of you to fight alongside us.”
“Humph, even if the galactic society is gone, I will not regret my attitude today!” Dillon snorted.
Han Xiao’s expression was calm, and he was not angry. It was normal to have disagreements. He had already considered this point.
However, in his previous life, everyone in the explored universe was a soldier, so it was clear that most of them were upright. Furthermore, in his previous life, Oathkeeper had convinced many Revivors to participate in the battle at the critical moment. Clearly, it was not just because they were emotionally moved but more because the Sanctum Revival was used as a bargaining chip to move all the Beyond Grade As.
When the truth of the unlimited number to Sanctum revivals was exposed, he believed that these cold and aloof combat avoiders would come back knocking.
Han Xiao gave some instructions before announcing the end of the meeting. Everyone left with their own thoughts, except Manison.
Han Xiao looked at him and asked, “What do you have to say to me?”
Manison crossed his hands on his legs and calmly said, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Do you want to reconsider my route?”
“What, you want to replace the three Universal Civilizations?” Han Xiao smiled.
“Can’t we?” Manison glanced at Han Xiao. “If we lose, just pretend that I didn’t say anything. If we win, this is a very good opportunity. It might be the weakest moment of the three Universal Civilizations so far, and the Virtual Mutiny Virus in our hands will come in handy.”
“You still haven’t given up. In fact, the things you want are even more exaggerated.” Han Xiao shook his head.
Manison was expressionless. “When the three Universal Civilizations recover, they will still see us as a thorn in their side. As long as they stay on our side, we won’t be able to have any true peace. Your method of checks and balances is effective, but isn’t it better to solve the threat once and for all?” “It’s too early to say that. Let’s focus on dealing with the enemies.” Han Xiao waved his hands.
To the citizens of the galactic society, this was a normal day, but on this day, the peaceful life in their eyes was easily broken by the galactic announcement issued by the three Universal Civilizations. The three Universal Civilizations announced that a powerful foreign civilization was planning to invade the galactic society. The entire universe was to enter a state of war, requesting the Flickering World and many other Star Fields to begin mass migration.
This earth-shattering news swept through every Star Field like a hurricane. All galactic residents and civil forces who saw the news could not believe their eyes, thinking that it was fake news.
However, the actions of the three Universal Civilizations proved that this was not a joke. Large batches of official fleets forcefully migrated the civilians in the various Star Fields, and the various civilizations cooperated extremely well. Spaceship after spaceship of galactic residents of different races were sent to the transport ship, heading toward the hinterlands of the explored universe.
The recently renowned Beyond Grade A Association also issued a statement, proving that the three Universal Civilizations were not lying. They would fight against the enemies together and start to recruit Supers from all over the universe.
This series of actions did not pause at all. It was as if they had been prepared for this. The tension of the impending storm swept through the entire galactic society.
There had been no related news before this, and the situation had come too suddenly. It was as if a meteor had landed on the calm surface of the sea, causing huge waves. The public opinion exploded instantly. However, one characteristic of the interstellar era was that the people were used to seeing all kinds of strange things. They were adaptable and could accept things fast enough. Although the period of long and comfortable life slowed down the reactions of many people, the majority of the galactic residents still quickly accepted the fact that a war was about to break out. They did not have time to think too much and quickly responded.
Fortunately, the conflict between the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade A Association had given many galactic residents an experience. At this moment, they were practically escaping without hesitation.
Without the forced migration of the three Universal Civilizations, most of the galactic residents left the border Star Field of their own accord, forming a huge migration wave. The public stargates were all jammed, and the fleet could extend to the end of their sights.
At the same time, the armies of the three Universal Civilizations began to move toward the periphery of the Star Field, requiring the majority of the area to start their war preparations.
In daily life, the various Star Fields were all living areas. Once a war broke out, the entire explored universe would be a strategic location in the eyes of the three Universal Civilizations. All Star Fields were war zones with different functions.
Chapter 1331 Scheming Against the Enemy
In the conference room of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, many leaders were discussing the coming war intensely.
Ever since the three Universal Civilizations issued the universal war mobilization, the leaders of the various civilizations had put aside their other work, treating it as their top priority at the moment and actively asking the three Universal Civilizations about their enemies.
However, due to the magnitude of the issue, there were too many civilizations that were eager to obtain information. The three Universal Civilizations only gave a unified reply and briefly explained the situation of the information entanglement. They said that they wanted to control the number of people who knew about it and that it was not convenient to publicize any intelligence on the enemy for the time being. Therefore, the other civilizations did not know anything about the enemy. However, even if some civilizations were dissatisfied with the three Universal Civilizations, they would still follow the instructions of the three Universal Civilizations and cooperate with the strategic plan when facing external wars. After all, the three Universal Civilizations were the rulers, and their determination to protect the safety of the explored universe was unquestionable. At the same time, they were also the pillars of the galactic society. None of the civilizations objected to the three Universal Civilizations having unified command during the war, and even the Super Star Cluster Alliance did not dare object.
A Super Star Cluster leader knocked on the table and said, “The invasion of foreign civilizations is not a small matter. For some reason, the three Universal Civilizations did not reveal the details of the enemy, but for them to put on such a show, it’s clear that they have met a strong enemy.” “According to the attitude of the three Universal Civilizations, this time, it’s most likely a mature Universal Civilization, not something those natives can compare to,” another person guessed. Everyone had a heavy expression on their face. This was not the first time that the explored universe had dealt with an unknown civilization. In history, there would occasionally be new Star Fields being developed, and the most recent example was the Flickering World. The Kunde Race war was similar, but the natives and Universal Civilizations were worlds apart. The intensity of the war was on a completely different level.
The Universal Civilizations in the unexplored universe were basically the overlords of a region. This was no longer a small skirmish when they were fighting the natives but an interstellar war. They no longer had a perfect chance of winning like they did when they were teaching the natives a lesson. The three Universal Civilizations had put up a defensive stance in their base camp, so it was obviously not the side that took the initiative to attack. It was most likely the side that was invaded, which made the heads of the Super Star Cluster Civilizations feel that something was wrong. No one wanted to start a war in their own territory, and even if they won, their territory would suffer a huge loss. However, the three Universal Civilizations had chosen a defensive strategy, which proved that they were likely at a disadvantage, so they could only passively resist the other party’s invasion.
“The conservative strategy of the three Universal Civilizations has exposed their lack of confidence. We should prepare a path of retreat. If the three Universal Civilizations become losers, we must think of a way to protect our civilizations,” the leader of the Star Arc Civilization said.
In the eyes of the upper echelons, nothing was inevitable. They would never believe that the three Universal Civilizations could not be defeated or destroyed. They had to consider every possibility and plan ahead.
“It’s a pity that the three Universal Civilizations will not disclose information about this foreign enemy. We can’t analyze the other party’s social status, political orientation, and attitude toward the outside world…” Someone shook his head.
“It seems like we can only wait until the war starts before we know the situation of this foreign civilization. Only then can we make a decision based on the actual situation. Before that, we can only arrange our own ‘life tinder’ storages,” the leader of the Star Arc Civilization replied.
After discussing for a while, one of the Modo Three Kings suddenly spoke in a low voice.
“Speaking of which, this might be our chance to break the stalemate.”
Hearing this, the eyes of many Super Star Cluster leaders flickered.
They stayed in the explored universe and had always been restricted by the three Universal Civilizations. Only external forces could help them break the balance. Their previous attempt to enter the Flickering World had failed, and although the Beyond Grade A Association had potential, it did not seem to be of much use now. However, external enemies were the biggest variable, and it was an opportunity to change the situation. The Star Arc Civilization leader rubbed his chin and slowly said, “The most ideal situation would be for the three Universal Civilizations and the foreign civilizations to both suffer. We would then take over and rule the galactic society.
“Of course, they will be wary of us. If this path doesn’t work, we can take the opportunity to evacuate. The three Universal Civilizations won’t have the strength to stop us. We can bring our civilization to a faraway place and become the new rulers there. We can enjoy the resources and develop freely. We won’t be restricted and suppressed like today.”
Everyone’s eyes lit up.
As the saying went, they would rather be a chicken’s head than a phoenix’s tail. The Super Star Cluster Alliance had been the number two for too long, and they had been beaten up by the three Universal Civilizations every day. If there was no outside interference, they would never have the chance to turn the tables and would forever be positioned below the three Universal Civilizations.
If they could get rid of the restrictions, then migrating to the enemy would also be a choice.
At this moment, the Star Arc Civilization leader changed the topic.
“However, without the enemy’s intelligence, it’s not suitable for us to make a decision… The three Universal Civilizations will most likely be wary of us and force us to be the main force. This will reduce our strength and cause us to be less of a threat. Therefore, we still have to see how the war goes.”
All the leaders nodded with subtle expressions.
Since the enemy had yet to arrive, it was impossible for the civilizations to be united.
The war was sudden, and the announcement of the three Universal Civilizations spread throughout the galaxy. This also shocked the players, and their reactions were intense. “Suddenly going to war? I haven’t even brushed my teeth!”
“Isn’t the main storyline the rise of a Beyond Grade A nation? Why did it suddenly become a galactic war?”
“Tsk, I got the main storyline wrong again. I really can’t guess this version!”
“Actually, all of this is possible, but the level of intelligence we have access to is not high enough. We can’t get any inside information and can only analyze the surface.”
Many players on the forums were shocked, but shortly after, most of them became excited.
War? That’s good! I can participate in the main storyline again! As a group that wanted to see the world in chaos, the players welcomed war. After the three Universal Civilizations and the association became good friends again, many players could only operate the black markets to farm daily necessities. Although they were very free, they did not have a main storyline goal, so they were still overly idle and dying of boredom.
Now that a universal war was about to break out, it might be the largest war they had ever seen. Most of the players could not wait to participate. Coincidentally, Han Xiao also issued a recruitment order to the army players, gathering all the combat-ready soldiers of the army to await orders in the Flickering World.
At Black Star’s call, almost all the players in the army responded, dropping the black market mission in their hands and gathering at Black Star Palace.
At the border stargate station of the Dawn Star Cluster, the diverse civilian spaceships lined up in front of the stargate and entered in batches under the supervision of the Crimson Dynasty fleet. These were all galactic residents who had responded to the migration and were leaving the Flickering World on a large scale.
Practically all the galactic travel companies assisted in the migration, mobilizing their spaceships to transport batch after batch of galactic residents out of the country. Not only did they respond to the call, but they also took the opportunity to make a huge profit. Currently, all galactic flights did not care about comfort, only the number of passengers. Unless they chose VIP cabins that were many times more expensive, they could not expect any special treatment. In a large travel ship, countless galactic residents were squeezed into the main hall of the ship, and all kinds of races could be seen there. These were all ordinary passengers, and most of them were chatting with their companions. There were many worried people, and the main hall was extremely noisy. “The recent disturbances have been too frequent. Those rulers have been creating trouble for us, and now we can’t even rest in peace,” one universal human could not help but complain.
One of the people beside him said with a dissatisfied expression, “Who says so? Some time ago, the three Universal Civilizations confronted the Beyond Grade A Association, and I thought that something big was going to happen. It was not easy to get rid of the storm, and now there’s going to be a war. How annoying.”
“Since it has already happened, let’s not complain too much.” A well-dressed passenger sighed and said, “I only hope that this migration will ensure our safety.”
“As long as the three Universal Civilizations can stop the enemy at the border Star Field, we shouldn’t have to worry. No matter how fierce the battle is, it won’t threaten us,” another passenger said.
“It’s hard to say. In the past, when we encountered foreign civilizations, the three Universal Civilizations did not order us to migrate on a large scale. The enemy this time is probably very strong. I hope the three Universal Civilizations can be more reliable. Otherwise, the inner Star Fields won’t be safe either,” someone said worriedly.
The cabin was filled with anxiety, and the more they chatted, the more worried they became.
Other than personal safety concerns, many people were worried about their lives. “The people from the border Star Fields have all migrated to the inner Star Fields. It will be crowded, and living resources will be more scarce. The prices will definitely increase…” “Sigh, it wasn’t easy for me to build up some savings. I don’t know how long I can last. I hope my job opportunities won’t be affected. As long as I don’t go to the frontlines, I’m willing to do anything.”
me
Many passengers sighed.
At this moment, something happened outside the window, attracting everyone’s attention.
There was a long queue in front of the stargate, and the neighboring stargate was deserted. However, at this time, a fleet of ships suddenly sailed out from the stargate and arrived in the Flickering World. The armor of the ships had the insignia belonging to different Beyond Grade A organizations.
The next moment, these fleets turned into dense streams of light and headed in the opposite direction of the refugee fleet, heading toward the war zone.
“Are those the fleet from the Beyond Grade A Association?”
As the passengers watched the fleet disappear from their sights, some of them suddenly had a strange expression. Among the crowd, there were some galactic residents who had criticized the association online during the confrontation between the three Universal Civilizations and the association. Seeing this scene, their emotions were complicated.
In the intercept area, a large number of mechanical strongholds were lined up in the starry sky, and the orbit formed by the Space Stabilization Anchor extended out, covering the route of the World Tree exploration team.
The efficiency of the three Universal Civilizations was astonishing, and it did not take long for them to form a defensive circle, forming a war zone as the frontline to intercept the World Tree.
In the past few days, the three Universal Civilizations had been setting up a space stabilization orbit along the exploration team’s route all day long. The range was getting larger and larger, and they had already discovered that the World Tree had tried to form wormholes in different locations many times, but it had been disrupted by the space stabilization anchors and ultimately failed.
In the temporary base, Simon and the other commanders stayed in the combat staff room and spoke softly before the tactical star map while Han Xiao and many Beyond Grade As listened from the side.
After the meeting, Han Xiao brought Kasuyi, Kant, and the rest of the Beyond Grade As to the intercept area. They took charge while understanding the current situation.
The Flickering World had many Beyond Grade A organizations’ territories, and they were already preparing for war. With so many officers, there was no need for them to keep an eye on them.
Other than the association members, there were also many Beyond Grade As from the direct line of descent of the three Universal Civilizations present. They were also there to prevent the World Tree from sending Beyond Grade As.
Simon pointed at the star map and solemnly said, “According to the statistics, the other party has already attempted to open the wormhole channel five times. The coordinates are getting further and further away, and the last time, they approached the edge of a stable space orbit. “The coordinates that the other party will choose next should be a long distance away. It might be outside our observation range… The defense circle is not complete yet. Black Star, we still need your help.”
“I’ll try my best.”
Han Xiao nodded.
Setting up a space stabilization orbit would only buy some time, and the teleportation location of the World Tree would be far away from the defense circle. However, it would not be able to cover the route that the exploration team had left behind over countless years. As long as the World Tree moved the teleportation coordinates far enough, it would sooner or later teleport a new exploration team over.
If the new World Tree exploration team was outside of their observation range, it would be more troublesome. The other party could take a large detour, and the defense circle of the three Universal Civilizations had yet to be completely built, so the probability of intercepting them was limited. The best way now was to rely on Destiny’s Child’s intelligence channel to locate the subsequent exploration team’s location and target it to prevent anyone from escaping.
The premise was that its sub-body on the World Tree side had grasped this information, or else Destiny’s Child would not be able to obtain the location. Luckily, this channel was very hidden, and the World Tree side should not be aware of its own information leak. They would still use the power of the sub-body to solve the problems for the exploration team.
Beep beep beep… At this time, Han Xiao’s communicator suddenly rang.
The room immediately fell silent. Everyone stopped talking and looked at Han Xiao.
Han Xiao took out his communicator. It was a message from Oathkeeper.
After reading the content, his eyes flashed.
“The World Tree has successfully opened the wormhole, and the new exploration team has arrived. It’s four days away from the most stable spatial node… Everyone, we have to fight them.”
Hearing this, everyone’s pupils constricted.
Although they were mentally prepared, they were still in a heavy mood upon hearing that they would officially fight the World Tree troops. Han Xiao was the only one in the room who could treat this calmly.
Chapter 1332 Encounter and Adjustment
In the vast starry sky, a spatial fold appeared out of thin air; it started to spin faster and faster, quickly turning into a wormhole. Hundreds of thousands of World Tree battleships sailed out.
“Finally.”
In the command room of the main ship, a creature that looked like a stick insect stood with his arms crossed and spoke in a gleeful tone. Judging from his attire and the series of medals on his chest, he was a high-ranking officer.
Orwell was a commander of the World Tree Military. He was part of the ‘Foreign Battle Command Corps’. This was a talent pool formed by the elites of the World Tree. This person was in charge of logistics tasks like exploration, infiltration, and stealing intelligence. Currently, he was in charge of Exploration Team No. 274. His skin was like a leaf, and his veins could clearly be seen. There was a faint green light flowing through his body, and he looked like a plant spirit. This was one of the Blessed Races of the World Tree, Green Demon.
Not all races annexed by the World Tree had the qualifications to become a Blessed Race. The Blessed Race was an elite race that had obtained the World Tree’s endowment. Just like the Beyond Grade A race, they had an extremely high rate of Super Awakening, as well as special talents and a natural connection to the World Tree.
Orwell fiddled with the medals on his chest and slowly gave the order. “All units, pay attention. Follow the planned strategy, split up, and go to the navigation target. Try to avoid any enemy fleets. Our goal is to reach our destination, not to be in a stalemate with the enemy’s intercepting troops.”
The previous wormhole tunnels had been disrupted by Space Stabilization Anchors and could not transport them over, which led to the 274th exploration group being on standby for a few days. The World Tree naturally guessed the three Universal Civilizations’ strategy and knew that this ‘Unknown Civilization’ wanted to stop them in this area and prevent them from reaching their territory.
Thus, the World Tree decided to have the exploration team take different routes. With hundreds of thousands of exploration ships, every additional route would increase the number of teleportation coordinates of the World Tree. As long as the other side’s space stabilization orbit could not block in time, they could slowly explore until they reached the other side’s territory.
This method was time-consuming, but the World Tree did not lack patience. The method was simple, rough, and effective. If one path was blocked, they could just take a longer detour next time. Sooner or later, they would be able to penetrate the opponent’s interception net. Their advantage was that they did not care about losses, and they had enough capital to make mistakes. They were least afraid of a tug of war.
Under Orwell’s command, the hundreds of thousands of battleships scattered and disappeared into space.
The personal troop of Orwell followed the path of the previous exploration team.
“Although the Executive Officers think that this civilization is suspected to be the hometown of the outsider from last time, there’s no way to confirm it at the moment. Even if it is not, we don’t know if there are individuals with great powers here…”
Orwell narrowed his eyes and casually glanced at a figure resting in the corner of the command room.
The World Tree had specially sent a Holy Tree Emissary to follow the ship. If they encountered the enemy’s intercepting troops, they would act according to the situation. The goal was to force out the powerful individuals of this unknown civilization, so it did not matter even if they died.
Three days later, a small Arcane Church fleet searched along the path of the exploration team.
The captain was connected to the command channel, listening to the reports from the other troops with a serious expression.
“Currently, we have intercepted a total of 7,200 enemy ships. We have discovered that the enemy is taking detours in different directions. We are not sure of the total size of the enemy…”
“Sir, this is not good for us,” the deputy said worriedly. “It’s indeed disadvantageous.” The captain nodded solemnly. “But we can only try our best to stop them.”
The World Tree had too many troops, and not all the routes would be used as mediums for foreseers. Therefore, even Destiny’s Child’s channels could not monitor all the routes of these exploration groups. The three Universal Civilizations could only send troops to patrol the area like a sieve, sifting through the various areas to intercept any fish that escaped the net.
This method was akin to finding a needle in a haystack, and it mainly depended on luck. It would also cause the troops to be scattered. However, the defense circle had yet to be built, so they could only use such stupid methods to deal with the attacks of the World Tree. No matter how troublesome it was, they could not let the World Tree Exploration Group penetrate the line of defense.
The extraterritorial defense circle was a huge project. The principle was to treat the Flickering World as the center and build a virtual sphere. It would expand and expand until it covered the current position. Then, the three Universal Civilizations would cut a spherical arc in the direction of the World Tree’s advance and expand or shrink according to the situation, forming a three-dimensional boundary to determine the basic range of the defense circle. Then, they would build a large number of wormhole support bases to make up for the problem of the battle line being too long Due to the size of the arc, this seemed like an impossible project, but it was actually only limited by manpower and resources. With the efficiency of the three Universal Civilizations, the size of their military power, and their resources, it was enough to take on such a project. Since they did not want to be driven straight in by the World Tree, they could not just build a defense line willy-nilly.
The captain was about to speak when the anti-stealth radar suddenly issued warning signals. It pointed diagonally ahead, showing a group of moving unknown targets.
“We’ve come across them! Let’s go!”
The captain immediately gave the order.
The fleet immediately changed direction and headed toward the target. The target that the radar had locked onto did not turn around, and it headed straight for them.
Not long after, this Arcane Church fleet met with the personal troop of Orwell.
“Fire!”
Without another word, the captain roared with a ferocious expression.
The Arcane Church fleet immediately opened fire, firing a volley of shots. The cannons on the spaceships lit up with a dark red light, and a dazzling beam of light shot out. At the same time, Orwell’s subordinates also retaliated.
Two waves of light crossed each other and shot into each other’s formation, creating sparks on the shield.
Neither party intended to communicate. The moment they met, it was like a battle of thunder and fire. They exchanged blows in full swing
While the two sides were fighting intensely, a mental wave suddenly exploded from the main ship of Orwell and swept across the Arcane Church fleet.
The Arcane Church battleships reacted as though they had received a shockwave. They shot out complicated magic circuits formed by energy and blocked the mental waves head-on. The explosions caused sparks to fly, and the magic circuits immediately became much weaker.
“Beyond Grade A Psychic! Requesting support!”
The captain’s expression changed, and he immediately requested for help in the command channel.
Because there were too many search teams, the limited number of Beyond Grade As meant they could not allocate one to each team, so they were all on standby in the main base. Only when the search team met a World Tree expert would they be able to request Beyond Grade A reinforcements.
In order to prevent ordinary crew members from having their memories stolen by mind spells and psychic powers, the spaceships had all been specially modified. They had set up a psychic barrier enhancement device and engraved special industrial enchantments to block mental attacks. The number of times it could be used depended on the strength of the other party, so the crew inside the carrier would not be killed instantly upon meeting.
Not long after he said that, a shadow suddenly appeared on the battlefield. It then solidified, and Kasuyi descended through the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device.
“Is this the individual power of the World Tree?”
Kasuyi narrowed his eyes with a flash of interest.
The next moment, boundless psychic energy gushed out like a flood and slammed into Orwell’s troops.
The psychic energy released by this Holy Tree Emissary suddenly rolled back and turned into a shield to protect the fleet. However, it only lasted for a few seconds before it was crushed into dust by Kasuyi’s endless psychic energy. The exploration fleets were crushed into scrap metal one after another and exploded into fireworks.
Seeing this, the Holy Tree Emissary hurriedly rushed out of the main ship and launched an attack on Kasuyi. The psychic waves turned into a needle beam and shot toward Kasuyi’s brain. It immediately made a ding sound and could not penetrate Kasuyi’s thick mental barrier.
Kasuyi did not say anything else and released an even more condensed psychic energy, immediately binding this Holy Tree Emissary The huge difference in energy level made the opponent almost unable to move.
“Let me see your memories…”
Kasuyi’s eyes flashed, and his psychic energy entered the Holy Tree Emissary’s brain.
This was the first time he had come into contact with a World Tree expert. Before this, he had only heard about it from Han Xiao and had not personally experienced it. At this moment, he could not help but want to pry into the other party’s memories.
However, the moment the psychic power entered the mind of this Holy Tree Emissary, a majestic pressure suddenly attacked through the mental link.
Boom!
An indescribable sense of fear crashed into Kasuyi’s heart. Kasuyi instantly felt a bone-deep sense of fear, as though he was being looked at by a boundless beast.
An intense sense of warning suddenly rang in his mind. It was as if something extremely terrifying would happen if he did not cut off the mental link.
Because the World Tree’s mental network was connected to all individuals, once one tried to use mental means to peer into the memories of an individual, it was equivalent to connecting to the World Tree. Outsiders would immediately feel the immense pressure of the mental network, as well as the strong pressure, and the World Tree would notice it. If one decided to forcefully maintain the mental link, it would instead give the World Tree a chance to devour the soul. At the very least, it would be wiped out and the person would go crazy. “This is the World Tree?”
Kasuyi hurriedly retracted his psychic energy, his eyes filled with shock.
He finally understood why Han Xiao was so wary when he mentioned the World Tree.
Although it was just a glimpse, he almost felt like he was about to collapse. The pressure of facing a high-level existence was deeply engraved in his heart.
Kasuyi dispelled the thought of spying on the memories and exerted more strength, bombarding the Holy Tree Emissary with his psychic energy. Not long after, the Holy Tree Emissary’s consciousness was shattered, and his body exploded into pieces. In the only remaining exploration ship, Orwell lit a cigarette and took a puff. He looked at the artillery fire outside the window and shook his head helplessly. “Tsk, tsk… I hope my luck will be better next time.”
The next second, cannon fire drowned the spaceship, and a loud explosion occurred. All the crew members, including Orwell, turned into seeds and returned to the arms of the World Tree.
At the same time, in the World Tree Civilization… “What a powerful Psychic. He killed Manny so easily.”
Tedrian and the other Executive Officers’ faces tightened.
They had been watching the entire process through the mental network.
“Did you see how the Psychic arrived? It’s similar to the teleportation method that the outsider used last time,” the Heart Tree King calmly said. “There’s a seventy-percent chance that this unknown civilization is the hometown of that outsider.” The Subduing Tree King nodded. “This is good news.”
They had already felt the pressure from that outsider the last time. If they met another enemy at this time, they would also doubt if they could fight on two fronts and eat two prey at the same time.
However, now that they had almost confirmed that the two of them were the same enemy, it was a relief. If that was the case, the exploration team had discovered the enemy’s nest when they had no clue about it. It was simply a blessing!
“The standard of this Psychic should not be as high as that outsider, but it’s still powerful enough. Ordinary Holy Tree Emissaries are far from being his match. This is indeed a civilization with extremely developed individual strength,” Tedrian muttered.
The Heart Tree King nodded and slowly said, “The other party’s strategy is very clear. They plan to build an interception circle here. It’s obvious that it hasn’t been built yet, so we can destroy it… Next time, we’ll choose to teleport to the coordinates at the back and have the troops build a temporary base there as a guide point. When the time comes, we’ll gather a large force and launch an all-out attack.” “We don’t have to do what we did in the past. Should we first find out more information before launching an all-out attack?” The Subduing Tree King glanced at him.
“Of course, we have to collect intelligence, but if we only focus on this, it will be too conservative and inflexible. It’s best to adjust the plan according to the situation. Probing information is one thing, but it’s also important to take the opportunity to disrupt the enemy’s deployment. There’s no conflict between the two. If we let the enemy build an intercepting circle comfortably, we will have to spend more than ten times the cost to break through. We might as well take action now and destroy the enemy’s plan.”
The Heart Tree King narrowed his eyes. The World Tree Civilization was pragmatic, and he did not have a habit of waiting for others to finish preparing before attacking.
Chapter 1333 Assemble
In the command room of the main base of the intercepting zone, reports of successful interceptions were being sent back one after another. Simon and the others were surrounding the real-time star map to control the entire situation, while the Beyond Grade As were on standby. The ten Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Devices outside the window were still in a state of preheating, ready to move at any time.
At this time, a light flashed in the corner of the room. Kasuyi, who had changed into a King suit, returned to the room with Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force wrapped around his body, immediately attracting the attention of others.
“You’re back? How do you feel?”
Han Xiao raised his brows and took back the King from Kasuyi.
Because the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device was only responsible for one-way teleportation, the intercepting troops would naturally not take another set of teleportation devices. Thus, Han Xiao lent the King mechanical suit and had the other Beyond Grade As take one when they went out. He would then use Mechanical Force to pull it back after they were done, increasing the efficiency.
“The Beyond Grade As of the World Tree are quite powerful.” Kasuyi nodded solemnly.
“However, I was trampled to death by you… I feel like you’re indirectly praising yourself.” Sun Hunter was suspicious.
“Ahem, I’m evaluating him as an ordinary Beyond Grade A, so don’t include peak Beyond Grade As,” Kasuyi muttered. “The other party’s psychic energy is stronger, and that light green energy seems to have greatly increased his mental strength. His strength should be able to match 1.6 times Psyker’s.” “That’s quite good. The dynasty has Kohler, and you guys have Psyker. This kind of bottom… basic combatant is more convenient for us to compare our strength,” Lotus Swordsman said.
Luckily, the two of them were not there, so no one jumped out to refute. Everyone nodded.
“You’re talking about the increase in combat strength brought about by the World Tree Union. Basically, all the Beyond Grade As of the World Tree Civilization enjoy this amplification. It’s equivalent to having a Space Wonder-level Universal Treasure,” Han Xiao explained.
“So, the average combat capability of the enemy Beyond Grade As is higher than ours?” Manison’s Lord’s Avatar asked.
“You can say that.” Han Xiao spread out his hands. “However, the high-end combat power should be about the same. The Five Tree Kings and their Ten Leaf Executive Officers are all extremely strong. The Thirteen Ancestral Spirits and the high-level Holy Tree Emissaries are extraordinary. There are also the high-level military commanders who are in charge of fighting outside all year round. We can still fight them.”
“That doesn’t sound good.” Secret Master shook his head.
Kasuyi frowned and said, “Speaking of which, I tried to pry into the other party’s memories just now, but I felt a high-level pressure. If I did not retract my psychic energy in time, I might have been heavily injured… Is that the power of the World Tree?”
“That’s right; that’s the World Tree. Don’t use your mental power to detect the memories of any member of the World Tree. They are all connected together and are protected by the World Tree. Their thoughts are also monitored. If there are any deviations, they will be corrected to prevent spying or possession,” Han Xiao explained. “They’re like slaves, never able to betray their master…” Kasuyi sighed before asking curiously, “Then, how did you get the information from them?”.
“Is there even a need to ask? I’m stronger than you guys,” Han Xiao said honestly.
Everyone was speechless.
Although it is the truth, why do we want to hit you so much?
The others ignored Han Xiao and asked Kasuyi all sorts of questions. Although everyone present had read the information about the one hundred World Tree experts that Han Xiao had collected last time, they were still very curious about Kasuyi’s combat experience.
Han Xiao did not mind. He shook his head and walked over to Simon and the others. As he listened to the orders from the upper echelons and staff officers, he looked at the changes in the real-time star map.
The star map was densely distributed with light dots, each representing an intercepting team. Their movements changed and were drawing forks in some places, which meant that they had successfully intercepted the enemy. There was a circle of light around the forks, as well as lines that extended out, representing the possible routes of the other World Tree exploration forces.
“The interception situation is not bad, thanks to your intelligence,” Simon said when he saw Han Xiao walking over. “We’re just helping each other.” Han Xiao did not mind.
Simon nodded, then sighed. “However, the intercepting circle is still too passive. We can only try our best to prevent the World Tree exploration team from entering our territory, but we will lose if we keep defending. As long as the enemy takes a wide enough detour, there will be some that slip through the net sooner or later. We can only think of ways to delay this moment.”
“That can’t be helped. After all, the opponent is the World Tree.” Han Xiao shrugged.
“…That’s right. This civilization is practically born for war. If it were any other opponent, we wouldn’t have to be passive like we are now. What a troublesome enemy.”
Simon was helpless.
The three Universal Civilizations were also tyrannical civilizations. If the enemy was not a war machine like the World Tree, with their current intelligence advantage, they might have already thought of a way to take the initiative to attack… However, there was no strategy that could be used in all situations. Taking the initiative to attack also depended on who the opponent was. If they ignored the actual situation of the opponent and used the example in the tactics manual, they would most likely suffer heavy losses. After all, they were not like the World Tree Civilization, which could fight without any heartache. With the example of the Kama Republic, the World Tree was not most powerful in their aggressive attacks but their encroachment.
Furthermore, Han Xiao’s intelligence had already shown that the main body was the foundation of the World Tree. If this was a real-time strategy game, the World Tree Territory would at most be a sub-base. The main base would still be in the fog of war, and the three Universal Civilizations would expose the location of their main base and be under attack. It would not be worth it to exchange their main base with a sub-base, not to mention that the enemy troops were even faster.
After sorting out his emotions, Simon took out his pocket watch and said, “The intercepting circle is still in the construction phase, and we’re short on manpower. How long will it take for the fleets of your Beyond Grade A Association to arrive?”
“Soon. They’re gathering toward the teleportation point,” Han Xiao replied. Currently, the Flickering World was rapidly turning into a war zone, and the unrelated parties were leaving at high speed. The Federation of Light took out a large pile of Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Devices and set up a gathering point in the Dawn Star Cluster to send the rest of the troops over. The fleets of the Beyond Grade A organizations such as the Black Star Army were rushing there.
Simon nodded. “It should be as fast as possible. The more manpower we have, the sooner the interception circle will be completed. The longer we can keep the World Tree outside of our territory, the better.”
The interstellar era emphasized efficiency. Advanced space travel capabilities reduced the time needed to travel, and many things could happen every day. However, at a higher level, many things required a long period of evolution.
Over the next few days, the three Universal Civilizations’ intercepting troops played hide-and-seek with the World Tree’s Exploration Group No. 274. The exploration teams were wiped out one after another, but because of the detours, the battle line was getting longer and longer. At the same time, the reinforcements of the Beyond Grade A organizations arrived at the intercepting area and quickly entered the construction of the interception circle. The wormholes were quickly built and connected together like a huge net, forming layers of barriers. The area expanded rapidly every day and spread further.
The intercepting zone was already the frontline, and more Beyond Grade As arrived one after another after settling their matters. The number quickly approached a hundred.
At the observation tower of the main base, Han Xiao stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window and looked at the bright galaxy. He seemed to be thinking about life, but he was actually browsing the forums to see the reactions of the players who had arrived at the frontline.
Just as he was focused on reading the post, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from afar. Han Xiao closed the interface and looked back. It was Hila and Aurora.
“You guys are here too?” Han Xiao glanced at them.
“Just arrived.” Hila’s expression was calm.
“I knew that with your personality, you definitely wouldn’t miss such a battle.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
He did not force the two sisters to participate, nor did he force them to stay behind. After all, the two of them were Beyond Grade As, and they had to respect each other’s wishes. If they came willingly, he would not stop them. Furthermore, the two sisters were indeed exceptional combatants.
“Since we have to fight the enemy together, we naturally can’t stay out of it. With our current strength, I don’t feel comfortable receiving protection,” Hila said slowly. Han Xiao looked at Aurora. “What about you?”
“Ah? Since my sister is here, I will definitely follow. What if she gets beaten to death? Also, my ability should be very useful.” Aurora smiled.
“She might be safer here than me.” Hila snorted. This was one of the reasons she did not stop Aurora from following her.
“With you around, the safety of the other Beyond Grade As will be guaranteed.” Han Xiao nodded at Aurora.
“Don’t misunderstand, we have other plans. This is a good place to strengthen the Underworld.”
Hila waved her hands.
“This is indeed a good opportunity.” Han Xiao nodded in agreement.
With the Underworld, even if the warriors below Beyond Grade A died, they would have a chance to be reborn. The meat grinder of war had always been a treasure ground for collecting souls. As long as the Underworld could store them, it would not be a problem.
However, the World Tree warriors were bound together, and they would not lose their souls even if they died. They would probably not be able to capture them, and the Underworld would most likely only be able to retrieve the dead warriors from the three Universal Civilizations. Furthermore, Han Xiao did not dare let the two sisters take the risk to capture the members of the World Tree. If the World Tree connection was not broken because of this, the coordinates of the Underworld would probably be exposed. It would not be good if the World Tree followed the clues and attacked the Underworld.
However, this did not affect the strategic importance of the Underworld. In Han Xiao’s eyes, the Underworld had the ability to change the entire situation, and its effect was not inferior to the Sanctum Revival. In some ways, it even exceeded it. It was a pity that Aurora’s powers were not strong enough. If she was allowed to grow for a few decades or even a century, the power of the Underworld would be even higher.
Han Xiao turned back to look out of the window and said in a deep voice, “I have a feeling that the World Tree will not sit back and watch us deploy our defenses. They will probably organize a large-scale attack very soon, and it will be the first time the three Universal Civilizations and the World Tree are fighting a large-scale battle.” “Is this your intuition?” Hila raised her brows.
“No, it’s just a prediction based on the style of the World Tree.” Han Xiao stroked his chin and sighed. “No matter what, you have to protect yourselves. I might not be able to take care of you in this universe-level war.”
“I will take care of myself,” Hila replied calmly.
In the territory of the World Tree Civilization, endless fleets were laid out in the universe, and streams of light were still coming from afar, turning into new troops that integrated into the group, expanding the scale of the army.
The executive officers nodded inwardly.
Once the Heart Tree King decided to launch an attack, they immediately gathered all the armies and waited for orders.
Due to the superior nature of the mental network and the fast movement in the territory, the efficiency of the World Tree Civilization in gathering troops was extremely astonishing. Very soon, they formed a large expedition army with a fleet of eight billion battleships, ready to attack at any time.
An executive officer turned to look at the two tree kings. “Your Excellency Tree King, when will the assault begin?”
The Subduing Tree King did not speak but turned to look at the Heart Tree King.
“The scale is still not enough. Gather more people,” the Heart Tree King said slowly.
“The required scale is…” Tedrian asked tentatively.
“This is the first time we’re fighting, so let’s take this as a greeting. The size of our fleet should be at least fifty billion, or else it will be hardly presentable. If they can’t even withstand such a small attack, then we can adopt more daring tactics in the future.”
Heart Tree King’s tone was so calm that it was as if he was only throwing out a small chip on the gambling table.
However, he paused and said, “Right, we have to consider the possibility of that outsider joining the battle. That person is not easy to deal with…”
Chapter 1334 Intelligence Advantage
The intercepting operation was still ongoing. As the enemy had only brought one Holy Tree Emissary, with the rest of their troops lacking individual strength, Kasuyi was the only one who took action. The other Beyond Grade As did not have the chance to take action and merely continued to wait.
In the compartment of the command room, almost a hundred Beyond Grade As were gathered there, doing their own things. Some were supervising the situation, some were resting with their eyes closed, some were dealing with matters, some were chatting casually, and there were even some who were playing cards in such a serious setting.
“Speaking of which, it has been some time since the two of us sat down to chat.”
Kant looked at the direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations and sighed.
When the three Universal Civilizations were targeting the association, Han Xiao did not allow the direct Beyond Grade As to participate in the meeting. After the lockdown was lifted, due to various things being delayed, the three Universal Civilizations had yet to regain the normal treatment that the direct Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations received in the association. Therefore, the time they spent on standby in the main base was when the members of the association and the direct Beyond Grade As finally got to sit together and chat.
“Now that we have a common enemy, let’s not talk about the past for the time being. We’re just doing our own thing.” Oulou sighed and looked at Han Xiao with a complicated expression.
“Heh, don’t confuse us with you guys. You guys have masters, but we don’t. It’s all for ourselves.” Sun Hunter curled his lips.
Oulou was silent for a few seconds before changing the topic. “I saw that the members of your association are not here yet. Why aren’t the others here?”
“They’re still considering it.” Kasuyi shook his head.
“You guys are participating in the battle, and they’re watching from behind and taking advantage of us? You guys can accept this?” Oulou raised his brows.
“So, you should kneel down and be grateful to us… Damn it, just thinking about it makes me feel so noble,” Sun Hunter cursed. Kasuyi helplessly explained, “Someone has to set an example. If not for Black Star, we might not have come.”
This time, Clotti, who was resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and slowly said, “Then, do you have the resolve to die in battle?”
Hearing this, everyone paused and looked over.
Clotti was expressionless as he calmly continued. “We, the direct descendants, are all participating in the battle with the determination to sacrifice our lives. Aren’t you self-serving people afraid of losing your lives? Even if there’s the Sanctum Revival, I’m sure none of you are willing to spend your chance to revive and give the initiative of your life and death to others.”
“…You’re right. Of course, no one is willing to sacrifice themselves if they can survive. However, they have to personally experience the strength of the enemy before they know what they’re doing,” Secret Master replied calmly. “Therefore, don’t expect us to fight to the death for you. We’re just fulfilling our end of the bargain. We’ve already done our part by coming to help.” This time, Oulou looked at Han Xiao, who did not participate in the conversation, and asked, “Black Star, if we die, you will help us revive, right?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao turned around and gave a brief reply.
He was not familiar with Oulou in the past, but after interacting with him for the past few days, this person was indeed not difficult to deal with.
“Yes.”
“Ha, then I’m relieved. If I can leave my body behind when I die in battle, please use the Spacetime Amber and preserve me as a specimen to let me take it away when I revive. I don’t want others to covet my handsomeness and steal my body for their collection.”
Oulou made a joke, but no one laughed.
Sun Hunter rolled his eyes. “Do you think you’re funny?”
Han Xiao could not be bothered with the people who were chatting. He looked away and continued to browse the forums.
At the moment, more than ninety percent of the players in the universe had arrived at the frontline. Most of them were rubbing their hands in anticipation of the war.
This kind of large-scale war operation had always been a good opportunity for the players to accumulate experience. Most of the army players participated in the operation, which would allow Han Xiao to gain experience more efficiently.
However, the players had yet to reach the level limit of the version. The first choice for Experience was to level up on their own. After reaching the level limit, they would then have a lot of extra Experience to do other things.
This meant that when most of the players reached the maximum level, his efficiency in harvesting Experience would increase by a lot. This was not his fastest harvesting speed.
It’s a pity that the usage of the players in this scenario is not as good as it was in my previous life…
Han Xiao felt helpless.
The World Tree War was supposed to be a later version, but due to the butterfly effect, it had been brought forward to Version 5.0. In his previous life, this would only be considered a middle version. The players were lacking a few extra versions to accumulate, and the upper limit of their levels would be a few dozen levels lower. Thus, they would not be as useful in the main battlefield as in his previous life.
In his previous life, the players had very high strategic value. The Immortals who were formed by high-level Supers had contributed a lot to many battlefields. Now that this force was gone, it would definitely affect all aspects of battle.
Fortunately, the fate of Hila and Aurora had been rewritten by him, and the Underworld should be able to fill this gap.
Beep beep beep…
While he was pondering, his communicator suddenly rang. It was a message from Oathkeeper.
Han Xiao took it out to take a look, and his expression changed.
“The World Tree is recruiting an army, estimated to be in the tens of billions, ready to launch an attack!”
Hearing this, the chatter in the room disappeared. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at him. There were all kinds of expressions such as seriousness, surprise, and fear. Han Xiao immediately walked out of the cubicle to share information with Simon and the others. The other Beyond Grade As also stood up and followed behind Han Xiao.
Simon and the other commanders had been monitoring the situation outside the cubicle the entire time. Upon hearing the intelligence that Han Xiao had shared, their expressions changed, and they hurriedly opened their long-distance communication to report the situation to the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations.
The figures of the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders appeared on the remote communication screen. The three of them listened to the report with solemn expressions and nodded.
“Is the World Tree Civilization preparing to launch an attack? Got it. We will send the order to gather the various armies to the frontline and prepare for a tough battle.”
As he spoke, Marbruce heaved a sigh of relief.
“Black Star, your intel this time is still very timely and bought us quite some time.” The World Tree Civilization was still in the recruitment phase, and the fleet had yet to be gathered, but Destiny’s Child had already detected it and sent it to Han Xiao. This was a huge advantage, and the other party would not arrive so quickly, so they had plenty of time to prepare. Knowing the other party’s next move ahead of time, the three Universal Civilizations would be able to deal with it ahead of time. Black Star’s intelligence network had already made contributions more than once, and every time, the three Universal Civilizations felt like they had been given coal during a harsh winter.
Han Xiao nodded. “A fleet of tens of billions is not easy to deal with. Although I have provided intelligence, you are the main force.”
The World Tree Civilization had sent out tens of billions of battleships, which was indeed quite a large force. However, in terms of a Universal War, this was not an all-out attack. The scale of tens of billions was not at the level where they were invincible.
The mobilization capacity of the two civilizations could not be compared in the same breath for internal and external battles. When there were no external enemies, the three Universal Civilizations would control their military strength to an appropriate standard. They would not expand their army on a large scale to avoid excessive military expenditures, instead mainly focusing on accumulating strategic resources. However, once they fully entered the state of war, they would quickly turn into a militaristic mode. All the military factories under their flag would explode with soldiers day and night, and their military strength would increase every day.
The scale of the World Tree’s assault was not enough to make the three Universal Civilizations give up on intercepting them. Unless they could not stop them completely, it would not be the time to use their rear strategic strength to exchange for more time.
At this moment, a staff officer touched his chin and said, “Since the other party is still recruiting troops, should we take the initiative to harass them?”
Hearing this, everyone turned to look at him before looking away.
Simon glanced at him, shook his head, and said, “The World Tree’s information state warning network is spread all over the territory. If we encounter it, we’ll be exposed. What can we do to disrupt it? Furthermore, any army can move quickly in the territory, almost instantaneously. Their mobility is far beyond ours. It’s a natural ambush circle. Once exposed, we’ll be surrounded by countless fleets. We’ll be devoured no matter how many we send.”
Another commander on the side brought the topic back on track and said with a deep voice, “The wormhole reinforcement base already covers the current intercepting area. No matter which blockade area the World Tree hits, we will be able to start the battle and stop the other party.”
The intercepting circle was divided into many levels, and there were strategic zones of different depth between the different levels. The reinforcement base station was the connecting channel, which ensured that the various regional troops in the horizontal longitudinal area would look out for each other. Regardless of whether it was the observation level or the garrison level, they had completed the allocation. No matter where they met a strong enemy, they would be able to quickly send their main force.
As for whether the World Tree’s assault team would hit the intercepting circle, it was not a big problem. Although the intercepting circle was still under construction, it would still be effective even if it was not fully formed. It was similar to running a race; as long as their expansion speed was slighter faster than the enemy, it would remain effective. At the same time, the intercepting team was also constantly setting up spatial anchoring orbits to eliminate the coordinates of the exploration teams’ routes, constantly moving the enemy’s starting point backward as much as possible to return to its original position, causing them to only be able to resume their usual voyage and remain in the intercepting circle. “It seems like the World Tree doesn’t plan to only give us appetizers. It’s preparing to give us a proper meal… This is the first time I’ve experienced a Universal War of this scale.” Oulou’s eyes flickered. At this time, Secret Master pinched his fingers and calculated in his mind before saying with an expressionless face, “My death omen is flashing.” With that said, he changed his hand gesture, and magical waves spread out.
Everyone sensed something and looked over curiously. “What did you just do?”
“I shifted my bad luck,” Secret Master said calmly.
“Who did you transfer it to?”
“Him.”
Secret Master pointed at Han Xiao.
Han Xiao looked at the Luck Reduction status on the interface with a face full of question marks. “Do we have a grudge?” “No.”
“Then why did you push your bad luck on me?”
“Anyway, you’re not afraid. There’s no room for your luck to decline.”
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched.
Are you treating me like a trash can? If not for the fact that I have enemies now, I would let you know why one’s anus is called a chrysanthemum!
Chapter 1335 The World Tree’s Strongest
In the territory of the World Tree Civilization, a multitude of wormholes were maintained in the starry sky, and the roots of the World Tree extended out from them. Fleet after fleet shuttled back and forth, continuously adding to the size of the expedition army. There were all kinds of battleships.
There was a floating lookout tower made of pale green roots nearby. The Subduing Tree King and the Heart Tree King stood there, scanning the expeditionary army’s lineup.
The Heart Tree King calmly said, “The high-level combatants this time include Executive Officers Three Leaves to Nine Leaves, seven high-level Holy Tree Envoys, the Thirteen Ancestral Spirits who are ranked from second to sixth, four army leaders, and other experts. There are 107 of them. This size is enough to test the strength of the opponents and see how well developed they are.”
“Pretty good.” The Subduing Tree King nodded.
There were more than a hundred World Tree experts participating in the expedition. Normally, such an expeditionary force would have a rather low survival rate. However, when the Heart Tree King sent out these members, he was already prepared to sacrifice all of them.
Sacrifices did not mean that they would be given for nothing. Using high-level combatants to kill each other was their usual method of fighting against strong enemies. If the enemy’s high-level combatants died, they would be gone, but their high-level combatants would only return to their seed form after dying. They would be able to reawaken after waiting for a certain amount of time in their bodies, which was undoubtedly beneficial to the World Tree. They opted for a war of attrition to disintegrate the enemy’s strength step by step, reducing the strength of both sides.
The World Tree had used this method to defeat one enemy after another. Up till now, it had never been defeated by anyone, so there was no reason not to use it.
The Heart Tree King turned around to look at the Subduing Tree King and said, “They lack a leader. You will go with them this time.”
“I want to go too? Three Leaf Forest, Four Leaf Amrein, and a few commanders are enough to lead the troops. There’s no need for me to take the risk.”
The Subduing Tree King frowned. He was not too willing to participate in this expedition. The experience of returning to the seed form was not comfortable, and the recovery time of a Tree King was longer than others.
The Heart Tree King shook his head. “The other party’s information gathering has not been interfered with by our side. The Mother Tree’s authority will not be able to penetrate the area covered by their information gathering. It will require the level of a Tree King to allow the Mother Tree’s projection to descend, so you have to go.” “…Okay.”
The Subduing Tree King nodded and did not ask why it was not left to the other Tree Kings.
Among the five Great Tree Kings, he was the only one who had no other abilities other than fighting. From a pragmatic point of view, sacrificing him was the most cost-effective. He was already used to being the vanguard.
“We might meet that outsider on this trip. You’d better accept a baptism before setting off, or you might not be his match,” the Heart Tree King instructed.
“I’ll go and prepare.”
As soon as he finished his sentence, the Subduing Tree King turned to leave.
After receiving the intelligence that the World Tree was preparing to launch an attack, the three Universal Civilizations quickly reacted. The highest-level military order was passed down like an electrical signal through a neural network, controlling the limbs of the ‘giant’ Universal Civilization. All the armies rushed to the front line like they were gathering strength with clenched fists.
Every few minutes to a few hours, a fleet would arrive at the intercepting zone. Other than transferring the main army, the three Universal Civilizations also recruited the troops of the other advanced civilizations, mobilizing the entire explored universe. As a result, the strength of the intercepting zone increased rapidly, increasing by one billion per day.
While staying near the teleportation point, Han Xiao had seen almost all the main battleships of the various civilizations in the past few days. The three Universal Civilizations had all kinds of battleships, and the top-class battleships that represented the strongest units stood out like cranes among chickens.
At the same time, the transportation troops of the three Universal Civilizations continuously sent over all kinds of Universal Treasures. All the equipment used for individual strength was temporarily lent to the Beyond Grade As, and even the members of the association could distribute them according to their needs. The other strategic Universal Treasures were given to different fleets.
Atop the temporary base’s lookout tower, many Beyond Grade As stood in front of the window and looked out.
The surroundings had already become a sea of battleships, almost blocking out the starry sky. It was as if there were only countless battleships glowing with a metallic luster. If one looked far away, this scene was like the scales of a gigantic beast.
“What a huge army. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”
Many people gasped. It was rare to see the three Universal Civilizations mobilize so many troops. Internal conflicts did not have such intensity, and only the exploration era war could be compared to the current one.
This was the first time that many of them had experienced a Universal War. Seeing this, they had a new understanding of the mobilization of the three Universal Civilizations.
Although they did not know what the World Tree Army was like, just the sight of the three Universal Civilizations’ army was enough to raise their morale.
“There’s not much we can do in such a fierce war. Strangling the high-level combatants on the other side is our mission,” Kasuyi said with a deep voice.
“The enemy has many high-level combatants, so it won’t be easy for us. With their style, they will surely think of a way to deal with us,” a Beyond Grade A beside him said with concern.
Hearing this, Aurora interrupted with a gentle tone. “As long as you don’t leave my healing range, I should be able to ensure your safety.”
Many people immediately replied politely.
“I’m counting on you this time.”
“Luckily, you’re here.”
“Sorry to trouble you.”
Through the mechanisms of the World Tree, it was not difficult to guess that the other party was good at fighting. Everyone present knew very well that in such a fierce battle, the healer was the one who could increase their chances of survival. Many people gathered around Aurora as though they were her bodyguards.
Hila, on the other hand, was watching coldly from the side.
Manison ignored the noisy crowd and walked to Han Xiao’s side. “Black Star, you seem a little nervous. Are you worried that your Indestructible Body won’t be able to withstand such a fierce battle?”
Han Xiao turned around and sized him up. He then poked Manison Lord’s Avatar’s chest and said, “Come over with your true body if you dare. Let me see if you’ll be nervous too.”
“Heh, what a joke. I’m not an anomaly among Mechanics like you. I never do anything that puts myself in danger.” Manison snorted. “Come on, just say it. With just your small physique, you still dare to sashay in front of me?”
Han Xiao expressed his strong disdain.
Manison also laughed before continuing in a low voice after a brief pause. “You should know who the strongest person on the World Tree side is, right?”
“Hmm, the strongest should be the Ancestral Tree King, the leader of the five Great Tree Kings.”
“Can you deal with him?” Manison was curious.
“This person is unfathomable. I can’t say with any confidence.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
Among the five Great Tree Kings, the Subduing Tree King as a Pugilist was the weakest, and the Ancestral Tree King was the strongest. Even in the heated battles of his previous life, the Ancestral Tree King was an elusive existence, and the number of times he had fought could be counted on one hand. However, the battle record of the Ancestral Tree King was extremely impressive, and those who died in his hands were all peak Beyond Grade As. None of them were weak, as if ordinary opponents were not worth his time.
At the same time, the Ancestral Tree King was the person who had the most connections with the World Tree. In a sense, he was the only ‘master’ of the World Tree, and Han Xiao was not sure if he could defeat him.
“Even you don’t have confidence…” Manison was deep in thought.
Just as Han Xiao was about to say something, his communicator suddenly vibrated. The room immediately fell silent, and everyone’s eyes focused on Han Xiao. They all realized something, and their expressions turned solemn.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes and took out his communicator. He paused and took a deep breath.
“They’re here.”
Chapter 1336 Battle
Ten minutes later, in the command room, the highest commanders like Simon and the commanding officers of the various armies gathered together to analyze the enemy. Many Beyond Grade As listened from the side, and only Han Xiao, the consultant, participated in the discussion.
“The enemy’s location has been exposed. They have set up a temporary base in this distant area and have sent out many scouts. They have increased the teleportation coordinates and shortened the distance of the march. We estimate that when they encounter the intercepting troops, the main force will jump over…”
The tactical star map was displayed on the virtual screen, and there were many coordinates marked on it. Simon would enlarge or shrink areas of the map to match his explanation, and everyone listened attentively.
The main force of the World Tree Civilization had already gathered in their territory, but they did not set off immediately. Instead, they sent out scouts to build temporary strongholds and get closer to the interception circle, obtaining closer coordinates as jump points to shorten the distance.
This was because once the main force arrived at the war zone, they would not be able to hide and could only travel normally. There was a high chance that they would be attacked by the super-long-range attacks of the three Universal Civilizations. If the teleportation point was too far away from the intercepting circle, the damage would increase, so they had to reduce the distance as much as possible. Although the World Tree Civilization was not afraid of war damage, they did not want to bathe in cannon fire. This was the intelligence that Han Xiao had obtained from Destiny’s Child, and he had shared it with the three Universal Civilizations. Thus, this council of war was held.
“The enemy’s troops mobilization ability is astonishing. They came very quickly and did not give us much time to gather. Although we have more troops, we do not have much of an advantage. This battle won’t be easy,” another commander said.
“Currently, our biggest advantage lies in our home-field advantage and depth of preparation. We have already set up many traps, ambush areas, and attack zones that exceed our visual range. If the enemy’s main fleet is delayed for more than seven days from the jump point to the interception circle, we estimate that we can reduce the enemy’s fleet by two billion to seven billion… However, the premise is that the information stolen is accurate enough. The enemy’s battleship technology is not inferior to ours, so they won’t bring out any more advanced technology,” the senior officer in charge of managing the defense line construction muttered.
As they spoke, they all turned to look at Han Xiao. Most of the information about the World Tree was provided by Han Xiao, and they could only rely on Han Xiao for intelligence. A single person’s contribution was countless times greater than all of them. “There is no issue with the intelligence.” Han Xiao nodded.
Although the World Tree Civilization was strong and had a lot of black technology, their battleship technology did not have much of an advantage. The technology of the main battleships was similar to that of the three Universal Civilizations’, and there was no difference in their performance. It was shown during the battle in his previous life, so the three Universal Civilizations did not collapse even after being attacked suddenly.
Simon clapped his hands and said, “The situation is clear now. Now, the task for you…”
He quickly assigned the missions according to the plan, and it was soon the turn of the Beyond Grade As.
Simon looked at everyone and said in a deep voice, “You guys don’t need to participate in the fire support and harassment battle in the early stages. Remain on standby at the base and wait for the battle to begin. Also, Mechanics, don’t be idle. Provide technical support in the Virtual Networks.”
“Okay.”
Everyone nodded without any objections.
In a universe-level battle with billions of battleships, the amount of manpower they had was like a drop in the ocean for the enemy. The risk of fighting a fleet alone was far higher than the benefits. Such a mission did not require the participation of high-level combatants.
The battle conference was brief and concise, and the results were soon out. Not long after, the official announcement was sent, and the war machines were activated.
The commanders took action, and fleet after fleet left the dock, turning into streams of light and disappearing into the universe.
The players who were on standby in the various fleets received a few Main Storyline War Missions that they were waiting for, and the forums were once again filled with discussion.
Han Xiao had also triggered these missions, and after browsing through them carefully, he realized that the situation was similar to the main storyline missions of the World Tree War in his previous life. They were all about killing enemies for merit points, but there were slight differences in the description of the missions.
In his previous life, most of the terms used were ‘resistance’ and ‘blocking’. Now, the mission description was more proactive, and the corresponding missions were adjusted according to the butterfly effect.
For example, this intercepting battle that did not exist in his previous life had formed a branch mission. If he could complete the strategic goal of blocking the enemy, not only would he receive a high reward, there was also a specific remark that it would have a positive impact on the overall battle. This was also the characteristic of the World Tree main storyline. Every part of the battle would form a branch mission, and the results would affect the overall strategy. In his previous life, the players had quite a lot of combat power in the later versions. Sometimes, they would be able to command some of the battles. However, in a war of this scale, victory or defeat was not decided by them. They could only try their best to break through and create opportunities for the majority of the troops. This was also the role that the players often played in the battles in his previous life.
The reward for such main storyline missions was mainly experience. It was a drop in the ocean for Han Xiao, but it was extremely enticing for the players. If they could obtain the victory reward of the interception mission, their experience would increase by a large amount.
As a terminal of harvesting experience, the players were like a reservoir for Han Xiao. The players would do missions, work to create wealth, and then a portion of the wealth would flow into his hands through consumption and other methods to help him develop. If the leeks did not have a chance to shine, how could he maintain the rapid growth of his combat power over the years?
Therefore, Han Xiao had always loved such large-scale missions. Whether it was out of strategic consideration or for the goal of harvesting experience, he wanted to try his best to obtain victory in this battle and increase the accumulation of experience.
As Han Xiao and the other Beyond Grade As did not participate in the frontline harassment battle, they only watched the frontline battle report in the base every day and monitored the entire situation.
The three Universal Civilizations first intercepted and eliminated the scouts. Not long after, the World Tree finally chose the nearest jump point, and the expeditionary army officially arrived, heading toward the intercepting circle. The large fleet suffered from the attacks of the long-range firepower during the voyage, and they also suffered a certain amount of damage while passing through the areas with traps. However, even though they were frequently harassed by the three Universal Civilizations, the distance between the large fleet and the intercepting circle was still shrinking every day, getting closer and closer.
The situation developed step by step, and the World Tree expeditionary army finally came into contact with the interception circle. The armies of the three Universal Civilizations were on high alert, and the main forces of both sides finally started a direct battle. Many Beyond Grade As were summoned.
The light from the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device occupied his vision, and the next moment, Han Xiao and the Beyond Grade As were teleported to the main command ship at the rear of the battlefield.
“You’re finally here.”
Simon nodded as a greeting.
“How’s the situation now?” Han Xiao asked while looking outside the window.
What appeared before his eyes was a magnificent battlefield that stretched as far as the eye could see. There were hundreds of billions of battleships on the battlefield, and they were all locked in battle. It was as if there was an endless net of light created by the cannons of the battleships. In such a large-scale battle, it was extremely difficult to coordinate all the battles together. The base commanders were divided into different battle zones, and the special technology and Universal Treasures of both sides were brought in the battle one after the other. All kinds of strange phenomena occurred in different areas, and more than a hundred thousand battleships exploded into fireworks every second.
The two sides naturally would not set battle arrays again. The war had begun the moment the harassment troops fired their first shot. The World Tree expeditionary army had been fighting the three Universal Civilizations all the way from the jump point to the intercepting circle, and they had not stopped fighting for a moment. Now, they were only going from harassment to a head-on battle, so there was no chance for them to temporarily stop to adjust. Seeing this sight of the universe-level battle, many Beyond Grade As gasped in shock. The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees.
Looking at such an intense battle, the Beyond Grade As felt a headache coming on.
In this kind of intense battle, a Beyond Grade A individual would be negligible, and his life would be in danger at any time.
Only on a battlefield where two universe overlords clashed would one be able to understand that the internal conflicts of the past were mostly small skirmishes. This was the highest level of war.
Without caring about their thoughts, Simon replied with a deep voice, “Currently, we’re still evenly matched. The direction of the situation is still unclear. The opponent’s high-level combatants have yet to take action.” Han Xiao retracted his gaze and said, “Are the World Tree’s experts still watching? We don’t have to participate in the main battlefield, right?”
Simon shook his head. “No need. Other than the Mechanics providing Virtual Technology support, the mission for the rest of you is to deal with the high-level combatants of the World Tree. Don’t worry about anything else for now.”
Individual strengths were rarely responsible for direct combat in large-scale battles. Most of them used a series of tactics such as a sudden attack, assassinations, storm strongholds, and guarding the main ship. The commander would not allow the high-level combatants to waste their energy on the main battlefield. After all, a normal Beyond Grade A’s strength and stamina were limited.
Only Mechanics with Virtual Technology would be able to play a huge role in the large galactic battlefield, constantly hacking into the enemy’s network to seize control of the battleships. Their role was much more useful than other four Super classes.
“Sure.” Han Xiao had no objections.
In a battlefield like this, they only had to take care of their own responsibilities. Controlling the entire situation was the responsibility of the commander, not the work of Beyond Grade As like them.
At this time, the real-time battlefield star map changed, and more than a hundred high-energy sources appeared in one of the war zones. The three Universal Civilizations’ fleets in this area instantly suffered a large number of casualties, and many war flagships exploded. The situation quickly became one-sided.
“The World Tree has sent out high-level combatants?” Simon’s eyes narrowed, and he turned around to look at the surveillance screen. He saw World Tree experts of all shapes and sizes charging forward, destroying the fleets of the three Universal Civilizations one after another with all kinds of abilities, opening up the situation for this war zone.
Han Xiao identified the enemies and locked his gaze on the Subduing Tree King.
He had thought that the Subduing Tree King would not participate in such a battle. However, considering that the other party was a Pugilist who specialized in charging forward, it was reasonable for him to be in the suicide squad. After all, this was the only specialty a Pugilist had.
This time, Simon retracted his gaze, looked at everyone, and nodded. “Everyone, I’ll leave it to you.”
The moment he said that, the direct Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations did not hesitate and headed toward the hatch. The expressions of the other Beyond Grade As turned serious, but they did not say anything. They shook their heads and followed.
Since they had chosen to come here, even if the battlefield was dangerous, it was impossible for them to escape.
Very soon, the Beyond Grade As left the spaceships one after another and flew at high speed on the battlefield. They moved along their own formation and quickly arrived at the battle zone.
Even though they were far away from each other, the auras of both parties that were unique to their individual strength resonated with each other and locked onto each other.
Han Xiao’s gaze was locked on the Subduing Tree King from afar, and the Subduing Tree King also noticed it. He stared at Han Xiao, and his Pugilist flames continued to rise.
“Leave that Tree King to me. You guys deal with the rest,” Han Xiao said in the channel.
“Understood.”
The members of the association responded one after another. The direct Beyond Grade As distanced themselves a little and expressed the same attitude.
The Arcane Church did not allow Wuornos to participate in the battle. Black Star was currently the number one combatant in the three Universal Civilizations’ army, so they naturally had no objections.
As Han Xiao charged forward, he activated all kinds of skills. His eyes never left the Subduing Tree King, and the two of them looked as though sparks were flying between them.
“In your territory, I could not touch you. I also have teammates now. What I didn’t do last time will be resolved now!”
A cold light flashed past Han Xiao’s eyes, and Mechanical Force suddenly shot out. The mechanical soldiers in his body were released and flew behind him, transforming and sticking to his body. The dense mechanical armor quickly covered his face that showed killing intent.
In the endless sea of fleets, the two groups of people approached each other rapidly with dazzling flames trailing behind them. Then, two streams of light suddenly collided, and a chaotic battle broke out!
Chapter 1337 Battle (2)
Multicolored lights spread out from the point of impact like a supernova.
The energy tsunami created by the combined forces of more than two hundred Beyond Grade As swallowed the large fleets around them. The high-energy reaction instantly alerted the countless battleship radars on the battlefield, and it instantly became the most eye-catching area in the entire battlefield.
The light cannons on the surface of the Mechanical Deity’s body continuously bombarded a green meteor, but they were unable to penetrate the defense of the protective flames and were all reduced to light fragments. Wrapped in green flames, the Subduing Tree King channeled his energy and punched out. His fist, which was flickering with dazzling light, hit the blade of the Celestial Punishment Edge heavily. At the point of contact, a violent shockwave exploded, and a loud ringing sound rang in the souls of living beings.
“Outsider, it really is you.” The Subduing Tree King propped up Celestial Punishment Edge and released a cold mental wave.
Han Xiao could not be bothered to guess what the other party was thinking. Mechanical Force burst out from his body, and he activated the Getta Hadoken. The Celestial Punishment Edge maintained its momentum, and psionic energy gushed out along the edge of the blade. The powerful dark blue wave of energy sent the Subduing Tree King flying.
However, the next moment, the Subduing Tree King came to a halt, spun around, and charged again, continuing to face the Mechanical Deity’s attacks head-on.
Fists and kicks brought about afterimages, and endless green shockwave blasts gushed out from his body, condensing to the point of almost solidifying. It was as if glowing spears were stabbing into the Mechanical Deity’s psionic shield. With the support of the World Tree, the Subduing Tree King’s protective flames were like an indestructible shield, constantly creating countless electric arcs and energy sparks in front of him. His fighting style had a strong suppression style. The blade of the Celestial Punishment Edge swept up a wave of dark-blue psionic energy, each strike faster than the last. In the blink of an eye, Han Xiao had clashed thousands of times with the Tree King. The two of them were constantly moving forward and back at high speed, and the overlapping force fields caused the surrounding space to bend slightly.
If not for the fact that it’s not suitable to use private messages, I would have said a few words…
Han Xiao pursed his lips and suppressed the urge to send a message to ask for the name of the move.
While fighting, he also observed the situation around him.
On a battlefield like this, there was no tacit understanding between armies to not attack high-level combatants. The countless battleships in the surroundings did not stop their attacks toward this side. Large numbers of troops were thrown into the war zone, forming a crisscross pattern.
However, the fleets on both sides wanted to kill the enemy’s high-level combatants while protecting their own Supers. Thus, they formed a restraint, indirectly giving the Beyond Grade As on both sides room to maneuver.
It was also because of this reason that many Mechanics, including Han Xiao, did not summon too many mechanical troops. Otherwise, the target would be too large, and they would have no choice but to endure the concentrated fire of the surrounding fleets. This would result in significant additional losses, reducing their military strength. Limited resources needed to be used where they were needed the most, and this was not worth it.
Swoosh!
Just as Han Xiao was analyzing the situation, the Subduing Tree King’s body suddenly glowed, and he utilized his Pugilist skills. His charging speed suddenly increased, and he charged straight at the Mechanical Deity’s body. It was as if his entire body suddenly became invincible, and he actually crashed through the psionic shield. The green meteor smashed into the Mechanical Deity’s abdomen, creating a huge pit, and large cracks spread on the armor.
Right after that, the Subduing Tree King’s head suddenly started spinning as though it was going to turn into a drill and drill through the pit on the Mechanical Deity. Clearly, his head was not something ordinary.
However, right at this moment, large swaths of black nanoparticles suddenly seeped out from the pit in the Mechanical Deity’s abdomen armor, quickly condensing and transforming into countless mechanical tentacles that lashed out at the Subduing Tree King. The tentacles suddenly tightened when the power reached the end, turning from a whip into a spear. A neat round of stabs landed on the Subduing Tree King’s protective flames, pushing him out.
Following which, Han Xiao twisted the blade handle and used his other hand to slap the other party as if swatting a fly, sending the Tree King flying and knocking over three or four Beyond Grade As along the way.
“Want to enter my body? Dream on.” Han Xiao patted the Mechanical Deity’s abdomen, and the depression quickly recovered.
Against Mechanics, Pugilists would basically target the mechanic’s main body or Lord’s Avatar. This was the most efficient method, and the Subduing Tree King wanted to enter the Mechanical Deity’s body to attack the main body.
Although he had caused a ruckus in the World Tree territory last time and lasted for about ten minutes under the siege of more than a hundred Beyond Grade As, this World Tree powerhouse still did not believe in his physical strength and tried to attack his main body.
After all, the three Universal Civilizations had accepted the title of ‘Indestructible Body’ because they had witnessed Han Xiao’s achievements over the years. However, this information was not circulated in the World Tree Civilization. Han Xiao had only shown his strength once in the other party’s territory before retreating with heavy injuries, Therefore, most of the World Tree experts did not know much about Han Xiao and would not easily give up on attacking his main body. Han Xiao pondered. The strength of a Tree King is indeed extraordinary. I won’t be able to take him down quickly.
Last time, they had fought in a hurry, so he did not experience the full strength of the Subduing Tree King. Now that he looked at it, the other party was indeed not weak. Before Karlot was fully matured, the Subduing Tree King was undoubtedly above all the Pugilists he had met so far. Be it ‘Beast Ancestor’ Gorutan or ‘Star Shatterer’ Sierron, they were all inferior compared to the Subduing Tree King. If they fought, they probably would not survive a day in the hands of the Tree King.
However, even if the Subduing Tree King was powerful, Han Xiao’s raw strength was still above him.
At the same time, the Subduing Tree King also perfectly met the criteria of being a peak Beyond Grade A Super of the World Tree Faction. On the interface, the four talents of (World Tree Nemesis], [Civilization Leader Slayer], [Elderly Killer), and [Fearless Heart] all lit up.
“Let’s fight steadily and defeat him.” Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
He had the upper hand in terms of combat strength and class, but the Subduing Tree King was not someone to be trifled with. He could still exchange a few blows and would not be taken down in a short time.
The two of them fought intensely, and the other Beyond Grade As also engaged in a chaotic battle.
The energy from so many Beyond Grade As kept pushing the others away, causing everyone’s battlefield to be further away from each other. Although most of them did not intend to fight one-on-one, they could support each other if they wanted to fight one after another. Thus, they formed small groups and fought fiercely.
Bang!
The Mechanical Emperor’s Sacred Trident stabbed forward but was blocked by a broadsword. Psionic energy surrounded by Mechanical Force collided with each other on both sides of the trident, and the light blue energy ball exploded. The two Mechanical Deities fought each other evenly, like two blurry afterimages that kept colliding. One of them was silver, and the other was gold and red with green energy surrounding its body. The color coordination was extremely bad. “What a sharp fellow…”
Manison knocked his opponent away with his trident and narrowed his eyes. He had already learned from Black Star that the individual strength of the World Tree was extremely powerful, but he only experienced the other side’s powers after fighting them personally.
Although he had suffered a series of attacks from Black Star and was no longer at his peak, he was still firmly in the first tier. Ordinary peak Beyond Grade As were still no match for him. However, this enemy was now fighting him back and forth, even giving him quite a bit of pressure. Even though Manison realized that his strength slightly exceeded his opponent, it was not enough to give him an overwhelming advantage. Furthermore, this person was not in the data of the World Tree experts that Han Xiao had provided. He was an unknown enemy.
Just as Manison was thinking, the other party suddenly sent out a mental wave.
“You’re very powerful. What’s your name?”
Hearing this, Manison did not respond.
Even after receiving no response, the other party did not stop and continued sending mental messages.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t say it. I have my eyes on you. You have the right to be my trophy. The World Tree’s Three Leaf Executive Officer, Lynn Karen. Remember this name. Your life is destined to be mine.”
“You talk too much.”
Manison was not affected at all.
After Black Star’s training, he was no longer afraid of message bombardment.
However, he did remember the other party’s name. According to Black Star, the ten Executive Officers were all at the top of the World Tree, and the higher they ranked, the more powerful they would be. Third Leaf was in the first tier of the World Tree experts, and she would definitely be in the top fifteen. “Looks like a big fish…”
Manison’s eyes flashed, and he silently increased his strength. His attacks became more and more vicious, and his killing intent overflowed.
In a certain part of the battlefield, a black and a white energy current collided with each other with a loud bang, causing countless sparks to fly like water.
Dark Lord Clotti controlled the surging dark energy and was fighting with a frail World Tree member.
The other party was also an Esper. He controlled dazzling white energy that was like flowing white gold. The texture was like a light muslin or like rolling fog, but it was extremely corrosive.
“What Esper Ability is this? It’s on par with mine.”
Clotti frowned slightly.
The strength of an Esper depended partly on their grade and partly on the effect of their Esper Ability. If their grade was the same, then the higher the grade of the Esper Ability, the more stable the advantage. For example, Gaud’s energy control was one of the highest-grade Esper Abilities. If they grew to the same grade, Clotti basically had no chance of winning.
Clotti’s dark energy control was already a Super High Risk Esper Ability, but the other party’s Esper Ability was comparable to his. Although the other party did not hit him, he realized that his cells had become weak, and his energy consumption was much higher than usual. It was as if the other party had used energy as a medium to attack him from afar.
This time, this person suddenly sent out a mental message and calmly said, “Your ability is not bad. If I present you to the mother tree, it will definitely be very happy.”
“The World Tree also likes to collect Esper Abilities?” Clotti thought and tried to probe for information.
However, the other party did not reply.
Clotti thought that his opponent did not want to answer, so he gave up on the idea and continued to fight in silence. However, after fighting for a while, the other party suddenly spoke. “I’m the Four Leaf Executive Officer of the World Tree, Enrin Zarro.”
Clotti was stunned. He thought that the other party was going to say something, so he immediately perked up.
However, after his opponent said this, he did not continue and fell silent.
Clotti frowned, feeling confused… Why did he suddenly introduce himself and stopped speaking?
After a while, Enrin spoke again.
“When you enter the embrace of the World Tree, we can become colleagues.”
After saying this, he fell silent again, as though he was talking to himself and did not expect the other party to reply. Clotti’s eyelids twitched.
He confirmed that this was a weirdo who did whatever he wanted.
On the other side, Hila, who was wearing the Crimson Snake mechanical suit, was facing the attacks of four enemies. Crimson death energy gushed out like a tsunami, and the battle was extremely intense.
Compared to the other battlefields, there was a significant difference on Hila’s side. When she was surrounded, there were no other Beyond Grade As supporting her. It was as though everyone was letting her face the attacks of multiple enemies alone.
Bang!
A Pugilist World Tree expert passed through the sea of death energy and beat Hila up. Just as she was about to break free from the chain attack, he kicked her in the abdomen.
While Hila was sent flying, another World Tree expert blocked her way. A series of spells rained down on Hila’s back, sending her in another direction and inflicting another round of damage on her.
Hila tried her best to stabilize herself. Suddenly, she used Death Stealth and teleported to another location, gaining a short respite.
Her entire body was covered in blood. She looked like a ferocious evil spirit, heavily injured and weak.
Kasuyi, who was the closest, glanced over and quickly looked away. He had no intention of going over to help and even led his opponent further and further away.
Seeing this, one of the four attackers, a Holy Tree Emissary, said, “You’ve almost been beaten to death, but your companions are still ignoring you. No one is coming to help you… I didn’t expect you guys to still be in the mood to have internal conflicts in the face of our invasion. Interesting.”
Hila wiped the blood off her face, as though she did not feel any pain at all. “No one came to help me… That’s because I don’t need help.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a golden light suddenly erupted from her body, and all her injuries disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Hila straightened her back, and the chaotic energy waves returned to their peak. The refined death energy flowed out continuously, and her aura soared. “It doesn’t hurt at all. With this standard, it’s a thousand years too early for you to try killing me!”
Swoosh!
Kasuyi seemed to have turned into a phantom as he instantly dodged the magical energy beam from his opponent. He was not worried about Hila at all.
Hila’s level was not at the peak Beyond Grade A realm, but in the eyes of the Beyond Grade As including Kasuyi, she was one of the most difficult to deal with. Not only could she reduce one’s lifespan, but she also had a milkmaid bound to her. She was like an unkillable cockroach. Even if others were strong, no one was willing to provoke Hila. Kasuyi turned his attention back to his opponent, and his eyes narrowed slightly. The invisible Psychic energy was like thousands of needles, giving his opponent a high-level Psychic Blast, but it was like hitting a solid wall. Most of its power was diverted by the opponent’s Mental Defense Spell, turning into chaotic mental disturbances that spread to the surroundings, immediately triggering a large number of battleships’ mental defense shields and even shattering the mental defense shields of the battleships at the front.
The other party was not willing to be outdone. Under the surge of energy, magic formations appeared one after another, gathering into a spherical shell. All kinds of exclusive spells poured out, dazzling and colorful. The dense wave of spells chased after Kasuyi, bombarding him with attacks.
“What a smooth magic connection. There are no flaws…”
Kasuyi’s cells were all active, and his eyes emitted a strong light, observing his opponent while fighting
Although he was not a Mage, he was knowledgeable. He could tell with one look that the other party had a lot of combat experience and was an extremely strong Mage. The coordination between spells was smooth and free, giving him the feeling that everything was integrated. Furthermore, the World Tree was extremely powerful in terms of mental strength. If there was no overwhelming difference in strength, a Psychic would actually be at a disadvantage against a World Tree powerhouse. This was especially obvious in a battle of the same level. Kasuyi discovered that the opponent’s mental barrier was extremely thick, and his mental attacks could not penetrate it as though it was indestructible.
“This guy seems to be a high-level Ancestral Spirit…”
Kasuyi adjusted his vision and saw the mark on the other party’s forehead.
Black Star had once explained the composition of the World Tree powerhouses and helped them differentiate them. Ancestral Spirits had a special mark on their body that made them easy to recognize. At this moment, he was fighting a member of the Thirteen Ancestral Spirits of the World Tree. He was ranked second, and his strength was among the top of the World Tree. He was not much weaker than the Three or Four Leaf Executive Officials.
While Kasuyi was making observations, the second Ancestral Spirit suddenly spoke.
“I recognize you. You’re the one who killed Manny.”
“Manny?”
Upon hearing this unfamiliar name, Kasuyi’s eyes flashed. He immediately realized that this was the Holy Tree Emissary that he had killed some time ago.
The second Ancestral Spirit said indifferently, “I like strong enemies. You’re a good opponent. I hope you can let me enjoy myself.”
Kasuyi raised his brows.
We were just fighting to the death. Why did you suddenly start chatting? He looked at the temporary chat channel of the Beyond Grade A team and realized that most of the people had been messaged by the World Tree powerhouses. It seemed like this was intentional.
On second thought, Kasuyi understood.
The mentality of the World Tree’s experts is different from ours. They know that they won’t really die in battle, so they are fearless and relaxed. We, on the other hand, have to fight with our all and are in a tense state. Therefore, they took the initiative to speak. It should be a psychological battle to affect our mentality… On the other hand, maybe they are trying to deepen the information connection and collect intelligence. Why not… Better not to answer.
Kasuyi changed his mind and gave up on responding. After leaving a ‘don’t answer’ message in the chat channel, he focused on dealing with the second Ancestral Spirit. Psychic energy and magic flew all over the place.
A Starry Spiritual Dragon soared above the battlefield. Its eyes were like burning golden-red flames, and its enormous battleship-size body was extremely conspicuous. Every time its wings flapped, countless Dragon Spells would be cast, creating a storm of mana. Layers of defensive arrays covered its body. It was Dragon King Milizaus.
One of the army commanders was fighting with him. It looked like a tiny gray meteor was flying around the old dragon and attacking him continuously. He was wearing heavy armor and had all kinds of special firearms on his hands. He was a rare Cannon Master.
The World Tree Military Department was in charge of foreign battles, and a commander of the army meant the ‘chief combatant of the military’. Only the top Beyond Grade As in the military could obtain such a title.
Every army commander had their own code name, which usually depended on their military unit. The army commander fighting the old dragon belonged to a World Tree Army called ‘Dark Light’, so he was known as Commander Dark Light.
The two of them were evenly matched, but because of his striking size, Milizaus became a target, attracting the firepower of most of the battleships around him.
In fact, when World Tree experts who were fighting with the other Beyond Grade As passed by, they would even throw a few skills at Old Dragon. After all, the target was so big, so the hit rate was extremely high.
Because of this, Milizaus suffered too much damage. The injuries on his body kept accumulating, and many dragon scales were torn off. His flesh and bones were deeply cut, and blood splattered everywhere. His situation was getting worse.
Only the old dragon was being beaten up.
Bam! A beam of light shot out from the muzzle of Commander Dark Light’s cannon, piercing through the cracked defensive arrays and hitting the old dragon’s back, shattering a large chunk of scales and flesh, adding a new injury to him.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a creature like you. I wonder what your meat tastes like,” Commander Dark Light said as he fired his cannon.
Milizaus felt a sharp pain on his back. He swung his dragon head and let out an angry roar. The sound wave condensed from magic power surged out and hit Commander Dark Light, sending him flying.
However, Milizaus did not take the opportunity to chase after him. Instead, with a spiral movement, he flipped his body vertically, and a large number of magic patterns suddenly lit up on his body. The next moment, he disappeared from where he was and, with a flash, arrived elsewhere on the battlefield. There was a battle between more than ten people there, and he had his eyes on a Holy Tree Emissary who was heavily injured and was about to use his companions to cover his retreat.
Milizaus appeared instantly behind the Holy Tree Emissary. Before the other party could turn around and make a hasty defense, he opened his mouth and spat out a jade- like dragon breath that was enhanced by the Dragon Magic. It was like a golden-red flame that surged out and swallowed the target in an instant.
The Holy Tree Emissary’s body melted and turned into a pile of dust that floated in the air before dissipating Not long after the battle started, the first casualty was born!
“Die!”
After claiming first blood, Milizaus felt that he had vented his anger. He was rejuvenated, fully displaying the essence of a kill steal.
However, his happiness did not last long. He was immediately beaten up. The World Tree experts around him turned around and focused their fire on Milizaus. They shattered a large number of dragon scales, and his life force flowed out rapidly.
At the same time, Commander Dark Light also rushed over. He switched to a Universal Treasure-level firearm and fired at Milizaus from afar. Powerful beams of light bombarded Milizaus’ body, exploding into balls of flames and even shattering one dragon eye.
The surrounding battleships also turned their cannons around and focused their fire on Milizaus. He had gotten the first blood, but he was immediately targeted. He fell into danger, and his injuries were severe. “Kill him!”
Commander Dark Light saw an opportunity and was prepared to kill the enemy in one go.
However, right at this moment, a change occurred.
Swoosh!
A dazzling pale golden light shot out from the back of the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet and accurately landed on Milizaus.
An enormous amount of life energy poured in, and Milizaus’ battered body immediately began to recover. In the blink of an eye, more than half of the heavily injured dragon’s body had recovered, and he was full of energy again. The dragon tail swung excitedly and playfully shattered several World Tree battleships.
This scene attracted the attention of many World Tree experts, and their expressions changed slightly. “Recovery-type Esper Ability?”
After fighting in the universe for so many years, the World Tree experts had seen many things, and it was not rare to see Espers with recovery abilities. However, those who could reach the Beyond Grade A level were extremely rare. After all, recovery-type Esper Abilities were considered functional Esper Abilities and were not suitable for combat. Furthermore, most Esper Abilities did not have high potential, so training and sublimation were extremely difficult.
However, this time, not only did the enemy civilization have a recovery-type Esper, the recovery effect was unbelievably strong. It could heal a peak Beyond Grade A life form in just moments. It was no exaggeration to say that this was the strongest recovery-type Esper they had ever seen!
“I didn’t expect this prey to have such a card.”
The expressions of many World Tree experts changed, and they immediately realized that something was wrong.
If they did not get rid of this recovery-type Esper, their losses would be extremely huge, and this mutual destruction mission would be less effective!
“We have to kill the Esper first!”
A portion of the World Tree experts quickly completed their communication through the mental network. They immediately abandoned their current opponents, gathered together, and charged toward the source of the life force. Although the Esper was at the rear of the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet, they had no choice but to charge head-on.
This was actually in-line with the players’ strategy… After all, who would not cut the healer first in a team battle?
However, at this moment, a few streams of light suddenly shot out from the fleet, fearlessly facing this group of attackers who had the advantage in numbers. The two sides collided.
With a flash of light, violent explosions spread out, and the World Tree experts’ advancement was immediately stopped.
The group of World Tree experts looked up and saw five Beyond Grade A life forms covered in light blocking their path. “There’s still a group hiding?”
Seeing this, many World Tree experts were surprised. They thought that the high-level combatants of their opponents had all joined the battlefield.
The five of them looked at the large number of World Tree powerhouses. Not only were they not nervous, they even looked eager. They were the five Underworld Hero Spirit Kings.
The other three Heroic Spirit Kings, including Sorokin, did not appear. Aurora only sent five of them, and the leader was the second strongest Heroic Spirit King, Rega.
“Heh, I can finally exercise.”
Rega stretched his shoulders, and without another word, he charged forward with the other four Hero Spirit Kings, starting a new brawl. Even though the other Beyond Grade As knew about the Sanctum Revival, they did not want to sacrifice themselves so easily. In comparison, the Underworld Hero Spirits were the ones who were truly unafraid of death.
Meanwhile, in the three Universal Civilizations’ command ship, Simon watched the battles of Han Xiao, Hila, and the Underworld Hero Spirits. He then turned to look at the calm Aurora and shook his head.
“Those from Planet Aquamarine… are all monsters.”
Bang!
The Mechanical Deity and the Subduing Tree King clashed once again, and an intense shockwave erupted.
“This outsider seems to be even stronger than the last time we met…”
The Subduing Tree King stretched his aching fingers. Beneath his cold exterior was his racing heart.
Although the outcome of the battle could not be determined for the time being, he felt a long-forgotten pressure from Han Xiao. He had only experienced such an unparalleled sense of power from one person-the unfathomable Ancestral Tree King.
He did not expect that the civilization they had chosen this time would have such high-level combatants. They had met a tough opponent! Although he did not want to admit it, he had to face reality. He might not be able to defeat this outsider who had such amazing abilities.
The Subduing Tree King quickly scanned the battlefield. In the mental network, there were already six or seven silent companions, which meant that they had died in battle.
With the help of the recovery-type Esper, not a single enemy was killed!
If this continued, would they not be completely wiped out?
How could this do?
“We can’t wait any longer!”
The Subduing Tree King’s eyes darkened. Seeing that the situation was not right, he immediately changed his mind.
Swoosh!
The Subduing Tree King suddenly retreated and covered his face with his palm. His mouth was wide open as if he was screaming in pain.
The next moment, a dazzling green light appeared all over his body, as if he had released the energy of the World Tree in his body. An endless green light overflowed from his body. Then, with a bang, an irresistible pressure burst out from him, as if a higher being had descended!
The green light quickly condensed and turned into translucent light green roots of the World Tree. At first, they were just like many small snakes, floating beside the Subduing Tree King. However, the size of these roots quickly grew and expanded, whipping around the battlefield crazily!
The appearance of the Subduing Tree King had also changed. His entire body was different, and his body gained a texture like that of the World Tree roots. Green World Tree power flowed within his translucent body, as if he had undergone a transformation.
A powerful aura blew over like a suffocating gale!
Previously, the Subduing Tree King had mainly relied on his own strength to fight, but at this moment, he had started to borrow the World Tree’s strength to a large extent. This was the World Tree’s ability that could only be activated by the connection level of a Tree King, and it was also the reason why a Tree King was a Tree King.
All of this happened in an instant. During the transformation, Han Xiao did not stop his long-range attacks, but they were all blocked by the World Tree Roots.
“Oh? Using an ultimate move?”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
He was no stranger to this transformation. This was the unique power of the Tree King. It turned his body into a branch of the World Tree, like a temporary base station. In his previous life, every time a Tree King activated this form, it would be a sign that they were going to start a massacre.
The most terrifying thing was not the increase in strength from this transformation but the branch of the World Tree that their body had turned into. It could bring about an exclusive faction buff halo that covered an extremely wide area, increasing the combat power of all the World Tree members on the battlefield!
This was the Tree King’s war form!
The moment that the Subduing Tree King released the power of the World Tree, all the World Tree members on the battlefield glowed with a green light. As if they were on steroids, their overall combat power increased by a large amount.
The halo covered the entire army, and the flow of the entire battlefield immediately changed. The entire World Tree fleet was buffed, and many of the three Universal Civilizations’ fleets that were originally in a stalemate suffered heavy damage.
Many Beyond Grade As were the first ones to feel the change. The increase in the strength of the World Tree’s experts broke the stalemate. Many of the Beyond Grade As who were originally in a tug-of-war with their opponents were suddenly robbed of the initiative and fell into a disadvantage in the blink of an eye. Many of them fell into mortal danger.
Golden rays of light shot out frequently, landing on the Beyond Grade As who were in danger one after another, providing them with healing at critical moments, allowing a large number of Beyond Grade As to breathe a sigh of relief. However, the World Tree powerhouse also responded, using various methods to try to disperse or isolate the life force that shot over, preventing this recovery-type Esper from healing her comrades.
Hila was the only one who had a Soul Connection with Aurora. She could ignore the distance between them and receive Aurora’s Dawn of Life instantly. It was as if she was bound with a healing source. The other Beyond Grade As naturally did not receive such treatment; although there was enough healing power, they needed to receive it first.
Although Aurora’s Esper Ability was powerful, her current level was only that of an ordinary Beyond Grade A, so she could not ignore all kinds of obstructive methods This was even more of a test for her. Not only did she have to pay attention to the life state of every Beyond Grade A, but she also had to find a way to successfully heal her target.
Han Xiao used his quantum network vision to monitor the situation of the various areas. He could see the changes in the battlefield clearly.
“The halo of the entire army is still very powerful. Luckily, it can’t be stacked. Otherwise, the effect of the five Great Tree Kings transforming together would be insane…”
Han Xiao’s eyes were fixed on the Subduing Tree King.
Only by killing the Subduing Tree King would they be able to remove the halo of the enemy and turn the situation around. Otherwise, their total losses would skyrocket.
However, right at this moment, the Subduing Tree King, who had been strengthened after liberating the power of the World Tree, did not charge forward. Instead, he retreated into the layers of protection of the World Tree fleets and retracted the World Tree Roots. He had no intention of fighting Han Xiao.
Han Xiao’s expression changed, and his emotions were in turmoil.
He had thought that after transforming, the Subduing Tree King would rush forward to continue fighting and try to defeat him. He did not expect the other party to directly avoid the battle after unleashing his potential.
If you didn’t want to fight, you should have said so earlier. You were so imposing, it made my blood boil.
This is not good. If I don’t get rid of him quickly, it will be troublesome…
Han Xiao felt helpless.
After transforming, the Tree King had an extremely high strategic value. He no longer took risks and hid in the fleet, continuously providing bonuses to the army. This was a safe method, but this rarely happened in his previous life. The Tree King had finally released the power of the World Tree, and his desire for battle also increased. Usually, he would fight to his heart’s content.
If the other Tree Kings had chosen to avoid the battle, he would have been able to accept it, but this time, it was the Subduing Tree King…
Holy sh*t, a Pugilist is no longer stubborn. My youth is over!
Countless World Tree battleships protected their commander, the Subduing Tree King. Facing the countless cannons, Han Xiao felt his scalp go numb. Although he was confident in his tankiness, charging alone in a battlefield of this scale was too arrogant.
Furthermore, the Subduing Tree King was strong. He would not be able to deal with him amid the enemy camp in a short period of time. If he charged in, he would only be a target for focus fire.
“If you have the guts, don’t ever come out.”
Seeing this, Han Xiao left the Subduing Tree King behind and turned to attack the other World Tree experts.
If you don’t stop me, I will kill your teammates! Although the members of the World Tree had never cared about the casualties of their teammates, this battle was an exchange battle, and the Subduing Tree King cared about the capital used for this. Otherwise, the meaning of his transformation would be very limited.
However, Han Xiao’s attention did not completely leave the Subduing Tree King. He was still focused on the other party’s movements, preventing the Subduing Tree King from adjusting his tactics.
The Subduing Tree King did not stop him. From another perspective, it could also be said that he got rid of this annoyance and used his companions as bait to lure him away. He also used his superior combat strength to attack the other Beyond Grade As.
“Because this is an exchange battle, he doesn’t want to waste time on an expert like me. He is targeting and killing the other high-level combatants; killing one means one win. Maybe that’s what he thinks…”
Han Xiao guessed the intentions of the Subduing Tree King.
At the same time, from behind the protection of layers of fleets, the Subduing Tree King watched Han Xiao moving from one target to another. After the battle just now, he judged that even if he transformed, he might not be able to take down this outsider with astonishing combat strength. Therefore, he suppressed his desire to attack and focused on the strategic goal. As a tree king who had fought many civilizations, he would not lose his cool so easily.
However, he also could not remain idle. Otherwise, if he allowed the outsider to kill his comrades, there would be no point in him trying to improve the exchange results with his transformation.
Since he could not stop the other side’s strongest person, he could only make the same choice and change his target.
All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, and the Subduing Tree King turned around to look in the direction of the recovery-type Esper.
In one area of the battlefield, a group of Arcane Church troops had their defenses breached by the World Tree Assault Team, and the formation of the frigate was torn apart. The Glorious Sun Grade flagship in the middle was latched onto by the World Tree Assault Battleship, and the charge cabins bit onto the main ship one after another, penetrating through the armor and sending in batches of World Tree Supers to launch a boarding battle, attempting to snatch this flagship from within.
The interior of the flagship had turned into a chaotic battlefield, and bloody battles broke out in all the cabins and corridors. The guards on the ship were constantly resisting the World Tree Supers, and from time to time, new charge cabins would smash open new holes.
“Reinforcements! Reinforcements!”
One of the squad leaders pulled out the blade that had been stabbed into the enemy’s body, and a large amount of blood splashed onto the armor. He had no time to wipe it as he requested reinforcements in the channel.
However, the next moment, a blurry shadow flashed past his eyes, and a huge force suddenly exploded on the side of his head. His head was gripped by a large hand and smashed into the wall. His body twitched a few times before stopping.
The owner of the hand was a burly World Tree officer. A large group of troops were massacring the soldiers inside the flagship, and they had already broken through the defense line.
“Head to the main control room!” the officer shouted and was about to lead the team forward.
However, right at this moment, the ground beneath their feet suddenly shook, and the wall nearby shattered, revealing half of a black charge cabin.
The hatch opened, and a group of army players rushed out. Without saying a word, they charged toward the World Tree squads. Battle erupted instantly. After a fierce battle, the burly officer wiped out this team of players with his troops, but they also suffered quite a bit from their opponents’ fearless and ferocious fighting style.
“Do these people not care about their lives?” This officer frowned. He had seen people who were not afraid of death, but just now, this group of people had charged forward one after another, practically using their own heads in exchange for their injuries… In his opinion, there was only one possibility, and it was that the enemy had a strong belief and did not hesitate to exchange their lives for injuries.
However, as a member of the World Tree, he was not afraid of death at all. No one was afraid of death.
If you want to risk your life, I’ll fight you. Who’s afraid of who?
Without any time to rest and reorganize, this World Tree officer threw this matter to the back of his mind and was about to lead his troops forward.
However, at this moment, the sound of footsteps could be heard in the corridor ahead. Another batch of reinforcements had arrived. Their appearance and abilities were exactly the same as the team that had been wiped out earlier.
“Hmm? These people…”
The World Tree officer was shocked.
They had just killed this group of people, and now they appeared again. What was going on with this group of people? Could it be that they could not be killed and could revive like them!
Before he could think about it, battle erupted once again. Due to the damage from the previous wave, the combat strength of this World Tree battle team had decreased, and they were wiped out by the same group of players. This officer was also surrounded and blasted into pieces—a similar scene played out in many battleships.
In the command ship of the three Universal Civilizations, Aurora used Dawn of Life a few times, but before it could reach her comrades who were in danger, the skill was scattered by the high-level combatants of the World Tree.
Aurora frowned and lowered her hand.
“I’m too far away from the battlefield. The opponent has plenty of time to react and can easily block my energy. This won’t do. It’s difficult for me to unleash my abilities. I need to get closer and shorten the distance.”
Without waiting for Simon’s reply, Aurora left the cabin and stepped into space. She turned into a golden stream of light and quickly approached the battlefield where the Beyond Grade As were.
This scene immediately attracted the attention of many World Tree powerhouses. A large number of high-level combatants immediately approached this Esper, but they were stopped by their opponents.
Not long after, Aurora stopped inside the main fleet of the three Universal Civilizations. Although she had closed the distance between them, she did not step onto the battlefield. She kept releasing the Dawn of Life, scattering rays of light. If the previous time the distance that the Dawn of Life needed to cross was ten, now it was at most two to three. The hit rate was higher than before.
Not only that, all the life forms on her side within a certain range would receive an increase in recovery speed. This was the passive halo of Aurora’s Esper Ability after she entered the Beyond Grade A realm, and the range would increase with her grade. When she was on the command ship, the range of the halo was not enough to cover this area, but now that she was on this battlefield, her halo took effect and covered most of the Beyond Grade As on her side.
“This place is very dangerous. Don’t come closer!” Hila saw Aurora immediately, and her expression changed.
Aurora turned a deaf ear and softly harrumphed.
Ever since she entered the Beyond Grade A realm, she had never experienced such a fierce battle. She had healed more than a hundred Beyond Grade As, and the amount of life energy consumed far exceeded the speed of replenishment. Her face gradually turned pale, and she felt like her body was being squeezed dry.
At this time, dozens of World Tree Roots suddenly attacked the main fleet from the side. Every root contained astonishing energy, and they quickly shattered a large number of battleships, creating a hole in the formation. The next moment, the Subduing Tree King shot toward Aurora through the gap like a green beam of light.
He had been looking for an opportunity to kill this recovery-type Esper. The moment Aurora arrived at the frontline, he saw an opportunity. He used the fleet as cover to launch a sneak attack near the edge of the main fleet, vowing to eliminate the biggest factor that affected their battle strategy.
The World Tree roots seemed to have formed a gigantic war chariot, charging forward and sweeping away the obstacles in the way. At the same time, they blocked the concentrated fire of the fleet for the Subduing Tree King. With the protection of the World Tree’s power, the Subduing Tree King dug his way into the main battleship.
Aurora seemed to be in a panic as she hurriedly retreated, condensing beams of holy light to hit the Subduing Tree King’s body. However, it was like scratching an itch, unable to stop the Subduing Tree King’s momentum.
In the blink of an eye, the Subduing Tree King appeared in front of Aurora as though he had teleported. A green light shot out from his arm and slashed at Aurora’s head in a semicircle, as though he wanted to smash her into meat paste.
The pressure from a being two levels higher locked onto Aurora’s body. Aurora seemed to have been stunned; she maintained a panicked expression without moving.
However, right at this moment, a violent mental shockwave exploded with Aurora as the center. It was extremely invasive and almost materialized.
The Subduing Tree King felt a sharp pain in his head, and his fist could not help but tilt to the side. The crescent-shaped fist lightly brushed past Aurora and shattered hundreds of battleships along the way.
Sorokin’s figure separated from Aurora’s body, and he appeared behind her like a double agent. He gently pressed his forehead, and his mental energy was constantly being released.
“Another protector?”.
The Subduing Tree King’s expression did not change. Just as he was about to get rid of Sorokin’s mental power and continue attacking Aurora, something happened.
The panic on Aurora’s face disappeared in an instant, and she regained her calmness as though she had expected it. The necklace she was wearing suddenly opened up, and the mechanical structure instantly covered her entire body, turning into a familiar mechanical suit.
Swoosh!
The next moment, there was a flash of light, and Aurora disappeared, leaving only Sorokin and a throne.
At the same time, Han Xiao’s figure appeared out of thin air and replaced her original position. Without waiting for the Subduing Tree King to respond, he locked himself onto the Subduing Tree King, hanging on his body. “I knew you wouldn’t give up on attacking our milkmaid!”
Han Xiao’s strong arms wrapped around the Subduing Tree King’s neck, and he felt a huge force slamming into his chest. It was as though he was hugging a big, lively fish, and the Subduing Tree King was struggling in his arms.
The Subduing Tree King had always been hiding in the fleet, so Han Xiao did not have many opportunities to attack. He had deliberately made Aurora come out. Although it was a simple bait tactic, he believed that the World Tree experts would not be able to sit still. After all, the World Tree’s battle strategy was different. Han Xiao thought about it from the other party’s point of view and felt that only by cutting off the healer could he successfully carry out the exchange battle tactic. It was worth sacrificing some high-level combatants for this. There was a certain chance of luring the Subduing Tree King out with this move. Although the bait was straight, the desires of the other party did not stop. It was a simple and effective plan.
Without any expression on his face, the Subduing Tree King continued to slam his elbow behind at Han Xiao’s stomach. Shockwaves spread from their fight.
Some of the World Tree Roots in the surroundings blocked the focus fire of the fleets, while other roots landed heavy blows on the two of them, wanting to pull Han Xiao away from the Subduing Tree King.
In terms of strength, the Subduing Tree King was still stronger, and Han Xiao could not lock him down. However, just as he was about to break free, mechanical structures quickly spread out from the point of contact between Han Xiao and him, turning into a King Armor that wrapped around him.
“Take this move, inseparable lovers!”
Han Xiao’s Mechanical Force flashed, and the two of them disappeared.
Swoosh!
The next moment, the two of them appeared out of thin air in a strange empty area behind the formation of the three Universal Civilizations, as if the fleet had deliberately left this empty space. The moment the two of them appeared, the prepared fleets around them activated their protective shields and quickly formed a spherical barrier that covered the entire area. They then retreated immediately.
The Subduing Tree King frowned and finally broke free from Han Xiao’s embrace, sending Han Xiao flying with a kick. He looked around and realized that there were hundreds of strange mechanical devices floating in the area.
Just as he was observing, hundreds of mechanical devices suddenly lit up, as if hundreds of wormholes had been opened. The insides of the tunnels were filled with blinding light, emitting frightening energy waves. Han Xiao stopped flying and narrowed his eyes.
“A few hundred improved Keys of Destruction are enough for you and me!”
Before the battle began, Han Xiao had specifically instructed the three Universal Civilizations to set up this type of trap and placed the throne in it.
The three Universal Civilizations had set up many similar traps before the battle, and they had tried to form a combination technique with the mechanisms of different Universal Treasures. This trap was one of the examples, and it was also the plan that Han Xiao had suggested to use the teleportation of the King mechanical suit and the destructive power of the Key of Destruction to form a lethal zone.
Advanced Mutually Assured Destruction!
Buzz!
The next moment, a blinding light shot out from hundreds of tunnels, instantly filling the entire area and drowning the two of them.
“Vicious…”
The Beyond Grade As who were fighting could not help splitting some attention to Han Xiao’s situation.
They were also aware of the trap formed by hundreds of Keys of Destruction. Looking at the expanding light, they could not help but sweat for Han Xiao.
Black Star’s mutually assured destruction strategy was known for its shamelessness, but the power of hundreds of Keys of Destruction was not something that the mechanical army could compare to. Furthermore, it was restricted to a small area, and its power was highly concentrated.
Not only was he ruthless to the enemy, but he was also ruthless to himself. Everyone felt that Black Star’s methods were too crazy. Was he not afraid of blowing himself up?
Various thoughts flashed through everyone’s mind. However, before the power of the explosion reached its peak, the protective shield surrounding this area suddenly cracked.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dozens of World Tree Roots appeared, crazily digesting the power of the explosion while slamming at the protective shield from the inside. Immediately after, a green meteor slammed into the cracks of the protective shield.
Crack!
The shield shook, and a hole was blasted open. The charred Subduing Tree King rushed out.
The next moment, Han Xiao’s figure also flew out after the Subduing Tree King to stop him, but he was sent flying by the World Tree Roots.
At the same time, because the protective shield was shattered by the Subduing Tree King, the power of the Keys of Destruction expanded from the inside. The chain reaction energy in the area lost control and expanded rapidly. Fortunately, the three Universal Civilizations had already left a large, empty area around the trap to guard against such a situation. The nearest fleet had plenty of time to retreat, and they also fired long-range attacks at the Subduing Tree King.
The Subduing Tree King could not care about anything else. He gathered the roots of the World Tree and turned them into an armor of sorts. Then, he hurriedly escaped into the distance to avoid the expanding energy cluster behind him, afraid that he would be swallowed again. Han Xiao stopped and continued to chase after the Subduing Tree King. As the two of them moved away from the energy cluster, they clashed and fought. Suddenly, a bright light flashed, and the expanding energy cluster completely exploded. The shockwave shot out in all directions and hit the two of them. The huge impact threw the two of them away, much faster than normal flying speed.
After rolling however many times, Han Xiao barely managed to stop himself. There was not a single part of his body that did not hurt, and his entire body was covered in charred wounds. It was obvious that he was heavily injured. The Subduing Tree King, who had fallen not far away, was in a similar state, as though he had shed a layer of skin.
“You sure can run fast.” Han Xiao’s veins were throbbing. He moved his arms and legs, and the charred wounds fell one after another. His wounds gradually recovered, and his health slowly rose.
The Subduing Tree King was not dead, so he would not foolishly stay in the trap and take damage. At the critical moment, he also exploded with all his might, shattering the protective shield and escaping from the explosion area. Han Xiao had originally stayed behind to stall the Subduing Tree King, but after the other party broke free from the locked area, there were no more chances. Han Xiao had used the King’s teleportation to arrive, so he naturally dispelled the Mechanical Deity Form. The Mechanical Deity’s descent was not instantaneous, so there was not enough time. Furthermore, with just the attributes of his main body, he could not immobilize a Pugilist at the level of the Subduing Tree King and was thrown to the side.
OW
The prerequisite of Mutually Assured Destruction was to immobilize the enemy, but why would the target obediently stay in the area of focus fire? The Subduing Tree King ran fast, and he had the World Tree Roots to protect him. He escaped before the Keys of Destruction completely exploded, so he did not take full damage. Even Han Xiao could only chase after him.
However, the power of this wave was too terrifying. Even though the Subduing Tree King had escaped in time, he was still heavily injured. His body was riddled with wounds, and dozens of the World Tree Roots suffered the most damage. They also withered, and the power of the World Tree flowing in them was severely depleted. Its color dimmed, and it looked listless.
The Subduing Tree King looked down at his heavy injuries. Without any emotion, he calmly said, “Not a bad attempt. I didn’t expect you to have the courage to take such risks.”
Looking up at Han Xiao’s injuries, a look of regret flashed past the Subduing Tree King’s eyes.
He had been too careless. If he had known that the other party would take such a risk, he would not have escaped just now. He might as well have played along with the other party and dragged this outsider down with him to eliminate this dangerous opponent. The thoughts of the members of the World Tree were different from those of ordinary people. The Subduing Tree King did not feel glad that he had escaped death. Instead, he felt it was a pity that he had missed out on an excellent opportunity.
“It’s a pity I didn’t manage to kill that recovery-type Esper…”
The Subduing Tree King shook his head.
This outsider clearly had the upper hand in terms of strength, but he still chose to take the risk. His intentions were clear-he knew that he would not be able to take him down in a short period of time, so he was not willing to fight for too long. Thus, he tried to get rid of the halo of the entire army as soon as possible to reduce his losses… The Subduing Tree King was well aware of this.
However, even if he had to do it again, he would still launch a surprise attack on that recovery-type Esper. The other party had taken the initiative to lure him with such bait, so it was worth a try. As long as he could make the other party lose their healer forever, the death of all the high-level combatants, including himself, would be worth it.
All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, but the Subduing Tree King’s movements did not stop. He turned around and fled in another direction, not wanting to continue fighting.
He had been brought to the enemy’s main fleet and was surrounded. There was no way he would be able to win in a battle there. His priority was extending his survival time. Only by escaping back to his own fleet to receive protection and support would he be able to escape danger and continue providing the halo of the entire army.
“Run again!”
Seeing this, Han Xiao gritted his teeth and immediately gave chase. Along the way, he quickly returned to his Mechanical Deity form, and the two of them fought once more.
A Pugilist was not scary, but scary was a Pugilist who was not stubborn. If the Subduing Tree King had lost his cool a little and was a little rash, this would have been much easier.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The battleships of the three Universal Civilizations were not idle either. They provided a huge amount of firepower support, and a continuous stream of light cannons blasted toward the dozens of World Tree Roots that the Subduing Tree King had extended from all directions.
Han Xiao did not want to be trapped alone in the enemy’s camp, and the Subduing Tree King did not dare either. The size of this army was enough to put individual powerhouses in danger. Not only did the focus fire cause the World Tree Roots to shatter, but it also restrained the Subduing Tree King. Furthermore, the Subduing Tree King was heavily injured, and his condition had plummeted. Although his recovery ability was not bad, while entangled with Han Xiao and countless fleets, his injuries did not show any signs of improving.
The other World Tree experts and fleets wanted to rush over to provide support, but they were all stopped by the three Universal Civilizations’ troops on various battlefields. The two sides fought intensely.
Swoosh!
Blazing red light rays streaked across, severing two withered World Tree roots.
The Subduing Tree King, who was protected by the roots, could not dodge in time. Half of the sole of his foot was cut off, and the texture of the cut was like a broken piece of wood, slowly twisting and growing, as if it was going to grow the foot again.
“Looks like this is where I’ll be buried.”
Subduing Tree King observed the encirclement and frowned.
He had tried to break out of the encirclement for a long time, but he was still trapped in the main force of the three Universal Civilizations. Most of the World Tree Roots that he had summoned after transforming were also destroyed, and his body was slowly approaching its end. He was already unable to fight Han Xiao head on.
With the strength he gained after releasing the World Tree’s power, the Subduing Tree King could hold on for longer. However, the Mutually Assured Destruction tactic was effective, and the victory was decided. If he had not been heavily injured in this wave, the Subduing Tree King would not have been defeated so quickly.
At this time, the space around him started to vibrate. The Mechanical Deity’s palm spun, and all kinds of force fields covered the Subduing Tree King’s body, trying to lock him in midair.
The Subduing Tree King’s face tightened, and he activated the weakened Pugilist flames to struggle free. “You want to capture me alive?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao did not respond and continued to increase the strength of the force field.
The World Tree had already arrived at his doorstep, and the rough coordinates had been exposed. He could use the Spacetime Amber to try to seal the World Tree powerhouse and see if he could restrain the revival ability of the World Tree.
The only problem was that the World Tree expert would not obediently accept the seal.
Sensing Han Xiao’s intentions, the Subduing Tree King had a calm expression as he resisted the force field’s restrictions and slowly said, “Your resistance is futile. We will invade your civilization sooner or later. We have failed this time, but there will still be countless times. You can’t stop the World Tree’s iron hooves forever… I will be waiting to fight you again.”
Before Han Xiao could react, the Subduing Tree King self-destructed without hesitation!
Bang!
A violent shockwave swept out, creating a large number of electric arcs on the Mechanical Deity’s shield.
The remaining roots of the World Tree collapsed one after another, turning into light fragments and disappearing as though they had never existed.
The World Tree had fought in the universe for many years, and they had met many civilizations that wanted to capture their high-level combatants. Their thoughts were basically the same. They believed that capturing the World Tree experts alive and not killing them would prevent their revival and reduce the resources of the other party in a war of attrition. This was not new to the World Tree experts at all.
Although the Subduing Tree King did not know what means the enemy had to capture him alive, there was no need for him to take this risk. Seeing that the situation was not right and that there was no way to escape, he directly self-destructed and did not give them a chance. In this respect, the experience of the World Tree members was too good. Unless the difference in strength was too great or they had no choice, the World Tree members would rarely allow themselves to enter a near-death state where they were at the mercy of others. When they were weak, they would consider self-destructing and return to the embrace of the Mother Tree.
“What a troublesome enemy. The Tree Kings are indeed not easy to deal with…”
Han Xiao’s eyes twitched.
The creation of the Spacetime Amber required time, and the other party had self-destructed to prevent himself from being trapped. He had no way to deal with this. Although he had the upper hand against the Subduing Tree King, he could not crush him easily.
In the past, his opponents were normal people. They would either completely lose their combat capability and be unable to move, or they would rather be sealed than die in battle. No one would easily give up their life and self-destruct, so the Spacetime Amber had succeeded multiple times.
However, those of the World Tree had a completely different mindset. They had always liked to fight with their lives on the line, and self-destruction was a common occurrence for them.
You want to control me? Dream on, I’ll simply die!
This was very tricky.
In his previous life, although the Spacetime Amber had been snatched away by the World Tree experts, the three Universal Civilizations did not give up on capturing the other party’s high-level combatants alive. However, most of them had failed, and the biggest obstacle was the World Tree Race’s self-destruction attitude.
“No matter what, the Tree King won’t be revived for quite some time. At least the halo of the entire army has been removed.”
Han Xiao calmed himself down and looked at the battle.
With the death of the Subduing Tree King, the green light on all the World Tree members dimmed again, and they lost the halo enhancement. The pressure on the three Universal Civilizations decreased instantly, and the battle was finally back to normal.
“… I can’t do anything to the Subduing Tree King, but the difference in strength between ordinary Beyond Grade As and me is too huge. I might have a chance to seal a few.”
Han Xiao looked at the other World Tree experts who were fighting, and his eyes sparkled.
At the same time, in the World Tree territory, the Tree King Palace, the Heart Tree King slowly opened his eyes and looked at the Executive Officers who did not participate in the expedition.
“The Subduing Tree King has turned into a seed.”
Hearing this, the faces of the Executive Officers present darkened.
Although they had expected this outcome before the battle, they were still shocked when it actually happened. After all, a Tree King represented their top combat strength. The meaning of dying in battle was not small.
At this time, the Heart Tree King stood up from his throne, summoned a root, and stepped on it, preparing to leave.
“Aren’t you going to continue watching?” an Executive Officer asked.
“The outcome of the battle has been decided. It seems like the attack this time has failed. The effect of the exchange tactic is limited, but we managed to probe out a large number of the enemy’s trump cards, as well as that extremely crucial recovery-type Esper. I’ve gained enough.”
“Understood… Where are you going now?”
Heart Tree King glanced at them and shook his head with a smile.
“I’m going to water the Subduing Tree King and make him grow faster.”
“Beautifully done!”
Bang!
Seeing the Subduing Tree King explode into fireworks, Simon suppressed his excitement, choosing to smash the table instead.
Black Star was reliable. He had gotten rid of the enemy and stabilized the situation.
Without the halo of the entire army, the sudden advancement of the World Tree fleet during this period caused a large number of their fleets to fall into a bad situation.
Simon saw an opportunity and quickly calculated for a few seconds before decisively speaking in the command channel.
“Attention, all units! Pressure them!”
The three Universal Civilizations received the news and immediately took action. They worked together and gradually suppressed the enemy fleet.
Many of the World Tree Race experts saw that the Subduing Tree King had died in battle, and there was a slight commotion. Due to the loss of the halo amplification, their combat strength had decreased, and the advantage they had obtained before was quickly recovered by the Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations.
Without the Subduing Tree King holding him back, Han Xiao returned to the battlefield where the Beyond Grade As were. He attacked the other World Tree experts like a tiger entering a pack of wolves, quickly bringing an overwhelming victory.
Han Xiao’s goal was to use the Spacetime Amber to seal the World Tree experts, but it did not go so smoothly. Before the Subduing Tree King self-destructed, he had already informed all the high-level combatants of the World Tree on the mental network. When the World Tree experts felt that they could not hold on any longer, they self-destructed without hesitation.
The World Tree had suspected that this was the home civilization of the intruder, so they naturally would not make such a low-level mistake. They did not send any foreign experts to participate in the battle, still guarding against the virtual purification that they had yet to figure out.
Even so, Han Xiao had the upper hand in terms of strength. After many attempts, he successfully managed to seal a target. Before the other party self-destructed, he beat him up with lightning speed and swallowed him in the amber.
However, this made the self-destruction of the other World Tree experts even more decisive. Some of them even hugged a Beyond Grade A and tried to blow up their opponents. With the death of the Subduing Tree King, the balance of the high-level combatants completely shifted to the three Universal Civilizations’ side. Balls of explosions lit up the battlefield. Not long after, the last Holy Tree Emissary also self-destructed and died. Only then did the Beyond Grade As retreat from the battlefield and return to the formation behind the three Universal Civilizations. They stepped into the command ship, and almost everyone was injured.
Simon stepped forward and exhaled with respect.
“Thank you for your hard work. Take a rest first. However, Mechanics still have to provide technical support.” Han Xiao nodded. “Okay.”
This battle was still underway, but it was time for the main fleet to act. The missions of these high-level combatants were basically completed. “This victory is all thanks to you guys,” Simon said. “We achieved a complete victory in the high-level combatants and killed a hundred Beyond Grade As on the World Tree. We will talk about this after the battle officially ends.”
With that, he turned back to the command center and continued to control the flow of the battle.
The Beyond Grade As looked at each other and remained silent.
Because of Aurora and Black Star, they had only paid the price of six Beyond Grade As to wipe out a hundred Beyond Grade As from the World Tree. From the battle losses alone, it was a complete victory.
However, life was not a number. When they thought about how these six companions had been chatting with each other not too long ago, many Beyond Grade As felt sad.
The ones who were sacrificed this time were someone else, but the World Tree would always make a comeback. Any of those present could be the next to die.
A similar thought appeared in everyone’s mind.
Although they hoped that they would be able to resurrect through Han Xiao’s Sanctum, no one dared to guarantee when it would be their turn.
Many of them were filled with worry about the uncertain future.
Han Xiao turned around and took in everyone’s expressions. He said, “Aurora, you did well this time. If not for you, we might have lost half of our total members.”
Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Aurora, and gratitude flashed in their eyes.
No matter what, most of the people present had been saved by Aurora more than once today, and they owed her a favor.
“I only did my part.”
Aurora took a deep breath and imitated Han Xiao’s humility.
Her face was rather pale. This high intensity battle had drained her life force too much, and her milk was almost used up.
Hila felt her heart ache a little, but her face remained expressionless.
Han Xiao patted Aurora’s shoulder, looked at everyone, and said, “This battle will take at least a few days. Everyone is injured. Go and rest for now.”
Hearing this, no one declined, and they left with their own thoughts, leaving only the direct Beyond Grade As, Manison, Kasuyi, and the other important members of the association.
Manison looked at the four blocks of Spacetime Amber beside him. There were four World Tree powerhouses sealed inside.
“What do you plan to do with these four?”
“Seal them first and store them in the interception circle. I’ll leave a Throne here to supervise it.” Han Xiao sighed.
He had succeeded four times in using the Spacetime Amber, all because of the huge difference in strength. It allowed him to forcefully control the target before sealing them with the Spacetime Amber. Thus, the four high-level combatants of the World Tree that he had captured were all ordinary Beyond Grade As, while there were dozens of similar failures. It was an accomplishment for him to have succeeded even four times. The Executive Officer of the World Tree, the Ancestral Spirits, and the Head of the Army were all extremely powerful, and they were extremely difficult to deal with. They had self-destructed too decisively, so he could not catch them at all.
The six Beyond Grade As who died on their side were mainly killed by the self-destruction tactics of the World Tree. The dead were ordinary or fragile Beyond Grade As who died on the spot. Even Aurora could not save them in time.
Although he had won the battle between high-level combatants, Han Xiao had also fully felt how difficult it was to deal with the World Tree experts. It was not just their strength that was an issue but also their synchronized mental network and fearless attitude.
Even though he had many advantages now, the battle-hardened World Tree was not easy to deal with. He had his own methods, and the other party had all kinds of countermeasures.
“Although the Spacetime Amber has already proven its characteristics, we still have to prevent the World Tree from cracking its principles. What is impossible for us might not be the case for the World Tree.”
Manison nodded. He was not confident that the World Tree would be unable to crack the Spacetime Amber.
Han Xiao did not say anything and glanced at Hila, gesturing with his eyes.
Seeing this, Hila nodded slightly.
This was a secret signal between the two of them. Seeing Hila’s reaction, Han Xiao knew that Hila had been using the Underworld to collect the souls of the deceased. She should have gained a lot, but it was not the time to check.
“World Tree…”
Han Xiao turned around and looked at the battle again, his eyes shining with an unknown light.
“Our high-level combatants have achieved a complete victory. Only six of them died, and Black Star even used the Spacetime Amber to capture four enemies…”
In the conference room of the three Universal Civilizations, the three leaders were currently receiving reports from the frontlines and discussing in low voices.
“Black Star is as strong as ever. Luckily, we have the association’s help. Otherwise, our direct lineage would not have been able to deal with so many enemies.” Louis shook his head.
“Only six people died in battle. Their results are better than I expected.” Marbruce exhaled.
“After destroying this wave of attacks from the World Tree, their next wave shouldn’t be so quick. They’ve bought us more time.” The Pope also nodded.
Although the three of them hoped to damage the Beyond Grade As of the association, they were still united against a common enemy. Seeing that their losses were low, they were also happy.
“However… Hila’s Underworld is collecting the souls of our soldiers. This is a problem,” Louis said in a deep voice.
Marbruce lowered his voice. “Now is not the time to be calculative.”
The existence of the Underworld was no longer a secret, and the three Universal Civilizations had known about it before the war. They knew that Hila might absorb the soldiers and talents that they had lost in the war, but in the current situation, they had no choice but to turn a blind eye.
This was akin to poaching. However, for a large number of soldiers that would have actually died in battle, entering the Underworld gave them a second lease of life. This was equivalent to reducing the losses of their war capital. Since this was a special situation, the three Universal Civilizations could only acquiesce.
The three of them were also worried that Hila would use the Underworld to take away the Beyond Grade As who had died in battle, but currently, not many Beyond Grade As were willing to become heroes who could not be free, with most of them choosing to believe in the Sanctum Revival.
No matter what, this was a hidden danger, but it was not the time to be calculative. The main problem was dealing with the World Tree Civilization, and the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations could do nothing about the Underworld.
The battle between the two fleets lasted a week, and the battlefront had already been stretched to the extreme.
The reinforcements from the three Universal Civilizations came in an endless stream, and the rest of the Beyond Grade As would attack together from time to time, gradually turning the tide of the battle in the three Universal Civilizations’ favor.
The expedition army of the World Tree had been devoured by batches, and they had changed their tactics when the situation was not looking good. They no longer attacked head-on and split up in an attempt to create loopholes in the interception network with their large numbers.
At this stage of the war, this wave of attacks had already been declared a failure. To the three Universal Civilizations, the only thing left was to clean up the mess.
Although they had defeated the enemy with a small loss and won the battle, the upper echelons were not happy. The revival ability of the World Tree shrouded their hearts like dark clouds.
However, no matter how heavy their hearts were, the officers still had to focus on commanding the troops to clean up the mess.
Seeing that the battle had come to an end, the three Universal Civilizations finally sent the frontline battle report back to the galactic society, promoting this victory and boosting the hearts of the people.
It was no secret that the three Universal Civilizations were resisting the first wave of an invasion. The Galactic Society had known about it the moment the three Universal Civilizations mobilized the various armies and the armed forces of the various civilizations. Because this battle was not broadcast live, no intelligence was sent back. After many days of fermenting, the countless galactic residents that were headed to the central region of the explored universe were on tenterhooks, afraid that they would see news of the three Universal Civilizations being defeated the next day.
While the entire galactic society was in a state of panic, the three Universal Civilizations’ Foreign Affairs Departments, which had been silent for many days, finally reported the results of the battle to the galactic society and announced this great victory. The three Universal Civilizations claimed that the attacks of the foreign enemies had been repelled, and they put up a more detailed battle report, announcing the damage ratio of many troops. Among which, the most eye-catching was the battle results of the high-level combatants. With just six people as the price, they had killed more than a hundred Beyond Grade As of the enemy.
This result made countless people’s eyes light up, and they were secretly shocked. Although the three Universal Civilizations had won the battle, they had also lost a fleet of ten billion. Even so, it was still a commendable victory, and the losses were far lower than the enemy’s. However, the battle statistics of Beyond Grade As were many times more outstanding, and they were the troops with the lowest casualty rate. After successfully annihilating the expeditionary army, this great victory boosted the hearts of the people. Most of the frightened galactic residents heaved a sigh of relief, and the panic and fear in their hearts gradually faded. They were filled with excitement and joy.
The public opinion that was originally filled with all kinds of worries and panic changed, becoming a trend of praising the three Universal Civilizations. It was as if loyal supporters had sprouted everywhere overnight. The shocking achievements of the Beyond Grade As were naturally popular topics discussed by the ordinary people, and they were almost unanimously praised. Many galactic residents praised them for their reliable individual strength, as though they had forgotten the hate speeches they used to attack the association. The association seemed to have gone from ‘opposing class who abused their special rights as they wished’ to become ‘trustworthy guardians of the galactic society’, and their image had a 180-degree change. During internal conflicts, many galactic residents did not like the Beyond Grade As and did not stop complaining.
However, when faced with a complete victory over the enemy, the galactic residents were proud of their superior combatants. Their long-standing hatred and resentment seemed to have been selectively forgotten, and their attitude changed very smoothly. Of course, there were also those who were deeply rooted in resentment. However, they all cowered at the moment and did not dare to express their usual opinions. They shrunk their necks and silently accepted the protection. Right now, the enemy had yet to retreat, so they did not dare put down their chopsticks and curse. However, for the majority of the galactic residents, when danger came, they would cheer for whoever protected them from invasion. Their unanimous feelings toward the outside temporarily suppressed the class conflict within.
“A great victory, is it…” Dillon did not think so.
The huge virtual screen was showing the news reports of the three Universal Civilizations, and the room was filled with Revivors who had joined the association.
Due to the previous disagreements, many revivors did not respond to the call and did not participate in this battle. They stayed in the explored universe and did not know how intense the battle at the frontline was. They could only watch the battle reports through the news.
“Six people sacrificed in exchange for more than a hundred casualties. This shouldn’t have happened. It seems like Aurora’s ability has already reduced the casualties to a very low level.” Beiger nodded. “No matter how low their losses are, the six people who died in battle are still dead. There are also members of the association among them. They only lost their lives because they believed Black Star’s nonsense. Serves them right!” Dillon curled his lips.
Everyone shook their heads, speechless. How could such a fierce war not kill people? The sacrifice of those Beyond Grade As was unavoidable, but from an emotional perspective, everyone still felt that it was a pity. “Don’t say that. After all, they sacrificed themselves to fight against the enemy. Furthermore, with Black Star’s sanctum reviving, they can still be resurrected.” Beiger sighed.
“Humph, so what if they can be revived through the Sanctums? It’s just one chance, and they wasted it. When they come back to life, they will have the same thoughts as us sooner or later,” Dillon said with disdain.
Beiger had no way to refute that. He shook his head helplessly and said, “Don’t we still have the Underworld to protect us?” “Tsk, do you really like losing your freedom? I even suspect that Black Star is urging us to join the battle. His other goal is to let us die in battle and enter the Underworld, indirectly strengthening his forces. Humph, a bad guy!” Dillon snorted.
“Black Star shouldn’t be such a person.” Beiger shook his head.
“Are you very close to him? Can you guarantee what he’s thinking?” Dillon demanded impatiently. “Whose side are you on? If you like speaking up for Black Star so much, why don’t you just roll behind him? Why are you obediently accepting whatever sh*t he does?”
“What are you saying? Furthermore, Black Star doesn’t need to sh*t…”
Beiger’s mouth twitched, but he was not angry. He was already used to Dillon’s foul mouth.
Dillon retracted his gaze and snorted. “This is only the first wave of attacks. The enemy will invade again, and more Beyond Grade As will die in battle. If we join the battle, we will end up like this sooner or later. It’s not easy to obtain a new life, so I’m not willing to work for the three Universal Civilizations.”
“Are you planning to watch the enemy invade?” Beiger frowned.
“Humph, I’m not going to get involved in this. If the three Universal Civilizations can win, I’ll stay. If they can’t, where can’t I go in the universe? My Elven Holy Land is gone, and my consorts have been divided. What’s there for me to miss?” Dillon scratched his nose.
“Okay, okay, you’re good.” Beiger was speechless. He shook his head and walked out of the room. He hesitated for a moment before taking out his communicator and dialing Oathkeeper’s number.
A few seconds later, the call connected, and Oathkeeper’s face appeared on the screen.
“What is it?”
Beiger hesitated for a moment before saying, “Regarding Black Star’s appeal, I would like to ask for your opinion.” He was actually a little confused as well. After all, Dillon was not completely unreasonable. For the Revivors, it was not a bad choice to be alone. However, Beiger still could not make up his mind, so he wanted to ask Oathkeeper for his opinion. Oathkeeper’s persistence over the years had earned him the respect of all the Revivors. After all, he was once a comrade and an old friend of many years. He had a great position in their hearts and was more trustworthy than Black Star.
Oathkeeper also knew that the revivors did not respond to Han Xiao’s call, so he immediately understood what Beiger was asking. He pondered for a moment and slowly spoke.
“I suggest you join the battle and give it your all.”
Seeing that Beiger did not say anything, Oathkeeper continued. “I know you’re worried about the risks, but Black Star has his own plans, and he does not treat you as sacrifices. The Underworld is not all of his trump cards, and he has prepared other paths of retreat for you. Furthermore, you guys have made a mistake. The compromise with the three Universal Civilizations does not mean that the battle between the Beyond Grade As has ended. Black Star is still working hard for this goal, and external enemies are an opportunity.”
“I don’t really understand.” Beiger frowned.
“It’s not convenient for me to explain this matter too clearly. If you’re willing to believe me, I’ll give you a piece of advice. Don’t be afraid of death. Black Star will always have a way to make you open your eyes again.” Oathkeeper shook his head. Without Black Star’s approval, it was not convenient for him to reveal the truth of the unlimited Sanctum Revivals. Furthermore, it would be suspicious if he told the truth. read latest chapters at wu xiaworld .site only
Oathkeeper had heard about the plan from Han Xiao and knew that Black Star needed a Revivor who dared to die in battle as an example. If all the Revivors did not participate in the battle, Black Star would lack the ‘material’ to show the truth of the Sanctum Revival.
However, it was not suitable to directly tell the Revivors to die. After all, even if there was a Sanctum Revival, their strength would decrease after reviving. Not many people were willing to do so, and people’s hearts were always fickle, so they could only urge them to join the battle. After all, as long as they went to the frontlines, Oathkeeper believed that Black Star would definitely be able to find a way to get the Revivors killed. “… Let me think about it.”
Beiger hung up the communication and pondered over Oathkeeper’s hint. After pondering for a while, he made up his mind.
Oathkeeper’s suggestion definitely had a reason. It was better to go to the frontline to take a look. Even if they were to participate in the battle, there was still Aurora on the battlefield, so the danger should not be that high.
In the large conference room that blocked the main base, many Beyond Grade As who were participating in the battle gathered. At the conference table were Simon and the other commanders, as well as the remote projections of the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders. After many days of fighting, this World Tree expedition team had been defeated, and the three Universal Civilizations were only left with the job of cleaning up the mess. The three leaders had arrived to reward these Beyond Grade As. The direct Beyond Grade As had their own internal rewards, but the rewards for the association members were different. They were basically directly given material rewards. This was an agreement that Han Xiao had made with the three Universal Civilizations long ago, since the association would not provide high-level combatants for free. “…Your contributions have been recorded. According to the agreement that His Excellency Black Star has made with us, we will compensate you accordingly. This is the list of resources we have reserved…”
Marbruce called out the virtual screen and opened a list interface. Various exchangeable items were displayed on it for everyone present.
Han Xiao took a look and nodded slightly. Many of the items there were strategic resources that were not open to the public under normal circumstances. This time, all of them were opened for exchange without hiding anything. This method was basically the same as the players exchanging faction contribution points for equipment, but the difference was that many Beyond Grade As did not have an interface to display their contribution points.
At this moment, Louis pondered for a moment and said, “In order to express our sincerity, you can choose the different Universal Treasures in our inventory as remuneration based on your merits. It will be the same in the future.”
Hearing this, the eyes of many Beyond Grade As lit up with joy.
Many people did not even have a single Universal Treasure, but now that they had a channel to acquire them, they were pleasantly surprised. Even those who had Universal Treasures did not mind having more of such equipment. “Yo, you’ve invested a lot.”
Han Xiao raised his brows.
Every Beyond Grade A participating in the battle would have at least one, and it was not a small number. Furthermore, they would be able to obtain the qualifications every time they fought in the future. Even if the three Universal Civilizations had a lot of Universal Treasures in their inventory, they would not be able to afford such a production. After all, Beyond Grade As could choose for themselves, and they would definitely start choosing from the best.
However, on second thought, Han Xiao understood the three Universal Civilizations’ plan. In any case, they had to distribute Universal Treasures to the participants every time they fought, so they might as well give out their ownership rights to all of them. At the same time, they could also motivate the Beyond Grade As to fight. After all, if the Beyond Grade As were gone, there would be no point in keeping some Universal Treasures for their own use. The other three Universal Civilizations might have another idea, which was to use the reward to attract the Revivors of the association to join the battle. Han Xiao knew what kind of sh*t they were brewing the moment they stuck their butts out.
However, there was no need to stop them. Han Xiao was also glad that the three Universal Civilizations were willing to bleed themselves. He could not possibly ask the other Beyond Grade As who had contributed to the war to reject this reward.
Everyone rubbed their palms and picked out the Universal Treasures they liked on the list.
However, there were also a few Beyond Grade As who made different choices. They surrounded Aurora and smiled kindly.
“We owe you a favor this time. Do you have any Universal Treasures you want? I can help you choose.” “Eh?” Aurora was stunned, waving her hands. “There’s no need for that.”
“There’s no need to be modest. You deserve this.”
Milizaus’ magic power avatar revealed a loving smile. As a huge target, be it the enemy’s hit rate or his own healer’s hit rate, it was extremely high for him. This time, he was the happiest being healed by Aurora. “Ah, I really don’t have any needs.” Aurora was helpless. This was the truth. With a treasure like the Underworld and a boss that could mass produce Universal Treasures, why would she need to farm anything herself? She really did not need the Universal Treasures of the three Universal Civilizations.
The Beyond Grade As around looked at him with envy. This was understandable. After all, this battle had already proved that if they wanted to survive on the battlefield, the healer was the most important. Some Beyond Grade As would rather give up the chance to acquire Universal Treasures to please Aurora.
Furthermore, this nanny’s healing ability was limited. If he did not build a good relationship with her, the amount of milk he would receive after the battle would not be comparable to others.
Han Xiao glanced at Aurora, who was the center of attention.
“Tsk, so this is what it means to be a mother with milk…”
After cursing in his mind, Han Xiao looked at the list casually, but he did not find anything that could move his heart.
He had a deep foundation now, so he did not care too much about the Universal Treasures provided by the three Universal Civilizations.
The main storyline branch mission of this battle had been completed. Although it was a drop in the ocean to him, the Experience reward this time was very rich according to the players’ standards. Countless army players had received a large amount of Experience, which was the biggest benefit to him.
The faster the players reached the maximum level, the quicker they would be able to spend their experience elsewhere, which would lead to his own experience reserves filling up. Han Xiao thought to himself as his eyes sparkled.
After defeating the enemy this time, a large number of high-level combatants will need time to revive. With me here, the World Tree probably won’t dare send an expert from another race over, so their next wave of attacks won’t arrive so soon… Should I take this opportunity to go to the Sanctum? The time flow in the Sanctums was different from in the main universe. The last time he entered the Third Sanctum, he had spent three months. Even if his authority in the First Sanctum was higher, he would spend quite a bit of time. Taking the chance while the World Tree did not invade, it would be good for him to enter a Sanctum. He would probably not miss out on any matters.
Han Xiao planned to enter the Sanctum this time not only to revive the six victims but also to revive many Beyond Grade As in history. For example, the direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance. This was a deal that he had agreed to. When the World Tree revived the high-level combat units, he would naturally have to expand the size of his people. It’s a pity that the Revivors did not participate in this war, or I would have been able to reveal the truth of the Sanctum Revival… However, it’s fine if I don’t expose it now. The war is still in its early stages, and if I expose it too early, the three Universal Civilizations might have other thoughts. When the two sides are fighting so hard that they don’t have extra energy to think about anything, maybe it will be the best time to expose it…
However, he still had to use Destiny’s Child to monitor it and confirm that the World Tree would not take any further actions for the time being. Only then would he be able to enter the Sanctum with ease.
Meanwhile, in the Tree King Palace of the World Tree Civilization… “The four high-level combatants have been captured alive. The mental network has been cut off. Although the World Tree connection still exists, we can no longer monitor their condition…”
Executive Two Leaf was expressionless as he reported the situation of the four World Tree powerhouses that were sealed by the Spacetime Amber.
The Heart Tree King narrowed his eyes and revealed an interested expression. “Interesting. Does the enemy this time have such a method to capture us alive? It’s not simple. Maybe it’s a Space Wonder item… Can we track it?” “Yes, the Mother Tree’s connection power is still transmitted to the individual, but it is isolated by something unknown and cannot penetrate. It is unable to sense the state of those four people. Following the broken information state trajectory, we can confirm that the coordinates of those four people are near the expeditionary army battlefield.”
“Hmm, try to take them back next time and see what caught them alive. Throw them into the mother tree for analysis.” The Heart Tree King waved his hand. “When will the next operation begin?” the executive asked.
“There’s no hurry. The enemy’s recovery-type Esper is very difficult to deal with, which is why the effect of this exchange is not good. However, no matter how poor the battle results are, it’s still an exchange. The enemy has already lost a few high-level combatants, so we have the advantage.”
The Heart Tree King rubbed the armrest and paused before continuing. “Let’s wait for the high-level combatants on our side to revive first. We need to plan how to get rid of that recovery-type Esper. If we don’t kill this person, our strategy will be greatly reduced… If the method really doesn’t work, then let’s not waste time and just launch an all-out attack. As long as we attack their territory, the mother tree will be able to eat to its heart’s content!”
Not long after, the Beyond Grade As finished selecting the reward that they wanted. The leaders of the three Universal Civilizations gave them some more encouragement before ending the meeting.
The group walked out of the room and returned to their own activity room. At this time, Han Xiao clapped his hands twice, attracting everyone’s attention.
“Everyone, I have something to announce. I might be carrying out the Sanctum Revival soon and bring back the six Beyond Grade As who died in this battle.”
Everyone was stunned for a moment before becoming excited. “So fast?” Kasuyi blinked in surprise. He was someone who knew about the Sanctums and knew that opening a Sanctum was not easy. He had always thought that Han Xiao would wait for more people to die before pulling them back. This was more cost-effective. However, only six of them had died, and he was going to use the Sanctum Revival. This was out of his expectations. “It’s alright. This is part of the plan.” Han Xiao waved his hands. The intense battle this time made many Beyond Grade As tense. Using the Sanctum Revival to pull back the victims could boost their morale. After all, although the revival of the Beyond Grade As of history was shocking, it was better to let everyone witness the revival of the dead. At the same time, this was also an opportunity for him to show his stance. The fact that he could not wait to revive the sacrificial victims would make most people feel at ease, and they would feel that they would receive the same treatment. After all, the other Beyond Grade As did not know the price of the Sanctum Revival, and the more relaxed Han Xiao acted, the more confident they would be.
“I don’t think those six guys want to revive so quickly. Maybe they’ll die again. Why don’t we let them sleep a little longer?” Sun Hunter muttered softly.
Han Xiao turned to glance at him, and Sun Hunter immediately shut up. Hearing this, many Beyond Grade As had strange expressions.
In the eyes of everyone, the Sanctum Revival only gave them one chance. It would be best for them if they could avoid some battles during the time of death, but from the perspective of others, they could not wait for the dead experts to come back and share the pressure.
There were also some Beyond Grade As who could not help but glance at Hila. If not for Black Star’s reliable performance, they would have even thought that Black Star’s goal of reviving the dead was to quickly bring these people who had used the Sanctum to the Underworld.
Han Xiao took in everyone’s expressions and could naturally guess what they were thinking. “Anyway, it’s settled. I’m not only going to revive the victims this time, but I’m also planning to revive some historical experts and expand the size of the high-level combatants to share more of the pressure.” “I see. That’s not bad.” Everyone nodded in agreement.
Beep beep beep… At this time, Han Xiao’s communicator rang. He took it out and saw that it was a call from Beiger.
Han Xiao picked up the call.
“Beiger, why are you looking for me?” Beiger got straight to the point. “Black Star, the Revivors and I have decided to fight on the front line with you guys and respond to your call to participate in the war.” “Eh? Why so suddenly?” Han Xiao was stunned.
The Beyond Grade As around stopped talking and listened.
Due to the difference in their opinions, the Revivors did not participate in the war and watched them fight the enemy at the frontlines. Although they did not say anything, they naturally had some opinions about the Revivors. Even if they understood the mentality of the Revivors, they were still dissatisfied.
Although Black Star said that he would wait for the revivors to change their minds, in the eyes of everyone, the chances of the revivors responding to the call was too low. Therefore, everyone was very curious about why Beiger suddenly changed his attitude.
Could it be that the rewards from the three Universal Civilizations had attracted them? That should not be the case. These revivors had seen all kinds of good things. Furthermore, the reward had been distributed just earlier, so the news should not have been sent back. Could it be that the huge victory and extremely low losses had given the revivors confidence?
“Ahem, I’ve been thinking about it recently. Since we’re all comrades of the Beyond Grade A united front, we need to advance and retreat together. We can’t just watch you guys fight with your lives on the line. Furthermore, you’re right, Black Star. We’re all born in this galaxy, and it’s not time to abandon our homeland. I’ve decided to do my part.” Han Xiao was skeptical. While these words sounded righteous, he did not believe them. He did not think that these old people would suddenly become hot-blooded. Did Oathkeeper give him a hint?
Han Xiao put on a gratified expression and said with a smile, “You made the right choice. Like I said, no matter when you change your mind, you’re welcome to fight alongside us.” “That’s great.” Kasuyi smiled. Everyone also expressed their welcome. With Beiger’s declaration, the dissatisfaction of the Beyond Grade As present toward the Revivors disappeared, and they felt much better.
This time, Han Xiao asked, “By the way, did Dylan say anything?” “He said you sh*t… Ahem, he said he doesn’t want to die,” Beiger said helplessly. “Same old, same old. I don’t think he will change his mind.” “Forget it then. Let’s not bother with him for now.”
Han Xiao shook his head. After understanding what had happened to Dylan, he could understand why Dylan was so determined not to help the three Universal Civilizations. After all, due to the Tragedy of the Pinnacles, this guy was in such a terrible state that it was beyond appalling. After giving a few words of encouragement, Han Xiao hung up the call, walked out of the room, found a private location, and dialed Oathkeeper’s number. Very soon, Oathkeeper’s face appeared on the screen. Han Xiao got straight to the point.
“Did you say something to Beiger?” “Oh? Is he preparing to fight?” Oathkeeper nodded. “I did give him a hint…”
After Han Xiao heard that, he smiled and said, “You’re quite good. Although I don’t need the Revivors to be the ‘material’ to reveal the truth of the Sanctum Revival, I don’t mind having more of them.” These revivors were not the only sources to reveal the truth of the Sanctum Revival. Han Xiao had long considered the possibility that these revivors would not participate in the battle, and he had already made many preparations. This time, the direct descendants who had entered the Sanctum Revival and brought back a portion of the advanced civilizations were actually a backup plan. After all, the direct descendants’ mentality was different, and they would most likely continue to accept the orders of the civilization and risk their lives to enter the battlefield.
This way, when these revived direct descendants died in battle, he would have the materials to show the truth of the Sanctum Revival. He did not need the previous revivors. Although Beiger had decided to join the battle, Han Xiao did not intend to change his plan. He still had to make more than one plan.
These thoughts flashed through Han Xiao’s mind, and he asked the most important question.
“How’s the collection of the Sanctum Keys?”
“Not bad. The resources given by the three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance have made up for many materials. The First Sanctum key has already been collected, and the Third Sanctum key is almost complete as well. Other than the Sixth Sanctum, the other Sanctum keys have reached more than 75%…”
Oathkeeper sent the data, and Han Xiao could not help but smile.
Although there was only one complete Sanctum Key, it did not mean that the progress would be reduced to zero after it was used up. Other than some materials that were extremely difficult to obtain, most of the other materials were repeated. The three Universal Civilizations had quite a lot of them in their inventory and provided them in bulk.
Han Xiao looked at the list of materials. Even if he used up the First Sanctum key, his progress would only fall back to 70% to 80% at most. As long as he obtained a few more crucial rare materials, he would be able to obtain another key to the First Sanctum.
“Not bad, not bad…” Han Xiao muttered subconsciously.
Seeing that he was focusing on the list, Oathkeeper’s eyes suddenly flashed.
Black Star was distracted. This was a good opportunity! “Humph, work hard. On behalf of the organization…” Click.
Without waiting for Oathkeeper to finish, Han Xiao decisively hung up the communication with a sneer. Want to ambush me? Eat sh*t!
Beep beep beep…
The communicator rang.
Han Xiao moved his lips, took a deep breath, and carefully received the call. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly saw that it was not Oathkeeper who appeared on the screen, so he stopped. “Herberlon?”
“I received your battle report. This is unbelievable. How did you guys do it?” The electronic image of Herberlon showed an exaggerated expression of surprise. Herberlon did not participate in this battle. His body had not been fully adjusted, and he would definitely be recognized by the World Tree. Han Xiao was afraid of unexpected variables, so it was not convenient to let him participate in the first battle. He would only be at ease at sending Herberlon to battle when the information connection of both sides became irreversible.
“Are you referring to the damage to the high-level combatants?” Han Xiao rubbed his chin and teased. “If I have to say it, it can only be attributed to my wisdom and strength.”
He only meant it as a joke, but he did not expect Herberlon to nod with a serious expression.
“Indeed. Without you, the three Universal Civilizations would not have such achievements.” Han Xiao opened his mouth but did not know what to say. I didn’t expect you to be such a bootlicker! “I thought that even if you guys could defeat the World Tree, it would be a miserable victory. I didn’t expect you guys to be so strong.” Herberlon was a little excited. Because the Karma Republic had lost too badly, Herberlon had a very deep trauma regarding the World Tree. However, the report of this great victory gave him confidence. He saw hope for this Universal Civilization in defeating the World Tree, and there was indeed a chance to take revenge by clinging on to this civilization. Thus, he was finally willing
“If there are any tough battles in the future, you must use my strength.” Herberlon’s expression became solemn. “…Alright, even if you don’t tell me, I won’t let you stay idle.’ Han Xiao could only give him a few words of encouragement before hanging up.
As soon as he put away the communicator, footsteps sounded behind him.
Han Xiao turned around and saw Hila walking over.
“Do you have time now? Come with me to the Underworld.” Hila had a cold expression on her face as she slowly said, “If you don’t go now, those newly accepted Hero Spirits will probably rebel.” “Alright, let’s go.”
Han Xiao nodded, changed into his King suit, and disappeared.
Numerous newborn Hero Spirits stood on the pitch-black ground with blank expressions on their faces. Their memories were still fixed on the scene before their death, and the pain in their bodies seemed to have yet to disappear. Their vision blurred, and they arrived in this space.
“Where is this? Why am I here?”
“I… I should have been blown up. Why am I still alive?”
“Wait, what’s wrong with my body? Why can’t I feel anything” The commotion quickly spread, and the countless Hero Spirit became more and more flustered. They questioned each other while observing the surroundings, wanting to understand the current situation. These newborn Hero Spirits came from different civilizations and organizations. There were all kinds of species, and many of them were genuine soldiers. They were all vigilantly observing the Hero Spirits around them. At this moment, streams of light suddenly gathered above everyone, condensing into Onicelu’s figure. She had a warm smile on her face.
“Everyone, this is the Underworld. You have already sacrificed yourselves on the battlefield, but you have not died completely. Your souls have been brought here, reborn, and become the Hero Spirits of this place…” The voice was transmitted to everyone’s ears through the power of the Underworld. Countless newborn spirits looked up at Onicelu in shock.
“We really sacrificed ourselves. I thought it was just a dream.” “Only with permission can we leave the Underworld… So, we’ve lost our freedom and become slaves?”
Countless hero spirits were instantly in an uproar.
They had become someone else’s slave without any mental preparation, and they could not accept it immediately. This feeling was like being forcefully sold. They had no freedom to reject and could only follow the arrangements of others. Furthermore, the other party had taken their souls while they were dying in battle. The feeling it gave off was as though they were taking advantage of the situation… It was literally ‘picking up corpses’! Many people were furious. “Let me out! No matter who you are, I will not be your slave!”
“Control my soul? Don’t even think about it!” The countless newborn hero spirits roared in unison, and their voices were extremely shocking, as if they were going to shatter the earth.
However, Onicelu’s expression did not change. She only made a zipping motion with her fingers. The next second, the entire world fell silent. No matter how the newborn Hero Spirits roared, they could not make a sound. Looking at the shocked and furious faces of the new Hero Spirits, Onicelu shook her head and explained, “In the Underworld, I am the absolute ruler. Your mobility is controlled by me. Furthermore, you have no combat power in your soul form state.”
However, the more this was the case, the more furious the new Hero Spirits became. Unable to make a sound, they used their actions to indicate that they wanted to escape. However, Onicelu only changed her hand gesture, and this area was isolated from the outside world, becoming a loop space. Once the newborn Hero Spirits crossed the border, they would return from the other side, never leaving Very soon, countless new Hero Spirits lost all hope and stopped trying to escape. They stared at Onicelu with rage.
Swoosh!
However, at this moment, two figures appeared out of thin air. They were Han Xiao and Hila.
Countless Hero Spirits immediately turned around and were stunned. No one present did not recognize Black Star. “Hmm? What’s going on here?” Han Xiao realized something was wrong the moment he arrived. He turned to look at Onicelu and asked, “Did you rob them of their voices?”
“Yes, because they were a little angry. I didn’t have time to explain everything,” Onicelu replied.
“It’s alright, I’m already here. Release their seal.” Han Xiao waved his hands.
Onicelu did as she was told, and the new Hero Spirits immediately returned to normal. However, they did not continue making a ruckus. All of them looked at Han Xiao with different expressions. Han Xiao’s reputation was extremely high. When they saw him appear, most of the new Hero Spirits quickly calmed down. They did not trust Onicelu, but they trusted Black Star. “Oh, you’re quite self-aware.” Han Xiao glanced at them and was instantly amused. He was so popular that just showing his face had stabilized their emotions.
At this moment, a newborn Hero Spirit loudly asked, “Black Star, were you the one who brought us here?” Hearing this, Han Xiao looked down at him and realized that he was an officer of the dynasty. He shook his head, patted Hila beside him, and said, “Hila and Aurora are the masters of the Underworld. I asked them to use the Underworld to save the soldiers who were sacrificed in the war. This is how you guys came about.” Without waiting for the new Hero Spirits to question him, Han Xiao continued. “Only Beyond Grade As can enjoy the Sanctum Revival. If you do not meet the requirements, you will really die if you die in battle. However, all of you are precious talents of the Galactic Society, and I could not bear to see you all die so easily. The Underworld is my only way to save all of you, so I had no choice but to do so. Now that the enemies are watching, every bit of strength is extremely important. This is to protect our limited armed forces. The three Universal Civilizations are also aware of this, and they support this plan.”
Although they would lose their freedom if they became Underworld Hero Spirits, it was better than sacrificing themselves. Here, they could still shine for the Galactic Society and return to the battlefield to fight the enemies. “However, please understand that we have never thought of you as slaves. I hereby promise that when the war ends, if any of you are unwilling to stay in the Underworld, I can remove your Hero Spirit status and let you rest in peace.”
After he finished speaking, the crowd became restless. The expressions of the new hero spirits changed, and their emotions were extremely complicated. Some were conflicted, some were glad, and some were relieved.
However, no matter what they thought, the anger in their hearts slowly dissipated and calmed down.
Onicelu was a stranger, so her words did not make sense. However, Black Star was someone that the entire Galactic Society knew, so his words were trustworthy. Anyway, they were already there, and there was no way for them to resist, so they had no choice but to accept this reality. Furthermore, Black Star had promised them that they could choose to remove the Underworld’s control in the future and not become slaves forever. Although they did not know if Black Star would keep his promise, they could only trust
Furthermore, after calming down, not many people really wanted to rest in peace. This kind of situation was better than dying completely.
Seeing the newborn Hero Spirits quiet down, Han Xiao turned to look at Hila and shrugged.
“Alright, my job is done. Make arrangements for these people.”
He had only gone there to appease the newborn Hero Spirits. With his high reputation and Legendary Points in the explored universe, no one was more suitable for this job than him.
In other words, his position in the explored universe was comparable to the Fruit of Face, and he could stabilize the morale of the army. “Alright.” Hila did not waste her words. She turned around and communicated with the new Hero Spirits, talking in detail. Han Xiao looked at the endless sea of people and exhaled.
War was indeed an opportunity for the rapid growth of the Underworld. After looting so many Hero Spirits, he had stolen countless talents from the various large factions. Their value was extraordinary.
And if he wanted to make all of them work…
Han Xiao clicked his tongue, suddenly feeling a little worried about Aurora’s breasts.
“Such an expenditure of milk. I feel like she’ll become flat-chested in the future…”
A day later, in the conference room of the three Universal Civilizations…
“You plan to use the Sanctum Revival and recall our direct descendants?”
Marbruce, Louis, and the Pope opened their eyes wide and stared at Han Xiao’s remote projection in shock.
Han Xiao spread out his hands and said with a serious expression, “The World Tree has plenty of experts. Due to their special mechanism, their Beyond Grade As will not decrease, and they have been accumulating to their current size. Because of wars and other reasons, we have lost many Beyond Grade As. Although we managed to repel a wave of attacks from the World Tree this time, they did not bring out all their high-level combatants. We have to increase our Beyond Grade As to slowly reverse the disadvantage of individual strength.”
The three leaders looked at each other in surprise.
When they signed the agreement, they did not make a condition that Black Star must revive the direct descendants. They knew that the Beyond Grade A Association was still wary of the three Universal Civilizations. Even if there were foreign enemies, Black Star might not awaken their direct descendants and increase his competitors’ strength.
Thus, when Black Star took the initiative to mention this, the three of them were pleasantly surprised. Regardless of whether Black Star wanted to share the pressure of the association members or purely for the sake of the war, this method was beneficial to them.
The direct Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations, including the National Pillars at the level of Clotti and Oulou, were guardians of different eras. If they could summon all of them, it would be a huge supplement to the high-level combatants of the three Universal Civilizations.
“This is a wise choice. I’m glad to see that you’re willing to consider the big picture.”
Marbruce was full of praise.
Han Xiao paid his praise no mind. He raised his finger and said, “However, there is one condition. These resurrected direct descendants must join the frontlines.” “Of course.” Louis nodded. He understood what Han Xiao meant. It was impossible for them to let the resurrected direct descendants sit back and watch the association members fight to the death.
“Alright, we have a consensus. Let’s talk about the cost.” Han Xiao put down his hands.
“Cost?”
“Do you think this is free?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
“Not at all, tell me the price.”
The Pope shook his head.
Because Black Star’s act of suddenly providing help was a little righteous, the three of them almost thought that it was free. However, they all came back to their senses now and knew that with Black Star’s personality, it was impossible for him to let go of this opportunity to make a huge profit. Although both parties were currently in a partnership to resist the foreign enemy, the services that should be paid for would not be free. After all, they were only allies.
The three of them did not have any objections to this. Now was the time to beg for help. It was not easy for them to have the opportunity to revive their direct descendants. No matter how high the cost was, they had to pay it.
Han Xiao opened the virtual screen, made a list, and sent it to the three of them. The three of them quickly browsed through the list. The list was filled with all kinds of resources, materials, and weapons. Although it was expensive, it was within an acceptable range. “You want these things?”
“That’s right. This is the price for the Sanctum Revival.”
“Sure.”
Marbruce agreed. Han Xiao nodded. There were materials for the Sanctum Key in the list. He could use the three Universal Civilizations to gather materials and provide him with access to the Sanctum. This was equivalent to spending the three Universal Civilizations’ money to increase his Sanctum authority.
“When do you plan to start?” Louis asked.
“Destiny’s Child surveillance has already confirmed that the World Tree Civilization will not make any big movements in the near future. I will use the Sanctum Revival soon.” Han Xiao nodded, then paused and said, “Also, when I use the Sanctum Revival, I will temporarily leave the main universe for about three months. During that time, I will be out of contact. During my absence, Hila will be in charge of relaying the information of Destiny’s Child surveillance channels.”
“Three months…” Their hearts sank.
If the World Tree did something during this period, without Black Star, there might be variables…
The three of them suddenly realized that they had unknowingly developed a certain amount of reliance on Black Star. Ever since they discovered the World Tree, Black Star’s actions had given them most of their current advantages, and he had accumulated a lot of trust. He was a special consultant, and to a certain extent, the three of them treated Han Xiao as their backbone in dealing with the World Tree Civilization.
Without Black Star, they subconsciously felt less confident.
“If you’re worried that the World Tree will send the Tree King again, you can let Wuornos participate in the battle. With his ability, it won’t be a problem for him to stop a Tree King,” Han Xiao said.
In his previous life, Wuornos did not participate in the war, and this time, he was still one of the few Beyond Grade As who had not been recruited. It was very strange. Han Xiao was also very curious why the Arcane Church did not send this b*stard out. Even if his main body did not go to war, he could have sent a few God Embodiments.
“There are some special reasons. It’s not convenient for him to make a move.” The Pope shook his head.
“What special reason is more important than the threat of the World Tree?” Han Xiao raised his brows.
When he fought with Han Xiao, he was full of energy, but when it was time to face the enemies, he had all kinds of excuses. Could it be that Wuornos was the type of person who was submissive to the outside world and domineering toward his side?
“… In any case, there are some reasons.” The Pope kept his mouth shut and suddenly changed the topic. “By the way, can you unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter?”
“Wuornos is not participating in the battle and still wants me to unseal his weapon?” “Even if we don’t let him use it, the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter is still a powerful weapon against individual strengths.”
“We’ll see.”
Han Xiao did not comment. The Ten Thousand Deity Scepter could indeed increase the combat power of high-level combatants, but he did not intend to unseal it yet.
After a pause, he said, “I need to obtain some mediums related to the revival target. Which direct descendants do you want to revive? Give me their mediums in the next few days.”
The three of them nodded.
They were also organizing people to study the Sanctums, and this was the first time they had heard that the Sanctum Revival required a medium. However, it made sense when they thought about it. If they did not need a medium, then even the Beyond Grade As of other unknown civilizations could be revived at will.
“One more thing,” Han Xiao said. “This time, I will revive a portion of the direct members of the Super Star Cluster Alliance.”
“Hmm?” The trio’s expression changed slightly.
At this moment, the three of them thought of many things and subconsciously thought that this was Black Star’s way of keeping them in check.
Resurrecting the direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations was a threat to the Beyond Grade A Association. Thus, Black Star deliberately revived the direct descendants of the Super Star Cluster Alliance, forming a tripartite balance that hindered the three Universal Civilizations. This method could also explain the reason for reviving the direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations. In consideration of the war situation, the three of them, as the beneficiaries of this reason, had no way of rebutting
“Don’t think too much about it. I just made a deal with the Super Star Cluster Alliance in the past, and I don’t intend to go against this deal,” Han Xiao replied casually, ignoring the gazes of the three.
“…Of course.” The three of them adjusted their mentality and regained their composure.
Many of the historical members of the Super Star Cluster Alliance had died in the Tragedy of the Pinnacles, and the hatred between the two sides was deeply rooted. Once they revived, it would definitely be troublesome.
However, the Sanctum Revival was controlled by Black Star, so they could only accept this change. Furthermore, the three of them believed that as long as their own direct descendants revived, they would not have to worry about the Super Star Cluster Alliance causing trouble.
Both parties quickly came to an agreement. Just as Han Xiao was about to end the communication, he suddenly thought of something and asked, “By the way, how’s the progress of the secondary dimension expedition team?”
“There were some losses, but we still did not find anything.” Marbruce shook his head.
Han Xiao sighed.
The World Tree Civilization still did not know that they had sent out troops to search for their main body. The secondary dimension expedition team was the true game-changer of the three Universal Civilizations.
After meeting the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations, Han Xiao immediately went to the Super Star Cluster Alliance. At this time, all the leaders of the Super Star Cluster Civilizations were in the room, staring at Han Xiao.
“Black Star, we were just talking about you. The results of your battle are shocking.” “If we didn’t know your capabilities, we would have thought that the enemy this time is very weak.”
The leaders of the civilizations praised him. “It wasn’t too bad. It’s mainly because the Beyond Grade As are working together,” Han Xiao replied casually. He observed the expressions of the leaders of the civilizations present and quickly calculated.
Based on his understanding of the Super Star Cluster Civilizations, these people were most likely waiting for the three Universal Civilizations and the World Tree to both suffer so that they could ascend. Thus, they might not be too happy to see such low losses.
He remembered that in his previous life, the Super Star Cluster Alliance even had a plan, which was to take the opportunity when the three Universal Civilizations were fighting the World Tree to leave the explored universe with their own civilization and escape in the middle of the war. They thought that the three Universal Civilizations would not have the energy to stop them and could only watch them leave.
However, after completely experiencing the perverted nature of the World Tree Civilization, the Super Star Cluster Alliance understood that it was like drinking poison to quench their thirst. In the end, they did not use this plan and wholeheartedly cooperated with the three Universal Civilizations to fight the enemy. Han Xiao estimated that the Super Star Cluster Alliance most likely had similar thoughts at present. After being bullied by the three Universal Civilizations for so long, it was impossible for them to not have considered this route.
While he was thinking, the Star Arc Civilization leader knocked on the table and asked:
“Black Star, why did you contact us this time?”
Han Xiao composed himself and said, “I’m here to fulfill the agreement.”
“Which agreement?”
“I promised to revive ten of your direct Beyond Grade As. Now is the time.”
The moment he said that, the leaders of the civilizations were overjoyed.
After coming to an agreement, the Super Star Cluster Alliance quickly collected the revival fees and handed them all to Han Xiao. However, Black Star would decide when the revival would take place. They did not know how long Black Star would take, but they had already paid the deposit, so they could only wait patiently. It was finally time!
This backup was worth it!
Indeed, everything came at the end of fawning!
The Star Arc Civilization leader suppressed his excitement and said, “Got it. What should we prepare?”
“I need some mediums…”
Han Xiao repeated his explanation to the three Universal Civilizations, and everyone nodded.
After explaining, Han Xiao looked at everyone’s expressions, smiled, and said, “One more thing. I will still give you ten slots in the next revival. You will still need to buy them. You can discuss if you want to add more.”
“Of course we accept,” the Star Arc Civilization leader immediately said.
Ten slots were far from enough to revive all the Beyond Grade As in the history of the Super Star Cluster Civilizations. Since Black Star was willing to sell another ten slots, there was naturally no reason to reject him.
“You don’t have to be in a hurry to bid. It won’t be too late even after I bring these revivors back.”
Han Xiao waved his hands.
The two of them exchanged a few more words before hanging up.
The leaders of the civilizations were the only ones left in the conference room, and their faces were finally filled with joy.
“When our direct descendants return, our plan will have a much higher chance. Black Star has done us a huge favor this time.”
The Star Arc Civilization leader took a deep breath.
What they did not know was that Black Star only gave them ten slots each time, but the number of slots sold to the three Universal Civilizations was unlimited.
Two days later, somewhere in the Ancient Star Desert, the Holy Accord Organization’s spaceship was hovering in the starry sky, preheating the equipment and preparing to open the Sanctum channel.
Han Xiao remained in the main ship, talking to Hila and the other upper echelons.
“While I’m using the Sanctum Revival, the army will be under your command. Preserve your strength… If the World Tree makes a move, Aurora, you will have to pay attention to your own safety. It’d be best to convince Manison, Kasuyi, and the others to be your bodyguards for the time being. The World Tree has lost quite a number of experts. They won’t revive too quickly, so the intensity of the following battle shouldn’t be too high…”
“Don’t worry, I can protect myself now.” Aurora nodded. “However, just in case, if anything happens, you guys should evacuate. I’ve provided Herberlon with some Kings. Although he hasn’t joined the battle yet, if there’s any danger, he will use his Mechanical Force to teleport you guys away…” After giving some instructions to the officers, Han Xiao hung up. “If you’re done, shall I begin?” Oathkeeper asked.
“Start.” Han Xiao nodded.
As the order was passed down, rays of light shot out from the Holy Accord’s spaceship and entered the key of the First Sanctum.
Very soon, a familiar scene appeared again. The six doors of light appeared, and only one of them was left, which turned into the passageway of the First Sanctum.
Han Xiao took a deep breath and charged into the Sanctum passageway.
The next moment, the door of light shrank rapidly, and a thin beam of light flashed past like when an old television was switched off.
Before all the onlookers, the Sanctum passageway disappeared along with Han Xiao.
Oathkeeper exhaled.
The annoying fellow is gone… I can finally experience what it feels like to be in charge again!
Chapter 1345 Plunder and Thoughts
The tunnel filled with endless streams of light seemed to be able to travel through time. Han Xiao’s senses became hazy and blurry as if his mind had sunk into an old dream.
After an unknown period of time, his vision cleared up, and he regained consciousness.
He looked around and realized that he was in a boundless white world with countless light orbs floating around. He had a deep impression of this scene.
“Phew, I got in.”
Han Xiao calmed his mind and made a grabbing motion at the collapsing tunnel.
A surge of energy emerged from his body and turned into a mark on his palm. The Sanctum channel immediately stabilized.
He retracted his palm and looked at it. This mark was formed by eight patterns. It was Level 8 clearance of the First Sanctum.
“I have to hurry…”
Han Xiao calmed himself down and immediately started to move. This was his second time entering the Sanctum, so he was already familiar with it.
The longer he stayed in the Sanctum, the more time would pass in the outside world. The last time he entered the Third Sanctum, he had wasted a lot of time testing the functions of the Sanctum. This time, there was no need. His actions had a purpose.
Han Xiao took out many mediums and called for the Sanctum to revive.
Beams of light gathered and condensed into a Sanctum revival mark in front of him, floating quietly.
He touched it, and the Sanctum revival mark fused into his palm, turning into a tattoo- like mark.
After checking the revival targets in the imprint, Han Xiao nodded. Without any delay, he started to touch the various Information Form light spheres to gather different information.
The information stored in the First Sanctum was closely related to mechanical technology, and it contained the high-level blueprints developed by countless generations of civilizations. Most of them were Universal Treasures meant for Mechanics. The value of this information to Han Xiao far exceeded the value of the Third Sanctum.
Han Xiao’s authority level in the First Sanctum was higher than that in the Third Sanctum, and he could store more memory. He could take away more technological information in one go, so there was no reason for him to let go of such an opportunity.
The technologies of the final civilizations of various Iterations entered Han Xiao’s mind one after another, slowly reaching the upper limit of his memory capacity.
“Finally full. The memory capacity of a rank 8 authority is quite high.”
Han Xiao’s plundering stopped, and he was rather excited.
This wave of plundering was a huge supplement to his technological foundation. He had obtained the trump card of technologies from final civilizations of multiple Iterations, which was enough for him to study for a long time. The number of blueprints in his inventory had increased tremendously. The trump cards of these final civilizations were not simple, and they had complicated functions. Some of the technologies’ strategic value was not much worse than the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device of the Federation of Light. Bringing these precious technologies out was equivalent to obtaining new trump cards against the World Tree Civilization, increasing the war capital of the Galactic Society.
After being happy for a while, Han Xiao suppressed his emotions. After doing these two things, his goal of opening the Sanctum was complete.
Looking around, Han Xiao suddenly thought of something. He used the Sanctum authority to summon the message board of the civilizations in the past Iterations.
The last time he entered the Third Sanctum, due to his authority, the message board was mostly empty. This time, his authority in the First Sanctum was higher, so he should be able to see more content. Han Xiao planned to take a look before he left.
The Sanctum mark released rays of light and quickly formed a screen-like message board, floating in front of Han Xiao.
Han Xiao browsed through it carefully and compared it with the contents of the Third Sanctum in his memories. Sure enough, he found that much of the empty content from the last time had become visible.
He continued reading, and his eyes paused on the record at the fifth last paragraph of the Celestial Star Alliance. He then looked at the last four paragraphs with the most empty content. Compared to what he had seen in the Third Sanctum, most of the last four paragraphs were still covered, but some new content was revealed.
The fourth last paragraph displayed the most content. In the large empty space, a few pieces of information appeared:
[… According to the results of the joint observation, the Great Reboot will take place after , we have learned our lesson from the previous Iteration and have formulated ‘Information Form Stripping Plan’. We hope that the long relay will end in our hands… Our civilization is called if the civilizations in the later Iterations … that means our plan , please take a new route…]
“Is this the Iteration after the Celestial Star Alliance…”
Han Xiao pondered. It looked like a message from another civilization that did not manage to survive the Great Reboot.
Although his authority was not enough to show the name of this civilization, and he was unable to find the other party’s information Form light spheres, he knew that the other party’s plan to get through the Great Reboot was called the Information Form Stripping Plan.
“Information Form Stripping… sounds interesting.”
Han Xiao stroked his chin.
Apart from this paragraph, the other information that appeared in the last four paragraphs were all bits and pieces of information. They were of no value, and the level-eight authority was not enough to fully check this part.
After browsing through the messages again and memorizing them, Han Xiao turned off the message board and flew toward the Sanctum channel.
The second day after Han Xiao entered the Sanctum.
Interception circle’s main base, many Beyond Grade As were on standby. When there were no combat missions, they would do their own thing.
In the exclusive activity room, a portion of the Beyond Grade As were resting or having fun, chatting casually.
Kasuyi was playing cards with Secret Master, and a group of people was watching from the side.
“Black Star is already disconnected. I wonder how many troublesome fellows he’ll bring back this time…”
Sun Hunter, who was the size of a finger, stood on the card table with his arms crossed and said in a low voice.
Kasuyi threw out a ‘Kasuyi’ card and smiled helplessly:
“This is indeed troublesome. After all, some of the historical Beyond Grade As have complicated relationships with us.”
The first two batches of revived Beyond Grade As did not have much contact with the current Beyond Grade As, but the targets this time were different. Many of them were their ‘acquaintances’. “Ahem, to be honest, I’m not prepared to meet my ancestor,” Milizaus had a headache. He was the patriarch of the Starry Spiritual Dragon race, and Starry Spiritual Dragon was a branch bloodline left behind by a Beyond Grade A Magic Azure Dragon.
Milizaus was not the only one with such a story. The Beyond Grade As that Black Star was preparing to revive had a similar relationship with many of the people present.
If that was all, it would have been fine. However, many people had enmity between them. When they thought about how their enemy was about to be revived, many of them felt uneasy.
Initially, when people died, everything would be settled, and the hatred would be let go. However, now that the enemies had all come back to life, should they still pursue their past grudges ?
This was especially so for the victims of the Tragedy of the Pinnacles represented by Dylan. Everyone felt that they definitely would not let this go.
“When this group of people is revived by Black Star, it would be nice if they don’t start a fight,” Kant shook his head.
Hila, who was resting in the corner, said without opening her eyes: “What’s there to be afraid of? Black Star can revive them, and he can also stuff them back into their graves. If they cause trouble, I’m more than happy to send them to the Underworld.”
Hearing this, everyone turned to look at her, speechless.
“That’s true, but you saying this in front of us feels like you’re warning us…”
Everyone curled their lips and looked away.
Humph, although they were sisters, Aurora was still cuter!
“Hila is right. At this time, we cannot waste a single soldier,” Kasuyi chuckled.
After Han Xiao entered the Sanctum, Kasuyi and Hila became the backbone of the association. The former was the vice president, while Hila did not have enough reputation. However, Han Xiao had given her the intelligence channel of Destiny’s Child, so Hila enjoyed a transcendent position for the time being
“Speaking of which, although Black Star is shameless and cunning, he is still very hardworking when it comes to fighting for the benefits of the Beyond Grade As and protecting the safety of the Galactic Society,” Sun Hunter smacked his lips and said.
“That’s because you don’t know him well. Cunning is just a means. I’ve always felt that Black Star is an idealist who plans far ahead for the peace of the universe. He has a noble ambition that transcends reality,” As a veteran boot-licker, Beiger’s tone was filled with respect.
“Forget it. Black Star is purely an opportunist, but his common interests are the same as ours. We’re on the same side, but don’t flatter him,” Heber snorted.
The group began to heatedly discuss Black Star’s character. Anyway, Han Xiao was not here, it was not convenient for them to roast him in front of him. But now, they could say whatever they wanted.
On the other side, Manison was alone in the observation deck of the main base, looking at the starry sky. He was playing with a Rubik’s cube-like polyhedron in his hands, which looked like some kind of mechanism. The complicated mechanical structure kept sliding and making cracking sounds.
This was a children’s toy of the Mechanical Race, used to cultivate Mechanical Sense from a young age.
“Ancestor might be returning…” Manison muttered to himself with mixed feelings.
He was the second Beyond Grade A born in the Mechanical Race, and he also had a distant ancestor. Although he had become an independent species after becoming a Beyond Grade A Super, this relationship could still be counted.
This was especially so since Manison was the only leader of the Mechanical Race and treated the Mechanical Race as an important asset. If the ancestor of the Mechanical Race returned and wanted to become the leader of the Mechanical Race again, who would the Mechanical Race listen to? Two tigers cannot share one mountain, would his position be affected?
It was a pity that the Sanctum Revival target was decided by Black Star. As long as he found the medium, he would be free to choose the revival target.
Manison could not control Han Xiao’s thoughts. He even suspected that Black Star did it on purpose.
At this moment, Clotti and Oulou were also conflicted.
The two of them were waiting at the dock of the base, watching the giant starships enter the port.
Oulou lit a cigarette and exhaled a light blue cloud. He slowly said: “The direct descendants of the past are about to revive. Are you nervous?”
“Why should I be nervous?” Clotti was expressionless.
“Hey, don’t tell me you don’t have any psychological trauma toward them,” Oulou sneered.
Clotti said nothing. He was now a direct descendant of the dynasty with the highest position, but he was still a junior in front of the previous generation.
Clotti did not become the National Pillar of the dynasty as soon as he became a Beyond Grade A Super. Before he grew up, there was still the National Pillar of the previous generation that supported the dynasty’s prestige.
At the same time, the direct line of descent had an inheritance relationship. Due to the strength of his Esper Ability, Clotti was the focus of the dynasty’s training. The previous National Pillar was his special training instructor and could be considered half a teacher, leaving him with an indelible impression.
If Gaud had not been killed, he would have received Clotti’s special training, carrying on the inheritance.
“Although Black Star’s goal is for the sake of the war…” Oulou took another puff of his cigarette and shook his head: “However, this kind of action will probably cause many people to enter a situation they never imagined.”
Clotti shook his head.
Facing the many seniors who were about to be revived, the entire Beyond Grade A group had their own thoughts.
In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.
The military mobilization of the various Star Fields in the explored universe continued, especially in the Flickering World. Under the construction of the engineering fleets and various planet modification packages, the various war facilities in the large war zones were quickly completed. Military factories were active all day, and countless starships of various models were sent out every day.
The three Universal Civilizations were also in full swing, recruiting a large number of Supers from the various races to join the army. At the same time, they summoned back the vast number of reserve soldiers who had once served in the army and gave them further military training in the various military bases to replenish the military strength gap between various military posts. They also carried out mandatory basic military training among the galactic residents to expand their flow of troops.
The war mobilization speed of the interstellar era was beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Under the unification of the three Universal Civilizations, the war machines of the explored universe operated at high efficiency. All kinds of resources were being thrown into the corresponding gaps to be used efficiently.
The construction of the intercepting circle on the frontline was also progressing rapidly. Although the World Tree Civilization had failed in their assault, they did not stop harassing in small groups and had exchanged fire with the intercepting troops many times. As the space stabilization anchor orbit set by the three Universal Civilizations was expanding further and further away, the World Tree Civilization’s jump point was also constantly moving backward, further away from the intercepting circle.
:male
As a result, the World Tree also treated the destruction of the space stabilization anchor orbit as an important battle target. It sent its vanguard troops to attack the space stabilization anchor orbit in different routes many times, unsealing the different jump points, and sending reconnaissance troops to this coordinate.
Due to the World Tree reconnaissance troops constantly splitting up, the overall structure of the space stabilization anchor orbit was like a three-dimensional tree model with many divergences, extending continuously. Countless streams of light representing both fleets jumped between the ‘tree branches’, colliding from time to time and erupting into local battles.
In the three Universal Civilizations’ interception circle’s main base, high-intensity energy sources that represented the battle points kept appearing on the General Surveillance Strategic Radar. The World Tree fleet would occasionally succeed, destroying the branches of the space stabilization anchor many times. They needed to be repaired and troops needed to be sent to pursue the new batch of reconnaissance troops that were put on these jump points by the World Tree.
As the interception circle and space stabilization anchor orbit continued to expand, the number of openings left for the enemy would also increase. This was unavoidable, but the three Universal Civilizations could still deal with the current defensive line. “The harassment of the World Tree is endless. Although this is an effective method, it will take a very long time. They must have made multiple preparations. They should be preparing a new wave of attacks to create a huge gap in our defense line, removing our control over the intercepting circle.”
In the conference room at the interception circle’s main base, Simon was discussing with the commanders and staff sergeants.
In the past month that Black Star was not around, there had been small conflicts between the two sides, but there were no large-scale battles. The overall situation was quite stable, and the number of times a Beyond Grade A group was dispatched could be counted on one hand.
Hila was in charge of the surveillance channels of Destiny’s Child, and there was no news of the World Tree making a big move. Both sides were in a stalemate for the time being with both sides attacking and defending. The enemy did not make much progress.
Simon and the others naturally understood that the World Tree would not continue to tangle with them like this. In the past few days, he had an intense tactical intuition and felt that there would be some changes soon.
“According to the data, the frequency of the World Tree attacking the Space Stabilization Anchor orbit has decreased by 37% in the past five days, and the number of reconnaissance troops has increased by 73%. Furthermore, we have discovered that the World Tree Civilization has left behind a large number of topological space directional marks near the anchor orbit. We speculate that the World Tree Civilization is trying to bring super long-range weapons at the jump points that are not covered in the orbit, destroying the various branches of the orbit remotely.”
Simon pressed his hands on the command platform with a solemn expression. Another commander nodded and said: “The anti-over-the-horizon radar is in an activated state. If the World Tree adopts this plan, the dynasty’s super long-range anti-particle base cannon, the federation’s Psionic Planetary Obliteration Beams, and the church’s Soul Sniper Beam can lock onto the source of the attack and carry out the counterattack mission.”
“I’m just afraid that the World Tree will set up the Lerbo Space Protection Belt. That would not be good.”
Simon shook his head.
Beyond-visual-range warfare was also the main form of interstellar warfare. In this regard, the three Universal Civilizations were strong on offense but weak on defense. However, the World Tree Civilization was different. According to the intelligence provided by Black Star, the World Tree Civilization had a Universal Treasure-level special defense weapon that could be used in beyond-visual-range warfare. It was called the ‘Lerbo Space Protection Belt’.
This kind of defense technology had a similar effect to the Psionic Seal Ring. It was like a portable miniaturized version, distorting the universe constants of an area, preventing the over-the-horizon strikes from penetrating it.
However, this restriction went both ways. The external energy attacks could not pass through, and the attacks from the inside would also be blocked. Therefore, it was difficult for the fleet that opened the Lerbo Space Protection Belt to attack from the outside. Because the Lerbo Space Protection Belt could not move along with the spaceship after it was opened, it was not used in battle. It was usually used to protect some important facilities.
Only physical weapons such as interstellar missiles and starships’ close-range assault could ignore the effects of the Lerbo Space Protection Belt. Other energy weapons were basically useless. However, the majority of super long-range weapons were energy weapons, so this technology was often used in beyond-visual-range warfare. The protective belt would be retracted when firing and opened when the firing was stopped. This way, it was very difficult to be put at a disadvantage in beyond-visual-range warfare.
While the upper echelons were discussing, the entire surveillance radars that covered all the space stabilization anchors suddenly issued an alarm. Hundreds of red lines representing high-energy attacks suddenly broke into the edge of the radar and quickly hit different branches of the orbit.
The 3D radar model in front of everyone reacted, and hundreds of red ripples appeared. The destruction report of the orbit was quickly sent back. “It’s confirmed to be over-the-horizon strikes. The World Tree really used this method.” Simon’s expression froze. Speak of the devil. He had just mentioned over-the-horizon strikes when the World Tree’s attack wave arrived. His recent intuition had come true.
The jump point of the World Tree’s super long-range weapon was located outside the range of the radar.
“Analyze the attack trajectory and counterattack,” Simon ordered.
The anti-over-the-horizon radar started to work, quickly analyzing the curvature, angle, and other factors of the enemy’s hundreds of attacks.
Over-the-horizon strikes did not usually move in a straight line. Under various universe environmental factors, the attack trajectory would show different deviations. For example, a sniper needed to calculate the wind direction, distance, trajectory, gravity, and other conditions. It was the same for over-the-horizon strikes. More parameters needed to be calculated, and the calculation model was very complicated. The reverse lock was to reverse engineer these factors and obtain the coordinates of the source of the attack.
Very soon, the final result was sent to the three Universal Civilizations’ super long-range weapons through quantum communication. Crack!
A huge planetary fortress stretched out rows of enormous cannons. The base slowly turned, and the barrels turned as though they were aimed at empty space. The actual super long-range sight had already locked onto the space coordinates calculated by the artificial intelligence.
Immediately after, the cannon barrels started to light up from its base, and dark blue particles rapidly gathered from all directions, accumulating energy in the muzzle and releasing a dazzling light. When the power was accumulated to its peak, the color turned from blue to red, suddenly releasing huge energy beams, disappearing into the vast starry sky in the blink of an eye. However, this round of counterattack was like a stone sinking into the ocean, there was no response.
Simon and the others waited for a while. However, the second wave of attack from the World Tree came, and hundreds of orbital branches were destroyed. The source of the attack was exactly the same.
“The counterattack did not seem to have any effect. Maybe you were right. They used that defensive technology…” One of the commanders looked at Simon and secretly cursed.
“Continue firing. Do not stop,” Simon frowned.
The weapons of the three Universal Civilizations began to fire continuously. Although they could not observe the effects of the attacks, the enemies’ attacks had stopped.
“Even if the World Tree has set up the Lerbo Space Protection Belt, our frequency of firepower is enough to suppress them and prevent them from taking back the protective belt. This way, they won’t be able to continue attacking us,” one of the staff officers said. Simon knocked on the table and shook his head. “This is just a temporary plan. If we want to solve it once and for all, we’ll have to send out fleets to attack them on the spot and destroy their artillery bases… Call some Beyond Grade As to move out and try to take over the Lerbo Space Protection Belt.”
Not long after, the Beyond Grade As on standby in the base were summoned to the conference room. After hearing Simon’s explanation, they quickly understood the situation.
Kasuyi stroked his chin and asked:
“Not only do we have to destroy the enemy’s artillery base, but we also have to confiscate their special equipment. Then, it will be up to Manison or Kant, how many people do we need?”
“It’s best if there are ten Beyond Grade As or more. Bring a batch of Thrones along,” Simon nodded.
“Isn’t ten a little too much? We probably won’t meet any World Tree experts on this trip.” Sun Hunter turned to look at Hila. “Can your surveillance channels see the situation of this artillery base?”
“No.” Hila shook her head.
The World Tree did not use Oracles for this stronghold, and Destiny’s Child could not spy on the other party’s personnel. Therefore, everyone knew almost nothing about the situation of this base. Currently, they only knew the location calculated by the anti-over-the-horizon radar.
“This is just to be safe,” Simon explained. “The other party might not have built this base just to bombard from afar, they might also use it as an outpost. We can’t sit back and watch the World Tree build a bridgehead. We have to take the initiative to attack and keep pushing their formation further away.”
The group discussed for a while and quickly decided that Kant would lead nine Beyond Grade As, including those from the association and direct line descents, out.[a]
Since they estimated that there were no World Tree experts among the targets, Aurora did not follow them and remained at the main base.
Very soon, Kant and the others formed an expedition team and arrived at the edge of the radar through the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, heading toward the World Tree’s temporary base.
The three Universal Civilizations’ armed fleets only arrived at their destination after a few days.
Outside the window, a group of galactic bases was floating in the area, surrounded by a hazy glowing space. It was the Lerbo Space Protection Belt.
Over-the-horizon light beams kept shooting from the back of this fleet. This was the firepower suppression that the three Universal Civilizations had been maintaining for several days. However, the moment they entered the Lerbo Space Protection Belt, the speed of the energy beams instantly became like a tortoise crawling. At the same time, the beams of light rapidly shrunk until they dissipated. All of its power was obliterated, as though they had entered an energy restriction zone.
“This is the place. The target is clear.” Kant’s Lord’s Avatar’s electronic eyes flashed, sending the image back to the main base.
At the same time, the battleships of the three Universal Civilizations shot out interstellar missiles one after another, dragging their exhaust flames into the Lerbo Space Protection Belt. The physical missiles were not affected at all, and they headed straight for the temporary bases at the center. However, the next moment, the armor on the surface of the bases slid, and rows of turrets rose up. A metal storm suddenly appeared, forming a concentrated barrage. All the galactic missiles were destroyed halfway, and a series of fireworks exploded.
Energy weapons were ineffective, and physical missiles could not penetrate the barrage.
“This is a problem. It seems like we have to charge in and let the fleet pass through the Lerbo Space Protection Belt. Only then will we be able to attack their bases,” the fleet commander said in the channel.
The Lerbo Space Protection Belt was unable to isolate the quantum communication network. Kant opened his quantum network vision and tried to hack into the bases to seize control, but he was blocked by the firewall.
“There’s a force protecting their firewall. I can’t enter.”
Kant retracted his vision and hesitated.
“It feels like a trap.”
“Hmm, there is indeed something fishy. Assault team two and three, go in and take a look.”
The fleet commander waved his hands and ordered a group of assault battleships to approach the enemy’s bases. Most of the fleets stayed around the flagship and did not move. After all, the enemy had opened the Lerbo Space Protection Belt and the weapons could not attack them.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
However, at this moment, the radar on the spaceship suddenly issued an ear-piercing alarm.
Hundreds of large-caliber Planetary Obliteration Beams suddenly shot over from another direction, heading straight for the armed fleet.
“There’s a problem! Defend!”
Kant’s expression changed, and his mechanical army rushed out to form layers of shields. At the same time, the armed fleet also activated its own shield.
The next moment, hundreds of light beams shot over, blasting the protective shield until it was on the verge of collapse. Electric arcs shot out, and cracks appeared.
This wave of over-the-horizon strikes destroyed a small portion of the fleet before they were blocked. However, before the situation could stabilize, a large number of over-the-horizon strikes came from all directions, causing the fleets to retreat in defeat.
The image was transmitted back to the main base’s conference room, and the expressions of Simon and the others changed slightly.
Manison knocked on the metal chin of the Lord’s Avatar and said:
“It seems like the World Tree has built camps outside of our radar range, covering each other within over-the-horizon strikes range and guarding each other. I’m afraid the goal is not just to build an outpost but also to use the Lerbo Space Protection Belt to build a firepower coverage area like us and wear down our military strength…” “Do you have any suggestions?” Simon asked. “If Black Star’s surveillance channels can’t get the coordinates of these bases, then as long as the bases don’t open fire, they will be invisible to us. However, the Lerbo Space Protection Belt is too difficult to deal with, and long-range attacks have almost no effect. If we use our troops to fill in the gaps, we will fall right into the enemy’s trap. This isn’t easy.”
Manison slowly shook his head.
The three Universal Civilizations did indeed have plenty of Universal Treasures, but the World Tree had conquered one civilization after another, and its foundation was even more astonishing. It also had many strategic weapons and could not be underestimated.
Upon hearing this, Simon’s expression turned grave. He could not make up his mind. He pursed his lips and sighed. ‘It’s a pity that Black Star, the special consultant, isn’t here. If he was, I could have asked for his opinion…’
[a]meaning unclear
Black Star’s opinion was an important reference for the three Universal Civilizations to carry out their decisions. It was as easy as reading a walk-through to fight a monster, allowing the upper echelons of the three Universal Civilizations to fully experience the joy of sucking up to someone powerful.
However, he could not contact Black Star now. He could only think of a way and act according to the situation.
Simon composed himself and said slowly:
“Therefore, there are two key points that need to be resolved. One is to locate the various camps, and the other is to use an efficient method to break through the Lerbo Space Protection Belt and destroy the enemy’s artillery bases.”
“If we can’t find anything from Destiny’s Child’s surveillance, we can either passively wait for their bases to launch attacks and analyze the source of the attack, or wait for our control range to slowly cover it…”
A staff sergeant said.
Hearing this, the church commander shook his head and said:
“As long as the World Tree’s beyond-visual-range encampment exists, it will continuously keep destroying our space anchoring orbits-monitoring the base station, and other facilities-stopping us from expanding our control range. In areas that we have yet to cover, the World Tree can expand the size of the camp at will, and there will be no end to it. These resources are just a drop of water in the ocean to them, and they are using an extremely low cost to form a tug-of-war with us, obstructing our movements… So, from the looks of it, we can only wait for the other party to make a move, then lock onto them. This is very passive.”
“How about a large-scale search using reconnaissance ships?”
“The area to be covered is too large. This method is like finding a needle in a haystack. Furthermore, the other party will surely send out a large number of patrol fleets near the camp area. It won’t work easily.”
“What about mysticism?”
Upon hearing this, Secret Master interrupted and said: “The World Tree has a targeted defense in this area, we can’t use mysticism to locate it.”
Everyone discussed for a while but could not come up with any effective countermeasures. They had no choice but to temporarily put aside the problem of positioning and discuss how to attack.
“Compared to positioning, destroying the base is not difficult,” this time, the dynasty commander spoke. “We can use the Spacetime Splicing Technology to let the small fleet carry high energy bombs directly through the Lerbo Space Protection Belt and blow up the enemy’s base.”
“Spacetime Splicing Technology… is indeed feasible.”
Simon pondered for a few seconds before nodding
The three Universal Civilizations had communicated with each other during the war mobilization phase, and they had briefly introduced most of their trump cards to facilitate dispatch. Therefore, the upper echelons of the federation and church all knew that the dynasty had the Spacetime Splicing Technology.
In terms of attacking the camps, everyone had the same opinion. The Spacetime Splicing Technology was extremely suitable for this kind of tactic. Compared to sending the army to take the brunt of the firepower, this was clearly a method with a lower consumption rate. They would only have to pay for a few hundred battleships at most, as well as a group of dispensable suicide squads. It was mainly to be safe and to switch to manual control under unexpected circumstances.
Everyone knew who the suicide squad was.
“Let the Immortals of our army carry out the Spacetime Splicing Operation. This is a job they love,” Aurora said while blinking.
“Sure.”
Simon had no objections. After pausing for a moment, he added: “The suicide squad better choose low pollution bombs, and they have to be powerful enough. Otherwise, they won’t even be able to blow up the base’s shield.”
After deciding on the method of attack, the group returned to the topic of positioning. There had to be a solution.
“It’s not impossible to passively wait for the enemy to attack, but if we can’t block the enemy’s attacks, our losses will only continue to increase. We need to find a way to protect the various branches of the space anchor.”
“With all due respect, it’s almost impossible to protect all the Orbit Branches under the over-the-horizon strikes of the enemy whose scale is unknown. After all, there are too many branches, and the number is still increasing. We don’t have the Lerbo Space Protection Belt, so we can only try to eliminate the topological space directional marks left behind by the enemy’s small troops,” an officer said helplessly. “The enemy is in the dark while we’re out in the open, so we can’t deal with them for the time being. However, if we can seize and analyze the Lerbo Space Protection Belt, we can also have the same defensive capabilities as the other party and mitigate our passive situation,” Simon said. “Therefore, apart from the Spacetime Splicing daring attack, we still have to send official troops based on the situation.”
The Spacetime Splicing Technology could only send them to their deaths. They could not obtain the spoils of war, and they had to rely on their high-level combatants.
Currently, the few pieces of good news were that the targets of the World Tree’s over-the-horizon strikes were limited. They could either target the topological space directional marks left behind by the reconnaissance troops or take the targets near the base, unable to accurately attack other locations. This meant that every camp was a bait, and the three Universal Civilizations’ fleets would only be exposed to the attack range when the fleets attack. Therefore, they were not too worried about being hit by the over-the-horizon strikes.
Kant’s army quickly retreated, losing quite a lot of manpower. Most of the exterior armor of the remaining battleships had traces of damage, but they had not completed their mission nor were they able to destroy the World Tree camps.
The only reward was that when they received the other side’s over-the-horizon strikes, the artificial intelligence analyzed the locations of the new camps, giving new targets to the three Universal Civilizations.
Not long after, the second fleet set off and split up toward these bases. They were all equipped with the improved Spacetime Splicing Device by the dynasty which would only activate when they arrived at their destination.
The crew members were all temporarily enlisted army players. They did not convey the tragic feeling of a hero leaving and never coming back. The atmosphere of every battleship was very relaxed, and many of the players had happy expressions on their faces. They did not look like a group of death squads, but like they were on a holiday. “I didn’t expect such a suicidal mission to be so rewarding. Luckily, I got it.”
“We can complete the mission just by dying, this is too easy.”
“How comfortable. If I can come a few more times, wouldn’t it be like farming experience points?”
Hearing the excited discussions of the players around him, Frenzied Sword felt very happy.
The players were the designated members of the suicide squad, and only the players could accept this mission. The mission briefly introduced the combat mission of the Spacetime Splicing Force, and the players were shocked to realize that this mission was actually not difficult for them at all. However, the mission reward was so high that even the credit for destroying the enemy base would be given to them.
This meant that he did not have to do anything at all. As long as he sent himself to death, the experience would come flowing in. It was extremely easy and was the same as farming experience! According to the forums, this combat mission was very important, and it was actually very difficult. It was equivalent to a death mission for normal soldiers. However, their natural advantage happened to counter this difficulty, so they could obtain a high reward that did not seem to match the difficulty at all.
Not many players were willing to miss such a good opportunity. Due to the limited number of slots available, many players almost fought over it, and only a very small number of people obtained the chance to go on the expedition.
Amidst the excited atmosphere of the players, the various fleets arrived at different World Tree camps. Without a word, they activated the Spacetime Splicing Device and moved toward the base.
All kinds of long-range attacks came one after another, shattering the fleet. However, the next moment, the fleet returned to normal and continued to jump forward. Very soon, they entered the Lerbo Space Protection Belt and were unaffected. When the Spacetime Splicing Army was halfway there, the World Tree camps realized that this was an unknown spacetime technology through their space radar. They quickly stopped their regular attacks and used spacetime methods to target the Spacetime Splicing Army.
The Spacetime Splicing Technology was not unsolvable, and its nemesis was the spacetime technology. Back then, the dynasty had also used the same method to crack this technology from the Kunde Race. The World Tree camps’ response was very effective, and the frame skip of the Spacetime Splicing Technology began to decrease.
However, after many years of improvements by the Crimson Dynasty-although the Spacetime Splicing Technology was still restrained by the spacetime methods—its resistance had already greatly increased, and it could last for a longer time. The Spacetime Splicing Technology Team, which was equipped with high-energy bombs, resisted the attacks of the World Tree camps and stubbornly passed through the Lerbo Spacetime Protection Belt, exploding among the camps.
Amidst the shock waves, dazzling energy clusters lit up in the universe one after another, engulfing the entire encampment.
At the same time, in the temporary base of the Black Star Army, white light flashed, and the army players who acted as a suicide squad were revived in the stronghold. Frenzied Sword opened the interface, looked at the mission that had been completed, and smiled.
“Nice, nice. After eating this reward, my level should be higher than the players in the first tier… I wonder if this kind of mission is a one-time thing. I really hope it comes a few more times.”
With the assault of the Spacetime Splicing Technology, the three Universal Civilizations were able to effectively attack the World Tree’s camps. The World Tree did not have a good solution for this kind of black technology. They could only continue to carry out their original strategy and continuously destroy the anchoring orbit of the three Universal Civilizations, while the three Universal Civilizations continued to send people to destroy the exposed camps.
As the Spacetime Splicing Force was not afraid of conventional attacks, the World Tree reduced the over-the-horizon strikes at the incoming fleet, not wanting to expose the locations of more camps without reason. Using this advantage, the three Universal Civilizations secretly sent out a wave of normal fleets led by high-level combatants, mixed in with the Spacetime Splicing Force, and successfully broke through a camp. They seized a Lerbo Space Protection Belt and hurriedly sent it back to the interception circle’s main base for analysis. At the enormous frontline research institute, the generator of the Lerbo Space Protection Belt was suspended in a vacuum bubble. A large number of mechanical needles were inserted into the structure of the device, continuously testing the parameters and derivation principles. Countless technicians were busy in front of different instruments.
Simon and the other high-ranked officers were also paying attention to the progress of the analysis at the research institute. The remote projection stood on the ground, showing the image of the Lerbo Space Protection Belt midair. “It was originally just an attempt, I didn’t expect to obtain this device in reality. The expedition team was almost wiped out.”
“If we can analyze this technology, not only will we be able to deal with the enemy’s over-the-horizon strikes, but our interception circle will also be harder to break.”
Just as they were rejoicing, the lights of the research institute suddenly turned into a blinding blood-red color, and a buzzing alarm sounded.
“Warning! Warning! Detected unknown data trying to infiltrate the firewall…”
The technicians present were shocked and quickly checked the source of the problem.
“What’s going on?” Simon’s expression changed.
“Reporting, this device seized from the frontline seems to be carrying some kind of highly latent data virus. It is invading the firewall on its own and trying to obtain information from our database…” the research team leader hastily replied.
“Where’s the investigation report? Why didn’t we find this virus before?” Simon asked.
“This… All the tests were passed… We can only explain that this unknown virus escaped our detection,” The research team leader gritted his teeth.
At this time, the frequency of the alarm increased once again. Many technicians were sweating and shouting.
ulI16
“Level 1 firewall has been broken! Level 2 firewall has been broken!”
“Too fast! This virus is invading too quickly!”
“Requesting immediate activation of main artificial intelligence to suppress it!”
Simon hurriedly looked at the screen of the technicians and saw that this unknown virus had broken through the layers of the firewall and was about to officially enter the interception circle base’s quantum network.
However, at this moment, streams of silver data suddenly appeared and wrapped around the unknown virus. It was as if the white blood cells had swallowed a virus. No matter how hard the virus tried, it could not break free from the blockage of the silver data and slowed down.
A large amount of silver data appeared once again and condensed into Manison’s virtual body with a calm expression.
“Mechanic Emperor!” Simon’s eyes lit up.
“I sensed the fluctuations in the network. It seems like there’s something wrong here… Is this the virus of the World Tree?”
Manison extended his hand and grabbed the struggling unknown virus.
Upon seeing this, Simon immediately asked: “How’s the situation?”
“This thing is a virus-type artificial intelligence, not just data.” Manison replied calmly.
This time, the unknown virus suddenly exploded and disappeared. The alarm at the research institute immediately stopped, and the lights returned to normal.
“You destroyed him?” Simon was stunned.
“No, he realized that he could not break through my blockade, so he disintegrated on his own… If I’m not wrong, this artificial intelligence is a member of the World Tree, and he can also enjoy the revival of the World Tree. He has an innate advantage in the quantum network, and most firewalls can’t stop him.”
Manison narrowed his eyes.
“I see…” Simon pondered for a few seconds before his expression relaxed. “Luckily, you’re here this time. Otherwise, even if we could get rid of him, we would have leaked some information.”
The three Universal Civilizations could also have eliminated this artificial intelligence virus by utilizing more artificial intelligence computing power, but they were a step too late. If not for Manison’s high-speed reaction, the enemy’s artificial intelligence virus might have invaded the quantum network and shared information with the World Tree.
Due to the lack of intelligence, the previous attack had failed. Thus, the World Tree had used more methods to gather information about the three Universal Civilizations. So naturally, there was no lack of information warfare.
“Black Star isn’t here. Leave this to me.”
Manison calmly replied and deactivated the virtual body.
Upon hearing this, Simon exhaled.
Currently, when the strongest Mechanic in the galaxy was mentioned, everyone’s first thought was Black Star, which caused the Mechanic Emperor’s presence to decrease.
However, he could not underestimate the Mechanic Emperor just because of Black Star’s strength. After all, he was at the peak of the Mechanic class from the previous generation, and his strength was still there. If the conflict of ideals was not mentioned, Simon still believed in the Mechanic Emperor’s abilities.
Although they had temporarily lost Black Star’s help, the three Universal Civilizations were still able to fight the World Tree back and forth with the foundation laid by Han Xiao.
Both sides used all kinds of Universal Treasures and special technologies to restrain each other, temporarily unable to do anything to each other.
The World Tree would occasionally send out some foreign experts to test the waters. Due to Black Star’s existence, the World Tree had already turned these foreign experts into cannon fodder. Since they could not be used on the battlefield, they might as well use them to harass and exhaust the enemy.
However, because Han Xiao had entered the Sanctum, the foreign experts of the World Tree did not receive Virtual Purification and could only be killed by the Beyond Grade As of the explored universe.
However, even without Black Star’s support, the Beyond Grade As were still able to hold their own and did not cause any trouble.
The two sides fought back and forth, while silently building up their strength.
After two months, Han Xiao returned from the Sanctum.
In the vast starry sky, a golden spark suddenly flashed and expanded into a vortex, spitting Han Xiao out. Then, the Sanctum passageway disappeared.
Han Xiao quickly regained his senses.
“Although this is only my second experience, this feeling is quite incredible…”
Han Xiao muttered to himself. He quickly adjusted his thoughts and looked down. The Sanctum mark had already disappeared and the interface could be opened again. The notification of entering the First Sanctum popped up.
Every time he entered a different Sanctum, his authority would be increased by one. He had calculated it before entering, and only then did his authority in the First Sanctum reach level eight.
After organizing his thoughts, Han Xiao stored the technological information from the First Sanctum in his memory palace. He then took out his communicator and looked at it.
“The last time I entered the Third Sanctum, I was there for more than three months. This time, only about two months have passed. The higher the authority, the closer the convergence of time flow. In such a short time, there shouldn’t be any problems with the war… right?”
Han Xiao immediately called Simon’s number. After two rings, the call was picked up.
Simon appeared on the screen with a look of surprise.
“Your Excellency Black Star, you’re finally back!”
Hmm? This tone of impatient expectancy sounds like the reaction of someone meeting their savior when they’re in trouble… Could something bad have happened?
Could it be that they need me to turn the tide? It can’t be that coincidental, right?
Han Xiao’s heart skipped a beat and a bunch of thoughts flashed through his mind. He asked, “I’d only disappeared for about two months. Did something happen on your side?”.
“Although there are some changes, we can still handle it.” Through the screen, Simon could not feel Han Xiao’s mentality. He smiled and said, “Now that you’re back, we have more confidence.”
After hearing Simon’s explanation, Han Xiao knew that he had misunderstood.
His teammates were still quite strong. Losing him for a few months would not affect them much. He was relieved. He felt as if he had found his backbone again and could finally rely on others.
That was right. With the foundation from before, the three Universal Civilizations would not be so weak, he was worrying too much.
After hearing the current situation, Han Xiao stroked his chin and said:
“So, the World Tree has built a beyond-visual-range encampment and is firing at us. The construction of the interception circle and space anchoring orbit is meeting huge resistance… If we want to destroy the enemy’s strategy, we have to start from finding their positions, right?” “That is the situation. However, we are currently in a passive position. Only when the other party fires, will we be able to lock onto them. The other conventional detection methods have all been blocked…” Simon explained.
“Hmm… The World Tree chose to build camps at a jump point further away from our territory. This is indeed difficult to handle…” “You don’t have any ideas either?” Although Simon did not have much hope, he could not help but feel discouraged when he saw that even Black Star did not seem to have any ideas.
Because Han Xiao had always been very reliable, the three Universal Civilizations’ officers had already put a ‘know-it-all’ halo on him in their hearts. For him to encounter a problem that he could not solve, although they would not have any problems with it logically, they more or less felt a little depressed.
“I’m not sure yet. Let me take a look at the situation first.”
Han Xiao did not give a definite response.
Facing the situation that Simon had mentioned, his brain was working rapidly, sifting through one plan after another, while also looking for any technology that could be used in this area… Not to mention, the information that he had obtained from the First Sanctum this time did indeed mention a special detection technology that was suitable for this situation. It came from an advanced civilization of past Iteration, and it was especially used in beyond-visual-range warfare against enemies whose coordinates were unknown.
According to the data, this civilization’s specialty was in beyond-visual-range warfare. Even without the aid of wormholes and stargates, they could accurately strike targets across multiple Star Fields. The First Sanctum contained countless mechanical technologies. He had only dug out a small part of them this time, but it was still an enormous treasure trove of technology. It was not that he wanted to get rid of the old, but it was far more comprehensive than Jayz’s treasure.
With the experience and accumulation of many different civilizations of past Iterations, he was able to deal with all kinds of situations and had a targeted solution to many battle tactics. This was an advantage that Jayz’s treasure could not provide.
Originally, the World Tree Civilization had devoured the accumulation of many civilizations, so they had a certain advantage on the battlefield. This information was enough to close the gap between the two sides and even gain an advantage.
ave
To the three Universal Civilizations, this wave of technological information was like a timely gift, a priceless treasure! This way, even if the revival mechanism and resource conversion of the World Tree was impossible to solve, the three Universal Civilizations would be able to last longer and buy more time for the secondary dimension expedition team.
“With this batch of technological information, I have a higher chance of dealing with the World Tree Civilization… It’s a pity that none of the past Iterations have met an opponent like the World Tree. It would have been great if they had a targeted device.” Han Xiao was overjoyed but also a little regretful.
After this trip to the Sanctum, he made a discovery. Every Sanctum stored different types of information. The First Sanctum mainly focused on machinery, but he did not find any Information Form technology.
If the five Super classes corresponded to one Sanctum, he guessed that the additional Sixth Sanctum would contain information related to the Information Form, which was the best weapon against the World Tree. However, the Sixth Sanctum Key was too difficult to synthesize, and it was completely different from the other five Sanctums. Han Xiao had never even heard the names of some of the materials.
While he was thinking, Simon spoke again.
“Sanctum Revival succeeded?”
“Hmm, there is one final step left. I need to gather the other Beyond Grade As to hold the fort and prevent any trouble.”
Han Xiao nodded. He could not help but think about the revival of the World Tree.
According to his previous life experiences, the revival speed of most of the World Tree powerhouses varied from two to eight months. The revival time of peak Beyond Grade As usually fluctuated between five to eight months, and the revival time of the Tree King was different.
“That’s good. Come to the main base. I’ll gather everyone and wait for you.” Simon was overjoyed.
“Okay, I’ll be there later.”
Han Xiao hung up and called Oathkeeper.
This time, it rang for thirty seconds before the call was reluctantly picked up.
“You’re back,” Oathkeeper appeared on the screen, expressionless.
“…Why do you look so unhappy?”
“I’m very happy.”
This sentence, coupled with your dead fish face and flat tone, is not convincing at all!
Han Xiao thought to himself and said helplessly:
“Alright, I’m just informing you that I’m back. There are many direct descendants among the targets of this revival, so I can’t send them to the Holy Accord.”
“Oh.”
“… If you have nothing to say, I’m hanging up.”
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched. He ended the communication, changed into the King, and disappeared.
On the other side, at the Holy Accord’s base.
Oathkeeper, who was sitting before the card table, put down his communicator. He turned around and saw the members of the Holy Accord staring at him with burning eyes.
“Black Star is back ?”
“Finally, another batch of people will be revived. There might be some of my enemies among them.”
“Hahahaha, these people can’t join the Holy Accord. If we let them join the battle, we don’t have to go out.”
“Letting those direct descendants die on the battlefield will indirectly avenge us. Black Star is amazing!”
In the room, many revivors had intense reactions. They threw down the cards in their hands, and the atmosphere was jubilant. Seeing this, Oathkeeper’s hand tightened around the card, and his heart was filled with jealousy. Boss’s experience card had expired again…
In the conference room at the interception circle’s main base, everyone gathered and surrounded the throne. A beam of light flashed, and Han Xiao, who was wearing the King, teleported over.
“The president is back!” “Army Commander!” “Your Excellency Black Star!”
Upon seeing Han Xiao, everyone greeted him.
“Thank you for your hard work during my absence.”
Han Xiao put away the King, smiled, and waved his hands. He had the style of a leader, and everyone present was used to it.
“When will we complete the Sanctum Revival?” Simon walked up and asked.
Hearing this, most of the Beyond Grade As looked at Han Xiao curiously. Most of them only knew about the Sanctum Revival but had never seen how it was carried out.
“There’s no hurry. Let me take a look at the current situation.”
Han Xiao shook his head and walked straight to the command station. He pulled up the surveillance and the battle reports from the past few days and quickly browsed through them.
Seeing this, the others did not rush him and followed behind him, not disturbing Han Xiao’s observation.
However, this scene gave many people a strange feeling. For some reason, they felt as though their work was being reviewed by the leader.
After a while, Han Xiao looked at Simon and said:
“I’m clear about the situation. I have an idea that might be able to restrain the World Tree’s strategy of the beyond-visual-range encampment.” “You really have a way ?”
Simon froze.
“Just a moment ago, you said that you were not confident. Now, after seeing the situation, you have already thought of a countermeasure. So fast “.
“I have a special detection technology that might be able to solve the positioning problem…” Han Xiao took out the information of the technology from his memories and hid the details of the technology. He gave a rough outline of the theory and effect, showing the group.
Simon quickly finished reading the information, and his expression became even more surprised.
“If this technology is real, not only will we be able to solve the current tug-of-war, but we will also be able to change the direction of our future decisions. This will bring more new tactics and expand our tactical portfolio!”
The Beyond Grade As also took a look at the technical introduction. The Mechanics among them were shocked and could not help but size Han Xiao up.
Compared to the others, the experts were more shocked. One look and they knew that as long as they followed the blueprints and created the real thing, it would definitely be a Universal Treasure-level device. Just this technology alone was enough to change the way an advanced civilization fought!
Not only did Black Star’s combat capability improve rapidly, but even his research and development capabilities had reached such a level? When did he develop such strategic detection technology ?
Han Xiao looked around and nodded.
“Of course it’s true. I can share a portion of the technology and let the three Universal Civilizations build the framework for the military factories. I’ll be in charge of the core, splitting up the work to increase efficiency.”
He did not plan to hide some of the technologies that would be helpful in the war. He only held onto the core technology, while the three Universal Civilizations provided resources to build the other aspects, increasing the three Universal Civilizations’ capital to fight the World Tree.
“Good! As expected of the special consultant. I will ask the three leaders!”
Simon immediately became excited.
Black Star had just returned, but he had already proposed a solution to the problem that had troubled them for two months. Not only was he extraordinarily intelligent, but he also had achievements in strategic technology… Black Star was indeed reliable as ever!
Looking at everyone’s surprised expressions, Han Xiao remained calm and did not take credit for it.
Strictly speaking, this was not his own ability but the strength of the advanced civilizations of the past Iterations. He was just standing on the shoulders of the giants and had grasped the information difference. He had nothing to be proud of.
Putting away his thoughts, Han Xiao waved his hands and said with a solemn tone:
“Let’s put this aside for now and choose a place for me to use the Sanctum Revival. This time, it won’t be like the past. For sure, there would be many people among this batch of Revivors who won’t accept us requesting them to participate in the war. I don’t wish for any accidents. All Beyond Grade As, follow me!”
“Okay!”
Everyone’s expression turned serious as they agreed.
On a man-made planet in the Flickering World, the silver land laid out by engineering alloys was boundless and covered the entire planet. There were no buildings on the ground yet and the entire planet was a round silver sphere with only the most basic geological modification.
Over a hundred Beyond Grade As were in the middle of the vast silver plain, their eyes focused on Han Xiao’s back.
To reduce any unexpected factors, the three Universal Civilizations chose a planet in their territory as the venue for the Sanctum Revival, and many Beyond Grade As followed Han Xiao to use the teleportation device.
The three Universal Civilizations did not deploy any fleets in the outer space of the planet. They only deployed Space Stabilization Anchors, as well as hidden super-visory weapons in further locations. They used long-range equipment to observe the situation from afar, so the outer space of the planet looked empty without any armed forces.
This was Han Xiao’s suggestion. All Beyond Grade As had tempers and if they were forced to negotiate with someone the moment they woke up, they would surely be unhappy. So it might not be beneficial for both sides to come into contact right away. This time, the three Universal Civilizations had a favor to ask. The other parties were also famous historical figures. They were all people with high statuses, so it was not suitable for them to put on such a tough attitude right from the start. On the contrary, having communication among Beyond Grade As would be no problem at all.
If physical persuasion was needed, Han Xiao and a group of Beyond Grade As would be enough. Only the strong would be respected. This was the unspoken rule among Beyond Grade As. If military forces were to interfere, it might have the opposite effect.
“Then I shall begin.”
Han Xiao looked back and saw everyone nodding in agreement. He then looked away and activated the Sanctum Revival Brand on the back of his hand.
A golden light suddenly blossomed and shot out like a silk thread, condensing into glowing objects on the plains in front of everyone. They slowly solidified and turned into various life forms. The energy fluctuations resonated with each other as if a storm had appeared out of thin air, blowing everyone’s hair and clothes.
All the Beyond Grade As stared at the scene, afraid to miss anything.
“They’re alive!”
“So this is how the resurrections are done. It’s not what I expected. I thought there would be an incubation process or something similar.” “Speaking of which, what is this principle? It looks so magical.”
A series of surprised whispers came from behind him, but Han Xiao pretended not to hear them. He carefully observed the revivals.
Direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations, direct descendants of the Super Star Cluster, neutral Beyond Grade As… The organization of the Revivors this time is more complicated than the previous two, and the conflicts are probably more intense.
Han Xiao was mentally prepared.
At this moment, the revivors finally woke up from their daze and looked at each other in shock, sizing up the unknown environment and people around them.
in
“What’s going on?”
“Illusion? Dream? Virtual world? What did the Federation of Light do to me?”
“Hmm? It’s you! I crushed your head with my own hands. How are you still alive ?”
After the group of Revivors had seen the situation around them, the scene gradually became chaotic. A gaseous flame emerged from their bodies, and their energy quickly entered an unstable active state. They entered combat mode, and many people who had enmity with each other started to move. As for some neutral people who did not understand the situation, they frowned and quietly retreated to the side. Their visual organs spun around, as they observed the situation.
Just as Han Xiao was about to speak, a tall male life form looked over and stared at Han Xiao and the others. He slowly spoke out.
“If I’m not wrong, all of us are dead. Did you resurrect us?”
He was wearing a gorgeous Divine Official robe, and his voice was solemn and ancient. It had a calming aura that quickly suppressed the chaos in the entire venue, attracting the attention of all the revivors present to him. Following his line of sight, they locked onto Han Xiao and the others.
Are you trying to steal my lines? Han Xiao looked at him carefully, and his consciousness filtered through the database. Very soon, he found the information of this man who spoke.
Hilbert Mueller was a direct Esper of the Arcane Church, a peak Beyond Grade A Super. His ability was related to space, and he was once the pillar of the Arcane Church. He had a senior and aloof status as the previous master of the Arcane Church, before Wuornos!
This was because Wuornos’ ability was more suitable for the Arcane Church. After Wuornos grew up, the Arcane Church changed the owner of the national weapon, and Hilbert left his position as the pillar of the Arcane Church. He went out to explore the secondary dimensions. He disappeared during a long-distance exploration, and his fate was left unknown.
From the looks of it now, this guy had crossed the line of life and death. The universe was so big, and the dangers were endless. Han Xiao did not know what he had encountered in the secondary dimension, but he could exclude the possibility of the Celestial Star Alliance. Han Xiao had once learned the appearance and name of the first three batches of ‘outsiders’ from Jayz. Those people were not in his revival choice for the time being.
Various thoughts flashed through Han Xiao’s mind, but he nodded and replied.
“That’s right. I believe you all still have your memories. You’ve all died long ago and become history. It’s the year 783 of the Galaxy Calendar, and many years have passed. I used a method called the Sanctum Revival to wake you all up…”
“It really is revival…”
“Unbelievable. There’s such a thing?”
“I thought someone uploaded my remaining consciousness into the virtual world.”
The Revivors started to quiet down and were surprised.
They had never thought of this before. At least when they died, not many of them thought that they would again wake up one day.
A female Dynasty human wearing a military uniform narrowed her eyes and asked Han Xiao,
“Then who are you?”
“You can call me Black Star, the only ruler of the Sanctum Revival, the consultant of the three Universal Civilizations, and the current Beyond Grade A president.” Han Xiao introduced himself and added with a smile, “I was once an ally of the dynasty, so we could be considered to have some relationship, Your Excellency Reeve.”
“So, you’re one of us?”
Reeve’s expression softened.
She was one of the pillars of the dynasty, a peak Beyond Grade A Mage. Her nickname was ‘Demonic Empress’, and her combat strength was outstanding
Hearing Han Xiao’s title, it sounded like he was on the side of the three Universal Civilizations. At the same time, Han Xiao claimed to be an ally of the Dynasty, so Reeve felt that he was not an enemy.
She turned around to observe the Beyond Grade As behind Han Xiao. Suddenly, her gaze stopped on Clotti, and a surprised smile appeared on her face.
“Isn’t this Little Darkie? You’re still alive?!”
Everyone looked over and saw the usually cold Clotti’s face twitching slightly. He quietly shuffled his feet as if he wanted to hide himself in the crowd.
“Hey, Clotti! Don’t pretend you don’t know me. I saw you. Where are you trying to hide?”
Reeve had her hands on her waist. Her voice was rough, as though like a lion roaring. Han Xiao could not help but rub his buzzing ears. He felt that this woman and Sun Hunter had a lot in common, they either remained quiet or shouted at the top of their voices.
“…We meet again.”
A rare look of reluctance flashed across Clotti’s face, but he still forced himself to respond.
In terms of seniority, Reeves could be said to be his senior. She had taught him, together with the other National Pillars, for some time. When Clotti was still weak, she had left a deep psychological shadow in his heart and could be considered half a teacher.
What made Clotti’s scalp tingle the most was that Reeve would flirt with him, making moves towards him on purpose. Speaking of which, Reeve could be considered a seductive beauty. If it was under normal circumstances, he would not have avoided her, but the problem was… this guy was a postnatal transgender. She was not like Lotus Swordsman, who had no choice in the say of her gender. Furthermore, it was not a decision made when Reeve was weak, but a decision made after she became a Beyond Grade A Super. The reason was weird; put in Reeve’s words, “once you get tired of being a man, try being a woman”!
Although the Galactic Era was open and the change of sex was widely accepted, Clotti had never liked the new trend. He could still accept it if they got along normally, but being teased made him feel a chill down his spine. He really could not accept it. This mentality was probably…
I treat you as a brother, but you actually want to sleep with me?!
“Ahem, everyone, now is not the time for small talk.”
Han Xiao quickly interrupted their conversation. He had yet to finish his business. If he allowed these people—who were related to each other—to start recognizing and chatting everyone up, when would he be done with his business?
“Hmm, that’s true. Let’s not talk about anything else. You resurrected us for a certain purpose. What exactly is going on?” The revived person from the Federation of Light also spoke up. This was a Psychic, the direct descendent who was a predecessor of Oulou.
The ones asking questions were mainly the direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations, who gathered together on their own. The rest of the revivors looked at the communication between the two sides and quietly obtained information. As for the ten direct descendants of the Super Star Cluster, they hid at the side and maintained a high level of vigilance.
Hearing this question, everyone’s mental states perked up. This was what they were most wary of. They were afraid that the revival was done with bad intentions at play.
“Resurrecting isn’t just my idea. The three Universal Civilizations and the entire Galactic Society have the same idea as all the Beyond Grade As present.” Han Xiao paused and said with a deep voice, “Our hometown has met with a huge crisis, where a foreign Universal Civilization is invading our world. Their strength is beyond imagination and extremely powerful. The war has already broken out, and we need everyone’s strength!”
A Universe-level war?!
All the expressions changed.
That was true. If not for this level of danger, there would not have been a need to go through so much trouble to revive so many historical Beyond Grade As. However, from a personal point of view, most of the revivors were unhappy about being used by others.
The revivors looked at the hundreds of Beyond Grade As in front of them and finally understood the situation. The joy of reviving was gone, and they were filled with anger.
“If we’re not willing, what will happen? Will you force us?” A neutral Beyond Grade A frowned and said with dissatisfaction.
Han Xiao shook his head and said, “That’s not the case. We will try our best to convince everyone that everything is voluntary and we will not force you to participate in the battle.”
The Revivors were individuals with free thoughts after all, not slaves. Forcing them was not an option, not only because of their complex identities but also because of the feelings of the other Beyond Grade As.
Using a gun to force the Revivors to compromise would cause many repercussions. One of them was to make the other Beyond Grade As feel the same way. They were worried that they would receive the same treatment after reviving, so it was hard to say how many more association members would be willing to participate in the battle.
Surely there would not be many Revivors who would agree with him through verbal persuasion alone. Furthermore, force was an indispensable part of it. It was difficult for both parties, and Han Xiao had no choice but to grasp the problem. This was even more difficult to deal with than the previous two revivals. Han Xiao had long prepared himself for this hurdle.
This time, a Beyond Grade A with a medium built spoke out.
“We need to ask the upper echelons for their opinion. Can you give us a communicator?”
Han Xiao looked at him and recognized him as a direct member of the Super Star Cluster. His name was Mablo, and he had outstanding combat strength as well. It was a pity that he had died in the Tragedy of the Pinnacles.
“Sure, take it.”
Han Xiao did not reject this request. He took out a communicator and threw it at Mablo.
This was the condition of his deal with the Super Star Cluster. With the rich experience of the Super Star Cluster being persecuted, they would surely suspect that the three Universal Civilizations might secretly do something to their high-level combatants during the war, and thus would not allow the experts who had finally revived to participate in the war. Han Xiao did not expect all the revived members of the Super Star Cluster to participate either.
Mablo took the communicator, nodded slightly, and led the other nine members of the Super Star Cluster to contact their upper echelons.
For a moment, the majority of the Revivors fell silent. They exchanged looks among their acquaintances and hesitated to speak.
This time, Reeve let out a breath and said slowly, “Since the Dynasty is in trouble, I will not shirk my duty. Isn’t it just a war? As long as the Dynasty gives the order, I am willing to contribute my strength.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“I was already a dead man to begin with. If the Federation needs my strength to fight the foreign enemies, there’s no harm in burning myself again.” With Reeve taking the lead, many direct members of the three Universal Civilizations agreed and expressed their support.
Seeing this, Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief.
The support from most of the direct members of the civilizations was within his expectations. High-level combatants who had undergone long-term patriotic education from the three Universal Civilizations were naturally reliable and willing to contribute to the explored universe.
However, since it involved a second life, things were obviously not going to go so smoothly. While many of the direct descendants expressed their stance, voices of dissent came from the crowd as well.
“Black Star, I’m sorry, but we don’t want to continue fighting.”
Han Xiao and the others looked over, and their expressions changed.
The person who spoke was not a historical expert, but a member of the association who had died on the battlefield not long ago. His name was Garoze, and he had briefly interacted with Han Xiao before.
The other members of the association who had died also followed beside Garoze. They had reached a consensus and mustered their courage to meet Han Xiao’s eyes.
As expected, even the Beyond Grade As who were willing to participate in the battle did not want to take the risk after dying once…
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. Although he was not surprised, he still shook his head and sighed.
However, before he could respond, another Revivor objected.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t plan to participate in this war either.”
Han Xiao turned around, his gaze startled.
The person who spoke was none other than Hilbert. He was the first direct member of the three Universal Civilizations to reject this conscription.
Reeve looked at him in surprise. “What are you…”
Before she could finish, Hilbert waved his hand and interrupted her.
“I’ve already sacrificed my life for the three Universal Civilizations and fulfilled my duty. Even if I’m a direct descendant, the Church can’t keep asking me to contribute. Even the upper echelons have a choice to retire. Furthermore, I died once, so everything was wiped out. Now that I finally have a second chance, I can’t keep working for them forever.”
As soon as he said that, many of the direct members of the civilization who were still in dilemma were stunned. They felt that he had spoken the truth and nodded in agreement.
Even the direct descendants of the civilizations who had already expressed their stand were shaken by these words.
The direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations originally wanted to persuade him, but after hearing this, they were speechless.
“This doesn’t look good…”
Looking at this scene, the heads of the three Universal Civilizations who were monitoring remotely through the equipment all felt their hearts tighten.
Chapter 1350 Conflict
“This guy…”
Looking at the broadcast on the virtual screen, the Pope’s eyes darkened.
Most of the direct descendants were stubborn. From the perspective of the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations, reviving the direct descendants and having them continue working for the three Universal Civilizations was natural. They wished they had the eternal loyalty of the direct descendants, but people’s hearts change. Especially after experiencing death once, even the direct descendants were not an exception.
After sacrificing one lifetime for the civilization, they felt that they were even and did not want to be commanded anymore. To the three of them, Hilbert’s idea was human nature, but the understanding was not in line with their current interests.
If it was during peaceful times, the three of them would not have minded if the other party wanted to retire. They would even have given him a title of merit, showing the glory that Hilbert had once served the civilization, to increase the loyalty of the other direct descendants. However, the situation was different now, and with Black Star agreeing to the terms of reviving, the three of them were in a difficult position.
After Hilbert finished speaking, the atmosphere fell silent again.
Hilbert looked around, then looked at Han Xiao and asked, “What do you think?”
Han Xiao did not reply immediately. Instead, he looked at Kasuyi with a meaningful look.
Kasuyi was stunned. “Hmm? Why are you looking at me?”
“Nothing, I’m just looking.”
Han Xiao looked away.
Tsk, the Arcane Church is indeed full of traitors…
Although Hilbert’s act of expressing his desires could not exactly be considered traitorous, it affected the mentality of the other Revivors, and in the eyes of the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders, he was probably no different from a traitor.
Various thoughts flashed through Han Xiao’s mind. He smiled and nodded.
“Your request is quite reasonable. Indeed, no one says that one has to work forever after becoming a direct descendant of a civilization. Even ordinary people have the privilege to retire. As someone who died for the civilization, you naturally have the right to do so.”
“So you have no objections?” Hilbert raised an eyebrow.
“I personally understand, but I don’t have the final say in this matter. The three Universal Civilizations bought the quota for your Sanctum Revivals from me, and they have paid the deposit. If the three Universal Civilizations wish to reduce the quota, I can cancel it.”
Han Xiao spread out his hands and continued, “In times of war, every resource has to be put to use. If you don’t show your usefulness, I guess they won’t be willing to pay.”
“In that case, take my life back.”
Hilbert opened his arms with a calm expression.
Seeing this, everyone looked at Han Xiao and Hilbert with complicated emotions.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
Was this guy really willing to give up the second life that he had painstakingly obtained? That was impossible. This was just a method of retreating in order to advance. He was certain that the three Universal Civilizations would not kill him, or else in the eyes of the other Revivors, it would be no different from a forced threat. This would go against their original intentions, causing more Beyond Grade As to waver, further damaging the loyalty of some of the direct descendants, making them feel like they were forever enslaved.
Just as Han Xiao was about to speak, he suddenly received a message from the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders. He looked at it and shook his head.
“Heh, you can rest assured. The three Universal Civilizations have just expressed that they will still pay for your revival and will not take back your life.”
The three Universal Civilizations reacted quickly, unwilling to damage the loyalty of more direct descendants.
“That’s good.” Hilbert lowered his arm without changing his expression as if he had already expected this.
Immediately after, he turned around and pointed at some of the revived direct descendants who had agreed with him.
“Since you did not reject our request and did not force us to join the battle, we should be able to leave?”
Han Xiao smiled and said slowly:
“You’re mistaken. You can’t leave on your own. You can only follow us.”
Hearing this, the faces of many revivors changed slightly.
Hilbert narrowed his eyes. “You mean to put us under house arrest?”
“You can think of it this way. All of you have been dead for a long time and have just revived. You don’t know much about the current galactic society. At the same time, the composition of the organizations is quite complicated. Because the current war situation is tense, in order to reduce unexpected factors, we will conduct unified supervision. None of you can move freely before you get permission.”
Han Xiao’s expression did not change, but his tone was firm.
This was a plan that had been devised long ago. Even if he did not force all these revivors to participate in the battle, he would not allow them to move freely. Otherwise, there would be no need for him to bring so many Beyond Grade As over.
This time, Garoze and the others could not help but say:
“Us too?”
Han Xiao looked at them and said with an expressionless face, “All of you died in battle against the World Tree. Of course, you don’t have to receive such treatment. Come over.”
In reality, he did not want to let these people go either, but he had to take care of the thoughts of the association members behind him. He still had to give differential treatment.
With his current position, he had no choice but to mediate and balance the thoughts of all parties. It was human nature to seek benefits and avoid harm. He couldn’t make people from different sides give up fighting for their own benefits.
Garoze and the others heaved a sigh of relief. Under the gazes of both parties, they left the position of the Revivors and stood among the Beyond Grade As behind Han Xiao. As long as they obtained the benefits they wanted, they naturally had no intention of standing on the same side as these Revivors.
The Beyond Grade As glanced at Garoze, not having any intention of looking down on him. Hilbert did not speak, but the neutral Revivors did.
“How long is the house arrest?” a dark gold-skinned Revivor asked in a deep voice. His aura was even more oppressive than Hilbert’s.
Everyone looked over, and their hearts skipped a beat.
Nilfgadi, the first Divine Throne Mechanic in history, the founder of the Machinery Faith!
All the Mechanics with the Machinery Faith bonuses were enjoying his protection. To a Beyond Grade A Mechanic, he was like the founder.
Han Xiao nodded and explained.
“Your Excellency Nilfgadi, there is no fixed time limit for the house arrest. Everything will be done according to the specific circumstances. Everyone will have to go through a long one-on-one screening. You will only be allowed to leave after we make sure nothing unexpected will happen.”
Hearing this, another neutral Beyond Grade A sneered.
“The criteria for the screening are decided by you guys. You can say whatever you want. I’m very curious, will our house arrest continue indefinitely if we don’t agree to participate in the war?”
Han Xiao turned around.
The person who spoke was called Aegon Vardnadze, nicknamed ‘Flowing Flame’. He was a peak Beyond Grade A and a shapeshift type Esper. He was from the same era as Dylan and was also an influential figure who had died in the Tragedy of the Pinnacles. At this moment, he looked at Han Xiao and the others with undisguised hostility.
Right then, a bunch of powerful people were revived. There were all kinds of extraordinary people.
“Of course not.”
Han Xiao replied casually.
The direct descendants of the three Universal Civilizations, the direct descendants of the Super Star Cluster, as well as the Beyond Grade As whose deaths had nothing to do with the three Universal Civilizations. Even if these people were not willing to participate in the battle, they would not do anything too extreme. However, the people who died at the hands of the three Universal Civilizations or the Tragedy of the Pinnacles were completely different. Their hatred was deep, and this was a thorn that was difficult to deal with.
Aegon Vardnadze coldly glanced at Hilbert and the rest of the revived direct descendants and said indifferently, “You received payment to revive these direct descendants, but you voluntarily revived us neutral Beyond Grade As, right?”
“You can say that.” Han Xiao nodded.
“Heh, I thank you for letting me live, and I owe you a favor. However, if you want to use this favor to hold me hostage to fight the enemies of the three Universal Civilizations, that’s impossible!”
Aegon Vardnadze stood with his arms crossed, and streams of red light flowed around his body. The temperature of the area rose rapidly as he said with a firm tone:
“I’m telling you clearly that I will not accept the three Universal Civilizations’ house arrest. This is the same as being prisoned. They will never let us victims of the Tragedy of the Pinnacles go. I’m leaving right now. Who wants to leave with me?”
Rumble!
As soon as he said that, many Beyond Grade As who had died in the Tragedy of the Pinnacles burst out with their auras and echoed with their actions. Some neutral Beyond Grade As who were not willing to be placed under house arrest also stood up, wanting to use the strength of the group to leave this place.
A huge energy wave spread out, and the alloy ground trembled, with depressions appearing one after another.
The direct members of the three Universal Civilizations, the direct members of the Super Star Cluster, and some neutral Beyond Grade As immediately retreated to the side. They did not plan to help any side and decided to watch the show and act according to the situation. The direct members of the Super Star Cluster who had retreated to the side communicated telepathically.
“We’re not going to attack? This is a good opportunity to break out.”
“I just contacted the upper echelons. They told us not to act rashly and listen to their arrangements for the time being.”
Mablo paused and looked at Han Xiao in surprise.
“Also, the upper echelons specifically told me not to mess with that Black Star fellow… I will die.”
At the same time, the aura of Aegon Vardnadze and the others rose rapidly, and the atmosphere hecame tense.
Seeing this, Han Xiao’s smile gradually disappeared.
“We won’t force you to take part in the battle, but it’s a must for you to be grounded. There’s no room for negotiation. You’re all seniors with high statuses, and I don’t wish to use force. However, if you make things difficult for me, I can only make you suffer a little. Don’t choose the hard way.”
With that, the Beyond Grade As behind him spread out and formed a semi-circle around Aegon Vardnadze and the others.
“Humph, that’s more like it.” Aegon Vardnadze’s aura was boiling as he shouted, “You want to solve the problem with just words? You’re dreaming. Either you back off obediently or use your fists to make me give in. This is the rule between Beyond Grade As. If you want to stop me, you can give it a try!”
Bang!
Raging flames gushed out, using energy as fuel, as though it would never go out. The alloys on the ground melted instantly!
Aegon Vardnadze’s body changed in an instant. His body expanded and turned into a strange giant-like creature. He looked like the demon in some religious artworks that had walked out of hell, and his body was covered in flames.
The next moment, his four limbs suddenly stomped on the ground, and his entire body shot toward the outer space of the planet like a meteor. He was extremely fast, trying to break through the encirclement.
This was a signal. The many Revivors who stood with him showed their abilities and attacked the Beyond Grade As around them. The energy storm exploded, instantly opening up the chaotic battlefield. The ground shattered under the collision of the Beyond Grade As’ abilities, creating huge craters in the blink of an eye. Looking from outer space, it was like the planet had been ruthlessly smashed by an awl, shattering a part of its shell.
“Take him down!”
Han Xiao remained where he was and waved his hand.
Although there were a few powerful individuals among the group, Kakasu and Manison were not to be trifled with. With the help of Clotti, Oulou, and many other direct descendants, they were more than enough to suppress Aegon Vardnadze and the others. There was no need for him to fight personally.
As expected, just as Aegon Vardnadze rushed into outer space, a huge silver Mechanical Deity quickly appeared, and the visual effect almost covered the entire sky. It looked down on the planet from outer space and slammed down, instantly smashing Aegon Vardnadze back to the ground.
Bang!
The alloy ground caved in, twisted, and shattered. Aegon Vardnadze crashed down like a meteor, creating a ring-shaped valley.
What a good Buddha Palm technique!
Han Xiao’s eyelids twitched.
On the other side, Kasuyi’s eyes flashed and an endless amount of psychic energy gushed out, filling every inch of space. There was almost no place to hide and the continuous mental explosions shook and distorted the movement of many escaping Revivors.
The other revivors did not interfere. They retreated to the edge of the battlefield and only received a little bit of psychic shockwave. They were also shocked and felt a sharp pain in their brains.
“These later generations’ Beyond Grade As are not simple…”
“Just one-third of them can stop them. I don’t think they can escape.” “The leader, Black Star, has yet to make his move. His strength should not be too far off.”
Many of the Revivors who were watching the show whispered among themselves. They were also using this opportunity to observe the strength of the Beyond Grade As of this era.
They had just revived and lost their weapons. Most of them were not at their peak state, especially the Mechanics. If this group of Beyond Grade As was so powerful that they did not see a chance to escape, they would accept the house arrest.
Manison and Kasuyi led a group of association members to fight with Aegon Vardnadze and the others for a while, quickly defeating the weakened Revivors one after another. However, there were a large number of opponents, and there were peak Beyond Grade As as well. Many of the association members were also injured.
Aegon Vardnadze, whose body was covered in wounds, avoided Manison’s psionic cannon and collided with the ‘Desolate Beast’ Mercer. He received a few punches in exchange for injuries, and his sharp claws slammed into Mercer’s chest. The concentrated flames entered Mercer’s body through a skill and exploded.
Boom!
The flames expanded, and Mercer shot out from the smoke and landed on the ground. His momentum did not decrease, and he plowed out a valley. Black smoke was coming out of his body as if he was burnt inside out, and his injuries were not light.
However, at this moment, Aurora raised her hand and shot out a wave of life energy, hitting Mercer. His charred skin fell off one after another, and new flesh grew out. His injuries disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“Recovery Esper!”
Aegon Vardnadze’s expression changed. Suddenly, he had a flash of insight. He changed his direction and charged toward Aurora.
After the intense battle, he had already realized that it was impossible for him to forcefully break out of the encirclement. Since he could not break through Manison and Kasuyi’s blockade, he already had the intention to give in. However, when he saw Aurora’s ability, he suddenly had an idea.
Since the three Universal Civilizations were resisting a foreign enemy, recovery-type Espers would surely have a strategic significance to the high-level combatants. If he could get to the recovery-type Esper class and use her as a hostage to negotiate with them, he might be able to successfully leave!
Aegon Vardnadze made up his mind.
One last try!
Just as he changed targets, the Beyond Grade As on the association’s side were all furious.
Aurora was their support to fight against the World Tree, and she was a strategic weapon that could maintain the advantage of high-level combatants. However, this guy wanted to put their only healer in danger to escape?!
Even the direct Beyond Grade As, such as Clotti, who did not make a move, could not hold back any longer. They turned into streams of light and charged toward Aegon Vardnadze.
This scene was like poking a hornet’s nest. Aegon Vardnadze was shocked, but he did not stop. Instead, he increased his speed and believed that this move would work.
The revivors were also shocked. They were about to continue watching the show, but at this moment, a powerful shockwave swept out!
Buzz!
Han Xiao’s figure appeared in front of Aegon Vardnadze like teleportation. The next moment, the black Mechanical Deity rose from the ground and said coldly:
“I know that you have a grudge with the three Universal Civilizations, so it’s not a problem for you to vent your anger. However, if you wish to attack our important strategic figure, you’re courting death!”
Han Xiao did not hesitate at all. He opened his palm, and a strong restraining force field was applied on Aegon Vardnadze, temporarily freezing him in midair. Then, the army of soldiers separated from the Mechanical Deity and fired at him.
Wave after wave of attacks rained down on Aegon Vardnadze without holding back. No matter how Aegon Vardnadze tried to escape, the mechanical army chased after and bombarded him.
“I surrender! Stop attacking!”
Aegon Vardnadze hurriedly admitted defeat, but Han Xiao ignored him.
The Beyond Grade As who were rushing over stopped in their tracks and the revivors who were watching the battle were also shocked. How could they not see that this was killing intent?
Regardless of how Aegon Vardnadze surrendered or retaliated in despair, Han Xiao ignored all of them. He chased him for a long time before finally blasting him to death, leaving only an incomplete body falling from the sky. The battle of breaking the encirclement had long stopped, and everyone could only watch as Han Xiao killed Aegon Vardnadze. No matter how Aegon Vardnadze fought back, he could not escape Black Star’s control. The difference in strength was completely overwhelming.
Just as the revivors were surprised by Black Star’s killing move, Hila grabbed Aegon Vardnadze’s corpse, pulled out a soul, and threw it into the Underworld, attracting everyone’s attention.
Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Hila did not mind and snorted.
“Black Star can give all of you a new life, but he can also take your lives. If you continue to be so shameless, I’ll send all of you to hell!”
“Underworld?”
Hearing the word, a commotion broke out among the revivors. Because the era was different, their reactions were also different.
Some people knew what the Underworld was, and they looked at Hila with shock and doubt. Some were confused and did not know what this meant. After asking around, they finally understood the significance of the Underworld. Their expressions changed, and they felt a strong sense of fear.
Nilfgadi, who had been watching the show, frowned and looked at Hila.
“Speaking of which, that recovery-type Esper’s ability is very familiar. What’s your relationship with Nerkese and Eros?”
He was also a Primordial One, and he had been in the same era as the two sisters of the Underworld. From the start, he felt that Hila and Aurora’s abilities had a familiar aura.
Hila looked down at him and said calmly, “Both of them died long ago. We inherited (Dawn of Life) and (Power of the Dead) respectively, as well as the Underworld that they left behind.”
“So that’s how it is…” Nilfgadi nodded slowly and did not say anything else.
Seeing that he had no other questions, Hila ignored him and looked at everyone.
“Black Star has already given you enough face. Don’t push your luck. As I said before, if you don’t want to live, you can continue to make a fuss. Let’s see if we can send all of you to the Underworld!”
“Hila! Everyone here is a senior. Watch your words.” Han Xiao put up an act of scolding.
“Humph.” Hila threw away the remains of Aegon Vardnadze and retreated into the crowd.
Listening to the two of them singing a duet, some of the revivors had ugly expressions on their faces, but they did not dare do anything extreme.
The threat of the Underworld was not small. Compared to entering the Underworld, house arrest seemed more acceptable…
Furthermore, the overwhelming strength that Black Star had displayed by playing Aegon Vardnadze like a game and killing him made many of the revivors wary.
However, although Aegon Vardnadze was killed, most of the revivors did not feel sympathetic. They had seen the entire process, so they naturally knew that it was not Black Star who started it, but Aegon Vardnadze who brought it upon himself.
On the other hand, the Beyond Grade As on Han Xiao’s side did not feel disgusted. Instead, they felt happy. It was Aegon Vardnadze’s fault for being so daring. Even if Black Star had not made a move, many people would still have wanted to kill him. Killing people to establish his prestige would easily make people think that he was forcing the revivors to do something. To prevent such repercussions, Han Xiao originally did not want to kill anyone. However, Aegon Vardnadze courting death was a special case. To be able to make both sides think that he deserved to die was simply amazing.
Just as he had been worrying about how to establish his prestige, Aegon Vardnadze sent him an excellent opportunity without causing any backlash. He was a great person who had given him timely help. He would feel bad if he did not ask the eight Underworld brothers to take care of him!
Seeing that the revivors had stopped the commotion, Han Xiao knew that this act of killing the chicken to warn the monkeys had worked.
However, this was not enough. His main goal was not to put them under house arrest but to convince them to join the war willingly.
Han Xiao took a deep breath and said:
“Inviting all of you to participate in the war is not asking you to contribute for free. This is also a deal. I believe that all of you will be satisfied with this price.”
Hearing this, many of the revivors looked interested
“Oh? What’s the reward?”
Hilbert asked curiously.
Han Xiao smiled and went for the strong approach as planned.
“As long as you choose to participate in the battle, no matter how many times you die in battle, I will wake you up again. If there comes a day when we expel the foreign enemies, the participants will forever enjoy the right to revive in the Sanctum and obtain a permanent safety guarantee. However, if you do not participate in the battle this time, there will not be another chance to exchange for it in the future. This is my offer.”
The revivors present were stunned for a moment before their hearts skipped a beat.
If that was the case, they would have nothing to worry about. Using the battle in exchange for the right to be revived in the Sanctum would be an extremely profitable deal!
Furthermore, there was also [Dawn of Life) ‘s current ability user. Their survival on the battlefield was guaranteed, and it would not be so easy to die. It was worth a try!
The only problem was whether Black Star would keep his word.
Observing everyone’s reaction, Han Xiao smiled and said, “Don’t doubt my sincerity. The Sanctum Revival is not difficult for me. Reviving you guys is just a piece of cake.”
Reeve could not help but question, “You mean the Sanctum Revival can be used nonstop? Is there no limit?”
“Hehe, there really isn’t. Don’t worry, no matter how many times you die, the Sanctum Revival can still take effect.”
Han Xiao replied with a smile. When he introduced the situation earlier, he did not repeat the lie that the Sanctum Revival could only be done once, so this batch of revivors did not know.
As soon as he said that, the surrounding association members could not help but look at him. Although they did not have any expression on their faces, they were sighing in their hearts…
Black Star’s ability to lie through his teeth was getting better and better!
Many of the association members believed that the Sanctum Revival only had one chance. The lie had been told for so long that they treated it as the truth. They did not believe that Han Xiao was going back on his words. In their eyes, this was just a lie that Black Star had made up to trick these Revivors into joining the battle.
However, no one intended to expose the ‘truth’. Tricking more revivors into joining the battle was in their interest, and this lie was ineffective on ‘insiders’ like them.
This split the difference between the current Beyond Grade As and the revivors. Many of the association members believed that they would not fall for it even after they revived. Thus, there was a difference in treatment, and it would not hurt the interests of their group. Therefore, no one planned to expose Han Xiao’s’ lie’. Even Garoze and the others who had just revived chose to remain silent. Instead, they felt that Black Star had made a good move.
Looking at the revivors’ excited faces, many association members laughed in their hearts. They could not help but feel a sense of superiority as if they had grasped the truth.
At the same time, Kasuyi glanced at his companions around him and knew that no one was taking it seriously. His mouth could not help but twitch.
As someone who knew the truth, he naturally knew that Han Xiao was telling the truth. However, this group of Beyond Grade As had already been fooled by Black Star, and no one believed him!
Kasuyi did not know whether to laugh or cry.
‘Forget it, it’s not a big problem. When Black Star proves it with his actions, they will know which is the truth…’
He was not worried that Black Star’s plan would fail. The members of the three Universal Civilizations and the association would most likely hide the ‘truth’ for their own benefit. As for the revivors, they would be under unified surveillance and would not be able to freely come into contact with information from the outside world. The three Universal Civilizations would naturally filter out any information that might reveal the ‘truth’.
Even if the truth could not be hidden, and the Revivors knew the ‘truth’, there would still be some direct descent revivors who would voluntarily sacrifice themselves. As long as a group of people died in the battle and the revivals were successfully carried out, everyone would understand what Han Xiao said today was true, and the situation would immediately return to normal, continuing to rush forward.
‘There are many backup plans, and everything is under control. Black Star is still very steady…’
Kasuyi secretly praised.
On the other side, many revivors were shaken by Han Xiao’s conditions.
Hilbert’s eyes flashed.
“If what you said is true, this deal is worth it. I can work for the civilization again and fight against the foreign enemies.”
“It’s alright. You guys have plenty of time to consider.”
Han Xiao smiled.
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a spaceship landed on the ground. The hatch opened, inviting everyone to board it. Many of the revivors had already accepted Han Xiao’s words, and they obediently boarded the spaceship.
Everyone boarded the starship and quickly set off for the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Point that the three Universal Civilizations had set up nearby. The cabin was peaceful, and there were no tense confrontations. Many of the current Beyond Grade As had finally formed a relationship with the Revivors, and many of them had reunited after a long time.
Seeing this peaceful scene, Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief. ‘The initial negotiations have been completed, and I’ve finally mobilized the enthusiasm of these Revivors to participate in the battle… I wonder how many Beyond Grade As outside of the Revivors believe my words.’
Han Xiao could not help but smile.
The war had already broken out, and the Sanctum Revival’s unlimited usage was bound to be revealed sooner or later. He did not intend to hide it forever, using this reason to convince these revivors that it was a plan that he had devised long ago, and he was not afraid of the three Universal Civilizations finding out.
However, the lies from before were too deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Han Xiao believed that the three Universal Civilizations and the association members would most likely be skeptical of his words. As long as he did not prove it with his actions, these people would be more likely to believe that the Sanctum Revival was only limited to once.
However, although Han Xiao planned to reveal the fact that there was no limit to the Sanctum Revival, he did not intend to tell the truth completely. He had long prepared what he would say to the three Universal Civilizations after the truth was exposed.
Beep beep beep…
Just as he was thinking, his communicator suddenly rang. Han Xiao took it out to take a look. As expected, it was an invitation from the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations.
Without hesitation, he entered the quantum network and initiated a remote projection.
Turning around, he found himself in the office of the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders, facing the three of them. “It’s been hard on you, Black Star. You’ve already stabilized these revivors.” Marbruce nodded. “Thank you for thinking about the big picture. You brought back so many high-level combatants. This will make up for many disadvantages.”
“Don’t just thank me verbally.” Han Xiao chuckled.
“Don’t worry, we have already prepared substantial remuneration.” Marbruce paused and suddenly asked, “By the way, we also provided Gaud’s medium, but why didn’t he revive?”
“I’m not sure. Either the medium is wrong, or this guy isn’t dead and is hiding somewhere.”
Han Xiao’s expression did not change. This kind of problem was easily solved, and it did not affect him at all.
“So he’s not dead… I got it.”
Marbruce glanced at Han Xiao and did not intend to continue investigating. At this time, the Pope interrupted and slowly asked:
“Black Star, you just said that Sanctum Revival does not have a limit. Is it real or fake?”
“What do you think?” Han Xiao asked.
“…I think this is just an excuse you used to stabilize the revivors.” The Pope spread out his hands. “But there are no absolutes in this world. Maybe this is the truth.”
The other two also stared at Han Xiao with curiosity.
Han Xiao shrugged and said casually:
“It doesn’t matter which way you believe it. When the situation gets to that point, we’ll know if it’s true or not. Before that, I suggest that you take what I just said as a lie and consider the worst possible outcome. There will be no mistakes if you do that.”
Without waiting for a response, Han Xiao continued.
“Your top priority now is to detain these revivors and ensure that they can’t come into contact with the truth. Otherwise, I won’t be able to do anything if they retreat.”
“…You’re right.”
The three of them looked at each other, suppressed their doubts, and nodded at the same time.
They were more inclined to believe that the so-called ‘Unlimited Sanctum Revival’ was a lie that Han Xiao used to fool the Revivors.
With Black Star’s personality, how could he reveal such a trump card so easily? It was most likely a lie!
Anyway, it was common for Black Star to lie through his teeth, and they were already used to it. They did not panic at all and even wanted to laugh.
Chapter 1352 Ancestor-Descendent and Detected
Han Xiao deactivated the remote projection, and his vision returned to his body. He shook his head and smiled.
After conversing with the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations, it seemed like they did not believe his words and were more inclined to believe that the Sanctum Revival was only limited to one time.
However, now that things had come to this, Han Xiao did not care if the three Universal Civilizations believed him or not. The reason he had once said that the Sanctum Revival would only be limited to one time was first — to make it easier to control the Revivors of the Holy Accord, reduce their ambitions and reduce the possibility of the Holy Accord being exposed.
Secondly, it was to deal with the three Universal Civilizations that were targeting the Beyond Grade As back then and hide their trump cards, making the three Universal Civilizations feel as if they could still control their lives. Thirdly, it was to stall for time and wait for Oathkeeper to gather a new set of Sanctum keys.
Right now, both sides were in the same boat. The World Tree Civilization was the main problem, and the three Universal Civilizations could not do much without his help. Under the current situation, no matter how much the three Universal Civilizations feared the Beyond Grade As, they had to rely on their strength. Han Xiao did not mind showing his cards; unfortunately, they did not believe him for the time being “A monopoly-type business, so easy to speak
out.”
Han Xiao chuckled, put away the communicator, and returned to the cabin. He was prepared to showcase his traditional skills to cozy up to these new Revivors.
Swoosh!
The alloy hatch slid open automatically. Han Xiao walked into the hall and looked around.
The various Beyond Grade As in the room had formed a few small groups. The direct members of their respective organizations sat together, and the neutral Beyond Grade As sat together according to their generations. Occasionally, some lone wanderers would sit alone in the corner, and the people who wanted to find out information and liked to make friends would wander among the groups. Everyone was on the same level, so they had quite a lot of common topics. The atmosphere was quite lively.
As soon as Han Xiao entered, he realized that the revivors of the various groups were looking at him with curiosity and surprise.
This time, Nilfgadi walked over and sized Han Xiao up. “So, you’re the strongest Mechanic of this generation. When I recover, let’s have a talk.”
Han Xiao raised his brows and smiled. “Alright, you’re welcome anytime.”
He roughly knew why these revivors were looking at him like that. Most likely, when he was talking to the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations remotely, these revivors had heard about his life from the other Beyond Grade As and were surprised by his achievements.
The way he saw it, the reason why Nilfgadi suggested sparring was not just to exchange feelings. It was most likely because he wanted to regain the position as the main deity for the Machinery Faith. Han Xiao knew what Nilfgadi was thinking. If they were to continue to remain dead, there would be nothing wrong with leaving the inheritance to future generations.
However, now that the corpse had come back to life, they planned to snatch the ‘inheritance’ back. They did not want others to continue occupying the foundation they had built. After all, it belonged to them. Looking around, Han Xiao estimated that there was more than one person who had such a mentality. He had long expected such a conflict of interest to arise between them and the current Beyond Grade As. “Hehe, I’ve become Manison from back then, I have become the challenged.”
Han Xiao smiled at himself.
Aegon Vardnadze did not make him display his full strength, which was why Nilfgadi still had the confidence to spar with him. However, he had no equipment at the moment, so this was not the time.
Nilfgadi nodded and said a few polite words before walking to the side and returning to the Primordial Ones.
This time, one of the neutral Beyond Grade As spoke to Han Xiao.
“By the way, you said that you’re the current head of the Beyond Grade A Association. Does your association still recruit people?”
Han Xiao looked over and smiled at the speaker.
“Of course, our association always welcomes new members. If you don’t wish to fight alone, joining the association is the best choice. This is the profit union of the current Beyond Grade As, and we have always been willing to help new members build their own organizations. However, this is a time of war, so we won’t go into this for now…”
As he spoke, Han Xiao turned to look at Hilbert and the others.
“Also, we welcome those who are not willing to work for the three Universal Civilizations. If you feel uncomfortable staying with the three Universal Civilizations, the association will be your choice.”
“Hey!” Oulou yelled with dissatisfaction.
How dare you try to steal our people!
This feeling was like an honest man seeing a well-built playboy asking his girlfriend for WeChat.
“Don’t joke around like that.” Clotti’s face was expressionless, and his aura was cold. As the National Pillar, he could not be indifferent to Han Xiao’s poaching.
On the side, Reeve stared at Clotti and exclaimed in surprise, “Little Kaka, you’ve grown quite a bit over the years.”
Clotti’s serious and tense expression immediately collapsed. He was not used to putting on airs in front of these seniors.
Kasuyi, who was not far away, almost thought that he was being called. He suddenly recalled some bad memories and glared at Han Xiao’s back with resentment.
Hilbert did not respond directly. He shook his head and said, “Thank you for your invitation, but we’ll talk about this some other time.”
He did not want to continue working hard, but that did not mean that he would not want the retirement benefits of the three Universal Civilizations. After all, he had exchanged his life for merits.
Han Xiao smiled and did not mind. He walked around the various groups and briefly communicated with them.
After chatting for a while, the spaceship finally reached the location of the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device. It entered the circular area and activated the device. With a flash of light, it was quickly transported to the main base.
The three Universal Civilizations had already made preparations. They welcomed the many Revivors to their temporary residence. To prevent any accidents, most Beyond Grade As accompanied them.
Han Xiao did not follow them but went to the Underworld with Hila. Everyone chatted on the way to their temporary residence. At the back of the team, Manison and Nilfgadi walked side by side, maintaining their silence.
After a while, Nilfgadi finally spoke.
“You’re the leader of this generation of the Mechanical Race?”
“Hmm,” Manison replied. “Not bad. I didn’t expect such a powerful person like you to appear among my descendants.” Nilfgadi nodded with satisfaction.
Manison ignored him and did not reply.
Not only was Nilfgadi the first Divine Throne Mechanic and the founder of the Machinery Faith, but he was also the ancestor of the Mechanical Race.
Due to certain reasons, Manison was not interested in acknowledging the ancestor. His interactions with Nilfgadi were limited. Nilfgadi had already died even before he became a Beyond Grade A. Furthermore, after he became a Beyond Grade A, his race evolved and became a new species. From the perspective of genes, the two could no longer be considered the same species. After sighing for a while, Nilfgadi patted Manison’s Lord’s Avatar’s shoulder and asked, “How is the Mechanical Race now?” “You’ll know when you get back. Anyway, it isn’t bad.” Manison was too lazy to report to him.
“That’s good.” Nilfgadi nodded and said, “I’ll have to trouble you to announce my return to the entire Mechanical Race. Tell them that their ancestor has returned.”
With that said, Nilfgadi sped up and left Manison’s side.
Manison looked at his back, raised his hand, and brushed away the shoulder that was patted by Nilfgadi as if he was removing dust.
‘If this was in the past, I would think of ways to kill you for sure…’
Manison snorted coldly in his heart.
Although Nilfgadi did not have any intention of taking back the position of Mechanical Race leader, with one more ancestor, their power would surely be divided.
The Mechanical Race was his important base, and he did not want to see anyone interfere with his interests, not even his ancestor.
You want to take the cake with your seniority?
Dream on!
You want to step on my head? Do you think you’re Black Star?
However, Manison was much more restrained now. Although he was not willing to give up his benefits, he did not plan to do anything to Nilfgadi. At most, he would just send him to create a new Mechanical Race. In any case, after so many years of reproduction, the old Mechanical Race was already in his grasp. Just the name of his ancestor alone would not be able to shake his foundation as the leader.
On the other side, Milizaus was also with the ancestor of the Starry Spiritual Dragon Race, but the atmosphere was completely different.
“Old man, is what you said true? Do you really have a way to reduce my size while maintaining full combat power ” Milizaus was shocked.
“Heh, this is my unique secret skill. You can only use it if you have my bloodline. However, after you became a Beyond Grade A, you diluted my bloodline and turned it into a new species. This won’t do! Later, I’ll put in a few hundred tons of dragon blood. You can use magic to smelt it and fuse it into your body to increase the density of your bloodline. Let me examine you properly the next time you come. I’ll help you adjust this secret skill and tailor it for you.”
A small blue dragon that was about ten meters long was lying on Milizaus’ enormous body. Its body was beautiful, and its crystal-like blue dragon scales sparkled brightly. The golden dragon’s horns were like jade, and they looked like a crown. There were thick gray whiskers on both sides of its head.
‘Dragon Mage’ Marsebo Demeliter was originally a blue dragon with a mutated bloodline. After advancing to Beyond Grade A, he had sublimated his genes and had astonishing magical talent. He had created countless Dragon Spells, and the Starry Spiritual Dragon was just one of the branches of his bloodline.
Currently, many of the Dragon Spells that Milizaus used were the legacy of Marsebo. Putting his actual combat ability aside, Milizaus was still inferior to him in terms of magic research and development.
The way Mages and Mechanics ate resources was different. Milizaus did not care who ruled the race. As soon as he saw his erudite ancestor, he came over to exchange experiences. It just so happened that the two dragons had straightforward personalities, so they chatted quite happily. Marsebo did not hide anything and expressed that he could solve Milizaus’ biggest problem.
In fact, there were quite a number of spells that could shrink one’s size, but the body structure of different races was different, and the spell models required were also different. This was the magic theory that emphasized the usability of spells.
As for Milizaus—who had a special Beyond Grade A powerful dragon body-although there were some rare spells that could shrink his body, they would reduce his combat power by a certain percentagelike the Bone Shrinking Technique. Therefore, he would only be at his peak state when he released his entire body.
However, the secret skill that Marsebo mentioned did not have such negative effects. Instead, it could increase the density of one’s body, strengthen one’s defense and resistance and increase one’s combat power instead of decreasing it. It was a Dragon Spell that could only be used under certain conditions.
Milizaus was pleasantly surprised, and he continued to question Marsebo. Marsebo was very generous, saying as long as you want to learn, I will teach you. After all, I am your ancestor.
Once he learned this secret skill, he would no longer have to be a target for others. His combat strength would increase tremendously. Thinking of this future, Milizaus felt his heart burn with passion.
He could finally escape the fate of being a meat shield!
Such a promising profession should be left to Black Star!
It was worth it to get to know this ancestor!
Underworld Dimension.
Han Xiao and Hila teleported over to check on Aegon Vardnadze.
Aegon Vardnadze had already turned into a Hero Spirit, and he was surrounded by the eight brothers.
Seeing Han Xiao arrive, Aegon Vardnadze’s eyes bulged, and he said angrily, “You actually killed me, you…”
“Shut up. Without me, you would still be a dead man. You don’t even have the right to be killed. You went too far. This is your punishment.” Han Xiao interrupted him expressionlessly. Hila turned to look at the eight brothers and asked, “Have you helped him figure out his situation?”
“I’ve already told him about the situation in the Underworld, but it seems like he has yet to accept reality.”
Sorokin shrugged.
Hearing this, Aegon Vardnadze turned around and glared at Hila.
“Don’t even think about making me your slave. I will never serve you!”
“Oh.” Hila remained indifferent.
Han Xiao crossed his arms and said casually, “It’s better to live than to die. You have to think carefully. Although you are being controlled by others, in a sense, this is an immortal body.”
“Death is better than losing freedom!”
Aegon Vardnadze held his head high.
Han Xiao clapped his hands and turned to look at Hila. “Lock him up alone. Let him out when he changes his mind.”
“Alright, I can adjust Hero Spirit’s sense of time and make it feel like years.”
Without hesitation, Hila used her Underworld authority and locked Aegon Vardnadze up without waiting for him to speak. Seeing this, the eight Underworld Brothers clicked their tongues in sympathy.
Hero Spirits’ senses were all controlled by the controller of the Underworld, and they could simulate all kinds of experiences. They would surely suffer if they offended the authorities.
“From now on, there will be nine Hero Spirit Kings in the Underworld. They are at least peak Beyond Grade As, and their strength is only slightly weaker than Sorokin’s. We have gained another powerhouse.”
Han Xiao nodded. He did not doubt that Aegon Vardnadze would submit to his fate because he had no other choice.
If this guy was really that tough, he would not have begged for mercy when he was beaten up.
If Aegon Vardnadze was obedient, he would at most be placed under house arrest for a while. However, Han Xiao did not have any psychological burden in locking him up in the Underworld. He would have to pay the corresponding price for causing the disturbance.
You chose it yourself, hero!
On the other side, Sorokin was in a good mood.
Finally, there was another newcomer. This way, he would not be the youngest…
Happy!
At the same time, in the World Tree territory.
Roots extended out from the space, continuously sending out new fleets. Heart Tree King sat on his throne and looked at the scene before him.
“How’s the situation now?”
“Other than some high-level combatants who are still in the process of reviving, the battleships and soldiers that were lost in the previous battle were all replenished by the mother tree. Some troops have been reassembled, and there are already 230 billion battleships being sent to the secondary dimension world, searching for the territory of the other civilization there…”
The executive officer at the side reported the current situation.
“Hmm.” The Heart Tree King nodded calmly. The main universe’s offensive route was blocked, and the World Tree began to make multiple preparations, planning to start from the secondary dimension and invade through another route.
However, the World Tree did not give up on attacking the intercepting circle. It had been gathering more troops, and at the same time, letting the advance troops exhaust the three Universal Civilizations’ forces and push the jump point forward.
“The other party is currently in a stalemate with our beyond-visual-range encampment. Their expansion has been obstructed and is almost at a standstill. The effect of this plan is very obvious. I estimate that before we launch our next attack, the jump point would be able to remain in this area and will not be pushed further,” another World Tree executive said.
“Not bad.”
Heart Tree King praised and suddenly paused. “Have you found the source of the information leak? How did they know about our strategic deployment?”
“Hmm, we have an idea. It seems to be related to foreseers.”
An executive took out a report and explained:
“According to the data, 93.4% of the exposed tactical deployments have one thing in common. All of them were foreseen by the Information Form Foreseers. We have reason to suspect that the strategic deployment was leaked to the other party because of this. As for what methods the other party used, we don’t know for the time being.
Currently, all foresight has been stopped, and we are currently investigating the details of the abilities of all the Information Form Foreseers, the awakening situation, and the origin to find the source of the leak…”
The three Universal Civilizations had discovered many tactical deployments, so the World Tree naturally noticed the anomaly. Although they did not know the abilities of Destiny’s Child, through data analysis, the World Tree Civilization still found the reason for the leakage of information. Even if they could not cure the root cause, they could at least deal with the symptoms. Heart Tree King patted the armrest and said slowly: “It’s good that you’ve found the reason. However, don’t seal off the other party’s intelligence channels. When needed, this channel will come in handy. It might catch them off guard.”
Under the deliberate publicity of the three Universal Civilizations, the news of Black Star using the Sanctum Revival to wake up many more Beyond Grade As spread like wildfire within a few days and spread to the troops stationed in the intercepting circle, boosting their morale.
Beyond Grade As were not only high-level combatants, but they were also the spiritual pillars of many soldiers during times of war. The more strong individuals in the army, the more confident the soldiers would be.
The relevant information was also specially sent back to the galactic society, which also excited a large number of people and various powers.
In the past, many galactic residents hated the Sanctum Revival deeply, thinking it was because of the confidence in Beyond Grade As and that they were on opposing sides. However, now that the Beyond Grade As had gone on to fight against the foreign enemies and become the strength to protect the galactic society, the attitude of these galactic residents also changed. They were full of praise about the Sanctum Revival and wished for more Beyond Grade As to revive and guarantee their safety.
Even during the war, the Wayne Card distributors did not miss the opportunity to do business. They had launched a new ‘Revivor’ card series. It had synergistic effects when it appeared together with some Character Summon Cards and Force Cards that it had special relationships with, and had different reactions. They were like hidden Easter eggs. The reactions of the various organizations were not one-sided excitement like the people’s. They secretly assessed the impact of this matter on themselves, especially those organizations that had ties with these historical Beyond Grade As.
In a certain branch of the Machinery Faith.
In the spacious hall of the temple, bishops dressed in the Mechanical Holy Official robes of different styles gathered together and discussed in low voices with excitement.
“The original deity has returned. We should worship his honorific name again!”
“Who would have thought that one day, I would be able to see the living Nilfgadi.”
The bishops were excited.
As the Mechanical Deity who was worshiped first, Nilfgadi had a special position in the Machinery Faith.
Because only the living Mechanical Deity could receive feedback from the believers, the dead Mechanical Deities only had commemorative significance, becoming the ‘old deities’ that were rarely mentioned.
However, Nilfgadi was an exception. Every time there was a prayer ceremony, the Machinery Faith believers would chant his honorific name. This was a treatment that other Mechanical Deities did not receive.
Now that Nilfgadi was alive again, they could resume making offerings to him.
However, the Machinery Faith was an extremely realistic group of believers, and they only believed in the strong. Although Nilfgadi’s position was special, it would not immediately shake Black Star’s current position unless he could prove that his mechanical skill was stronger.
Furthermore, the Sanctum Revival was brought about by Black Star. The various archbishops present thought about this and reached a consensus.
“Although the original deity has a different meaning to us, he was brought back by Black Star. His current position should not be above Black Star’s.”
“That’s right. It was Black Star who awakened all the old deities and revived the glory of the Church. Because of this, we should give Black Star a new honorific name and separate him from the other Mechanical Deities, allowing him to enjoy a unique position.”
“Since Nilfgadi is the original deity, why not call Black Star the revival deity?”
“This doesn’t feel okay. In my opinion, whether the old deities awaken or not is completely controlled by Black Star. Why don’t we call him the Old Ones’ Dominator?”
“Why does it feel a little weird… Let’s change it. I think the title ‘Immortal Black, Holy Lord of the Church, Guardian of the Door of the Old Deities, and Adjudicator of Life and Death’ isn’t bad.”
“That’s too long. Those who don’t know would think there are four people.”
“What’s wrong with it? Tell me if it’s nice or
not!”
The group of bishops had a heated argument over Black Star’s new honorific name, but they could not convince each other. In the end, they had even started fighting.
Central Galaxy, on a modified planet.
A transport fleet with the Black Star Army insignia slowly entered the port, and under the guidance of the artificial intelligence robot at the port, large rectangular transport ships stopped at different docks.
The hatch opened one after another, and groups of Black Star Army soldiers walked out. They stood in formation, took out their indicator lights, and commanded. Large batches of Planet Aquamarine citizens swarmed out, forming a long line. They stepped on the dock and headed toward the designated settlement.
The army warriors maintained order. Although there was a slight commotion in the crowd, it was still in order. However, the constant left and right looks revealed the nervousness and curiosity in most people’s hearts.
In the command room of the transport ship, Bennett looked down at the migrating crowd on the dock with a complicated expression.
During the early stages of the war, he had responded to Black Star’s call and organized a long-distance migration for all the citizens of Planet Aquamarine. At that time, it naturally attracted a large number of objections. Many people were not willing to migrate, and they met with a lot of resistance when executing the plan.
To most people, their mother planet held an unforgettable emotion. No matter how far they wandered in the universe, their mother planet was their spiritual home. There were too many examples of people willing to live and die with their mother planet in the face of a disaster.
However, these problems were all forcefully suppressed by Bennett. Regardless of whether they were willing or not, they were all packed up and sent to the transport fleet. Since the various Star Fields were undergoing major migration, the current transportation efficiency was limited. The transport fleet had also been traveling for a long time. Bennett emphasized the need to do this along the way, and with his emotional reasoning, he finally suppressed most of the dissatisfaction. The people of Planet Aquamarine could only helplessly accept reality and worry about the future.
Although this was only a temporary refuge, they did not know if this was the last time they would see their mother planet.
If the World Tree successfully invaded, the Flickering World would be the first to bear the brunt, and the Shattered Star Ring was adjacent to the Flickering World. It was very likely to become the second main battlefield, and one day the news of the destruction of their mother planet would be known countless light-years away. “I wonder if I’ll have the chance to go back in the future…”
Bennett sighed with mixed feelings.
At this moment, a faint female voice sounded from the side.
“This is your new home.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency Ames,” Bennett turned around and thanked her. “Hmm, I’ll leave this place to you. I’ll leave Floating Dragon behind as your guard.”
Ames nodded and walked out of the cabin.
She had not been stationed at the frontline at the moment, and she originally had the thought to go participate. However, Black Star had asked her to escort Planet Aquamarine’s migration troops, so she had been delayed.
In reality, Ames knew that Black Star’s request was to protect her in disguise, but the escort journey would end sooner or later and it would be time for her to head to the frontlines.
Furthermore, she wanted to see with her own eyes what kind of existence the nightmare was that had forced Black Star to keep going for so many years.
Interception circle base, Revivors’ area.
In the vast space, streams of light were constantly colliding with each other, creating a shocking energy wave. Many of the current Beyond Grade As were fighting with different Revivors.
Han Xiao and his other comrades, who did not make a move, stood at the side and watched the battle. From time to time, they would use various methods to neutralize the shockwaves.
The people who had just revived were not in their peak state. They had been undergoing restorative training during this period and the older Mechanics and Mages still had to learn the new theories and technologies that had been developed over the years. They were very busy.
Because the Beyond Grade As guarding the intercepting circle had nothing to do, sparring became their main task. They had been helping the Revivors recover their strength and frequently sparred.
Although most of the knowledge banks of the Revivors were behind the times, some of the lost skills were brought back by the Revivors. They were not stingy with their teachings, which indirectly increased the average strength of the current Beyond Grade As.
Among them, Milizaus was the one with the greatest increase in strength. He had finally managed to compress his body as he wished. He had just learned the Dragon Secret Skill taught by his ancestor, and he was already able to compress his mothership-sized body to about three hundred meters long. This alone was enough to make him overjoyed. His combat strength had increased significantly.
According to him, as long as he could master this secret skill, he should be able to shrink his dragon body to a dozen meters long at most, and its density would increase exponentially, just like the difference between stone and steel.
“In the past, Milizaus had high HP, average defense, and basically zero evasion. When he completes this transformation, not only would his defense increase tremendously, but his evasion rate would also return to normal. His flexibility would also increase by half a level.”
Han Xiao estimated.
After watching the spar for a while, he opened the interface and scanned the forums.
Thanks to the World Tree’s beyond-visual-range encampment strategy, the players had been carrying out missions with extremely rich rewards. More than half of the IDs on the level leaderboards had changed. The players who had been lucky enough to obtain missions to die had all gone up. The current first place was six levels higher than the first place two months ago, reaching level 173. It was only seven levels away from the current version limit of level 180. This leveling rate was quite fast for the players.
However, only a small number of people managed to snatch the suicide mission, and this good opportunity would disappear very soon. Han Xiao had already provided the blueprints for the special detection equipment, and the three Universal Civilizations had sent a batch of semi-finished products over, waiting for him to complete the most important core steps.
As long as they had the finished product for the detection device, the three Universal Civilizations would be able to utilize it on the battlefield very quickly. They would be able to get rid of the World Tree’s beyond-visual-range encampment in one go. This way, the players would only be able to participate in a large-scale spacetime splicing self-destruction operation once more, and they would no longer be able to enjoy such a high-quality catalyst that stimulates their growth so fast.
“I wonder what new plans the World Tree Civilization will come up with after this strategy is broken… Speaking of which, it seems like Destiny’s Child has not gained much recently?”
Han Xiao stroked his chin thoughtfully.
According to Hila’s report, the frequency of Destiny’s Child taking effect had decreased significantly compared to the beginning. Furthermore, the information obtained from the surveillance was mostly unimportant and did not provide much help with the current situation.
This sign was a signal in Han Xiao’s eyes. Either the World Tree Civilization felt that the effect of the foresight method was ordinary and stopped using it on a large scale, or the World Tree Civilization realized the reason for the leak and took precautions. “Hmm… The World Tree still sensed it? It’s faster than I expected.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
Although the surveillance channels of Destiny’s Child were hidden, through the analysis of the battle, he could sense that some of the actions made by the three Universal Civilizations were as if they had received information beforehand, so he naturally suspected the possibility of the information being leaked.
Although it was difficult to find the mechanism of Destiny’s Child, through the relevant data screening, the World Tree had a high chance of discovering that the foreseers were the source of the leak. The three Universal Civilizations could do this too, but their reaction speed would be slower.
Han Xiao had never been certain that Destiny’s Child could keep on concealing the leak from the World Tree. After all, this was not something that could not be solved. He would not believe that this low-risk intelligence channel would always be reliable, but the longer he hid it, the better.
“If the World Tree realized this, they might use this intelligence channel to send misleading information to us… It seems that any information obtained from Destiny’s Child will have to be filtered.”
Han Xiao pondered.
Just as he was pondering, the sparring session also came to an end. They all stopped when they reached a certain point and focused on communication.
After watching the entire process, Kasuyi sighed.
“As expected of the elites of the past generations.”
“They’re all people with great luck. The concentration of luck outside is almost beyond the standard. It’s more balanced here.” Secret Master nodded. “Seeing them alive and kicking, I’m deeply gratified. These people are the epitome of the evolutionary history of our civilization, the essence accumulated over generations.” Not far away, Oulou acted as if he was giving pointers.
“…But we’re still better.” Manison glanced at him.
Civilizations continued to develop, the experience was passed down, and techniques were innovated from generation to generation. Of course, they would not be inferior to the past. Currently, among the Beyond Grade As, the combat power of the current generation was superior-especially with Black Star, who had broken the record.
“You guys are so noisy.”
Han Xiao looked at them helplessly. They were just watching the battle. He did not know why they were acting out so much. He retracted his gaze and turned to look at the many revivors who were returning to the battleship in groups. Suddenly, he had an idea. After hesitating for two seconds, Han Xiao opened the communication channel and smiled.
“Seeing you guys having a good time, my hands are a little itchy too. Who’s interested in playing with me? I promise to be gentle.”
As soon as he said that, the Beyond Grade As in the cabin could not help but look at him with surprise. The Revivors who were boarding the ship were also stunned.
“What are you trying to do?” Kasuyi was surprised.
“It’s just a spar. Why are you putting on such an expression? Stop making a fuss.”
Looking at their expressions, Han Xiao felt helpless.
The current Beyond Grade As knew his abilities very well. Even if he wanted to spar with someone, not many would be willing to respond. All of them were very smart and protected their benefits very well.
Furthermore, he had a special position now, and his every move was being watched. It would make people think too much, and it was not convenient for him to fight with his own people.
However, the newly awakened Revivors did not have a deep enough impression of him. They might agree to it, and there might be a chance to trigger the Beyond Grade A Challenge. It was worth trying. Many revivors’ expressions changed, and they immediately thought of something else. Black Star, as the president of a Beyond Grade A Association, actually took the initiative to challenge them. Could it be that he was afraid that they would not be willing to be placed under house arrest and had some thoughts, so he wanted to teach them a lesson and make them behave?
As they thought about it, the lively communication channel became silent instantly.
Seeing that no one was speaking, Han Xiao coughed and asked, “Why are you all so reserved? Does no one want to play with me?”
Reserved your head! you definitely have an ulterior motive…
Many Beyond Grade As rolled their eyes inwardly.
When Aegon Vardnadze was killed, they witnessed the tip of Black Star’s strength. Although they had just revived, they still cared about their face. Why would they want to get beaten up for no reason?
If they could defeat Black Star, they would be able to increase their prestige. However, they had yet to recover to their peak state, and they knew that not many people had the confidence to defeat the most outstanding Beyond Grade A representative in this era.
Although Nilfgadi had agreed to spar in the future, he did not even have a single group of mechanical troops right now, so he had no intention of standing out. Even after waiting more than ten seconds, no one had responded.
Seeing that no one was speaking, Aurora broke the silence of the channel and said softly, “Erm… don’t worry about getting hurt. I will treat you.”
Hila snorted and took a few steps forward. “If your hands are itchy, I can spar with you. Why are you looking for someone else?”
Hearing this, Han Xiao looked back at the two sisters.
Finally, there’s someone who upholds my prestige. The two of you still love me…
Kasuyi laughed and also tried to smooth things over. “Alright, alright, Black Star doesn’t have any bad intentions, there’s no need to be so wary. If you are not willing, then forget it.”
“Tsk, you make it sound like I’m taking advantage of their weakness. Forget it, let’s talk when you guys are at your peak.”
Seeing that no one was paying attention to his invitation, Han Xiao had no choice but to find a way out, thinking it was getting more and more difficult to gain benefits.
Just as he was about to change the topic and dismiss everyone, a deep voice sounded in the channel.
“There’s no need to wait for the future. I’ll be your opponent!”
Han Xiao’s eyes lit up, and he quickly turned around. He saw a burly creature with a fist clenched
Pugilist!
He’s here, he’s here, he’s here with a headstrong attitude!
The revivors all turned around and stared at the guy in shock.
“Kher, do you really think you’re his match?” someone could not help but ask.
“Humph, I still have this bit of self-awareness. However, facing difficulties head-on is my martial path! Not daring to fight even when there is no danger to my life will only damage my belief in martial arts. Since I met an expert, I can use it to train myself!”
Kher’s face was cold, and his battle intent soared.
Han Xiao was touched.
As expected of a Pugilist, they never let him down!
Seeing this, many of the revivors were speechless. He knew that Black Star probably wanted to establish his dominance, but he still rushed forward. Only a Pugilist would do something like that.
Everyone silently distanced themselves from Kher, afraid that they would be infected with simpleton disease.
“Since you’ve agreed, let’s spar.”
Han Xiao could not wait to fly out of the cabin, afraid that this kid would go back on his word.
Kher was just an ordinary neutral Beyond Grade A. Even though he was not an expert, he was still a Beyond Grade A. No matter how small the benefits to gain from him, Han Xiao would still take it; in any case, he was not picky. And just because he was an ordinary Beyond Grade A did not mean that he did not have good abilities. After all, he, himself, had many Molding Talents that were drawn from ordinary Supers.
“Wait a minute, what are the stakes in our sparring?” Kher asked again.
“What do you want?”
“If I can beat you, you will remove my house arrest and give me freedom,” said Kher in a low, muffled voice.
This time, even Han Xiao, who knew the habits of a Pugilist, was surprised, and everyone was stunned.
No way, no way, do you really think you have the upper hand against a peak Beyond Grade A
If you want to fight head-on, we can still accept you using a strong enemy to train yourself, but do you really think you have a chance to win? You’re overestimating yourself!
As if noticing the confusion of Han Xiao and his companions, Kher said with a deep voice:
“Although the chance isn’t high, setting up a goal can stimulate my potential and allow me to unleash greater strength! The difference between our strength is too great, so I need to use all external factors to strengthen my combat strength!”
“You’re really… pure.”
Han Xiao did not know what to say.
Everyone returned to the spaceship to watch the battle.
On the battlefield, Kher’s body was filled with flames, and he was ready to fight. He faced Han Xiao from afar, and his aura locked onto Han Xiao.
The aura of a Pugilist was not bad, but the difference in strength was too huge. Han Xiao had already tried his best to feel it, but he really could not feel any sense of danger. In his eyes, it was like a little kitten brandishing its claws at him. It was not fierce at all, but rather cute.
Han Xiao looked at the interface, and the related Beyond Grade A Challenge mission successfully popped up. With so many Beyond Grade As watching, their influence had naturally reached the standard to trigger the mission.
The mission form was still to last for a sufficient amount of time. The reward for the highest level of drawing abilities required him to last for a total of twenty minutes. Of course, this requirement was not difficult for him at all. On the contrary, he doubted if Kher could last that long in his hands…
“Therefore, the difficulty this time lies in how I’m going to go easy for twenty minutes… Kakasu is good at this, so I have to use that as a reference.”
Han Xiao’s face twitched.
Is it me or Kher who is doing the challenge mission?
“I’m coming!”
Kher’s aura reached its peak, and he suddenly let out a low roar. The flames on his body expanded, and he pushed his palms continuously. The continuous Shockwave Blasts moved like a yellow chain.
Han Xiao’s body did not move, and Floating Cannons appeared behind his back like a halo of light. it shot out dense beams of light, destroying all the incoming Shockwave Blasts.
Seeing this, Kher’s body shook, and he suddenly split into dozens of flaming clones and they charged at Han Xiao from all directions. He did not rush forward but instead held his palms together to accumulate power.
Han Xiao clenched his fists and punched both sides. The powerful force field activated by the mechanical suit swept past, instantly destroying all the clones that were approaching
At this time, Kher had already completed his rapid accumulation. A dazzling Pugilist aura lit up between his hands, and he suddenly pushed forward.
A bright yellow Pugilist light wave surrounded by a sharp aura shot toward Han Xiao like a rapidly extending lightsaber. Accompanying the surging energy was a loud shout from Kher in the communication channel.
“Ha! Galaxy Splitting Fist—Third Style!”
Hearing the shameless name, Han Xiao felt that even the Pugilist light waves had become stronger.
This was the real deal! Shouting the name of the move during the attack indeed had a bonus effect!
The corners of Han Xiao’s mouth twitched. He suppressed the burning desire to ridicule and raised his hand to summon a psionic shield.
The next moment, a bright yellow Pugilist light wave crashed into the rippling blue psionic shield and a dazzling light wheel exploded.
The shockwave dissipated. Han Xiao was unshaken and the psionic shield flickered a few times before stabilizing again.
Kher’s expression changed. He said solemnly:
“You actually used such a tight defense. As expected, this move can’t break your defense. This won’t be simple!”
Han Xiao: “…”
I only took out a basic shield. Since when did it become a tight defense? Don’t take the liberty to give me more screen time! Seeing that Kher was going to continue spewing bullshit, Han Xiao’s face twitched. He simply opened the secondary dimensional army box. He did not have the heart to summon a large group to bully others, so he only pulled out an Apostle Weapon that was covered in other weapons.
“Heaven-Suppressing Banner, go deal with him.”
The Heaven-Suppressing Banner noddedpicked up the accompanying shield and heavy axe—and headed straight for Kher with the exhaust flames shooting out of its thrusters. The man and the machine immediately tangled together and fought at close range.
Han Xiao did not interfere. He stood by the side and watched the Heaven-Suppressing Banner fight Kher alone while silently counting the time.
With the enhancement of his Mechanical Force bonuses, the Apostle Weapons could already fight against high-level Beyond Grade As, and fighting against ordinary Beyond Grade As was no problem at all.
The two sides fought intensely, and Han Xiao finally reached the end of the twenty minutes. Seeing that the mission reward on the highest level was in a completed state, he immediately acted and knocked Kher down easily. With such a huge difference in strength, there was no suspense in this battle.
“Alright, you have satisfied your desire. You should practice more… Who else wants to spar with me?”
Han Xiao did not go all out, using his control method to immobilize Kher. He turned to look at the spaceships watching the battle.
The channel was silent. The revivors curled their lips but did not respond.
They had thought that Black Star would defeat Kher with lightning speed, but they had fought for twenty minutes. However, they knew that Black Star was deliberately giving Kher a chance to show off. To him, this was not even a warm-up.
Many of the revivors thought about it and felt that they understood. Black Star probably felt that the gap between him and Kher was too big, and defeating him in one go would not have any effect. Furthermore, it would seem like he was using too much strength to bully the weak. Thus, he decided to use a different method to show others that even one Apostle Weapon of his could fight an ordinary Beyond Grade A head-on, indirectly showing his strength.
A portion of them felt that they had seen the truth. Although they felt that they had seen through Black Star’s schemes, they had to admit that Black Star’s performance had indeed deepened their impression of him being unfathomable. If a single Apostle Weapon could fight against an ordinary Beyond Grade A, then wouldn’t Black Starwho had dozens of Apostle Weapons—be equal to tens of Beyond Grade As? How terrifying!
“…Since no one is interested in fighting, let’s go back.”
Han Xiao waited for a while. Seeing that no one spoke, he knew that he would not be able to get another fool. He released his control over Kher and returned to the spaceship.
Kher rubbed his sore shoulders, but he was not discouraged. Instead, he felt that after this round of torture, his endurance had increased, and his belief in martial arts had become firmer. His brain circuit was indeed different from ordinary people. With this incident, everyone returned to the main base without saying a word. They then dispersed and returned to their respective areas.
Han Xiao changed into King and teleported back to the army base in the Flickering World. He looked for Feidin and Nero to get some luck before returning to his room to conclude the mission.
Feidin, Nero, Karlot, and other potential officers who had yet to reach Beyond Grade A were not dispatched to the frontlines for the time being and were still in training. Naturally, he had some selfish motives. If he allowed the Beyond Grade A seeds to suffer a large number of casualties on the frontlines, it would not be worth it. The current situation had not reached the point where they needed to fill the gaps with people’s lives.
“I hope I can get something suitable this time. Although Kher is a little rash, he still has some good abilities…”
Han Xiao had seen Kher’s attributes before, and it was like a prize pool to him. He rubbed his hands and chose to conclude the mission.
The next moment, the interface showed that the mission was completed. Han Xiao skipped the basic reward and looked at the notification at the bottom.
(You have received a reward: Draw one of Kher’s Ability/Talent]
Note: Kher is a Pugilist. Parts of abilities have been adjusted to your class.
Randomizing… complete!
Please select one of the five options below as the reward.
[Iron Headbutt – First Style] – Ability: Hit the target with the firm head .+25% Attack Power, Defense of the head increased temporarily +250%. There is a chance to cause [Concussion], [Dizziness), and other debuffs to yourself or the enemy. Cooldown: 14S.
[Crow Cluster Cannon) – Ability: For the next 5 seconds,+120% Ranged Attack Speed, -30% Attack Power, and 3-5% chance of obtaining the (Homing) attribute for every Ranged Attack. Cooldown: 355
[Unyielding Challenger] – Talent: When facing enemies with a higher level than you, all attributes increased by 3% to 15% depending on the level difference.
(Chain Attack Amplification) – Talent: Damage increases with chain attacks, up to 12%.
(Azure Dragon Bind) – Ability: Enemies will be restricted at close range, rooting both parties. The duration of the target’s escape depends on the difference in Strength and Endurance. The minimum duration of control is 2s.
“Iron Headbutt… And it’s only just the first style. Could there be an entire set of moves?”
Looking at the notification on the interface, Han Xiao’s mouth twitched, and he could not take his eyes off the first option.
He had always thought that being headstrong was just an adjective to describe a Pugilist’s personality, but he did not expect it to be an actual skill.
Han Xiao looked down and saw the other options. After pondering for a while, he came to a decision.
Both talents were not bad, but he did not really want them. As his level increased, the effect of (Undefeated Challenger) kept decreasing. With his current level, he would not have many chances to trigger it. Furthermore, since he keeps leveling up, this talent would only become more and more useless. As for (Chain Strike Amplification]-it was practical and his mechanical army could easily max out the Chain Combo, but the bonuses provided were a little low. His current strength base was very strong, and he did not lack such ordinary passive bonuses.
In comparison, Han Xiao currently wanted some abilities with special tactical effects that would be more effective in battle.
[Crow Cluster Cannon) could increase the explosive power of concentrated fire, and its range was much higher than (Combo Attack Amplification). However, from Han Xiao’s perspective, his damage was already high. What he lacked was a guaranteed hit rate.
Han Xiao was also not too inclined toward the other skill (Azure Dragon Bind). After all, the restriction of only being able to activate it at close range was quite a setback, and he could not move either side after using it. However, he had his eyes on it precisely because of the rare ability of two-second crowd control.
This was only the effect of Level1. If he could reach the maximum level, coupled with some of his talents that could increase the level of his skills, he would be able to extend the minimum duration of this control skill.
You have received new skill (Azure Dragon Bind)!
“Not to mention, it sounds pretty good. It’s much better than a name like Iron Headbutt….”
Han Xiao clicked his tongue and opened his attribute interface. He quickly found a new golden skill and continuously leveled up. Although he was trying to reach level 360 and did not want to waste his experience, the consumption of leveling up a skill to the maximum would not affect his overall plan.
Very quickly, (Azure Dragon Bind) went from Level1 to Level10, and the minimum control time reached 2.6 seconds. At the same time, it provided additional Strength and Endurance, increasing the difficulty of the target breaking free.
After all, Han Xiao had not added any Strength attribute, so it was only average for his level. However, his Endurance was still passable. He was now focusing on Endurance, adding part of his Attribute Points to Endurance every time he successfully forged a Universal Treasure.
“This expert here finally has a locking skill. If I had this skill before, Subduing Tree King would not have been able to break free so easily.”
Han Xiao rubbed his chest in glee. Just as he was about to find someone to test his skills, his communicator suddenly rang. It was a call from Ames. She said that she was coming to the frontline and told Han Xiao to activate the King to pick her up. Seeing Ames’s firm attitude, Han Xiao did not force her to stay behind and brought her back to the base.
Furthermore, he could use Ames to test out his new move and see how the actual combat effect would be.
Central Galaxy, desolate universe belt.
A small fleet was slowly cruising through the boundless space, seemingly without any destination.
In the command room of the main ship, a group of operators wearing all kinds of armor were piloting a spaceship. From afar, they looked like a group of space pirates. At the front of the command center stood a few intimidating guys wearing hooded robes.
“Due to the invasion of foreign enemies, the armies of the three Universal Civilizations have entered the various Star Fields at the border. Hinterland is currently empty. Furthermore, a large number of galactic residents are currently hiding in the Central Galaxy. This is a good opportunity…” a hooded man said softly.
Hearing this, the other hooded men stirred slightly. The hooded man standing at the front let out a long breath and slowly spoke.
“Forget it, let’s not move now.”
“Why? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” The other person’s voice was filled with excitement and confusion.
“I said no means no!”
The hooded man at the front raised his head slightly, revealing his face under the hood. It was the mysterious Pangon. These hooded men were the Avengers who left the Holy Accord.
“Pangon, are you feeling compassion?” a Beyond Grade A coldly said. “You’re backing off because of the enemy invasion? Are you not willing to affect the so-called ‘big picture’? Don’t forget that our goal is to take revenge on the three Universal Civilizations. We want to wipe out the entire civilization. The enemy is our help from the heavens, and there would be no better time to destroy their rule and give us a chance to fight them with as few losses as possible. Otherwise, do you really think just the few of us can shake the foundation of the three Universal Civilizations!”
“Are you teaching me how to do things?”
Pangon’s expression was equally cold.
This person was not afraid at all. He glared back and said with a deep voice, “Then why do you think we should let go of this opportunity? If our paths are different, it’s better to disband early and go our separate ways.”
The others also trained their gazes at Pangon.
Their civilization had been destroyed by the three Universal Civilizations in the exploration era, and they had a deep-rooted hatred for each other. They had already put their lives on the line for revenge. The World Tree’s invasion made them happy instead of shocked, thinking that the heavens were helping them.
Pangon paused, took out a thick handmade cigarette, lit it, and took a puff. The smoke filled the air with silence.
“Speak!” His teammate demanded coldly.
Pangon glanced at him, tapped the ash off his cigarette, and slowly said, “The Great Relocation Plan should have been the time when the galactic pirates were rampant. But the militaries of the various civilizations are escorting their citizens to the Central Galaxy to take refuge, and the number of galactic residents wandering outside is decreasing… This makes it harder and harder for the galactic pirates to live. Not only is there barely any prey, but the remaining are also being wiped out by the military…”
“What are you trying to say?”
“What I’m saying is, even if we want to seize this opportunity to shake the rule of the three Universal Civilizations, we don’t have enough manpower. We might as well take this opportunity to consolidate the galactic pirates and obtain sufficient armed forces. Otherwise, even if we go to the hinterlands of the three Universal Civilizations to cause trouble, we won’t be able to.”
Pangon paused and analyzed calmly.
“Furthermore, if we obstruct the three Universal Civilizations’ plan, Black Star will surely come and kill us. Do you really want to see him?”
Hearing this, fear flashed in everyone’s eyes, and they fell silent.
Pangon glanced at them and continued smoking, no longer bothering to speak. This was both sincere and an excuse. In all fairness, although the invasion of foreign enemies was a good opportunity to shake the three Universal Civilizations, Pangon did not wish to use this opportunity. One reason was because of Black Star’s threat, and the other was because of the Holy Accord.
After all, this was the hometown of Oathkeeper and his many Holy Accord companions. The fact that he was able to revive meant that he owed the Holy Accord a huge favor. At the same time, he also obtained his freedom. Now that some old friends were fighting against foreign enemies, he was not willing to drag his friends down.
Although he had decided to devote his life to revenge, he did not want to lose his loyalty.
The invasion of foreign enemies might be the only chance to destroy the three Universal Civilizations, but Pangon did not regret abandoning this route. He firmly believed that there would be another way.
The three Universal Civilizations and the World Tree were still engaged in a tug-of-war on the frontlines. After a while, as the first batch of special observation devices was released, the stalemate between the two sides was finally broken. The beyond visual range detection technology from the Ultimate Civilization of a previous iteration broke through the camouflage of the World Tree strongholds one after another and marked the entire camp on the radar. It was almost like they had poked through the fog of war and finally got back the initiative.
The entire intercepting command center was in high spirits, and they immediately organized a large number of players to form the Spacetime Splicing Army. They split up into tens of thousands of troops and headed toward all the camps in an attempt to wipe out all the enemy strongholds. The beyond visual range camps that were helping each other were quickly destroyed, and the hidden strongholds were caught off guard. Under the players’ fearless Spacetime Splicing Charge, the World Tree’s camps were destroyed one after another. The large number of ‘nails’ that the World Tree planted near the intercepting circle were removed.
After more than half a month of intense battle, the World Tree finally gave up on their Over-the-horizon camp tactic that had lost its effect. It no longer sent out new strongholds, allowing the three Universal Civilizations to clear the obstacles in expanding the intercepting circle and anchoring the orbit.
Without any obstruction, the speed of the space anchor’s expansion was quickly thawed and it flowed out quickly, continuing to push the World Tree’s jump point away from the intercepting circle.
In the next few months, the frequency of the clashes between the two armies increased, and the battle became more intense.
During this time, the World Tree launched two more assaults, and the fleet was tens of billions in size, triggering two large-scale battles.
The two battles had been fought by the army, and the World Tree did not send out any high-level combatants. It was purely to exhaust the three Universal Civilizations’ forces. It seemed like before they find a way to restrain Aurora, the World Tree would not allow their advanced combatants to participate in the battle. Furthermore, the experts who died the last time had not all revived, so they could not enter the battlefield.
Although the World Tree replenishment fleet and combatants would also consume resources, due to the World Tree’s characteristics—their resource utilization, resource development, resource regeneration, and resource reserves far exceeded the three Universal Civilizations. They had a huge advantage, and with both sides quickly mobilizing their troops, the World Tree planned to fight the three Universal Civilizations to exhaust their national strength.
Many Beyond Grade As had participated in these two large-scale battles. With Aurora’s help and the fact that the World Tree did not send any Beyond Grade As, the two battles had not been so dangerous, and no one had died yet.
Within a few months, Han Xiao had also provided some of the war technology that The First Sanctum had stored. He had manufactured the products in batches and allocated them to multiple troops, which had a significant effect on the army. This reduced the damage of the three Universal Civilizations’ fleets by quite a bit, and they were able to defeat the World Tree’s assault troops at a lower cost.
The surveillance channels of Destiny’s Child also discovered the signs of these two assaults in advance, which made the three Universal Civilizations wary, further reducing their losses.
With the special beyond vision detection devices provided by Han Xiao, the surveillance range and strength of the three Universal Civilizations had undergone a qualitative change. Even without Destiny’s Child, they were able to discover most of the World Tree’s actions near the intercepting circle. This important technology allowed the three Universal Civilizations to change parts of their strategy, and they no longer felt troubled because of their weakness in detection.
As such, the three Universal Civilizations also looked up at Han Xiao with more importance. They wanted Han Xiao to stay at the base and not participate in any battles, not allowing him to face any danger.
Black Star took out strategic technology one after another as if they were free, and almost every single one of them had the qualifications to be the trump card of an advanced civilization. This shocked the research departments of the three organizations, and they felt that Black Star’s research ability alone was more amazing than their entire department.
While the three Universal Civilizations managed to defeat the two waves of attacks with brute force, their intercepting circle and the space anchor orbit were both destroyed during the advance of the World Tree fleet, and the expansion was indirectly stopped.
Ever since the war broke out more than half a year ago, the two sides had been facing each other in this meat grinder. The World Tree had always been blocked outside and could not break through the blockade. It was as if they had finally exhausted their patience after all this time, as Destiny’s Child had captured important intelligence through the surveillance channels-showing that the World Tree Civilization was mobilizing troops in the territory and planning a new attack.
This was the World Tree’s biggest wave of attacks so far. Its scale was even larger than the previous three combined. It had already exceeded 200 billion, and it was unknown how many more they planned to send!
With such a huge attack, even if the intercepting circle could repel the enemy like the previous three times, it would still be heavily damaged. The moment Han Xiao received the news, he informed the command center and called for an emergency meeting.
Chapter 1356 Fortitude Tree King
In the conference room of the command center, the commanders and Beyond Grade As gathered together.
The three-dimensional star map of the intercepting circle was suspended above the tactical simulation table. Simon stood at the side and kept fiddling with the star map, using his fingers to draw out tactical signs as he explained the current situation.
“… Based on Black Star’s intelligence, the World Tree has gathered a 200 billion large army and is suspected to be launching an all-out attack. This is the distribution map of the various troops on our side, as well as the wormhole support base station. It can be seen that the fastest troops on our side are between sectors A-1075c and N-0744j. If the World Tree attacks this section of the defense line, all of our main defense troops can gather there at the fastest speed possible. However, the other defense lines are gathering at a slightly slower speed. This time difference might be the breakthrough point, causing the World Tree to break through the first and second layers of defense with its enormous strength. The strategic depth and wormhole support base will threaten the third and later layers of defense, creating a vicious cycle where we can only be passive…”
The expressions of the high-ranked commanders were grave. The pressure of a 200 billion large fleet was much higher than the previous three assaults. Any small factor could be the other party’s breakthrough point.
“I think after the previous three failures, the other party won’t repeat the same mistake this time. He will most likely change his attacking method and won’t charge straight in.”
“Our construction time is still too short. Not only does the World Tree want to break through the blockade, but it also wants to destroy our fortifications in one go. Only by removing the blockade-that we keep pushing forward-can they then stabilize the jump point and build the bridgehead to invade our territory.”
“We need more reinforcements from the rear. It’s best to increase the distance between the first two layers of defense and the strategic depth of the rear defense line to prevent the enemy from breaking through the blockade.”
The commanders of the troops expressed their opinions one after another, and the group discussed them fervently.
As for the Beyond Grade As, they only listened and did not participate.
However, after the upper echelons argued for a while, Simon turned around to ask Han Xiao.
“Black Star, what do you think?”
“You guys can decide on this. I have no objections.”
Han Xiao shook his head and expressed that he would let the professionals do the job.
However, he paused for a moment and added, “The World Tree is most likely aware of the source of the information leak. The authenticity of the information I obtained might also be the World Tree’s deliberate plan. This risk has to be considered.”
Simon took a deep breath and said, “I understand, but even if we can’t confirm if the intelligence is real or fake, we have to be prepared to deal with the 200 billion large fleet. Even if there’s only a one in a thousand chance that it’s real, we have to be on guard, or the consequences will be dire.”
“Indeed.” Han Xiao nodded. If it was true and he did not take precautions beforehand, he would most likely be killed by the World Tree. In the previous two attacks, Destiny’s Child had also monitored it. Han Xiao had also kept his suspicions, but in the end, it proved that the intelligence was accurate. However, this did not make him feel at ease. Instead, he became more vigilant.
If the World Tree had deliberately leaked information about the previous two attacks in an attempt to reduce their wariness, then it must have been holding back a big move to send fake information at the critical moment. It was just that they had no idea what the World Tree was planning.
“Thankfully, I found a new type of observation device from the First Sanctum and equipped the three Universal Civilizations with it. The World Tree won’t be able to act in secret like before. Any movements will be discovered.”
Han Xiao thought to himself.
Ever since the three Universal Civilizations had applied the special beyond visible range detection technology that he had provided to the battlefield, their reliance on Destiny’s Child’s surveillance channels had decreased greatly. Even if the World Tree had some plan, it could not be carried out secretly, and the risk was greatly reduced.
After a long meeting, the commanders left with heavy hearts.
Han Xiao and the others also left the conference room and returned to their residences.
On the way, Kasuyi pushed through the crowd and came to Han Xiao’s side. “The World Tree did not send any high-level combatants in the previous two attacks, but this time, it suddenly launched an all-out attack. Do you think it might have found a way to restrict Aurora?”
Han Xiao glanced at him. Before he could say anything, Sun Hunter jumped from Han Xiao’s shoulder to Kasuyi’s head and muttered in a low voice, “Heh, they might be planning to ignore the high-level combatants like us and just attack the defense line with their troops.”
“Ignore us? That’s possible. As long as they’re willing to take the risk of a local battle, no matter how powerful we are, we won’t be able to have a significant impact in a war of this scale. At most, we can open up a few opportunities.” Kasuyi pondered.
Seeing that the two of them were chatting, Han Xiao also gave up on the idea of responding and turned to look at Ames. “Hmm? Why are you looking at me?” Ames raised her brows.
“The enemy has brought out 200 billion fleets. Are you afraid?” Han Xiao asked casually.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Ames shook her head. In the past few months, she had participated in the first two attacks of the World Tree, so she now had some war experience. “This time is different. The World Tree might bring out a high-level combatant. You have not participated in the first large-scale battle and have not fought with the World Tree experts. They are very difficult to deal with.”
“It’s a good opportunity for me to experience it,” Ames’s expression remained calm.
“Don’t look down on him. The intensity of the battle between Beyond Grade As cannot be compared to the previous two battles. I suggest you follow Milizaus.” Han Xiao pointed at Old Dragon.
“Why do I need to follow him?” Ames was curious.
“He’s so big. If you hide behind him, no one will be able to hit you. If necessary, you can even throw him out with force to help you block the attacks.”
Han Xiao shrugged.
“…You know I can hear you, right?”
Milizaus’ magic incarnation could not help but look over in resignation.
“I just want you to hear it. Her moniker is the Dragon Emperor. Isn’t it reasonable for her to sit on you?” Han Xiao curled his lips.
“That sounds familiar. Did you tell me this before?”
Milizaus snorted, not taking it seriously.
Han Xiao shrugged. “Don’t you think this strategy has some merit to it?”.
“I don’t think so at all. Plus, my body size has already shrunk a lot, so I won’t be targeted by the enemy at all. This plan will surely be useless.” Milizaus was very calm. People who had successfully lost some weight would always be this tough.
“Then recover your body. You have such a huge body, but you don’t shield your teammates from the wind and rain. This is a waste of God’s gift!”
What nonsense… Milizaus rolled his eyes and ignored Han Xiao.
The people were not scared by the large-scale battle that was about to break out. They returned to their residence chatting and laughing. Han Xiao closed the door, and his smile disappeared.
He had a feeling that the World Tree was going to use its high-level combatants this time, and the Tree King should not have revived yet. This time, there might be a new Tree King coming Among the five Great Tree Kings, only the Subduing Tree King had the simplest and most violent ability. The other few were all full of tricks. No matter who came, they would only be harder to deal with than him.
At the same time, in the Flickering World, in the territory of the Black Star Army, on a desolate planet.
Boom!
The two blurry figures were like shooting stars as they flew across the barren land, colliding with each other continuously. Every time they collided, an intense shockwave exploded, leaving huge craters on the ground.
Suddenly, the two figures came to a halt and revealed their appearances. One was Lothaire, and the other was Karlot.
Lothaire spun the dagger with his finger and put it into the blade pouch on his waist. “Your strength has increased again. You can already withstand my current strength. I will release more combat strength in the next combat training and continue squeezing out your potential.”
“Alright, I will train hard.” Karlot’s fists clashed together creating sparks. His face was filled with determination.
This was not the first time that he had requested to go to the frontlines to fight the enemies, but Black Star had rejected every time. He knew that this was a sign that Han Xiao valued his potential and was giving him time to grow. Karlot understood that his main mission was to focus on training and grow to the point where he could rush to the frontlines to help Han Xiao. Therefore, after the war broke out, he took the initiative to train every day.
“Hmm, at this rate you will become a Beyond Grade A soon…” Although Lothaire said this, he was secretly cursing
After training Karlot for the past few days, he realized that Karlot’s improvement was extraordinary. Furthermore, his growth did not slow down because of his increasing strength. Instead, it became faster and faster. It was as if there was no bottleneck. His daily improvement was visible to the naked eye.
Lothaire had originally been curious about why Han Xiao thought so highly of Karlot, but now, he no longer had any doubts.
There really was such a genius in the world? How did Black Star manage to dig him out?
World Tree Territory, Tree King Palace. On the five thrones sat two figures. One was the Heart Tree King, and the other was the Fortitude Tree King covered in heavy armor. Below the two Tree Kings stood many Executive Officers. Some of those who had died in the battles before had been revived.
“Has the information been released?”
“It has been shown through the foreseers,” Tedrian replied with his head lowered.
“Hmm, I hope they will place all their attention on this.”
The Heart Tree King rubbed the armrest as he nodded slowly.
Tedrian continued, “In the previous attacks, we have already calculated the rough structure of the intercepting circle, as well as the number of troops the other party has stationed along with the follow-up reinforcement limit. This time, we will increase the strength of our troops, and we should be able to break through the intercepting circle in one go. At the very least, we will be able to clear their spatial anchor orbit…”
Hearing this, the Heart Tree King nodded and did not say anything else. He waved his hand and let the executives leave.
Very soon, only the two tree kings were left in the palace.
The Fortitude Tree King turned his head slightly. He seemed to be looking at the Heart Tree King from the corner of his eyes behind the mask.
“You’ve already decided to take action personally? Is this what you want me to do?”
“Hmm, I’m the only one who can deal with that recovery-type Esper, and that Universal Treasure can only be used to its fullest potential in my hands… If I die there, you’ll be in charge of the matters here,” the Heart Tree King said calmly.
“How long will it take for the Subduing Tree King to revive?” The Fortitude Tree King frowned.
“Although I’m supplying him with resources every day, it’ll still take some time.” The Heart Tree King waved his hand.
The Fortitude Tree King was silent for a bit, “In that case, bring my Lord’s Avatar, Apostle Weapons, and mechanical army over.” “You plan to save my life?”
“If I let you stay alive, you can manage the affairs here, and I can continue to stay comfortably in the mother tree and absorb nutrients,” the Fortitude Tree King said coldly.
The Heart Tree King shook his head. “The civilization this time is very strong. Sooner or later, you will have to participate in it yourself.”
“We’ll see.”
After saying this, the Fortitude Tree King’s body melted into the tree crown and disappeared.
Seeing this, the Heart Tree King felt a little resigned.
No matter how hardworking they were in the past, after being chosen as a Tree King, one would become lazier and lazier. This applied even to the Fortitude Tree King-a Mechanic.
He still remembered that this guy was a research maniac before he became the Tree King. Now, he could not even be bothered to build machinery, let alone research and develop. He had relied on the Mother Tree to transform everything for him…..
Comparatively, the Heart Tree King preferred the Subduing Tree King. He could make that guy work with just a few words. Compared to the others, he was indeed the best tool.
The three Universal Civilizations received news from Han Xiao that the World Tree was suspected to be planning for a new attack, and they began to prepare for war. The waiting troops stationed at the rear were mobilized, causing the intercepting force to rise steadily in numbers.
As Destiny’s Child did not obtain any intelligence on the World Tree’s subsequent actions, the three Universal Civilizations could only remain vigilant and maintain the highest level of detection throughout the day. The officers of the various levels were also tense and did not dare relax. It was as if they knew a knife would slash at them but did not know when.
Due to the expansion of the intercepting perimeter, the wormhole support network also had to be extended. The three Universal Civilizations could not be sure which area the World Tree would attack.
In the blink of an eye, almost a month had passed, but the World Tree still did not launch an attack. Just as the three Universal Civilizations were starting to suspect that this was a trap, a report finally sounded from the detection device. A large fleet of the World Tree had entered the observation area and was slowly advancing toward the intercepting circle. The number of battleships was more than 200 billion, which was clearly the new wave of invading troops that the intelligence had shown.
Due to the special observation device that Han Xiao had provided, the three Universal Civilizations’ range of detection far exceeded their area of control. This meant that they could launch an attack at the World Tree fleet from a further distance, indirectly increasing the strategic distance between them and their enemies for interception.
After the three Universal Civilizations locked onto their target, they immediately activated their over-the-horizon firepower. At the same time, they used the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device to send out the Spacetime Splicing Self-Destructing Team in an attempt to exhaust more enemy forces.
The World Tree Army endured a period of indiscriminate bombardment before passing through a large portion of the strategic depth and arriving at the edge of the area controlled by the three Universal Civilizations. In front of them was the space anchor network that sealed the jump points. However, the World Tree Army did not behave like the previous three times. To prevent too many troops from being consumed on the way, they stopped at the edge of the three Universal Civilizations’ control area and expanded the Lerbo Space Protection Belt to block the long-range attacks of the fleet. At the same time, they split up and coordinated with each other while sweeping through the space anchoring tracks.
This time it seemed like the World Tree did not want to launch a sudden attack. Instead, it planned to use the large army as the base to launch a large-scale battle.
The fleet sweeping the orbit this time was not the small fleet from before. It was much larger, and the three Universal Civilizations were in a dilemma. They knew that the World Tree was forcing them to leave the interception fortifications and go out to fight in the wild, which would make it more efficient for them to be dealt with.
In the past few times, the interception circle had played a huge role in blocking the attacks of the World Tree. The most important thing was the wormhole network hidden in the middle of the layers of defense lines. This allowed them to be able to quickly gather their forces and arrive at the main area of the blockade.
If this was changed to a field battle, the Three Universal Civilizations’ advantage in this aspect would be greatly reduced. Although the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device could also provide support, it was still a Universal Treasure that cost a lot to build. The restriction in its use caused the efficiency of sending troops in large quantities to be lower than the usual wormhole support channel.
However, if they did not do anything towards the World Tree fleet’s actions, the space stabilization orbit that they had set up in the past few days would be destroyed. After weighing the pros and cons, the three Universal Civilizations sent out a portion of their forces to try and stop the World Tree fleet, and they continued to attack the large troops that the World Tree fleet had stationed at the edge of the control area. This led to many intense battles in the three Universal Civilizations area.
In order to reduce the casualties in the local battles, the Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations took action one after another to help their troops fight against the enemy fleet. They were equipped with The King mechanical suits and could retreat to the intercepting base at any time. However, the experts from the World Tree did not appear, as though they did not intend to restrain the advanced combatants of the three Universal Civilizations.
Although the three Universal Civilizations had won most of the battles with relatively low casualties, they were unable to repair or maintain a stable space orbit under the pressure of the enemy’s army, and they had to continuously suffer attacks. A short repulse of the sweeping troops was like drinking poison to quench their thirst.
After fighting like this for more than a month, both sides had lost tens of billions of troops. The three Universal Civilizations finally decided that they could not stop the enemy from destroying all the spatial stabilization orbits, so they had no choice but to throw away this burden and retract their forces to preserve their strength. They no longer invested their troops in a battle of attrition but exchanged for a different strategy to wipe out the World Tree Civilization’s troops in the long-distance attack movements.
The two sides fought for another period of time. The World Tree Army finally wiped out all the space anchoring tracks set by the three Universal Civilizations after three months or so, freeing up the jump points of all the vanguard troops in the past half a year. They had paid almost a hundred billion troops for this.
On April 6, Year 784 in the Galaxy Calendar, the World Tree Army, which had been
ationed at the edge of the control zone for months, finally started to attack the intercepting circle.
After a period of traversing, the World Tree Army, which only had about half of its troops left, finally crossed the strategic zones that the three Universal Civilizations set up, attempting to break through the blockade. They immediately engaged in an intense battle with the three Universal Civilizations.
The three Universal Civilizations were waiting for the enemy to be exhausted, and they also had the advantage in numbers. As soon as the battle started, they quickly gained the upper hand. According to this trend, it would not be difficult for them to withstand this wave of attacks and wipe out the World Tree fleet.
However, on the third day of the battle, three World Tree reinforcements arrived from the nearest jump point, and a total of 150 billion soldiers entered the battle. They attacked different areas, and the pressure on the three Universal Civilizations increased exponentially.
After fighting for five more days, two more batches of World Tree reinforcements arrived, totaling hundreds of billions.
On the ninth day, the eighty billion strong World Tree fleet arrived.
On the 14th day, 140 billion enemy reinforcements arrived.
On the twentieth day, 206 billion enemy reinforcements arrived.
The reinforcements from the World Tree were endless. The more people on the front line died, the more reinforcements would come from the rear. They wanted to fully utilize the advantage of a war of attrition, completely wearing down the entire intercepting circle!
“C-1008a battlefront is in an urgent situation … L-0213b battlefield front is in an urgent situation…”
The scene in the command room was very busy. The emotionless synthesized sound of the spaceship’s artificial intelligence was constantly broadcasting the emergency alarms in the various war zones. Simon and the other upper echelons stared at the surveillance cameras of the battlefield with bloodshot eyes.
The intense battle had already lasted for almost a month, and it did not stop for even a second. All the surviving generals were exhausted, and the losses of both sides had already exceeded a hundred billion.
On their side, almost all the Beyond Grade As were injured. These injuries were all caused by the World Tree fleet and no fights between the experts on the two sides were included. The World Tree’s endless reinforcements put the battle at risk, and even the Beyond Grade As had no choice but to fight to resist the fleet. In this month, they seemed to have become firefighters-stabilizing the various battlefields that were in danger time and time again, without much time to rest and recover.
Even so, the contributions of many Beyond Grade As were only a drop in the bucket. Many Beyond Grade As were worried. Although the high-level combatants of the World Tree did not take part in the battle, causing no new Beyond Grade As to appear on their side, seeing the three Universal Civilizations becoming more and more disadvantaged, everyone was worried.
Kasuyi looked at the battle monitors and came to Han Xiao’s side. He said in a low voice, “The World Tree has launched an all-out attack, ignoring the casualties and fighting head-on. The first and second layers of defense have already been penetrated, and the enemy’s reinforcements are still coming. From the looks of it, the intercepting circle would not be able to hold.”
“I guess so.”
Han Xiao heaved a sigh, having a solemn expression. He was equally fatigued as the rest.
The high-intensity war that lasted for a month had turned this place into a meat grinder. Most of the players had used up their daily revival quotas. In such a place, there was a limit to what he could do.
This time, the World Tree did not use any special plan. It simply relied on the advantage of numbers to fight head-on. If they did not break through the blockade, they would not stop sending reinforcements. If fighting for a month was not enough, then two months, three months… they could only be described with one word, reckless!
The intercepting circle could not stop the World Tree’s advancement forever, and it would break sooner or later. However, this day seemed to have come earlier than expected. From the beginning of the formation, it only bought the three Universal Civilizations about a year more.
“Black Star, we have to consider retreating too,” Kasuyi softly spoke.
Han Xiao ignored him, his gaze fixed at the battlefield outside.
Countless battleships were engaged in a fierce battle. The dazzling lights from their cannons were akin to the stars in the sky, silent and bright with a destructive aura. Every second, countless lives were being thrown into the embrace of death.
Even if the three Universal Civilizations’ troops were routed, they would still have plenty of time to retreat.
Even if the World Tree had passed through the intercepting circle, it would still take a long time to reach the edge of the Flickering World. However, the three Universal Civilizations would most likely not be able to replicate a defensive line similar to the intercepting circle. This meant that the continuous charging of the World Tree Civilization could be seen as the countdown timer for the three Universal Civilizations’ demise.
At this time, another World Tree fleet entered the battlefield. The familiar Tree King Halo followed and immediately increased the combat power of many World Tree members, attracting everyone’s attention.
“This is the ability of the Tree King… They’ve finally sent out their high-level combatants. The three Universal Civilizations can hardly hold on any longer. If the Tree King uses his halo at this time, it will probably be the last straw that breaks the camel’s back. I wonder which Tree King has come this time…”
Han Xiao’s eyes flashed with unprecedented seriousness.
Not only him, but all the other Beyond Grade As also focused their attention on the source of the halo.
In the real-time surveillance footage, the battle lines between the three Universal Civilizations’ intercepting troops and the World Tree invasion fleet were extremely long. They were divided into many different war zones. The three most important war zones were the interception defense lines that the World Tree attacked heavily with troops numbering hundreds of billions.
Under everyone’s gaze, a new fleet entered the main battlefield. There were not many of them, only a few hundred million, but they emitted extremely condensed energy fluctuations, displaying Beyond Grade A energy sources one after another on the radar. As soon as this small fleet entered the battlefield, it brought a significant change to the main warzone. A green light spread out, and every World Tree battleship that was swept by it lit up with a faint green light, and with the enhancement of the Tree King’s halo, the stalemate was immediately broken. The speed they were pushing forward with increased significantly. “If this line of defense is breached, they will be able to reach the wormhole support network at the back of the war zone very soon. The situation will become even worse. This place will become a breakthrough point.”
Simon looked at the situation. His deduction was the same as what the artificial intelligence had analyzed.
Secret Master crossed his arms and said with a deep voice, “You want us to kill this tree king? The difficulty is too high. Unless he leaves the protection of the fleet, we will only be throwing our lives away if we take the initiative to charge at him.”
The other commander turned to look at Han Xiao. “Black Star, what do you say?” “Let’s wait and see. There’s no opportunity right now.”
It was rare for Han Xiao to have the same thought. Although he really wanted to get rid of this unknown tree king that had suddenly entered the battlefield, the other party was under the protection of hundreds of billions of fleets, so the possibility of killing him was too low.
Furthermore, the previous incident of the Tree King being killed had been sent back to the World Tree. This time, the Tree King would probably stay in the fleet obediently and not give him a chance.
He had already provided a lot of intelligence and technology, allowing the three Universal Civilizations to be in a much better situation than in his previous life. However, military strength had always been the World Tree’s forte. Once they have launched a large-scale attack, the three Universal Civilizations would have to fight head-on if they wish to protect their territory. There were no shortcuts.
Although there were differences in technology between the two sides, they both had advanced civilizations that were equipped with lethal strategic technologies. For example, they knew how to defuse and counter the various spatial and dimension weapons. Most of the flashy technologies were useless against each other and could only be used to bully the weak. Only a small portion of their unique technologies was indecipherable.
The advantage of a Beyond Grade A was that their mobility and strength were concentrated in their individual body, and their strength was in guerrilla warfare. However, in such a large galactic battlefield, guerrilla warfare was unsuitable.
Generally speaking, the number of enemies did not mean much to Beyond Grade As. Whether it was tens or hundreds of billions of fleets, as long as they did not complete the encirclement, it would be very easy for Beyond Grade As to escape. However, due to strategic reasons, many Beyond Grade As had no choice but to hold the line here. This was not the forte of strong individuals. The time it took to destroy tens of thousands of battleships was more than enough for tens of billions of fleets to fire at the same time. Naturally, the efficiency of large scaling was incomparable.
However, only when dealing with foreign enemies would the Universal Civilizations bring out such a force. If they were to use it in a civil war, many new desolate universe belts would emerge.
“Send more reinforcements.” Simon also knew that the risk was too high, so he did not request for a group of Beyond Grade As to carry out this mission. He only sent more troops to fill this war zone. The World Tree Civilization kept sending reinforcements, and the three Universal Civilizations did the same. This was also the reason why the intercepting circle could last for a month. Otherwise, it would have been broken by the World Tree’s second reinforcement.
As the spatial anchoring orbits had been cleared, the World Tree’s jump point was directly outside the intercepting circle, and the reinforcement distance was shortened. Therefore, the reinforcements could quickly enter the battlefield.
However, just as Simon gave the order, something happened. The reinforcements did not stay in the main formation but came to the crossfire area. One World Tree powerhouse after another flew out and surrounded a tall and skinny figure. The Tree King Halo on his body revealed his identity.
A group of Beyond Grade As patrolled back and forth on the battlefield, retreating every now and then. In terms of team battles, they were at the front.
“Hmm?”
Everyone’s expression changed slightly.
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes. “This guy wants to lure our high-level combatants out.”
Everyone nodded. They naturally understood that the Tree King and a group of high-level combatants had not just appeared to take a stroll, but because they were unsatisfied with expending the three Universal Civilizations’ forces.
If the three Universal Civilizations tried to surround them with troops, the Tree King and the others would surely retreat to the main formation. Only by sending out their high-level combatants would the Tree King and the others be willing to stay behind to fight and carry out the Exchange tactic that they had always thought was effective. Their goal was to exhaust the experts of the three Universal Civilizations.
If they did not do something about the Tree King, he would continue to provide halo buff, increasing the pressure on this war zone and opening up the battlefield. There was no loss for him.
It was as if he was exposing himself and providing an opportunity. If they did not go up and attack him, the opportunity would be wasted.
“Humph, looks like they are very confident,” Reeve clenched his fists, eager to give it a try. She had never fought with a World Tree expert before.
Manison calmly said, “Be careful. They know that we have a recovery-type Esper and can greatly reduce our losses, but they still used the Tree King as bait to attempt the Exchange tactic. Maybe they have already found a way to deal with our recovery-type Esper.” “We can’t rule out the possibility that they think that exchanging a hundred people for a few of us will be profitable,” Sun Hunter said with a deep voice. “So, are we going up?” Kasuyi turned to look at Han Xiao, and everyone looked over. Han Xiao did not reply immediately. Instead, he looked at the tree king who was being protected by many powerful experts.
After experiencing the war in his previous life, he naturally recognized the appearance of every tree king. Information about this person flashed through his mind.
‘Heart Tree King Minacho, a Psychic among the five tree kings, has many methods. Although his strength is not much different from Subduing Tree King, he is probably twice as difficult to deal with. In my previous life, he heavily injured Kasuyi and Oathkeeper respectively and instigated more than four Beyond Grade As. Other than being killed in the last battle, he does not have any other records of death. The most common methods are Psychic Teleportation, Thoughts Tampering, Spirit Tide…’
The abilities of a Psychic were extremely strange and Han Xiao felt that it was extremely difficult to deal with them. The most threatening ability was the ability of instigation. It was extremely difficult to change the mind of a Beyond Grade A, and it was not something that could be done in a short time. The other party would most likely be unable to complete it during the battle, but even the slightest risk could not be ignored.
Han Xiao turned around and took in the expressions of the commanders. He took a deep breath and said:
“Since there’s a chance, let’s give it a try. If we can kill this tree king, the situation in this war zone will be much better. This is one of the few things we can do at the moment.”
Han Xiao had another thought. Heart Tree King was a huge threat. If he could keep him here, the subsequent battles would be much easier.
Hearing this, the group nodded, and the Beyond Grade As who chose to join the battle walked out.
On the way to the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, Han Xiao was a few steps behind Aurora. He then opened his private communication device.
“Be careful later. I suspect that the Tree King will use his mental power to attack you from afar. Even if some of your life energy leaks, you’d better not go near the battlefield-even if you have to watch some of your comrades die. Remember to make Sorokin stay beside you and protect you. Although he’s annoying, he can at least block a few mental attacks for
you.”
“Got it.” Aurora nodded obediently.
On the other side, in the main war zone surrounded by the Tree King’s halo. Heart Tree King calmly led a group of resurrected World Tree experts around the battlefield. With so many Beyond Grade As gathered together, it was naturally very conspicuous. Wherever they passed, the fleets of the three Universal Civilizations focused their fire on them.
However, the nearby World Tree fleet kept using their shields to block the attacks for the Heart Tree King. Thus, Heart Tree King and the others seemed to be taking a stroll on the intense battlefield.
“Aren’t the enemies sending their high-level combatants?”
Heart Tree King kept looking at the three Universal Civilizations’ line of defense, but he was not anxious at all. After all, he had the initiative and was very patient. As soon as he said that, Fortitude Tree King’s voice sounded in his mind.
“Humph, I think you should come back. They probably won’t dare to make a move. Don’t waste my time. I want to return to the mother tree.”
“Bear with it.”
Heart Tree King was helpless.
For the Lord to descend, Fortitude Tree King had to be in the base. It had only been a short while, but he could not take it anymore and felt lazy to the bones.
At this moment, Fortitude Tree King was still on standby and had yet to activate his ability. They only had the powerless Lord’s Avatar’s body in their hands. This was Heart Tree King’s request. This was a card he prepared to summon Fortitude Tree King when the time was right.
He still wanted to say something, but the next moment, Beyond Grade A energy suddenly appeared in his senses.
Heart Tree King and the many World Tree experts looked in the direction of the energy source and saw a group of Beyond Grade As flying out from the three Universal Civilizations’ fleets and attacking them from across the battlefield. The leader was the outsider that left a deep impression on them.
“As expected, they still came… The number of people seems to have increased. It seems like they are using the same tactic, holding back their high-level combatants.” Heart Tree King’s eyes flickered. Seeing the revivors participating in this battle, he immediately thought that they were the hidden experts of the three Universal Civilizations. As for Garoze and the others who had died in the previous battle, they did not join the battle because they were worried about their lives, so he naturally could not see them.
“Attack! Do your best to cause damage and force their recovery Esper out.” As this thought flashed through his mind, Heart Tree King did not show any signs of weakness. He took the lead and charged forward with the World Tree powerhouses following behind him.
The Beyond Grade As on both sides passed through the battlefield. There was no communication, they directly entered the enemy’s formation and clashed. The last time, the three Universal Civilizations had no choice but to surround and attack a portion of the peak Beyond Grade As. This time, the rest of the World Tree experts were stopped by the other peak Beyond Grade A Revivors. Reeve, Hilbert, and the others went to fight the Executive Officers, the high-level Holy Tree Emissaries, and the members of the 13 Ancestral Spirits. The number of experts sent by the World Tree this time was almost the same as the last time, and they were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. As soon as they fought, they were suppressed by the Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations.
Han Xiao turned into the Mechanical Deity and went to find Heart Tree King. The energy shockwaves and psychic shockwaves exploded between the two of them, creating continually bursting blue and white bubbles.
Heart Tree King’s combat style was completely different from that of Subduing Tree King. As a Psychic, he did not like to fight head-on and relied on his strange methods to move around nimbly. From time to time, he would release large AOE spells and convert his psychic energy into physical psychic energy, forming layers of shields to block the Mechanical Deity’s torrential attacks.
Swoosh!
Psionic energy vibrated, and a huge mechanical blade slashed across. Heart Tree King seemed to have seen through it, and with a nimble dodge, he used psychic energy to pull his body away, avoiding the slash that contained Getta Hadoken.
The blade light was like a dark blue waterfall, sweeping across the battlefield. Hundreds of battleships exploded into smoke.
“Outsider, this is the first time we’ve met, right? I could not fight you the last time you came to our territory and caused a ruckus.”
While dodging the close-range attacks of the Mechanical Deity and the mechanical army, Heart Tree King sent a mental message to Han Xiao.
Han Xiao did not reply. He raised his hand and shot out a few thin, dark red rays of light. Heart Tree King’s body flashed, and he moved a distance away as though he had teleported. The rays of light only shattered the afterimages that he left behind.
This guy is so slippery…
Han Xiao clicked his tongue.
The psychic power of Heart Tree King was extremely sensitive. He used his psychic power to pull and control his body and was extremely agile. At the same time, he also constantly released mental interference to mislead the direction of his attacks and reduce his hit rate. Even when facing the bombardment from the mechanical army that had almost no blind spots, Heart Tree King was able to dodge them with ease, as though he had seen through all the attack trajectories in advance.
Heart Tree King’s fighting style was the exact opposite of Kasuyi’s wide-open combat style that ignored mana. It was exquisite and focused on harassing and exhausting the enemy. He flew around the enemy like a mosquito, stabbing the enemy from time to time before retreating immediately. It was very difficult for the enemy to hit him. His fighting style was very dirty and annoying.
‘Pugilists are still the best. They like to fight head-on, how easy it is…’
Han Xiao could not help but miss Subduing Tree King. However, although Heart Tree King was very agile, he had no choice but to focus on dealing with Han Xiao’s attacks. Both of them restrained the other party.
While the two of them were fighting, in a certain battlefield not far away, a direct Beyond Grade A fought very fiercely. He exchanged blows with the Holy Tree Emissary and suffered heavy injuries. The next moment, a few dazzling beams of life energy shot out from the three Universal Civilizations’ fleets.
The Holy Tree Emissary, who was long prepared, endured the pain and shot out a series of spells to intercept the life energy. Half of the life energy was scattered by his spells, but the remaining life energy suddenly changed its route, drawing a strange twisted path and hitting the target. This direct Beyond Grade A’s life force quickly recovered. “It hit!” Aurora, who was in the protective circle of the fleet, was overjoyed.
She had not spent the past half a year in vain. Every day, she trained her control over the life energy that left her body so that she could avoid being intercepted by the enemy and heal the target. On the other side, Heart Tree King could not help but divert some of his attention to look in Aurora’s direction.
“Found her…”
Before he could finish his thought, a few splitting rays arrived in front of him. He was slightly distracted, and he was a step too slow to dodge them, leaving several burning marks on his body.
Heart Tree King hurriedly retracted his attention and covered his wounds while avoiding the continuous pursuit from the mechanical army. “I really can’t afford to be distracted when dealing with this fellow. Fortunately, someone is able to stop him and give me the time to make a move…” The next second, Heart Tree King suddenly retreated, and Han Xiao immediately chased after him.
One chased as the other fled, and their battlefield shifted by a large distance. A powerful Beyond Grade A energy suddenly rose from a World Tree battleship beside them.
The spaceship exploded, and a dark green Mechanical Deity appeared as though it had broken out of its shell. Its body expanded rapidly, and it held a double-edged mechanical war blade that was covered in energy circuits. The blade lashed down with astonishing psionic energy. At the same time, green armored mechanical soldiers swarmed out and bit Han Xiao’s mechanical army.
“This energy… another Tree King!”
Han Xiao raised his brows and immediately raised his blade to meet the attack. Two gigantic Mechanical Deity weapons, one black, and one green clashed.
Clang!
The sound of heavy metals hitting each other reached everyone’s mind, and a dazzling electric arc appeared in an instant. A huge energy shock wave swept away everything around it.
“Humph, outsider, I’ll be your opponent.” Fortitude Tree King’s voice sounded in the public channel.
“Who are you?”
Han Xiao looked at the combat information and raised his brows in surprise. This Tree King was not one of the five Great Tree Kings he knew in his previous life!
Wasn’t Emperor Tree King the Mechanic class Tree King? Where did this Tree King pop out from ?
While he was still in shock, Heart Tree King took advantage of the fact that Fortitude Tree King was blocking his opponent and left the battlefield. He locked onto Aurora’s life force with his mind.
Then, he opened his arms, and a diamond-shaped purple leaf appeared on his chest, spinning and emitting strange fluctuations.
The next moment, Heart Tree King’s mental strength burst forth.
“Illusion – Mind Lock!”
This is a warning to those who are downvoting comments using guest account without any reason. know this you may be downvoting with guest account but I still have your IP and I will permanently block your access to this still if you don’t stop.
Chapter 1359 Thought Seal, Herberlon Moves
Surging psychic energy flowed into the floating purple crystal leaf, and a beam of purple light shot out toward Aurora, who was in the protective circle of the three Universal Civilizations.
Seeing this, a portion of the mechanical army closest to the beam shook off the entanglement of Fortitude Tree King and formed a psionic shield in front of the beam.
However, the moment they came into contact, the light purple beam did not show any signs of being obstructed. Its speed did not change at all, and it easily penetrated the psionic shield as though it did not exist. The mechanical soldiers that blocked it with their bodies were also penetrated, but their bodies were not damaged at all. It was as though this beam did not exist in the material world and could ignore all kinds of defenses.
“Hmm? Stop this attack.” Han Xiao had been paying attention to Heart Tree King’s actions. Although he did not know what method Heart Tree King had used, it would be best to stop it. He pushed Fortitude Tree King’s mechanical body away and immediately called his teammates who were fighting all over the battlefield.
Hearing Han Xiao’s command, a portion of the Beyond Grade As who were closer to Han Xiao barely managed to divert their attention. They used various methods, throwing out their magic, Esper Abilities, and Psychic powers in an attempt to disperse the light purple beam, but they were all penetrated.
Seeing this, everyone was shocked.
“What ability is this?”
“I can’t block it. Why does it look like it has the characteristics of the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter “
Under everyone’s gaze, the beam of light passed through the Beyond Grade As’ battle zone and shot into the protective circle of the three Universal Civilizations. It passed through the battleships that came to stop it one after another. No matter how Aurora’s battleship changed its position, the beam of light followed it and quickly entered Aurora’s spaceship. The light purple beam passed through the shield and the exterior armor and shot into the command room, heading straight for Aurora in the room. Sorokin, the double agent, appeared in an instant and sent condensed Psychic energy, but it did not cause any effect. Even his body was penetrated, but he was not injured at all. Just as it was about to hit Aurora, when it was only a few meters away, the light purple beam suddenly slid away as if it had hit an invisible barrier. It flew out of the battleship in a flash.
Aurora, who was in a tense state, heaved a sigh of relief.
“Looks like the Spacetime Amber is still useful…”
In front of her was a Spacetime Amber Ball. Han Xiao had given her a batch of it to protect herself. Currently, there were still not any known items that could pass through the Spacetime Amber Ball.
However, the light purple beam did not dissipate. After flying out of the battleship, it circled and adjusted its position before shooting toward Aurora.
Seeing this scene from afar, Heart Tree King’s expression changed slightly as though he was surprised.
“There’s actually a way to block it? Could it be a special substance that isolates the mother tree from the individual?”
Heart Tree King did not hesitate. He immediately grabbed the purple crystal leaf and activated the green power of the World Tree, instantly activating a new power.
Crack!
Cracks appeared on the surface of the purple crystal leaf. While it was damaged, it released more energy and emitted a halo.
The light purple beam that was chasing Aurora suddenly exploded and disappeared.
At first glance, Sorokin thought that this guy had given up on attacking. However, he suddenly heard a ‘plop’ sound beside him. He turned around and saw Aurora falling to the ground.
“What’s wrong?”
Sorokin was shocked as he quickly approached Aurora. He saw that Aurora’s eyes were lifeless, and she was staring straight ahead. Her eyes did not move at all, as though she had lost her senses.
He quickly used his psychic energy to probe Aurora’s mind, only to discover that Aurora’s consciousness had already been sealed up and was wrapped within a thick purple crystal. Green energy flowed within the crystal and his psychic energy could not penetrate it.
“What’s going on? Aurora and I have broken our soul link!” Hila’s voice sounded in the channel. She was the first to notice the abnormality, and her tone was urgent.
“Aurora has lost consciousness. Some kind of energy has sealed her thoughts. I don’t know what kind of psychic ability it is… Not good, I can’t undo it in a short time.”
Sorokin told the truth and used his psychic energy to attack the purple crystal. However, the purple crystal in Aurora’s mind was extremely tough, and his psychic energy could only leave shallow marks on it. Very soon, the purple crystal repaired itself.
Swoosh!
Just as he said that Han Xiao used The King to leave the battlefield and instantly appeared beside Aurora. Without saying a word, he poked Aurora and forced out combat information to check on Aurora’s condition.
All of Aurora’s abilities turned into a frozen gray color, and a special status appeared in her stats window.
[Illusion – Mind Lock]: The sealed individual’s thoughts and consciousness enter a vegetative state. The target will fall into infinite illusion composed of their desires, ambitions, visions, imagination, fear, dreams, goals, and other factors. If the target treats the illusion as the truth, they will continuously supply energy to the seal. The seal will not weaken with time and will instead grow stronger. Meanwhile, the target will continue to grow weaker and be unable to see through the illusion. Duration: Unknown.
“A thought seal that even Sorokin finds difficult to break… It must be a Universal Treasure’s characteristic.”
The purple crystal leaf that Heart Tree King had taken out flashed past Han Xiao’s mind, and his face tightened. He did not have any information about this item in his previous life.
The eruption just now ignored the distance and attack path and turned into a direct attack within the range. It was like a spiritual explosion that directly affected an individual. As long as Aurora was not wrapped up tightly by the Spacetime Amber, there would always be a gap and she would suffer the attack.
If this move was used on others, it would also pose a great threat, but Heart Tree King only used it on one person. Furthermore, the purple crystal leaf was damaged after it was used, so there might be some restrictions.
This is not good. Aurora’s energy level is still too low… Han Xiao’s eyes narrowed.
Aurora’s Esper Ability was special, but her own level was limited. The effect of Heart Tree King’s seal was very obvious, and the chances of her seeing through the illusion were too low. If her strength was at the peak Beyond Grade A level, the seal would definitely not be as strong as it was now. “Anyone with psychic abilities, come and try to unseal it.”
Han Xiao immediately gave the order. He did not have time to stay there any longer. He quickly activated the King’s repeated warping ability and returned to his original position. In just a short while, the Mechanical Deity, which had lost its core support, was cut into pieces by Fortitude Tree King. He had no choice but to use his Mechanical Force to connect the pieces of the Mechanical Deity back together and continue fighting with the Tree King
Upon knowing that the healer had fallen, the Beyond Grade As were immediately anxious. They wanted to shake off their opponents and go back to check on Aurora, but the World Tree experts had also received the order from Heart Tree King. They were extremely spirited and charged forward with all their might, not letting the Beyond Grade As leave.
“Ha, your recovery-type Esper has been defeated by His Excellency the Tree King. Let’s see how you can recover!” “Aren’t you unafraid of death? Come on, continue fighting!”
“Without confidence, do you still dare to exchange injuries?”
In the mental network, many World Tree experts were extremely excited.
The scene of the previous battle was still vivid in their minds. This group of enemies relied on the healer behind them to constantly exchange injuries with them. Even if they were heavily injured time and time again, as long as they were fed a mouthful of milk, they would instantly be full of energy and the battle would be very uncomfortable for World Tree experts. In the end, they had no choice but to use the self-detonation tactic, but they could only drag a few people down with them. Thinking about the embarrassing battle last time, many of the World Tree Supers were furious. At this moment, Heart Tree King had used his methods to wipe out the confidence of these enemies, and the Beyond Grade As of the World Tree were all energized. They felt that they could finally show their strengths…
They had never been afraid of exchanging lives for lives!
Fortitude Tree King turned around and deflected Han Xiao’s attack. Hearing the commotion in the mental network, he could not help but send a message to Heart Tree King.
“Are you sure this will seal the enemy’s recovery Esper forever?” “I didn’t say forever. As long as there are enough people with psychic abilities who spend a lot of time wearing down the seal, it will be broken sooner or later… However, as long as the recovery-type Esper does not play a role in this battle, my goal will be achieved.” Heart Tree King kept the cracked purple crystal leaf into his body and heaved a sigh of relief.
“Without the recovery-type Esper, the battle losses will return to normal. As long as we destroy enough high-level combatants in this battle and cause substantial damage, it won’t matter even if that Esper wakes up later.”
In his opinion, even if he could only seal the Esper in one battle, the Exchange tactic would succeed. As long as they could get rid of enough high-level combatants this time, the World Tree’s snowballing advantage could be put to full display.
Now that the plan was more than half complete, Heart Tree King was relieved and returned to the battlefield. Together with Fortitude Tree King, they surrounded and attacked Han Xiao. The three of them were locked in battle.
Not long after, some Beyond Grade As finally managed to shake off their opponents with the help of their teammates and returned to Aurora’s side. However, after checking, their hearts sank.
“The situation is not good. This thought seal is too strong and is protected by a special force. Even if we attack together, it will not be broken in a short time.” Kasuyi’s voice sounded in the channel.
“Not even you?” Sun Hunter was shocked.
Kasuyi shook his head. “Although I have unlimited energy, there is a limit to the strength of my psychic energy. Just like how the water current keeps washing the reefs, it needs time.”
Upon hearing Kasuyi’s words, the hearts of many association members skipped a beat.
The next moment, a member of the association suggested in the channel.
“Black Star, why don’t we retreat first and fight them after we break Aurora’s seal?”
“Do you think the World Tree will blankly watch our retreat? Even if we retreat, the Tree King’s Halo will continue to take effect. There’s a high chance that the frontal defense line won’t be able to hold on. When we unseal Aurora and want to fight them again, it’s hard to say if they will give us the chance. By then, it will be too late.”
Oulou spoke first before Han Xiao could.
A large number of direct Line members ignored life and death and continued to fight with their opponents. Seeing this, many association members who wanted to retreat could not desert and could only continue fighting
However, without the protection of the milkmaid, a large number of association members considered their own safety and did not dare to risk their lives like last time. Their combat power was far inferior to the first time they had fought. Instead, they were faintly suppressed by the World Tree experts who were not afraid of death. Luckily, they had the advantage in numbers this time, and there was a group of revivors to hold the situation. Otherwise, their losses might have exceeded the other party.
The Beyond Grade As all had their thoughts and the battle this time was much bloodier. The Beyond Grade As on both sides were frequently sacrificed, and the damage was increasing.
“Hehe, without that recovery-type Esper, your true colors are revealed. The casualties will only increase. How long can you last?” As Han Xiao dealt with the encirclement of Fortitude Tree King and Heart Tree King, the other party’s mocking mental message appeared in his mind.
Boom!
Energy Explosion, a dark blue compressed energy cannon fired at Fortitude Tree King. Han Xiao took the opportunity to glance at the loss of the Beyond Grade As calmly and did not respond to the other’s taunt.
Turning around, Han Xiao started to fight with Fortitude Tree King that was charging at him again. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his brain as Heart Tree King sent several mental shockwaves.
Shaking his head, Han Xiao felt a little troubled.
“Just one Tree King alone is already difficult to deal with. With the two of them attacking together, it is much harder… Although I can withstand the attacks of these two, it will be difficult for me to deal much damage to them… I need someone to share the pressure and let me fight with one person…”
As this thought flashed through his mind, Han Xiao gritted his teeth and looked at Heart Tree King
His goal was not to be in a stalemate with the two of them. If he could capture a tree king here, that would be for the best. At the very least, he would have to kill one of them and let the other party enter hibernation. If he allowed the other party to escape unscathed, that would be a huge loss.
He was being held back, and the two tree kings were looking after each other. If they wanted to leave, he would most likely not be able to stop them.
Han Xiao’s target was Heart Tree King. After all, Fortitude Tree King was only a Lord’s Avatar, so there was no need to deal with him. However, someone had to restrain him.
Although Fortitude Tree King was a stranger, his strength was worthy of his identity as a Tree King.
In his previous life, the World Tree War was a very late version. Now that the war had been brought forward by many years, Han Xiao could only think that Fortitude Tree King was the Mechanic-class Tree King of this time period. He would lose his position in the future and Emperor Tree King would replace him. As for the reason, Han Xiao had no idea.
Suppressing the distracting thoughts in his mind, Han Xiao looked at the battlefield. Seeing that most of his teammates were fighting a bloody battle, he could not help but switch to the communication channel and send an order to one of his external helpers.
At this time, Han Xiao felt a sense of danger. He hurriedly opened the Emperor’s Cape and saw that Fortitude Tree King had used some kind of skill. The double-edged war blade swept up a whirlpool of green energy and smashed onto his body. Green flames exploded, and the gigantic body was sent flying for a distance.
“Humph, you still dare to be distracted in front of me. You are disregarding me.” Fortitude Tree King brandished his blade and said coldly. “What? Is this the best you can do?” Han Xiao clicked his tongue and casually replied with a joke that the other party did not understand.
“Humph, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but with me restraining you, you won’t be able to help your other comrades.” Fortitude Tree King pointed his blade at Han Xiao.
“Are you a pig? Snorting again and again!”
Han Xiao was not to be outdone. He realized that the World Tree experts liked to chat when they fought.
“Outsider, they think you have an almost indestructible body. I’ll see if I can kill you today!”
Fortitude Tree King activated all his armor cannons and shot out countless beams of light. He then turned his blade and was about to charge forward.
However, right at this moment, the light from the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device suddenly flashed behind Han Xiao, and a gigantic Mechanical Deity appeared. It was none other than Herberlon!
The interception war had already been going on for a month, and Herberlon had been on standby since a long time ago. The moment he received Han Xiao’s message, he immediately used the teleportation device and descended from the Flickering World. During the stalemate before this war broke out, he had already completed the loading of his weapons. He was now fully armed and in peak condition!
“World Tree! Our war is not over yet!”
Herberlon’s furious roar could be heard in the public channel. Countless thrusters were activated at the same time, and a huge force pushed Herberlon to accelerate continuously. The giant blade in his hand swept up psionic energy and slashed toward Fortitude Tree King. Clang!
Herberlon’s attack landed on Fortitude Tree King’s defense, and a shockwave swept out.
Another new force entered the venue, and many World Tree experts looked over, stunned.
“You… Herberlon? You’re still alive !” Fortitude Tree King was shocked.
All the World Tree powerhouses present knew Herberlon. They had fought against him when they destroyed the Karma Republic, so they had a deep impression of this enemy.
Heart Tree King was stunned for a moment before he suddenly realized the truth.
“I see. This civilization’s initial intelligence on our World Tree came from you!”
Whosoever is irritated by me adding a message here do let me know in comments
Chapter 1360 Heart Tree King’s Bullsh*tting and Sealing Plan
The World Tree experts were suddenly enlightened.
No wonder this civilization had shown a certain level of understanding of the World Tree when they first came into contact with it. Herberlon, whose home was invaded, was the best source of information, which made sense.
The members of the World Tree remembered every battle clearly. Although the Karma Republic Alliance was not a strong opponent, Herberlon had left a deep impression on many World Tree experts. Some of them had even participated in the siege. This was a rare prey that had slipped away from their hands and disappeared into the vast universe after the fall of the Karma Republic.
Fortitude Tree King quickly recovered from the shock of seeing someone he knew. He activated the protective equipment on his body and blocked the furious attack from Herberlon.
“A loser from a destroyed civilization dares to continue opposing us instead of hiding. You managed to survive last time, but you won’t be so lucky this time. The mother tree has always wanted to devour you, so why don’t you merge with us and reunite with your compatriots!”
“As long as I’m alive, the glory of the Karma Republic will never disappear!”
Herberlon stabbed his blade into Fortitude Tree King’s thick shield and embedded it inside. Two new mechanical arms suddenly grew out from his shoulders and firmly locked Fortitude Tree King’s body in front of him. Following this, the flesh and machinery on his chest slid open, revealing a large energy outlet.
Boom!
An extremely thick dark red beam of light shot out, and in a flash, Fortitude Tree King’s chest was penetrated, leaving a huge hole with a torn edge. Broken parts flew everywhere.
И
This time, the damage was not light. Fortitude Tree King hurriedly activated the flowing force field and the power structure of the mechanical suit. A huge force was generated, and he immediately cut off the mechanical arm that was holding him. He then kicked Herberlon away, leaving a deep footprint on the latter’s abdomen armor.
A portion of the mechanical soldiers in the surroundings returned to Fortitude Tree King’s body like tired birds returning to their nest. A large number of mechanical structures flowed in his body and quickly filled up the wound on his chest.
Herberlon’s gigantic body stopped its retreat. He raised his hand and created an invisible force field that covered Fortitude Tree King. Fortitude Tree King’s body froze as if he had been hit by a Body Immobilization spell.
Just as the decryption device on Fortitude Tree King’s body was analyzing the operating principles of the force field at a high speed, Herberlon grabbed his blade with both hands. His muscles and machinery twisted, accumulating an endless amount of energy. Dark red streams of light appeared on his body, and his energy reaction soared!
The next moment, Herberlon’s gigantic body suddenly turned into a red bolt of lightning and charged forward. He instantly passed by Fortitude Tree King as if he teleported and appeared behind him.
“Deity Maneuver!”
Swoosh!
In a flash, a huge hole was carved out on Fortitude Tree King’s waist, and he was almost cut in half. Energy continued to destroy the insides of the body through the wound, and the wound was still expanding.
The space around Fortitude Tree King shook, and he suddenly broke the control of the force field and covered the wound on his waist. At the same time, he hurriedly turned around to block Herberlon’s charge. The force traveled along the clashing weapons and into his arm, causing a violent tremor. A large portion of the parts in both of their bodies malfunctioned from the tremor.
“What a troublesome guy…”
Fortitude Tree King was in a stalemate with Herberlon. He glanced at Han Xiao and realized that he had already left to fight Heart Tree King.
He wanted to help but could not escape. Although he called Herberlon a loser, he had to admit that this guy had the might to restrain him.
On the other side, Han Xiao had finally gotten rid of the two-on-one situation. He chased after Heart Tree King with his mechanical army, and the psychic barrier clashed with the bombardment of fire.
Heart Tree King dodged Han Xiao’s psionic slash and the World Tree Roots—that he got after transforming-moved like tentacles around him, blocking the attacks from all directions.
“I have to say, during our battle in the universe, you are the most troublesome Super Lifeform we have encountered. There are not many people who are qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Because of your existence, our large group of foreign experts is almost useless. Without you, your high-level combatants would not be able to fight us.”
Han Xiao turned a deaf ear to him. He clapped his hands, and the anti-psychic energy device released waves of energy. The psychic barrier seemed to have received an attack at its weak points, and it exploded repeatedly, forcing Heart Tree King to have no choice but to invest more energy to stabilize his psychic strength. Seeing that Han Xiao did not speak, Heart Tree King did not give up and continued.
“I can give you a promise. If you are willing to leave, the World Tree will not chase after you and your companions-not that we would be able to chase you anyway. You can stay far away from this battle that is bound to fail. The universe is so big, you can live anywhere. Living is more important than anything.”
“You guys haven’t won yet, don’t be too confident.”
Han Xiao replied calmly, ignoring the pain of his brain being tortured by the mental attacks. He swung his blade again and collided with the Psychic King
Heart Tree King shook his head. “It’s very difficult for high-level combatants to decide the direction of the universe-level war. Even if you can withstand the attacks of our high-level combatants time and time again, you won’t be able to change the situation in the frontal war. You’re destined to be defeated. Actually, you have another choice. You might as well join us and become a member of the World Tree. You can join us to fight in the universe. Your ability is more than enough to replace the position of Fortitude Tree King.” “Trying to instigate me?” Han Xiao sneered. “Putting aside whether I’m willing to become a puppet that has lost its free will, just my identity as an expert from another race will never allow me to become the Tree King. You’d better save this trick to fool others.”
Heart Tree King did not mind. “Even if you kill me and cause our fleet in this war zone to lose the buff of the World Tree’s power, we might still be able to break through your defense through normal battles. Is it worth it to sacrifice so many high-level combatants for such a small chance?”
Han Xiao was too lazy to respond. He activated another army combat skill and changed it to provide the bonus of agility and long-range attack speed, making the mechanical army more agile. The continuous energy weapons rained down on the roots of the World Tree, tearing them into pieces.
Seeing this, Heart Tree King did not give up and continued to use the chatting tactic. “You and I will not be able to determine the victor. I have witnessed the battle between you and Subduing Tree King. I will not fall into the same trap.’
Wow, you can really bullsh*t, almost catching up to me!
Han Xiao’s eyes twitched.
However, on second thought, he felt that what Heart Tree King said was not without reason. If the other party was prepared, it would not be easy to replicate the strategy that dealt with Subduing Tree King.
If they fought normally, he would indeed have the upper hand, but at the crucial moment, Heart Tree King would still have the choice of self-destructing and retreating to receive the protection of the fleet. The chances of killing him were very low.
Han Xiao then opened the private chat and contacted Hila.
“Hila, leave the battlefield first and stay beside Aurora.”
“Hmm?”
Hila’s tone was filled with killing intent, but it was toward the enemy.
After Aurora lost consciousness, Hila immediately entered a berserk state, killing everyone on the battlefield. She did not even send the dead into the Underworld but turned them all into soul energy to strengthen herself. Her presence on the battlefield was extremely strong, and she had already killed two Holy Tree Emissaries.
The dead only had one soul. If they were sent to the Underworld to be heroic spirits, they would not be able to trigger the rapid growth of the Power Of The Dead. The galactic battlefield was like a meat grinder. Hila followed Han Xiao’s philosophy most of the time and sent the soldiers sacrificed by the three Universal Civilizations into the Underworld. Only a few times did she use them to strengthen herself.
Even so, due to the huge number of people, Hila’s combat strength was growing at an astonishing rate, and she was like a completely different person from before the war. Even without the ability to shorten the opponent’s lifespan, there were not many people in the association who had the confidence to defeat her.
“I have a plan. Let’s see if we can deal with this tree king who knocked Aurora unconscious. Follow my orders.”
“…Alright!”
The one that Hila wanted to kill the most was Heart Tree King. Hearing that Han Xiao had a plan, she quickly regained some of her calmness. She glanced at the wounded ancestral spirit in front of her, suppressed the killing intent in her heart, and retreated toward the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet.
After getting rid of the World Tree experts one after another, Hila returned to Aurora’s spaceship with difficulty. To escape from the battle, she had gained many new wounds on her body. Although her healer had collapsed temporarily, her Power Of The Dead had extraordinary self-regeneration, and her wounds were gradually healing. Suddenly, there was a flash of light in the cabin, and a mechanical soldier wearing the King armor teleported over, handing the item in his hand to Hila. “Hmm? This is…”
апу
Hila looked down at the item in the mechanical soldier’s hands, and a hint of surprise appeared on her usually expressionless face. She coldly glanced at the surrounding crew members, and only when she saw that no one was moving did she take it.
This time, Han Xiao’s voice sounded in the private channel.
“I’ll give this to you for the time being. I’ve let you practice with it before. Do you know how to use it?”
“Hmm,” Hila said with a deep voice. “What’s your plan?”
“I’ll try to create an opportunity later. If it succeeds, use the King on that mechanical soldier to teleport over, then connect to your Advancing in the Dead Sea and teleport to the target to use it…” Han Xiao quickly explained.
“I understand.” Hila nodded and looked at the item in her hand. It was a white crystal the size of a palm.
This item was the Spacetime Amber!
Usually, Han Xiao would not give this thing to others, but this time, he would probably need someone else to do it.
In the past few months, he had trained Hila on how to use this Universal Treasure to coordinate with (Azure Dragon Bind) and form a new strategy.
Through Phillip’s battle simulation, he realized that in most situations, the die-together tactic could only kill the tree king or force it to self-destruct. From the looks of it, this new tactic was the method with the highest success rate to capture them.
Maintaining his private channel, Han Xiao looked at Heart Tree King, who was easily evading the attacks of the mechanical army. “I hope this works…”
Just letting you guys know threating me by stop reading here doesn’t work with me (should I stop posting privileged chapters will you be able to read it on other sites unless except you pay on webnovel?). Also no favoritism to anyone just that guys is letting me know about the issues and his issue is real so I acted on it. So, if you feel something is wrong or someone is spamming etc do let me know. There is a report button if I see a valid report I will definitely act on it.
Chapter 1361 Facing Death and Gamble
The battle zone of the Beyond Grade As was scattered all over the battlefield, and it was a bloody battle. Individual strengths from both sides fell one after another, and the battles between the fleets of both sides were equally intense. The World Tree Army, which was enhanced by the Tree King’s halo, continued to advance. Although the three Universal Civilizations continued to provide reinforcements, the defense line was still slowly but surely retreating.
Due to the constantly changing battlefield of the fleets, the battle areas of the Beyond Grade As were also shifting accordingly.
Ames moved around in space, controlling the force field to harass the enemies or help her comrades. Her dress was stained with blood.
There were more than ten Beyond Grade As participating in the team battle in the area she was in, and the association members and the direct descendants had the upper hand against the enemies.
Force Field Esper Abilities had an all-rounder characteristic and could be used for both attack and defense. Ames was mainly used as a control type on the battlefield. Occasionally, she would condense a force field or drag a battleship to attack, and the damage was not low.
She extended her palm and used Gaze of the Dragon on one of the Holy Tree Emissaries. Ames quickly scanned the battlefield and realized that the battlefield of Herberlon, Fortitude Tree King, Han Xiao, and Heart Tree King had already been shifted to a faraway place. The layers of battleships in the battlefield almost covered their figures, and she could only see the occasional flashes of energy that were far more intense than here.
“Looks like he won’t be able to kill the Tree King so quickly…”
Ames frowned slightly and retracted her gaze. She dodged a compressed beam of light and countered with a pale green shock wave.
Looking at the battlefield, Ames saw a brief flaw in the enemy’s side and was about to ask her teammates to work together to create time for her to gather her energy, but at this moment, the other party threw a wave of focused fire at her. The few association members who were supposed to be blocking in front immediately dodged, and she had no choice but to stop accumulating her energy and dodge.
“This won’t do. There’s no way to kill the enemy.” Ames glanced at the association members and shook her head.
Even after having the upper hand for so long, they had not been able to cause much damage to the enemy. Every time they wanted to advance, the World Tree experts would become more fearless. In contrast, the comrades of the association would cower in fear because of this, not wanting to be injured. This caused them to lose the opportunity to expand their advantage again and again.
The temporary loss of the milkmaid had a huge impact on the Beyond Grade As’ battle. Most of the association members did not have the mentality to risk their lives like last time and did not want to get injured. Their combat style became more conservative while the World Tree experts became more ferocious.
Ames heard from the channel that many of the association members were dissatisfied with Han Xiao’s plan. Initially, they planned to quickly get rid of the Tree King to reduce the disadvantage of the main battlefield. However, both sides were in a stalemate now. Black Star could not complete his goal, and Aurora was also beaten back temporarily, leading to the sacrifice of many Beyond Grade As. In their eyes, the plan had failed, and it was a sure loss.
Furthermore, after fighting for so long, the main battlefield was already in a bad situation. Even if they killed the Tree King now, they might not be able to reverse the situation. Therefore, in the eyes of many association members, the sacrifices from this attack plan were meaningless. Instead, many of them had lost the one-time Sanctum Revival opportunity, so they were filled with complaints.
The Beyond Grade A Association members had all prepared for the worst. They still believed that the Sanctum Revival could only happen once, so they did not take Han Xiao’s words of ‘convincing’ the Revivors seriously.
Many of them were already thinking of retreating, but they could not leave the battle for the time being. They could only protect themselves and were not willing to pay the price for killing their opponent. This kind of conservative mindset affected their combat strength, and Ames could only cooperate with her teammates in retreating. She had no intention of charging into the enemies alone.
At this moment, one of the Holy Tree Emissaries suddenly paused, as if the damage had been accumulated to the limit. His body stiffened, revealing an obvious flaw.
“Chance!”
Ames and her teammates immediately changed targets and focused their attacks on this person. All kinds of abilities shattered the defensive shield that the other party had hastily constructed and landed on his body, causing blood to splatter everywhere.
Just as they were about to pursue and kill the enemy, the other World Tree experts suddenly unleashed their full strength and charged toward the front of this heavily injured teammate, trying to force them to retreat like the previous few times.
Facing such a powerful attack, the members of the association hesitated and retreated. They did not face it head-on. It was not that they could not endure the attack head-on, but they were unwilling to do so. They would rather give up this opportunity than getting injured.
Seeing this, Ames felt a little helpless. This situation had already happened a few times. Due to the members of the association retreating, they had missed many opportunities.
But at this moment, a firm voice sounded in the channel.
“Cover me!”
One of the direct descendants suddenly advanced instead of retreating and faced this wave of attacks. The scene was like a surfer charging toward a tsunami. The shield on his body was instantly torn apart by the combined attack of many Beyond Grade As, and wounds exploded on his body.
Everyone was shocked. They did not have time to think about anything else. They quickly stopped and used ranged attacks to cover this teammate.
Ignoring the damage to his body, he endured the huge impact of the attack and charged at the heavily injured World Tree expert resolutely and decisively. His Pugilist flames were all concentrated on him, completely ignoring the enemy teammates who were rushing over.
Bang!
The two figures collided, and the heavily injured World Tree Beyond Grade A activated self-destruction without hesitation.
Ames and the others could only see the figure of this direct Beyond Grade A who showed no intention of retreating. The next moment, their vision was covered in white.
Boom!
A powerful light burst forth, and a huge energy ball rose up. Before the light dissipated, the World Tree Race experts in the surroundings were still attacking the self-destruction area.
The group of people hurriedly retreated some distance. When the self-destruction energy was fully released, they focused their attention on the area. There were only fragmented corpses left.
“…He’s gone.”
Everyone had complicated expressions.
The direct Beyond Grade A who died in the battle was not a Revivor. He knew that there was only one chance for Sanctum Revival, but he still risked his life to seize the opportunity. This was something they would never be able to do. These direct descendants who worked for the civilization had a purer attitude toward this war than them and were unafraid of death.
Ames shook her head. She knew that she was not that great, nor was she willing to be.
Time quickly passed.
On the battlefield filled with countless mechanical fragments, Han Xiao and Heart Tree King had been fighting for a long time, and both sides were exhausted.
In comparison, Heart Tree King’s energy consumption was much higher. This was not only due to suppression from Han Xiao’s energy level but also because of his class.
After all, mental attacks were ineffective against mechanical soldiers, and Han Xiao’s main body was not afraid of his mental attacks. Only his physical attacks and psychic attacks would be effective. This meant that Heart Tree King was at a disadvantage when facing Han Xiao.
The green light on Heart Tree King’s body had become much dimmer, and more than half of the World Tree Roots that appeared with his transformation had been destroyed. He was not in the same state as when they had first started fighting, and his movements were also slightly slower.
ovel
Using psychic energy to block the firepower of another mechanical army, Heart Tree King sent another message to Han Xiao.
“Did you see that? You’ve already lost. Even if you kill me, you won’t be able to turn the situation around.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao looked at the battle situation and could not help but click his tongue.
The World Tree Army in this war zone continued to advance. They had already broken through the defense zone and penetrated a few battle lines, forming a situation that was difficult to reverse. They had at least an eighty to ninety percent chance of breaking through the interception circle and turning this place into a breakthrough point for the overall battle. In a war of a scale of hundreds of billions, the victory of high-level combatants could no longer turn the situation around.
“When we arrive at your territory, the mother tree will enjoy your world inch by inch. You won’t have any chance. Do you want to reconsider my previous suggestion?” Heart Tree King continued.
Han Xiao did not say anything. He turned around and responded with a slash.
Heart Tree King hurriedly dodged but was still grazed by the psionic energy. The psychic barrier shattered, and another World Tree root broke.
“Hehe, looks like your stance is very firm…”
Heart Tree King smiled on the surface, but his heart was filled with fear. He already had the intention to retreat.
After this exchange, he realized that he was no match for this outsider. Just a bunch of powerful Apostle Weapons was enough to deal with him. His internal injuries were burning.
If this continues, I’m afraid I’ll really die here. The other Beyond Grade As will probably have the time to make a move soon. It’s time to retreat…
Heart Tree King thought to himself. Many of the World Tree powerhouses had already been sacrificed because there were more Beyond Grade As present. Heart Tree King knew that the rate of casualties on his side would only snowball. Before long, there would be other Beyond Grade As coming to help this outsider deal with him, and it would be difficult for him to leave.
Although he was prepared to die here, the Exchange tactic had already taken effect. There was no need to continue fighting. It was best to preserve his life.
Having made up his mind, Heart Tree King no longer bombarded Han Xiao with chats. He immediately changed his strategy and attempted to break out of the encirclement of Han Xiao’s mechanical army.
Sensing the change in Heart Tree King’s actions, Han Xiao’s eyes flickered.
“He finally wants to escape. It seems like he has used up most of his energy. We can execute the plan now!”
Han Xiao immediately gave a direct order to the combat artificial intelligence, and the mechanical army immediately surrounded and intercepted Heart Tree King, adjusting the weak points of the encirclement to guide Heart Tree King’s movement.
At the same time, he sent a message to Heart Tree King.
“You will die here today!”
This time, it was Heart Tree King who turned a deaf ear. He focused on avoiding the focus fire of the mechanical army and quickly found the weakness to break through.
After Han Xiao shouted, he stared at the change in formation. Seeing that Heart Tree King was slowly being forced into a suitable position, his Mechanical Force flashed.
Buzz!
A Lord’s Avatar wrapped in Mechanical Force suddenly shot out from the Mechanical Deity and flew toward Heart Tree King.
Sensing the impending danger, Heart Tree King suddenly turned his head and concentrated his psychic energy on this Lord’s Avatar. If it was hit, it would surely be sent flying
However, at this very second, a golden energy suddenly gushed out from the Lord’s Avatar’s body. Its entire body seemed to have turned into a golden chariot that pressed forward with indomitable will. It instantly shattered the psychic energy and was not affected at all. It locked onto Heart Tree King and charged forward with rapidly increasing speed.
“Hmm?”
Heart Tree King was a little surprised. He controlled the last World Tree Root to block it, but it was knocked away by the Lord’s Avatar. It could not even slow it down.
Seeing this, Han Xiao, who was still inside the Mechanical Deity’s body, could not help but clench his fists.
His main body was right in front of him, but he had used the Lord’s Descent. Naturally, it was to capture Heart Tree King alive. For this, he did not hesitate to activate two Character Summon Cards—Silver Shadow’s (Comet Rush), Oulou’s (Golden Treasure Ship-Ram)!
The former was an endless acceleration, while the latter was a domineering state that was immune to any crowd control!
Success and failure depended on this. Han Xiao was betting that Heart Tree King would not self-destruct before he got close!
The warnings in Heart Tree King’s mind became more and more obvious, and he hurriedly retreated. However, the speed of the Lord’s Avatar’s charge became faster and faster, and with the mechanical army around restraining him, the distance between the two sides rapidly shortened. In the blink of an eye, there was only a small portion left.
As the Lord’s Avatar rapidly expanded in his vision, thoughts flashed through Heart Tree King’s mind one after another, and the thought of self-destructing immediately surfaced in his mind.
However, he had many things to think about, and he tried to figure out Han Xiao’s intentions. In moments of urgency, he could not be as resolute as the simple-minded Subduing Tree King.
In that moment of hesitation, the Lord’s Avatar wrapped in golden energy crashed into him. Its biological muscles expanded instantly.
Heart Tree King only felt a strong force wrapping around his body. Not only was he unable to move, but even the cells in his body were being suppressed. He was shocked.
This is… a Pugilist’s forced crowd control skill
“It hit!”
Han Xiao clenched his fists in excitement.
To complement this move, he had specially tested a batch of lord bodies that were specialized in close combat. They were able to withstand his Strength and Endurance attributes to the maximum, allowing the [Azure Dragon Bind) to unleash even greater power! However, Heart Tree King’s strength and endurance were far inferior to that of a Pugilist. After the duration of the forced crowd control, he would not be able to escape so quickly.
At the same time that Heart Tree King was hit, the mechanical army around him was already prepared and released force fields to cover him, stacking many crowd control methods.
“Hila!”
Han Xiao shouted.
At this moment, a beam of light flashed past the mechanical army not far away from Heart Tree King. Hila suddenly appeared beside an Apostle Weapon that was carrying a throne. A bright red ‘Dead Sea’ instantly spread out. The next moment, Hila’s body sank into the ‘Dead Sea’ and appeared beside Heart Tree King in the blink of an eye. She held the Spacetime Amber and pressed it toward Heart Tree King
The Spacetime Amber flashed, and the frozen spacetime quickly expanded, enveloping the immobile Heart Tree King and the Lord’s Avatar.
Heart Tree King’s eyes widened, but he could not even speak.
His encounter was transmitted through the mental network, and the fleets around him immediately turned their cannons around to fire at him. The World Tree experts scattered all over the place were shocked, and they retreated at the same time, charging madly in the direction of Heart Tree King.
“Crap!”
Fortitude Tree King’s heart skipped a beat. He could not be bothered to deal with the enemy and turned around to reinforce Heart Tree King. However, a large part of the thrusters on his back was shattered by Herberlon’s blade slash.
Han Xiao had already distanced himself from the battlefield, leaving Heart Tree King alone. There was no way the Beyond Grade As of the World Tree could arrive quickly.
Under the shocked, horrified, and disbelieving gazes, a new Spacetime Amber ball took shape, freezing Heart Tree King’s shocked expression.
Hila stared at the shocked Heart Tree King in the amber.
“You hurt my sister, stay here forever!”
So, how was it, feel like cursing me 😀. Go read on other sites now and you’ll find my trolled chapter.
Heart Tree King was locked in a strange position by the Lord’s Avatar, and they were trapped in the Spacetime Amber. Time seemed to have stopped, and this world-famous painting was seen by all the Beyond Grade As on both sides.
The Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations were overjoyed. “Black Star has succeeded!”
“Beautiful! That Tree King did not have the time to self-destruct!”
“Support them with all your might! Don’t let those enemies harass Black Star!”
The morale of the Beyond Grade As was greatly boosted, and they were no longer in low spirits for losing their healer. They launched ferocious attacks at the World Tree experts who were anxious to leave the battle.
The emotions of all the World Tree experts were the exact opposite. Their rapidly changing expressions were filled with shock and anger.
They could not be bothered to fight with the opponent and rushed toward Han Xiao like crazy, trying to snatch Heart Tree King back.
However, the moment Han Xiao succeeded, he controlled the Mechanical Deity to move again. He grabbed the Spacetime Amber ball and swallowed it into his body, taking back the Spacetime Amber in Hila’s hands.
Without another word, he used his mechanical army as a shield to block the attacks of the World Tree fleet around him. He then flew in the opposite direction at full speed and stopped fighting. His goal was to retreat from the battlefield.
To lure the three Universal Civilizations into deploying their high-level combatants, Heart Tree King naturally would not stay too deep into the World Tree fleet. The battle zone was located at the periphery of the fleet and even if the World Tree fleet wanted to intercept Han Xiao, they would not be able to do so. Han Xiao paid the price of groups of mechanical soldiers and quickly entered the battle zone at the center of the battlefield.
The many World Tree Supers could not care less and surrounded Han Xiao in groups, trying to hinder his return. However, the Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations that were chasing after them all acted as cover for Han Xiao, restraining one opponent after another. The energy waves that flashed when they fought lit up continuously around Han Xiao, creating a path.
Fortitude Tree King was entangled with Herberlon again, and violent vibrations were transmitting through his body. He also wanted to support Heart Tree King, but could not get rid of Herberlon and could not increase his speed at all. He could only watch Han Xiao’s figure get further and further away. He was so angry that his energy core almost overloaded.
“D*mn idiot! Even Subduing Tree King is smarter than you!”
Fortitude Tree King was furious. They had clearly achieved a huge success in the Exchange tactic, so it would have been fine to retreat. At the very least, they could self-destruct and die. He did not expect them to be defeated at the last moment. It was supposed to be a great victory without much loss, but now, it had become a real ‘Exchange’!
He had already cursed Heart Tree King’s eighteen generations of ancestors in his heart. Just because he had thought for too long at that last moment, Heart Tree King did not self-destruct and was captured. This was a fatal mistake that even Subduing Tree King did not make. He was the shame of the Tree Kings!
What happened next could only be decided by Ancestral Tree King!
Seeing that Han Xiao was about to return to the fleet of the three Universal Civilizations, Fortitude Tree King knew that there was nothing he could do. His eyes flashed sharply as he sent a command in the mental network:
“Everyone, stop chasing. Retreat! Stop fighting!”
Now that Heart Tree King had been captured alive, Fortitude Tree King was the only one in charge. He took over the leadership without hesitation and ordered all the Beyond Grade As to retreat.
One Tree King was already gone, he was worried that Han Xiao would continue to seal more experts, so he decided to give up and ordered everyone to leave the battle. Upon hearing the order, the World Tree experts who were chasing Han Xiao paused slightly. They looked at Han Xiao’s back that was getting smaller and smaller, but they still chose to follow the orders of the Tree King and stopped their pursuit. While dealing with the Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations, they quickly retreated to the World Tree fleet.
The battleships in the distance also began to provide remote support to help them escape from their opponents.
The Beyond Grade As of the three Universal Civilizations did not chase after them too deeply. Instead, they chased for a while and killed a few World Tree experts who were exposed due to the sudden change of plan. Then, under the leadership of the association members, all the Beyond Grade As retreated and did not dare follow the remaining World Tree experts into the enemy fleet. If they did that, they would be the ones in danger instead.
Seeing this, Herberlon did not dare continue fighting alone. He fought fiercely with the Tree King a few times before gradually moving toward his teammates. After escaping from the battle, his eyes—flashing with Mechanical Force-locked onto the Tree King, filled with killing intent as though he was saying, “I’ll teach you a lesson the next time we meet.”
Fortitude Tree King took a deep look at this familiar face and did not say anything. He took the World Tree powerhouses and retreated deep into the World Tree fleet. Starships moved over and formed layers of barriers, blocking the sight of Herberlon and the others.
As the remaining Beyond Grade As of the World Tree retreated, the battle between the high-level combatants on both sides came to an end. The members of the association and the direct descendants did not stay on the battlefield. They went back to the three Universal Civilizations’ fleet while bracing the merciless firing.
Everyone put away their weapons and returned to the temporary command ship at the back of the battlefield. As soon as they entered the command room, they noticed Han Xiao, Hila, and the others were already there. The remote projections of Simon and the many commanders were also gathered there, pointing at Heart Tree King’s Spacetime Amber and talking.
“…Black Star, our front line of defense can’t hold on any longer, and the other war zones are also showing signs of collapse. The World Tree breaking through the interception circle is already set in stone. We are currently mobilizing our troops to retreat, but this isn’t your problem. You did very well by capturing a Tree King.”
Simon’s tone was low.
“I should have dealt with the Tree King Halo much earlier…” Han Xiao sighed.
“Although that would have been helpful, from the way the World Tree is attacking, it can only slightly delay them from breaking through the blockade. At most, the first to fall wouldn’t be this war zone but the other defense lines.”
Simon shook his head and said with a helpless tone. However, he was not angry. After a month of fighting, the entire command level had already mentally prepared themselves for the worst-for the interception circle to be broken.
“What do we do next?”
“There’s no need for you to continue fighting. Return to the main base first. We will begin evacuating in batches. The World Tree’s goal is not just to break through the intercepting perimeter but also to clean up our troops. Since the defense line has been broken, the trend will be difficult to reverse. There’s no need to fight them head-on. We will use the various fortifications that we have built in the strategic depth of the rear for the past year to cover fire and harass them into slowing down. I…”
“You guys can decide the matters of the army.” Han Xiao waved his hand.
Simon nodded and turned to look at the wounded Beyond Grade As. He changed the topic and said, “Everyone, please tabulate the damage. We need accurate data.”
Hearing this, the Beyond Grade As sized each other up and began telling their names. The number of people had decreased by a lot compared to when they went to fight. Many of them had died in the intense battle, with the direct Beyond Grade As suffering the most casualties, as well as some Revivors. The number of casualties among the association members was relatively low.
Because the number of participants this time had increased quite a lot, the World Tree had lost even more people. The three Universal Civilizations, on the other hand, were in a far better state. However, the World Tree did not bring out all their high-level combatants. In terms of numbers, the number of participants was only a fifth or a quarter of the total.
However, although they had the upper hand in terms of battle losses, it was still much worse than the previous battle. Many familiar faces disappeared, and the Beyond Grade As present could not even muster any emotions. They were still immersed in the battle and could not extricate themselves from it. They still had lingering fears and felt like they had just survived a disaster. The atmosphere was like a dark cloud.
“The losses this time are not small,” Sun Hunter muttered. “I think we should have retreated when Aurora was defeated…”
Hearing his soft voice, many Beyond Grade As nodded in agreement. They looked at Han Xiao with complicated emotions-helplessness, understanding, dissatisfaction, and resentment.
If they did not capture Heart Tree King this time, they would have suffered a huge loss. However, they had at least gained something and did not return empty-handed. Although many Beyond Grade As still felt that they had suffered a loss, they felt more or less comforted when they saw Heart Tree King in the amber.
Although they were unhappy, they could not say anything. After all, Han Xiao had captured a Tree King and made a huge contribution. At most, they felt that it was not worth it to exchange so many people for one opponent.
Han Xiao casually glanced at them. He knew what they were thinking, but he did not explain.
He had originally wanted to see if he could manipulate the scene and make some Revivors die in battle, but now that Aurora had fallen, although his losses had increased tremendously, it made it easier for him to act. He did not need to press Aurora to make a ‘mistake’ as he had planned.
These dead Revivors would be the best evidence to prove the truth of the Sanctum Revival. He was not sad at all; instead, he was relieved. It would have been troublesome if no Revivors died in this battle.
After listening to the war casualties of the Beyond Grade As, Simon sighed and shook his head.
“The direct descendants have suffered heavy casualties. No matter what, most of the victims still have a chance to revive in the Sanctum. Thank you for your hard work.”
Everyone was in a bad mood and could not be bothered with him. They turned to look at Hila. They were most concerned about Aurora’s situation.
“How’s your sister?”
“The seal is a little thicker than before, and it will take some time to unseal it. Everyone, let’s not delay any further. Let’s rest for a while and start. We can be at ease if she wakes up as soon as possible,” Hila said with a deep voice.
“That’s right. Those with psychic abilities come out. While we’re retreating, wake Aurora up.” Kasuyi stepped out from the crowd and released his psychic energy to enter Aurora’s mind space. He then started to bombard the thought seal purple crystal in her mind. Many Psychics, Mages, and Espers walked out one after another and worked together to speed up the process. With so many people working together, the thought seal was getting thinner at a visible rate. At this rate, it would be completely unsealed in a few hours.
Seeing this, Han Xiao turned to look at Heart Tree King in the amber. He remembered that Heart Tree King had used a leaf-shaped Universal Treasure to activate the Illusion – Mind Lock. That was probably one of the rare items that the World Tree grew, and it was hidden in Heart Tree King’s body. However, Han Xiao had no intention of unsealing the amber in the short term and temporarily suppressed his curiosity.
World Tree Territory, Tree King Palace.
The executives who did not participate in the battle found out about the situation from the mental network, and their faces were filled with shock and doubt. They were prepared for Heart Tree King to die in battle, but they did not expect him to be captured alive by the enemy with that strange sealing method, and they were all terrified.
Seated on the throne, Fortitude Tree King slowly opened his eyes and deactivated the Lord’s Descent state. A rare look of anger appeared on his face, and he slapped the armrest of his chair heavily.
“Humph, Heart Tree King, so useless!”
As soon as he said that, the roots on the two thrones beside him suddenly rose, and two figures with different appearances appeared.
“Hehe, it seems like the enemy this time is indeed very difficult to deal with. Of the five Great Tree Kings, one is dead, and the other is captured. Now, only three can fight. You’re right, Heart Tree King and Subduing Tree King are both useless.” One of them turned his head and looked over with a sneer of disdain. “However, you’re not much better. Your Lord’s Avatar was clearly present, but you didn’t save Heart Tree King.”
Fortitude Tree King glanced at him coldly and snorted. “Secret Tree King, I can’t be bothered to argue with you, but you better watch your words.”
“Heh.” Secret Tree King did not think much of it. He did not even care about Fortitude Tree King. Among the five tree kings, he did not like anyone other than Ancestral Tree King. “Humph, I can’t be bothered to argue with you.” Fortitude Tree King turned to look at Ancestral Tree King in the middle seat and asked, “What do we do next? What do you think?”
The aura of Ancestral Tree King was the opposite of the other four tree kings. He was like an ordinary person, lacking any sense of presence. Be it his appearance or physique, there was nothing special. If one did not pay attention, they might subconsciously ignore him.
Hearing this, Ancestral Tree King said slowly without any expression.
“I’ve already tried. Heart Tree King is completely isolated from the outside world, and the mother tree can’t take back his Tree King Crown. This means unless he’s unsealed, I can’t remove his position and replace him with a new tree king. Therefore, we must try to save him. At the very least, we have to take back his Tree King Crown. Otherwise, we won’t be able to make the Tree God descend completely.”
Hearing this, the faces of Fortitude Tree King and Secret Tree King turned solemn.
Initially, they had thought that Heart Tree King killed a lot of high-level enemy combatants by himself. Although it had become a real Exchange, it was worse for the enemy. However, if they could not retrieve the Tree King Crown, it would be troublesome.
The identities of the tree kings all came from the ‘Tree King Crown’. This was a special ability given by the mother tree. Like the Apostle Weapons, there was a limited quota. The quota was only five, and it had to be five different Super systems. Other than Ancestral Tree King occupying one quota, the other four Tree King Crown positions had been changed over the years.
Only by gathering five crowns would they be able to make Tree God descend completely. This was their trump card. “Then what should we do?” Fortitude Tree King asked.
“There’s no need to worry for the time being,” Ancestral Tree King said casually. “The civilization on the other side has yet to show the strength that would require us to use the Tree God’s Descent. Heart Tree King is only sealed, so there’s no danger. We have two paths now. One is to wait. The enemy might be interested in studying a Tree King. As long as we unlock that special seal, I can retrieve the Tree King crown.
The second is to send someone to rescue him. Although the mother tree’s connection with him has been cut off, the broken connection can still point in his direction. We can organize high-level combatants to snatch him back.”
“Then let’s just wait and see when these enemies can’t take it anymore.” Fortitude Tree King snorted.
“Hmm, I think so too.”
Ancestral Tree King nodded and continued.
“Although we have broken the enemy’s interception circle, we still need to move forward to the enemy’s territory. Just let the fleet carry out this task. There’s no need for high-level combatants, so there won’t be any opportunities to attack.
“Furthermore… Although we know the direction, the distance is unknown. We don’t know how long it will take to reach the enemy’s territory. It might take a few years or decades. However, according to the enemy’s reaction, the distance shouldn’t be too far.”
The other two nodded silently.
“Also, Heart Tree King is gone. Someone needs to continue managing the daily affairs of this place.” Ancestral Tree King turned to look at Fortitude Tree King and said slowly, “You shall do it.”
Fortitude Tree King’s face fell.
God knew how many years it would take for the fleet to arrive at the other party’s territory. He did not want to keep showing himself. He wanted to slack off, but he did not dare go against Ancestral Tree King, so he could only agree in a muffled voice.
After casually instructing him on a few things to take note of, Ancestral Tree King’s figure quickly faded and returned to the mother tree. Secret Tree King took a gloating glance at Fortitude Tree King and left, leaving only Fortitude Tree King on the throne.
“You want me to work? Fat chance.”
Fortitude Tree King snorted, rolled his eyes, and came up with a plan.
By the way, the seed of Subduing Tree King should almost be ripe. When he revives, I can transfer this job to him. Anyway, that iron head is very hardworking and is willing to do this hard work. I can continue to slack!
As soon as he thought of this, Fortitude Tree King could not wait to see Subduing Tree King reincarnate in front of him.
He could not help but stand up and walk out of the palace. He inherited the glorious legacy of Heart Tree King and went out to water Subduing Tree King.
Han Xiao and the others retreated from the battlefield and returned to the main base at the rear. The World Tree Army had yet to break through to here, and it was not affected by the flames of war.
The troops of the three Universal Civilizations and the various large organizations had already formed a long line. They entered different Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Devices and returned to the explored universe.
The group boarded an evacuating main ship and watched the real-time surveillance of the battlefield while waiting for their turn.
The three Universal Civilizations had already begun to withdraw their forces and stop their losses. The battlefront formed by the starships retreated like a tide.
Kant looked at it for a while before shaking his head. “Looks like the three Universal Civilizations have completely decided to give up on the intercepting circle.”
“Fighting to the death is useless. It will only increase our casualties, so we naturally have to retreat,” Manison said calmly.
“However, once we retreat, we won’t be able to stop the World Tree from approaching our territory. Sooner or later, we’ll have to start a war on our own territory.”
Clotti shook his head. Ever since Reeve and the others had revived, he had become more talkative and rarely acted as if he was unapproachable. The group casually chatted about the battle to calm their emotions from the bloody battle earlier.
However, Han Xiao did not join their conversation. Instead, he stood aside and watched the unsealing of Aurora.
After watching for a while, he suddenly realized that many Beyond Grade As were sweating. He could not help but ask: “How’s the progress?”
“This is strange.” Kasuyi pinched his forehead and said with a surprised tone, “We have already weakened the seal by more than 95%, leaving only the last thin layer. However, we encountered an unprecedented resistance, and the last bit of the seal crystal wall suddenly became indestructible, as if there is an infinite power supporting its existence.” “Really?”
Han Xiao raised his brows and immediately thought of the characteristics of the Illusion – Mind Lock.
It seemed like the target who was hit by this move would be trapped in a dream created by their desire. The more real they treated it as, the stronger the seal would be.
He took a closer look at Aurora. As the layers of the seal were broken, her expression was no longer blank. At this moment, she closed her eyes, frowned, and revealed a slight look of pain, as though she was saying, “Don’t disturb my daydream.”
Could it be that her subconscious had sensed that the dream was about to disappear, so she took the illusion more seriously and took the initiative to stabilize the seal and resist the unsealers?
What kind of dream did she have to make this woman wish she could sleep forever?
Han Xiao’s mouth twitched, and he looked away helplessly. He patted Kasuyi and said, “Then can you unseal it or not?”
“Don’t worry about that. Although the seal barrier is much stronger, with so many of us working together, we will be able to penetrate it sooner or later.” Kasuyi did not even look back.
Han Xiao could only trust him and wait patiently.
After a while, Kasuyi and the others suddenly heaved a sigh of relief. They were just about to say that they had succeeded.
However, before they could say anything, Aurora suddenly opened her eyes and woke up from her coma.
“No,”
The sharp shout shocked everyone. Even the Beyond Grade As who were analyzing the situation not far away stopped chatting and looked over in surprise.
It was originally a happy matter for the milkmaid to wake up, but everyone was shocked by this shout and was confused.
Seeing pairs of shocked eyes staring at her, Aurora snapped out of her daze and quickly shut her mouth. However, her expression was still a little dazed, as though she had not gotten used to the feeling of leaving the dream. She was trying to determine if this was real or an illusion.
However, her senses and memories gradually adjusted, and Aurora slowly confirmed that she had really woken up this time.
This time, Han Xiao walked out from the crowd and stood in front of Aurora. He touched her head and said with concern, “Your mind seal has been removed. How do you feel?”
Aurora looked up at Han Xiao, and her delicate face suddenly turned red. She quickly turned her head to the side and looked away.
“I’m fine… How are you?”
“What problem can I have?” Han Xiao saw her strange expression and could not help but be curious. “What did you dream about in the seal?”
“I… I…”
Aurora stuttered as if she did not want to speak.
This time, Hila walked over and patted her head.
“What did you dream about? Why aren’t your memories open to me?”
“D-don’t ask! Anyway, it’s nothing important…”
Aurora glanced at Hila before looking away in shock. She then recalled what she had experienced in the dream, and her face became even redder, as though she was about to bleed.
Seeing her strange behavior, Han Xiao and Hila exchanged surprised looks. However, since Aurora did not want to say it, they could not be bothered to force her. Since she was already awake, there was no need to dig into the details. Perhaps it was because she had a secret in her heart, and it was not convenient for her to say it.
Han Xiao poked Aurora and checked her status. Seeing that Aurora’s attributes had returned to normal, he did not bother about Aurora’s dream.
Seeing this, everyone stepped forward to show their concern, pushing Han Xiao and Hila to the side.
Aurora’s emotions gradually returned to normal, but she still did not dare look Han Xiao in the eye. Suddenly, she thought of something and asked with a serious expression, “You’re all here. Has the battle ended? How are the casualties?”
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone’s expression stiffened slightly, and they sighed. The atmosphere quickly became gloomy, and they started to talk about the battle situation after she fainted.
Hearing about the losses this time, Aurora was shocked. Then, she said with some guilt and disappointment:
“I—I’m sorry. I was careless and fell for the enemy’s trick. I could not be of use, and more people died…”
“It’s not your fault. It’s all the enemy’s doing. You’re just a victim.” Han Xiao rubbed her head, and her soft blonde hair slid across his palm.
“But if the enemy uses this move again, I will…”
Han Xiao waved his hand and interrupted her. He smiled and said, “Don’t be afraid. The Tree King who attacked you has already been locked in Amber. He won’t threaten you anymore.” “You’re still so nice to me… cough cough.”
Aurora subconsciously opened her mouth, but halfway through, she suddenly remembered that this was not a dream. She quickly shut her mouth, lowered her head, and coughed to hide the abnormal emotions in her eyes.
However, no one paid attention to her expression.
“It’s all thanks to Black Star capturing that Tree King. If they sealed Aurora in the next battle, we would have suffered heavy casualties like today.” Milizaus shook his head.
Guzar sighed softly. “From this point of view, it’s already not bad that Black Star got rid of the future trouble. It’s just a pity for those comrades who sacrificed themselves…”
“You can’t say that. Since the enemy has this method, they will use it sooner or later, so our casualties are inevitable. When the enemy used this method for the first time, Black Star seized the opportunity to capture him. He has already done his best to minimize the cost to prevent losses in the future,” Beiger immediately said.
Hearing this, everyone thought about it and felt that it made sense.
This was the enemy’s trump card, and Black Star couldn’t prevent them from using it in advance, so they could not blame Black Star. Getting rid of this hidden danger the first time was already the best outcome.
Ames walked forward and patted Aurora’s head.
“It’s good that you’re fine. This is more important than anything else.”
“Teacher, I’m… very sorry.”
Aurora lowered her head timidly. Her face was red with guilt, and she did not dare to look up.
Ames, however, understood her and comforted her. “It’s alright, don’t blame yourself. Although you did not use your ability to protect me, it’s not your fault. I’m fine.”
“Hmm…”
Hearing this, Aurora felt even more embarrassed. She twisted her hands together and buried her head even deeper, almost like an ostrich.
It was finally their turn to leave, and everyone stopped chatting. The spaceship followed the fleet into the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device, and the two huge mechanical rings began to spin. The lights connected and flickered, sending everyone back to the Flickering World.
After Han Xiao and the others retreated from the battlefield, the situation developed just as Simon had said. The defensive lines of the various war zones were broken, and the World Tree Army marched in from various areas and spread out rapidly. A vicious snowball-like cycle occurred, and the intercepting circle gradually became riddled with holes.
As there was no way to reverse the situation, the three Universal Civilizations did not continue to recruit Beyond Grade As into the battle and did not force a direct confrontation. They continued to pull their troops and equipment to recoup their costs so that they would not be completely wiped out by the World Tree fleet.
This process lasted for about ten days before the World Tree Army completely broke through the intercepting circle. The three Universal Civilizations also withdrew all the fleets and equipment that should have been taken back, and those that could not be taken away were destroyed on the spot. The intercepting circle that had been built over a year was only left with countless metal trash floating in the universe like a man-made asteroid belt.
In the explored universe, the upper echelons of the three Universal Civilizations and the command center held a follow-up battle meeting after the interception circle disappeared.
Among all the Beyond Grade As, only Han Xiao was the representative.
In the large conference room, the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations listened to the military report with a straight face. As the commander-in-chief of the intercepting circle, Simon was reading out the strategic analysis.
“… The intercepting circle has been abolished. We have lost the biggest barrier stopping the World Tree from advancing. The war has entered a new phase.
In the past year, we have sent out teams of engineers to move toward the Flickering World from the interception circle, setting up traps and fortifications along the way for this day. When the World Tree moves toward our territory and enters the vast strategic zone, we can harass and obstruct them.
“Although we can’t stop them from advancing, we can at least slow them down…”
At this moment, Marbruce interrupted him, tapped the table, and asked:
“This won’t solve the root of the problem. Can you think of a way to build another blockade?” Hearing this, Simon shook his head and sighed. “Forgive me for being blunt, but before we find the World Tree’s main body, all our strategies are just to treat the symptoms… We need to invest a lot of resources to build another intercepting circle. I believe that with this experience, the World Tree will use the same method to attack next time. Our troops will be heavily damaged once again, and we will fall right into their trap.
Furthermore, choosing a location is also a problem. Most of the areas in this strategic zone are also places that we have never set foot in, so we cannot go there casually. The earliest construction team to set out will only be able to build a new interception circle a year away from the World Tree. The time is too tight.
If we send a new batch of construction teams from the border of the Flickering World, there will be plenty of time to build an intercepting circle, but…”
“But what?”
Louis asked.
Simon frowned and told the truth, “The Military Strategy Department does not agree with this plan. Through the speed and drifting time of the Kunde Race survivors, we have already calculated the approximate distance between the World Tree and us. With their speed, it will take them about eleven years to reach our territory. With our obstruction and delay, this number will be extended, but not for long.” The Pope immediately questioned.
“Eleven years… This is enough to build a stronger interception circle. Why not?” “It can be done, but the Military Strategy Department feels that it’s a better choice to strengthen defenses in the border areas. Use destructive methods to develop the Flickering World border that has yet to be fully explored, squeeze out all the planet resources in these areas, and then turn at least five Star Clusters into desolate universe belts. We will not leave a single hair behind for the World Tree and build a defense line here.
After all, this is our home ground. This way, it would not only make it easier for mobile support troops but also greatly reduce the size of the defensive line, saving the expenditure of troops. Furthermore, the battlefield is close to our home, which can also stimulate the resistance of the entire universe. Setting up a new blockade in the unexplored area countless miles away will consume too much of our forces. We will be dragged into a war of attrition that the World Tree is good at, which will be even more disadvantageous…”
nsu
Simon explained.
Hearing this, the upper echelons discussed the pros and cons of this plan.
The leaders of the three Universal Civilizations pondered for a while before turning to look at Han Xiao.
“Black Star, what do you think?”
Han Xiao shook his head and said, “I don’t have too many opinions, but it’s very necessary to strengthen our defenses. Instead of leaving those planets for the World Tree to devour, we might as well do our best and use the Planetary Shatterer to develop the planets at the border of the Flickering World so that the enemies can’t replenish themselves. That way, even if they attack, we won’t lose much.”
He had already done what he could. Compared to the terrible start in his previous life, the situation of the three Universal Civilizations at present was many times better. He could not give any more suggestions regarding the war.
After all, the direction of the war between the three Universal Civilizations and the World Tree was completely different from his previous life, and he could not be sure of the final direction of each plan. The best choice now was to trust the professional military personnel.
‘In eleven years at the minimum, the World Tree will be able to invade the three Universal Civilizations… This is the final preparation period, I have to make good use of it.’
Han Xiao took a deep breath.
On the advancing route of the World Tree, the three Universal Civilizations most likely did not need high-level combatants to harass or stop them. This meant that they, as Beyond Grade As, did not have to be on standby all the time and could freely arrange the schedule.
He planned to spend some time nurturing those Beyond Grade A seeds, hoping to give birth to more Beyond Grade As and allow Karlot to grow as soon as possible.
On the other hand, he could also take the opportunity to settle down. The experience provided by the players would surely be enough for him to break through level 360 and complete his Promotion within a year. The strongest period of a Mechanic was not when they had just advanced.
The peak of a Mechanic could only be achieved after his mechanical army and equipment are completely upgraded!
The last eleven years of preparation were a rare opportunity for him to digest his advanced strength!
After these two exchanges with the Tree King, Han Xiao had already noticed his current weakness. Although he could win against Heart Tree King or Subduing Tree King in a one-on-one battle, they were all experts of the same level. They had their own explosive trump cards, so it was almost impossible for him to defeat the other party quickly. Furthermore, the battlefield environment was complicated, and the mechanical army was the biggest target. There were too many factors that affected their combat strength.
Although his energy level was very high, he was still a peak Beyond Grade A in essence, and there was no qualitative change. Only with the power of sublimation could he solve this problem.
“I hope I can give the World Tree a ‘surprise’ the next time we fight!”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
However, these thoughts were suppressed in his heart.
He knew very well that the most important task at the moment was not these plans but to wait for Oathkeeper to gather the new Sanctum Key and enter the Sanctum again. He would use the truth of the revival to strengthen the belief of the entire Beyond Grade A group!
Chapter 1364 Determination and Shadow
The three Universal Civilizations would not deliberately publicize the failure of the intercepting circle, but the truth could not be hidden for long either. As the troops of the various large organizations retreated to the explored universe, this news quickly spread to the galactic society that was constantly paying attention to the battle situation, causing a large-scale panic.
For more than a year, the refugees who had migrated to the Central Galaxy from all over the world were used to the successive reports of the World Tree stopping them from entering the Central Galaxy. This was also the reason why many people felt that forcing them to take refuge was worth it. They had already treated the intercepting circle as a ‘border’ to block the enemies.
As long as they could intercept the World Tree, they would have a sense of security. They thought that this barrier would be able to stop the World Tree forever, preventing the flames of war from spreading to their area. However, now that this barrier had been broken by the enemy, people’s confidence had been taken away. The chain reaction was shocking. Not only did it cause fear and panic, but it also caused their trust in the three Universal Civilizations to plummet.
In the eyes of the galactic residents, the three Universal Civilizations were nigh-omnipotent ‘kings’. However, even with such powerful rulers working together, they still failed to defeat the enemy. Although there were many factors involved, in the eyes of ordinary people, this was like a math equation of 3 < 1, which meant that the three Universal Civilizations were no match for the one enemy!
Many people were willing to accept the forced migration because they believed that the three Universal Civilizations would eventually be able to repel the invaders. However, if the three Universal Civilizations could not defeat the invaders, would it really be safe for them to stay in the Central Galaxy and seek refuge? Wouldn’t they be waiting for death?
This thought spread like a virus in the hearts of the galactic residents, nourishing their unease, panic, and fear. Even if the public relations department of the three Universal Civilizations works themselves to the bone, the overflowing emotions were like a tsunami that could not be easily blocked.
Thus, chaos erupted.
S er
There were many cases of people trying to escape from the Sanctuary planets. Some of them were no longer willing to believe the three Universal Civilizations and felt that staying behind was equivalent to waiting for death. They wanted to ‘save’ themselves before the enemy attacked, wanting to escape from the explored universe in spaceships. In the face of life and death, the refugees, who were originally akin to docile sheep under the control of the three Universal Civilizations, suddenly displayed a sense of herd mentality resistance. The difficulty of managing them suddenly spiked, and the three Universal Civilizations had no choice but to divert more energy to comfort and suppress the refugees.
All of a sudden, chaos ensued.
In his previous life, the foreign enemies had charged in with a fierce momentum, and there was no way for the people to retreat. Now that the three Universal Civilizations had the time to prepare for war, citizens were given an option. There were pros and cons to this and they would not be able to achieve a state where everyone was a soldier like in Han Xiao’s previous life.
At the Beyond Grade A Association headquarters…
Due to the large-scale deployment of the three Universal Civilizations’ troops, many Beyond Grade A organizations decided to change the location of the association’s headquarters. This planet located in the middle of the Flickering World had already been moved to Black Star’s territory.
Ever since a large number of Beyond Grade As had rushed to the frontlines, the Beyond Grade A Association had entered a hiatus. Han Xiao and the other participants had returned to the association, and after a year or so, they once again convened a full meeting.
In the round table conference room, many association members were gathered. Compared to the seats that were full before the battle, there were many empty seats. Every empty seat represented a sacrifice. “… to summarize, in at least 11 years, the World Tree will invade the mainland and reach the border of the Flickering World…”
Han Xiao’s tone was low as he recounted the outcome of the battle conference he had with the three Universal Civilizations.
Hearing this information, all the Beyond Grade As present had solemn expressions.
“11 years is too soon…”
A Beyond Grade A could not help but speak with a worried tone.
In the eyes of a Beyond Grade A, this amount of time would pass in the blink of an eye. The shocking attack of the World Tree breaking through the intercepting circle left a deep impression on the participants. When they thought about how the endless green tide would invade their territory soon, like a disaster that devoured everything, covering the entire explored universe bit by bit, everyone subconsciously tensed up and became extremely fearful.
Kasuyi knocked on the table and encouraged, “On the bright side, we still have at least eleven years to prepare. After fighting with the World Tree this year, we have also discovered many of our shortcomings. We can use this opportunity to improve ourselves.” Because he knew the truth about the Sanctums and the Iterations, he had always been a firm believer of the warring faction. He was another pillar of support other than Han Xiao.
However, after he finished speaking, the participants of the battles did not respond like before. They only remained silent, and the members of the Association in the avoidance faction had their differences, and naturally would not show any signs of approval.
Dillon placed his elbows on the table, took in everyone’s expressions, and sneered. “Tsk, I told you long ago that your attitude will change after you experience the war. Now you know that I made the correct choice, right? Look at all of you. You were so passionate when you set off, but now? You were all beaten back by the enemy! You sacrificed so many members of the association but still failed to stop the enemy. Tell me, what’s the use of sacrificing these people? It was just a waste of our only chance to revive.”
Hearing this, most of the participants clenched their fists and claws. They were clearly enraged, but no one spoke up.
What Dillon said had touched a raw nerve in their hearts. In the galactic battlefield of a hundred billion, many people felt how minuscule they were. Seeing those Beyond Grade As who usually called the shots in the galactic society die one after another, their belief in participating in the battle was shaken.
Seeing this, Han Xiao frowned and heavily spoke out.
“Alright, shut up. At least we managed to cooperate with the three Universal Civilizations and delay the World Tree’s invasion for a year.”
“Ha, a mere year…”
Dillon curled his lips in disapproval, but he did not dare say anything more under Han Xiao’s glare.
Han Xiao did not look at him anymore. He looked at everyone and slowly said, “No matter what, these eleven years is the last preparation period. We can’t waste it. I will use the Evolution Cube and a series of Universal Treasures to increase your strength unconditionally. The others who have similar Universal Treasures should do the same. You have all been in the position of ‘galactic big shots’ for too long. Some of you have not been able to improve for a long time and have already wasted your training. I suggest everyone undergo special training. Be as strong as you can.”
“What special training? Who’s doing the training?” Kohler was curious.
Han Xiao announced.
“The peak Beyond Grade As of the various systems will all be the mentors, imparting experience and guiding routes. As the Chief Instructor, I will be coordinating all the special training plans. On one hand, we will work towards increasing everyone’s individual strengths, and on the other, your capabilities in working as a team.
In addition, this will be live combat training. There’s no need to worry about getting injured, as Aurora will be in charge of healing. During times of peace, as the representatives of individual strength, we do not have the chance to fight frequently. Right now, this is no time to care about face or prestige. We have to increase our combat strength as much as possible, thus combat is the best way. Winning or losing is not important, the most crucial thing is to improve our abilities.”
He did indeed want to increase the average combat power of the Beyond Grade As, but on the other hand, he also felt that this was a good excuse to find people to spar frequently. He might be able to obtain more abilities.
Hearing this, everyone hesitated but did not object.
At this moment, Secret Master solemnly spoke. “What if the three Universal Civilizations lose in the end?” Han Xiao looked downwards, before slowly speaking.
“…I promise all of you that if things don’t work out, I won’t ask for anything else. I will take all of you out of the explored universe and head to the endless galaxy. Therefore, these eleven years will also be the time for us to move the resources of our Beyond Grade A organizations and prepare for our future.”
Han Xiao was uncertain that the three Universal Civilizations would be able to defeat the World Tree. Now that the timeline was different, whether or not they would be able to find the World Tree’s main body was a complete mystery. This was still an unknown probability. If they could not find it, the three Universal Civilizations would have almost no chance of winning, thus he had also expected the worst and devised a backup plan for the association.
If the three Universal Civilizations were really done for, he would also abandon this place without mercy. The universe was huge, and there was nowhere he could not go.
The meeting lasted for a while more before everyone dispersed. After everyone had left, Han Xiao took out his communicator, contacted Oathkeeper, and asked about the progress of the Sanctum Key collection. The priority was still the First Sanctum, and the time flow was the most consistent.
However, Oathkeeper replied that he had yet to gather the materials and would have to wait for some time.
“I hope we can start the second round of recovery as soon as possible. The fighting spirit of the association members has been shaken.”
Han Xiao thought to himself.
Many of the revivors felt that they had used up their only chance to revive and would no longer need him in the future, so they did not listen to him. Now, they urgently needed to use the truth to correct these people’s thoughts. Only by showing their indispensability would they be able to amplify their words and make the Beyond Grade As rely on him more.
At the same time, the two sisters walked out of the venue one after another.
Suddenly, Hila stopped in her tracks. Aurora, who had her head lowered, bumped into her back as if she did not notice anything. She then regained her senses and looked up in confusion.
“What’s wrong with you recently? Ever since the seal on your mind was removed, you’ve been in a strange state. You’ve been spacing out all the time, and it was the same during the meeting just now.”
Hila turned around and sized Aurora up with a frown.
“I…” Aurora clenched her fists and lowered her head. She hesitated and said,” I was just thinking if I was much stronger than now, would these things still have happened?”
“Oh?” Hila raised her brows but did not reply. Aurora pursed her lips and muttered to herself,
“Black Star once said that my current level is far from being able to unleash the true strength of this Esper Ability. If I become stronger, I can summon more Underworld Spirits at any time. If I become stronger, I will be able to resist the thought seal. If I become stronger, I won’t have such comrades dying in battle…”
As she spoke, her voice grew increasingly disappointed and filled with reproach.
“This is all because I’m not strong enough!”
Hila looked at her quietly and waited for her to finish venting her emotions before speaking expressionlessly. “That’s right, it’s because you’re not strong enough! They’re all comforting you, saying that it’s not your fault, but in my eyes, it’s your problem. If you were at the peak Beyond Grade A level, all the losses in this battle could have been prevented!” Hearing this, Aurora twisted her fingers and felt even more ashamed.
After becoming a Beyond Grade A a few years ago, she no longer had to be controlled by Black Star and Hila. Her heart was wild, and she felt like she was finally free to do whatever she wanted.
Her Esper Ability could ensure her survival, and she had also inherited the powerful Underworld Spirit. She had also obtained a lot of support from the association members, and she even had the life-saving equipment that Black Star had given her. She had all kinds of trump cards since birth, so she relaxed and stopped training. Only after this setback did Aurora regret not training hard for the past few years. Aurora looked up into Hila’s eyes, bit her lower lip, and made up her mind. “Sis, can you give me special training?” Hila’s lips curled up into an almost undetectable smile. She then coldly spoke while holding a straight face,
“Then be prepared. I won’t go easy on you.”
Secondary dimension world.
This was a space filled with black liquid, like a pitch-black ocean in which one would not be able to see their fingers even if they were stretched out in front of them.
A fleet of spaceships was slowly advancing through it like submarines.
This was one of the earliest divisions that the three Universal Civilizations had sent out. After a year of travel, they had long entered the depths of the secondary dimension and left the shallow areas controlled by the three Universal Civilizations.
In one of the living cabins of the battleship, Harrison was pacing back and forth anxiously while chanting “In the main universe, the World Tree has already broken through the three Universal Civilizations’ encirclement. If we don’t speed up, the enemy will be able to invade our territory in no time… How do we find the thing His Excellency Black Star mentioned?” Due to the lack of communication in the secondary dimensions, the expedition team could not maintain stable communication with their hometown and could only occasionally report the situation. The last time they exchanged intelligence, the expedition team that Harrison was in received news that the intercepting circle was broken, which made him anxious.
After more than a year of searching, the expedition team search could be called fruitless. They had not even seen a World Tree fleet.
The secondary dimensions were endless. New dimensions were born every second, and the old dimensions were destroyed. The relationship between the secondary dimensions was unpredictable and constantly changing. If there were no specific coordinates, it would be much more difficult to search for something.
“If I try my luck like this, the chances are too low. When will I be able to find clues…”
Harrison clenched his fists. The thought of his hometown being threatened by the invaders made him feel uneasy.
However, Harrison, who was immersed in his emotions, did not notice that there was a huge shadow swimming in the dark sea outside the porthole. It was almost impossible to tell its shape apart in the darkness. The strange thing was that even the radar of the fleet did not detect it.
Chapter 1365 Training and Abnormality
The destruction of the intercepting circle meant that the war had entered a new phase. The World Tree had the coordinates from the Kunde Race refugees. The army left behind temporary strongholds along the way and split into many routes as they headed toward the Flickering World. They were like green roots that grew endlessly in the universe, slowly extending toward the territories of the three Universal Civilizations.
The three Universal Civilizations used their super long-range weapons and harassment tactics to stall the enemy.
The players did not react much to the loss of the interception circle, and their morale was not affected. In their eyes, it was just a normal development of the main storyline. At most, some storyline-loving players would post on the forums to analyze the subsequent war trends, and most of it was just speculation.
The biggest impact was the main storyline mission of the players which was currently in progress. The requirements and the terms of guarding the intercepting circle had been changed to try to stop the World Tree’s advance.
However, most of the players were quite happy. The Spacetime Splicing Technology had become useful again. They were able to work after being laid off, and they had many more opportunities to work.
In times of war, mercenaries like the players were the happiest. The reward level of the mission had increased by a few levels, and their wallets were filled up at a few times the speed.
During the harassment phase, the three Universal Civilizations had left a large number of suicide squad positions for the players, which made things easier for the Great Mechanic Han. He did not have to divert his attention to fertilize the players, instead, focusing his attention elsewhere.
Flickering World, Black Star territory.
A huge metal fortress was suspended in the space, it was triangular with a thin magnetic field binding track extending out from each corner. They looked like transparent pipes, but they were actually rapid shuttle corridors connected to crescent-shaped mechanical devices at the end. These three devices were like suction cups, sucking the three Fixed Stars from afar. They were all stars that had been migrated, and after special treatments such as gravitational restraints and energy restraints, they were very stable. The three crescent-shaped mechanical devices were called Star Guiding devices, which were used to guide the energy of the stars. This was a model used for individual training. It could be used for body tempering, charging, and endurance enhancement by adjusting the output power of the star’s energy.
This metal fortress was a specially built training ground. It was equipped with all kinds of top-notch training facilities such as Fixed Star cultivation room for star energy body tempering, environment simulation rooms for converting various cosmic radiation, ultra-high extreme density gravity rooms, and so on. There were also training-type Universal Treasures provided by the three Universal Civilizations and many Beyond Grade As that could stimulate the potential of different races and systems. It could be called the best training ground for Supers in the entire explored universe.
Those who could undergo training here were not ordinary people. More than 95% of the Beyond Grade A seeds in the entire explored universe had been sent here, regardless of whether they were regular people or civilizations’ direct members. At the same time, there were also other Calamity Grades with potential that various organizations had selected
In the open-air square of the training ground, a small crowd had already formed a formation. They looked at the row of figures in front of them with almost fanaticism, and most of their gazes were focused on Han Xiao who was in the center.
“All of you are Calamity Grades. I believe I do not need to explain why you are here. From today onwards, all the facilities here will be provided to you for free. We will set up a training schedule for you, and when we are free, we will discuss the problems you face during your training…”
As Han Xiao spoke, he scanned the crowd before him.
Establishing this training ground was also the intention of the three Universal Civilizations. Originally, the direct descendants had all received training in the various military bases, but now, they had all been sent over by the three Universal Civilizations. The people in front of them were all high-level Calamity Grades, including all the peak Supers in the explored universe below Beyond Grade As.
The purpose of providing the best facilities, the strongest teachers, and the best resources was to produce as many Beyond Grade As as possible in the next eleven years. Facing the suffocating power of the World Tree, the three Universal Civilizations could not care less about the imbalance of Supers.
“Understood!”
Hadavy shouted excitedly, and the hundreds of Beyond Grade A seeds who had already joined the Black Star Army immediately echoed. Under their leadership, the people of other organizations also responded.
Han Xiao glanced at him. There were quite a few familiar faces among them, including the Beyond Grade A seeds of the Black Star Army. Lagi, Hadavy, Jotina, Nero, Mia, and the others were among them.
However, not all of the potential individuals participated in the training. Some of the golden leeks that they had high hopes for such as Karlot and Evans, were privately given special treatment.
“However, let’s get this straight. All those who become Beyond Grade As in the training camp must participate in the war unconditionally and use it as your tuition fee. Otherwise, we will take back your strength. This is a deal, and it’s not too late to back out now.”
Hearing this, the excitement on everyone’s faces did not change at all. They already knew the price. However, the value of the training this time was extraordinary. Most of the Beyond Grade A seeds here grew on their own. In the past, there was no such thing as free use of such a treasure, and now they could even ask for help from different Beyond Grade As casually. Even if they joined a Beyond Grade A organization, they would not receive such treatment. Compared to this benefit, joining the battle was nothing.
Just as everyone was getting excited, an odd mutter sounded from the crowd.
“Sigh, I have to sacrifice myself in the war anyway. What’s the point of training harder…”
Han Xiao’s eyes twitched.
The style was too obvious. He did not even have to look to know who was speaking. He immediately emphasized:
“Our training course is compulsory. We will not allow any form of laziness, and we will strictly control the rest time. Some people better pay attention.”
“Sigh, totalitarianism…” The same voice sighed.
Han Xiao ignored Lagi and continued.
“Alright, I won’t say anything else. I’ve already made the corresponding timetable for each of you. These instructors will be in charge of training you. Training starts immediately. From now on, don’t waste any second.”
As he spoke, the Beyond Grade As beside him took away the Calamity Grades to train them separately.
Some ordinary Beyond Grade As who did not have much room to improve were more passionate about being instructors. As long as they could groom one more comrade, they would be able to share the pressure. Their experience was also precious to Calamity Grades.
“I hope that in eleven years, more than ten Beyond Grade As will be born…”
Han Xiao thought to himself.
Gathering all the potential stocks in the universe to help them grow, there was a chance to produce a double-digit number of Beyond Grade As in eleven years, which was equivalent to a batch of already grown leeks.
With his targeted training, the guidance of Beyond Grade As, and the support of a large number of resources, the probability of a high-level Calamity Grade completing the last step would increase many times.
Watching the group of potential stocks being taken away for training, Han Xiao turned to the other Beyond Grade As and nodded.
“The same goes for us. If you need anything, I can give you some training advice.”
There were two groups of people training. One was Calamity Grades, and the other was Beyond Grade As. Of course, the two were different, and he was in charge of the latter.
The Beyond Grade As had been watching from the side the entire time. They looked at each other, feeling a little awkward.
Those who could advance to Beyond Grade A were all geniuses who had found their paths. They had always been exploring their own path of cultivation, and many of them were not used to suddenly receiving guidance from others.
However, Han Xiao’s prestige was very high. Everyone present had agreed to the training plan that he had proposed during the regular meeting, so they could not go back on their words now. All of them came up one after another to be poked by Han Xiao.
Han Xiao used this opportunity to collect the information of most Beyond Grade As and analyzed their abilities.
Why do I feel like a Pokemon trainer… After analyzing for a while, this thought suddenly appeared in Han Xiao’s mind.
On the other side, when the Beyond Grade As saw Black Star accurately pointing out their weaknesses and even giving them effective training plans, they could not help but be stunned.
They knew that Black Star had great foresight, but it was all hearsay and not true. Now that they had personally witnessed this, they could not help but be interested. “You didn’t grow so quickly because of this ability, did you?” Oulou was surprised.
“To a certain extent, that’s true.” Han Xiao shrugged.
“I should give you the title of Super mentor. If you were in the Federation of Light, I might have lost my job,” Verena had a helpless expression.
“Don’t worry, it’s not too late to lose your job.” Han Xiao could not be bothered to speak. After distributing the training plans, he urged everyone to hurry up and cultivate. Although he really wanted to find someone to spar with and try to draw abilities, the training had just begun, so it was better to let others get used to it first.
The many Beyond Grade As dispersed. This was not their training ground. Han Xiao had modified some planets nearby to serve as a temporary training ground for the Beyond Grade As. In the next eleven years, most of them would move around this area. However, it was only limited to the ordinary Beyond Grade As and some high-level Beyond Grade As. Kasuyi, Manison, Hila, and the others all had their own special training route, so they did not need to come for training.
After doing all this, Han Xiao was about to return to the workshop to continue his research when his communicator suddenly rang. The caller was the department leader in charge of contacting the secondary dimension expedition team.
“Your Excellency Black Star, I have some bad news for you. In our last contact, we discovered that the fleet carrying the emissary you sent out has disappeared. We are currently unable to contact them.”
“Missing?”
Han Xiao activated the Observer’s Mark.
Before Harrison left, he had used his Void Talent to set up an Observer’s Mark on Harrison. Because he had not obtained anything in a long time, he did not check on Harrison all the time. The last time he checked was a day and a half ago. Everything was normal.
He activated his ability, and his vision suddenly changed. All that was left was darkness, and he could not see Harrison at all.
Before he could observe carefully, his vision suddenly disappeared, proving that the Observer’s Mark had been destroyed.
“What did they encounter in the secondary dimension world?”
Han Xiao frowned. Being able to remove his Observer’s Mark meant that there was a high chance of the appearance of Beyond Grade A energy level.
Without hesitation, he changed into a specific King and teleported to the throne that Harrison had taken away.
With a flash of light, the surroundings spun. Han Xiao had already arrived in a black, deep sea-like space. There was nothing else around him.
The throne should have been stored in Harrison’s room, but at this moment, the fleet was gone, Harrison and the other crew members were nowhere to be seen. Only the throne was left floating alone.
“What is this place?”
Han Xiao looked around and was surprised to find that his energy sense seemed to have disappeared. He could not even sense the situation in this deep sea-like area. The radar of his mechanical suit was also malfunctioning, and his vision was greatly suppressed.
He released a group of detectors and connected them with his Mechanical Force. However, the detectors only flew for a short distance before they suddenly disconnected, and he could no longer sense them. It was as if they were swallowed by this black sea. Han Xiao tried to shoot a few energy beams in one direction, but there was no reaction.
“This is a strange secondary dimension. What did Harrison encounter?”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
The secondary dimension world was filled with all kinds of possibilities, and anything could happen. It was very complicated, and this expedition team had been in there for more than a year, so he could not be sure what had happened.
Just as Han Xiao was about to start searching for this secondary dimension, a huge pressure suddenly came from all directions. A loud sound rang as if this black sea suddenly pressed toward Han Xiao.
At the same time, a cold mental wave suddenly invaded his mind, and a solemn voice sounded.
“Foreign high-level life form, leave immediately. Otherwise, you will become the Realmless King’s enemy!”
Chapter 1366 Realmless King
Realmless King? What the hell was that? It sounded quite scary. Han Xiao raised his brows with interest. It would have been slightly troublesome if the problem here was just a secondary dimension with strange rules. However, this was an actual sentient being that could communicate.
He felt as though he was in the deep sea. The huge water pressure came from all angles, covering the sky and earth. However, this bit of pressure only made his body tighten slightly, causing almost no damage. Compared to the Dragon Emperor’s force field, this bit of strength could not even be considered a massage. At most, it felt like he was wearing a tight suit.
The secondary dimension world was extremely dangerous, but once one reached the level of a peak Beyond Grade A, most dangers would no longer pose a threat, especially since he was one of the best among the peak Beyond Grade As. As long as this being was not an anomaly like the Celestial Star Alliance, it would not be a problem.
Han Xiao floated on the spot and ignored the pressure around him.
“What is Realmless King?”
As soon as he said that, another message came with an even more majestic aura.
“Realmless King was born in the Black Space Storm and rose from the void and unorthodoxy. He is the master of millions of dimensions, the hunter of millions of worlds. Any life form that enters his territory is a servant under the King’s authority!”
Woah! The scene suddenly turned magical.
“Not bad. With such a long title, I feel like he’s almost catching up to me.’ Han Xiao grinned.
It sounded like a powerful dimension deity entrenched in a deep layer secondary dimension. If an ordinary Beyond Grade A were to encounter it, their lives might be in danger. Unfortunately for them, he was not an ordinary Beyond Grade A. While he was deep in thought, this voice became more and more powerful, as if a huge bell was ringing in his mind, echoing with a powerful buzz. “Foreign life form, leave this place immediately, or I will expel you!”
“Wanna try?”
Han Xiao raised his brows and activated the cells in his body. It was as though he had activated a mini reactor and pumped out energy.
Chi!
Golden electric arcs shot out of his body, leaving a burning trail of light as if splitting the surrounding black sea. With a flip of his palm, a light blue psionic energy appeared in it, releasing spherical shock waves as if it was stirring up endless ripples on the surface of the sea.
Although he did not know what was going on in this secondary dimension, his previous probing was ineffective. It was most likely because he did use enough energy.
Because he was worried that he would hurt Harrison and the expedition fleet, Han Xiao did not explode the entire secondary dimension with too much energy. Instead, he controlled his energy output and increased it bit by bit.
At the start, there was no change. The explosive energy was like a rock sinking into the ocean, and it did not cause any reaction. However, after a while, the black liquid substance that filled the entire space started to vibrate. It seemed to have exceeded the limit of its endurance, causing huge waves.
Boom!
Amidst the tremors, Han Xiao could feel the strong undercurrents shooting toward him. At the same time, he felt a sharp pain in his brain as he got hit by the enemy’s mental attacks. However, to him, it was no different from scratching an itch. With just a blink, his HP was full.
There was something strange about this black liquid. It caused his energy perception to fail, and his radar to be ineffective. He could not find the other party, so he could only use violence to force the other party to appear. If this was a dimensional consciousness, then the dimension itself was the other party’s body. If he released energy inside, it would be equivalent to giving the other party an enema. The other party would not be able to last long.
Not long after, the entire space was shaking violently, as though it was going to explode and disintegrate at any time. The mental attacks were getting weaker and weaker, and extremely dangerous, but once one reached the level of a peak Beyond Grade A, most dangers would no longer pose a threat, especially since he was one of the best among the peak Beyond Grade As. As long as this being was not an anomaly like the Celestial Star Alliance, it would not be a problem.
Han Xiao floated on the spot and ignored the pressure around him. “What is Realmless King?”
As soon as he said that, another message came with an even more majestic aura.
“Realmless King was born in the Black Space Storm and rose from the void and unorthodoxy. He is the master of millions of dimensions, the hunter of millions of worlds. Any life form that enters his territory is a servant under the King’s authority!”
Woah! The scene suddenly turned magical.
“Not bad. With such a long title, I feel like he’s almost catching up to me.”
Han Xiao grinned.
It sounded like a powerful dimension deity entrenched in a deep layer secondary dimension. If an ordinary Beyond Grade A were to encounter it, their lives might be in danger. Unfortunately for them, he was not an ordinary Beyond Grade A.
While he was deep in thought, this voice became more and more powerful, as if a huge bell was ringing in his mind, echoing with a powerful buzz.
“Foreign life form, leave this place immediately, or I will expel you!” “Wanna try?” Han Xiao raised his brows and activated the cells in his body. It was as though he had activated a mini reactor and pumped out energy.
Chi!
Golden electric arcs shot out of his body, leaving a burning trail of light as if splitting the surrounding black sea.
With a flip of his palm, a light blue psionic energy appeared in it, releasing spherical shock waves as if it was stirring up endless ripples on the surface of the sea. Although he did not know what was going on in this secondary dimension, his previous probing was ineffective. It was most likely because he did use enough energy.
Because he was worried that he would hurt Harrison and the expedition fleet, Han Xiao did not explode the entire secondary dimension with too much energy. Instead, he controlled his energy output and increased it bit by bit.
At the start, there was no change. The explosive energy was like a rock sinking into the ocean, and it did not cause any reaction. However, after a while, the black liquid substance that filled the entire space started to vibrate. It seemed to have exceeded the limit of its endurance, causing huge waves.
Boom!
Amidst the tremors, Han Xiao could feel the strong undercurrents shooting toward him. At the same time, he felt a sharp pain in his brain as he got hit by the enemy’s mental attacks.
However, to him, it was no different from scratching an itch. With just a blink, his HP was full.
There was something strange about this black liquid. It caused his energy perception to fail, and his radar to be ineffective. He could not find the other party, so he could only use violence to force the other party to appear. If this was a dimensional consciousness, then the dimension itself was the other party’s body. If he released energy inside, it would be equivalent to giving the other party an enema. The other party would not be able to last long.
Not long after, the entire space was shaking violently, as though it was going to explode and disintegrate at any time. The mental attacks were getting weaker and weaker, and they were filled with pained emotions.
Han Xiao looked around and narrowed his eyes.
“Still not coming out? Do you really want me to inflate you?”
As soon as he said that, the pressure around him suddenly became lighter. The black liquid-like substance shrank and turned into a whirlpool. The black sea flowed into it like a bathtub filled with water had its plug pulled out.
As the black sea disappeared, Han Xiao’s energy perception quickly recovered, and his vision returned to normal.
This secondary dimension was a white world without anything. It was like the prototype of a secondary dimension that had yet to be fully formed. It was also like all matter was swept away by the receding black sea. In the distant horizon, there was a black vortex that was getting smaller and smaller, sucking away all the black matter. It was about to open a spatial rift and escape.
“Running? I will break your legs!”
Han Xiao opened his hands, and mechanical soldiers appeared one after another.
The mechanical army that appeared immediately released the binding force field and held onto this black mass, preventing it from moving. At the same time, they also used the secondary dimension spatial stabilization device to fix the spatial rift that the other party had torn out.
This black liquid was extremely strange and slippery. However, under the control of Han Xiao’s mechanical army, it was still frozen in place and turned into a high-density liquid state. It kept changing its shape as though it was struggling At the same time, its mental energy fluctuations spread out in all directions with this liquid at the center. The solemn atmosphere from before was gone, and only shock and anger were left. “Foreign life form! You will pay the price for your actions. Realmless King will take it from you!”
Han Xiao turned a deaf ear and told the mechanical army to increase the binding force field. He then took out a cylindrical container and stuffed the mass inside. The black mass was compressed into a fist-sized liquid that floated in the container. Tiny electric arcs were attached to it, causing the liquid to jolt nonstop. It was extremely painful.
This was a special equipment that he had used to capture Primal Esper Ability Entities. He did not expect it to be suitable for this strange substance.
After locking it in the container, the liquid finally stopped. Han Xiao knocked on the outside of the container and asked curiously:
“What are you? Also, did a fleet pass by here recently? Where did you take them?”
“So you’re looking for those people. Looks like you’re a high-level life form in the main material universe!” The mental fluctuation of this liquid was unstable, and it was already covered in a layer of fear. However, it soon turned into anger. “I’m just one of the guardians of the millions of dimensions. I’ve already offered them to the Realmless King. If you have the guts, go find him!”
“Offerings?” Han Xiao raised his brows. “Tell me everything you know… Forget it, since you’re not cooperating, I’ll just interrogate you.”
Han Xiao injected his Mechanical Force into the container, and the container was instantly filled with lightning, forming a mini ion thunderstorm. This liquid was like a bug trapped in an electric mosquito swatter, crackling from the electricity.
After torturing it for a while, Han Xiao finally got the information he wanted.
This liquid life form was an energy field type life form, born in the secondary dimension of a nurturing type life form. This black liquid was the shell given to it by the so-called Realmless King. It called itself one of the guardians of the million dimensions, the confidant (doubtful) of the Realmless King. Its name was Bobanica, meaning ‘Erosion’ and ‘Swallowing’.
Through this kind of black substance, the Realmless King devoured the matter and energy of the various dimensions and transformed them into his own ‘territory’. He occupied this area with a large number of guardians guarding the dimensions that he occupied.
The fleet that Harrison was in had indeed been taken away by him. Through the special connection between the black liquid and the Realmless King, it had used dimensional teleportation and sent them to the ‘King’s Land’ where the Realmless King was. This was the main job of a guardian like Bobanica. The life forms that had been intercepted and sent to the Realmless King were called ‘offerings’.
“Tsk, looks like I’ll have to find this Realmless King if I want to get them… I wonder if it’s a good or bad thing for Harrison to encounter something like this with his luck.”
Han Xiao stroked his chin.
He pondered for a few seconds, shook his head, changed into the Dimension Travel mechanical suit, set the coordinates given by Bobanica, and headed toward the Realmless King’s location.
In the middle of a secondary dimension, on a huge platform that looked like a black crystal, Harrison was floating in midair. His eyes wer closed, as though he had lost consciousness, but his face was filled with pain. One end of the black fog-like energy stream was connected to his glabella while the other end was connected to a gigantic black finger. Light flowed on the finger. The owner of the finger was a black entity the size of a mountain. It had a human form and had many heads and arms. It was sitting on a black throne—it was the Realmless King. After a while, the Realmless King retracted its energy stream, and Harrison lost the ability to float. He fell onto the platform and was still unconscious.
“Interesting. With that tree finding a new prey, I can harvest delicious souls again…”
The Realmless King let out a deep laugh, but in the ears of others, it would only be a frenzied roar.
As a powerful entity in a secondary dimension, the soul of a life form was a rare delicacy. However, it could not completely descend into the main material universe and could only project a portion of its power. Furthermore, the main material universe was extremely vast. Without coordinates, one could only wander the endless universe, and it was very difficult to find life.
At this moment, he had absorbed the memories of these life forms from the main material universe, learned the coordinates of the three Universal Civilizations, and also knew that the famous World Tree Civilization was fighting with them. In his eyes, this was a feast to harvest souls.
Under normal circumstances, even a powerful dimensional entity like him was afraid of the power of a Universal Civilization and was unwilling to provoke them.
However, if a Universal Civilization were to fall into war, the situation would be different. He still had the guts to take advantage of the situation.
“After provoking that tree, your doomsday is almost here. Hehe, rather than becoming its servants, you might as well become my food… However, the World Tree actually has the weakness of a main body? This is the first time I’ve learned of it.”
The Realmless King moved its body, producing a rustling sound like countless insects crawling
Then, countless eyes on his body turned to look at the unconscious Harrison on the platform. Greed and desire appeared in the eyes, but they quickly suppressed them. “It’s rare to meet a life form with such strong luck. If I eat you, my causal force will increase by a level… It’s a pity that the guy behind you isn’t easy to deal with. It would be better to make a deal with him.”
The Realmless King looked away.
From Harrison’s memories, he saw Han Xiao and knew that they had a close relationship.
He was extremely wary of the top-notch experts of the main material universe. It was precisely because of Black Star that he did not dare eat Harrison immediately. The Realmless King knew that this was one of the mediums of the causal force, but he did not intend to violate it. This was because there was a high chance that he would pay the price for violating the causal force. If he ate Harrison, the price would most likely be this Black Star coming to fight him to death.
Right at this moment, a black mass suddenly fell from the sky filled with black fog and floated in front of the Realmless King. It contained the emergency message from Bobanica before he was captured, showing the image of Han Xiao releasing energy to open up the black sea.
“Oh? He came so quickly. It seems like this useless thing, Bobanica, will not be able to escape his grasp. He will give me my coordinates. This is good too. Wait for him to come and find me.”
Seeing this, the Realmless King changed his posture and waited for Han Xiao to come. Black Star was very powerful and might be able to threaten his life, but the Realmless King did not panic at all.
In terms of secondary dimension exploration, the World Tree was far ahead of the three Universal Civilizations. Although the Realmless King had no dealings with the World Tree Civilization, he knew how to send a message to the World Tree Family.
The intelligence that he had obtained from the expedition team contained the coordinates of the secondary dimensions of the three Universal Civilizations as well as various other information. This was the best bargaining chip that he could use. He believed that the World Tree would be very willing to accept this gift
However, the Realmless King did not intend to tell them. After all, he did not want to have too much contact with the World Tree. In comparison, he was more interested in Black Star, the guest of a new Universal Civilization.
Chapter 1367 Unexpected Deal
The flowing light particles formed an endless tunnel in front of him. There was only a single point of light at the end, and time and space were pulled into an infinite line in his senses. He did not know how much distance he had crossed or how much time he had spent, but it felt like only an instant.
Countless strange scenes flashed past outside the tunnel, and his body seemed to have turned into smoke. For a moment, he could not feel the existence of his body, and all his senses that were used to explore the world were mixed together. However, the next moment, all his senses returned to normal, and his vision suddenly changed. He had arrived in a new space.
Endless black fog pervaded the area and red lightning flashed from time to time. It was like dark clouds that were brewing lightning, or dark clouds from a volcanic eruption. It was like the end of the world.
A black mountain range flowing with lava-like scarlet light was floating in the black fog like an island. The mountain peak at the center was steep and tall, and a rusty dark gold chain was wrapped around it, forming spiral-like patterns. It was connected to a black crystal-like platform that was suspended in the air, and on it sat a gigantic black figure the size of a mountain. Countless red eyes turned in unison and looked over.
“Oh my, isn’t this going to cost me my sanity?”
Han Xiao smacked his lips. He took a look at the scenery of this secondary dimension with interest and captured a photo as a memento. Otherwise, if they were to fight later, he might accidentally crush this place.
Looking up at the mountain-like figure, Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
“You’re the Realmless King?”
It had to be said that this guy’s appearance was quite scary. Ordinary people would probably be shocked to the point of losing their minds at first glance, triggering a deep-seated phobia of giant creatures. However, Han Xiao was used to seeing all kinds of things, so this scene did not have any impact on him at all. The shock was far less than a fleet salvo during the interception battle.
“Yes, I was waiting for you, Black Star,” the Realmless King replied slowly.
“You know me?”
Han Xiao was a little surprised. He looked down at Bobanica in his hands and remembered that he did not mention his name. Could it be that his name had already spread from the main universe to the secondary dimensions? “I know why you’re here. You want to take this fleet and this intelligent creature called Harrison away, right? I learned about your civilization from their memories.”
The Realmless King sat still, but the black fog in the sky suddenly moved away, revealing a fleet. It was the missing expedition team of the three Universal Civilizations. However, it was only shown for a moment before the black fog covered it again, making it impossible to sense.
The unconscious Harrison flew up from the platform and hovered in front of it.
Han Xiao’s eyes flashed, but he was not in a hurry to make a move. He asked curiously, “I see. Then why are you waiting for me here?”
The Realmless King did not reply immediately. He slowly said, “I usually digest the prey I capture immediately, but I learned your name from their memories. To be honest, I’m very afraid of you high-level life forms in the main material universe. Because of your existence, I did not eat them immediately.”
“You’re quite cool-headed.”
Han Xiao sized up the Realmless King with surprise.
Your cowardice saved you, baby!
Just from the memories of Harrison and the others, he knew that I was their backer, so he did not dare to attack the expedition team… It seems that I am still very intimidating.
Seeing that the other party was giving him face, Han Xiao’s expression softened a little. He stretched out his hand and said with a smile, “In that case, I don’t mind being friends with you. Let them go first.”
However, the Realmless King shook his head. “I didn’t say I would return them to you.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao paused. “If you’re not willing to provoke me, and you don’t want to return the people, what are you going to do?”
“I want to make a deal with you.”
“Deal? Although you didn’t eat these people, you captured them and brought them here. I don’t owe you any favors. You want to use these people as bargaining chips? It’s difficult.”
Han Xiao replied casually.
The Realmless King said slowly:
“No, my bargaining chip is the intelligence of the three Universal Civilizations in their memories. You guys are fighting a war with the World Tree, and I believe the World Tree will definitely like this intelligence. They will be able to find your secondary dimension territory, and I happen to have a way to contact the members of the World Tree.”
This news was out of his expectations. Han Xiao’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately put down his hands.
“Threatening me? Are you tired of living?”
“It’s not a threat, it’s just self-preservation. Even if you agree to make a deal with me, I’m afraid that you’ll take revenge on me after I return the person to you. I don’t have the confidence to win against you… And with this trump card, I believe my safety will be guaranteed. This is the basis of the deal.”
The Realmless King’s tone was matter-of-fact.
“…How can I believe you when you say that you can contact the members of the World Tree? Do you think you can scare me with just a few words? It’s not that I don’t dare to bet that you know the term from their memories. Show me the evidence.”
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes.
The Realmless King did not mind and explained:
“I understand what you mean, but I’m not lying to you. Although you and the World Tree fought in the main material universe, the secondary dimension world is their base camp. They have devoured secondary dimensions one after another for countless years.
However, the secondary dimensions are endless, and the World Tree does not eat every single one of them. Its main method of expansion is to take root and imprint the secondary dimensions into their territory, turning them into territories that allow them to travel quickly. For some special secondary dimensions, they don’t even interfere with them and instead focus on observation and research.
At the same time, they sent out countless members to explore the outside world, spreading the name of the World Tree and its connection channels. It’s similar to what they did in the main material universe. One of their exploration teams passed by my outer territory, and one of my guardians received a lot of information and reported it to me…”
As he spoke, the Realmless King shared a small portion of his memories through mental communication.
Han Xiao did a check, but there were no signs of forgery. He did indeed have the contact information of the World Tree members, and he was a little annoyed.
“This is a little tricky… There’s no 100% chance of stopping the information leak if I try to kill this guy. If the World Tree starts a secondary dimensional battlefront, our situation will become worse.’ Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled, and he quickly calculated.
The World Tree’s main body was rooted in the secondary dimension, and this was its territory. Although its main body was found in his previous life, if not for the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device transporting to the central area and launching a sneak attack, it would have been almost impossible for frontal attacks to pass through the secondary dimension defense circle near the World Tree’s main body. Right now, the three Universal Civilizations were in a good situation. One of the reasons was that the World Tree did not have the time to figure out the secondary dimension territory of the three Universal Civilizations like in his previous life and did not activate this battlefront, which reduced the pressure on them.
Seeing the change in Han Xiao’s expression, the Realmless King spoke again.
“You don’t have to worry about me using this as leverage to threaten you. With the abilities of high-level life forms like you, even if your civilization is destroyed, there’s a high chance that you can escape. At that time, this trump card won’t be able to protect me anymore… So, you can rest assured. I just want to make a deal with you. I won’t force you to do anything overboard. As long as you don’t attack me, there’s no need for me to tell on you. Trust me, no one is willing to take the initiative to have dealings with the World Tree.”
The Realmless King’s tone was sincere. Although he had a hold on him, he did not dare make any outrageous requests. He did not think that this trump card could support him in doing whatever he wanted in front of the other party. In his eyes, it was just a qualification to make a deal with the other party.
Han Xiao stroked his chin and looked at the Realmless King thoughtfully.
This Realmless King was a powerful dimensional deity, and his name was very intimidating. However, he remained humble in front of Han Xiao. Although he had a hold on him, he did not act tough. Instead, he was a little cowardly.
Han Xiao pondered for a few seconds and suppressed his hostility. “… Tell me about your deal. What do you want me to do for you?”
“There are only two things. One is that after the battle breaks out, you will allow me to project my power and harvest the souls of those who died in battle, as well as some destroyed battleships. The materials of the main universe are quite valuable to us.”
Are you trying to snatch business from the Underworld?
Furthermore, you’re working part-time to retrieve the wreckage of the battleship. Are you a galactic scavenger ?
Han Xiao’s expression became strange. He looked around at the slowly flowing black fog and felt that the Realmless King suddenly looked like a trash station owner.
“…What about the second matter?”
“I once had a special secondary dimension, but it was snatched away by another group of dimensional entities. They are not easy to deal with, and I have never been able to deal with them. I hope you can help me snatch it back.”
Han Xiao smacked his lips and said:
“I can help you with these two things, but since you said that the method of snitching is only to protect yourself and not threaten me, I won’t take it as a bargaining chip. The price you offered isn’t suitable, so I need more.” “What do you want?” The Realmless King did not reject the bargain.
“I need more information about the World Tree’s force in the secondary dimension. Tell me everything you know. Also, I want some black matter for research. Finally… Maybe we can work together to deal with the World Tree. They have been expanding in the secondary dimension and will arrive at your territory sooner or later. It’s best to strike first,” Han Xiao said slowly.
“I can promise you the first two points. As for dealing with the World Tree, forget it. I can’t afford to provoke them either. I’ll just hide.”
As expected, the Realmless King rejected.
Han Xiao smiled.
“Don’t be too afraid. The World Tree has the weakness of the main body. As long as the main body is destroyed, your threat will be resolved once and for all. Isn’t that good? Also, you might even be able to free a large number of souls to be your food.”
Although Harrison and the others had been captured, causing the leak of information to appear, with Harrison’s luck, he could turn bad luck into good luck. From a good perspective, this was also an opportunity for him to find out about the World Tree’s force in the secondary dimension.
Therefore, he did not launch an attack. Instead, he was trying to see if he could pull in a new ally. After all, he was once the successor of socialism, and it had become a habit to unite all forces.
“It sounds very tempting, but I’m not sure if the main body really exists. Let’s talk about it after you find it.”
The Realmless King did not comment. Seeing this, Han Xiao did not force him. He already knew that the other would not agree so easily, and only mentioned this topic.
At this moment, a notification popped up on the interface.
You have triggered the mission (Transaction with the Realmless King]!
Mission Introduction: For some reason, the Realmless King has something to ask of you. He has proposed a deal with you.
Mission Requirements: Retrieve the target’s secondary dimension.
Reward: 250 Billion Experience,+25 Realmless King Favorability, x1 Character Summon Card.
Remarks: This mission may have unknown effects. Please accept carefully.
Han Xiao was curious.
What kind of secondary dimension was it that the Realmless King would risk offending him to snatch it back… Could this be his wife ►
Chapter 1368 Strange Encounter and Lies
Seemingly noticing Han Xiao’s confusion, the Realmless King explained with a deep voice.
“This secondary dimension is nurturing one of my children. It was a special case, as it was still an embryo, yet to take form when it was taken away. The dimension entities that took it planned to eat it after it matured, so I hope that you can snatch it back while protecting the secondary dimension from shattering.”
“So, it’s not your wif… cough, I’ll try my best.” Han Xiao hid his words with a cough, before asking, “By the way, what is the origin of that dimension?”
Realmless King shifted his sitting posture, before slowly speaking,
“They are external dimension entities. I was born in this area, and this area is my territory. Originally, I was the only overlord life form here, and there were no natural enemies or competitors. However, when those dimension entities arrived here from the spatial storm, my situation changed. They targeted me and settled down at the edge of my territory. I tried to expel them many times, but I failed. However, they could not do anything to me either…”
Following the Realmless King’s explanation, Han Xiao quickly understood the situation.
The secondary dimension world had its own ecosystem. Due to the uncertainty of space, the division of regions was usually marked by some special secondary dimension or overlord-level life forms. For example, the territory controlled by the Realmless King was a representative stable region. The areas outside this region were akin to the desolate universe belt of the main universe, except they were not only desolate but filled with unknowns.
This was akin to being cut off from the rest of the world. It was just that the area was too vast, and they did not know the boundaries. Most of the stable regions did not know of each other’s existence, and they did not want to be discovered by outsiders. After all, the environment here was more dangerous, and it was difficult to breed a civilization. The life forms born were more particular about the law of the jungle where the strong preyed on the weak.
However, order would also be found within the chaos. A small group of stable areas would usually maintain communications with each other, and for different reasons, their names would spread out and connect to other stable areas. Just like how the primitive tribes in the Wilderness discovered each other, they formed a new compound organization.
The Realmless King was a member of the composite ecosystem. He knew the coordinates of several stable areas and had always been without problems.
To put it simply, the situation that the Realmless King had encountered was that the local tyrant had met with a ‘roaming dragon’. The secondary dimension was so big, but the other party refused to leave and even wanted to target him. Thus, it turned into a neighbor dispute.
Han Xiao had obtained information about these few dimensional entities from the mental messages that the other party had shared. They were the accumulated experiences of the Realmless King fighting them over the years, displaying their various abilities.
However, this information only had a little bit of reference value to him. As long as they fought, he would be able to obtain more detailed information through the combat information on the interface. Han Xiao did not take the Realmless King’s exaggerated description of the enemy too seriously. Although the secondary dimension world was strange and varied, as long as no one reached a higher level, the peak Beyond Grade As of the main universe would still be the predators at the top of the food chain. No matter how famous the dimension deities were, they would not appear impressive in front of him.
“I understand. Send a projection over with
me.”
Han Xiao’s tone was casual. His body swayed, and a Lord’s Avatar separated from his body. Mechanical Force electric arcs surged out from his body and entered the Lord’s Avatar, activating the Lord’s Descent state.
He did not plan to leave this place. His main body would stay behind to keep an eye on the Realmless King, in case he made any small moves. Sending the Lord’s Avatar would be enough to resolve this mission. “Alright, if you don’t mind, I hope to let him temporarily inherit my power. It will only be beneficial to him and not detrimental. Consider it a small apology.”
The Realmless King raised an arm and waved it. Harrison spun around and landed in front of Han Xiao. His eyelids trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes. He looked like he had just woken up from a coma.
As soon as he saw Han Xiao, Harrison’s eyes immediately focused and he slowly recalled what had happened before he fainted. His face immediately twitched, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.
“Your Excellency Black Star?! I… I’m still alive?!”
Han Xiao pressed down on Harrison’s shoulder and electric sparks appeared on his fingertips. He looked at the interface, nodded, and said, “Your vital signs are normal. It’s good that you’re okay.”
“I still remember the fleet being attacked… Are you here to save me?”
Harrison was touched.
He still remembered his last memory before he fainted. The overwhelming black tide swallowed the entire fleet, and the fleet could not resist at all. He did not have time to do anything, and at that moment, he thought he was done for. Jenny’s beautiful face and shiny forehead flashed in his mind, and his heart was filled with reluctance and despair. Now that he had woken up and seen Han Xiao, Harrison’s uneasy heart instantly calmed down. His fear, panic, and nervousness instantly disappeared. He knew that Black Star’s arrival meant that he was fine.
Before he could ask why Harrison felt his body turn around and look behind him. At the same time, a message appeared in his mind.
“Kid, I’m the Realmless King. Relax your body and mind and accept my infusion.”
As soon as Harrison turned around, he saw the strange sight of this dimension, as well as the terrifying body of the Lord of the Realmless. An instinctive fear rose from the depths of his soul, and it was like a chill that spread through his bones, freezing his body in an instant.
However, the feeling disappeared in the blink of an eye. If he was alone, Harrison might have felt that he had gone crazy from fear. However, the moment he thought about how Black Star, his “father-level” universe expert, was standing right behind him, an incomparable sense of security immediately dispelled all the fear in his heart.
Without fear, the explorer’s soul was immediately ignited. Harrison looked at the Realmless King, and his tone was filled with curiosity.
“Your Excellency Black Star, what sort of thing is this?”
“He’s not a thing. He’s called the Realmless King. He’s a life form from a secondary dimension. He’s basically a trash collector,” Han Xiao replied casually. He patted Harrison’s shoulder and said, “Listen to him. Relax and let him enter your body. It won’t hurt.”
As soon as he said that, the Realmless King’s eyes blinked. The black fog around him seemed to be drawn toward the confused Harrison and entered his body. Very soon, thin black and red lines appeared on the surface of his body. They looked like bulging blood vessels, but they were messy and still twisting irregularly. However, Harrison did not feel any pain. He only felt his body burning.
In places that he could not see, every cell in his body got cleansed by the black fog-like energy and underwent a positive mutation in the direction of optimization. Although he was still a low-level Super, his basic physique was rapidly improving.
After a long while, the black and red lines on Harrison’s body finally converged on his chest, forming a mark. This represented the contract formed by the Realmless King. With it, he would be able to borrow the power of the Realmless King from afar in most environments.
This kind of dimensional divine entity could project its power to life forms through contracts. This was also the main method for them to enter the main material universe. Some religious sects in the galaxy had connections with the dimensional divine spirits, and Han Xiao’s Underworld Mark followed a similar process.
The amount of power that could be borrowed depended on the individual strength of the contractor and the level of the contract. For Han Xiao’s sake, the Realmless King had made the highest level contract. In times of danger, the Realmless King could even temporarily take over and provide the ‘strong family grandpa’ service.
The treatment Harrison received was all thanks to Han Xiao.
“Damn, this Advanced Luck Glow is really…”
Han Xiao gritted his teeth in envy.
With his current level, he was already the source of luck for the owner of the Lucky Halo. Because of his existence, Harrison was able to turn this danger into a fortuitous encounter.
If I could have met someone like myself when I was weak, it would have been awesome!
It’s a pity that I’ve already reached my current maximum. Not many people have the right to be relied on by me… Han Xiao sighed in his heart.
At this time, Harrison’s pupils had already turned pure black. The Realmless King took over his body and nodded.
“I’m done. Shall we set off now?”
Han Xiao nodded and controlled the Lord’s Avatar to take out the Dimensional Travel Device. Together with Harrison, they disappeared in a flash.
He suddenly thought of something. His main body took out the container that held Bobanica and spoke to the Realmless King, “By the way, I caught this guy and forgot to return him to you.”
The Realmless King glanced at the container with a human-like look of disdain in his eyes. “Keep it. Let it out after we’re done.”
Han Xiao curled his lips and put away the container. It seemed like the liquid was bragging when it said that it was the Realmless King’s confidant.
The Lord’s Avatar needed to travel for a while. Han Xiao rose up and sat mid-air, hovering at the same height as the Realmless King’s head. The two of them stared at each other.
The Lord’s Avatar set the coordinates of the dimensions provided by the Realmless King, and it did not take long for them to reach their destination.
This was still a pitch-black secondary dimension, but it was different from the doomsday scene on the side of the Realmless King. The darkness here had a peaceful aura.
Han Xiao could sense that the energy of the entire secondary dimension was flowing toward the same location. In that direction, there was an incomplete life signal that showed something was being nurtured. “This is it. Those dimensional entities have always been here. Be careful,” the Realmless King spoke through Harrison.
Han Xiao nodded. He opened the dimensional army camp and from it appeared an endless stretch of his mechanical army. At the same time, he activated a portion of the mechanical soldiers to form a normal version of the Mechanical Deity and prepared for battle.
At this time, a few powerful energy sources approached from different directions. Three enormous figures covering the sky approached from afar and quickly occupied their sights. They had different appearances and were the external dimension gods that occupied this place. The moment they appeared, they gave off a strong sense of oppression. “Who is it ? How dare you disturb our… F*ck, Black Star!”
“We can’t win, run!”
As soon as the three dimensional entities saw the Mechanical Deity, they immediately turned around and ran.
Seeing this, both Han Xiao and the Realmless King were stunned.
He had thought that he would have to fight to solve the problem, but these dimension entities ran away like rabbits on seeing him as if they already knew him.
Has my name really spread in the secondary dimension world?
Han Xiao narrowed his eyes, his mind working rapidly.
These three dimensional entities were outsiders, and they might have come from somewhere near the shallow layer. Could it be that he had accidentally beat up some dimensional deities—who did not realize they were third-wheeling—when he was traveling with Ames a few decades ago, inadvertently making a name for himself?
Han Xiao pondered over the reason, but his hands did not slow down. The mechanical army immediately chased after them.
These three dimensional entities could not even deal with the Realmless King, and in his hands, it would only be a one-sided abuse.
Han Xiao originally wanted to kill them, but since the other party knew him, he controlled his strength and left them alive.
After a round of beating, the three dimension entities with swollen faces sat down in front of him, leaving only obedience inside them.
“This…”
The Realmless King’s face twitched. The situation was different from what he had imagined.
These people were powerful outsiders that he could not chase away no matter how hard he tried. But the moment they met Black Star, they were so terrified they had to run away but could not even escape being caught and beaten up. This made the Realmless King feel disillusioned.
Seeing Black Star take action with his own eyes, the Realmless King was afraid, but at the same time, he was also glad that he did not choose to be stubborn against Han Xiao. The top experts of the main material universe were indeed not to be messed with.
At the same time, Han Xiao was interrogating the three dimension entities with his arms crossed.
“Where have the three of you heard of me?”
“We… We’ve seen you kill dimension deities…” The three dimensional deities who were strong enough to dominate an entire region in the secondary dimension had become extremely docile.
It was only after Han Xiao finished listening that he realized that there was indeed a reason for these three to come to the Realmless King’s territory. These three dimension deities originally resided near the ‘secondary dimensional layer’ controlled by the three Universal Civilizations. As the Universal Civilizations were planning to expand there, the three of them had planned to migrate.
A few decades ago, when he and Ames were traveling, they passed by the area and beat up another dimension deity. The three of them witnessed the tragic scene and were filled with fear. Thus, they decided to migrate and enter the depths of the secondary dimension. In the end, they came to the Realmless King’s territory many years ago and finally met someone alone. They planned to devour the Realmless King before continuing their journey.
However, the three of them did not expect to be unable to defeat the other party. They originally wanted to leave, but they coincidentally discovered this secondary dimension with a special embryo. They instinctively felt that eating this life would be very beneficial to them, so they stayed on.
“What a coincidence.”
Han Xiao did not know what to say.
If this mission was given to someone else, the difficulty would be enough to meet the highest reward offered. Ordinary Beyond Grade As would be served up on a silver platter in front of these three dimensional entities. But if it was him, he would not even need to move a finger. Having a high Reputation was just that convenient.
“Well, we’ve told you everything we know. Can you let us go…” A dimensional entity carefully spoke out. “Don’t even think about it.”
Han Xiao rejected without hesitation.
At this time, the Realmless King could not help but say, “Black Star, this secondary dimension has been taken back. I shall first occupy this place again.”
As he spoke, black liquid appeared on his body, wanting to fill up this dimension and return it to being his territory.
Just as Han Xiao was about to agree, he suddenly paused and changed his words. “Don’t be so anxious. Let me see what the embryo looks like first.”
“My child hasn’t even formed yet. Is this necessary?”
“This is the first time I’ve seen such a phenomenon. I’m just curious.”
Han Xiao replied casually before flying toward the breeding ground. The Realmless King had no choice but to follow behind.
After advancing for some distance, Han Xiao saw a grayish-white sphere floating in the middle of the secondary dimension. It was like fog being condensed together before being wrapped up by a translucent membrane. Energy flowed in from all directions to nourish this embryo.
In his senses, this embryo had an extremely vigorous life force, as dazzling as dozens of stars put together.
Han Xiao looked inside and saw that within the gray fog flowing in the membrane, there seemed to be a long figure flashing around like a dragon.
The Realmless King came over and helplessly lamented, “It’s not even born yet. What’s there to see?”
Han Xiao ignored him and touched the embryo. Although the membrane was thin, it was very pliable and tough.
At this moment, the item introduction popped up on the interface.
Han Xiao cursory glanced at the interface before stopping short. He slowly turned to look at the Realmless King with a smile that was yet not a smile.
“You said… this is your child?”
“What’s wrong?” The Realmless King met Han Xiao’s gaze and suddenly felt a little guilty.
“Bullsh*t. No wonder you took the risk to order me to help you snatch it back. It turns out to be such a magical item… Are you betting that I won’t be able to discover its wonders?”
Han Xiao flicked the embryo with his finger, and the sarcasm in his tone could not hide the joy within.
“Speaking half-truths? You almost fooled me.”
Sorry this time chapter repeat was due to mistake.
Chapter 1369 Lucky Halo, Forever God!
“…You’re mistaken. This is my child. It’s just mutated slightly.”
The Realmless King pretended to be calm.
Keep pretending!
Han Xiao snorted inwardly and ignored him. He turned to look at the item introduction on the interface.
[Pivotal Snake Egg]
(Pivotal Snake, also known as World Devouring Snake, is a rare species that lives in chaotic space stream. It is a creature that lives alone and feeds on secondary dimensions and special Information Form Phenomenons. Every World Devouring Snake will only lay seven eggs in its lifetime. After laying eggs, it will abandon them in the space storm, allowing the eggs to drift freely. When the egg encounters a secondary dimension, it will automatically parasitize and turn into an embryo state, absorbing multiple secondary dimensions until it completely matures. At the same time, Pivotal Snake eggs have an extremely strong attraction to some secondary dimension life forms. Eating them as infants is very beneficial. It has a certain chance of strengthening one’s talent and raising one’s life level.]
Remarks: The origin of this species is closely related to the World Tree. It can eat the body of the World Tree and has a certain level of restraint.
The item introduction was not long, but the information it revealed shocked Han Xiao.
The Pivotal Snake was like a space louse back then. It was not in the database of the three Universal Civilizations, and it had never been discovered in his previous life. Even to him, it was a foreign species. What surprised Han Xiao the most was that this creature was actually related to the World Tree. The item introduction even stated that it was the World Tree’s nemesis to a certain extent, which surprised him.
The World Tree was a unique Space Wonder, but there just happened to be a type of creature that could restrain it. Could it be that there was always a paper to every rock?
Perhaps the Pivotal Snake was, in a sense, a companion species of the World Tree, born to restrain it? If one thought deeper, what was the origin of the World Tree…
All kinds of guesses flashed through Han Xiao’s mind, but he did not have a clue.
However, there was one thing he could confirm. If he did not have the item introduction on the interface, he would definitely not have been able to discover the uniqueness of this embryo. The Realmless King had claimed that this was his child, so it would be difficult for him to investigate further. It would be difficult for him to discover anything strange, and he would most likely be fooled by the Realmless King. This was probably what the Realmless King had planned.
All kinds of thoughts flashed through Han Xiao’s mind. He raised his hand and pressed on the Realmless King’s shoulder.
“Do you really think I don’t know what’s what? This can’t be your child. Are you lying to me because you’re worried that I’ll be tempted by this thing? Our deal needs to be honest, and my impression of you is quite good at the moment, so I’ll give you a chance to come clean. If you still lie to me, then don’t blame me for holding a grudge. No matter how my civilization and the World Tree fight in the future, I’ll guarantee that you’ll definitely die.”
The Realmless King’s face twitched.
Although he had something on Han Xiao, it could not protect him forever. Facing Han Xiao’s threat, he was still very weak.
His original intention of lying was to not let Black Star investigate further to avoid more problems. After all, as long as they came to this secondary dimension, they could feel the birth of a certain life-form, which would easily make people curious. Furthermore, the embryo had a special attraction to the dimension deities. If he did not claim to have a special relationship with it, he was worried that Black Star would be tempted.
He had originally thought that since Black Star was a guest of the main universe, he might not be able to feel the attraction of the embryo. As long as he did not study it, he would not be able to discover anything amiss, and he would be able to fool everyone. However, he did not expect Black Star to see through it so easily, causing his plan to fail. Of course, he could not rule out the possibility that Black Star was trying to trick him, but since he had made a threat, the Realmless King was not confident.
After hesitating for a while, the Realmless King said helplessly, “If you know what this is, why ask me?”
“I just want to hear it from you.”
Han Xiao crossed his arms. He was mainly curious about how much the Realmless King knew about the Pivotal Snake Egg.
If he was only tempted by the ‘special attraction’ shown by the item introduction, then the Realmless King’s goal should also be to wait for the embryo to mature and eat it. However, if he knew the origins of the Pivotal Snake, then the Realmless King’s actions would be a little subtle.
However, in his opinion, the Realmless King most likely did not know about the relationship between the Pivotal Snake and the World Tree, or even about the Pivotal Snake. If not for the item introduction, he would not have known about this secret. In the secondary dimension world where information was difficult to spread, the Realmless King would not have known about this secret.
As expected, the Realmless King’s answer was roughly the same as what Han Xiao had guessed. He said that he had discovered this embryo when he was expanding his territory and felt the attraction, so he had brought it back to wait for it to mature, but it had been snatched away.
After explaining, the Realmless King asked Han Xiao if he knew the origin of the embryo. “Of course I know, but the information isn’t complete. I only saw it once when I was exploring the secondary dimensions, but it disappeared afterward.”
Han Xiao waved his hands and found an excuse.
Of course, he would not reveal the information about the Pivotal Snake to the Realmless King. As for whether he was pretending not to know the Pivotal Snake, he could only observe.
“Alright… Then how do you plan to deal with this embryo? Our deal…” the Realmless King probed.
“Tsk, you’re hiding something from me. Logically speaking, the deal should be canceled, but since your attitude is alright, the deal can continue. This embryo is still yours.”
Before the Realmless King could heave a sigh of relief, Han Xiao paused and said: “However, the deal is only to help you get the embryo back. Although the embryo is in your hands, you can’t eat it. I’ll have a mechanical army stationed here. I’m very interested in this embryo and want to see how it looks like when it matures.”
Hearing this, the Realmless King had no choice but to agree. In terms of benefits, Black Star had at least gotten rid of his three neighbors, so it was not a loss.
After reaching a consensus, Han Xiao made the mechanical army build a temporary base around the embryo, and the Realmless King could only let him do as he wished.
At the same time, the mission completion notification popped up on Han Xiao’s interface. He had obtained a large amount of Experience, but the favorability reward of the Realmless King had decreased, only increasing by five points. Clearly, it was affected by his actions. Only by completely returning the embryo would he obtain the most favorability, but this favorability was not important to him.
As for the Character Summon Card, it was the ability of the Realmless King. Its effect was to project the power of the Realmless King into the main universe and summon the black liquid that could block energy senses.
At the same time, the Realmless King Dimension.
Han Xiao’s main body broke the silence and said:
“The matter is done. I will take these three dimensional entities with me. I will not disturb you anymore. It’s time for you to fulfill your promise. I want all the information about the World Tree that you know.”
“…Okay.”
The Realmless King had no choice but to do as he was told, sharing this part of his memories through mental messages.
Han Xiao immediately turned these mental memories into virtual data and entered them into a device.
With this information, the expedition team of the three Universal Civilizations would no longer have to explore like a headless fly. They would be able to save a lot of energy and head directly toward the World Tree’s territory in the secondary dimension. Although the closer they were to the World Tree’s territory, the more dangerous it would be, there was a higher chance of finding the World Tree’s main body.
The Realmless King also gave him the coordinates of a few stable areas and a portion of the map. The three Universal Civilizations were no longer completely clueless about this deep layer area, so the information was valuable.
Han Xiao browsed through the intelligence and suddenly said:
“I want to represent the three Universal Civilizations to reach an agreement with you. You control a large area of the secondary dimension, and I hope that you can lend a portion of your territory as a temporary outpost for the three Universal Civilizations to explore the secondary dimension world. Let our expedition team gather here and rest. This will provide us with a lot of help. What do you think?”
Hearing this, the Realmless King was immediately annoyed. He only felt that the other party was pushing his luck and could not help but warn him.
“I don’t want to get involved in your war. Don’t forget that I still have something on you.”
“It’s okay. We’re temporarily stationed here, so we can give you more information. Plus, we’re already here. Even if you don’t welcome us, our large follow-up troops would still pass through here. You might as well cooperate with us and get some benefits.”
Han Xiao did not mind it.
If he could obtain the Realmless King’s support, he would be able to obtain the coordinates of the edge of the Realmless King’s territory, which would save him the time needed to cross this area.
Setting up a transit station in this deep layer region was akin to obtaining a new entrance. Like a recording point, the expedition team would be able to set off from here as soon as they entered, saving them a lot of time. This would be very helpful for the expedition.
The Realmless King’s heart was filled with uncertainty. After weighing the pros and cons for a long time, he finally nodded with resignation.
Even though he had something on Black Star, he did not dare use it because he was afraid of the consequences. Instead, Black Star had taken the initiative. Although Black Star had helped him chase away his evil neighbors, this was undoubtedly asking a tiger for its skin. The Realmless King was already regretting inviting a wolf into his house.
It’s all Bobanica’s fault for provoking such a troublesome guy. How dare he boast that he’s my trusted aide? More like a big trouble!
Buzz!
Just as the Realmless King was getting frustrated, Harrison returned to his main body on the carrier. He had already exited the ‘please possess me’ state and regained control of his body.
Han Xiao released his magnetic force and drew Harrison in front of him. He then handed him the information recording device and said:
“The matter has been resolved. I have made a deal with the Realmless King. He is willing to lend out some secondary dimensions to act as our outpost. He will release the expedition team later. Go and report the situation to the commander and pass this information to him. Tell them to stop advancing and standby here. Wait for me to inform the three Universal Civilizations…”
“Understood. I promise to complete the mission.”
Harrison nodded repeatedly. Seeing how obedient he was, Han Xiao had mixed feelings.
Although Harrison and the others had been implicated this time, they had also benefited from the disaster, bringing substantial progress to their plan to search for the World Tree’s main body. They found a ‘temporary ally’ deep in the secondary dimension.
What surprised Han Xiao the most was that Harrison had set off to search for the World Tree’s main body. He had yet to find the location of the main body, but he had already found a strange object that could restrain the main body…
What else could he say?
Luck Glow, forever a god!
‘Letting Harrison join the expedition team was indeed the right decision…’
Han Xiao was pleased.
If not for the Realmless King discovering him from Harrison’s memories, this expedition team would have been a goner. In his previous life, perhaps due to the time difference, the Realmless King had already eaten the Pivotal Snake Embryo, or perhaps for some other reason, Han Xiao had never heard of the three Universal Civilizations obtaining the Pivotal Snake Egg If they had such a trump card in his previous life, the difficulty of attacking the main body would have been much lower.
However, although it was worth being happy about obtaining a trump card, he still had to find the World Tree’s main body to put it to use. Furthermore, Han Xiao was still very curious about the connection between the Pivotal Snake and the World Tree.
In addition, he also wanted to know if the World Tree Civilization knew about the characteristics of the Pivotal Snake… He had a feeling that there was something fishy about this.
“…You found us a temporary ally in a deep layer dimension and got information about the World Tree’s territory?”
In the conference room of the three Universal Civilizations, Marbruce, Louis, and the Pope could not help but widen their eyes when they heard Han Xiao’s notification.
“If it wasn’t for Harrison, I definitely wouldn’t have gone there. I wouldn’t have met such a good thing.” Han Xiao spread out his hands. After leaving the throne in the Realmless King’s dimension, he returned to the main material universe and informed the three Universal Civilizations about what had happened. Considering the Realmless King’s attitude, Han Xiao only hid the information about the Pivotal Snake Egg. Before this trump card matured, there was no need to tell the three Universal Civilizations about it for the time being.
After hearing the reason, the three of them looked at each other in shock and joy.
Marbruce cleared his throat and said in a deep voice, “It’s been hard on you. This is an important discovery in the expedition plan. Our next search will be more targeted. We have agreed to this alliance. We will send some envoys to be in charge of negotiating with the Realmless King about the future cooperation.”
Although Han Xiao did not report the matter beforehand and had made the decision on behalf of the three Universal Civilizations, this was a special time. As long as it was useful to the war, this problem was nothing. Han Xiao nodded, took out a list of secondary dimension coordinates, and said, “These are the secondary dimension coordinates that the Realmless King lent us to act as the outpost. We can build a new gate entrance here and turn this area into a ‘shallow layer’. You guys know what to do next. Just play your rogue side, but don’t push the Realmless King too hard.”
“What are you saying…”
Marbruce’s face twitched. He helplessly took the list and showed it to the other two leaders. “Alright, that’s all I have to say. If there’s no other problem, I’ll head back to take care of the training.” Han Xiao waved his hand.
“Wait a moment, we still have something to discuss with you…”
Louis called out to Han Xiao with a rare smile on his face.
“The Beyond Grade As have worked hard for the war. After a discussion, we have unanimously decided to set up a monument for all the Beyond Grade As sacrificed in the war. It has nothing to do with identity, only merits.”
Han Xiao’s eyes lit up, and he said with relief, “This was not easy. You guys finally said something sensible.”
Louis’ smile froze, and he laughed dryly as though he did not hear that. “Hehe, what do you think of this plan?”
“Very good, I have no objections.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
When they were fighting in the interception circle, no one had the intention to do so. Now that they had eleven years of buffer time, it was suitable for them to do such things. Although the dark clouds of war still shrouded them, at least the Soul Comfort Monument would not let them die in obscurity. Compared to the battle damage report on the internet, the real thing was more meaningful and could slightly increase their cohesion.
However, under the premise of the Sanctum Revival, the effect of the Soul Comfort Monument would probably be different from what they had expected. The three Universal Civilizations still did not believe that the Sanctum Revival was limitless. In Han Xiao’s opinion, the Soul Comfort Monument would probably become a ‘battle record’ that recorded the number of deaths of the various Beyond Grade As in the future. This would be different from what they had expected… but at least it was better than nothing.
“Since you have no objections, I’ll have to trouble you to convey our intentions to all the members of the association and let them know that we’re grateful for their help. No matter what grudges we had in the past, we were born from the same universe.” The Pope nodded.
“…Did the three of you take the wrong medicine today? Why are you talking so much?”
Han Xiao looked at the three of them in surprise.
“Alright, that’s all. You can go.”
Han Xiao shrugged, deactivated the remote projection, and disappeared from their sights.
Seeing this, Louis relaxed, shook his head, and sighed.
“Sigh, Black Star always brings us surprises. If not for him saving Harrison, we would have missed this secondary dimension intelligence.”
“Black Star’s luck is unbelievable. Luckily, he’s our teammate now.” Marbruce exhaled.
The three of them sighed for a while before lowering their heads to study the information that Han Xiao had brought back.
The matter of Harrison did not take much time, and Han Xiao did not have to worry too much about the follow-up alliance affairs.
After returning to the training base, Han Xiao sent a message to inform them of the plan for the Soul Comfort Monument.
Although the original intention of both sides working together was to make a deal, the Beyond Grade As did not want their achievements to be neglected. It was naturally extremely good for the three Universal Civilizations to be willing to increase their reputation for them. However, this action seemed to be to sustain their sense of belonging to the galactic society, so it did not move the Beyond Grade As.
As usual, Han Xiao checked on the training of the Calamity Grade and Beyond Grade As. He then went to a mental strength training room and found Feidin, who was training his psychic energy. A song that directly resonated in one’s soul echoed in the room along with psychic energy. It was different from simple psychic needles or psychic blasts. This kind of psychic voice was not provocative at all. It was like the chirping of birds in spring, full of vitality and soothing to the soul.
However, the next moment, the calm sea suddenly became violent, and the slow psychic voice suddenly became high-pitched and sharp. It was as if the country music had suddenly turned into death metal, wanting to tear the soul into pieces and throw them into the furnace to be destroyed. The mannequins in the training room exploded at the same time and fell to the ground, twitching.
Han Xiao looked from outside for a while before walking into the room. The psychic singing immediately came like a tsunami, and the magical sound entered his brain, making his ears ring. However, they were all blocked by his tough mental barrier and did not cause any substantial damage.
Feidin only retracted his psychic energy when he sensed that an outsider had entered. He slowly opened his eyes and smiled.
“Your Excellency Black Star, why are you here? Are you out of luck again?”
“Let me give you some special treatment.”
Han Xiao chuckled and looked at the interface.
“You’re a qualified person. I can feel from your psychic energy that you’ve already touched the Beyond Grade A boundary.”
“It’s just that I don’t know how long it will take to complete the final sublimation.”
Feidin did not deny it and shook his head.
He had stayed in the Calamity Grade for a long time and accumulated a lot of experience. He had already touched the threshold of Beyond Grade A, but he had not taken the final step.
In the beginning, he had inherited Chen Xing’s Psychic abilities, and he had already walked out of his own path. He had spent a lot of time summarizing his skills and trying to create a new path. He could feel that when his self-created path was completely formed, he would enter the final sublimation and join the Beyond Grade A realm.
In this aspect, the Soul Swapper had helped him quite a bit. This Universal Treasure also had the effect of assisting him in training. It was convenient for him to study the structure of different souls, and from there, he could develop various Psychic skills to perfect his path.
Among the five major systems, other than Esper class, the other four were interactive. Mage and Mechanic class mainly focused on knowledge, and they needed to learn all kinds of things. Pugilists and Psychics focused on pureness.
Pugilists created countless martial arts styles through the development of physical strength, while Psychics developed the soul and mind while also creating many skills systems. Like close-range skills, Psychic attacks had countless ‘power exerting skills’, mainly divided into Mental, Psychic, Sensory, and Potential branches. There were also various styles under each branch, just like Pugilists.
For example, Kasuyi was most proficient in the Psychic branch, while Feidin was proficient in the Mental branch. It was very rare to see Feidin use violent psychic energy, and most of his skills were of the Mental branch. The Psychic Song that Feidin used was from this branch.
“Don’t worry, you will complete the Beyond Grade A transformation very soon.”
Han Xiao patted Feidin’s shoulder. He looked at the combat information and knew that Feidin was not far from the Beyond Grade A level.
“I hope I can help you when the time comes…” Feidin sighed.” In just eleven years, even if I become a Beyond Grade A Super, I won’t have enough time to accumulate. I’ll probably be cannon fodder on the battlefield. “.
“You have to be confident in your luck, and you have the Soul Swapper. No one will use your basic combat power to measure your usefulness.”
Han Xiao encouraged.
Feidin did not have the same exaggerated talent as Karlot’s (Everlasting Martial Path), but he was the only one who was perfectly compatible with the Soul Swapper. The power of this Universal Treasure depended on Feidin’s own strength. Once he entered the Beyond Grade A realm, the Soul Swapper’s effect would undergo a qualitative change. Although the soul of the World Tree expert was absorbed by the Mother Tree and could not be transferred completely, he had specially let Feidin test it in small-scale battles. The Soul Swapper could tear the soul of a World Tree member and cause heavy damage. If all the soul was pulled out, the enemy would die on the spot.
After a while, Han Xiao left the room and teleported to a secret location in the Black Star Palace.
With a turn of his gaze, he had already arrived outside a potential stimulation training room filled with all kinds of cosmic radiation and immense pressure. Evans stood in the middle of the room, and a gentle light flowed on his body, using the harsh environment to temper himself.
Han Xiao opened the door and walked in. The training room immediately stopped operating. Evans sensed something and turned around. “Commander, what can I do for you?”
Evans greeted.
Han Xiao waved his hand. “There’s no need to be so formal. I’m just here to check on your training.”
As he spoke, he sized up Evans and nodded with satisfaction.
Han Xiao had always been planning Esper Ability Absorption for Evans. At this time, his genes were very stable, and all his Esper Abilities had been carefully selected. They were not many but were chosen meticulously, enough to deal with all kinds of complex situations. Not a single Esper Ability slot was wasted, and the combination of abilities was many times better than EsGod’s.
At the same time, Evans also absorbed the gene-enhancing ability that increased Esper Ability Cultivation speed. Coupled with his (Highest Grade Esper Ability Affinity Physique), his growth speed was extremely delightful. After many years of bitter training, Evans had already reached the level of a high-level Calamity Grade and was not too far from becoming a Beyond Grade A. Han Xiao poked Evans, looked at the interface, and said with a smile, “You’re in the process of transforming, and it won’t be long before you complete your sublimation. I’m afraid I have to congratulate you in advance for becoming a Beyond Grade A. What are your plans then?”
He did not doubt Evans’ talent. With [Esper Ability Copy) and (Highest Grade Esper Ability Affinity Physique), it was only a matter of time before he became a Beyond Grade A.
Evans smiled and said steadily, “If not for you, I might still be an ordinary person. You’ve been helping me improve my strength for the past few decades, and I owe you too much. If you don’t mind, I hope to stay in the army and repay this debt.”
Han Xiao was quite satisfied with this answer. To be fair, he did not want to let this talent go either.
With his correct guidance and stabilizing himself for the first half of his life, Evans was not the type of Esper who took shortcuts. Instead, he became firm like a rock and made people free from worry.
Furthermore, Evans had always been grateful to him for stimulating his suppressed talent and giving him a new life. His loyalty was probably even higher than Lothaire.
Han Xiao pressed on Evans’ shoulder with a smile and said, “Enter Beyond Grade A as soon as possible. I’ll give you a gift then.”
“What gift?” Evans was curious.
“It’s a secret. You’ll know when the time comes.”
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
When Evans enters the Beyond Grade A realm, he would be able to absorb Esper Abilities of the same level. Gaud, who had been locked up in the Spacetime Amber for many years, would be of use. After many years of observation, he was certain that Evans was qualified to accept this gift.
A Super High-Risk Esper Ability like Energy Control definitely could not be wasted. Letting Evans take this Esper Ability was the best way to make use of it, making EsGod’s Esper Ability, which he had painstakingly synthesized, become someone else’s wedding dress. He would also let this evil guy have a taste of being a victim.
By then, the reaction of the three Universal Civilizations would no longer be a problem. Han Xiao planned to tell them everything EsGod had done. Regardless of whether the three Universal Civilizations believed it or not, they would not turn hostile when there was an attack from the foreign enemy.
As for EsGod’s main body, he believed that the Underworld would not mind having another strong man. Before EsGod was captured, he thought that the three Universal Civilizations would release him one day to ask about the World Tree. However, from the start to the end, Han Xiao did not plan to let this extremely dangerous and evil man regain his freedom.
The troops at the frontlines had been blocking the World Tree’s advancement, and the three Universal Civilizations had also begun their forceful development of the Flickering World. The galactic society was in a state of panic; on the contrary, the training base was in rare peace. The changes in the battle outside could not interfere with their training plan for the time being. Time passed quickly during the training
Under Han Xiao’s training plan, many of the trainees were overjoyed at their progress. Other than one person, the rest of the trainees were working harder.
After spending a few months in training, Oathkeeper finally sent a message saying that he had gathered another set of keys to the First Sanctum.
Han Xiao had been waiting for this moment. Without any delay, he informed everyone and entered the Sanctum again. Under the gaze of many Holy Accord members, he disappeared into the galaxy.
Chapter 1371 Suspicion and Reaction
A few hours after Han Xiao entered the Sanctum, a group of association members gathered in the secret conference room under the call of Dillon.
“Black Star has finally entered the Sanctum again… What do you guys think?”
While chewing on a fluorescent grass leaf, Dillon gently rubbed his finger and looked at the Beyond Grade As on the table with a scrutinizing gaze.
Everyone remained silent and looked at their companions. No one wanted to speak first.
Seeing this, Dillon removed the blade of grass from his mouth and knocked his fist on the table.
“Since no one is saying anything, let me explain. The last time Black Star went to the Sanctum, he spent about two months. This time should be about the same. I think this is a good opportunity to leave.” Everyone paused and turned to look at him, their gazes uncertain.
Dylan shrugged, waving his hands in response.
“Everyone understands me. I always say what I want to say. The last time Black Star entered the Sanctum, I wanted to make this suggestion. However, I did not know how long Black Star would disappear back then, and everyone was watching to see if the interception could really stop the enemies, so I did not make the suggestion. Now that the battle has changed, the enemies have broken through the interception and will arrive at the three Universal Civilizations sooner or later. At the same time, we also know how long it will take Black Star to enter the Sanctum, so this is a chance to leave the main universe and avoid the war.”
Hearing this, everyone’s expressions changed. Some were dissatisfied, some were tempted, and some had the intention to watch and see.
“Don’t forget, Black Star revived us, and we all owe him a favor. It’s not good to leave without saying goodbye.”
Someone frowned and objected.
The members of the association were all revivors of the Holy Accord. They did not participate in the war only because they treasured the second life that they had obtained with great difficulty. Because Dillon was good at talking, they let him be the representative for the time being. However, he was not their leader, and they had their own thoughts and opinions as well.
Dillon played with the glowing grass as he calmly stated,
“I won’t deny that Black Star has done us a favor, but he will never allow us to leave freely. The purpose of reviving us is just to make use of our strength. “Right now, he’s allowing us to avoid battle, but it’s only temporary. As those participants become more and more dissatisfied with us, Black Star will pressure us sooner or later. Just like how he forced the third batch of Revivors to join the battle, he will do the same to us in the future. Therefore, we might as well leave the main universe before it happens or we will end up in a passive position.
While we might let Black Star down, we have to take responsibility for our own lives. Even if he revives us, it doesn’t mean we have to accept their orders and sacrifice our lives for him.”
Everyone frowned and pondered. These words had also hit the nail on the head. Many people did not dare disobey Black Star because of their feelings, but they were not willing to take the risk either.
“What about the Holy Accord?” someone asked.
Dillon snorted. “Oathkeeper and Black Star are on the same side. If we want to leave, we have to act in secret. We can’t inform them.”
“If we do this, we will probably be hunted down by Black Star. I don’t think we should make such a rash decision,” another person said.
Hearing this, Dillon retorted, “Black Star isn’t in the main universe, which is why we have the chance to sneak away. Every minute and second we waste now is the time for us to escape. If we wait for him to return, will we be able to leave? Anyway, no matter what you say, I will definitely leave!”
Many of them had conflicted expressions.
The pressure that Black Star put on them was too heavy. Only when he was not around would these people dare to plot and think that this period of time was a rare opportunity to escape.
If Black Star had not entered the Sanctum, they would not have dared act rashly, afraid they would be taught a lesson by Han Xiao.
After discussing for a while, the avoidance faction could only barely reach a consensus. Those who were willing to leave would make their own plans, and those who were unwilling to leave were not allowed to leak the secret, creating another layer of assurance.
As he gazed at everyone debating, Dillon was a little distracted. He played with the grass in his hands as memories of the past flashed through his mind.
He then thought of the Elven Holy Land that he had once created, and he could not help but reminisce about the times when he played with the many consorts in the pure white imperial court. Those beautiful, cold and pure faces flashed past his eyes.
It was a pity that after his death, the Elven Holy Land lost its protection, and these concubines could not control their fate. The identity of a Beyond Grade A widow was like the emperor’s harem, enough to attract the interest of many people in the gray area with power and influence.
At this point, although he had come back to life, his old confidants had also long disappeared with time. He had power, but there was nothing he could do.
Dillon’s face tightened, and he subconsciously crushed the grass into powder.
“The three Universal Civilizations… not kicking you while you’re down is already the last line. How can I help you!”
On the other side, somewhere in the training
base.
A group of Beyond Grade As gathered in the room and looked at each other.
The group consisted of the members of the third Revival. Other than the majority of the direct descendants of the civilizations, the remaining neutral Beyond Grade As were all present.
Because they had the same interests, the Beyond Grade As in the third batch of revivals all gathered together privately. The revivals formed a faction, and the free Beyond Grade As formed a faction. Although the three Universal Civilizations had placed everyone under house arrest, they could still communicate privately. After all, they were a group of important combatants, and they could not restrict all their freedom as though they were in prison.
After a while, one of them broke the silence.
“Black Star has gone to the Sanctum. Why did he summon us at this time?”
Everyone immediately turned to look at the initiator of this gathering, a high-level Beyond Grade A named Stein.
Stein was a male Demon with transparent wings, and his outer appearance looked like a moth. Other than his wings and antennae, his other body was shaped like a human. At this moment, his two antennae trembled, making him look nervous.
“I heard some news. The infinite number of times the Sanctum has been revived that Black Star mentioned might be a lie meant to deceive us…”
“What?!”
Hearing this, everyone’s expression changed.
The three Universal Civilizations had always controlled the channels and did not allow the third batch of revivors to come into contact with the relevant information. Therefore, they never knew that Han Xiao had once said that the Sanctum Revival could only be done once.
“What exactly is going on?” everyone asked. Stein quickly explained, “Black Star’s explanation to us was different from what he told the other Beyond Grade As when it came to the Sanctum Revival. In the past, he claimed that the Sanctum Revival was only limited to one time, but to us, he said it was unlimited… I only came into contact with this information by chance. There must be a problem!” “Is the news reliable?!”
“I can’t guarantee it, but it’s most likely true,” Stein said hastily.
Everyone’s face turned gloomy as they sunk into their own thoughts.
If Black Star had two theories, the other Beyond Grade As would definitely know about it. However, no one had exposed it yet.
Perhaps, Black Star’s words to them were a lie on purpose to trick them into contributing. The other Beyond Grade As were all beneficiaries, so they tacitly agreed to this. Not only did they not expose them, they even cooperated to deceive the third batch of Revivors… This was everyone trying to use them as cannon fodder!
This speculation was probably correct. Based on their perspective, this possibility was completely reasonable and extremely convincing… However, because they misunderstood the key information, their conclusion was completely different from the truth.
The more they thought about it, the more shocked they became.
“Then what should we do now?” someone asked with a deep voice as he took a deep breath to calm his anger.
“If we can only revive once, then this will be our last life, and we have no choice but to consider our path of retreat,” Stein mused.
“Are we going to take the opportunity to escape? Although Black Star isn’t here, we’re being confined in this area, and those Beyond Grade As aren’t easy to deal with.”
After a heated debate, someone suddenly made a suggestion.
“The situation is still unclear. We will wait for Black Star to come back and revive the Sanctum. We will most likely be invited to watch it together. At that time, we will see if he revives a second death.
“If not, then no matter what reason Black Star gives, we will question him face to face and make sense of it. This way, we will be able to shake the new revivors and the direct descendants of the same batch as us. Together, we will break the restrictions of the three Universal Civilizations and resist the fate of being cannon fodder!”
Hearing this, many people’s eyes lit up.
It would be difficult for them to fight back on their own, and the next revival might be an opportunity to seek a temporary alliance. “Then it’s settled. We’ll attack together!” Stein agreed.
Primeval Star River, Mechanical Race territory.
In the mechanical palace, Manison’s Lord’s Avatar and Kasuyi’s remote projection sat opposite each other, casually playing cards.
“I really envy you. You don’t have to manage the affairs of the association and can spend all your time digesting the war insights. I want to do the same…”
Kasuyi grumbled as he watched the layout of the cards. Manison did not mind and casually said, “Since Black Star isn’t around, we will need someone to supervise the association. I have long been stripped of my position as president, and I’m not even the vice president. This job is yours.”
“Sigh, there’s nothing I can do. Before Black Star left, he told me that some of the association members and revivors might not know their place during this period. He told me to be careful of any variables, so I can only do as he says.”
Kasuyi shook his head helplessly.
Just like the exploration era in the past, the war had always been the catalyst for the strong. Many Beyond Grade As had been stationed in the interception circle for the past year, and after experiencing all kinds of battles, they more or less had new insights. Manison and Kasuyi had both discovered a wider room for improvement. As long as they were in seclusion for some time, their strength could still improve.
It was a pity that Black Star had gone to the Sanctum and even told him to be careful. Kasuyi could only suppress his desire to digest the war experience in the wormhole and manage the association instead. Thus, he was very envious of Manison being able to focus on training behind closed doors.
“You’re thinking too much. I’ve also encountered some miscellaneous matters,” Manison said with a calm tone. “Nilfgadi has been restless recently. He was unwilling to let the Machinery Faith and the Mechanical Race be controlled by Black Star and me. He felt that these benefits were originally his, so he tried to regain his former leader position.”
“Oh? What did he do?” Kasuyi was curious.
“Humph, just as Black Star left, he sent people to promote his return to the Machinery Faith. He wants to use his identity as the founder to harvest the believers’ main faith. He wants to take advantage of the situation.”
“What’s the result?” Kasuyi was interested.
“What else can he do? He’s the founder who was eliminated by history and only revived because of Black Star. He wants to shake Black Star’s position? Dream on.” Manison snorted.
“That’s true. The prestige of Nilfgadi has long been worn down by time. He still doesn’t have the qualifications to compete with Black Star.”
Kasuyi nodded, paused, before jokingly saying,
“Furthermore, even you can’t beat Black Star, let alone him.”
“…Humph, ridiculous.”
Manison glanced at him and snorted.
This person really doesn’t know where to stop. If we hadn’t known each other for so many years, I would have ignored you!
Kasuyi shrugged and asked, “How about the Mechanical Race? It should be quite troublesome for him to return as an ancestor, right?”
“Who do you think I am? I’ve managed the Mechanical Race for many years, and he wants me to give up my base just because he’s an ancestor? Is that possible?” Manison’s tone was calm.
“So what did you do to him?”
“If it was in the past, I would have made him into a criminal a long time ago. However, I haven’t done such a thing for a long time. After all, Nilfgadi is the ancestor of the Mechanical Race, and I can’t do anything to him even if I want to. Therefore, I gave him a batch of Mechanical Race members and told him to set up a new Mechanical Race.”
“So, the Mechanical Race has already split up?” Kasuyi raised his brows.
Manison did not take it to heart and said calmly, “It’s not that serious. I can hand over some clansmen since they can be replenished. However, he won’t get even a single strand of my accumulated wealth.”
“Hehe, you’re still the same. Other than Black Star, no one can gain anything from you.”
Kasuyi shook his head and laughed.
“Humph, even Black Star can’t take much advantage of me.”
Manison was simply being hard-mouthed.
Kasuyi only smiled and did not expose Manison’s stubbornness. He changed the topic and said curiously, “By the way, before Black Star left, he left me a stranger’s contact number. Tell me, if those revivors have any abnormal movements, I can find this person to settle it.”
“Black Star will not speak without thinking. What’s that stranger’s name?”
“I don’t know his name. Black Star only told me to call him Oathkeeper. I haven’t contacted him yet. I wonder what his background is. Even Black Star thinks so highly of him.”
Kasuyi seemed quite interested.
“Looks like Black Star still has many secrets.” Manison snorted.
World Tree Territory, Tree King Palace.
Dark green lights full of vitality flowed along with the roots and veins into a huge cocoon made of leaves. It looked like the heart of a cabbage, and below it was an opulent base that looked like an altar.
After a long while, the leaves that formed the cocoon suddenly opened layer by layer, and a figure covered in a dazzling green light walked out. He walked down the steps step by step, and the green light slowly faded, revealing the appearance of Subduing Tree King.
“You’ve finally revived!”
Below the altar, joy flashed in the eyes of Fortitude Tree King who had been waiting for a long time. He took two steps forward to welcome him.
After watering it for so long, Subduing Tree King has finally matured. Now I can finally laze off!
“Phew, I’m still not used to it.”
Subduing Tree King let out a breath and moved his body stiffly to rouse his senses.
Although the World Tree could allow him to return to his seed form and be reborn, the process of the seed germinating and maturing was very uncomfortable. The thought of Black Star, who had caused him so much pain, made Subduing Tree King furious.
“I died once. Next time, I’ll make that foreigner pay!”
“You will have a chance.”
Fortitude Tree King immediately tried to interject.
Subduing Tree King turned to look at him in surprise.
“Why are you here? Where’s Heart Tree King?” “He’s dead, sealed by that foreigner,” Fortitude Tree King’s tone was filled with disdain.
Subduing Tree King frowned, before asking in a solemn tone,
“What happened after I died?”
Fortitude Tree King did not beat around the bush, directly telling him the whole story through the mind network. After finding out the whole story, the former’s expression softened, and he slowly nodded.
“So that’s what happened. Heart Tree King restrained the Esper of the Recovery class, which resulted in the successful exchange of attacks. Many high-level combatants of the enemy civilization were killed. Although Heart Tree King was defeated later, the strategic results he created have already laid a good foundation for us. The advantage in numbers is gradually slipping toward us. The high-level combatants of the enemy civilization will only become fewer and fewer in the future. Good job.”
“But Ancestral Tree King is not satisfied. Heart Tree King has been captured, and we cannot recover the Tree King Crown,” Fortitude Tree King stated.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s just a crown. We’ll find a chance to save Heart Tree King in the future. Using temporary losses in exchange for permanent damage to the enemy is undoubtedly a win for us.”
Subduing Tree King waved his hand, not taking it to heart.
“Alright, since you’ve revived, I’ll leave the matters here to you. I’ll return to the mother tree first.”
Before Subduing Tree King could react, he immediately dispelled his physical body and returned to the World Tree.
“Humph, you still have to rely on me.”
Subduing Tree King snorted and had no intention of rejecting. As a Pugilist, he was already used to doing such tiring work.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed.
Everything in the training base was the same as before. However, Black Star’s temporary departure caused the emotions of many to fluctuate.
After experiencing so many storms, In the eyes of the Beyond Grade As, Black Star was like a stabilizing needle. Under his control, the common interests of the Beyond Grade As continued to extend. To a certain extent, they were gathered under the banner of the Beyond Grade A Association because of Black Star.
Therefore, although Han Xiao said he was going for business and would not be gone for long, everyone still felt as though something was amiss.
Kasuyi was in charge of the overall situation during this period, following Han Xiao’s instructions and paying attention to the movements of the many revivors. He originally thought this was just a routine matter, but he did not expect there to be real changes.
A few days after Han Xiao left, Dylan and some of the revivors disappeared. Kasuyi had been paying attention to the movements of the association members, and it did not take long for him to notice this anomaly.
As comrades who stood firmly on the side of the Association against the three Universal Civilizations, the treatment of the first two batches of revivors was naturally different from the third batch. The Association had to consider the feelings of all the members. They would not take away the freedom of this group just because some of the members were unwilling to participate in the battle. Therefore, Dylan and the others were not placed under house arrest like the third batch of revivors.
In shock, Kasuyi immediately investigated and asked those who had yet to leave. Only then did he finally understand that Dylan and the others wanted to take the opportunity to leave. However, no one revealed their route, only saying that Dylan had cast a spell and brought some of his companions into the secondary dimension to leave using this method.
Kasuyi tried to contact Dylan and the others, but they seemed to be determined to leave and could not be contacted at all. Helpless, he thought of the Oathkeeper method that Han Xiao had left for him and turned to this stranger for help.
In the office of the training base, Kasuyi was leaning on a chair. The communicator on the table shot out a cone-shaped light, sweeping out a virtual screen in front of him, showing the image of a dialing phone. The ringtone rang for a few seconds before the call was picked up. The black communication interface immediately changed, revealing a mysterious figure in a hooded black robe.
Kasuyi looked at this person curiously and said, “I’m Kasuyi. Are you the Oathkeeper that Black Star mentioned?”
“It is I.”
Oathkeeper replied calmly and looked at Kasuyi.
The two of them sized each other up, and the atmosphere turned a little strange.
After a few seconds, Kasuyi asked curiously,
“Before Black Star left, he gave me your contact number. He said that if the revivors make any movements, I could ask you for help?”
“He informed me too.” Oathkeeper nodded. “…So, what’s your relationship with Black Star? I’ve never heard of someone like you.”
“It’s normal that you don’t know me. I have a closer relationship with Black Star,” Oathkeeper said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Kasuyi’s eyes narrowed as all kinds of guesses flashed through his mind.
The existence of the Holy Accord had always been a secret, and he naturally would not know about it.
On the spur of the moment, Kasuyi probed further.
“Are you… Black Star’s secret subordinate?”
Oathkeeper’s eyes immediately turned sharp. His tone grew solemn, “You’re thinking too much. I’m just an important partner, never his subordinate.”
‘Really? I don’t believe it…’
Kasuyi cursed in his heart. Many members of the association were always putting themselves on a pedestal. They all said that they were not Black Star’s subordinates, but they still followed his orders. He was already used to such situations.
After cursing to himself, Kasuyi calmed himself down and curiously asked, “I don’t quite understand. What’s your relationship with those revivors? Why did Black Star ask me to ask you for help?” “This is a secret. Black Star didn’t tell you, and I can’t tell you. You just need to know that I can help. Don’t ask too much.” Oathkeeper’s tone was calm. He did not know that Kasuyi was also an insider of the truth behind the Sanctum Revival, so he naturally hid it.
Among all the partners of Han Xiao, the Holy Accord was an extremely important existence, and an ‘outsider’ like Kasuyi definitely could not touch the core secrets. Therefore, when Oathkeeper expressed his stance, it was easy for others to misunderstand that he held a superior position.
Seeing this, Kasuyi secretly curled his lips.
Tsk, you still say that you’re not Black Star’s secret subordinate. If not, why would you have such a sense of superiority when keeping Black Star a secret?
Seeing that Oathkeeper did not intend to talk much, Kasuyi temporarily gave up the idea of gathering intelligence and told him about Dylan and the others.
After hearing that, Oathkeeper’s eyes flickered, and he slowly said, “Dylan? As expected, I’ll talk to him.”
“He has already blocked all communication from the outside world. You can contact him?” Kasuyi was surprised.
“I have my ways. You don’t have to know, Just leave it to me.”
Oathkeeper waved and hung up.
Kasuyi mumbled with a strange expression as the communication screen turned black.
“He’s so mysterious, I’ve never even heard of his name before… When did Black Star meet such a guy?”
Somewhere in the secondary dimension world, Dylan and the others were riding on the golem vehicles of the elves.
The room was silent. No one spoke. From time to time, they looked at the magic compass which served as a radar, afraid someone would chase after them.
“Everything is going smoothly so far. We have already entered the secondary dimension world. As long as we avoid the three Universal Civilizations’ territory, we won’t have to worry about being discovered.”
The carrier had magical awareness and was reporting the situation. So far, the operation had been going smoothly and did not meet much resistance.
“It will take at least a month for Black Star to return. That much time is enough for us to completely hide. We have no chance of winning the war,” one of his comrades said with a chuckle.
Hearing this, all the revivors who had left with Dylan could not help but smile in relief. Only Dylan was the exception, sitting in his seat expressionlessly.
Whoosh
At this moment, a cluster of black flames suddenly appeared out of nowhere and formed Oathkeeper’s mind projection. It appeared in front of Dylan, and the laughter in the room immediately stopped.
“You really came.”
Dylan was not surprised at all.
Oathkeeper stared at him and said calmly, “Leaving without saying goodbye isn’t appropriate, right?” “No one knows if the world will explode tomorrow. It can be the last time, so there’s nothing to be particular about.” Dylan crossed his arms and coldly replied. “Black Star will be very unhappy if you do this.” Oathkeeper’s expression was calm.
“I don’t care if he’s happy or not.” Dylan snorted. “If you’re just here to chat with me, I welcome it. If you want to persuade me, then forget it. You know that I will never help the three Universal Civilizations.”
Oathkeeper shook his head. “I understand the hatred between you and the three Universal Civilizations, and I won’t persuade you to let it go. However, leaving the main universe is just an act of escapism.”
“Since I owe you guys a favor, I won’t take revenge on the three Universal Civilizations. What else can I do if I don’t leave? Or do you want to persuade me not to run away and stay behind to make the three Universal Civilizations pay the price in blood?”
Dylan’s tone was sarcastic.
Oathkeeper did not mind and instead replied in a calm tone.
“It’s normal for you to have complaints, but you have to be forward-thinking in everything you do. Now that we’re fighting for the three Universal Civilizations, it’s only to protect our hometown, the galactic society. Working together now is just a temporary measure. Even if we win in the end, the three Universal Civilizations still have many irreconcilable conflicts with us… Black Star is tolerant of you. Other than sympathizing with your situation, he also foresaw many conflicts with the three Universal Civilizations in the future. He never asked you to let go of your hatred, so why not wait a while?”
“Humph, I don’t doubt Black Star’s foresight, but I’m not someone who will easily change my mind. No matter what, I’m not willing to work for the three Universal Civilizations. If you want me to go back, wait until the day you become enemies with the three Universal Civilizations again.” Dylan straightened his back and curled his lips.
Oathkeeper said calmly, “If you run away now and don’t join the battle with the association, we won’t welcome you even if you return in the future.”
“Then I won’t be coming back.” Dylan pointed at Oathkeeper and said coldly, “Also, pay attention to your words. I’m not your soldier, and neither is the association an army. Don’t use the term ‘escape’.”
Oathkeeper nodded and said calmly, “You’ve made up your mind to leave. Since that’s the case, I won’t persuade you. The association doesn’t lack you. Just don’t regret it.”
Then, Oathkeeper turned to look at the other revivors and casually spoke out,
“As for you guys, when Black Star returns from the Sanctum, I will tell you a valuable piece of information. Whether you want to leave with Dylan completely or come back to fight with us, you guys can decide for yourselves.”
As soon as he said that, Oathkeeper’s mental projection cracked and turned into black sparks before disappearing.
With his identity, he could actually stand out and emphasize the truth behind the Sanctum Revival, proving Han Xiao’s words. However, Oathkeeper did not plan to do so now. Firstly, it was his personal wish, and secondly, it was because of Han Xiao’s reminder before he entered the Sanctum.
If some of the revivors wanted to take the opportunity to leave, they could do as they wished. There was no need for them to urge others to seek the benefits of eternal life.
Oathkeeper knew that what he needed to do was to use the communication function of the Soul Flame to show these people that Black Star had revived in the Sanctum. At that time, people would return to the Sanctum if they wanted to, and those who still did not care would leave. It would be hard to say who would beg who then. They have to put down the mentality that Black Star and himself would keep asking them to stay. Seeing Oathkeeper’s figure disappear, everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Their eyes flickered as they pondered his words.
Dylan sneered.
“Regret? The word never existed in my dictionary!”
Under Kasuyi’s control, the departure of Dylan and the others did not cause much of a commotion, but it was inevitable that the other association members would feel a difference.
Most of the people participated in the war and fought on the frontlines, while some of their comrades stayed away from the war and went to the secondary dimensions to enjoy themselves. This made some of the association members feel dissatisfied.
However, as Beyond Grade As, they would not change their decision easily. Although they were a little shaken and dissatisfied, no one followed the actions of Dylan. They only hid their emotions in their hearts and trained silently.
Soon, a month passed.
In a certain space of the Ancient Star Desert, a Holy Sanctum passageway appeared, and a figure was spat out.
“Phew, I’m back…”
Han Xiao shook his head and felt that the symptoms this time were lighter than the last time. He quickly regained his senses, and the many technologies that he had obtained from the First Sanctum were quickly stabilized in his memory palace.
After adjusting his state for a while, he took out his communicator and looked at the time. His lips curled up.
“This time, I only used forty days. My authority has increased by one level, and the time flow has decreased. If this continues, I might be able to come out in a few days.”
Han Xiao was in a good mood as he scrolled through the information bar.
He had only left for such a short period of time, and there was nothing else important. Only Kasuyi and Oathkeeper reported to him about the situation of Dylan leaving.
“He slipped away while I was not around… Tsk, I’ll deal with him in the future.”
Han Xiao curled his lips. Thinking about what kind of person Dylan was, he did not find it surprising However, for now, this problem was unimportant. The most important thing was to digest the gains from this trip.
Han Xiao looked down at the back of his hand. The brand of the new Sanctum Revival was glowing, and he could not help but smile.
“This time, I can finally make the Beyond Grade As decide to participate in the battle… I hope the three hooligans can stay calm when they hear this.”
Black Star Territory, Training Base, Artificial Planet.
On a metal wasteland, many Beyond Grade As were gathered. They stood in groups of two or three, whispering to each other as they waited for Han Xiao to arrive.
The situation had not changed much in the past month. Han Xiao had notified Kasuyi the moment he returned from the Sanctum and told Kasuyi to gather everyone, but he had not arrived yet.
Many of the Beyond Grade As present had already heard from Kasuyi that this gathering was to carry out a new Sanctum Revival. Many of them were filled with curiosity, especially the third batch of Revivors who had yet to witness the process of their revival.
Stein and the others were scattered in the crowd and deliberately did not stand together. Their eyes met occasionally when they turned their heads and communicated with each other with their eyes. They had a tacit understanding of today’s plan.
A month ago, when they found out that Han Xiao might have lied about the Sanctum Revival, they did not publicize it openly. Instead, they secretly prepared to question Han Xiao publicly on this special occasion and expose his lie, causing the third group of revivors to be united against a common enemy. Therefore, they were the only ones who knew about it.
On the other side, the association members and the first two groups of revivors were scattered at the edge of the crowd, forming a semi-circle, sandwiching most of the third group of revivors in the middle. On the surface, they were chatting with their companions, but in reality, they were secretly nervous.
They did not have any private plans, and they did not know what Stein and the others were planning. However, everyone knew that Black Star had lied to the third batch of revivors, and it was very likely that he would be exposed today. If the third batch of revivors saw that the people who died twice did not revive, who knew how intense the backlash would be.
Therefore, although many Beyond Grade As did not plan in secret, they stood on their own and formed an obscure encirclement. Although they did not know what excuse Black Star would use to trick the third batch of Revivors, they were all prepared to prevent any unforeseen events from happening today. “It’s a pity that Aurora was defeated in the last battle of the intercepting circle. If she had played her usual role, there might not have been people who died a second time. This way, Black Star’s lies could’ve continued to stabilize these people…”
Everyone secretly glanced at the third batch of revivors. Most of them felt that it was a pity that they could not fool these people for long.
All the Beyond Grade As waited patiently. After a while, a stream of light suddenly broke through the atmosphere and fell from the sky, landing in front of everyone. It then turned around and the sparks disappeared, revealing Han Xiao. “I haven’t seen you guys for more than a month. Are you all thinking about me day and night?”
Han Xiao looked at everyone with a smile, seemingly in a good mood.
“Who is this? How shameless,” Milizaus had a look of disdain.
“Want my fart?” Sun Hunter curled his lips.
“Tsk tsk, it’s a pity that I already have a crush. Or else, I wouldn’t mind welcoming you with my body,” Reeve licked his lips shamelessly.
As soon as he returned, it was as if they were injected with vitality. The crowd immediately became lively and started to joke around.
After teasing the others for a while, Han Xiao stopped smiling and showed the Sanctum revival mark.
“Alright, let’s get down to business. The sacrificed comrades are still waiting for us to wake them up.”
After saying that, he turned around and activated the brand, releasing rays of light.
Everyone quietened down and watched him operate.
The historical Beyond Grade As in the explored universe were limited. The last revival had already used all the mediums that had been gathered, and the mediums of the remaining historical Beyond Grade As had yet to be found. Thus, there were no newcomers this time, all of them were those who had died in the intercepting circle battle.
One after another, the figures of those who died in battle began to materialize.
Stein and the others immediately perked up and stared at the reviving light cluster. Their bodies tensed up, and they all prepared to take action. As long as they did not see the people who died twice in this batch of revivors, they would act according to the plan.
At the same time, the association members also quietly changed their positions. The intention of surrounding them became more obvious. They were tense and prepared to deal with the possible backlash from the third batch of revivors.
Right at this moment, under the watchful eyes of everyone, the light slowly faded. This batch of revivors finally took shape, revealing their faces. They were all familiar.
Stein’s eyes quickly swept across and suddenly focused on a few figures. Surprise flashed in his eyes, and he turned to look at his companions.
These figures were among the third batch of Revivors who had died in the interception battle, the Beyond Grade As who had died twice.
“The people who have died twice really revived? Black Star did not lie to us!”
Stein was rather surprised, and his tense body relaxed. He secretly wondered if he had gotten the wrong information. “Regardless, it’s good news that Black Star isn’t lying. According to the plan, there’s no need to take the risk today.”
Stein breathed a sigh of relief.
Since they were not exposed, they had already agreed to keep it to themselves and pretend nothing had happened. However, at this moment, Stein suddenly thought of something and his mood became strange. Wait, Black Star did not lie to us. Doesn’t that mean…
Stein subconsciously turned to look at the association members beside him and was shocked to find that their expressions were all frozen on their faces. They were staring at the people who had died twice in disbelief.
The other third batch of revivors who did not know the truth looked as usual. They had always thought that Han Xiao was not lying to them, so they had no reaction.
However, the association members who believed that the Sanctum Revival was a one-time thing were completely dumbfounded.
They had originally wanted to help Black Star prevent the backlash after his lie was exposed, but they did not expect to be the ones who were shocked.
Didn’t he say that the Sanctum Revival could only be used once? What was going on ?
The association members could not suppress their emotions and surrounded Han Xiao, squeezing him in the middle.
“Black Star! What’s going on?”
Sun Hunter’s tiny head was filled with question marks, and he urgently asked what everyone was thinking. Although he did not point it out clearly because he was wary of the reaction of the third batch of Revivors, everyone understood what he meant and stared at Han Xiao.
Han Xiao raised his brows and said, “Didn’t I say that there’s no limit to the Sanctum Revival? Why are you making a fuss?”
“You, you…”
Everyone stared at Han Xiao, speechless. Only then did they understand.
It turned out that Black Star was not lying to the third batch of Revivors and was telling the truth!
So the one you lied to was us ?
You made us think that the Sanctum Revival would only revive once, and we had to fight in fear… You really fooled us hard!
Many association members looked at Han Xiao with resentment. If looks could turn into blades, they would have given Han Xiao a beating.
Kant pressed on Han Xiao’s shoulder, clenched his teeth, and said in a low voice, “You actually kept it from us…”
Facing the indignant looks of the others, Han Xiao remained calm. He shook Kant’s hand and smiled.
“So what? Don’t tell me you guys don’t feel surprised now.”
Without waiting for a response, he tilted his head and continued.
“Don’t forget the situation we were in back then. If this matter was exposed at that time, would the three Universal Civilizations still choose to wait and see, giving us some time to accumulate? There could have been internal conflicts long ago, and the current situation would only be worse.
“However, our situation is different now. With the pressure from the enemies, the three Universal Civilizations can’t do anything to us. Now that we’ve revealed the truth, it’s good for morale.
Just think about it and you will understand. You won’t revive only once, you will find out sooner or later about this matter that is beneficial to the whole of Beyond Grade As. What I hid in the past was just a deceptive tactic from a strategic point of view… Furthermore, I am not the only one who knows. I have long told this secret to a Beyond Grade A who is worth trusting.”
As he spoke, Han Xiao looked at Kasuyi and nodded.
Seeing this, Kasuyi stood out and said,
“That’s right. Black Star told me about this a long time ago, and I agree with the reason for hiding it. I didn’t tell you guys in the past because I wanted to deal with the three Universal Civilizations, but now is the time to make it public…” Kasuyi supported Han Xiao’s words while cursing in his heart. His understanding of the Sanctum came from the Celestial Star Alliance, but when he received Han Xiao’s signal, he could only say that it was Han Xiao who told him and played along.
After listening to the explanation, the association members blinked their eyes and calmed down. They pondered over this explanation and had to admit that there was indeed a reason to hide it.
If they took too big a step, they would most likely be in trouble. If Black Star had made this matter public back then, it would have been too much of a threat to the three Universal Civilizations. They would not have let the matter rest and would have probably started an even more intense civil war. Things like the Mechanical Race battle would definitely have happened earlier.
Furthermore, although they had been tricked, this was not a loss to them but a pleasant surprise.
They originally thought that they could only revive once, but it turned out to be an infinite number of times. As long as Black Star could continuously provide the Sanctum Revival, wouldn’t that mean they had achieved another form of immortality ?
Thinking of this, a strong sense of excitement replaced shock!
The eyes of the association members lit up, and their confidence skyrocketed. They felt that Han Xiao was emitting an extremely alluring aura, and they just wanted to hug this golden thigh tightly. Beiger, who was standing at the side, was shocked. Oathkeeper’s instructions flashed through his mind, and he immediately understood that Oathkeeper was also someone who knew about it. He and Han Xiao were colluding together… cough, working together to hide it.
“No wonder he suggested that I join the battle and continue to help Black Star. Those guys who thought that they had used up all their revivals and disregarded Black Star will regret it…”
The thought flashed across Beiger’s mind, and he secretly rejoiced.
On the other side, the third batch of revivors who did not know the details looked at the excited group of association members around Han Xiao and were secretly surprised. They did not know why these people were so excited.
While everyone was excited, Manison’s Lord’s Avatar asked with a confused expression,
“Black Star, you knew that the World Tree would attack, so you hid the truth of the Sanctum Revival to protect the Beyond Grade As and the three Universal Civilizations?”
Han Xiao smiled and did not retort.
Seeing this, the expressions of the Beyond Grade As changed.
Although they were already very impressed by Han Xiao, they could not help but respect him even more.
It turned out that Black Star had long been planning for the safety of the galactic society. For the sake of today’s war, he had done so many things in secret to obtain temporary peace… To the entire galactic society, only the phrase ‘a great man’ could be worthy of such a contribution!
Such a foresight, just thinking about it made everyone gasp in admiration.
Only such a person had the qualifications to be the leader of their entire Beyond Grade A group. His ability was always trustworthy! Secret Master shook his head and sighed. “Black Star, someone like you probably doesn’t need the help of luck.”
Don’t talk nonsense, I need it very much!
Han Xiao curled his lips.
Then, he turned around and patted Kasuyi.
“There’s no need to hide this matter. In a while, tell all the Beyond Grade As, including those who are avoiding the battle, as well as all the Calamity Grades who are training, and tell them the truth about the Sanctum Revival. Tell them that no matter the outcome of the war, only by fighting alongside us now will I let them enjoy this benefit in the future. Otherwise, don’t even think about getting a chance to revive in the future.”
“Understood.”
Kasuyi nodded.
Upon hearing that, the association members felt much better. Only participants like them would receive special treatment. This was the right way. Otherwise, it would be unfair.
All of a sudden, everyone’s determination to join the battle was unprecedented. The confusion and hesitation that they had initially felt instantly disappeared.
Black Star had said that if the three Universal Civilizations lost this war, he would take them away. This meant that the Sanctum Revival would still be a guarantee for their future!
In the hearts of the association members, the importance of Black Star’s safety was immediately raised to the highest level. Even if they had to die in battle, they could not let Black Star be in danger. The association’s cohesiveness instantly exploded!
Seeing how motivated everyone was, Han Xiao smiled. He knew that the most basic goal had been achieved.
Then, he stopped smiling and turned to look at the direct Beyond Grade As who were equally shocked.
It’s time to have a chat with the three Universal Civilizations…
In the conference room of the three Universal Civilizations.
Today was the day Han Xiao was going to perform Sanctum Revival. However, because they had seen it the last time, and since the people who were going to revive this time were the ones who died in the war, Marbruce and the others did not pay much attention to it. Instead, they discussed the situation of the harassment battle at the frontline with the Military Strategy Department.
As for the situation of the Sanctum Revival this time, some supervisors paid attention to it. The three of them did not watch it with their own eyes and waited for the report.
A meeting was being held in the room, and the remote projections of Simon and the other military officials were reporting. “… This is the current situation. The harassment troops at the frontline have already done their best, but the World Tree Army is steadily advancing and cannot be stopped…”
Marbruce, Louis, and the Pope were listening attentively to the battle report.
Beep beep beep
Suddenly, the sound of emergency communication rang out, interrupting the report from the military personnel.
Louis frowned and opened the emergency communication channel. “What’s going on?”
“Your Excellencies, the Sanctum Revival is complete!” The supervisor’s anxious voice sounded in the channel.
“Okay, got it. Write a report for us later. I have an important battle conference to attend.”
Louis did not think much of it and was about to hang up.
However, right at this moment, the supervisor suddenly yelled out. His tone was filled with anxiety and panic.
“This time, Black Star revived the direct Beyond Grade As who died in battle twice. Your Excellencies… the Sanctum Revival is not limited to once. What he said about it being limitless might be true!”
(EMPTY]
Just as the words landed, the three of them were stunned for a moment before standing up with a shocked expression!
After stabilizing the Beyond Grade As, Han Xiao submitted a meeting request to the three Universal Civilizations which was quickly passed through As soon as he arrived at the conference room, he saw the solemn expressions on the faces of Marbruce and the other two. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, and for some reason, it felt as though there were three trials.
Han Xiao was not bothered by this. He ignored their sharp gazes and said with a smile, “You guys don’t look too good. Have you been too tired recently?”
Marbruce did not respond. “Black Star, you tricked us.”
Louis and the Pope also tensed their faces and looked serious.
Ten minutes ago, when they received the report of this revival, they were shocked and immediately stopped the battle conference regarding the frontline situation to discuss this matter.
A few years ago, when the Revivors were born, Black Star had claimed that the Sanctum Revival was a one-time thing, and the three Universal Civilizations had also suspected it. However, only Black Star could enter the Sanctum and they had no way of verifying the truth. They could only obtain the relevant information from Black Star and they had always been on the passive side.
Even now, although the three Universal Civilizations were still skeptical, they had accepted the fact that the Sanctum Revival was a one-time thing and had made the main plan based on this. However, the sudden change at this moment had disrupted many of their plans.
Although the Military Strategy Department had made contingency plans for this kind of situation, in the current situation, no plan could deal with this situation perfectly.
In their shock, the three of them were just about to come up with a new strategy when Han Xiao requested to meet them. The three of them stopped their discussion and suppressed their chaotic thoughts, planning to hear Han Xiao first.
“Is that so? Then I’m honored.” Han Xiao spread out his hands and smiled. “Don’t forget how the three Universal Civilizations planned to deal with us back then. We were on opposite sides, and I used a tactic to trick you guys. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. It only proves that I did a good job.” “You must be very proud now.” The Pope snorted.
“No, I don’t feel anything.” Han Xiao shook his head and said with a playful tone, “Besides, why do you guys look like you’re at a disadvantage? A group of high-level combatants who can revive multiple times just happens to be at odds with the World Tree. Isn’t this good news for the battle, or do you guys still have some bad intentions?”.
Hearing the mockery in Han Xiao’s tone, the Pope’s face was expressionless, but he was furious.
During the negotiations back then, they had played a hidden risk game with Black Star, using the Beyond Grade A Association’s independent political position as a bargaining chip in exchange for the association joining the battle.
One of the reasons the three Universal Civilizations agreed to it was because they hoped the war would reduce the Beyond Grade As of the Association, using external forces to clean up the high-level combatants and reduce the hidden dangers of Beyond Grade As. This way, they would not have to fight internally and waste strength. The starting point of this plan was the one-time use of the Sanctum Revival. However, this was a trap that Han Xiao had dug long ago. When the three Universal Civilizations agreed to the deal, they had already lost this game. It was equivalent to the association getting a free political position without suffering any losses as the three Universal Civilizations wished.
as
The three of them had also realized that Black Star was trying to gain something without risking anything of his own. He had benefited greatly from them and now that he had revealed his trump card, they were filled with hatred. They knew that they had fallen into his trap.
The pressure from the foreign enemies was huge, and the three Universal Civilizations could not focus on this game for the time being. Instead, they did not mind expanding the size of the high-level combatants. However, this was still a potential strategic direction. From the looks of it, this plan to ease the imbalance of the Supers had failed.
If they had known that there was no limit to the Sanctum Revival back then, they would not have chosen this game path. Unfortunately, the boat had already sailed and they could only swallow their losses, temporarily not having the energy to fight among themselves.
Marbruce took a deep breath and slowly said, “It is indeed as you said. This is good news for the battle. Black Star, we hope you can give us a definite answer. What is the situation with the Sanctum Revival? Is it really not limited to one time?”
The other two stared at Han Xiao without blinking.
Han Xiao did not give a definite answer. “Theoretically, there’s no limit.”
“Theoretically?” The three of their hearts skipped a beat, and they looked at each other with an expression that said, “What are you playing at this time?”
Han Xiao stroked his chin and raised his brows. “Every Beyond Grade A individual can revive an unlimited number of times, but there is a limit to the number of people who can revive in the Sanctum.”
“What do you mean?” Marbruce frowned.
“Activating the Sanctum Revival requires authority. Every time the Sanctum is opened, the activator’s authority will increase by one level, and the number of times an individual can revive will be recorded. Every additional revival requires a corresponding level of authority… Let me explain it to you this way. If you die twice, then the third revival requires a level three authority, which means that only the person who opens the Sanctum for the third time can do it. If a new person opens the Sanctum halfway, the authority will not be enough,” Han Xiao said with a wave of his hand.
Hearing this, the three of them exchanged looks.
“What you mean is, it’s best to make the emissary who opens the Sanctum remain the same person till the end?” Louis looked at Han Xiao up and down and said with a deep voice, “Why do I feel like you’re lying to us again?”
Black Star had already entered the Sanctum many times. If there was really such a thing as the authority, it would definitely be beneficial to him. If the war became critical, even if they could unravel the secret of the Sanctum in the future, the best candidate would still be Black Star. A new member would not be able to make the most of it.
“When you guys enter the Sanctum one day, won’t you know if the authority is real or fake?”
Han Xiao did not think much of it. He did not care if the three of them suspected him.
The Sanctum mission from the past had yet to be completed. He used this excuse to build a foundation for it. It might be useful in the future.
Seeing this, the three of them felt a headache coming on.
Black Star was certain that they would not be able to prove the Sanctum’s mechanism. He was not afraid of being exposed no matter what!
There was no way he could get an answer if he kept asking. Marbruce had no choice but to change the topic.
“No matter what, this is good news to boost morale. Are you planning to announce it to the entire galactic society?”
“There’s no need. The World Tree has yet to reach the mainland. There’s no need to let the people know so early. It’s enough for the upper echelons and some of the chosen ones to know.”
Han Xiao waved his hands casually.
Marbruce nodded. Suddenly, he paused and changed the topic.
“Black Star, we know each other very well, so let’s not make empty talks… Thinking about it carefully, it’s understandable that you hid it from us back then. If we knew about the truth of the Sanctum Revival long ago, we would not have been able to sit still as we did back then, and a large-scale clean-up would have started. You knew about the intelligence of the World Tree long ago, and to maintain the internal balance, you had put in a lot of effort. But what I’m curious about is… if a large-scale civil war had broken out, what would you have done?”
“Hmm, I wanted to delay as much as possible and give us more time to prepare, but if you had insisted on acting willfully, I was also prepared to reveal the existence of the World Tree to you in advance and divert the conflict.”
Han Xiao did not hide his original thoughts. He smiled and continued.
“However, you found the World Tree on your own, which is a good thing for me.”
He only said half of what he wanted to say. Back then, he had not managed to gather the second set of keys and was worried that the three Universal Civilizations would get serious. This lie was also part of the empty fort strategy, but he naturally did not have to reveal it to the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations. There was no need to let them know that they had missed the real opportunity to ‘clean up’.
The three of them shook their heads with complicated emotions.
Indeed, if not for the Research Department discovering the World Tree and Black Star taking the initiative to inform them, they would most likely have treated it as Black Star’s stalling tactic and would not have stopped. They might have continued to push for internal cleansing, and that would have been bad.
At least from the current situation, the three of them had to admit that Black Star’s actions had brought them a good result. There was no large-scale internal conflict that consumed their strength, just like how Black Star had hidden the World Tree’s existence for many years. However, the three of them did not like this kind of passive position. Even though they knew that it was beneficial, they could not be happy. “As expected of the receiver of the Stuarts Peace Prize, you’re really great,” Louis snorted. Three parts were sarcasm, and three parts sincere. The remaining four parts were gloom. “You’re too kind. I’ll take it as a compliment.” Han Xiao chuckled. “Since you guys already know what to do, I won’t disturb you anymore.”
The purpose of this meeting had already been achieved. Han Xiao did not continue to chat with the three of them. He deactivated the remote projection and thoughtfully left them alone. He knew that the three of them still needed some time to accept the truth.
Seeing Han Xiao’s figure disappear, the three of their faces immediately fell.
“Originally, I wanted to use the foreign war to weaken the combat power of the association, but it seems like there’s no chance,” Marbruce sighed helplessly.
“If that’s the case, it will be very difficult for us to clean up individual strength. The total number of Beyond Grade As will continue to increase, and it will not decrease anymore.” There was a hint of fear in the Pope’s tone.
The three of them looked at each other and could not help but sigh. Their hearts were filled with seriousness and helplessness.
The threat of the World Tree was too great, and they did not dare drag their feet in the war. Even though they knew that it would create a huge problem of imbalance in the Supers in the future, they did not have the extra energy to deal with it.
Furthermore, they still had to rely on the Beyond Grade As to deal with the high-level combatants of the World Tree. What could they do? They could only watch and not dare do anything. If they forced Black Star away, the consequences would be unimaginable!
“As expected of the leader of a Beyond Grade A group. He chose good timing!” Louis emphasized heavily, his face ashen.
…
Not to mention the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations and the Beyond Grade As who witnessed it with their own eyes were still extremely excited as they accepted this reality. With Kasuyi and the others spreading it, the news of the Sanctum Revival reached the entire training base.
All the Calamity Grade Supers who were undergoing training felt their emotions boiling!
They had thought that stepping into the Beyond Grade A realm would only grant them a second life, but who would have thought that this was the ticket to eternal life?
The attraction between the two was completely different!
The Calamity Grade Supers were extremely excited. The temptation of eternal life became the source of motivation, and almost everyone turned into a cultivation maniac in an instant. Even Lagi, who was extremely disheartened, secretly increased his training volume.
On the other side, Beiger received Han Xiao’s approval and secretly sent the news back to the Holy Accord Organization.
Ancient Star Desert, Holy Accord Organization base.
Many Holy Accord Revivors forced Oathkeeper to a corner with their strong bodies. Their faces were filled with disbelief and shock.
“Did you already know the truth and had been working with Black Star to deceive us ?” “Damn it! You kept us in the dark!” “Say something!” The group of revivors started talking at the same time. Oathkeeper pushed through the crowd with a calm expression. “That’s right. Black Star had already analyzed the pros and cons. I also agreed with his plan back then. If you guys have any objections, go find him. After all, without his support, I won’t be able to open the Sanctum. He has the main responsibility.”
Hearing this, everyone was stunned.
Even though they were talking in private, they did not dare look for Black Star to express their dissatisfaction.
Furthermore, they had thought that they would only be able to revive once in the past and had already used it up, so their attitude toward Black Star was more or less a little casual. At this moment, everyone present immediately felt guilty and quickly recalled if they had respected Black Star before.
After a while, one of the Primordial Ones asked,
“Since there’s no limit to the number of revivals, can we enjoy this treatment forever?”
Oathkeeper looked at him and slowly said, “Didn’t you hear what Black Star said? Only by fighting alongside them can we obtain unlimited revivals in the future.”
Hearing this, the Holy Accord Revivors present were shocked.
“We’re doing the same ?”
“What else?” Oathkeeper was expressionless. “The first revival is free. We can’t expect it to be free forever, right? Everyone is treated equally. There’s no reason for you guys to enjoy such benefits while living in seclusion. If you want this kind of treatment, you have to contribute. Black Star’s intentions are my intentions as well.”
The faces of many Holy Accord Revivors twitched.
They were all people who lived in seclusion and had rejected the invitation to leave. Initially, when they saw the association fighting to the death on the frontlines, they felt that they were not involved at all and were overjoyed. But now, it seemed like Black Star was using the benefits that they could not reject to force them to leave their seclusion!
Live in seclusion? Did they think that he was starting a charity? Don’t even think about it!
Many of the Holy Accord Revivors understood this point, and their expressions immediately changed. Some of their eyes flashed with ominous intent.
If they worked together to snatch away the Sanctum information stored in the Holy Accord, they might not have to care about Black Star’s coercion…
However, before they could finish their thoughts, Oathkeeper spoke with a calm tone.
“I suggest that you guys don’t take the risk. That would be a waste of energy. The Sanctum Revival requires authority. Currently, only Black Star has opened the Sanctum multiple times and has sufficient authority. Furthermore, Black Star isn’t as gentle as me. It’s best not to make a huge mistake, or the Underworld can grant you eternal life as well.”
The crowd fell silent.
After more than ten seconds, a Revivor suddenly walked out from the crowd with a righteous expression.
“My hometown is in danger, and everyone should contribute their strength. I’m ashamed to stay here and watch the show. It doesn’t matter if I revive or not. I just want to join the battle!”
Everyone was surprised. They did not expect this person to be so thick-skinned.
However, the next moment, everyone followed suit. Their faces were filled with righteousness, and their facial lines became extremely firm. Even their style changed.
“That’s right. How can we allow the enemy to trample on our territory? I will offer my heart to the world I love!”
“My home has been invaded. My heart hurts too much. My sword is Black Star’s sword. I’m willing to die for my home!”
“Justice will never be absent!”
Everyone shouted and expressed their stance. It was as if they had all become warriors willing to protect their homeland. Their bodies were shining with righteous light, and they could not wait to rush to the battlefield.
There was no lack of people who had grudges with the three Universal Civilizations, but they knew what was more important. In the face of the temptation of eternal life, the grudges of the past could be held back for the time being, because the future was limitless.
Most Beyond Grade As had pride, but they also knew how to be flexible. In the face of almost eternal benefits, they could put aside all minor conflicts. Not many Beyond Grade As would be trapped by the past.
Oathkeeper was not surprised by the Holy Accord Revivors’ choice. No one knew the allure of the Sanctum Revival better than him, and he had already expected this scene.
As long as they could grasp the path of the Sanctum Revival, there was no need to care about what the Beyond Grade As were thinking. This was the lifeline of countless Beyond Grade As. If they were given a hundred chances to choose, the result would be the same.
Oathkeeper raised his hand and summoned a cluster of Soul Flames, which reflected Dylan’s figure. “I wonder if you can make me see you differently…”
This was a secondary dimension. The sky was filled with a fluttering ribbon-like aurora. A high-speed stream of light passed through it. It was the magic vehicle of Dylan and the others.
After sailing for more than a month, they had already left the area controlled by the three Universal Civilizations. The initial vigilance of Dylan and the others gradually became relaxed. A month ago, Oathkeeper had used mental projection to meet them and then disappeared. They were all Revivors of the Holy Accord and knew the effects of Soul Flame very well. They knew that Oathkeeper could only talk to them and could not lock onto their location, so they were not worried about exposing their coordinates.
“It’s been so long. It’s about time for Black Star to return from the Sanctum. Oathkeeper said he would tell us something valuable, so he should be here soon.”
A Beyond Grade A teased the furry pet on the table and casually mentioned this.
The other person was in a small ecological area in the cabin, watering and nourishing the decorative plants. Hearing this, he turned around and smiled. “Oathkeeper seems to want to use this news to change our minds. I want to know what he will say.”
The revivors in the cabin were all doing their own things, but everyone was present. All of the Beyond Grade As who left the main universe with Dylan a month ago were there. Other than their special relationship, the Beyond Grade As were not willing to submit to others, and they did not treat Dylan as their leader. The reason they had yet to part ways was mainly because of the risks of dealing with the secondary dimensions. After all, this place was still a threat to normal Beyond Grade As.
Someone turned to look at Dylan. “I’m quite curious. What about you?” “I’m not curious at all.” Dylan closed his eyes to rest, not even bothering to open them. “Since you’ve chosen to leave, be firm. You’re all Beyond Grade As, don’t you have any backbone? Anyway, no matter what he says, I won’t go back.”
Everyone laughed and was about to say something when black sparks suddenly appeared in the cabin and quickly formed Oathkeeper’s mental projection. Seeing this, Dylan’s brows twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes. The other Revivors’ expressions also changed slightly, and they stopped smiling. They stopped what they were doing and stared at Oathkeeper. “You’re here again.” Dylan narrowed his eyes. “What, you still want to persuade me to go back?”
“It’s up to you to return. I’m just here to deliver the information.”
Oathkeeper did not want to bother with him and turned to look at the other curious Revivors. A black flame ignited on his palm, and blurry images flashed in it, containing the information of the Sanctum Revival.
With a light flick of his finger, sparks shot out and fused into everyone’s foreheads, transmitting the information directly into their mind. The sequence of events was clear at a glance, and the relevant memories were released, allowing them to check.
The next moment, everyone received this information and was instantly dumbfounded. “So the Sanctum Revival isn’t a one-time thing ? You and Black Star have been hiding it from us!” Many people’s expressions changed drastically as they glared at Oathkeeper. Their expressions were indescribably ugly, as though they had fallen into a pile of feces. “The choice is yours.”
Oathkeeper was too lazy to say anything else. He left a sentence, deactivated his mental projection, and disappeared in front of everyone.
Seeing him leave, everyone’s expressions changed. One of the revivors looked around before looking at the shocked Dylan. “Everyone, I’ll go back and take a look. We’ll meet again if fate allows it.”
After saying that, he ignored everyone’s reaction and directly flashed out of the carrier. He raised his hand to cast a spell, summoned a fixed teleportation gate, and directly stepped in, disappearing along with the door. This became a signal. The revivors took their leave one after another, using various methods to leave. Those who were patient would say their goodbyes and those who were not would leave without saying a word. There was no need to explain anything to these temporary companions. They were all people who had been revived. They left the main universe because they thought that the one-time Sanctum Revival was useless to them, this was their last life. However, only now did they realize that this was just a scam created by the Holy Accord and Black Star. However, the reason was no longer important to them. The Sanctum Revival was almost eternal. There was nothing to hesitate about in front of this benefit.
The group of friends left one after another. Very soon, the cabin that had been quite lively a while ago became empty, leaving only Dylan alone.
He did not care about the others leaving at all. He was still immersed in shock and muttered to himself,
“No wonder, no wonder. Black Star has never cared about us, the avoidance faction. So, he had this trump card…” The opportunity of eternal life was right in front of him, but… Dylan’s expression changed, and he was extremely conflicted.
A few days later, in the conference room on the top floor of the training base.
Han Xiao sat at the head of the table and looked around at the Beyond Grade As present. Seeing that everyone was staring at him, he casually said:
“Everyone already knows about the true situation of the Sanctum Revival. I believe there’s no need for me to repeat the unnecessary explanation. Everyone should have digested this information over the past few days. Today, I gathered everyone to discuss the follow-up issue of the Sanctum Revival. This will be an important trump card for us to fight the World Tree. The three Universal Civilizations are very surprised by this and have decided to continue to support us and keep it a secret for the time being…” The people present nodded silently with subtle expressions.
They believed that there was indeed a surprise, but it was more of a shock. Even if they used their butts to think, they could imagine how the leaders of the three Universal Civilizations felt when they found out about this ‘surprise’.
They had been looking for Han Xiao for the past few days, but after Han Xiao used the Sanctum Revival, he had left temporarily and could not be contacted at all. He had only just returned and gathered all the Beyond Grade As in the training base. All the participating Beyond Grade As had been waiting for the meeting and immediately rushed over. Han Xiao took in everyone’s expressions, tapped the table, and chuckled. “By the way, let’s count your opinions today and see if you’re willing to continue participating in the battle. After all, from now on, participating in the battle will be linked to the revival treatment of the Sanctum. I need to record it in the register. Who knows, some people might not like this treatment, but I can’t force them. After all, I’m a very democratic person.”
Democracy? Bah, shameless!
Everyone cursed silently.
Black Star had grasped this lifeline, and his authority had already risen to a whole new level to the point that whatever he said went. No one would be willing to give up this opportunity. Although they were complaining in their hearts, the Beyond Grade As present were still very honest and could not wait to speak. “Count me in!” “There’s no reason to give up halfway. Of course, we should continue fighting.” Everyone expressed their stance enthusiastically. Initially, some from the third batch of revivors did not fight and did not participate in the interception battle. However, after seeing the substantial evidence of the Sanctum revival, they changed their minds.
Han Xiao smiled as he watched this scene. He opened a virtual screen, pulled out a memo, and recorded the names of the people who expressed their stand in front of everyone.
The temptation of the limitless Sanctum Revival is indeed something that not many people can resist. The effect is similar to what I expected…’
A few days ago, Han Xiao had received Oathkeeper’s report. Upon learning that the Revivors of the Holy Accord had also requested to come out and join the battle, he had gone to deal with the matter in the past few days. He had appeased the group of Holy Accord Revivors and said that they would only need to take action when the World Tree invaded the mainland. There was no need for them to come out now, and they could continue to hide in the dark as long as they accepted his targeted training plan. The reason those Holy Accord Revivors had stayed in seclusion was partly that they were unwilling to continue being involved in the conflict between organizations, and partly because they had a grudge against the three Universal Civilizations. However, they had all abandoned their original intentions and changed their minds. Although they spoke nicely, their actions were still realistic. Beyond Grade As who knew their own needs would make rational choices.
Of course, Han Xiao would not scoff at them. It was only human nature. Not many people could watch others enjoy such benefits without getting a share. Just as everyone was expressing their stance, the conference room door was suddenly pulled open, interrupting the meeting.
Everyone turned to look and could not help but have a playful look on their faces. They saw that the revivors of the avoidance faction who had stayed on Planet Finn had all arrived. The room immediately fell silent. This group of people who had stayed behind to avoid the battle stood by the table.
Han Xiao glanced around, put on a calm expression, and casually said, “Why are you guys here? What’s the matter?”
Hearing this, one member of the avoidance faction stepped out from the crowd and spoke loudly like the representative of everyone. “Your Excellency Black Star, after careful consideration, we have made a unanimous decision. Please allow us to join the training. We request to join the battle!” The Beyond Grade As present exchanged looks, shook their heads, and laughed, not surprised at all. Han Xiao smiled, nodded, and said, “As I said before, if you change your mind one day, we welcome you to fight alongside us.” With that, he snapped his fingers, and with a flash of Mechanical Force, the conference table suddenly moved. Mechanical particles extended, and the table slowly expanded. The seats slid sideways leaving more gaps and new seats rose from the ground.
After doing this, Han Xiao pointed at the empty seats and chuckled.
“Everyone, please take a seat.”
Seeing this, the revivors of the avoidance faction heaved a sigh of relief. They nodded and thanked him one after another before finding empty seats to sit down. Initially, they had wanted to watch from the sidelines as the group of association members attacked the enemy at the frontline. However, after learning the truth about the Sanctum Revival from Beiger, everyone changed their minds overnight and decided to join the battle. Initially, they were worried that Black Star would make things difficult for them, or at the very least, some people would make sarcastic remarks. However, they realized that this group of participants looked at them like it was a matter of course and no one teased them about their choice. This made their nerves relax. However, thinking about it, since they were all alike, no one would laugh at the other.
Sun Hunter glanced at them and said, “Why are there so few of you? There are still some people, right? Where’s that foul-mouthed Elf King?” “They…” A former member of the avoidance faction paused for a moment before smiling helplessly.” They are not willing to get involved in the war and have already left the main universe. No one can contact them.”
Everyone was surprised. Not everyone knew about this. Kasuyi had hidden the news.
“Then they really made a huge loss, missing out on such a good thing.” Sun Hunter clicked his tongue in wonder. The corners of many people’s mouths curled up, secretly mocking them. Since they had chosen this path, they would have to walk it even if they had to kneel. They would not feel pity for these guys who had a severe lack of judgment and ran away. “They still don’t know the truth about the Sanctum Revival, right? Should we try to get them back?” Milizaus turned around and asked.
Han Xiao did not mind and said calmly, “Our association is not an organization that cannot be left once entered. They have the freedom to leave. Don’t bother about them…” Halfway through, he suddenly paused, chuckled, and continued. “Besides, didn’t they come back on their own?”
After saying that, everyone noticed it too. They turned to look at the bright starry sky outside the window and saw a teleportation gate spinning open. Streams of light landed on the training base.
Very soon, the sound of footsteps could be heard from afar. They were getting closer and closer. Everyone turned to look at the opened door. Under everyone’s gaze, all the revivors of the avoidance faction appeared at the entrance and walked in one after another. Dylan was the last. Kasuyi calmly took a sip of the Spirit Concentration Tea. The group of people that had just returned contacted him one after another since they could not find Black Star. He arranged for them to appear together today, separately from the other group that stayed behind to avoid battle. However, only he and Han Xiao knew about this.
“Yo, we were just talking about you guys. Didn’t you say you were going to stay away from the war? Why are you back?”
Sun Hunter winked and teased. The others also had a mocking expression on their faces. Their eyes kept sweeping past Dylan, who was at the end of the line. They still remembered that Dylan was the most determined member of the avoidance faction. They could still remember how he had slammed the table and objected to the battle in the past, but now, he was silent, expressionless, and looking straight ahead. It was as if he saw everyone else as air and did not even look at them after entering the room. Dylan ignored Sun Hunter and looked at Han Xiao. “Black Star, we wish to participate in the war. Do you agree?” The others stopped talking and turned to look at Han Xiao, waiting for his decision.
Han Xiao looked at this group of people and knocked on the table. Another batch of empty seats appeared on the ground.
“Have a seat.”
Seeing this, the group of people finally relaxed, not daring to look into Han Xiao’s eyes. They quickly sat down after bowing. Seeing that Han Xiao had no intention of talking to him, the anxiety in Dylan’s heart dissipated a little. He found a seat and sat down obediently.
Before he came back, he had been worried about being punished. After all, he had always been against the war, so it was very likely that Black Star was not willing to accept him. He did not have much confidence and felt that he would be mocked no matter what. He did not expect Black Star to treat him the same way, as though he did not care about him at all. This time, Sun Hunter curled his lips and looked at Dylan with disdain. “Tsk tsk, didn’t you say that you would never regret it? Didn’t you say that you have a deep grudge? Weren’t you quite stubborn? I am disappointed in you.”
Dylan did not mind. He could not help but retort, “Do I need you to think highly of me? Whatever I do is my freedom. Can’t I change my mind? To make you think highly of me, I have to give up the chance to live forever? Who do you think you are?” He had always done what he wanted. If he cared about what others thought, he would not have died so miserably in the past. After a series of internal conflicts, he finally chose the opportunity to live forever. Although the hatred in the past was unforgettable, it did not blind his rationality. He was not willing to fight for the three Universal Civilizations. Hatred was one factor, and another was the lack of benefits. Now that the truth of the Sanctum revival was right in front of him, he naturally knew which was more important. There were endless possibilities as long as he was alive. The disdain of others did not hinder him from making the right decision. “Humph, I’ll kill you one day.” Sun Hunter snorted coldly and turned around, too lazy to argue with this guy. The others also looked away. For the sake of important benefits, not many Beyond Grade As would be affected by the opinions of others. It was fine to tease them in their hearts, but there was nothing to look down on since they could understand their choice.
Han Xiao ignored them and waited for everyone to quiet down before continuing with the main topic. Not long after, the simple meeting ended, and everyone dispersed. Just as Dylan was about to leave, Han Xiao’s voice sounded from behind him. “Stay for a while.” Everyone paused and looked back at the calm Han Xiao with a contemplative look. They then sped up and left the room, leaving only the two of them. Dylan’s expression froze, and he turned around to look at Han Xiao. He did not dare meet Han Xiao’s indifferent gaze, so he forced himself to ask, “What’s the matter?”
Han Xiao tilted his head and pretended to be confused. “You incited the members to leave the association. Don’t tell me you think this matter is over just like that?” “…What do you want to do?” Dylan’s heart skipped a beat. Although he had a foul mouth, that was because of his personality. He was not really afraid of anything Han Xiao did not reply immediately. “Your past was indeed tragic. However, this isn’t an excuse for your repeated incitement. Are you the only one here who has a grudge against the three Universal Civilizations? But you are the only one who jumped the gun like this.
I don’t care about your hatred. That’s your private matter. How you deal with it has nothing to do with me. I don’t pity you either. You deserve to be beaten to death. I only care about whether my plan can be carried out as usual, whether the battle can progress smoothly. You’ve obstructed me many times, you should pay a price…” “I’ve already let go of my hatred and am willing to come back and work for the three Universal Civilizations. What else do you want
Dylan said with a deep voice. “What does it have to do with me whether you let go of your hatred or not? Do you think that just because you’ve overcome your own difficulties, I’ll let you have your way? If there’s no chance of eternal life, will you come back? I’m only concerned about whether you can be of use!”
Han Xiao did not buy it.
“But you came back of your own accord, and you did make the right choice. No path leads to darkness, so I’m giving you a chance.”
“What are you going to do?”
Dylan clenched his fists and backed away carefully. “If you hadn’t taken the initiative to return today, I would have hunted you down and not let you have the chance to encounter the World Tree and leak intelligence. I believe your companions would have been very happy to expose your route. After you had died, I would have sent you to the Underworld to serve the war forever. “However, I’m very satisfied with your return, so I won’t kill you. But I still need to send an unstable factor like you to the Underworld, but I promise that after the war ends, I will remove your heroic spirit status and use the Sanctum Revival to return you to normal. You will also obtain eternal life in the future…”
As he spoke, Han Xiao slowly stood up, rubbed his fists, and narrowed his eyes. “I hope you can fight back. You talk senselessly all the time. I’ve always wanted to beat you up and cure your mouth!”
Chapter 1376 Violent Beating and Establishing Power
“What do you think Black Star intends to do, making that annoying bastard stay behind?”
The Beyond Grade As walked out of the conference room and left along the corridor. Sun Hunter’s tiny body floated midair as he followed the crowd.
Kant shrugged and fiddled with the thrusters on the back of Manison’s Lord’s Avatar. “It’s definitely not anything good.”
Secret Master looked down at the light of the enchantment tattoo and said calmly,
“I did divination just now. Dylan’s luck is dark, and there seems to be a bloody disaster.”
“Hmm, looks like Black Star is planning to teach him a lesson. He deserves to be beaten
up.”
Sun Hunter smacked his lips and chuckled.
Just as they were guessing, there was a loud explosion behind them!
Bang!
A powerful shockwave suddenly came from behind, causing everyone to stagger.
The Beyond Grade As turned around in surprise, only to see that the corridor they had come from had exploded into pieces. The conference room was at the center of the explosion, and it had already turned into a huge hole. The changes in the internal and external pressure exerted a shocking suction force, sucking away a large pile of junk. Two streams of light intertwined and soared into the sky, instantly entering the universe. The group of people looked up in surprise and realized that the psionic energy in the sky was exploding, and magic power was surging. Han Xiao was fighting with Dylan. His black robe danced, and dark blue psionic energy shot out, colliding with the spells that Dylan was continuously releasing.
“Whoa, they’re fighting!”
“Hit him hard, Black Star. I support you mentally!” “Count me in. Punch him a few times on my behalf.”
Be it the association members or the direct members of the civilization, all of them had gathered. They looked up at the two people fighting in the sky through the open hole. With Dylan’s lacking social relations, no one went up to help him. Everyone was watching the show with gloating expressions.
In outer space, Dylan kept trying to pull away from Han Xiao, but he was stuck to him. Because it was a close-range attack, Dylan could not react in time and was flustered. His fair face was punched a few times and was slightly swollen.
Dylan hurriedly took out a magic tool, and his magic power circulated along the complicated circuits. The elven secret skill was released, and thin blue and green light ribbons quickly extended out. They were densely packed, and the light rays almost solidified, wrapping around Han Xiao’s hands and feet, flashing countless elven inscriptions.
Taking advantage of the short duration of control, Dylan quickly activated the short-range teleportation enchantment. With a flash of light, a large distance was opened up, and he hurriedly raised his hand to cast a spell to construct a long-distance transportation door.
He was not willing to sit back and do nothing, nor did he want to fight it out with Han Xiao, so he only wanted to escape as soon as possible.
However, the door had just emitted a spark when Han Xiao tore apart his control spell and shattered his weapon. He then used Void Hyperdrive to appear beside Dylan.
The next moment, an elbow condensed with psionic energy slammed into Dylan’s magic shield. The powerful force instantly shattered the shield into pieces of light, and the unhindered iron elbow slammed into Dylan’s chest.
Dong!
A dull vibration spread from the point of impact. Dylan’s eyes bulged out, and he felt as if a huge force was crushing his internal organs. Many of his bones broke, his chest caved in, and his back suddenly swelled up
“Cough—”
A gush of blood rushed up to his throat, and Dylan could not help but cough out a mouthful of blood. Enduring the pain, he quickly activated Phase Void Transformation, instantly avoiding Han Xiao’s headbutt.
However, before he could use this opportunity to cast a spell, a mechanical palm wrapped in a pale white light quickly attacked him. The force field emitted by the Phase Stabilization device instantly neutralized his spell. The large hand immediately grabbed onto the physical body and held onto his throat. Immediately after, a storm of fists quickly enlarged in Dylan’s vision.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
In just a blink of an eye, Dylan had lost count of the number of punches he had received on his face. He felt as if his head had become a sandbag that someone had hit crazily. Parts of his head caved in, and his entire body deflated. Waves of shock penetrated through his skin, muscles, and bones, penetrating deep into his brain. His brain was almost shaken into foam-like matter. “Get lost!”
Dylan gritted his teeth, and his magic power flowed into his mind through a specific circuit, stimulating his mind. The dizzy negative status was cleared, and he regained his focused state. Without a word, he raised his hand and cast five instant-cast spells. Amidst the flow of magic, the five spells instantly formed a combo. A shield that specialized in defending against melee attacks was formed again, barely blocking a few chain attacks. Following this, an escape spell broke free from the control, followed by a high-level Body Immobilization spell, which blocked Han Xiao for an instant. Then, the shockwave from the explosion of magic power pushed him away, and he used a Starlight Evasion skill to slide out, pulling away from Han Xiao again. After finally getting a chance to catch his breath, Dylan quickly activated the healing magic that the elves were good at and healed his body. However, after receiving a series of heavy blows, his originally handsome face was now swollen like a pig’s head.
“Although this guy, Dylan, is annoying, he still has some ability. It’s a pity that the opponent this time is someone outside the norm. He’s definitely unlucky.”
The Beyond Grade As below watched the show while whispering
Pinnacle Beyond Grade A Mages were known for their rich means. As an arcane master who had left his name in history, Dylan naturally knew countless spells. Unfortunately, these spells could only allow him to struggle for more time and had no other use. As a peak Beyond Grade A, Han Xiao’s energy level far exceeded his.
Seeing that Dylan was being beaten up, everyone’s enthusiasm soared. If not for their status, they might have cheered loudly. If not for knowing about Han Xiao’s abilities, they would have thought that Dylan was being beaten up by a Pugilist when they saw the close combat suppression earlier.
This time, Han Xiao’s energy surged and shattered the runes of the high-level Body Immobilization spell. He summoned the dimensional army box. A black army surged out, finally showing the style of a Mechanic.
Dylan’s heart skipped a beat, and he did not dare to be distracted anymore. He quickly chanted incantations, and powerful forbidden spells flew out one after another, turning into magic artillery that bombarded the endless mechanical army. The colorful but fatal explosions burst out in the sea of machinery.
However, the performance of Han Xiao’s mechanical soldiers was already extremely shocking, and with the support of his extremely high Machinery Affinity, there was no way that Dylan could cut through them. The toughness of the soldiers was like a nightmare, and most of his attacks were blocked by the mechanical army’s shields and armor.
Switching to the Mechanic’s group fight mode, the battle entered a rhythm that Han Xiao was familiar with. Dylan was surrounded, and he could not escape no matter how hard he tried. The mechanical army, on the other hand, moved back and forth like a rag wiping a stubborn stain.
After enduring the attacks time and time again, Dylan’s aura slowly slid down from its peak and gradually weakened. He tried to open a stable transportation door again and again, but all the spatial fluctuations dissipated.
He was already an arrow at the end of its flight, struggling as he drowned in the sea of machinery. With his endless magic, he only lasted for a while.
Finally, the flickering magic shield could no longer withstand the attacks of the Apostle Weapons and shattered.
Chi! Chi! Chi!
The next moment, laser beams penetrated his body, leaving charred wounds on his body, and turning his body into a beehive.
However, although Mages were fragile, the life force of a peak Beyond Grade A was not so easily destroyed.
Han Xiao waved his hand, and a few Apostle Weapons escorted the heavily wounded Dylan into the broken conference room. They then arrived in front of the many Beyond Grade As who had been watching the battle.
Everyone looked at the miserable look on Dylan’s face and grinned in secret. Dylan had no friends.
Sun Hunter floated over to Dylan’s head, grabbed a bunch of hair, and pulled it off. “Aren’t you very arrogant? Why don’t you talk some more?”
“He was beaten up by you. I hope he can learn to keep a low profile in the future.” Beiger shook his head.
Aurora could not bear to see him like this. She grabbed a ball of life energy and asked, “Do you need me to heal him?”.
Han Xiao waved his hands and said casually,
“There’s no need. I was just about to kill him.”
As soon as he said that, the atmosphere changed slightly, and the smiles on everyone’s faces disappeared.
They had thought that Han Xiao only wanted to teach Dylan a lesson, so they had been enjoying the show. However, now that they knew that Han Xiao wanted his life, their expressions turned serious.
“You want to kill him? Although this guy is quite annoying, it’s not enough to take his life, right?” Sun Hunter’s tone was doubtful.
Oulou agreed and said with surprise, “This guy is quite strong. Since he’s willing to join the battle, why kill him? Furthermore, you’ll have to revive him sooner or later. Isn’t this unnecessary… Don’t tell me you don’t plan to revive him ?”
For a moment, many people spoke up, expressing their objections.
Although they hated him, most Beyond Grade As did not want to kill him, not because they had any relationship, but because it involved their own interests. Although the Sanctum Revival was their lifeline, no one wanted to see Black Star kill a Beyond Grade A just because of this.
Han Xiao looked around and was not surprised at all.
The truth of the Sanctum Revival was a double-edged sword. The Beyond Grade As tolerated him because he was strong enough, but it did not mean that they had become obedient.
From the start to the end, these Beyond Grade As were all beasts that had never been tamed.
The chance of eternal life was very tempting. Some Beyond Grade As could let go of their pride, but they would not completely give up their dignity and bottom line. It was best for everyone to live in harmony, and everyone was willing to listen to his orders within the bottom line. However, if he went too far, then the Beyond Grade As would not submit to him and remain indifferent.
The purpose of participating in the battle in exchange for the revival quota was to unite against the outside world. It was a reasonable request, so everyone could accept it. However, it did not mean that the Beyond Grade As would obey all orders unconditionally. Although everyone cherished the opportunity to live forever, they had not become subordinates to be completely controlled by others.
Once the truth of the Sanctum Revival was revealed, it would no longer be a private matter but public interest in the eyes of the Beyond Grade As. It could be controlled by one person, but it could not be completely privatized.
If they wanted to use this channel to gain absolute control over the Beyond Grade As, the result would most likely be the Beyond Grade As working together to snatch the Sanctum Revival control.
They could either fight alone or rope in a group of Beyond Grade As to deal with the rebels. This way, it would be the route of the Celestial Star Alliance.
Han Xiao was well aware of this, and he did not plan to control everyone.
“Dylan has destroyed the internal unity many times, so he’s an unstable factor. This time, he brought others to leave the association, which has already proved his instability. What if he had accidentally leaked the information? Seeing that he took the initiative to come back, I’ll reduce his responsibility. However, for the sake of the war, I plan to send him to the Underworld temporarily and let him enjoy the normal revival treatment after the war ends.
Everyone, please bear witness to prevent me from going back on my word in the future.”
Hearing this, everyone quietened down and exchanged looks.
They were against killing for no reason, but at the same time, they felt that Black Star’s words made sense.
Thinking back to Dylan’s performance, letting this foul-mouthed guy enter the Underworld for a while might be a good choice. The world would be quite peaceful. Thinking of this, everyone retreated and did not stop him.
Seeing this, Dylan was in complete despair. He coughed out a large mouthful of charred blood, and his aura withered.
“Since no one has any objections, I shall take action.”
Han Xiao turned around and signaled the troops.
Puchi!
The next moment, Psionic Prime’s spear stabbed the back of Dylan’s head and destroyed his last chance of survival.
Hila immediately raised her hand to capture Dylan’s soul, then disappeared from where she was with Aurora. They entered the Underworld and transformed Dylan’s spirit body.
Han Xiao looked at Kasuyi, pointed at the hole in the ceiling, and said, “Don’t forget to get someone to fix the conference room.”
With that, he changed into King and teleported away.
Seeing the mechanical army dragging away Dylan’s corpse, the Beyond Grade As present were all shocked.
After thinking about it for a while, everyone felt that Black Star was deliberately killing Dylan in front of them to show his might. Black Star’s hidden intent was that although he did not want to use the revival quota to control the Beyond Grade As, he did not want them to think that they could do whatever they wanted with the Sanctum Revival. He was not going to pay for the mistakes of others.
Originally, they had received the unlimited revival quota promised by Black Star through participating in the battle, and they were all very excited. Now that they had finally calmed down, some dangerous thoughts that had been sprouting in their minds were put on the reins.
The group composed themselves and dispersed.
In the Underworld Dimension.
Dylan’s soul was suspended midair, Hila and Aurora were manipulating the power of the Underworld and continuously pouring it into Dylan’s body to modify the form of his spirit body. Meanwhile, the Nine Great Hero Spirit Kings were watching from the side.
With a flash of light, Han Xiao teleported over. The moment he appeared, he attracted Dylan’s furious gaze.
“Black Star! I took the initiative to return and join the battle, but you killed me. You and I are irreconcilable!”
Dylan cursed and gritted his teeth. Han Xiao did not mind and clicked his tongue. “You looked like you were half dead just now, but you look very energetic after your death.”
“You’re shameless! You’re shameless! I believe you’re really blind! I…”
Before he could finish, Hila silenced him with an expressionless face.
Han Xiao shrugged, turned to look at Sorokin and the others, and said, “This guy will be the tenth Hero Spirit King in the future. Teach him a little more and let him reflect on what it means to cause trouble with words.”
With the rise in seniority, Sorokin was in a good mood.
“How strong is this guy?”
“Peak Beyond Grade A Mage, once the Elf Race’s Holy King. His combat strength is quite good, and you might not even be his match. He is just a little bit weaker than me,” Han Xiao said casually.
“The quality of the rookies this time is not bad,” Sorokin replied.
Han Xiao ignored him and turned to look at the roaring Dylan.
This way, the Underworld Hero Spirit Kings would become one of the Ten Great Generals. With such a ‘lively’ fellow, Sorokin and the others’ lives would be more ‘colorful’.
Without looking at the Heroic Spirit Modification Ceremony of the two sisters, Han Xiao opened the interface and looked at the mission list. Dylan’s Beyond Grade A Challenge Mission was shining brightly. “Mage… I wonder what abilities I can draw…”
Chapter 1377 Shaken; A Ridiculous Ability
On the other side, the direct Beyond Grade As left the venue together, still thinking about how Dylan had died.
“Black Star is really domineering. He killed a peak Beyond Grade A just like that.”
Reeve clicked her tongue and snorted.
“He wants to set a good example. It’s quite unlucky for Dylan to have been chosen to establish dominance, but he deserves it.”
Clotti looked straight ahead and said with a calm tone.
“I saw those revivors running away in fear just now. Isn’t Black Star afraid of scaring them away?”
“If they run again, they’ll have to follow in Dylan’s footsteps. Also, will they be willing to leave?”
Clotti shook his head.
This time, Oulou rubbed his chin and said with a worried expression,
“Black Star is in control of this channel and has tied up almost all the Beyond Grade As with his benefits. The power of the association can no longer be restricted, and the problem of the Beyond Grade A imbalance can no longer be solved…”
Hearing this, many of the direct descendants were worried about the future of the three Universal Civilizations.
SSU
It was the war period now, so Black Star provided recovery services to the advanced civilizations. However, in the long run, if they could get rid of the pressure from the foreign enemies, they did not know if Black Star would still be willing to sell the recovery slots. At that time, they might lose the benefits of the Sanctum Revival, and the difference in strength between them would only grow.
Now that the association had an independent political position and astonishing strength coupled with the contributions and reputation of participating in the war, it was very difficult for the three Universal Civilizations to do anything else. They had dug a grave for themselves and even if they had tears in their eyes, they had to jump into it. No one knew how the upper echelons would deal with such a behemoth of an organization.
“The only way to break out of this situation is probably to develop the Sanctum Revival. It’s a pity that I don’t know how long it will take.”
Oulou sighed.
The Sanctum Revivals now had a fatal attraction, and some direct descendants in the crowd were tempted. After all, the treatment of the two was worlds apart.
While everyone was worried, Hilbert did not say a word, but his eyes constantly twinkled.
As a ‘retiree’ who had completed his ‘military service’ and felt that he had fulfilled his duty to the three Universal Civilizations, he was very interested in the treatment of the association. When compared to the benefit of the Sanctum Revival, the ‘retirement treatment’ that he had paid using his life was worth nothing
Although he had the patience to wait for the three Universal Civilizations to come out with their own Sanctum Revival, with his understanding of the three Universal Civilizations, he knew that it would not be a free lunch. In his opinion, the three Universal Civilizations would probably set some terms as restrictions, such as continuing to serve the civilization.
However, this would only work in an ideal situation where there were no competitors. Now that there were relaxed revival rules of the association for comparison, Hilbert felt that even if the three Universal Civilizations managed to revive the Sanctum, they would most likely have no choice but to reduce the price. They would not dare set conditions that were too harsh since the existence of the association would force them to increase the benefits for their descendants.
With this in mind, Hilbert glanced at everyone with a disapproving look.
It was really funny. These people were still here “worrying about the country and the people” but did not know that the existence of the association was also their blessing.
“Struggling for the interests of the entire Beyond Grade A class… he has been carrying out the purpose of the association.”
Hilbert’s eyes flickered with admiration.
Since he had already ‘retired’, joining the association was not a bad choice…
Two days later, in the Army Commander’s office.
Han Xiao sat on his large chair, casually scrolling through the virtual screen to check the reactions of the Beyond Grade As in the past two days. He was quite satisfied. After he revealed the truth about the Sanctum Revival, the morale of the Beyond Grade As was high. They were originally a little relaxed, but now, they were even more determined, and their fighting spirit was unprecedentedly high. Even their training had improved a notch.
“Although this kind of cohesion can only be triggered through such a request, it’s enough.”
Han Xiao knocked on the armrest of the chair, deep in thought.
He did not pursue the so-called absolute control but only wanted to achieve his goal. Therefore, he did not have any intention of ‘taming’ a portion of the Beyond Grade As. Up till now, he had already made his stance clear through his actions. With the benefits that he had offered, there was no need for him to use any more methods.
Han Xiao suddenly thought of something and chuckled.
“This should be the most united Beyond Grade A group in history. If only we could always be united.”
As he spoke, he shook his head and laughed. After all, it was an unrealistic fantasy. They were divided internally and had different ideals. Only benefits were eternal. It was destined that only benefits could bind everyone to a place. …Oh, not everyone. Almost all the surviving Beyond Grade As had been attracted over, but there were still exceptions. The Avengers from Pangon had never contacted the Holy Accord and did not say that they had returned to participate in the battle. Their civilization had been destroyed, and their hatred was much deeper than Dylan’s. They had long decided to sacrifice their lives for revenge. Although the Sanctum Revival was tempting, it would not make them give up on revenge.
The main reason was that they knew that as long as they did not give up on revenge, Black Star would not revive them to let them continue causing trouble. Pangon did not want to come back and implicate the association, so he simply ignored them.
The front line did not lack these few combatants, and Han Xiao did not want to revive these troublesome fellows, so he let them be. He did not call them back on purpose, not wanting to give them a way out.
“Tsk, they’re pretty ‘firm’ about their ideals. Hopefully, you guys can keep it up.”
Han Xiao curled his lips.
These avengers had set their sights on their goal and were not ‘tempted’ by the Sanctum Revival. However, with Han Xiao’s position, he no longer had any admiration for them. Everyone had their ambitions. The choices of Pangon and the others as well as Dylan did not matter to him.
He was satisfied that these people were sensible and did not bring him any trouble.
Sitting in this position, he had too many responsibilities. He did not have the time to indulge others in war, class benefits, and dealing with the three Universal Civilizations. Everything had to be focused on the goal. Whoever caused trouble for him, he would not hesitate to stop them. All the difficulties and reasons were meaningless. Why should he understand other people’s difficulties if they would not understand him first?
Therefore, for the past two days, Dylan had been cursing and swearing in the Underworld, but Han Xiao could not be bothered to talk with him.
Previously, Han Xiao had deliberately promised to let him go in front of everyone and get them to monitor him before deciding how to deal with him. This had given him hope, so no matter how he behaved, as long as Han Xiao could hold on to this point, the former would have no choice but to do his job obediently.
However, this guy has provided me with an interesting ability… Han Xiao calmed himself down, opened the interface, and looked at the skill list with a weird expression.
Two days ago, he had already settled the mission reward. Perhaps it was because Harrison had spent all the luck that he had accumulated over this period, but he did not get anything good from touching the ‘backup Feidin’ this time. They were all ordinary skills, except for one…
(Taunting Habit): After you activate the skill, it will be easier for the other party to misunderstand your language. -50% increase in Favorability, +100% decrease in Favorability. When you communicate with the enemy in battle, the enemy will have a higher chance of targeting you. (Judgement probability depends on Charm, Luck, and Favorability. The lower the related stats, the easier it is to become the target of hatred). No Energy consumption, buff lasts for 3 minutes each time you activate before it can be deactivated. No cooldown.
“No wonder this guy is so annoying. He probably never turned this skill off before, right?”
Every time he saw this ability introduction and thought about Dylan’s daily performance, Han Xiao could not help but ponder.
Was it because of Dylan’s habit of having a foul mouth that resulted in this ability, or was it because of this ability that caused Dylan to have a foul mouth? This was a question of whether the chicken or the egg came first.
Putting these factors aside, Han Xiao was quite satisfied with the effect of the skill.
The Taunt skill was not a common skill but was rather rare in the Star Sea. The biggest difficulty for players to fight a Boss was that intelligent beings did not have a rigid aggro system. If they wanted to pull monsters, they could only use tactical cooperation. There was no rough and simple taunting method. The most common ability to attract aggro was the mental guidance of Mages or Psychics, hinting to the enemy which targets they wanted to hit, but it was often rendered immune due to the Boss mental resilience.
“There really are all kinds of strange things in the vast universe. Even chatting can create some decent skills… I have to use my skills more in the future.”
Han Xiao raised his brow.
My style is becoming more and more like a qualified MT. I feel that if this goes on, my Galaxy Chief Mechanic title will change to become the number one tank in the universe!
On the other side, in the Super Star Cluster conference room.
“The Sanctum Revival… What a terrifying power. Hehe, the three Universal Civilizations are probably in a terrible state.”
Compared to the heavy atmosphere of the three Universal Civilizations’ leaders, the Super Star Cluster leaders were overjoyed. As the rulers of the explored universe, the three Universal Civilizations were hostile to all existences that could shake their rule. As the pursuers, the Super Star Cluster Alliance hoped for some factors that would affect the current status quo to appear.
Originally, Black Star had only relied on the one-time Sanctum Revival to bring the association to such a level. Now that he had finally shown the true effect of the Sanctum Revival, the Beyond Grade A Association instantly became many times more difficult to deal with. The more unhappy the three Universal Civilizations were, the happier the Super Star Cluster Alliance would be.
“Black Star obtained an independent political position from the three Universal Civilizations, akin to that of an advanced civilization. With Black Star’s strength and the association’s strength, the galactic society might be able to form a stable tripartite structure in the future. We, the three Universal Civilizations, and the association will balance each other. This is good news for us.” The leader of the Star Arc Civilization breathed out in relief.
“It should be the Pseudo version of the Tripartite. We still have a ways to go before we can catch up to the three Universal Civilizations, but the association has the Sanctum Revival, and we have a lot of resources. If we cooperate more closely, we won’t have to fear the suppression of the three Universal Civilizations. The galactic society is no longer under their control, “Someone corrected with a smile.
One of the Modo Three Kings said with a depressed voice, “It’s too early to say all this. The premise is that the three Universal Civilizations win this war. Otherwise, all of this will be empty talk.”
“That’s true. With the enemy before us, we can’t celebrate too early.” Someone nodded in agreement.
At this moment, the leader of the Star Arc Civilization knocked on the table, before speaking out.
“In about eleven years, the World Tree will attack the mainland. At that time, we will see if we should evacuate the explored universe. This period is enough for us to make preparations and keep it a secret. Don’t let anyone know of our plan.”
Hearing this, everyone nodded.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance had always been considering the possibility of migrating with the help of the war. This was a plan that they had long decided on. During the interception war, they had secretly started to build secret stargates in their respective civilizations, connecting them to the Super Star Cluster Civilizations at the border. Once they started to migrate, they would be able to directly arrive at their departure point from their capital territories. At the same time, they used taking refuge as an excuse to gather most of the population and manage. As long as they started the plan, they would be able to migrate everyone efficiently. A large number of resources were also secretly stored, and some of the shipyards under them had been secretly mass-producing starships during the interception war to prepare for the long-distance migration.
Everything was in full preparation. The Super Star Cluster Alliance had planned to start after the World Tree invaded their territory. They would observe the situation and decide if they wanted to escape.
“If the three Universal Civilizations are defeated, Black Star and the others will not be destroyed together with them. They will retreat. At that time, we might have a chance to take over the Beyond Grade A Association…”
Someone whispered.
The leader of the Star Arc Civilization rubbed his finger and shook his head. “Hmm, you can’t say that. If we migrate to another area we will become the new ruler. An existence like the association will also become a threat to us. Therefore, if the three Universal Civilizations explode, it’s best that we don’t contact the association. It’s not bad to live our own lives.”
He sounded like he was saying, “Let’s split our luggage and go our separate ways. You go back to your Quicksand River, and I go back to my hometown.” Everyone could not help but laugh.
Although they were envious of the Beyond Grade As and the Sanctum Revival channel of the association, they knew that they would not have the chance to obtain such benefits.
The Super Star Cluster Alliance did not have the confidence and base strength of the three Universal Civilizations, and they were even more afraid that the Beyond Grade A Association would take over their territory. After all, their strength was weaker than the three Universal Civilizations. If they entered a migration period without any rules or regulations, the Beyond Grade A groups that could continuously revive would have the power to overthrow their regime. Therefore, if everyone had to evacuate one day, then parting ways would make them feel more at ease.
“Speaking of which, Black Star is truly a talent. He successfully fooled the three Universal Civilizations, and the current situation we see now has his shadow behind every step. In just a few decades, the Beyond Grade As already possess such strength, breaking the stalemate. It’s not an easy task.”
The leader of the Star Arc Civilization sighed softly, his tone filled with admiration and fear.
Although their relationship with Black Star often changed, from a personal perspective, the leader of the Star Arc Civilization and most of the Super Star Cluster leaders present mostly admired Black Star.
Everyone had carefully read Black Star’s file. If they had not witnessed everything with their own eyes, they would never have imagined that a bumpkin from the surface civilization would rise from the bottom and reach the top in just a hundred years.
It was a pity that such a person was not born in their civilization. If not for the fact that Planet Aquamarine was under Black Star’s protection, they would have dissected this planet to see why there were three Beyond Grade As.
The leader of the Star Arc Civilization changed into a more comfortable position and sighed. “I don’t have any hopes for the association now. I just hope that they can sell us more revivals… Speaking of which, the Sanctum revivals are unlimited. Will Black Star lower the price for us now?”
Everyone tilted their heads and pondered.
At the training base, the Calamity Grade combat training ground.
Energy surged, and light flashed. Five figures surrounded Hadavy. All kinds of attacks landed on his body and exploded into light fragments. They could only leave faint marks on his tough body and could not break through his defense.
The continuous sound of explosions mixed with Hadavy’s laughter.
“Hahahaha-useless, useless, useless! Your attacks are nothing compared to His Excellency Black Star’s Apostle Weapons. There’s no way they can break through my defense!”
Just from the tone of his voice, it sounded like he was fighting against five Calamity Grades alone. However, upon closer inspection, the five Calamity Grades were beating Hadavy up like a rubber ball.
On the spectator stands in the sky, many Calamity Grades looked down at the trembling training ground with strange expressions.
“He can still be so arrogant after being beaten up. Looks like he has learned the essence of what makes up the Army Commander.”
“This guy is indeed the Black Star Guard that has followed His Excellency Black Star for decades.”
Everyone chatted casually.
The Black Star Army had once harvested hundreds of Beyond Grade A seeds, and most of the spectators were members of the army. However, not only were they watching the show, but they were also waiting to beat Hadavy up.
After decades of training by Han Xiao, Hadavy’s Esper Ability had been developed to an astonishing level. He was used to being beaten by a Beyond Grade A Apostle Weapon, and normal Calamity Grade attacks were nothing to him. Even the weaker Calamity Grades would be able to break through his defenses.
Thus, Hadavy became a human sandbag in the training base. Many Calamity Grade students were willing to use him to test how far away they were from the Beyond Grade As. As long as they could beat Hadavy to the point that he screamed, it would mean that they were half a step away from the Calamity Grade.
The beating lasted for quite a while, and the five attackers stopped while panting. Hadavy immediately got up from the ground and pretended to pat the non-existent dust on his body. He shook his finger at the five of them and snorted.
“That’s it? I don’t feel anything yet. Let’s practice a little more and try to make me feel like dying next time.”
“Why do you always say such ambiguous words?” A Calamity Grade wiped his sweat and could not help but complain, “Is this the organizational culture of your Black Star Army?”
“A crooked stick will have a crooked shadow,” another person agreed.
“Horsing around is one thing, but spouting nonsense is another. Don’t joke about my dear Army Commander,” Sylvia, who was participating in the siege, said to her friend.
Hearing this, Hadavy looked at her and patted his chest.
“You quit your job as Chief Administrative Official, and you’ve been training behind closed doors for so long. Why haven’t you made any progress? I think you’d better not waste your time training here. You definitely won’t become a Beyond Grade A.”
Hearing this, Sylvia turned her head and said with a face full of disdain, “You have the cheek to say that about me. With your single ability, even if you become a Beyond Grade A, you will still be at the bottom.”
“At the very least, I have the ticket to immortality.”
Hadavy looked like a dead pig that was not afraid of boiling water. Ever since the truth of the Sanctum Revival was revealed, such words could no longer hurt his heart.
To enjoy the revival of the Sanctum, he did not even play his favorite Wayne Cards anymore. Lagi had called him a few times, but he had rejected him.
Speaking of which, the number of people playing cards had decreased by 99% recently. Only Lagi was still pulling people in, but the frequency had also decreased. People often saw Lagi training in the magic training ground as well. His training duration had increased by ten times!
This was a sight that was hard to come by in ten years. Many of the officers who knew him were shocked and felt encouraged.
Even Lagi was working hard, what right do you have to be lazy?!
This time, a few more Calamity Grades jumped down from the sky and landed on the ground. “Alright, stop chatting. We’re still queuing. It’s our turn. Hadavy, do you want to take a break?”
Hadavy patted his chest and said in a booming voice,
“What are you resting for? These people are useless. I’m still thirsty. Come, face me!”
“I told you not to be ambiguous!”
The group roared.
While the Calamity Grade Supers were sparring, Feidin, who was deep in training, suddenly opened his eyes. A gleam flashed past. In that instant, it was as if some invisible boundary had been broken. A deep shiver from the depths of his cells started from his brain and slowly spread through his entire body inch by inch as if every cell was crying out in joy and desire.
Immediately after, the cells in his body started to stir, like water that was being heated up. “This feeling… I’m going to be promoted?!” Feidin was pleasantly surprised. He could not be wrong about this feeling of being elevated to the next level. However, the feeling this time was different from the previous Promotions. This time, it was dozens of times stronger, causing his body to tremble uncontrollably. His psychic energy also gushed out uncontrollably, sweeping around the room like a storm.
At this time, the Soul Swapper on him suddenly sensed something and began to vibrate at a high frequency. Black ripples appeared on the Soul Swapper. The Soul Swapper was contaminated with Psychic energy, and a subtle fusion was formed. The originally formless and colorless Psychic energy seemed to have been drawn to the edge of the Soul Swapper, and as if being traced out, the edges turned black.
Before Feidin could even react, he realized that his psychic energy seemed to have reached into an unknown realm, and countless voices began clamoring from his soul.
“Ah!”
Feidin cried out in pain, feeling as though his head was about to explode.
Amid the pain, a piece of information appeared in his mind. He realized that he had sensed an unknown existence, and a strong intuition was guiding him. The path to ascension was here.
It was a pity that Han Xiao did not see it at the moment, or else he would have sighed. He was very familiar with this rare treasure!
As expected of a child blessed by the heavens, even the Promotion Mission was different from the others. If he was here, he would have to interview Feidin and see what it was like to be one of the three thousand faces of the Goddess of Luck.
Chapter 1379 Opportunity for Sublimation, Soul Terminal
“You said that not only did you sense the opportunity of sublimation, but the Soul Swapper also changed causing your psychic power to mutate?”
In the private workshop, Han Xiao turned around and looked at Feidin with a strange expression.
“That’s right, I’m also very surprised. The Soul Connection level has increased by a level, and part of the Soul Swapper’s characteristic is added to my Psychic powers. In addition, I can vaguely sense the existence of a secondary dimension, and my intuition leads me there.”
Feidin shook his head in resignation.
What’s with that helpless expression of yours? Why do you find it so troublesome when you’ve had a fortuitous encounter? Is this what it means to be favored by the heavens? How beautiful.
Han Xiao said in his mind.
Speaking of which, he had used (Bold Explorer) to look at the origin of the Soul Swapper before, and it was not that rare. It was an artificial product, but it might have formed a connection with a secondary dimension when it transformed into a Space Wonder.
He guessed that once a suitable person touched the Beyond Grade A sublimation, they would be able to activate this hidden benefit. The possibility was quite high.
No wonder the Soul Swapper was so eager to be pampered by Feidin. It turned out that it was because it saw the opportunity to unlock its new form in Feidin.
Han Xiao then poked Feidin. Feidin’s main purpose for coming to report was to accept his ‘physical examination’.
The moment he poked, combat information popped up on the interface.
Han Xiao looked at Feidin and realized that Feidin had a new energy attribute that involved the soul. At the same time, he had two new talents. One was the bonus from the Soul Swapper’s mutation, which increased his Psychic Strength and other attributes. The other talent was a question mark and was still in a gray frozen state.
This was literally the scenario of sitting at home, talents descending from the sky… Tsk, what was this?
Han Xiao coughed and said,
“Since it’s your intuition that leads you to that secondary dimension, you can go over and take a look. Did you get a sense of direction or specific coordinates?”
“Coordinates,” Feidin replied with a nod.
“Oh, that’s convenient. There’s no need to spend too much time on the journey. However, most people get a sense of direction. Your coordinates should be the information recorded by the Soul Swapper. Let’s set off after I pack up.”
As he spoke, Han Xiao prepared to put away the technology he was studying and summon the carrier.
However, Feidin shook his head and rejected.
“Black Star, I have a feeling that this is my own training. If you follow me, I won’t have any sense of danger. I’ll go alone.”
Han Xiao paused and said,
“Since you have such a request, that’s fine too. I’ll give you a King, and you can bring another Throne. If you encounter any problems that you can’t solve, just ask me for help…”
Seeing that Feidin still wanted to say something, Han Xiao waved his hand and interrupted him.
“You’re my good friend. I can’t possibly let you take the risk without any backup plan. That’s my bottom line.”
“…Alright then.” Feidin smiled helplessly.
Han Xiao took out the equipment and a small carrier that was specially used in secondary dimensions. He got the mechanical assistant to bring them to the departure area. Feidin thanked him and followed along.
After watching Feidin disappear, Han Xiao looked away and shook his head. To a Calamity Grade, the secondary dimensions were still quite dangerous. Han Xiao was worried about Feidin’s safety and wanted to accompany him. However, Feidin wanted to clear the dungeon alone, and it involved the opportunity of Beyond Grade A sublimation. He respected Feidin’s premonition.
However, with Feidin’s luck, he would most likely be able to turn any misfortune into good luck. Whereas, with Han Xiao’s luck black hole, there might be some twists and turns. It would be a good thing if he did not go.
However, Han Xiao would not sit back and watch this treasure put himself in danger. He had secretly given Feidin an Observer’s Mark just now and planned to monitor the risk. After all, Feidin had coordinates unlike Harrison, it would not waste too much of his time.
ew
Han Xiao turned around and looked at the research device that was analyzing the new technology. He temporarily stopped the progress.
Every Beyond Grade A had their own training plan. Han Xiao had brought out more blueprints from the Sanctum this time, and he was researching these technologies during this period while also optimizing and raising his attributes. To Mechanics, this was called optimizing the allocation of resources. Putting the attribute points in a more cost-effective area could also increase his combat strength.
After entering the First Sanctum this time, his authority had increased to level nine, and his memory capacity had increased again. Furthermore, there were fewer gaps in the message board, but the last few paragraphs were still mostly empty.
The last time, the valuable information about the ‘Information Form Stripping Plan’ had appeared in the fourth last paragraph, but this time, the last paragraph caught his attention. Han Xiao could not help but recall.
[… The previous Iteration planned route should be correct, but because of some flaws and failures, we decided to add a controlling terminal on to reduce the processing cost of However, what will the controlling terminal become after the mutation of
In the days after he left the Sanctum, he had been pondering over this piece of information. It seemed that the last Iteration had agreed with the previous Iteration’s plan and made some improvements.
Generally speaking, a civilization that was facing the Great Reboot would not place all its hopes on the path of its predecessors. After all, the failures of their predecessors had already proved that their plans were not effective, and they could only provide some experience.
However, the previous Iteration was actually willing to believe in the past Iteration’s plan. If not for the fact that this plan had its merits, the subsequent civilization would not have made such a decision. This way, the plan that had improved the two Iterations was very valuable as a reference. Han Xiao was also secretly interested.
“I’ll have to enter the First Sanctum a few more times in the future. I wonder how much authority I need to unlock these two messages.”
Han Xiao calmed himself down, left the workshop, and returned to the office on the top floor. He first looked down at the combat training of the other Calamity Grades before entering the field of vision of the Observer’s Mark.
At the private space dock, the mechanical assistants quickly finished the adjustments in the small carrier.
Feidin sat in the pilot’s seat and recalled for a while. He then entered the secondary dimension coordinates into the navigator and started the shuttle engine. He immediately felt the spaceship tremble.
“Locking the secondary dimension coordinates… preheating the shuttle engine… activating the internal space stabilization device…”
The artificial intelligence of the spaceship kept reporting, and a large number of navigation parameters appeared on the screen.
Feidin set the autopilot, took out the Soul Swapper, and pressed it against his chest. He took a deep breath to calm himself down.
Not long after, the spaceship completed its self-examination before the voyage and the vibration suddenly disappeared. Feidin felt his body suddenly become heavy, as though he was pressed onto his seat by a strong force. The scene of the dock outside the window also shattered in an instant, turning into endless streams of light, and the spaceship entered the traveling mode. After an unknown period of time, the spaceship shook again and exited the traveling mode. The scene outside changed.
This was a pitch-black space with no end in sight. A gray nebula vortex with an immeasurable area was slowly spinning outside the window, right above the spaceship. He looked up, but he could not see the entirety of the vortex. He could not help but be shocked.
A gigantic white pillar of light shot out from the center of the vortex, extending all the way out of sight.
At the same time, wisps of gray airflow floated in from all directions and were pulled by the nebula vortex. It was like a hundred rivers converging into the sea, all fusing into it. This was the main material that formed this vortex.
Before Feidin could even exclaim in surprise, he discovered something special. Being in this space, his mental strength seemed to have become more active, and the Soul Swapper was also vibrating slightly.
“What is this place…”
Feidin looked around, but there seemed to be no signs of life around him. He released his psychic energy, which was too active and difficult to control, and captured a gray stream of air that passed by him to see what it was.
After checking carefully, Feidin’s expression suddenly changed.
“This is… a soul ””.
He turned around and looked at the endless gray airflow in disbelief.
This nebula vortex was made of souls ?
This time, Feidin suddenly thought of a piece of information and muttered,
“In the visions of some psychic ability users, when a living being dies, their soul might seem to have completely dissipated, but in reality, there are still undetectable bits and pieces left behind. One part will turn into the Psychic Current, and the other part will drift in the universe.
There should be some places like this in this world that—took in the soul residue from the entire universe, filtered it, crushed the residue extracting the remaining thoughts inside, condensed them into the universe consciousness, and sank them into the ‘bottommost layer of the pan-consciousness’ dimension. Some psychic ability users called these places ‘Soul Terminal’, ‘Spirit World Sanctuary’, and ‘Ruins of End’.
However, no one has ever found a similar secondary dimension. Could it be that the legend is real?”
Feidin was shocked. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this might be one of the legendary ‘Soul Terminals’.
During the development of the Flickering World, Black Star had brought a group of officers to travel around. Feidin had once met a Heart Sucking Demon from the ‘bottommost layer of the pan-consciousness’ dimension and turned it into his own nutrients to strengthen his psychic energy. Thus, he had paid special attention to this theoretical conjecture.
The three Universal Civilizations knew the coordinates of the bottommost layer of the pan-consciousness, but there were countless Heart Sucking Demons there, and they had extremely strong xenophobia. With their current technology, it was very difficult to build a stable outpost there. The Heart Sucking Demons, on the other hand, fed on the universe consciousness. Therefore, Soul Terminal was equivalent to their kitchen. The soul residue here was all ‘ingredients’ that had not been processed.
“The Soul Swapper guided me here. Could it be related to this dimension?”
Feidin thought to himself.
The effect of the Soul Swapper had long exceeded what was envisioned when it was first created. Perhaps the Soul Swapper had such a strange effect because it could transform into a Universal Treasure…
After guessing for a while, Feidin carefully sensed the gray airflow around him and smiled bitterly.
The gray airflow was the soul residue, and the center of the nebula vortex was constantly smelting the residue and ‘serving food’.
Heart Sucking Demon was a great supplement to the mind, but the side effects required a lot of time to resolve.
The soul residue was even more complicated. Although he could absorb the soul energy within it to refine his mental strength, most of his energy had to be used to deal with side effects such as split personality and schizophrenia.
Furthermore, the energy contained in the soul residue was almost undetectable. The conversion efficiency was extremely low, and the amount of energy invested far exceeded the output.
As for the universe consciousness after the smelting process, it had already removed the soul energy, and the side effects were even more violent. It was not beneficial to him at all.
“Speaking of which, this place is suitable for Hila. Her Power Of The Dead can quickly purify the soul energy. This might be her holy land of cultivation…”
Feidin mumbled to himself and was stunned.
He almost forgot that he had the Soul Swapper. If the target was only soul residue, the Soul Swapper should be able to separate the remnant thoughts and soul energy and purify it, right?
Doesn’t that mean I can absorb these countless soul dregs without any side effects ?
Feidin immediately understood and was pleasantly surprised.
Is this why the Soul Swapper guided me here ?
After cultivating here for a while, there was an 80% chance that he could advance. His intuition told him that this was indeed the opportunity to advance!
“Amazing…”
On the other side, Han Xiao, who was peeping, had a complicated feeling.
I thought that my cheat was already amazing, but you are even more over the top!
To think that the fortuitous encounter from decades ago and now would be connected. The power of the Advanced Luck Glow was truly terrifying
Compared to the Luck Glow owners who needed to rely on him like Harrison and Nero, Han Xiao felt that Feidin’s Luck Glow was the most impressive.
Not only did he have a fortuitous encounter, but he also benefited his teammates… It was not in vain that they treat you as the Chief mascot to touch for luck!
“Airstrike!”
Stardragon’s missile-carrying vehicles fired mercilessly at the Germinal troops. The missiles approached with high-pitched screeches, adding to the heavy atmosphere
Ugar did not panic; he commanded the troops to close up the gaps in their formation, with the vehicles carrying multi-barreled machine guns at the front, forming an assault formation. This reduced the area of target, and the machine guns destroyed all the missiles in the area in midair, forming a vacuum, allowing the troops to smoothly sail through the explosion waves.
Huang Qiuming paused.
He had just received news that the battle at Tedramira River was at a heated stage; the strategic team had primarily marked out a few locations where Germinal teams could have gathered. The strategic team advised him to change from the original plan to use Plan B. Huang Qiuming made some rearrangements and instructed the interception ring to leave a gap.
At the same time, Rainy Kim and the others made it to the front line. Large number of soldiers gathered with proper attire and equipment, armored vehicles had their engines running, and elite soldiers were standing by.
“How are we going to join in the fight?” Sleepy Winter asked helplessly.
Rainy Kim frowned and thought for a while before nodding. “I don’t know.”
Then why are you nodding‽ Sleepy Winter wanted to bang his head against the floor.
Twinkle Fried Rice suddenly pointed to the battlefield and shouted, “Someone is coming! Oh sh*t! It looks like a high-level player!”
The other two turned to look in the same direction. They watched as a buff man led a team of well-armed soldiers on heavy-armored motorbikes to separate from the main troop. They sped toward the Stardragon base while smoothly dodging all the bullets.
…
Mihawks dodged a series of attacks on his heavy-armored bike, but he inadvertently triggered a mine, and his bike was blown apart. He began to run, at a speed almost as fast as the motorbikes, through the bullets. His task was to deliver the bomb that he was carrying to the Stardragon base.
Superhumans usually fought in assault teams on the battlefields. Mihawks could see that the enemies had sent their elite teams toward them.
He concentrated expressionlessly and adjusted his inner energy to save up for later.
Suddenly, Mihawks instinctively felt that there was imminent danger, he reacted extremely quickly, pushed hard with his legs, and was going to change direction.
But he was not fast enough.
A bullet with blue light trailing behind it hit Mihawks’ neck from the side and caused a huge splatter of blood. He was critically injured. He groaned and spat out mouthfuls of blood. There was absolutely no cover on the fields; his only choice was to keep running forward, but his wound caused him to slow down significantly.
A combat fighter, who could fight through gunfire, had been critically injured by one shot!
Huang Qiuming was shocked.
“That was not us. Who’s the sniper‽”
He remembered the suspicious target that had been detected at the start and felt that this shot seems really familiar. He pondered for two seconds, and his eyes widened.
Only a monster sniper could critically damage a superhuman—the Black Phantom that only recently had become involved in underground activities.
Bullet with blue light, it must be him!
What is he doing here? Why help us?
“Commander, what do we do now?” the vice-captain asked.
Huang Qiuming considered and made up his mind decisively “He doesn’t look like enemy. Don’t care about him; focus on fighting Germinal.”
Usually, snipers’ skills would be of very limited use in this kind of battle, but when super snipers like Black Phantom came into the picture, it would be a completely different story.
The Stardragon did not know why Black Phantom was helping them, but needless to say, this helped them greatly!
…
Ugar was furious.
“One shot to critically injure Mihawks, that must be that damned Black Phantom! Not long ago, he got Freire’s team too. This monster must have joined the fight at Stardragon’s request!
Ugar felt immense pressure when he thought of Black Phantom’s kill statistics that had been circulating on the Dark Web. He had been crowned a ‘Superhuman killer’—way too dangerous. Even though Ugar was stronger than Mihawks, he did not want to have a taste of Black Phantom’s strength.
Mistaking Han Xiao for someone on Stardragon’s side, Ugar angrily commanded, “Team 3, locate and terminate the sniper. Take the test subjects with you; you must at least divert his attention away from us!”
One armored vehicle left the main troop and sped toward Han Xiao’s location.
…
_____________________
You have dealt 1,297 actual damage to Mihawks (Level 40)!
You have critically damaged Mihawks!
_____________________
Mihawks has entered a weakened state. All attributes have decrease 50% for 10 seconds.
_____________________
Wow, this guy is quite tanky. Han Xiao was surprised. This shot’s theoretical damage was 1,600. Taking combat fighters’ body attributes into consideration, it would be about 1,300. This had knocked out Bai Jin, who was Level 48, in one hit, but Mihawks was still up and running. Combat fighters are indeed very tanky.
This time [Flaming Will] was not too good; it only buffed his attack by 148%. His Ghost sniper rifle had been maxed out in all its attributes after the strengthening. None of the Experience earned had gone to waste. Han Xiao either saved the Experience or used it to level up skills, talents, and equipment, which were the key to having strong firepower!
After his first shot, Han Xiao activated a new task.
_____________________
[Tedramira River Warfare (Misc.)]: You have joined in the battle between Stardragon and the Germinal Organization. Since you have chosen your side, see what you can do for your allies.
_____________________
This was a class C mission. The player had to kill Germinal soldiers and prevent them from escaping. Reward would be based on task performance.
The reward Experience shouldn’t be less than three hundred thousand. Han Xiao was satisfied that he could earn Experience by being a busybody.
Han Xiao fired single shots at Mihawks, who could not escape the fate of being swallowed by the explosions and shots. His death was tragic.
This marked the end of a combat fighter who was even stronger than Pan Kuang.
Combat fighters are great in close quarters against few people, but if you want to deal with armies, even if it’s not technologically advanced, you must at least be half as strong as Bennett, Han Xiao thought to himself.
Combat fighting makes use of energy. Everyone wants to be a hero, and combat fighting allows fighters to dominate whenever and wherever, without the need of weapons.
However, even though this style of fighting is very strong, one must have gone through the necessary growth. C class marks this line, the level cap for players of in the 1.0 version.
…
The snipers had greatly weakened the assault team, which had been caught by the counter troops from Stardragon. The assault plan had barely started and was already failing terribly under Han Xiao’s intervention.
At this moment, he noticed that a troop had veered off from the Germinal main troop and was moving toward him. He changed his target and started firing using the Red Falcon sniper gun. Because Stardragon was also present, Han Xiao intentionally avoided using the high-explosive bullets.
A sniper rifle could only deal limited damage to armored cars, so Han Xiao activated the portable battery that had been set up beforehand.
Three hundred meters in front of the Germinal troop, four portable batteries transformed into small multi-barreled machine guns. They fired rapidly, and some of the armored vehicles exploded on the spot. The remaining soldiers had to spread out and launch counterattacks on the portable batteries.
Once the team spread out, the portable battery was a lot less effective because it had to rotate and aim instead of aiming at one spot.
The portable batteries did not have defensive mechanisms, even if Han Xiao used platinum as the surface material, and two out of four were blown to bits very quickly. Overall, the result was good. More than half of the vehicles were destroyed, and the enemies were significantly weakened.
At this moment, the troops did something that Han Xiao did not expect. The opened the rear of one of the armored vehicles. Three humanoids jumped out of the car and ran toward the portable batteries at a speed faster than car. They looked really strange, and Frenzied Sword was taken aback.
“What in the world are those things?” Frenzied Sword wanted to use detection on them but was informed that he was too far away.
The three humanoids were well-built and expressionless. There were large amounts of metallic joints and structures inside the arms, legs, and spinal regions. The metal was fixed into the bones at joints, such as in their knees and elbows. As they were running, the metallic joints would have blood seeping out. There was no doubt that every movement would inflict great pain, but the trio seemed emotionless as if they could not feel any pain.
Moreover, there was a layer of thin armor growing from the skin of the humanoids.
Han Xiao recognized the humanoids the second he saw them.
Chapter 1381 Hila’s Hidden Cultivation, Experience Filled Up
With a flash of light, Han Xiao arrived at the Underworld Dimension. The moment he entered, he saw Hila fighting Aurora.
In the pitch-black sky, two enormous energy spheres, one red and one gold, stuck closely together like two connected suns. The scarlet power of the Dead pressed forward step by step, continuously squeezing the space occupied by the Life power, like a ruffian bullying a cowering girl. A graceful figure floated in the middle of the energy cluster filled with Power Of The Dead. Hila’s red hair danced in the energy surge, and her expression was calm. On the other side of the golden light, Aurora’s blonde hair was dancing wildly. She clenched her fists and raised them in front of her. Her cheeks were red, and she was pumping out all her life energy to resist Hila’s suppression.
“Eh? An elder sister bullying her younger sister, I can’t just ignore this. Do you need help? I can help you bully her back.”
Han Xiao glanced at it, raised his brows, and shouted at Aurora.
Hila turned around and glanced at him. After pausing for a moment, she retracted her power of Death.
The scarlet sun in the sky rapidly shrunk and disappeared, returning to her body.
Aurora, who was on the other side, suddenly felt no pressure. It was as if one of them had suddenly let go when the two of them were pushing each other. The life force that had lost its resistance could not help but spurt out, and a golden tsunami immediately appeared in the sky.
She hurriedly restrained her energy and slowly guided it back into her body. The golden sun quickly disappeared, leaving Aurora gasping in midair, looking like she was about to collapse.
Hila frowned and stared at Aurora with her sharp eyes. “Your control is still too weak. Rest for a while and continue training.”
Hila then turned to Han Xiao and explained,
“We’re not fooling around. Extreme pressure can speed up the growth of her life energy, broaden her upper limit, and help her increase her strength. This is one of the special training I’ve prepared for her.”
Han Xiao shrugged. He knew that this was training, so he was just joking. At this time, Aurora also turned back into her petite figure and flew in front of them. The redness on her face that she had suppressed earlier had yet to fade, and she looked a little silly and embarrassed. “I lost the last battle because I was not strong enough. I felt that I could no longer wait idly for my life force to automatically increase. It was too slow, so I specially requested my sister to give me special training. I will improve as much as I can.” “Not bad, very hardworking.” Han Xiao smiled and praised her. He raised his hand and rubbed Aurora’s head.
Aurora enjoyed it and even raised her head slightly to approach Han Xiao’s palm.
This time, Hila floated over with an expressionless face. She slapped Han Xiao’s hand away and said, “Why are you looking for me? If there’s nothing else, leave. The special training is not over yet. Don’t disturb us.”
Han Xiao rubbed the back of his hand, which had turned red from the slap, and smiled. “I’m here to tell you some good news. Feidin has already become a Beyond Grade A.”
Hila’s eyes flickered, but she was not surprised. She nodded calmly.
“It’s indeed a good thing. Please congratulate him on my behalf. However, it was only a matter of time before he reached this level.”
“Other than that, there’s another surprise for you. Feidin has found the legendary place where souls return to the dust, the Soul Terminal. He knows that your ability can devour souls to strengthen yourself, so he wanted me to ask if you’re interested in taking a look.”
Hearing this, Hila’s expression changed, and her eyes widened slightly. She finally had an emotional reaction.
She also knew about the legends of the Soul Terminal. The power of the dead was nourished by the soul, and she also yearned for this legendary place. However, this was only a guess. There was no eyewitness report of the Soul Terminal in history. If what Black Star said was true, Feidin should be the first person to discover it.
“Of course I’m interested! When are we going over?!”
Without any hesitation, Hila blurted out and instantly threw the thought of Aurora’s special training out of the window.
“Let’s go now. Feidin is already waiting for you at the training base.” “Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up!” Without hesitation, Hila took out a King suit and quickly put it on, signaling Han Xiao to activate it with Mechanical Force.
Han Xiao could not help but laugh. He also changed into a King and activated his Mechanical Force.
With a flash of lightning, the two of them disappeared.
Ten minutes later, Feidin brought Han Xiao and Hila to the Soul Terminal.
Looking at the inexhaustible soul fragments here, Hila revealed a rare look of shock and surprise. For a moment, she forgot how to speak, staring at the enormous Soul Nebula Vortex in a daze.
“How is this place? Does it help you?” Feidin asked.
Hila regained her senses and nodded. Her voice trembled with emotion,
“These soul dregs are very beneficial to me. My intuition tells me that this is the best place for me to cultivate!”
“As long as it’s useful. Since there’s no one here, you can stay as long as you want,” Feidin said with a smile.
“Thanks.”
Hila patted Feidin’s shoulder and rubbed it, repeating what Han Xiao usually did. Her eyes were fixed on the countless soul fragments, her eyes were burning.
At this moment, she decided without hesitation.
Until the World Tree enters the mainland, I will stay here. No one can take me away!
It was rare for Hila to be excited, but she felt like she had forgotten something.
At this moment, a despondent voice sounded in her mind.
“Sis… what about my special training?”
Errr, I told you I forgot something…
Hila’s expression froze, and she coughed.
“Ahem, things have changed. I won’t be going back for a while. You can practice by yourself first.”
This tone was more or less like a parent who had no choice but to coax a child when they were busy with work. It gave off the feeling of ‘you go play by yourself’. “Humph! i’ll train myself!”
Aurora shut off her mental voice.
I was abandoned just like that?
You promised to help me cultivate, but you ran away. Stupid Sister, I’m ignoring you!
The mental communication was cut off, but Hila did not care. She could not wait to get out of the spaceship.
Crash!
The Power Of The Dead gushed out, forming a scarlet tornado. It swept over the soul residue in the surroundings, crushing and disintegrating them, turning everything into pure soul energy that was swallowed into the Power Of The Dead to strengthen her Esper Ability.
Han Xiao’s eyes sparkled.
With such an opportunity, Hila will also be on the path of leveling up. I estimate that in ten years… no, in less than ten years, a new peak Beyond Grade A will appear. When she reaches this level, her combat strength will be greatly enhanced. With her strength, as long as she grows stronger, it won’t be a problem for her to resist two or three peak Beyond Grade As of the World Tree.
He rubbed his chin as he watched this scene. He secretly nodded and had high hopes for
Hila.
Hila and Feidin stayed behind to cultivate, while Han Xiao returned to the training base and continued to train everyone according to the original plan. He began to research more on the Sanctums to the point that he was unable to extricate himself from it.
Feidin would come back every few days to give the students a buff.
Everyone was immersed in training every day, and their sense of time had become dull. In the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed in the intense training.
The battle at the frontline was still going on intensely. The World Tree Army continued to advance despite the harassment of the three Universal Civilizations.
For the past half a year, the forums had been flooded with relevant information, and countless players were enthusiastically exchanging combat intelligence.
As for Han Xiao and the other Beyond Grade As, they were training at the back and had withdrawn from the frontline. They made use of the calm before the storm to increase their strength. Because they were not in the players’ sights, there was not much to talk about the Beyond Grade As in the past half a year, hence they faded into the background.
The intensity of the war was equivalent to the frequency of combat missions. Many players in the frontline who were part of the suicide squad earned a fortune. Batch after batch of players reached the version limit of Lv180. Some of the extra experience was used to upgrade their skills, and some of it went to Han Xiao through consumption in the Black Star Army.
Thanks to the high rewards of the suicide mission, the players earned experience faster, which also indirectly shortened the time Han Xiao needed to accumulate experience.
It had not even been a year, but Han Xiao had already gathered enough experience to level up to 360. His efficiency was higher than expected.
After so many years, he finally had the chance to advance again. Han Xiao did not hesitate and chose a good day to come to an uninhabited planet in his territory. He was prepared to invest all his experience to level up and reach the threshold of a new Promotion.
A meteor tore through the dark universe and landed on a dark brown planet, on a barren mountain peak.
Flowing flames scattered, revealing Han Xiao’s figure. He looked down at the endless dark brown land, then looked up at the sky with the mysterious aurora and nodded.
“Let’s level up here.”
Han Xiao focused, opened the interface, and poured all his hard-earned experience into leveling up. His level, which had been stagnant for a long time, finally shot up like a rocket. The interface notifications kept popping up. [Divine Throne Mechanic) leveled up to LV41. +500 Energy, +5 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +18 Endurance, +25 Intelligence. You have received 20 Free Attribute Points, +1 Awakening Point.
[Divine Throne Mechanic] leveled up to Lv60 (max).+2,000 Energy, +5 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +18 Endurance, +25 Intelligence. You have received 20 Free Attribute Points, +1 Awakening Point.
You have reached the upper limit of the main class. You have triggered the Class Advancement mission-[Godly Craftsman).
(Godly Craftsman): Have over 10000 blueprints. Accumulate 100 different Universal Treasure-level mechanical equipment.
You have reached level 360. You have triggered the Promotion Mission-[God Slayer’s Trial).
[God Slayer’s Trial]: Completely kill five Beyond Grade As who possess God’s Trait Transformation, one from each of the five major classes – Pugilist, Esper, Mechanic, Mage, and Psychic.
“Wow, so ruthless.”
Han Xiao clicked his tongue.
The difficulty of the mission this time was countless times more difficult than the previous Promotion and Class Advancement. The difficulty was on a completely different level. Just the requirement of (Godly Craftsman) to create 100 different types of Universal Treasures was enough to make normal Mechanics dumbfounded. Even Han Xiao was still a distance away from this number. Although the Sanctum provided enough blueprints, he had yet to create all of them.
In addition, [God Slayer’s Trial]’s requirement to kill five peak Beyond Grade As was extremely dangerous, and there was the word ‘completely’ in it. Han Xiao estimated that the individual lifeforms of the World Tree and the Underworld who could revive could not be counted. It was most likely that the deaths would not be counted if they did not enter the Sanctum, and the targets would probably have to be chosen from normal people.
Unfortunately… no matter how harsh the mission was, he had the Mission Completion Card!
Han Xiao had accumulated some Mission Completion Cards over the years to avoid this kind of Promotion Mission. Even if these two missions were more difficult, he would at most be surprised and not feel troubled.
“These two missions are too much. Luckily, I can skip them.”
Han Xiao heaved a sigh of relief and used the Mission Completion Card seriously. The two mission names turned into a ‘completed’ status with a golden font.
He originally thought that this would be like before, as soon as he completed the Promotion mission, it would be equivalent to a successful Promotion. However, the situation this time seemed to be different from the past, and the interface popped up with an unexpected message.
Level 360 Promotion Mission completed!
You can choose to advance at any time.
Remarks: This Promotion is extremely risky. There is a 90% to 96% chance that the Promotion will fail. If it fails, you will have to complete a new Promotion mission before you can advance again. At the same time, there is a chance that an unknown mutation will occur during the Promotion. There is a risk to your life.
Recommended to complete the conditions below before choosing to advance.
In this Promotion, your life form will be extremely unstable, and it will be extremely easy for you to mutate. What may happen will not be limited to infinite proliferation, gene collapse, cell independence, and cosmic assimilation. Therefore, you will need to use certain special items to stabilize your life form. This condition will be triggered during Promotion. Promotion success rate+33.3%, malignant mutation rate – 33.3%.
For this Promotion, you will need some external help. The strength of a single person will always be limited and one-sided. You will need four Supers of different classes as assistants, and they must activate the God’s Trait Transformation of their Super system. The higher the level of the God’s Trait Transformation, the better the support effect. This condition will be triggered during Promotion. Promotion success rate+33.3%, malignant mutation rate -33.3%.
For this Promotion, you need a Beyonder’s Vestige as a catalyst. When a Super who has completed the God’s Trait Transformation attempts to reach a higher level, they might die from a malignant mutation. The life essence, soul consciousness, and core energy that dissipates during the Promotion will condense into the Beyonder’s Vestige and cannot be observed by normal life forms. Only Supers who are currently in this state will be able to obtain the corresponding perception. This condition will be triggered during the Promotion. Promotion success rate+33.3%, malignant mutation rate -33.3%.
Remarks: If all the conditions are not met, even if the Promotion succeeds, the grade will not change. If three conditions are completely triggered during the Promotion, the Apotheosis Promotion will begin. “It’s actually like this…”
Han Xiao read the messages on the interface, and his eyes sparkled.
Before today, he did not know if he would be able to reach a new grade after the level 360 Promotion. Everything was just a guess. Now, he finally confirmed that he could indeed reach the new grade after this Promotion. Otherwise, there would not be so many changes.
This made him a little excited.
Han Xiao focused his mind on his body and could clearly feel that every cell was in a ‘critical’ state. As long as he wanted to, he could undergo his Promotion anytime. However, after looking at the warning notification on the interface, Han Xiao was also afraid that something would happen to his Promotion. He looked down at the content of the three conditions, and they were all in a gray ‘not triggered’ state.
He tried to use the Mission Completion Card on these three conditions but they did not complete like the Promotion Mission. The hint was that the Mission Completion Card was ineffective on the target.
“As expected, it won’t work. It seems like there’s no way to pull a fast one.”
Han Xiao frowned before letting go. He was not too surprised. When he saw the three conditions, he had already guessed that the Mission Completion Card might not be useful on them.
The Mission Completion Card was a special item used on the interface, and it did not have a physical body. Its function was to skip the mission content and obtain the most basic reward on the interface. It would not change the external environment or create something out of thin air.
These three prerequisites required physical objects to assist in advancement. The Mission Completion Card could not change them, and these three conditions did not exist in the form of a mission.
However, the Mission Completion Card had skipped the previous Promotion Mission and saved him a lot of time. Furthermore, if he failed the Promotion and triggered a new Promotion Mission, he could still use the Mission Completion Card to pass it without spending any energy. Of course, it was best to complete the Promotion in one go. Han Xiao naturally did not want to fail. Since he could not take a shortcut to break through to the new level, to increase the safety of his Promotion, he could only focus on studying the three conditions carefully. Very soon, he had some ideas.
The first requirement was a special ‘stabilizer’. It was probably because this Promotion would result in a life form reorganization, which was more intense than the past Promotions, which was why it was ‘extremely unstable’. It was like melting a piece of steel and casting it into another shape, requiring a mold.
Han Xiao had a few ideas about this. Special items in the Information Form could be used as ‘molds’, but they would most likely require Universal Treasures. Normal Information Form objects might not work.
The other choice was to obtain the enhancement of some Universal Treasures with the ‘Stable’ trait. Han Xiao knew of a ready-made one, which was the church’s National Treasure with the ‘Unbreakable’ trait. It should be able to achieve similar effects.
“However, this thing is on Wuornos, and it’s a precious treasure of the Arcane Church. I wonder if they’re willing to temporarily lend it.”
Han Xiao shook his head.
The second condition was that he needed the help of the other four peak Beyond Grade As to advance.
If it was a civilization with insufficient individual strength, they might not even be able to gather enough people. However, the three Universal Civilizations should be considered prosperous in the universe, so there were enough strong people to choose from.
With his connections and the Sanctum’s cohesiveness, it was not difficult to find four assistants. This should be the easiest of the three conditions.
However, the meaning of cooperation revealed by this condition made Han Xiao feel a little emotional.
Having grown to this stage alone, it seemed like this was the limit. Advancing seemed to no longer be a matter of one person. If one wanted to become a stronger individual, they needed more external help. The development of civilization also affected whether an individual could advance further.
In the vast universe, a person’s strength was ultimately limited. Without external help, it would be very difficult to continue moving forward.
“So there is a limit to individual life forms?”
Han Xiao shook his head.
In addition, the requirement of gathering the other four classes also reminded Han Xiao of a saying from his previous life, which was that the five Super systems represented the five aspects of the true ‘God’.
The Pugilist class represented the ‘divine body’, the Psychic class represented the ‘divine soul’, the Mage class represented the ‘divine authority’, the Esper class represented the ‘divine ability’, and the Mechanic class represented the ‘divine weapon’!
This kind of statement was widely spread, but there was no actual evidence. However, after seeing this condition, Han Xiao felt that this statement might not be entirely false, at least there was some connection.
“Could it be that the new level combines the five elements?”
This thought subconsciously flashed past Han Xiao’s mind, but he quickly shook his head and denied it. He felt that he was wrong.
The difference in the Energy Attributes of the five major systems was unlikely to be broken. Even if he broke through to the level of a ‘True God’, he would probably be a Specialist, so it should be impossible for him to be omnipotent.
Compared to the other four classes, he felt that the Mechanic class that represented the ‘divine weapon’ seemed to be special.
The development history of every civilization was the advancement history of tool evolution. This represented the fire of wisdom and the sprout of civilization. To a certain extent, knowing how to use tools was the biggest difference between intelligent life and wild beasts, and to the so-called ‘Gods’, it probably had a similar meaning.
If ‘God’ only used the power of the other four elements to fight, they would not be too different from fighting with their bare hands. At most, their moves would be different, and only magic and Esper abilities would have some special effects. However, using the so-called ‘divine weapon’ was equivalent to an ordinary person picking up a sword or firearm. The threat was completely different.
For example, if there were two max-level heroes-one unequipped, and the other fully equipped with ultimate equipment. Even if their skills were different, their strength would not be on the same level at all. In the many fairy tales that Han Xiao had read in his previous life, the status of ‘magical equipment’ was extremely high. It even represented one’s strength, especially when it came to the primitive worlds.
In his opinion, the ‘divine weapon’ represented by the Mechanic class was most likely such a concept. Otherwise, the advantages of the Mechanics in the later stages would not be so obvious in front of the other four classes.
Han Xiao calmed himself down and collected his thoughts.
He had some ideas about the first two conditions, but the last condition made him a little frustrated.
The Beyonder’s Vestige came from a peak Beyond Grade A who had failed to break through and died. In the explored universe where the three Universal Civilizations were located, the only Beyond Grade As who had similar experiences seemed to be the two sisters of life and death.
However, Onicelu had said that the two sisters of the previous generation were pursuing the true meaning of death, so they had actively died. Han Xiao did not know if that was an act of trying to break through to a new level.
Even if it was true, the bodies of the two sisters from the previous generation had already been burned by Onicelu like firewood, and the two Esper Abilities that held their Information Form were inherited by Hila and Aurora. He did not know if this was considered the so-called ‘Beyonder’s Vestige’. Even if it was, how should he use it? Could it be that he needed to extract their Esper Abilities?
Wait, if that was the case, if Hila and Aurora grew to this level in the future, wouldn’t the third condition be completed for them?
“Tsk. Comparisons are odious.”
Han Xiao’s eyelids twitched.
He had once tried to use the Mark of The Underworld as a medium to revive the two sisters through Sanctum Revival, but he had failed in the end. They might still be alive, or they might have held back the Information Form and integrated it into their Esper Abilities, causing them to lose the Sanctum Revival. Now, Han Xiao had another guesswhen a peak Beyond Grade A failed to break through the new level and died, would they be able to accept the Sanctum Revival?
Perhaps the information form records in the Sanctum had changed because of this, or the ones who failed to break through had survived in another unknown way, such as this so-called Beyonder’s Vestige…
No one had stepped into the next level, and everything was filled with mystery. Han Xiao could only guess blindly. “However, the introduction said that only peak Beyond Grade As in my current state can sense the Beyonder’s Vestige. I’ll go to the Underworld later to verify it. If it’s not, I’ll probably have to search the entire universe. If it’s the worst-case scenario…”
Han Xiao’s eyes darkened.
The worst-case scenario would be that there was no such thing as Beyonder’s Vestige in the current Iteration. No one died if they failed to break through to the next level. If that happened, he would have to think of another way.
In any case, he had already decided to trigger as many conditions as possible. He had to overcome all difficulties.
After all, the remark mentioned that as long as one condition was missing, it would only be a regular Promotion, and there would be no way to break through. According to his understanding, this meant that he would not be able to obtain the bonuses of a new grade, and he would not be able to pull apart the fundamental difference like a Beyond Grade A and Calamity Grade Super.
Han Xiao calmed himself down and exhaled.
“No matter what, I have to test my perception of the Beyonder’s Vestige.”
After saying that, he calmed his mind and searched for the Beyonder’s Vestige through the throbbing of his critical state.
Very soon, Han Xiao felt that his consciousness had fallen into an indescribable mystery. It was as if there was a thick fog in front of him, and blurry shadows could be seen in the fog.
After an unknown period of time, Han Xiao suddenly caught a flash of light. His eyes widened, and he finally found this feeling. The fog dissipated, and everything became clear.
Initially, he thought that his senses would be completely empty, and he would not be able to sense much of the Beyonder’s Vestige. However, the moment he entered this perception vision, Han Xiao was shocked, and he knew that he was wrong.
Buzz!
In an instant, dozens of sensory sources appeared in his perception and spread out in all directions. However, he only knew the direction and not the distance. They were all Beyonder’s Vestiges!
Han Xiao’s eyes widened in shock.
Did this mean that there were at least dozens of peak Beyond Grade As from the unknown regions in the entire universe who had reached his level before and died because they were trying to reach a new level ?
Han Xiao had mixed feelings.
The center of the story that I knew in my previous life was the three Universal Civilizations, but that did not mean that this was the center of the universe.
No matter how strong you were, there would always be someone stronger. At the places you could not see, how many more powerful civilizations were still thriving in the universe and how many things were happening?
No one in the explored universe had broken through to a new level. Was the vast unexplored universe the same?
Is this Iteration only at the early stage?
After a long time, he sighed.
“… The universe is really vast.”
Han Xiao sighed, calmed himself down, and shook his head.
No matter how vast the unexplored universe was, or how many powerful unknown civilizations there were, it had nothing to do with him for the time being. The most important thing was to deal with the current problem. The focus was still on the war between the three Universal Civilizations and the World Tree.
As for the problem of Iteration, it was useless to think too much about it. He could not deal with it for the time being. “Although I can sense the existence of the Beyonder’s Vestige, I only know the direction and the distance is unknown. This is like finding a needle in a haystack.”
Han Xiao pondered.
However, the perception vision was dead, but the person was alive. It was not impossible to calculate distance. After all, the direction of the perception could barely be seen as a straight line. As long as one constantly changed their positioning, through the deviation of the perception line, one could still roughly estimate which one was closer.
However, at the scale of the universe, it was unknown how long it would take to shift the direction of one’s perception. It would most likely be based on Star Systems and Star Clusters. Although this method would take some time, it was still an effective method.
The only problem he had to worry about was that if the nearest Beyonder’s Vestige was not in the vicinity of the explored universe, it would take an unknown amount of time.
“No matter what, there are at least initial solutions for all three conditions. Let’s act according to this plan.”
Han Xiao was relieved.
The three conditions were of varying difficulties. The second condition was the easiest. He just had to communicate and activate the Face Fruit[1]. As for the third condition, he did not know how long it would take. He decided to start with the first condition and contact Wuornos.
Han Xiao immediately found Wuornos’ private number and called him. In the previous battle, the two of them had gotten to know each other through fighting. After the battle ended, they exchanged private numbers.
The bell rang twice, and Wuornos’ projection appeared on the screen. He was wearing a solemn robe as if his daily prayers had been interrupted.
“Black Star? What’s the matter?”
Wuornos asked with an emotionless tone. Han Xiao smiled but did not immediately get to the main topic. “It’s been a while since we last met, and I suddenly miss you.”
“Is that so?”
Wuornos’ expression was calm, and he was not swayed. He only looked at Han Xiao calmly and did not say anything, as if saying ‘is our relationship that good?’
Han Xiao stroked his chin and said with interest, “Speaking of which, I’ve been curious recently. As the strongest member of the Direct Line, why didn’t the church let you participate in the interception battle?”
“This is an internal secret. I can’t tell you. If you’re here to persuade me to join the battle, then forget it,” Wuornos’ tone was calm, “Do you have anything else?”
Tsk, so mysterious. Is the church worried that you will die in battle and lose their National Treasure?
Han Xiao thought to himself.
Seeing that Wuornos’ attitude was neither cold nor warm, he did not continue to beat around the bush and spoke of his main goal.
“I came to you this time because I have something to discuss with you… I want to borrow the church’s National Treasure.”
Hearing this, Wuornos’ eyes flashed, but he did not reject it immediately.
“What do you want to do with it?”
“I want to try to break through to the next grade. I feel like the church’s National Treasure will come in handy.” Han Xiao did not hide this goal.
“Oh? Are you going to try to take this step? As expected of the most talented Super in history…”
Wuornos’ eyes lit up. He was not surprised but delighted. He sized Han Xiao up and smiled.
He had always thought highly of Black Star and felt that Black Star was the most likely person to open a higher level.
As long as a pioneer took a path, future generations would be able to follow it. Whether they succeeded or failed, they would become important references for future generations. Therefore, Wuornos was very happy to know that Han Xiao was breaking through to a higher level.
“From my personal point of view, I’m very happy to help you. Maybe you can become a pioneer in the path of individual strength exploration, and I can also benefit from it. There’s no reason to reject you…”
Wuornos smiled.
However, before Han Xiao could reply, he changed the topic and shook his head. “However, the church’s National Treasure is not my private property. If you want to borrow it, you’ll have to seek the Arcane Church’s approval. If they don’t agree, I won’t be able to lend it to you.”
was
Hearing this, Han Xiao was not surprised and nodded.
“Of course, I understand. Help me tell the upper echelons of the church that the conditions can be negotiated. I need you to help me convince the upper echelons of the church.”
“…Alright, I’ll speak for you.”
Wuornos nodded and did not refuse.
Other than the upper echelons of the church, no one else could order someone like him to do things. However, seeing that Black Star was trying to reach a new level, he did not mind helping him. The two of them chatted for a while before Han Xiao hung up. The result of the initial negotiations was still acceptable, and Wuornos did not have any objections. In that case, he only needed to deal with the upper echelons of the Arcane Church.
Of course, the upper echelons of the church would not give in so easily. He had to take out some of the chips that they cared about. All he had to do now was wait for the church to come and negotiate.
On the other side, the Arcane Church, the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods.
After Wuornos received Han Xiao’s call, he quickly contacted the Pope.
With his identity, he could speak to the Pope directly. Very soon, the projection of the Pope appeared on the screen.
“High Priest, what’s the matter?”
The Pope was a little surprised. Wuornos seldom took the initiative to look for him. Usually, he was the one who called and gave the order. He was a little surprised to suddenly receive the call.
Wuornos had no intention of chatting and went straight to the point. “Black Star contacted me just now to borrow the church’s National Treasure. I contacted you to discuss it.”
The Pope was slightly stunned. He looked at Wuornos in surprise and almost could not believe his ears.
“Lend the National Treasure to an outsider ? Do you know what you’re saying ?”
“Black Star said we can negotiate.”
Wuornos’ tone was calm.
The Pope suppressed his emotions and asked with a frown,
“…Why does he want to borrow the National Treasure?”
“Black Star said that he wants to borrow the power of the National Treasure and attempt to break through to a new grade of individual strength.” “New grade? You mean above Beyond Grade A
Hearing this, the Pope was shocked.
This was big news. As the leader of the current Beyond Grade As, if Black Star could successfully establish a new level of individual strength, it would have an unknown and profound impact on battle with the World Tree.
In truth, because of Black Star’s record-breaking growth speed, the three Universal Civilizations were all prepared for Black Star to reach a higher grade, but they did not expect it to happen so quickly. After all, no matter how strong Black Star was, he had only stepped into the Beyond Grade A realm for a few decades. When compared to the lifespan of a Beyond Grade A, he was too young, at the stage of a baby or a kid.
“…You want to help him?”
The Pope’s tone sank.
Even if he wanted to borrow the National Treasure, he had to seek Wuornos’ opinion. Since he had come to help Black Star pass the message, he had most likely already agreed. This made the Pope a little unhappy.
Wuornos looked straight ahead and said calmly, “Why not? Isn’t it beneficial for our side to have an expert that goes beyond the norm?”
“That may be the case, but you know the significance of the National Treasure and the threat that Black Star poses…”
The Pope paused. Although he did not finish his sentence, his meaning was clear enough.
Due to the revelation of the truth behind the Sanctum Revival, the three Universal Civilizations were even warier of Han Xiao. Although the war was the most important now, they did not want to see Black Star continue to become stronger, especially since it was an unprecedented new grade. No one knew how powerful the strength at that grade was.
Furthermore, he had more considerations. During the exploration era, after the first Primordial One successfully broke through, the other Beyond Grade As appeared one after another. No one knew if Black Star stepping into the higher level would stimulate the growth of the other Beyond Grade As, and the importance of individual strength would increase.
Wuornos did not take it to heart and slowly said, “Based on my experience, it’s not that easy to break through to a new grade. Black Star is still in the experimental stage, and he can’t succeed without failing a few times. It’s still unknown if the National Treasure will come in handy, and his chances of failing are very high.”
The Pope narrowed his eyes and did not speak.
Seeing this, Wuornos paused and continued,
“…So, I feel that lending out the National Treasure might not give Black Star any benefits, but we will definitely be able to benefit from him.”
“Then what do you think we should propose?” the Pope asked.
“What I mean is to unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. It has been sealed for too long.” “Hmm… it’s not impossible.”
Hearing this, the Pope narrowed his eyes and pondered.
The Ten Thousand Deity Scepter had long been frozen by Han Xiao using the Spacetime Amber. Originally, it had been snatched away by the Federation of Light and returned in a joint operation. However, the Arcane Church’s research department was also unable to unseal it. They could only see that it could not be used. Currently, only Black Star could unseal it.
Releasing this Universal Treasure was still a little tempting. This was a powerful weapon that could kill individual strengths. It was useful both internally and externally.
This time, Wuornos struck while the iron was hot and said slowly, “I know you’re worried about accidents, but the National Treasure has already fused with me. Even if Black Star has other intentions, he won’t be able to do anything. The risk is very low, and in the current situation, the chances of Black Star turning against us are very low.”
As a member of the Arcane Church, he had a lot of authority, but he rarely made suggestions and usually did not care about anything. However, at this moment, he took the initiative to speak up for Han Xiao. He really wanted to facilitate the cooperation between the two parties and observe Black Star’s method to break through to a new grade.
Wuornos was rather curious about why Black Star felt that the church’s National Treasure would be able to help him break through to the new grade. He had been in possession of the National Treasure for so many years, but he had yet to discover it had this use. Could it be that the church’s National Treasure had some other function that he did not understand?
In the Underworld Dimension, a light flashed, and Han Xiao teleported over.
At this time, the two sisters were not there. Hila was cultivating in Soul Terminal. At first, Aurora was still stubborn and focused on cultivating, but later, she could not help but go to the Soul Terminal and let Hila supervise her special training while cultivating.
Therefore, of the four Beyond Grade A officers of the army, three were in the Soul Terminal, and only Lothaire was outside, training Karlot.
Han Xiao activated the Beyonder’s Vestige vision and quickly scanned the Underworld.
“There’s no Beyonder’s Vestige here… Looks like I’m overthinking. I’ll check with Hila and the others later.”
Han Xiao shook his head and sighed.
After he finished chatting with Wuornos, he immediately came here to look for clues. He planned to start by looking around him. If the outstanding people around him did not have the Beyonder’s Vestige, he would then calculate the locations.
Beep beep beep
This time, the communicator rang again. It was Wuornos.
“He called back so quickly? It’s only been a few minutes?”
Han Xiao picked up the call.
Wuornos appeared on the screen and said, “Black Star, the Arcane Church wishes to make a deal with you. We can lend you the National Treasure once, but you have to unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter. Also, the Sanctum Revival will be free for the next three times.”
“Woah, three free times is way too much. I’m only borrowing the National Treasure once. This price is too high. I think unsealing the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter is enough.” Han Xiao did not mind the Sanctum Revival being free a few times, but since it was a negotiation, he had to fight for it.
The church’s request for the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter was one of the few possibilities that he had come up with. Due to the war and other factors, he had already planned to unseal the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter, so using it as a bargaining chip was just right.
The two of them negotiated for a while and quickly came to a consensus. The price would be unsealing the Ten Thousand Deity Scepter and 30% off for the next three Sanctum Revivals.
“It’s settled then. Let me know when you need to borrow the National Treasure.”
“Alright. I might need your help with something else too. We’ll talk when the time comes.”
“Sure.”
Wuornos hung up immediately. Han Xiao put down the communicator and pondered.
“This guy is really efficient. He’s also very passionate about the higher levels, but he’s so enthusiastic about helping me break through to a new grade. Could it be that he wants me to be a lab rat… Heh, no matter what he thinks, as long as I confirm that the church’s National Treasure can be used as a ‘stabilizer’, the first request will be resolved. This is a good sign”. Han Xiao revealed a relaxed smile. Luckily, he had the bargaining chip of Ten Thousand Deity Scepter in his hands and never used it. Otherwise, it would not have been so easy. [1] This is a slang used in China, based on the anime One Piece that has a Devil Fruit for all kinds of skill. In this case, it’s for Face, since giving face is important to the Chinese
Chapter 1384 Beyonder’s Vestige, Remnant Consciousness Body
After finalizing the conditions for borrowing of the church’s National Treasure, Han Xiao spent a lot of time carefully calculating the distance of each Beyonder’s Vestige, but the result shocked him.
He had originally thought that all the Beyonder’s Vestige might be in the unexplored area of the universe. Because it was too far away, he could only estimate the distance. However, he did not expect to actually locate one of the sensory sources. It was very close, and surprisingly, it was in the Ancient Star Desert!
This surprised him greatly.
The most frightening thing was that all the Beyonder’s Vestige were too far away. If that was the case, who knew how long it would take. He was all prepared to go on a long journey, but he did not expect a surprise. In this case, it would be much easier to achieve this Promotion requirement.
However, on top of being happy, Han Xiao was also very curious about which brother had left this legacy.
After obtaining the location data, Han Xiao did not delay and immediately set off for the Ancient Star Desert to find his target.
Ancient Star Desert, a desolate universe belt.
This was a space zone without any celestial bodies. Suddenly, there was a flash of dazzling starlight in the distance. A stream of hyperdrive light shot over from afar and stopped in the area, revealing Han Xiao in his mechanical suit.
“The location is near here. Speaking of which, there doesn’t seem to be anything special here. Is there really no problem with the perception?”
Han Xiao thought to himself as he observed his surroundings. He only felt that this area was ordinary and did not have anything worth paying attention to. He did not notice anything unusual with normal Beyond Grade A perception as well. He calmed himself down and activated his Beyonder’s Vestige perception vision to sense his surroundings. The originally normal environment suddenly changed.
A white mist of light appeared out of thin air, slowly changing shape, floating and moving, looking very inconspicuous.
“This is Beyonder’s Vestige?”
Han Xiao was surprised.
If not for the fact that his senses were pointing at this ball of light, he would have thought that he was mistaken. The appearance of the Beyonder’s Vestige was very different from what he had imagined. He had thought that it would be more gorgeous.
He focused his eyes and looked carefully. Suddenly, his eyes moved, and he realized that the fog was actually made up of particles with a very strange microscopic form. He had mastered so many techniques, but he had never seen such a particle before. He felt a strange sense of harmony from it, which made him think of the word ‘perfect’.
“It’s said that the Beyonder’s Vestige condenses the life essence, soul consciousness, and core energy of the dead during their advancement. It’s equivalent to turning everything of a Super into this particle and retaining it in this form. This particle form might be the key to a higher level…”
Han Xiao murmured.
As a researcher, he did not touch this Beyonder’s Vestige immediately. Instead, he first recorded this particle form and stored it in an encrypted database. If anything happened during this trip, he could study it himself in the future.
After doing this, Han Xiao calmed down and let out a long breath.
“Done… Let me see what secrets the Beyonder’s Vestige has.”
As he spoke, Han Xiao reached out his hand and tried to touch the target. However, his hand passed through it as if the light was just a mirage.
He raised his brows and tried to use his energy to guide it again, but it was still ineffective. The Beyonder’s Vestige was still unaffected and continued to float.
With the attitude of experimenting, Han Xiao tried all kinds of methods, but the results were the same. Even (Bold Explorer) did not work. Only then did he finally confirm that there was no way to capture the Beyonder’s Vestige.
“It seems like even if the external environment changes, Beyonder’s Vestige will not be affected. Only living beings in my critical state can come into contact with it…”
Han Xiao recalled the experience of activating his perception vision back then. He felt the rhythm of the cells in his critical state, which was similar to meditation. His mind kept sinking into the deep sea of his consciousness.
After a while, Han Xiao suddenly felt a change. It was as if a ripple was spreading in his body, echoing throughout. It gave him a slight electric shock on the cell level, forming a resonance.
Han Xiao opened his eyes and touched the Beyonder’s Vestige once again. This time, he finally felt something solid. It felt like his palm was inserted into the core of a star, and it was extremely hot.
This Beyonder’s Vestige finally reacted. The light fog wrapped around Han Xiao’s arm and climbed up bit by bit. A suction force came from within, as though it wanted to slowly swallow him up. If it had been indifferent just now, it was now passionately surrounding him, not wanting Han Xiao to leave its body.
Just as Han Xiao was experiencing this feeling, this Beyonder’s Vestige seemed to have been stimulated. It suddenly shrank, then exploded with a loud bang. A dazzling light instantly gushed out and covered Han Xiao’s entire body.
His vision instantly turned into a white world.
“What is this?”
Han Xiao suddenly lost his sense of position and immediately tried to retreat. However, he realized that no matter how he moved, he could not walk out of this white world. The white light around him extended endlessly, as though there was no end to it.
“Was I brought to the alternate dimension?”
Han Xiao was shocked. He activated the King mechanical suit in his body and prepared to teleport.
However, at this moment, a spiritual body covered in blue light suddenly appeared from the void and floated not far in front of Han Xiao. Only its outline was visible, and the details of its appearance were covered by the dazzling blue light.
An ancient sigh followed.
“You’re finally here…”
A living person ?
Han Xiao was shocked. He stared at the blue spiritual entity and was shocked.
Just as he was about to ask about this person’s identity, a terrifying mental shockwave suddenly broke through the mental barrier and rushed into his brain!
At this moment, a sharp pain exploded from his brain and shook his soul.
Han Xiao pressed down on his head and clenched his teeth. He felt as if someone had thrown his brain into a blender.
He hurriedly opened the interface and saw that his health was depleting at an unbelievable speed. The damage notifications popped up and entered Han Xiao’s vision. He immediately understood the situation.
It was not that easy to obtain the Beyonder’s Vestige. If he wanted to absorb it into his body, he would have to endure an extremely high burden. While obtaining someone else’s inheritance, he would have to accept their ‘debt’.
According to the different causes of death of the Beyonder’s Vestige’s owner, the burden was also different. It was equivalent to the inheritor having to take the test and undergo a weakened version of the malignant mutation. It was the same type of danger as the Beyonder’s Vestige’s owner when he advanced.
This Beyonder’s Vestige’s owner died due to cosmic assimilation during his Promotion. The remaining soul consciousness had already partially fused with the universe consciousness, which resulted in a strong mental load. It contained the psychic impact of the universe consciousness, and its power was stronger than any Beyond Grade A mental attack that Han Xiao had ever experienced.
At this time, the spiritual entity finally spoke again.
“Since the impact has already begun, there’s no way to stop it. Either we succeed or we die.”
Han Xiao used all his strength to activate his recovery ability. Enduring the pain, he forced himself to focus and asked, “Who are you?”
“I’m just a product formed by my remaining soul consciousness. I’m no longer me. All that’s left is my incomplete memories and personality, as well as the obsession that supports my existence,” the spiritual entity said calmly.
“Are you the predecessor of this Beyonder’s Vestige?”
Han Xiao’s eyes twitched.
He had thought that the original owner had completely disappeared, but he did not expect that there would still be a remnant consciousness. Could it be that the other Beyonder’s Vestiges were also the same? At this time, the spiritual entity shook its head and said,
“I died when I was trying to break through to a higher level, but for some reason, I did not die completely. I continued to exist in this form. So, this is called Beyonder’s Vestige…”
He did not have the interface like Han Xiao, and did not know the reason and could not explain what had happened to him, nor did he know the secrets of the Beyonder’s Vestige.
“What’s your name?” Han Xiao could not help but ask. He was still curious about which Beyond Grade A in history this person was.
“Tyrsius,” the spiritual entity replied.
Han Xiao quickly recalled and realized that there was no such person in history.
“Which era’s Beyond Grade A are you? The exploration era or the Galaxy Calendar?”
“Beyond Grade A?” Tyrsius was confused. “What’s that?”
Han Xiao was stunned for a moment before realizing something.
“Have you heard of the three Universal Civilizations? The Crimson Dynasty, the Federation of Light, and the Arcane Church…”
Tyrsius shook his head. “I’m from Planet Cree, a wanderer of the universe. I’ve never heard of the three Universal Civilizations.”
Han Xiao’s heart skipped a beat.
If this part of his memory was not incomplete, then this guy was not a Beyond Grade A from the explored universe, but a guest from the unexplored universe. The reason he appeared here was probably that the Beyonder’s Vestige had slowly drifted over after his death.
However, at this moment, Tyrsius suddenly paused and said thoughtfully, “Wait, I seem to have some impression of the Westsandling Civilization that you mentioned. I think I passed by a Star System civilization like this.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao was shocked.
Westsandling was the Federation of Light’s real name. If what this guy said was true, then he might have guessed wrong. This guy did not float over after his death, but he is an extremely ancient existence that had come to this region before the Federation of Light rose.
Han Xiao’s heart sank slightly. After receiving the Beyonder’s Vestige perception, he had a vague guess that this might not be the early stage of the Iteration, and the origin of Tyrsius seemed to confirm this guess.
Right at this moment, the mental shockwave passed its peak and finally subsided. Han Xiao immediately felt much better. Although it was very dangerous, he could still endure it with his tankiness.
Han Xiao felt much more relaxed. Just as he was about to ask Tyrsius more details, he suddenly realized that Tyrsius’ figure had become blurry. Tyrsius seemed to have expected this and took the initiative to explain.
“I died in the cosmic assimilation. If you can endure the burden, everything I left behind will be yours. When you succeed, it will be the day my remaining consciousness dies.”
“You…”
“I died a long time ago, and this is also a relief for me. The steps to a higher level are often forged by the deaths of the predecessors, so don’t worry about it.”
Tyrsius was rather open-minded.
Hearing this, Han Xiao had a strange expression.
To him, Tyrsius was just a stranger who had suddenly popped out of nowhere. He did not have any relationship with him, so he naturally did not feel anything. He just felt that this encounter was a little unexpected. He still had many things he wanted to ask this guy.
Furthermore, he doubted if this remnant consciousness would really disappear if he absorbed the Beyonder’s Vestige.
After all, one had to be wary of others. Han Xiao did not completely believe the other party’s words.
Chapter 1385 Coordinates
Just as he was about to say something, Han Xiao suddenly realized that a set of coordinates had appeared in his mind. It was a message from Tyrsius.
Han Xiao looked at Tyrsius in doubt.
“What coordinates did you give me?”
Tyrsius shook his head and sighed.
“My hometown is my lingering obsession. Although I was born on Planet Cree, I left very early. When I was young, I surpassed all my predecessors, broke all records, and became the strongest person in the entire civilization. My civilization could no longer provide me with any help. To pursue a higher level of individual strength, I left the galaxy alone. This journey lasted countless years.
There were no worthy opponents in my hometown. I tried to find someone of my standard in the entire universe, hoping to learn from them. In my life as a wanderer, I spent most of my time with the desolate universe. I rarely met people, but I had seen strong and weak civilizations come and go. I would only make an appearance when I met powerful Supers, other than that, I would not interfere with the normal development of these civilizations. During that time, I only focused on the road ahead of me and wanted to become stronger and stronger. Even till the day I died, I did not return to my hometown even once.
I’ve been dead for many years and have been trapped here. I did not have any perception of the outside world and have long accepted reality. However, the only thing I can’t let go of is my hometown. I have nothing to do here and the only thing I can comfort myself with is the incomplete memories of the past. It’s just that my initial firm pursuit of a higher level and the wonderful experience of wandering the universe has become fainter, yet, the childhood times spent in my hometown have become more and more clear.
Back then, I could have chosen to stay and help build my hometown, but I was unwilling to do so. I wandered for the sake of a higher goal. But now, I miss my hometown more and more. So many years have passed, and I don’t know how my hometown is now. You have inherited my Beyonder’s Vestige, so if it’s convenient for you, I request you to go over and take a look for me. The coordinates I gave you are the location of Planet Cree. I hope you can take care of them for my sake.”
After hearing his explanation, Han Xiao raised his brows with a strange expression. “Don’t you know that it’s best not to allow foreigners to come into contact with other civilizations? You don’t know anything about me. Aren’t you afraid that I’ll bring people to invade if you give me the coordinates of your hometown?”
Tyrsius smiled faintly.
“You’re the only person who has come in all these years. I’m about to die, so who else can I give it to if not you? Let’s take the risk. There’s nothing guaranteed in this world. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have fought against my sense of danger to pursue a higher level and end up dying… Also, I don’t think you’re an invader.”
“Making such a conclusion after only seeing me once is too hasty.” Han Xiao shook his head. “I can help you take a look, but I won’t promise anything. Also, I don’t think a powerful Universal Civilization needs my care.”
“You’re mistaken. My civilization isn’t particularly developed.”
Tyrus sighed.
“You can withstand the impact of the cosmic assimilation, and I can feel how strong you are. On the other hand, I’m sure you think I’m very strong, but in fact, when I left my hometown, I was far from this state. At that time, it was very difficult for me to destroy a planet, and all my strength came from constantly breaking through while wandering… The experience I accumulated should have been brought back to my hometown, giving birth to more experts, but unfortunately, I died, and all these plans came to an end.”
Hearing this, Han Xiao started to calculate.
It sounded like when Tyrsius first started wandering, his strength should have been between a high Calamity Grade and an ordinary Beyond Grade A. The latter was more likely, and he had ascended to the peak of the Beyond Grade A realm step by step during his long and lonely journey. He had felt the existence of a higher level, and he had reached this step without any experience.
Looking at it this way, Tyrsius is also an extremely talented individual, probably not inferior to me… ahem, not inferior to all the genius Supers in the history of the three Universal Civilizations.
If what the other party said was true, then their civilization should be like a remote village, not as strong as he had imagined. However, a genius had appeared there, just like how Planet Aquamarine had produced him.
If Tyrsius had managed to return to his hometown with his experience and insights, there might have been another civilization with a relatively advanced individual strength in the universe.
Thinking about it this way, the Supers born in the three Universal Civilizations were lucky. There were many strong people here, and there were many opponents that they could exchange pointers with. As for a small civilization like Tyrsius’, if they wanted to find opponents, they could only travel far away and be a lonely Pathfinder. While he was thinking, the interface suddenly pinged.
(You have triggered the mission: Shadow of the Past!)
[Mission Introduction: In order to explore the path ahead, Tyrsius wandered the universe alone and never returned to his hometown. He wants you to take a look on his behalf.) [Mission Requirements: Arrive at Planet Cree]
[Reward: 2,000,000,000 Experience, 1 Character Summon Card)
“I got a Mission…”
Han Xiao’s heart skipped a beat.
He did not know if his nature was so open and sincere, or if he felt liberated, or if he had special feelings for his successor.
Tyrsius’ figure was getting fainter and fainter, almost disappearing. He did not mind and only smiled.
“It seems like my time is almost up. After so many years of loneliness, I’m satisfied to have someone to talk to at the end of my journey…”
Han Xiao looked at him muttering to himself. Although it was an unexpected encounter, this first time was also the last. Originally, Tyrsius’ wandering knowledge was a precious channel to understand more unknown civilizations, but there was not enough time.
However, at this moment, Tyrsius seemed to have thought of something, before whispering,
“By the way, let me give you a piece of advice. If you meet a civilization called the World Tree one day, you’d better run as far as you can…”
Han Xiao was stunned, his face changing rapidly. However, before he could ask about the details, Tyrsius’ figure completely disappeared, leaving only a faint sigh. “I’ve never left anything for the civilization in my life. What a failure…”
The blue figure in front of Han Xiao turned into light particles and disappeared.
At the same time, the mental burden that was getting weaker and weaker finally stopped.
The white alternate space in front of him suddenly collapsed, and Han Xiao was left in a daze. He realized that his vision had returned to the main material universe, and he was still there, having not moved at all.
The Beyonder’s Vestige had already fused into his body and was fully assimilated, but it did not have any further reaction with him. Even though Han Xiao had gotten the Beyonder’s Vestige, he did not feel too excited about that, only secretly feeling a headache.
“To stop speaking halfway at the most crucial point, you really need to be beaten up. You should have told me about the World Tree Civilization earlier…”
Han Xiao was resigned, he had no choice and could only complain.
After all, Tyrsius did not know that they were fighting the World Tree Civilization. If not for the other party mentioning it, he would not have known that Tyrsius had met the World Tree Civilization before.
“It sounds like this guy has seen the aggressiveness of the World Tree. Maybe they have crossed paths before. Would the World Tree still remember this guy?”
Han Xiao pondered.
Very soon, he shook his head and put this matter aside for the time being. He turned around to study the Beyonder’s Vestige in his body. This was his main goal.
After absorbing the Beyonder’s Vestige, his strength did not change at all. He could only sense its existence at any time as if it was simply absorbed by his body. This vestige should only be activated during the Promotion and become a catalyst for his Promotion. He roughly guessed that regardless of whether the Promotion succeeded or not, the Beyonder’s Vestige would be consumed. This was a one-time use item.
“The higher levels require the skeletons of the predecessors… Tsk, turn into a salary and burn yourself to benefit the future generations. No matter what, I owe you a favor.”
Han Xiao exhaled.
Although he was dead, Han Xiao still remembered this favor. The next time he entered the Sanctum, he planned to see if he could revive this guy, but the chances were very low.
As someone who left a Beyonder’s Vestige, Han Xiao did not know if he had left an Information Form like the two sisters in the past. Even if he died now, he might not be able to benefit from the Sanctum Revival. Han Xiao only planned to do his best.
This time, Han Xiao suddenly thought of something and smiled. “Speaking of which, in the explored universe, this is the only piece of the Beyonder’s Vestige that was the easiest to obtain. If Wuornos reaches this level one day, he can only search for other Beyonder’s Vestiges.”
Han Xiao was amused.
Since Wuornos was so willing to help him advance, he might have intended to use him as a guinea pig to explore the path, but he did not know that the only advanced material in the area was lost to him. Perhaps Wuornos did not have a notification on the interface, so he could not dig out the sensing of the Beyonder’s Vestige, or maybe he did not enter the critical state and was still stuck on the mission. Anyway, he had been practically camping below a treasure unawares. In the end, he lost that treasure to Han Xiao instead.
Feeling the Beyonder’s Vestige in his body, Han Xiao smiled. Although he was a little surprised, he still managed to obtain a Vestige in the end. It went better than he had expected. It was not in vain that he had gathered so many mascots in the army.
This way, out of the three advancement requirements, he would only have to find four pretty boys to help him.
Han Xiao’s nerves finally relaxed. He then started to think about the coordinates of Planet Cree sent by Tyrsius.
“There will definitely be risks if I rashly come into contact with an unknown civilization. Although Tyrsius said that his civilization isn’t strong, that’s all in the past. Now that so many years have passed, they might have become a powerful Universal Civilization. Furthermore, we can’t rule out the possibility of Tyrsius lying…”
After thinking for a while, Han Xiao still felt that he had to go and take a look. He could come and go as he pleased with the King, thus he planned to send out his Lord’s Avatar like a real Mechanic to take a look. He did not plan to take the risk himself.
On one hand, he wanted to complete the mission and see what would happen next. On the other hand, he felt that the civilization of Tyrsius might be a potential ally, and they might be able to fight the World Tree together. After all, the World Tree’s style and mechanism could be said to be the public enemy of most intelligent civilizations.
Two days later, in a certain Federation of Light military base in the Ancient Star Desert.
A Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device was slowly heating up, and a Lord’s Avatar shell was waiting in the teleportation area. Han Xiao was watching from afar in the base with the respectful senior officer beside him.
Han Xiao’s Face Fruit had already reached the Large Success stage. There was no chance of being rejected if he borrowed the Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device from the Federation of Light.
Looking at the two gigantic mechanical rings spinning rapidly and turning into a halo, Han Xiao could not help but sigh.
“Your Multi-Dimensional Sky Opening Transportation Device is truly a convenient invention. As long as you have the coordinates, you can go anywhere in the universe.”
“Indeed. This is the highest technological achievement of our Federation of Light.” The base commander straightened his back with pride.
“Impressive. Can I bring it back for research?”
“This… Please don’t make things difficult for me.” The senior officer was stunned and smiled bitterly.
Han Xiao smiled and did not tease this officer anymore. He activated his Lord’s Avatar.
At this time, the power of the teleportation device reached its peak. Suddenly, light exploded, and the Avatar disappeared.
wa
Han Xiao’s vision changed, and he arrived outside the atmosphere of a planet. Before him was a dark green planet. Satellites were floating in the orbit of the planet. They did not seem to have any problems on the surface, but with a quick glance, Han Xiao could tell that these satellites had not been repaired for many years. They had all been corroded and turned into scrap metal. Vegetation covered the entire surface of the planet, and with a rough glance, he could not see any signs of a civilization city. Furthermore, there were no signs of life. It gave off a desolate feeling of decline.
Only a single brown metal tower was eye-catching. Looking down from outer space, it looked like this planet was wearing a small pointy hat. Looking at the ratio, one would know that this metal tower was extremely huge when looking at it from surface level.
It looked very rough, like countless metal objects of different shapes stacked together. The structure was loose, like a huge garbage mountain.
“This is Planet Cree? Looks like something happened…”
As Han Xiao was pondering, his pupils suddenly constricted, and he quickly adjusted his vision mode. His sight expanded rapidly, and he locked onto a small black dot that was slowly moving halfway up the metal tower.
It was a robot covered in rust, carrying a metal fragment that was many times larger than itself on its back. It slowly climbed up the steep path toward the top of the metal tower. In Han Xiao’s vision, it was the only moving thing
Han Xiao controlled the Lord’s Avatar to descend in front of the robot and revealed himself.
However, this robot did not seem to notice him and walked past him. When he passed by, Han Xiao could still hear the robot repeating the same word over and over again.
“Bury it… Bury it…”